Tag: High Commissioner for Human Rights

7th June 2012 Geneva, Switzerland

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by Bob Last

Head, UK Mission Political and Human Rights Team

Walking the UPR walk and mounting the pressure on Syria

The much awaited second round of the Universal Periodic Review finished its first session on Monday. There’s general agreement in these parts that the UPR has been a big success since it began 4 years ago, so the second round began with more excitement than you get at a diplomat’s house on Eurovision night. Without […]

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26th March 2012 Geneva, Switzerland

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by Bob Last

Head, UK Mission Political and Human Rights Team

Council Catharsis

For every Council delegate there is  one resolution, above all others, whose success or failure takes over their life. It  dominates their working hours and prays on their subconscious mind even during the little sleep it’s possible to squeeze in. For me, it was Sri Lanka. There was a huge amount riding on the United […]

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5th March 2012 Geneva, Switzerland

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by Bob Last

Head, UK Mission Political and Human Rights Team

Panels, Protocols and Ponchos

It’s been a busy week. With our Ministers in town for the Council’s  High level Segment, we’ve all been suffering from higher than average  stress levels. Many Ministers chose to use their statements to focus  on the appalling violations in Syria, which the Council addressed in an urgent debate on Tuesday. Council members spoke out […]

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6th December 2011 Geneva, Switzerland

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by Bob Last

Head, UK Mission Political and Human Rights Team

Syria in the spotlight

The Human Rights Council turned its attention to Syria again on Friday last week with another Special Session called by the EU- the 3rd consecutive time in 7 months it had met in response to the Assad regime’s ongoing brutality. This level of attention is a clear indication of the international outrage at what is going […]

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