The Human Rights Council reviewed Zambia’s report under its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism in Geneva last Friday, and adoption of the report took place this week on Wednesday. Here in Lusaka, women, including those who describe themselves as “living positively,” are struggling to come out of the shadows that still obstruct the government’s efforts to fight HIV/AIDS.

Over the past five years, France has forcibly removed dozens of foreign residents accused of links to terrorism and extremism. Available government figures indicate that 71 individuals described as “Islamic fundamentalists” were forcibly removed from France between September 2001 and September 2006. Fifteen of these were described as imams. Though not a new policy, national security removals now form an integral part of France’s national strategy to counter violent radicalization and recruitment to terrorism.

The United Kingdom came in for robust questioning on its human rights record from other UN member states last week at the Human Rights Council, during the historic first session of the Universal Periodic Review Coming at a time when the UK government is trying to pass yet another piece of counterterrorism legislation, which includes extending pre-charge detention to 42 days, it’s no wonder a significant number of countries asked about UK counterterrorism policies. .

A serious evaluation of the UK’s human rights record, that takes into account input from national and international NGOs, will go a long way to establishing the credibility of this new review process.

Human Rights Watch voices concerns about new trends in South Africa’s foreign policy, as witnessed in the UN Security Council and UN Human Rights Council.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has agreed a resolution that lets Sudan off the hook for continuing human rights abuses in Darfur, Human Rights Watch said today. The resolution, which is expected to be adopted by consensus on December 14, 2007 rewards Khartoum’s failure to take the steps to address the Darfur crisis identified by a group of experts appointed by the council.

On December 11, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) is due to consider the final report of the Group of Experts (GOE) appointed on Darfur. As its mandate required, the GOE has focused on the implementation by Sudan of some 70 detailed recommendations on Darfur, many of which require extensive and long-term reforms within Sudan.