United Nations

This author's articles

• Annual report 2007 of the Working Group on arbitrary detention

  31 March 2008
  The present report includes several issues which have given rise to concern during 2007. In particular, the Working Group identifies several shortcomings it has observed in connection with the detention of illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers. The Working Group recalls the obligation of States to consider alternatives to administrative custody from which foreigners can benefit. The report also analyses the situation of certain vulnerable groups of detainees and prisoners susceptible to sexual violence by co-inmates and prison staff, including minors, young women, the mentally disabled, indigenous people, vulnerable men and the poor.

• Report on the World Social Situation 2007: The Employment Imperative

  11 December 2007
  The report forms part of series of reports on the subject. Different aspects of global employment and work (such as global employment and unemployment trends, unemployment and labour-market insecurity), the impact of global economic and social liberalization, social groups in the labour force, inequalities and decent work are among the topics discussed in the report.

• UN declares 20 February as World Day of Social Justice

  11 December 2007
  Recognizing the need to promote efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion and unemployment, the United Nations General Assembly has decided to observe 20 February annually – starting in 2009 – as the World Day of Social Justice. … In designating the World Day, the Assembly «recognizes the need to consolidate further the efforts of the international community in poverty eradication and in promoting full employment and decent work, gender equality and access to social well-being and justice for all.

• UN expert warns that racism is increasingly manifest as violence

  19 November 2007
  Doudou Diene, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance presented his latest report to the United Nations General Assembly’s Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee. He warned about a «resurgence of racist and xenophobic violence, in particular its most serious expression a shift from words to action». He spoke also about the «political normalization and democratic legitimization of racism and xenophobia» that is another manifestation of the retreat in the struggle against racism and xenophobia.

• Governments should Take Positive Steps to Protect Housing Rights of Roma in Europe, UN and Council of Europe Experts Say

  29 October 2007
  The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg and the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Miloon Kothari in their press release from 24 October 2007 stated that the housing rights of Roma are violated in several countries of Europe. The "rate and number of forced evictions of Roma have grown dramatically, and segregation and ghettoization in the housing field appears to have intensified and become entrenched in recent years". The experts called on the governments to take positive measures in order to protect the housing rights of Roma in Europe.