human rights

Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau

Official website of the Hong Kong Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, the government body with responsibility for overseeing the implementation of Hong Kong's Basic Law and for promoting closer ties and cooperation with mainland China. The site offers guidance, documentation and related links to topical issues such as the Sino-British Joint Declaration, human rights, constitutional developments and the Basic Law. Legislative Council papers are available, along with press releases, speeches and links to UN documents.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

This site provides historical information and documentation on the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is a joint digitisation project of the UN's Dag Hammarskjöld Library and the Library of the UN Office at Geneva. The site has details of meetings which took place between 1946 and 1948, including meeting records and reports. Documents can be downloaded in English and French. Profiles of members of the Drafting Committee are also given.

Global Network Initiative

The Global Network Initiative (GNI) is a coalition of tech companies, human rights organisations, academics, investors and technology leaders whose purpose is to protect and advance freedom of expression and privacy in the technology sector. Its website sets out the 'GNI Principles' on protecting and promoting freedom of expression and privacy and has has guidance for companies on putting these principles into practice.

Forced evictions and disability rights in Africa

Online article looking at forced evictions and disability rights in Africa written by Buhle Angelo Dube who is a lecturer at the University of Swaziland's Law Department. The article was published in 2008 (and updated in 2023 by Sibusiso Nhlabatsi) on the Globalex website and made freely available by the Hauser Global Law School Program at the New York University School of Law. The first section explains the background to forced evictions and their impact in Africa and focuses on this practice in Ghana, Swaziland and Botswana.

Indigenous and Tribal Peoples

This section of the International Labour Organization (ILO) website deals with the employment rights of indigenous and tribal peoples. There is background information on the ILOãs work with indigenous and tribal peoples and details of ILO projects designed to provide support and assistance to these people and to governments. Full text copies of international legal instruments promoting the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples are provided on the site along with their ratifications and an account of the effects these conventions have had.

Exploring Humanitarian Law

Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) is an online education programme designed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Education Development Center Inc. (EDC). EHL is a free resource providing learning and teaching materials aimed at the 13 to 18 age group. The materials are organised into modules covering topics such as the humanitarian perspective, limits in armed conflict, the law in action, dealing with violations and responding to the consequences of armed conflict.

Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti

The Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) provides information on human rights in Haiti, brings court cases and works with other human rights groups in Haiti and abroad. The site gives details of IJDH's activities regarding access to justice, immigration, Haitian democracy, accountability for abuses by international actors, women's rights, and human rights litigation. It also provides , news updates, statements, open letters and reports.

Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Research Institute

The Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Research Institute (BLHRRI) is a research and training organisation concerned with discrimination against the Buraku people in Japan. Buraku people are a minority group whose ancestors were considered outcasts because of their occupations. The site provides background and historical information, details of BLHRRI's publications and issues of Buraku Liberation News from 1997 onwards; this newsletter can be viewed in English and gives details of events, activities and research along with campaign updates. The site is in English and Japanese.

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