Summary:

In her opening statement to the Human Rights Council's 24th session, Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, focused on Syria. She said: "this is no time for powerful States to continue to disagree on the way forward".

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Media.aspx?IsMediaPage=true&LangID=E

Navi Pillay opened the 24th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva today, addressing the situation in Syria. She said:

"The International Community is late, very late, to take serious joint action to halt the downward spiral that has gripped Syria, slaughtering its people and destroying its cities. This is no time for powerful States to continue to disagree on the way forward, or for geopolitical interests to override the legal and moral obligation to save lives by bringing this conflict to an end.

This appalling situation cries out for international action, yet a military response or the continued supply of arms risk igniting a regional conflagration, possibly resulting in many more deaths and even more widespread misery. There are no easy exits, no obvious pathway out of this nightmare, except the immediate negotiation of concrete steps to end the conflict. States, together with the United Nations, must find a way to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table and halt the bloodshed."

• Read the full opening statement

Children's Rights on the agenda

During the three-week session, children's rights are likely to feature in a number of discussions, including children of parents sentenced to the death penalty or executed, children and armed conflict, health, education, juvenile justice and attacks against persons with albinism.

You can find out more about the session below:

• Programme
• Reports (including those specifically relating to children’s rights)
• Resolutions to be tabled
• Side events relating to children's rights
• NGO statements

Follow the discussions

CRIN will be reporting on the discussions and you can keep updated on our main 24th session page.

Previous News release items

• 08/09/2013: RUSIA: Si eres gay, te pueden quitar patria potestad
• 08/09/2013: ALEMANIA: Policía rescata a 40 niños que vivían en una secta cristiana
• 08/09/2013: ALEMANIA: Introduce un "tercer género" legal para recién nacidos
• 07/09/2013: VENEZUELA: Tribunal de niños prohíbe a El Nacional publicar imágenes violentas
• 07/09/2013: BOLIVIA: Pelea carcelaria deja 29 muertos, incluido niño

Organisation Contact Details:

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Civil Society Section
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson, Office 2-031
Geneva, Switzerland


Tel: Tel. +41-(0)22-917-9230
Email: Email: civilsociety@ohchr.org
Website: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/CivilSociety.aspx

Last updated 09/09/2013 11:20:59

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.