rights

Eleanor Roosevelt holds an English version poster of the Universal Declaration Human Rights (November 1949).
UN Photo

UN celebrates International Human Rights Day, stressing 'vital tool' of education

10 December 2004
From New York to Darfur, from Botswana to Bangkok, from Paris to Zambia, the United Nations family today marked International Human Rights Day with calls for education and action, exhibitions and panel discussions, and the co-opting of soccer - "the truly universal sport" - in the battle against the universal scourge.
Louise Arbour

UN human rights office appeals for nearly $60 million in donations for annual budget

7 December 2004
The United Nations human rights chief today appealed for nearly $60 million in voluntary contributions, or two-thirds of its estimated 2005 budget.

UN officials stress need to eliminate violence against women

25 November 2004
United Nations officials, led by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, today stressed the need for building a world in which women enjoy their rights and freedoms on an equal basis with men.
Louise Arbour

UN launches fresh approach to try to bolster human rights protections in countries

27 October 2004
Seeking to bolster its support for human rights programmes around the world, the United Nations today launched a new system-wide approach to helping countries promote and protect the civil liberties of their citizens.

UN to boost its support for human rights protection in numerous countries

26 October 2004
The United Nations is set to launch a new initiative tomorrow to strengthen its support in promoting and protecting human rights in countries around the world.

Rights groups worldwide should be given greater organizing leeway, UN told

21 October 2004
Human rights groups should find it simple to become legal entities, uncomplicated to appeal government rejection, easy to raise money, not difficult to take part in a wide range of protest activities, so long as their actions are transparent, a United Nations human rights expert says.
Ayse Feride Acar briefs journalists

Iraq must work to protect and promote women's rights, UN expert panel says

22 July 2004
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women is preparing a statement urging the new Iraqi authorities to ensure gender equality throughout the process of political transition and reconstruction, its chairperson said today at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Louise Arbour

New UN human rights chief puts most vulnerable people as top priority

22 July 2004
The new United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, who took up her position at the beginning of the month, today put protecting the rights of the most vulnerable people at the top of her list of priorities as she publicly outlined her work programme for the first time.
Louise Arbour

Fight against terrorism must not exclude respect for rights, UN official says

13 July 2004
The struggle against terrorism must be reconciled with the imperatives of personal safety and dignity, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has asserted.
Louise Arbour

New UN human rights chief to take part in African Union summit

2 July 2004
In her first official mission as the new United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour will take part in the African Union's summit next week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, her Office announced today.