Timeline

Human Rights & Refugees

We work to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights through the United Nations system, with particular reference to migration and displacement, criminal justice and conscientious objection to military service.
October 2021

QUNO Engages with Human Rights Council Social Forum focussing on COVID-19

Marisa Leon Gomez Sonet addressed the Human Rights Council Social Forum to highlight the impact of COVID-19 and pandemic response measures on the human rights of migrants. 

During a panel on the impact on particular groups, she drew attention to the report from the Special Rapporteur on human rights of migrants on COVID-19 and called on states to:

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October 2021

QUNO Releases Briefing Paper and makes a Statement at the 48th Session of the Human Rights Council on Racial Justice and Migration Governance

The Human Rights and Refugees Program (HRR) at QUNO Geneva is pleased to announce the release of its latest briefing paper titled: New Opportunities to Further Action on Racial Justice and Migration Governance. The paper outlines the new United Nations’ mechanisms for racial justice and highlights possible actions and links with migration governance.

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September 2021

Human Rights Council 48th Session Starts Online with High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Highlighting Environmental Crises, Migration and Displacement

QUNO Geneva is (virtually) attending the 48th session of the Human Rights Council with particular attention to the human rights of migrants, Indigenous Peoples, the death penalty, and the human rights impact of the climate crisis.

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Event of Note
August 2021

Quaker United Nations Office Geneva names new Director

Following an international search process, the Quaker UN Office is delighted to announce that Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge has been selected as the incoming Director of QUNO Geneva. Nozizwe, a South African national, is a member of the Quaker Community in the Western Cape Meeting. She has broad experience in her home country and distinguished and influential service in government, civil society and advocacy. Nozizwe has an honorary Doctorate of Law from Haverford College, diplomas in microbiology and adult education, a degree in social science and an honours degree in philosophy.

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July 2021

QUNO, War Resisters International and International Fellowship of Reconciliation’s webinar series

QUNO, War Resisters International and International Fellowship of Reconciliation’s webinar series on campaigning for conscientious objection to military service aims to:

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May 2021

Report on Conscientious Objection to Military Service and Refugee Status Determination

To mark International Conscientious Objectors' Day on the 15 May 2021, QUNO is pleased to be releasing our new publication on conscientious objection and refugee status determination procedures. This report aims to support informed refugee status determination for conscientious objectors to military service seeking asylum by highlighting relevant international and regional standards and jurisprudence and analyzing national guidance.

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March 2021

Statement on hate speech and minorities at the Human Rights Council

In line with our continued efforts to strengthen the human rights of migrants, QUNO delivered an oral statement at the 46th Session of the Human Rights Council as part of the interactive dialogue with the  Special Rapporteur on minority issues. (Full statement available below)

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March 2021

Statement on racial discrimination and migration governance at the Human Rights Council

As part of our recent efforts to raise the issue of racial injustice in migration governance, QUNO had the opportunity to address the 46th session of the Human Rights Council as part of the Panel Debate on Racial Discrimination. (Full video of the statement available below)

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March 2021

The 2021 QUNO Review is now available online

Our new, March 2021 edition of the QUNO Review is now available online. The annual review provides a brief introduction to QUNO and our way of working, as well as an overview of each of our programme areas. Learn more about our past year of our work and see where we are headed in 2021.

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March 2021

Kyoto Pledge on Child Rights and Criminal Justice

Together with partner organisations who champion the child rights in criminal justice systems we are calling on all actors to support the vision expressed in our Kyoto Pledge for Child Rights and Criminal Justice. Released ahead of the 14th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice the Pledge sets out a vision for criminal justice systems in which children are seen, children are heard, and children’s rights are upheld and asks States and others to commit to:

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March 2021

Addressing inequalities central to the path to recovery and reform after Covid-19

QUNO welcomes the UN High Commissioner’s report on Covid-19 and human rights and its emphasis on structural inequality and discrimination.  In an oral statement to the 46th Session of the Human Rights Council we responded to this report, focusing on the human rights of migrants. (Full video of the statement is available below)

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February 2021

International Standards on Conscientious Objection to Military Service

This updated paper lays out the ways in which conscientious objection has been recognized and is protected under human rights treaties and mechanisms, taking into account developments in international standards that have occurred since 2015. These strengthened standards can be used by frontline organizations as a tool to limit suffering, improve lives and challenge root causes of injustice. 

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January 2021

QUNO, WRI and IFOR's webinar series on conscientious objection to military service

QUNO, War Resisters International (WRI) and International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) are pleased to present the details of our next webinar as part of our series on campaigning for conscientious objection to military service. 

This series aims to:

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January 2021

QUNO participates in the Youth Forum on Migration

QUNO has been working on the human rights of migrants at the international level to promote the protection of human rights of all regardless of migration status. One of QUNO’s priorities is connecting with others to both learn from and work collaboratively with to ensure the effectiveness of our work.   

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November 2020

QUNO delivers oral statement to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

QUNO has been working on the human rights of migrants at the international level to promote the protection of human rights of all regardless of migration status. Recently, QUNO has been working more on relating structural racism to migration policies, this work recognises that in order to achieve migration justice we must understand the role racism plays in migration laws and policy.

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October 2020

Briefing Paper: Not Forgotten: Human Rights of Migrants at the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council

The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) believes in the inherent worth of every individual and is committed to working for migration justice. This includes the promotion and protection of the human rights of migrants, regardless of migration status. Migration has been an integral component of our societies throughout history; however, migrants continue to face hostility, criminalization and violence which underlines what the High Commissioner of Human Rights has described as a lethal disregard for migrant’s lives.

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October 2020

Briefing Paper: Using the Regional Migration Reviews to Further Human Rights Protection

This updated paper is intended to help migrants, NGOs and other stakeholders to engage with the Regional Migration Reviews as part of their work to improve the promotion and protection of the human rights of migrants. The Global Compact for Migration (GCM), adopted in 2018, is a significant commitment from governments to take a people centred and human rights based approach to migration policy and to work together towards this. The GCM invites regions to undertake reviews of the implementation of the compact every four years starting in 2020.

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October 2020

QUNO delivers oral statement on the human rights of migrants

QUNO works on the human rights of migrants at the international level to promote the protection of human rights of all regardless of migration status. As part of this work, QUNO delivered a statement at the 45th session of the Human Rights Council General Debate on the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. This declaration supports understanding of the human rights of migrants, recognizing and reaffirming the dignity and inherent worth of all.

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September 2020

QUNO delivers oral statement on children of parents sentenced to death or executed

Human Rights and Refugees Programme Assistant Najmah Ali delivering oral statement.

As part of our work to uphold the rights of children of parents sentenced to death or executed QUNO raises this issue in relevant UN meetings, highlighting legal developments and calling on all to act to limit their suffering.

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