Human Rights | WPN World People News

On 12 February, Ministers from the EU Member States have adopted new rules that will guarantee the presumption of innocence of anyone accused or suspected of a crime by the police or justice authorities. The Directive also ensures that everyone benefits from the right to be present at their trial.

At a Headquarters conference on the human rights of terrorism victims, the top United Nations political official on 11 February urged Member States to engage with victims of terrorism and violent extremism, especially the young and the vulnerable, to build on previous commitments and ensure that their human rights are fully respected.

One year has passed since the appointment of the new government. Undoubtedly, some changes have taken place and further changes are being discussed. However, there is one very important – perhaps the most important – issue, which has been entirely ignored. This fundamental omission concerns the stability of Sri Lanka as a nation; it is something that underpins the achievement of peace and the economic progress of the nation. The elephant in the room that has been ignored is the ability to enforce law in Sri Lanka.

A new analysis issued on 11 February by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) shows that 2015 – the hottest year on record – confirmed that weather and climate-related disasters now dominate disaster trends linked to natural hazards.

A new analysis issued on 11 February by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) shows that 2015 – the hottest year on record – confirmed that weather and climate-related disasters now dominate disaster trends linked to natural hazards.

Turkey should allow Syrians at its border fleeing the fighting in and around Aleppo to seek protection in Turkey, Human Rights Watch said today. Forcing people to remain in a war zone, where they risk death and injury, is no solution to the challenge of protecting Syrians fleeing their country.

The Global Nutrition Report 2015 was discussed during the Conference dedicated to the issues of rural development, climate change and food security. The Report is the result of cooperation among the International Food Policy Research Institute, the Eurasian Center for Food Security, and the World Bank.

The release of President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) budget on February 9 sent a mixed signal on the prospects for continued progress for mothers and children around the world. Save the Children applauded the proposed increases in the Maternal and Child Health account, but the overall International Affairs budget declined slightly, and some accounts vital to the well-being of women and children across the globe took significant cuts.

Member of a polling station committee for Belarus' presidential election empty a ballot box prior to counting in Minsk, 11 October 2015.

Education International (EI) has endorsed the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)’s call to international leaders to withhold from promoting excluding policies that would affect refugee workers’ basic rights, and to create opportunities that would instead enable them to find a faire place in the labour market.