News Items and Press Releases

Press and Media coverage: 2018

• Press Statement: University of Pretoria announces mayor new study with United Nations on the global human rights system
  06/02/2018
• Mexican rights commission finds marines and security detail likely responsible for 2014 killing of Texas siblings
  18/01/2018

Offical UN Press Releases

• Pakistan must immediately halt execution of child offender Shafqat Hussain – UN rights experts urge
  05/07/2015
• For more information on the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions visit:
  http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Executions/Pages/SRExecutionsIndex.aspx
• Official UN press releases available at:
  http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/NewsSearch.aspx?MID=SR_Summ_Executions

Reports by Christof Heyns on Drones and LAR's

• Links to reports by Christof Heyns
  Drones to the UN General Assembly, 25 October 2013 and
  Lethal Autonomous Robots to the UN Human Rights Council, 30 May 2013

Interviews

• Interview with Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
  On 29 May 2013 in Geneva, Christof Heyns conducted an interview with Navi Pillay, the first African to serve as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (appointment 1 September 2008-2012, renewed for a two-year second term).

Photos

• Presentation on drones to the Norwegian Parliament
  25 September 2014
  
  

Videos

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OHCHR

• Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions – Press Conference (23 October 2014)
  http://webtv.un.org/watch/christof-heyns-special-rapporteur-on-extrajudicial-summary-or-arbitrary-executions-%E2%80%93-press-conference/3855742019001
  
  
• Third committee, 24th meeting - 69th General Assembly (whole session, i.e. including interactive dialogue) (23 October 2014)
  http://webtv.un.org/watch/third-committee-24th-meeting-%E2%80%93-69th-general-assembly/3854789509001#full-text
  
  
• Christof Heyns, Third Committee, 24th meeting - 69th General Assembly (22 October 2014)
  http://webtv.un.org/watch/christof-heyns-third-committee-24th-meeting-69th-general-assembly/3853584312001

• Joint statement on Syria by UN Special Rapporteurs
  http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Executions/Pages/Videos.aspx

• UN Human Rights expert Christof Heyns on the protection of journalists
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfRP9PQECEA

• UN Human Rights expert Christof Heyns on the lethal use of force during demonstrations
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWWz8AM1iTg

• UN Human Rights expert Christof Heyns on Sri Lanka video footage
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9c9AWIo1lA

• UN Human Rights expert Christof Heyns on lethal autonomous robots
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEInsrT8cHU

Al Jazeera

• UN calls for international investigation into Gaddafi death
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BusUCAgZYNU

Hindustan Times

• India should scrap AFSPA in Kashmir: UN
  http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/newdelhi/india-should-scrap-afspa-in-kashmir-un/article1-833317.aspx

Human Rights Watch

• Pull the Plug on Killer Robots
  http://mm.hrw.org/content/pull-plug-killer-robots

Ultimate Weapons

• Robotic Warriors: X-47B
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyfjCgTUpq0

Channel 4

• Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields
  http://www.channel4.com/programmes/sri-lankas-killing-fields/4od
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3Pn6GRKXLo

Daily Voice News 2014

• UN sounds alarm on rise of autonomous 'killer robots'
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVtp0uRIvXM

Radio

Radio France Internationale

• UN experts allowed into Gambia to investigate rights issues

DeutschlandFunk

• UN-Radio über den Report von Christof Heyns

United Nations Radio

• Use of lethal autonomous robots may violate international law

Press and Media coverage: 2016

The New Age

• Prof Heyns get UN post

Pretoria News 

• Tuks prof elected to serve on top UN human rights committee

Mercury

• UN job for SA man

Cape Times

• SA professor to serve on top UN human rights committee

Pretoria FM 

• Christof Heyns

Lotus FM 

• University of Pretoria Professor elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Commission

Bosveld Stereo

• UP professor appointed to position at UN

Radio Rosestad 

• UP Law professor to be in UN Human Rights Committee

Vuma FM - News @ 08:00 and 09:00

• SA Professor Elected Member of UN Human Rights committee

Phalaphala FM

• Heyns elected member of UN Human Rights committee

Lotus FM The Morning Rush 

• University of Pretoria Professor elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Commission

Monitor - RSG 

• Christoff Heyns elected as member of UN Human Rights Commission

Gagasi 99.5 FM 

• South African elected member of UN Human Rights Committee

Sabc.co.za

• Heyns elected member of UN Human Rights committee

Press and Media coverage: 2015

• Time to Kill the Federal Death Penalty
  The Wall Street Journal
  11/10/2015
• Statement on behalf of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Expert consultation on the right to life convened by the African Commission's Working Group on Death Penalty and Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings in Africa
  Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
  09/07/2015
• Kiai And Heyns Consult With Experts From Asia And Africa On Peaceful Protest Recommendations
  Freeassembly.net
  09/04/2015
• UN experts make last ditch efforts to save Shafqat Hussain
  Dawn
  06/09/2015
• Saudi execution surge 'very disturbing': UN rapporteur
  Yahoo Maktoob News
  05/28/2015
• Iran Rejects U.N. Criticism of Death Penalty Amid Spike in Executions, Arrest of Activist
  The Tower
  05/13/2015
• The Human Rights Council at 10: Improving relevance, strengthening impact, 5 May
  Glion Human Rights Dialogue 2015
  05/11/2015
• Foreign Policy
  Why Did Indonesia Just Execute Eight People for Drug Crimes?
  04/29/2015
• All Africa - World Council of Churches (Geneva)
  Africa: Killer Robots? Moral Questions Pervade UN Conference
  04/24/2015
• All Africa - World Council of Churches (Geneva)
  Africa: Killer Robots? Moral Questions Pervade UN Conference
  04/24/2015
• Panel on Human Rights and Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS)
  Informal Meeting of Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons: Convention on Conventional Weapons, Geneva: 16 April 2016
  04/22/2015
• UN Live United Nations Web TV
  United Nations 13th Congress on crime prevention and criminal justice (Doha, 12-19 April 2015)
  04/17/2015
• Amnesty International
  Autonomous Weapons Systems: Five key human rights issues for consideration
  04/16/2015
• 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice - 14 April 2015, 10:30am
  Death Penalty, Drugs and Terrorism
  03/24/2015
• Lawfare
  The Foreign Policy Essay: The South Korean Sentry—A “Killer Robot” to Prevent War
  03/01/2015
• Institute for Human Rights and Business
  Voices: Conversations on Business and Human Rights from around the World
  02/26/2015
• ABC
  Fact check: No proof the death penalty prevents crime
  02/26/2015
• Huffington Post
  Trust Reality Rather Than President Obama's Words on Drones
  01/27/2015
• Jurist
  Rights group criticizes Mexico for failed investigation into the disappearance of 43 students
  01/23/2015
• Defense One
  The US Military Is Building Gangs of Autonomous Flying War Bots
  23/01/2015
• Customs Today
  Saudi Arabia: Syrian convict’s beheading comes as third in 2015
  01/13/2015
• BBC Mundo
  Las Tacticas Brutales Del Estado Islamico
  03/02/2015

Press and Media coverage: 2014

• Al Akhbar English
  Saudi carries out 86th execution of 2014 as Bahrain sentences two to death
  29/12/2014
• Rise Up Times
  Glenn Greenwald: On Media Outlets That Continue to Describe Unknown Drone Victims As “Militants”
  30/11/2014
• McClatchyDC
  UN torture experts weigh in on disputed Senate CIA interrogation report
  26/11/2014
• The New Yorker
  The unblinking stare: The drone war in Pakistan
  24/11/2014
• New York Times
  Fearing Bombs That Can Pick Whom to Kill
  11/11/2014
• JollofNews
  UN Investigators Barred From Gambia’s Prisons
  08/11/2014
• United Nations
  End of visit statement of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, Juan Mendez
  The Gambia:  UN team prevented from completing torture and killing investigations
  07/11/2014
• Amnesty International Press Release
  Gambia: UN monitors denied prison access as they condemn ‘consistent practice’ of torture
  07/11/2014
• The Daily Star
  ‘Govt won’t hesitate to execute Kamaruzzaman’s death penalty’
  07/11/2014
• Reuters
  U.N. says Gambia blocks investigators probing torture and killings
  07/11/2014
• Foroyaa Freedom
  UN Special Rapporteurs on torture and summary executions to visit to Gambia
  31/10/2014
• Unric
  The age of the drones – for better or worse
  24/10/2014
• Scoop
  UN Expert Concerned About Use Drone Technology
  24/10/2014
• David Icke
  Police Use of Drones May Threaten Human Rights: UN Expert
  24/10/2014
• United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights News Release
  22/10/2014
  A drone is not a cop – UN rights expert concerned about technologies that depersonalise the use of force
• The New York Times
  19/07/2014
  In Remote Corners of India, Immunity for Soldiers Who Kill and Rape Civilians
• United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe
  17/03/2014
  UN: Stop impunity in Papua New Guinea
• Tonga Daily News
  18/03/2014
  United Nations representative cautions on death penalty in PNG
• The Huffington Post
  27/02/2014
  'Illegal' Drone Strikes Condemned In Landslide Vote By European Politicians
• European Voice
  27/02/2014
  MEPs concerned about EU drone programme
• International Business Times
  27/02/2014
  Drones Strikes: European Parliament Condemns Murder of Civilians
• Jurist
  23/02/2014
  UN rights experts alarmed at spike in executions in Iran

Press and Media coverage: 2013

• The Verge
  Automated killer robot development should be paused, says UN report
• Rolling Stone Magazine
  'The Point of No Return': Should Robots Be Able to Decide to Kill You On Their Own?
• The Guardian
  Georgia will violate both justice and the constitution if it executes Warren Hill
• The Magazine of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
  Guest editorial Journalists’ safety: a vital humanitarian concern
• The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the International Office for Human Rights Action on Colombia (OIDHACO), the Comision Colombiana de Juristas (CCJ) and Coordinación Colombia Europa Estados Unidos (CCEEU) side­-event
  Extra­judicial killings in Colombia

 Press and Media coverage: 2012

• Article 19
  19/06/2012
  UN HRC: Two Special Rapporteurs both call for those who violate journalists’ rights to be held
• UN Special Rapporteur Kashmir Visit
  Links to various media reports
• UN Special Rapporteur Kashmir Visit: Various media articles
  27/03/2013
  • Kashmir Reader
  • The Daily Kashmir Vision
  • Srinigar Times
  • Tameel I Irshad
  • The Daily AFAAQ Sringar
  • The Daily Aftab
  • The Daily JANOON Sringar
  • The Daily Kashmir Rays
  • The Daily Kashmir UZMA Srinigar
  • The Daily NID A I MASHRIQ
  • The Daily Rehmat
  • The Daily ROSHNI Sringar
  • The Daily UQAB
  • The Kashmir Monitor
  • The Kashmir Monitor B
  • Wadi Ki Awaz English
  • Wadi Ki Awaz Tamil
  • Zabarwan Times English
  • Zabarwan Times Tamil
  • Brighter Kashmir
  • Daily Asian Mail
  • Daily Kashmir Images
  • Daily Kashmir Images A
  • Daily Kashmir Images B
  • Good Morning Kashmir
  • Greater Kashmir
  • Great Kashmir B
  • JammuKashmir NewsPoint
  • JammuKashmir NewsPoint B
  • Kashmir Age
  • Kashmir Age B
  • Kashmir Horizon

 Press and Media coverage: 2011

• IntelliBriefs
  01/01/2011
  UN experts deeply concerned with gross human rights violations which may amount to crimes against humanity
• United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights News Release
  02/02/2011
  OHCHR: UN experts call for a moratorium on death penalty in the Islamic Republic of Iran
• CNN iReport
  08/02/2011
  UN experts decry drastic rise in executions by regime
• The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran
  18/03/2011
  Cross-Regional Groups Call on Muslim Countries to Support a UN Human Rights Monitor on Iran
• Taiwan News
  03/05/2011
  UN expert: Killing Bin Laden perhaps only option
• YouTube
  09/05/2011
  U.S. Senator statement about U.N. representatives
• Asian Tribune
  05/06/2011
  Channel 4 Video is Fake, Edited and Video taken by Video Camer
• The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)
  19/06/2011
  Lanka seeks dialogue with UN rapporteur on Channel 4 allegations
• BBC News South Asia
  05/07/2011
  Channel 4 rejects Sri Lanka 'war crimes' film criticism
• LankaNewspapers.com
  06/07/2011
  Prof Raja Wijesinghe on BBC Hardtalk
• GA Report
  20/10/2011
  UN human rights expert questions targeted killings and use of lethal force  

 Press and Media coverage: 2010

• Tops.lk
  17/10/2010
  US robotic weapons : UN alerted  
• Al Jazeera
  22/10/2010
  UN calls for probe into Gaddafi's death
• Channel 4 News
  23/10/2010
  CIA Drone Strikes: a legal war?  
• Washington Post
  24/10/2010
  U.N. official calls for study of ethics, legality of unmanned weapons
• History Geeks Blog
  24/10/2010
  Get a Grip!
• Daily News (Sri Lanka)
  25/10/2010
  US robotic weapons : UN alerted
• The Guilfordian
  04/11/2010
  U.N. officials question use of unmanned weapons
• Orange (AFP)
  11/11/2010
  Public killings take Somalia ‘back to stone age’
• International Service for Human Rights
  22/11/2010
  GA Third Committee deletes 'sexual orientation' from resolution on extrajudicial executions
• Channel 4 News
  30/11/2010
  Sri Lanka executions video: new war crimes claim
• Genocide Sri Lanka
  01/12/2010
  Amnesty urges Britain to examine Rajapakse war crimes allegations
• Countercurrents.org
  01/12/2010
  Sri Lanka Execution Video: New War Crimes Claims
• Brisbane Times
  03/12/2010
  US envoy blames Sri Lanka leader for massacre
• Deccan Herald
  03/12/2010
  UN calls for probe into Sri Lankan troops' war crime video
• India Talkies
  03/12/2010
  Sri Lanka rejects war crimes video, UN calls for probe
• UN News Centre
  31/12/2010
  Côte d’Ivoire: Any attack on new Côte d’Ivoire leader will be repulsed, top UN envoy warns
• Reliefweb
  31/12/2010
  Côte d'Ivoire: UN experts deeply concerned with gross human rights violations which may amount to crimes against humanity
• Expatica.com
  31/12/2010
  UN experts fear I.Coast 'crimes against humanity'
• International Law Prof Blog
  31/12/2010
  Côte d’Ivoire’s Outgoing President will be Personally Accountable for Deaths and Violence