human rights

Kenya Human Rights Commission

The Kenya Human Rights Commission is a non-governmental body established in 1992 to monitor the state of democracy and human rights in Kenya. Its website provides information on the history, purpose and activities of the organisation. It includes access to recent press releases and details of programmes being undertaken. Topics covered include transitional justice, political corruption, the state of democracy in Kenya, human rights abuses and the conduct of elections and referendums.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: US Department of State

These reports are compiled annually by the United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. They provide assessments of the current state of human rights as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This covers: individual, civil, political, and worker rights. Topics covered include: summary of human rights legislation, assessments of democracy and womens rights. Reports are available from 1999 onwards.

Commonwealth and International Human Rights Case Law Databases

These two databases are compiled by INTERIGHTS, the International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights, and made freely available on their website. One covers human rights decisions in the courts of Commonwealth countries and the other covers the decisions of international courts and tribunals. The databases can be searched separately or together. There is a summary of each case and some judgments are available in full.

Chancellor of Justice of the Republic of Estonia

Official Website of the Estonian Chancellor of Justice whose role is to guarantee the constitutional rights and freedoms of individuals and to ensure legislation conforms with the Constitution of Estonia. The site explains the work of the Legal Chancellor and includes a PDF copy of the Annual Report of the Legal Chancellor which provides a more in-depth look at work and activities undertaken. The site has a search engine and can be viewed in Estonian, English and Russian.

Legal Journal on Burma

The Legal Journal on Burma (LawKa Pala) is published by the Burma Lawyers' Council (BLC), an independent organisation of lawyers and legal academics promoting human rights and democracy in Burma. The journal contains feature articles, commentaries and reviews focused on the legal and political issues in Burma and is available online back to 1997, in pdf format. .

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)

The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) is a Council of Europe human rights body. Its mandate is to monitor the treatment of detainees and prisoners in its member nations in order to protect and promote their human rights. Its website provides information on the aims of the organisation, its operation and activities. It includes press releases, annual reports and reports on individual nations from 1989 to date.

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights

The Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights is an independent institution within the Council of Europe. Its website provides information on the Commissioner's work, including articles, reports, speeches and press releases. The reports include annual surveys of human rights law and legislation in the Council of Europe area, observation reports from individual nations and thematic reports on topics such as the protection of human rights for the Roma, minority ethnic group rights, protection of the rights of children and women and actions against human trafficking.

Uganda Human Rights Commission

The Uganda Human Rights Commission is an independent constitutional body which was established under the constitution to protect and promote human rights in Uganda. Its website provides information on the history, function and work of the commission. It includes access to all its annual reports from 2001 to date, some full-text reports and papers on human rights and human rights abuse in Uganda and full-text human rights legislation. The Commission's Tribunbal hears human rights cases and decisions can be downloaded from the site.

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Website of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNFPII), an advisory body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, whose role is to provide expert advice and raise awareness of indigenous issues in the UN. The site has information on the history and development of the UNFPII, profiles of members and a calendar of events. Official documents and resolutions relating to indigenous issues can be viewed on the site in a variety of languages along with documents and recommendationsfrom from sessions of the UNFPII.

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