OHCHR | Feature Stories

Feature Stories

Parliamentarians promote fairer societies
Jamila Ksiksi is the first Black woman MP in Tunisian and amongst the first parliamentarians to champion ground-breaking anti-racial discrimination law in her country Tunisia.
19 December 2018

Parliamentarians promote democracy and human rights
Kenneth Okoth, a Parliamentarian from Kenya, gives us his perspective on how human rights can promote fairer societies.
7 December 2018

Uncertain prospects for Boko Haram survivors
As more women and girls are freed from the violence of terror group Boko Haram, those returning to their communities do not always receive a survivor’s welcome. How can local authorities improve their reintegration into their communities and ensure their rehabilitation?
21 June 2017

Zeid to Human Rights Council: “Boko Haram retains capacity to cause significant harm”
UN Human Rights Chief Zeid warns that failure to uphold international humanitarian and human rights principles in the fight against Boko Haram may jeopardize the population’s trust in national authorities.
6 July 2015

Plan to protect journalists reviewed
Attacks against journalists and the shocking levels of impunity for those attacks are unacceptable, says UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. There needs to be a coordinated effort from all sides to ensure that each State creates and sustains an enabling environment for journalists.
7 November 2014

Armed drones: calls for greater transparency and accountability
The Human Rights Council brings the debate on the use of armed drones to the fore, urging States to be more transparent and to promptly investigate allegations of violations.
20 October 2014

Safety of journalists: States must act to end impunity
UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay says States must act to address impunity: that every act of violence against a journalist that goes uninvestigated and unpunished is an open invitation to further violence.
13 June 2014

Taking on the past: the Tunisian Truth and Dignity Commission
Three years on from the January 14 Revolution, Tunisia formally establishes its Truth and Dignity Commission with a mandate to uncover past abuses and offer appropriate redress to victims. UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay welcomes the Commission saying it will help reknit the fabric of society and re-establish a sense of common destiny.
9 June 2014

The right to take risks and make mistakes: equal recognition before the law for people with disabilities
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities finds that all too often people with disabilities do not enjoy legal equality, which affects their capacity to make fundamental decisions affecting their health, education, work, relationships and political participation.
15 May 2014

The UN Human Rights Office reports on the state of prisons in Tunisia
The UN Human Rights Office publishes a report, citing overcrowding as the major problem in Tunisia’s prison system.
25 April 2014

Afghanistan: a pivotal moment for human rights
Since 2001, there have been several human rights achievements in Afghanistan; however these gains remain fragile and many Afghans worry about how this year’s political, security and economic transition might impact the human rights of its citizens.
24 January 2014

Civilians deliberately targeted in large-scale killings in Central African Republic
Deliberate killings of Christian and Muslim civilians continue with impunity in Central African Republic.
17 January 2014

Tunisians seeking the right to the truth
The United Nations Human Rights Office in Tunisia is working with the interim Government and various stakeholders including victims and civil society organizations, towards the establishment of a comprehensive transitional justice process that would promote the truth about the past, and provide reparations and justice for all.
14 January 2014

"Hidden" victims: the children of parents on death row
The Human Rights Council, at its latest meeting in Geneva, has brought to the fore the human rights of children whose parents are on death row, urging States to provide appropriate protection and assistance.
10 October 2013

Access to justice for indigenous peoples
A major new study finds indigenous peoples are more likely to be the victims of crime, to come into contact with police, be charged with offences and to serve time.
24 July 2013

An end to mob justice in Haiti
Perceived as an acceptable form of retributive justice, lynching is alarmingly recurrent in Haiti.
8 May 2013

“Every citizen has the right to have a say”
Several countries across the Middle East and North Africa turn to transitional justice principles to assist in the move away from authoritarianism to more democratic and inclusive systems of governance.
15 November 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.
5 October 2012

Protecting witnesses and victims: special measures for women and children
At a UN meeting on witness and victim protection, experts emphasize the importance of special protection measures for victims of violations that disproportionally affect women and girls.
29 July 2011

Measuring justice and rule of law
As the UN launches tools to measure progress in strengthening the rule of law, a new study shows that justice systems continue to rule women out.
8 July 2011

Public security and human rights
Experts examine the challenges of promoting and protecting human rights in times of insecurity.
18 May 2011

Human rights chief calls for accountability on her mission to Russia
“Accountability for those in power is essential, if abuse of power is to be diminished, and public trust established” says UN High Commissioner, Navi Pillay, at the conclusion of her mission to Russia.
23 February 2011

A cooperative effort to protect the human rights of stateless persons
The UN Human Rights office and the UN Refugee agency cooperate in the Middle East and North Africa region to improve the lives of stateless persons
22 November 2010

Protection of civilians in armed conflict
In a speech to the UN Security Council, Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay says key to protection of civilians in conflict zones is ensuring accountability for perpetrators
13 July 2010

In this section

Introduction

Violence, death and serious injury in situations of deprivation of liberty (PDF)

Transitional Justice

Reparations

Right to the truth

Prevention of Genocide

Democracy and Human Rights

Right to a Nationality and Statelessness

United Nations Rule of Law Website and Document Repository

Human rights implications of over-incarceration and overcrowding

Study on the prevention of human rights violations