Human Rights

UN Photo/Loey Felipe

Remember Slavery: UN chief calls for continued struggle to ensure dignity and justice for all

26 March 2018
Global

Commemorating the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the United Nations Secretary-General on Monday said that while the  abhorrent practice was abolished in the 1800s, it continues to have profound social, cultural and political impacts today.

UN News/Matt Wells

Jesse Jackson issues call at UN for ‘global coalition of conscience’ to cement human rights

26 March 2018
Global

There needs to be a “massive global coalition of conscience” to enshrine the values of racial equality and human rights for all, declared civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson, speaking at the United Nations.

UN Photo/Devra Berkowitz

UN chief honours those who suffered shameful Transatlantic slave trade, urges respect for dignity of every human being

25 March 2018
Global

Honouring those who suffered the brutalities of the Transatlantic slave trade, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said the International Day set aside to remember this “epically shameful” chapter of human history is an opportunity raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice today.

UNIC/Mexico

Mexico: UN report points to torture, cover-ups in probe into disappearance of 43 students

15 March 2018
Americas

The United Nations human rights wing said Thursday that it has strong grounds to believe that the investigation into the disappearance of 43 students from a rural Mexican college in 2014 was marred by torture and cover-ups.

UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

UN rights chief denounces ‘unacceptable’ charges of terrorism by Philippine’s Duterte against UN expert

9 March 2018
Asia Pacific

Flinging terrorism charges at a United Nations human rights expert is just one act in a litany of profane and inflammatory comments made by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte against the rapporteur, prompting the UN rights chief to questions the leader’s mental stability.

World Bank/Curt Carnemark

UN launches Environmental Rights Initiative

6 March 2018
Global

Taking a stand against ongoing threats, harassment and murder of environmental defenders, the United Nations on Tuesday launched an initiative enlisting business communities to champion a clean and healthy environment.

UNHCR/Assadullah Amin

Those responsible for war crimes in Syria ‘will be held accountable for what they have done,’ says UN rights chief

2 March 2018
Middle East

War crimes, potentially crimes against humanity, are likely being committed in east Ghouta and elsewhere in Syria, and the United Nations human rights chief warned on Friday that the perpetrators of these acts must know they are being identified and will be held accountable.