Pillay renews call to refer Syria to world criminal court
UN human right chief, Navi Pillay, tells UN Security Council that referring the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court could help stem human rights violations.
13-02-2013

Justice for victims of economic, social and cultural rights violations
UN agreement empowering victims of economic, social and cultural rights violations to seek justice set to enter into force.
06-02-2013

UN taps celebrity power in fight against homophobia
Pop singer Ricky Martin and the “Princess of Africa” Yvonne Chaka Chaka stand with UN chief Ban Ki-moon to call for an end to violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
13-12-2012

Austerity measures may violate human rights
As governments respond to public deficits by tightening their belts, they risk failing in their international obligations to protect social and economic rights.
02-11-2012

Rule of law without human rights is an empty shell
At a United Nations meeting on the rule of law, world leaders reaffirm linkages between human rights, rule of law and democracy and make pledges to strengthen the rule of law.
05-10-2012

UN leads the way on disability rights
Government, civil society and United Nations representatives discuss ways to strengthen protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities.
24-09-2012

Born Free and Equal
A new publication of the UN Human Rights Office sets out the source and scope of State obligations under international human rights law to protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.
14-09-2012

Dying to tell the story: Safety of journalists in conflict
Despite UN and civil society efforts to strengthen the safety of journalists covering conflict, their job remains dangerous.
17-08-2012

How women's rights treaty serves Jamaican women
Joyce Hewett, representing Jamaican NGOs at the 52nd session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, explains why the work of the Committee is important to women in her country.
03-08-2012

Learning to negotiate human rights
United Nations diplomats expand their knowledge of human rights and how to reflect them in their work
26-07-2012

Fair trial and due process in the counter-terrorism context
Experts and practitioners discuss how to better protect human rights while responding to terrorism in Europe.
18-07-2012

Working towards more women leaders
UN women’s rights committee celebrates 30th anniversary with a focus on women’s political participation and leadership
13-07-2012

Calls for end to death penalty
With United Nations member countries set to discuss the abolition of the death penalty later this year, activists and top UN officials call for an end to capital punishment.
03-07-2012

Wanted: New ways to protect civilians in conflict
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, says international community has a responsibility to use every tool available to protect civilians in armed conflict.
26-06-2012

UN officials press for united action to end Syria crisis
Amid growing atrocities and little evidence that the Syrian Government is living up to its commitment to stop the ongoing violence, United Nations officials urge the world community to act with one voice to end the crisis.
07-06-2012

Novel effort to prevent torture reaches milestone
While torture remains a reality in all regions, a pioneering mechanism adopted 10 years ago to prevent the practice gains ground.
30-05-2012

Congolese migrants suffer dire abuses in Angola
Beaten, raped, robbed and humiliated, thousands of Congolese migrants leave Angola with nothing but shattered dreams.
24-05-2012

Wanted: Human Rights in Rio
Civil society and UN experts call for an inclusive, just and equitable outcome at the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
02-05-2012

A one-of-a-kind UN Human Rights database
The updated Universal Human Rights Index database puts more than a decade of human rights data and recommendations at your fingertips.
23-04-2012

Rapping silently for equality
UN teams up with Finnish hip-hop artist Signmark to promote the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
18-04-2012

Stronger treaty monitoring for better human rights results
With the UN’s human rights treaty monitoring system stretched, the international community discusses means to strengthen the system and its role in protecting human rights.
04-04-2012

People-centred Development: What the Arab Spring taught us
Economic growth without decent jobs, social inclusion and fair distribution of benefits is not true development.
27-03-2012

Using geography to protect human rights
Satellite imagery can provide evidence of gross human rights abuses, ranging from burnt villages to mass graves
05-03-2012

Combating homophobic violence against women
A combination of legal reforms and public education needed to combat discrimination and violence against lesbians, bisexual women and transgender persons.
01-03-2012

States set for second human rights review
In the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review, countries are expected to report on human rights commitments made during the first cycle.
21-02-2012

Human rights chief urges united action on Syria
UN human rights chief, Navi Pillay, tells world body to “act now” to end the bloodshed in Syria.
14-02-2012

How human rights secure peace
Top UN officials underscore the importance of human rights in preventing and ending conflict.
10-02-2012

Strengthening human rights in peace operations
Heads of human rights sections of United Nations peace missions meet in New York to discuss promotion and protection of human rights through peace operations.
02-02-2012

Human Rights concerns about armed brigades holding detainees in Libya
Addressing the UN Security Council on the situation in Libya, Pillay warned that, “lack of oversight by the central authorities creates an environment conducive to torture and ill treatment.” She urged the Libyan ministry of justice and the prosecutor’s
26-01-2012

Making a human rights wish
Join United Nations human rights chief, Navi Pillay, and thousands around the world in making a wish for human rights.
06-01-2012

A year for people of African descent
A chapter closes but another one opens: the International Year should lead to an International Decade for People of African Descent.
30-12-2011

Political transitions provide opportunities to promote women’s human rights
Political transitions provide a unique opportunity to promote the human rights of women.
26-12-2011

Campaigning on social networks for human rights in Tunisia
Under the pseudonym of Hamadi Kaloutcha, Sofiane Belhaj, a blogger and human rights defender, has been campaigning on social networks against former President Ben Ali’s regime since 2007.
07-12-2011

Make a wish for Human Rights
What would you wish for? The UN Human Rights office launches its very own Mash Up video as part of its social media campaign launched to celebrate Human Rights on its 10 December birthday. The Mash Up video is there to inspire and help you make a choice.
06-12-2011

16 Days of Activism: 15 years of initiatives to end violence against women
Since its creation in 1996, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women has delivered more than USD 78 million to support 339 initiatives around the world.
30-11-2011

Human Rights based approach to trafficking
The human rights- based approach to trafficking places the victim at the centre of any credible action to this problem through addressing the root causes and the factors increasing vulnerabilities.
29-11-2011

16 days of activism to eliminate violence against women
The 16 days of activism campaign, which runs from 25 November to 10 December, calls for the elimination of violence against women and invites everyone to take action against it.
23-11-2011

A new social contract needed to advance the realization of the right to development
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urges the global community to negotiate a “new social contract”, to achieve the social, economic, cultural and political progress envisaged in the Declaration on the Right to Development.
22-11-2011

For children on the streets there are no soft pillows
The UN Human Rights office convenes experts from many countries in the search for the most effective ways to help children living on the streets whose voices are seldom heard and whose rights are regularly abused with impunity.
17-11-2011