OHCHR | Home

Benedict Bryan
Gender inequality and the digital sphere
Human Rights Committee follow-up ranking
Human Rights Champion- Lual Mayen
Human Rights Day 2021

Creating a safer and more meaningful space for young human rights defenders

Benedict Bryan is a young human rights defender from Trinidad and Tobago. He’s working to ensure a more empowering space for young people to speak about and exercise their rights.
More information All Stories

“The web was created for everyone, regardless of their gender”

UN Human Rights and the Web Foundation have partnered on an initiative to close the gender gap in the digital sphere.
More information All Stories

Human Rights Committee grades countries for continued protection follow-up during COVID-19

The Human Rights Committee has given top marks to five countries for their follow-up on recommendations to combat domestic and gender-based violence, prohibit torture, adopt a National Human Rights Plan, and protect people on the move.
More information All Stories

Providing better prospect for refugees and promoting peace through gaming

Lual Mayen spent 22 years of his life in a refugee camp in Uganda after fleeing civil war in his home country, South Sudan. Today, he heads a company that creates video games to promote peace and a foundation to provide access to technology to those still living in refugee camps.
More information All Stories

Human Rights Day: All human, all equal

On Human Rights Day this year, we’re calling for a new social contract with equality at its core. By addressing deep-seated discrimination with human rights, we can move towards a fairer and more inclusive world – because we’re all human, and we’re all equal.
More information All Stories

News

Choose the type of news you want

Ethiopia We are alrmed by the multiple, deeply disturbing reports of civilian casualties and destruction due to airstrikes in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. At least 108 civilians have reportedly been killed and 75 others injured in just 14 days. We call for the protection of civilians.

Bosnia and Herzegovina / Serbia We are deeply concerned by incidents in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Serbia glorifying atrocity crimes and convicted war criminals and targeting certain communities with hate speech. The authorities must condemn and refrain from any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred.

New UK bill discriminates Experts express serious concern over UK’s Nationality and Borders Bill, saying it breaches country's obligations under international law.

Syria: “Historic conviction” Bachelet hails the conviction by a German court of a senior Syrian intelligence official of crimes against humanity and urges other States to investigate and prosecute international crimes using principles of universal and extra-territorial jurisdiction.

Iran: Juvenile execution Experts dismayed by decision by Iranian authorities to proceed with execution of juvenile offender Hossein Shahbazi despite repeated calls to halt it.

Tunisia concerns The apparent abduction of two men by the Internal Security Forces has deepened our concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in Tunisia and raises serious questions regarding enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention.

Kazakhstan: Experts urge probe Experts call on Kazakhstan authorities and security forces to halt unrestrained use of force, including lethal force, against protesters.

Kazakh protests Amid alarming reports of deadly violence in Kazakhstan, Bachelet urges all, including security forces, protesters and others, to refrain from violence and to seek a peaceful resolution of grievances.

See All

Yemen: Detained staff UN Human Rights Office and UNESCO remain deeply concerned for the well-being of two staff members detained in early November in Sana’a, Yemen, with no communication possible with them since then. We call for their immediate release.

Sudan protests We have received deeply disturbing reports of sexual violence and harassment by security forces during demonstrations in Khartoum on 19 December 2021, when two people died and hundreds were injured due to the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force.

Poland / Belarus border Given the continuing plight of migrants and refugees at the Poland-Belarus border, we urge both countries to urgently address the appalling situation in line with their obligations under international human rights and refugee law.

Viet Nam sentences We are deeply troubled by the harsh sentencing in Viet Nam of human right and land rights defenders convicted of spreading anti-State propaganda, which appears to be part of a campaign to silence those speaking out on human rights.

See All

Switzerland UN expert postpones visit to Brian K. after positive steps by authorities.

New UK bill discriminates Experts express serious concern over UK’s Nationality and Borders Bill, saying it breaches country's obligations under international law.

Switzerland Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent to visit Switzerland from 17 to 26 January.

Iran: Juvenile execution Experts dismayed by decision by Iranian authorities to proceed with execution of juvenile offender Hossein Shahbazi despite repeated calls to halt it.

Kazakhstan: Experts urge probe Experts call on Kazakhstan authorities and security forces to halt unrestrained use of force, including lethal force, against protesters.

Guantanamo Bay UN experts said the continued operation of Guantanamo Bay was a stain on the US Government’s commitment to the rule of law.

Cambodia Arrest and detention of at least 29 casino union leaders and activists during a strike that began on New Year’s Eve in Cambodia may amount to a breach of human rights law, UN experts say

France UN experts on people of African Descent conduct a working visit to France.

See All

Tajikistan / UPR Tajikistan’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

Tanzania / UPR Tanzania’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

HRCAC concludes its 26th session The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee held its 26th session in a hybrid manner in Geneva, Switzerland, this week from 16 to 20 August.

Sierra Leone Sierra Leone’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

Singapore Singapore’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review on 12 May

Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tome and Principe’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review 22 January 2021

Nauru Nauru’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review 22 January 2021.

Georgia Georgia’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review 21 January 2021

See All

Burundi: Torture complaints Committee against Torture has deplored Burundi’s lack of cooperation in the individual complaints procedure.

End detention of migrants States have to immediately stop detaining migrant children and ultimately putting an end to the detention of all migrants.

Venezuela: Violation of due process guarantees Venezuela violated a jurist’s rights to be tried by an independent tribunal, the Human Rights Committee said

Mexico: Detention and torture of human rights defender CAT has called on Mexico to stop criminalizing legitimate human rights work, after deciding on the case of a human rights defender who was detained and tortured for a crime that he didn’t commit.

CERD’s country reviews UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination today issued its findings on Chile, Denmark, Singapore, Switzerland and Thailand.

CAT’s findings UN Committee against Torture published findings on the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Nigeria, Serbia and Sweden.

Ecuador: prisons violence Two UN anti-torture bodies expressed alarm at the ongoing violence in Ecuador’s prison system.

SPT announces visits for 2022 UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture will visit Argentina, Ecuador, Lebanon, Turkey and Tunisia in 2022.

See All

Our priorities

Enhancing equality and countering discrimination

Strengthening the rule of law and accountability for human rights violations

Advancing sustainable development through human rights

Enhancing participation and protecting civic space

Increasing implementation of the outcomes of the human rights mechanisms

Preventing violations and strengthening protection of human rights

Resources

Choose the type of resource you want

Ethiopia At a Special Session of the Human Rights Council on Ethiopia, the Deputy High Commissioner detailed alleged violations and abuses of human rights in the context of the conflict; growing humanitarian needs; and thousands of arrests, mainly of Tigrayans, under the state of emergency.

Ukraine Deputy High Commissioner Nada Al-Nashif briefed the Human Rights Council on multiple issues involving civic space and fundamental freedoms in Ukraine from 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2021, including in territory controlled by the Government, territory controlled by the self-proclaimed ‘republics’ in eastern Ukraine, and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol

Nicaragua The Deputy High Commissioner updated the Human Rights Council on Nicaragua, especially on the electoral process and the elections held in November. She stressed that restrictions and human rights violations “created an environment unconducive to genuine and free elections.”

Afghanistan At a Human Rights Council briefing, Deputy High Commissioner Nada Al-Nashif detailed a wide range of severe human rights issues and said policies now “will define Afghanistan’s pathway into the future”.

Dignity and rule of law Speaking at the human rights award ceremony of the CCBE, a network of European lawyers, the High Commissioner noted that "Where there is equality, justice and legal and practical respect for human rights, everyone can fully contribute to development; there is public trust in institutions; and because disputes can be impartially resolved, there is greater peace". But she added, "the rule of law has broken down, or is deliberately broken" in many societies.

Global Alliance for Care "Without care, we cannot have a productive and dignified life or develop ourselves to our full human potential," the High Commissioner said, welcoming the establishment of the Global Alliance for Care.

Media freedoms In a Human Rights Day message, Michelle Bachelet said the past two years have seen media freedoms, and journalists all over the world, targeted by crackdowns, undue restrictions and attacks. Yet, she pointed out, "We cannot combat and recover from the pandemic with better systems unless we benefit from the clarity that sound journalism delivers... Independent media of quality are essential to social harmony, sustainable development, justice and peace."

Development and rights : In a wide-ranging keynote to a conference organised by the Agence Française de Développement, the High Commissioner discussed how to change "economic approaches that have produced unbearable social costs, tearing apart the fabric of our societies and amplifying mistrust towards institutions".

See All Speeches

The UN Human Rights Appeal 2022

The UN Human Rights Appeal 2022

Standing up for your rights

A collection of 16 stories highlighting the impact of our work around the world

Protecting LBGTi people

Living Free and Equal: Tackling Violence and Discrimination against LGBTi People

Human rights info. for Parliamentarians

Human Rights: Handbook for Parliamentarians (co-published with IPU)

Traditional justice in Africa

Human Rights and Traditional Justice Systems in Africa

National mechanisms for reporting and follow-up

NMRF: A Practical Guide to Effective State Engagement with International Human Rights Mechanisms

Right to development

FAQs on the Right to Development

Human rights and government budgets

Realizing Human Rights through Government Budgets

See All Publications

Fourth intersessional meeting on human rights and the 2030 Agenda From: 18-01-2022
To: 18-01-2022

Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review / 40th Session From: 24-01-2022
To: 04-02-2022
Palais des Nations Room XX

Intersessional seminar on the negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin to the countries of origin on the enjoyment of human rights From: 08-02-2022
To: 08-02-2022

Intersessional panel discussion on the challenges and good practices in the prevention of corruption, and the impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic From: 15-02-2022
To: 15-02-2022

Human Rights Council / 49th Session From: 28-02-2022
To: 01-04-2022

See All Events

UN Charter Body Database

Search for documents and information pertaining to UN Charter-based human rights bodies, including the Human Rights Council and Special Procedures.

Universal Periodic Review

Access information and documents about states that were part of the periodic review of the human rights. It includes documents submitted by countries themselves, UN agencies and external parties.

National Human Rights Institutions Website

Find information on National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and the International Coordinating Committee for National Human Rights Institutions (ICC).

Universal Human Rights Index

Access country-specific human rights recommendations and information emanating from international human rights mechanisms in the UN system: the Treaty Bodies, the Special Procedures and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Database

Access translations of the UDHR, a milestone document in the history of human rights, into over 460 different languages and dialects.

Anti-discrimination Database

Search for information, policies and measures taken at the international, regional and national levels to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Human Rights Education and Training Database

Search worldwide for institutions, programmes and materials that aim to foster human rights education and training.

Jurisprudence Database

Access jurisprudence emanating from the United Nations Treaty Bodies that receive and consider complaints from individuals.

See All Databases