OHCHR | Home

Afghanistan
Ukraine and COVID-19
Nafesha Richardson
Human rights education
Stand Up for Human Rights

Afghanistan: Call for support and safety

We urge the international community to extend all possible support to those who may be at imminent risk in Afghanistan, and call on the Taliban to demonstrate through their actions that the fears for the safety of so many people are addressed.
More information All Stories

“We are devoted to this work because the health and lives of people are at stake.”

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported that increased workloads, insufficient time for rest and inadequate wages have forced many healthcare workers to leave their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
More information All Stories

Igniting change in the lives of young people

Nafesha Richardson, a youth rights defender from St Vincent and the Grenadines, aims to inspire young people to create change in their communities. 12 August marks International Youth Day.
More information All Stories

Student study shows human rights education helps conflict prevention

“It is important for the UN to work with students in the field of human rights education and training, because young generations have the ability to shape the future and will contribute extensively to creating a world without conflict,” said Irina Preotescu, a Columbia University student who conducted a research project on the role of human rights education in preventing conflict.
More information All Stories

Stand up for human rights

Join us in promoting and defending human rights for everyone, everywhere. Stand up for human rights and take action for stronger respect, greater freedom and more compassion.
More information All Stories

News

Choose the type of news you want

Afghanistan situation We call on the international community to extend all possible support to those in Afghanistan who may be at imminent risk, and we call on the Taliban to demonstrate through their actions that the fears for the safety of so many people are addressed.

Afghanistan: cultural rights Expert urges States to provide urgent assistance to human rights defenders, including those working on women’s and cultural rights, as well as artists, trying to flee Afghanistan.

Disability rights On Thursday, the headquarters of the UN Human Rights Office, Palais Wilson in Geneva, will be lit up in purple - the international colour for disability - to mark the start of #WeThe15, a global, 10-year campaign to empower people with disabilities.

Afghanistan: Experts fear ‘slaughter’ Experts say they are outraged by wanton attacks on civilians, the targeting of independent journalists and media, and the violence being directed at women and girls

Police brutality Experts express alarm at "rampant police brutality against peaceful protesters worldwide" and warn States of grave danger arising from such abuse for human rights and rule of law.

Spyware concerns Experts call on States to impose global moratorium on sale and transfer of surveillance technology until they have put in place robust regulations that guarantee its use in compliance with international human rights standards.

Ghana anti-LGBTI bill Experts urge Ghana’s Government to reject proposed ‘family values’ bill, saying it seeks to establish system of State-sponsored discrimination and violence against LGBTI community.

Afghanistan conflict Bachelet urges parties to the conflict to stop fighting to prevent more bloodshed

See All

Afghanistan conflict Bachelet urges parties to the conflict to stop fighting to prevent more bloodshed

Syria: Daraa civilians Escalation in hostilities between Government forces and armed groups in and around the southern city of Daraa underscores the ongoing plight of civilians, who are in effect under siege there.

Beirut blasts A year on from the devastating explosions in Beirut, Bachelet stresses the urgent need for the Lebanese Government to ensure a transparent, effective, thorough and impartial investigation into what happened and to hold those responsible accountable.

Torture in Iraq Bachelet states that implementation of laws are key to end torture in detention in Iraq

Iran water protests Bachelet calls on the Iranian authorities to concentrate on taking urgent action to address the chronic water shortage in the province of Khuzestan, rather than using excessive force and widespread arrests to crush the protests about the situation.

Use of spyware Revelations regarding the apparent widespread use of the Pegasus software to spy on journalists and others are extremely alarming

See All

Eritrea Experts demand release of journalist and human rights defender Dawit Isaak, imprisoned without trial in Eritrea since 2001, amid uncertainty about whether he is even still alive.

West Bank NGO raid Experts call on Government of Israel to immediately return confidential documents and office equipment that its military seized from the offices of Defense for Children International-Palestine in Al-Bireh, in the occupied West Bank.

Israel/OPT Israel must protect all Palestinian human rights defenders within its borders and in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, says UN expert.

See All

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

Secretary-General speech In a powerful speech to the Human Rights Council that focused on racism, women and the pandemic's impact on human rights, Antonio Guterres said "recovery gives us an opportunity to generate momentum for transformation"

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

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

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

See All

Disability Rights Committee to review France and Djibouti CRPD will review France and Djibouti during its latest session

Human Rights Committee’s findings on Togo Human Rights Committee has issued its findings on Togo, the State party which it examined during its latest session.

Committee Against Torture’s findings on Belgium CAT today issued its findings on Belgium, the State party which it examined during its latest session.

Belarus: Violates rights to freedom of expression The decision to cancel the licence of a Belarusian lawyer after he spoke to the media about the detention conditions of his client, an opposition presidential candidate, violated the lawyer’s rights, Human Rights Committee has found.

Mauritius’ smart ID violates privacy Human Rights Committee has found that Mauritius violates its citizens’ privacy rights, as there are no sufficient guarantees that the fingerprints and other biometric data stored on the identity card will be securely protected.

Myanmar: Children under siege Children’s rights in Myanmar are facing an onslaught that risks leaving an entire generation damaged, the CRC has warned.

Committee against Torture to review Belgium CAT will hold its upcoming session from 12 to 30 July 2021 during which it will review Belgium.

Turkey: Withdrawal from Istanbul Convention Turkey’s decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention is deeply regrettable and should be reversed, CEDAW said.

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

LGBTI rights Addressing the Copenhagen Human Rights Forum, the High Commissioner reinstated her commitment to building a world where all LGBTI people are included, free and equal.

Rights of youth Speaking to the World Youth Rights Conference in Tashkent, the High Commissioner called on States to respond to COVID-19 by advancing resilient, inclusive, greener and more sustainable societies – "as young people across the world rightly demand".

Racial justice At an event in South Africa to mark the 20th anniversary of the Durban World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, the High Commissioner emphasised the role of young people in demanding – and building – equality.

How to recover Delivering a wide-ranging keynote to a European Commission summer course in democracy and rights, the High Commissioner called for strong efforts to embed long-term thinking in national and international governance.

Right to Food Speaking to a pre-Food Summit meeting of experts, the High Commissioner said human rights-based policies will be "crucial for a healthy environment and healthy nutrition – advancing both the right to food and the right to health".

Voices of African descent At an event alongside the General Assembly midterm review of the International Decade for People of African Descent, the High Commissioner honoured the courage and resilience demonstrated by people of African descent in their struggles for equality over many generations.

People of African descent At the General Assembly review of the International Decade for People of African Descent, the High Commissioner emphasised the need for far stronger action to advance racial justice and equality in all fields of life.

Fighting impunity Fighting impunity effectively and consistently is “central to upholding human rights,” the High Commissioner stressed, noting that victims of violations have a right to truth, justice and redress. Speaking at the Annual Venice Conference on the Global State of Human Rights, she added that the rule of law is essential to ensuring sustainable and lasting peace.

See All Speeches

The UN Human Rights Appeal 2021

The UN Human Rights Appeal 2021

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

Advisory Committee / 26th Session From: 16-08-2021
To: 20-08-2021
Palais des Nations Room XX

31st special session of the Human Rights Council on the serious human rights concerns and situation in Afghanistan From: 24-08-2021
To: 24-08-2021

Organizational meeting for the 48th regular session of the Human Rights Council From: 30-08-2021
To: 30-08-2021
Palais des Nations Room XX

Human Rights Council / 48th Session From: 13-09-2021
To: 08-10-2021
Palais des Nations Room XX

Social Forum From: 11-10-2021
To: 12-10-2021
Palais des Nations Room XX

Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review / 39th Session From: 01-11-2021
To: 12-11-2021
Palais des Nations Room XX

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