The United Nations Human Rights Committee has denied a request by Brazil's ex-president Lula da Silva seeking emergency action against his imprisonment, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday. Lula, currently serving a 12-year sentence over corruption, asked the committee to impose so-called interim measures -- a step the UN panel only takes when there is evidence an accused person is facing grave, irreparable harm.
Argentine jurist Fabian Salvioli was unanimously elected on Tuesday to lead the UN Human Rights Committee. The 51-year-old lawyer will be presiding over the UN body for one year. Salvioli has been a member of the UN Human Rights Committee since 2009.