rights

High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.
UN Photo/Pierre Albouy

UN rights chief warns of 'preventable calamities' and 'worrying' trends in more than 50 countries

13 June 2016
In a wide-ranging opening speech to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, the UN rights chief sheds a light on “preventable calamities” and worrying trends around the world, including detailed concerns about the situation in more than 50 countries.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein addresses opening of session of the Human Rights Council.
UN Photo/Pierre Albouy

Human rights treaties are 'bedrock of sound governance,' says top UN official marking 50th anniversary

1 March 2016
Marking 50 years since the unanimous adoption of two United Nations human rights treaties – respectively promoting respect for civil and political, and economic, social and cultural rights – a top UN official today said the landmark covenants have helped extend rights to people crushed by tyranny and discrimination for generations.
Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson addresses the General Assemblys Thematic Panel entitled, From commitment to implementation: Ten years of the responsibility to protect.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías

UN deputy chief urges Member States to make 'responsibility to protect' a reality

26 February 2016
The principle of “responsibility to protect,” a call for putting into action legal commitments to protect populations from atrocity crimes, has seen mixed results since its inception in 2005, the United Nations deputy chief said today, urging the international community to make the protection of populations from such heinous acts “a living reality.”
Secretary-General Ban (right) receives an honorary Doctor of Law degree from the University of Cambridge for his humanitarian work, support for women’s rights and achievements in pursuit of global peace and security.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

At Cambridge, Ban says universality of human rights is key to preventing crises of 21st century

3 February 2016
Warning of “a strong sense that that we are off track and in a deep mess,” United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the world to move from a pattern of reaction to crises to a culture of prevention, with a heightened focus on the universality of human rights in tackling the “mega-crises” of the 21st century.
Relatives of abducted children speak out for the disappeared in Lamwo district, northern Uganda.
IRIN/Philippa Croome

Prohibition of enforced disappearance is 'absolute,' UN declares, urging action to ramp-up searches for missing

30 August 2015
Marking the fourth International Day of Enforced Disappearances, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon denounced the “alarming” number of acts by that are tantamount to enforced disappearances and appealed to all Member States to ratify or accede to the legal instrument prohibiting such acts.
Frieda Pinto and Reece Ritchie star in Relativity Media's "Desert Dancer" – (Copyright Desert Dancer Productions Ltd. 2014)

FEATURE: Dancer's story highlights importance of right to free expression

10 April 2015
In New York on Wednesday night, the director and stars of Desert Dancer, a film about the life and experiences of Afshin Ghaffarian, joined United Nations representatives and the public for a special screening ahead of the film's opening today at the AMC Lowe's Lincoln Square theater and the Landmark Sunshine Cinema in New York.
FAO Headquarters.
FAO/Alessia Pierdomenico

Pepsi joins Coke in support of UN-backed guidelines on local peoples’ right to land, livelihoods

15 April 2014
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced today that PepsiCo has joined the Coca-Cola Company in giving its official support to a set of global guidelines that protect the rights of poor and vulnerable people to land, livelihoods and food security.
Special Rapporteur on cultural rights, Farida Shaheed.
UN Multimedia

UN rights expert calls on Viet Nam to ensure pluralistic cultural expression

29 November 2013
Now that Viet Nam has made great strides in economic development, it is time to increase opportunities for public debate and better protect ethnic, artistic and academic freedom of expression, an independent United Nations human rights expert said today.
Hip-hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.
OHCHR

UN rights office names hip-hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ‘equality champions’

26 November 2013
The United Nations campaign promoting greater respect for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons worldwide got a boost today from rapper Macklemore and music producer Ryan Lewis, who have been designated Equality Champions.
Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children Marta Santos Pais.
UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

UN issues call on Member States to ratify convention on rights of the child

19 September 2013
United Nations officials today urged Member States that have not done so to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Child and its three Optional Protocols, stressing that this is vital to protect children from abuse and mistreatment worldwide.