United Kingdom

Sacha Dench prepares to follow Bewick’s swans on their annual migration in 2016.
Angharad Barlow

First Person: The ‘Human Swan’ inspiring climate action

30 May 2021
Climate and Environment

Australian biologist Sacha Dench has been nicknamed “the Human Swan”, in recognition of her record-breaking, 7,000 kilometre, paramotor (motorized paraglider) flight, tracking Bewick swans across 11 countries, from Arctic Russian to the UK. Ahead of International Day for Biological Diversity, Ms. Dench explains why a drastic shift is needed in the global economy, to save endangered wildlife.

Babies at a neonatal intensive unit at a hospital in Kampala, Uganda, which was refurbished with support from UNFPA.
UNICEF/Catherine Ntabadde

UK’s 85% family planning aid cut will be devastating for women and girls says UNFPA, while UNAIDS also 'deeply regrets' cuts

29 April 2021
Women

The United Kingdom’s intention to cut 85 per cent of its contribution to a flagship UN family planning programme this year, will have devastating consequences for women and girls and their families across the world, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA) said on Thursday.

People protest in London in support of Black Lives Matter. June 2020.
Unsplash/James Eades

Rights experts condemn UK racism report attempting to ‘normalize white supremacy’

19 April 2021
Human Rights

UN independent human rights experts on Monday denounced a government-backed report into racism in the United Kingdom, saying that it further distorted and falsified historical facts, and could even fuel racism and racial discrimination.

British veterans of past wars parade in the United Kingdom.
Unsplash/Roberto Catarinicchia

UK armed forces bill would limit war crimes accountability: UN rights chief

12 April 2021
Human Rights

Legislation under consideration in the UK regarding armed forces personnel could limit accountability for war crimes if it is passed in its current form, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Monday.

Nils Melzer, UN Special Rapporteur on torture. (file photo)
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

UN human rights expert ‘cautiously’ welcomes UK court’s refusal to extradite Julian Assange

5 January 2021
Human Rights

An independent UN human rights expert has welcomed a British court’s refusal to extradite Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to the United States on the basis that he would be exposed to oppressive conditions of imprisonment. 

A boy plays in the playground of an asylum seeking centre in Baexem in the Netherlands.
© UNICEF/Sidra

Netherlands violates nationality rights: UN rights committee 

29 December 2020
Human Rights

The Netherlands has violated a child’s rights by registering children under the category “nationality unknown” as opposed to Stateless – leaving them ineligible to access international protections, the UN Human Rights Committee  declared on Tuesday.  

A boy walks through a migrant camp in Calais, northern France. According to estimates, about 900 migrants and asylum seekers are sheltering in the area, many without toilets or washing facilities.
UNICEF/Geai

Interception no solution to address migrants crossing English Channel

14 August 2020
Migrants and Refugees

Intercepting boats full of migrants attempting to cross the English Channel, is not the solution to deter them from attempting to reach the United Kingdom, UN agencies have stressed, warning that deployment of large naval vessels to block small, flimsy dinghies could lead to fatal incidents.

A child walks in Al Hol camp in north-east Syria where more than 90 per cent of the people are women and children.
OCHA/Hedinn Halldorsson

UN independent expert welcomes UK court decision to allow Shamima Begum to fight for citizenship 

16 July 2020
Human Rights

Radicalized on British soil as a London schoolgirl, an independent UN expert welcomed a Court of Appeal ruling in the United Kingdom on Thursday, to allow 20-year-old Shamima Begum to return home from Syria to challenge the Government’s removal of her citizenship.

Philip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur for Extreme Poverty and Human Rights visits New Lodge in North Belfast, UK. (2018)
Bassam Khawaja

Brexit poses ‘particular risk’ to British people in poverty: UN independent expert

16 November 2018
Human Rights

Brexit – the United Kingdom’s impending exit from the European Union – will drive more UK citizens into poverty unless the Government takes action to shield the most vulnerable, warned Philip Alston, the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, in a damning statement released on Friday.

The Palace of Westminster and central London, as seen from across the River Thames.
UN News/Omar Musni

UN expert warns of 'stark increase' in hate crimes across UK, post-Brexit vote

11 May 2018
Human Rights

Sounding an alarm over a “stark increase” in hate crimes across the United Kingdom as well as “widespread discrimination” faced by ethnic minorities, a United Nations independent rights expert has called on the country to “comprehensively” combat racism and bias.