OHCHR | Stories by Date 2016

How we make a difference 2016

Empowering young lawyers in Kyrgyzstan through human rights training
An inter-ethnic conflict that took place in the south in June 2010 that left many without proper legal recourse. The UN Human Rights Office in Kyrgyzstan, in response to this situation, held a series of workshops training young aspiring and practicing defense lawyers on dealing with human rights redress issues.
30-12-2016

Spotlight on human rights of migrants in wake of Calais camp eviction
Human rights of migrants in transit along France’s northern coast must be a priority, says UN Human Rights Office.
16-12-2016

Stand up for migrants' rights in commemoration of Migrants Day
A series of stories and videos offers a glimpse into the human rights situation and experiences of migrants in transit.
16-12-2016

Detention of migrants in Libya is a human rights crisis
Thousands of migrants in Libya are being detained under inhumane conditions, beaten and tortured, according to a new UN report.
15-12-2016

South Sudan: serious risk of massive, ethnically targeted violence, warns High Commissioner Zeid
Killings, gang rape and massive destruction: "South Sudan teeters on the brink of a disaster even more terrible than the calamities its people have already endured."
14-12-2016

Cartoonists for minorities
Renowned cartoonists describe how their work contributes to raising awareness of the rights of minorities and combating discrimination.
12-12-2016

"Stand up for someone's rights today," Zeid urges
"In the street. In school. At work. In public transport. In the voting booth. At home. On social media. In sports. Wherever we are, all of us can make a real difference," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the occasion of Human Rights Day.
08-12-2016

Stand up for human rights, which are under unprecedented pressure - Zeid
On the occasion of Human Rights Day, at the end of a “disastrous” 2016, Zeid stresses every individual has a role to play in pushing back against the unprecedented pressures confronting human rights.
08-12-2016

Stand up for human rights and celebrate the UDHR 70th anniversary
Join the year-long campaign to celebrate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which turns 70 in 2018. Stand up for human rights and take action for stronger respect, greater freedom and more compassion.
08-12-2016

Do not erode essential international institutions and laws, Zeid urges Human Rights Council
Highlighting current crises, Zeid emphasised that in a chaotic world, international laws and bodies maintain social cohesion within States, and peace between them.
30-11-2016

Financial institutions should use their leverage to promote human rights
The distance between financial institutions and the human rights impact of the projects they finance may be far in terms of direct contact, but this distance is not insurmountable. This was the opinion of the panel on the role of financial institutions in promoting human rights at the UN Business and Human Rights Forum.
28-11-2016

Latin America and the Caribbean negotiate better protection for environmental rights defenders
In the world’s most dangerous region for environmental defenders, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) launched a compilation of human rights standards to be considered by negotiators of a new regional agreement on environmental matters.
25-11-2016

Preventing torture before it happens: Ten years of the Optional Protocol
“The OPCAT mandate is the most ambitious and powerful tool within the UN human rights,” said Malcolm Evans, chair of the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture. He was speaking on the 10 anniversary of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture.
18-11-2016

Spotlight on indigenous rights at COP22 climate talks
Nina Gualinga is at the forefront of the fight to make indigenous rights a priority in climate action.
17-11-2016

"Do not betray the victims": In The Hague, High Commissioner Zeid urges strong support for the ICC
Impunity creates violence, HC Zeid warned in the Hague.
16-11-2016

Mali: From the right to live in peace to the right to a livelihood
A project in Mali has provided new opportunities for 106 women who were displaced as a result of hostilities in the North. The project was financed by the the Human Rights and Protection Division in Mali.
14-11-2016

UN rights chief: Scale of civilian suffering “numbing” in Iraq
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has called for urgent action to help the victims and survivors of the recent large scale attacks in Mosul and other ISIL-occupied areas in Iraq.
11-11-2016

From council chamber to the people: Côte d’Ivoire’s search for justice and reconciliation
Côte d’Ivoire was faced with violence and instability after a contested election in 2010. The Human Rights Council, through first its Commission of Inquiry and later the independent expert, has helped midwife the peace and reconciliation process. This is the story of its work in Côte d’Ivoire.
04-11-2016

Child and forced marriage: a violation of human rights
Today, about 700 million girls worldwide are married before they reach adulthood, according to UN estimates.
03-11-2016

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights now available in more than 500 languages and dialects
The OHCHR collection of the world’s most translated document includes versions ranging from the most widely spoken languages to nearly extinct languages and dialects.
02-11-2016

Making cities the engine for rights-based, sustainable growth
As the primary destination for millions of migrants and refugees, cities around the world must play a key role in ensuring their equal access to housing as a basic human right.
28-10-2016

Zeid tells Council siege and bombardment of Aleppo "constitute crimes of historic proportions"
The collective failure of the international community to protect civilians and halt the bloodshed should haunt every one, Zeid tells Human Rights Council.
21-10-2016

Inclusivity and human rights are pivotal to climate action
Climate change and human rights are intertwined and must be the focus of any action to help affected communities, an expert meeting on climate change and human rights has concluded.
20-10-2016

Celebrating the Human Rights Covenants at the UN General Assembly
The Human Rights Covenants, now 50 years old, are our most precious legacy.
19-10-2016

Bolivian police, armed forces and others tackle racism
More than 600 people, including members of the armed forces, the police, judges, prosecutors and teachers, attended a week-long anti-racism program of training sessions provided by the UN Human Rights Office in Bolivia.
18-10-2016

Violence against rights defenders a worrying global trend
Human rights activists worldwide are targets of abuse, intimidation and death threats aimed at restricting and undermining the very rights they are working to defend.
13-10-2016

Syria: Deliberate deprivation of right to life, health
Dr. Abd Arrahman Alomar, a Syrian paediatrician working in several areas of northern Syria, shares the devastating status of healthcare and the inadequate access to medical support in the country.
10-10-2016

“Every person is a piece of art”: Razza Umana exhibition opens along Lac Leman
“Every person is a piece of art and we have to treat each other with great care,” said photographer Oliviero Toscani at the launch of his 100-photo exhibition along Lac Leman. The exhibition is sponsored by the UN Human Rights Office.
06-10-2016

Nauru’s migrant dead end
Over 1,100 migrants, including refugees, who have fled persecution in their home countries for a brighter future in Australia, are now living in offshore camps and refugee settlements on Nauru with little hope for relocation to another country.
30-09-2016

An antidote against unjust societies
Five years after the adoption of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training, have we realized the transformative power of human rights education? Experts from around the globe at the Human Rights Council discuss.
29-09-2016

High Commissioner Zeid Hails Peace Accord in Colombia
The UN Human Rights Office pledges "full and enthusiastic" support for swift implementation – building on years of strong, critical and respectful cooperation with authorities and civil society across the country.
29-09-2016

Evelyn Glennie, defying odds and challenging discrimination against people with disabilities
Dame Evelyn Glennie, renowned solo percussionist who is profoundly deaf, performed at the celebration for the 10th anniversary of the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the UN Human Rights Office.
26-09-2016

Toxic substance exposure a “silent epidemic” facing children
States have an obligation to prevent children from being exposed to toxics and pollution, and businesses have corresponding responsibility, he told members during the 33rd Human Rights Council session.
23-09-2016

New group to expand access to health and human rights for women, children and adolescents
Improving human rights access for women, children and adolescents on a range of health issues is the focus of a working group hosted by the UN Human Rights Office and WHO.
22-09-2016

Zeid to Migrants Summit: We must stop bigotry
'Race-baiting bigots' will not escape judgement by 'we the peoples', the High Commissioner tells the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants in New York.
19-09-2016

In the best interest of migrant children
The prohibition of the detention of migrant children, unaccompanied or with their family members, should be a critical point of discussion at the upcoming UN Summit for Migrants and Refugees, says UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau.
16-09-2016

Human trafficking risks in the context of migration
UN Special Rapporteur trafficking in persons, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, says that the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants should address human trafficking in the context of migration, an issue often overlooked.
15-09-2016

The spectre of nationalistic and xenophobic politics looms over migrants and refugees
UN Special Rapporteur on Racism, Mutuma Ruteere says that the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants should emphasise the need to denounce and hold accountable politicians who are promoting and spreading xenophobia against migrants and refugees.
14-09-2016

Zeid's Global Human Rights Update
Addressing the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner focused on trends that increasingly undermine the work of the United Nations – including attempts to block the scrutiny of his Office.
13-09-2016

UN migration summit must consider internally displaced persons – UN expert
UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Chaloka Beyani, says that the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants will be incomplete without addressing the plight of internally displaced persons.
09-09-2016

Human rights experts: Unchecked atmosphere of anti-migrant discourse results in abuses
Anti-migrant vigilante actions flourish as a result of impunity for xenophobic and racist public calls, including from the highest level.
05-09-2016

Zeid warns against populists and demagogues in Europe and U.S.
Zeid urges action to confront demagogues who blend fictional halcyon past with half truths and simplification, resulting in "the banalization of bigotry" and an atmosphere of hate that may slide into violence.
05-09-2016

Indigenous peoples’ rights violated in the name of conservation
A new report by the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples highlights the negative impact of commonly practiced conservation policies on indigenous communities. This need not be the case.
26-08-2016

Zeid urges accountability for violations in Yemen
A report on the armed conflict in Yemen lays bare the dire situation in the country, calling the international community to action.
25-08-2016

Thirteen civilian casualties a day in Yemen conflict
A new UN Human Rights Office report describes Yemen as a country at risk of a systemic collapse. Because of the lingering conflict, at least three million people have had their livelihood destroyed and have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety.
25-08-2016

Imprisoned, detained and insecure: the human rights of migrants in Bulgaria come under scrutiny
UN Human Rights officials have expressed concern over the detention of migrants who irregularly cross into Bulgaria. Under current legislation, those caught face criminal prosecution and even jail.
24-08-2016

Commemorating colleagues who lost their lives in the pursuit of human rights
The Human Rights Office in Geneva held a memorial for its fallen colleagues to celebrate World Humanitarian Day 2016.
17-08-2016

Working for indigenous recognition in French Guyana
Aulagéa Therese believes one of the biggest challenges facing his people is a lack of national recognition. A member of the Kali’na people in French Guyana, Therese was selected as one of the 2016 UN Human Rights Office Indigenous Fellows.
12-08-2016

Opening up new possibilities to promote and protect indigenous peoples’ rights
Andrei Khariuchi is committed to protect the human rights of his indigenous Nenets community in Russia. He was recently in Geneva to participate in the 2016 UN Human Rights Office Indigenous Fellowship Programme.
10-08-2016

Child migrants’ future in Italy “must not depend on luck”
As Italy sees growing numbers of unaccompanied child migrants arrive on its shores, it is crucial that the country harmonises and monitors the way they are cared for, a team from the UN Human Rights Office says.
09-08-2016

Starting young to help her community
“I started being an activist by the time I was in high school,” said Milka Chepkorir Kuto, a member of the Sengwer indigenous people of Kenya. Kuto was in Geneva to obtain training in human rights and advocacy as one of the 2016 UN Human Rights Office Indigenous Fellows.
08-08-2016

Putting women’s rights at the forefront of judicial decisions
In Guatemala, a toolkit developed by OHCHR promotes a human rights and gender approach in the administration of justice in cases related to violence against women, femicide, exploitation and trafficking in persons.
03-08-2016

Italy’s migrant hotspot centres raise legal questions
Migrants rescued at sea are often taken to “hotspot” registration centres but detaining them at these centres has provoked concerns in Italy, a UN Human Rights Office monitoring team finds.
02-08-2016

Towards an in-depth justice reform in Guatemala
Guatemala has embarked in an unprecedented justice reform. The objective: guarantee a fully independent and effective judiciary, and preserve the achievements in the fight against corruption and impunity.
29-07-2016

“Take action! Being silent is dangerous.”
Charlene Apok believes there are many obstacles facing indigenous peoples when they try to advocate for their rights at an international level. “This system was not made for us,” she said. Apok, a member of the Iñupiaq tribe in the USA, was a recent UN Human Rights Office Indigenous Fellow.
28-07-2016

Indonesia: UN rights chief urges region's 'most prolific executioner' to end practice
The UN rights chief expressed alarm at reports that up to 14 people face imminent execution in Indonesia, calling on the authorities to immediately reinstate a moratorium on the death penalty.
27-07-2016

Afghan civilian casualties hit half-year record, with 5,166 dead or maimed – UN
In the first six months of this year, 5,166 civilians were either killed or maimed in Afghanistan, a half-year record since counting began in 2009, a new UN report shows.
26-07-2016

Tragedy of Afghan casualties laid bare in UN report
A record number of civilians were killed or maimed in Afghanistan in the first half of this year – a third of them children.
25-07-2016

Migrants cling to dreams as they await uncertain future
“I ask that God helps me to go to school.” UN Human Rights Office monitoring mission hears stories of despair and hope from migrants in Italy waiting to see what will happen to them.
25-07-2016

Activists focus on health as a human right for indigenous peoples
Indigenous communities across the globe are facing a health care crisis, where the lack of access to health care has resulted in a rise in illnesses and even suicides. “It’s an epidemic facing so many indigenous communities,” said Dr. Hannah McGlade, Senior Indigenous Fellow for the UN Human Rights Office.
22-07-2016

Equality law empowers Moldovans to fight discrimination
The Equality Law in the Republic of Moldova provides protection from discrimination for every person living in Moldova. A woman shares her story on how this law was an instrumental tool for her and her son.
21-07-2016

Zeid's visit to DRC
High Commissioner Zeid has just ended a four-day visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
21-07-2016

Turkey: do not turn back the clock on human rights
High Commissioner Zeid calls on Turkish authorities to respond to the attempted coup by reinforcing the protection of human rights and by strengthening democratic institutions.
20-07-2016

Security at forefront as Italian island receives migrants
The arrival of migrants at the “hotspot” on the Italian island of Lampedusa highlights the need to protect the human rights of often traumatised people.
18-07-2016

At least 200,000 civilians trapped in three Syrian towns
High Commissioner Zeid rings the alarm about the increasingly desperate situation of at least 200,000 civilians trapped in three towns in Syria.
15-07-2016

Ukraine: UN report on killings highlights “rampant impunity”
A new UN report describes the widespread killings that have taken place in Ukraine since January 2014 and highlights the very limited accountability that has taken place.
14-07-2016

Muslim community thriving in Moldova
The Human Rights Council, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, played a major role in the Moldovan registration of the Islamic League of Moldova in 2011. Today, Moldovan Muslims can practice their religion without fear.
08-07-2016

“We don’t need more speeches, we need justice”
“It is time for the world to see our wounds,” said Nadia Murad, Yazidi activist. Murad, who escaped slavery from ISIS, was speaking during the event “They came to Destroy: ISIS Crimes Against the Yazidis” which took place during the Human Rights Council.
05-07-2016

Panel: Sports natural conduit to promote human rights
“I have been an athlete since I was five-years-old, and I have played on the Greek Olympic water polo team for 15 years,” said Stavroula Kozompoli, an Olympic silver medallist. “I strongly believe that Olympic values and the sport (in general) can impact human rights and have a great positive influence.”
01-07-2016

Too long a wait for peace and justice - Commission of Inquiry
The Commission of Inquiry on Syria urges parties to commit to a political solution to the conflict, and following a finding that ISIS is committing genocide in Syria, again calls upon the UN Security Council to refer the situation to international criminal justice.
01-07-2016

Increased use of private security providers need closer monitoring
States need clearer guidelines and accountability mechanisms when it comes to managing private security providers, Christof Heyns, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
27-06-2016

The UN Fund stands with victims of torture on 26 June
On 26 June, experts say no to torture and yes to the rights and needs of victims.
24-06-2016

“A struggle between tolerance and intolerance”
A UN rights expert explores various forms of fundamentalism and their impact on the exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
23-06-2016

Expert urges States to invest in the health and resilience of adolescents
UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health Dainius Pūras has called on States to decriminalize abortion, close adolescent drug detention facilities and to provide better mental health for teens, in a wide ranging report on health presented during the Human Rights Council.
21-06-2016

Taking stock of the Human Rights Council at 10
Former presidents assess a decade of the Human Rights Council during a discussion on the 10th Anniversary of the Human Rights Council. The event was moderated by UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore.
15-06-2016

Gun control in USA
“The ready availability of guns leaves little space between murderous impulses and actions that result in death," High Commissioner Zeid says, urging robust gun control.
14-06-2016

Hate is being mainstreamed - global update by the High Commissioner
In a wide-ranging update to the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner detailed concerns in more than 50 countries and situations, and outlined ways the Office can assist.
13-06-2016

UN Sustainable Development Goals to better serve the rights of women and girls
UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore (pictured on stage with actress Jessica Biel) urged participants at the Women Deliver conference in Copenhagen to continue to agitate and push for human rights for women and girls.
10-06-2016

United Nations inquiry finds crimes against humanity in Eritrea
Crimes against humanity have been committed in a widespread and systematic manner in Eritrean detention facilities, military training camps and other locations across the country over the past 25 years, according to a new report by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea.
08-06-2016

Fear in Eritrea
A new report released by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea features chilling accounts of human rights violations that amount to crimes against humanity.
08-06-2016

A story of resilience: From torture victim to therapist
Chilean torture survivor and leading neuropsychiatrist Jorge Barudy works with refugees and victims of torture through his award winning center EXIL.
31-05-2016

Championing the health and human rights of women, teens, and children
The UN Human Rights Office and the World Health Organization establish a landmark working group of global champions on protecting and promoting the health and human rights of women, children, and adolescents.
27-05-2016

Increasing violence plagues Kenya protests
We urge Kenyan authorities to ensure the right to peaceful assembly, after at least three people are believed to have been killed this week.
25-05-2016

Film on fair housing features international human rights law
A new film highlights the case of Seljatin Burgazi and 60 other Roma families, who were saved from eviction through the use of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
20-05-2016

Human rights need protection during humanitarian crises
In Liberia the UN Human Rights Office led an initiative to ensure people’s rights were protected during the Ebola crisis. This initiative and the cross-cutting work of the Office during humanitarian crises will be showcased at the World Humanitarian Summit, taking place from 23-24 May in Istanbul, Turkey.
20-05-2016

Why we fight: campaigning for LGBT Equality
To bring attention to the fight against discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and intersex people across the world, the United Nations Human Rights Office has commissioned “Why we Fight” a film showcasing why people choose to stand up against LGBT discrimination.
17-05-2016

Migrant children face grim human rights conditions in Greece
During a recent monitoring mission on the situation of migrants and refugees in Greece, the UN Human Rights Office met with migrant children and found serious violations to their human rights.
13-05-2016

Australia: the rights of two deaf citizens violated
The Australian Government violated the rights of two deaf people, who when they were called up for jury service, were refused the support they needed, UN experts found.
11-05-2016

Refugee crisis in Europe triggers torture victim’s painful past
Vive Žene, an organization supported by the UN Fund for Victims of Torture, maintains Azra’s sense of family years after the terror of her captivity during the Bosnian war.
09-05-2016

Hidden wounds
Excision remains firmly anchored in the traditions of 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East.
28-04-2016

Recovered identity: a reunion mends years of pain in Argentina
In Argentina, Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, a civil society organization supported by the UN Fund for Victims of Torture, makes best use of DNA bank to help Guillermo find his true family.
26-04-2016

Women’s rights body rules on Russian banned jobs list complaint
A UN women’s rights committee calls on Russia to amend a list of 456 jobs and 38 industries prohibited to women.
22-04-2016

Foreign fighters: emerging challenge for human rights
With an estimated 30,000 people fighting in armed conflicts outside their country of residence, States need guidance and information on how to deal with this emerging trend and its implications for communities.
20-04-2016

HC Zeid speaks out against hatred and violence at Cleveland law school
Accepting a award for Global Justice at the Cox International Law School in Cleveland, High Commissioner spoke out on hatred and incitement to violence by "overripe bullies". "There is a road to violence," he said. "And hate speech is on that road."
15-04-2016

Experts share challenges of healing children affected by torture
A unique workshop organized by the UN Fund for Victims of Torture spotlights resilience in treating children and halting trauma through generations.
15-04-2016

Shadow of caste and its stigma continue to violate all aspects of human rights
At least 250 million people worldwide still face some form of discrimination based on caste or similar systems of inherited status, according to a report by the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues Rita Izsák-Ndiaye.
14-04-2016

Measuring human rights to support sustainable development
Traditional data collection has seldom been able to support inequality reduction policies to benefit the most vulnerable. A human rights-based approach to data can help States attain the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
08-04-2016

Respecting human rights is key to prevent and counter violent extremism
Violent extremism is a diverse phenomenon and not exclusive to any region, nationality or religion, so fighting it needs a unified approach, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told a conference on violent extremism, being held in Geneva.
08-04-2016

Experts unite to end human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity
In a historic joint dialogue, African, Inter-American and UN rights experts call for concerted efforts to end human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
07-04-2016

From horror to healing
A young Syrian girl who was able to deal with the traumatizing physical and psychological effects of torture is one of the many stories featured in a new brochure produced by the UN Fund for Victims of Torture.
01-04-2016

Making DPRK accountable for human rights violations
In his last report to the Human Rights Council, Marzuki Darusman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of the human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, called for the creation of an expert panel to help ensure accountability for crimes against humanity committed in the country.
31-03-2016

Homelessness: surviving at the peripheries
Homelessness is not a personal failure but the consequence of the systemic denial of the rights of homeless people, says UN expert on the right to adequate housing, Leilani Farha.
21-03-2016

New digital technologies produce unprecedented levels of child abuse material online
As communication technology evolves at a rapid pace, the technology itself has created a rise in demand for child pornography and an alarming growth of new forms of child sexual exploitation.
18-03-2016

UN Anti-racism expert answers questions in live online discussion
Anti-racial discrimination champion and member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) Gay McDougall will take questions on how to make the fight against racial discrimination more relevant worldwide, during a live online discussion on social networking platform Reddit.
18-03-2016

Vanuatu: translating human rights standards into actions
Vanuatu government officials have learned how to prepare to report on how they help women achieve their rights.
18-03-2016

UN Fund for Victims of Torture plays a role in landmark ruling for indigenous women in Guatemala
The UN Fund for Victims of Torture, along with local civil society actors, provides support to victims whose testimonies helped convict two former military members of crimes against humanity in Guatemala.
16-03-2016

Paying the price for climate change in human health
After recounting the devastating impacts of climate change on health during a Human Rights Council event, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore called for urgent action. “We know that change is urgent, necessary, possible and for our children’s children’s sake, we must make change doable.”
14-03-2016

Nigeria creates a military Human Rights Desk
The creation of a Human Rights Desk by the Nigerian army, and a review of the forces’ Code of conduct and Rules of Engagement, represent an unprecedented breakthrough.
14-03-2016

Terrorized, killed, raped and starving: the fate of civilians in South Sudan’s continued civil war
The fate of civilians in South Sudan has worsened considerably in the last nine months, as Government forces and affiliated militia deliberately target civilians for killing, rape and starvation, a newly released UN Human Rights Office report states.
11-03-2016

South Sudan report: Widespread human rights violations and abuses
A new report on South Sudan describes “in searing detail” a multitude of horrendous human rights violations, including a Government-operated “scorched earth policy,” and deliberate targeting of civilians for killing, rape and pillage.
11-03-2016

Children draw rights and freedoms
An 11-year-old from Samoa and a 15-year-old from Pakistan are the global winners of the UN Human Rights Office poster contest to design a poster for the 50th Anniversary of the Human Rights Covenants campaign.
11-03-2016

Changing our subconscious maps the way to equality
Sexism is deeply rooted in our unconscious, said Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore. “We grow up with these internal maps that lead to a bias that can be said to be unconscious. We have to own our responsibility to confront and dismantle those toxic maps.”
10-03-2016

UN Human Rights Chief Zeid presents his annual report to the Human Rights Council
The UN Human Rights Chief, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein voiced concerns about the harassment and the violations of the rights of human rights defenders in the past year.
10-03-2016

A call to unite the two covenants on human rights
Calling the division between civil and political rights from cultural, economic, and social ones “artificial” speakers urged States to unify the current two human rights laws.
07-03-2016

International Women's Day 2016
Improving gender parity is the focus for this year's International Women's Day which has the theme "Planet 50-50 by 2030: step it up for gender equality."
07-03-2016

Ukraine: over three million civilians lack access to human rights
A new UN Human Rights Office report on Ukraine reveals violations and abuses of human rights through the accounts of witnesses and victims, especially in the areas controlled by the armed groups.
03-03-2016

The right to development – development done right
Widening poverty gaps, food shortages, climate change, economic crises, armed conflicts, rising unemployment continue to confront our world.
01-03-2016

High Commissioner calls for end to pressure on human rights
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein called on States and others to relieve the pressure and suffering on people caused by continued human rights violations.
29-02-2016

Voices of despair in Libya
A new UN Human Rights Office report on Libya documents the chilling stories of victims and witnesses which describe widespread human rights violations and abuses committed by both State and non-State actors.
25-02-2016

Libya report: Widespread human rights violations and abuses
A new UN Human Rights Office report on Libya documents the chilling stories of victims and witnesses which describe widespread human rights violations and abuses committed by both State and non-State actors.
25-02-2016

Human rights goes digital in Tajikistan
For the first time, people in Tajikistan are now able to gain access to vital human rights information with a new website launched by the Tajikistan government with the support of the UN Human Rights Regional Office for Central Asia.
19-02-2016

In Senegal, knowing your rights can save from abuses
Being involved in human rights clubs in high schools in Senegal’s capital, Dakar, where students discuss human rights issues relevant to their daily lives, has saved young girls from rights abuses.
17-02-2016

Out of sight, out of mind: deaths in detention in Syria
Syrian men, women, and children have been transferred to one of the dozens of official or secret Government-run detention facilities in the Syrian Arab Republic. Thousands of them have been killed while in custody.
15-02-2016

Policing human rights in Myanmar
UN human rights officers travel the length and breadth of Myanmar to train over 1,000 police officers on the best practices that drive human rights-based policing.
05-02-2016

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arbitrarily detained by Sweden and the UK, UN panel finds
The founder of the WikiLeaks website, has been arbitrarily detained by Sweden and the United Kingdom, as a result of the legal action against him by both Governments, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said.
05-02-2016

Human Rights experts find racial discrimination in the USA alive and thriving
“The ideology ensuring the domination of one group over another continues,” said Mireille Fanon Mendes France, chair of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent at the end of an 11-day mission to the USA.
03-02-2016

A story of courage to commemorate the Holocaust
“We must never allow another Shoah [Holocaust],” said survivor Paulette Angel-Rosenberg during a ceremony at the United Nations in Geneva to mark the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. Angel-Rosenberg shared her experience as a young Jewish girl living in France during the Second World War.
02-02-2016

New stamps promoting LGBT equality worldwide unveiled at UN
The UN Postal Administration unveiled a set of six commemorative stamps to promote UN Free & Equal – a global UN campaign for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality launched and led by OHCHR.
02-02-2016

Human Rights conference in Central Asia
Central Asian countries discuss good practices and challenges in implementing recommendation of UN human rights mechanisms in a conference which took place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
27-01-2016

Fact-finding mission to US looks at human rights condition of African Americans
The Working Group of Experts of People of African Descent (WGPAD) visits the United States to gather first-hand information on the current human rights situation.
22-01-2016

Exhibit and book celebrate contributions of people of African descent
An exhibition and a book to promote the Decade for People of African Descent was unveiled recently at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
21-01-2016

Peru compensates woman in historic UN Human Rights abortion case
The Government of Peru has agreed to pay compensation to a woman who was denied access to legal abortion services, as part of the first UN Human Rights Committee ruling on an abortion case.
18-01-2016

Fiji police receive vital human rights training to improve public image
In an effort to integrate human rights in all aspects of police work, the Fiji Police Force participated in a workshop on human rights provided by the UN Human Rights Regional Office for the Pacific.
15-01-2016

UN human rights chief calls on Thai Government to probe scores of enforced disappearances
Calling on Thailand to criminalize enforced disappearance in line with international standards, the High Commissioner urged the Government to investigate the whereabouts of at least 82 people listed as disappeared.
07-01-2016

Yemen: civilian casualties top 8,100 as airstrikes and shelling continue, UN reports
Civilians are suffering a “terrible toll” in the fighting tearing Yemen apart, with casualties now topping 8,100, nearly 2,800 of them killed, the UN reported.
05-01-2016

Wrecked Lives, Corporate Losses & Sluggish Growth: the Real Cost of Discrimination
Discrimination against lesbian, gay, bi, trans and intersex people hurts people, companies and nations is the message of a new UN Free & Equal Campaign video narrated by Star Trek Actor Zachary Quinto.
04-01-2016

UN chief calls on Iran, Saudi Arabia to avoid further exacerbating tensions after executions
In his call to Saudi Foreign Minister, the UN Secretary-General reiterated his opposition to capital punishment and his disappointment at the execution of Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr. Speaking to Iranian Foreign Minister, Mr. Ban urged him to take the necessary measures to protect diplomatic facilities.
04-01-2016

UN officials 'deeply dismayed' by Saudi executions, urge commuting all death sentences
Top UN officials have expressed deep dismay over yesterday's executions by Saudi Arabia of 47 people, including Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, and called on the country's authorities to commute all death sentences.
04-01-2016

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