Center for Global Law and Justice | Resource Hub

Session, UN WG on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) 139
2026-05-04 - 2026-05-08 | Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
The 139th session of the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) is scheduled to take place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire from 4 to 8 May 2026.
To request a meeting with the experts of the Working Group at the next session, please contact the Secretariat at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva (e-mail: hrc-wg-eid@un.org) by 3 April 2026.

Call for input, UN SR on independence of judges and lawyers
2026-05-04
The UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers has issued a call for input to prepare for her upcoming visit to Poland in May 2026. The deadline for submissions has been extended to May 4, 2026.

Call for Input, Human Rights Council Advisory Committee
2026-05-04
The UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee has issued a call for input on human rights obligations of States in the context of preventing and combating corruption.

Call for input, UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (IE SOGI)
2026-05-04
The UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (IE SOGI) has issued a call for input to inform an upcoming report on violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in humanitarian contexts to be presented at the 81st session of the General Assembly.

Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) 189
2026-05-04 - 2026-05-08 | Panama, Latin-American Parliament, Ave. Principal de Amador, Panama, Panama
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) is scheduled to hold its 189th session in Panama. During this session, the Court will hold public hearings in three cases, and will also hold a seminar relating to its recent advisory opinion recognizing care as a human right. The public hearings may be viewed via livestream on the Court’s YouTube channel.

Visit to Colombia, UN International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement (EMLER)
2026-05-04 - 2026-05-13 | Colombia, Colombia
The UN’s International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement (EMLER) will visit Colombia.

Universal Periodic Review 52
2026-05-04 - 2026-05-15
The Working Group of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) will hold its 52nd session from May 4 to 15 to conduct the fourth cycle reviews for Namibia, Niger, Mozambique, Estonia, Paraguay, Belgium, Denmark, Palau, Somalia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Latvia, Sierra Leone, and Singapore.
All UPR meetings can generally be watched live on UN WebTV.

OHCHR, World Press Freedom Day
2026-05-05 | Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will host a panel discussion on journalists in exile and transnational repression to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day. This event will take place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Those who wish to participate should register through the Indico system. Virtual participation is also an option, via Webex.

Session, Group of Independent Eminent Experts on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action 12
2026-05-05 - 2026-05-08 | Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
The UN’s Group of Independent Eminent Experts on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (the UN’s blueprint to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance globally) is scheduled to hold its 12th Session May 5 to 8 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. A draft programme of work is available on the session page. The public portions of the session will be broadcasted via UN Web TV.

Visit to Kazakhstan, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development
2026-05-05 - 2026-05-15 | Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan
The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development will visit Kazakhstan.

Call for Input, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee)
2026-05-06
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) is currently elaborating a draft general recommendation ongender stereotypes, and has issued a call for comments for all interested parties to submit written comments through the CEDAW online submission system.

Call for Input, OHCHR (elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance)
2026-05-07
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is seeking information related to “concrete actions for the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, covering the period from June 2025 to June 2026.”
(This deadline has been extended from April 30.)

WWII Victim Remembrance
2026-05-08 - 2026-05-09
Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War is observed on May 8 and 9.

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), Civil Society Submissions Due
2026-05-11
In preparation for its 118th session, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is accepting written submissions to inform its consideration of follow-up reports from Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador, Kenya, Monaco, Saudi Arabia, and United Kingdom. Deadline May 11.
Also in preparation for its 118th session, the Committee is accepting electronic submissions relating to Early Warning and Urgent Actions (EWUAP). Deadline May 11.
Finally, the Committee is accepting civil society reports that may inform its consideration of the regular periodic State reports of Colombia, India, Kuwait, and Spain. Deadline July 20.
Please use the OHCHR Submission Online System.

Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) 190
2026-05-11 - 2026-05-15 | Costa Rica, Avenida 10, Calles 47 y 49, Los Yoses, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) is scheduled to hold its 190th session. Agenda and additional information forthcoming.

Session, UN WG Business & Human Rights 43
2026-05-11 - 2026-05-15 | Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights is scheduled to hold its 43rd session in Geneva.

**POSTPONED** Visit to Republic of Korea, UN SR on violence against women and girls
2026-05-11 - 2026-05-20 | Republic of Korea, Korea, Republic of
The visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls to the Republic of Korea has been postponed to a later date at the request of the Government. New dates to be announced.

Visit to Mexico, UN WG of Experts on People of African Descent
2026-05-11 - 2026-05-20 | Mexico, Mexico
The UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent will visit Mexico.

Call for Input, Committee on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers (CMW)
2026-05-13
The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (CMW) has issued a call for input to inform its draft Guidelines on the Disappearance of Persons in the Context of Migration.

International Day of Families
2026-05-15
International Day of Families is observed on May 15.

Call for Input, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR)
2026-05-15
The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) invites inputs to inform its work on elaborating a draft general comment on the Application of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Situations of Armed Conflicts.

Call for Input, Human Rights Council Advisory Committee
2026-05-15
The UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee has issued a call for input on the implications of plastic pollution for the full enjoyment of human rights.

Call for Input, OHCHR (human rights of women and children in conflict and post-conflict situations)
2026-05-15
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued a call for input to inform a report on best practices and main challenges in the promotion and protection of the human rights of women and children in conflict and post-conflict situations.

Call for Input, UN IE on the rights of persons with albinism
2026-05-17
The UN Independent Expert on the rights of persons with albinism has issued a call for input to inform a thematic report to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly on the psychosocial impact of colour-based discrimination as it relates to the enjoyment of the rights to life, work, education, and public participation, with a particular focus on their implication on the mental health of persons with albinism.

Deadline to Request Side Event for Human Rights Council, Session 62
2026-05-18
The UN Human Rights Council, an intergovernmental deliberative body, is scheduled to hold its 62nd regular session in Geneva, Switzerland in June. Registration of requests for NGO Side Events will open on Monday, 11 May 2026, at 12 noon (Geneva time – CEST) until Monday, 18 May 2026, at 12 noon (Geneva time – CEST). Those interested in requesting a side event are strongly encouraged to consult the Step-by-Step Informal Guidance on the Registration and Processing of NGO Side Event Requests for further details.
For any questions, please contact OHCHR’s Civil Society Team at: ohchr-hrcngo@un.org.

Call for Input, OHCHR (international cooperation for the advancement of human rights)
2026-05-18
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued a call for input regarding good practices and examples of North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation for the advancement of human rights, including the right to development.

Call for Input, UN SR on Belarus
2026-05-18
The UN Special Rapporteur on Belarus has issued a call for input to inform his report for the 81st session of the General Assembly about the situation of human rights in Belarus in the area of women’s rights and gender equality.

Visit to Mongolia, UN IE on sexual orientation and gender identity (IE SOGI)
2026-05-18 - 2026-05-29 | Mongolia, Mongolia
The UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (IE SOGI) is scheduled to visit Mongolia.

Visit to Poland, UN SR on the independence of judges and lawyers
2026-05-18 - 2026-05-29 | Poland, Poland
The UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers is scheduled to visit Poland.

**(TBC)** Visit to Honduras, UN SR on racism
2026-05-19 - 2026-05-28 | Honduras, Honduras
The UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism is scheduled to visit Honduras.
Please note that some of the UN special procedures have postponed country visits “due to the ongoing liquidity crisis.”
As of April 29, this visit to Honduras has not been confirmed and may not occur.
