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Human Rights
Marking 40 years of the , the ĢƵ calls for inclusive, equitable, rights-based development to address today’s growing global challenges.
Children are calling for a greater say in decisions about their education. At a ĢƵ Human Rights discussion on the right to education, young participants highlighted barriers that continue to exclude children from learning and stressed the need for education systems that respond to different needs and circumstances. Inclusive education requires more than access to a classroom: it means removing discrimination and other barriers, providing appropriate support and ensuring children can participate in decisions that affect their learning.
Twenty-five years after the Durban Declaration set out a global plan to fight racism, discrimination and intolerance, the work is far from over. On 28 September, world leaders, civil society and young people gather at the ĢƵ Headquarters in New York to renew political will, confront today’s challenges and turn promises into action. The meeting is expected to adopt a political declaration renewing the global commitment to end racism. A youth discussion will explore how young people are challenging racism in public life, institutions and technology. Watch all the commemorative events on .
Hate speech fuels division, intolerance and violence, with digital platforms allowing harmful messages to spread faster and further. The Global Conference on Promoting Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue and Tolerance in Countering Hate Speech (17 September) brings together the ĢƵ Secretary-General, senior officials, religious leaders and other participants to explore how dialogue and mutual respect can counter hatred. The Conference builds on ĢƵ efforts to protect human rights, prevent violence and promote peaceful, inclusive societies. Follow the and sessions of the Conference on ĢƵ Web TV.
Across the world, families of people who have disappeared continue to live with the same unanswered question: Where are they? Enforced disappearances leave relatives facing years of uncertainty while they search for truth, justice and accountability. Families and civil society groups often lead these efforts, despite facing threats, harassment and other obstacles. The ĢƵ Human Rights Office stresses that States must investigate disappearances, search for missing people and ensure victims’ rights to truth, justice and reparation. Preventing future disappearances also requires stronger action, accountability and international cooperation.
In rural Honduras, 115 women from the Galilean Peasant Women’s Movement are fighting for land to grow food, support their families and build a better future. Led by Nolvia Albertina Ovando, the women have faced eviction, threats, stigma and criminalisation. Ovando was detained for five months after a 2023 eviction and was later cleared of the public stigma against her. In November 2025, the National Agrarian Institute agreed to grant the group 300 manzanas — 210 hectares / 510 acres — of land, but ownership has yet to be formally transferred. With support from , the women continue pressing for land rights, gender equality and dignity.
2026 marks 20 years since the adoption of the , the only universal treaty dedicated to preventing and eradicating the practice. Under the slogan “,” the anniversary puts victims’ rights to truth, justice and reparation at the centre. As enforced disappearances persist worldwide, universal ratification and full implementation remain urgent priorities. On the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances (August 30), the ĢƵ notes that only 78 Member States are currently to the convention.
More than two decades after Liberia’s civil wars, efforts to address wartime atrocities and corruption are advancing. The government is moving to establish War and Economic Crimes and National Anti-Corruption Courts, with draft statutes submitted to the Legislature in May 2026. is supporting the process through legal advice, capacity-building and victim-centred approaches to accountability. It is also advancing the rights of informal workers, who make up 68% of Liberia’s workforce. Recent progress includes the registration of the Federation of Informal Sector Workers of Liberia as a trade union and reforms aimed at stronger labour protections.
Born in Liberia to a Liberian mother and Lebanese father, Aziza Sbaity grew up embracing both cultures before civil unrest forced her family to relocate to Lebanon. Adapting to a less diverse environment, she drew strength from her family and found belonging through sport. Initially passionate about basketball, her speed led her to athletics, where she discovered confidence, purpose and acceptance. Now Lebanon’s fastest woman and a national record holder, Sbaity uses her platform to champion inclusion and equality. Recognized in the BBC 100 Women list in 2023, she inspires young people through advocacy and is launching an athletics academy to expand opportunities for all children, including those with disabilities.
A resin that helps bind everything from soft drinks to medicines now at the centre of Sudan’s devastating war economy, according to a new . Sudan’s gum arabic trade, long vital to global food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, has become deeply entangled in the country’s conflict. Sudan, which once supplied 70-80% of global crude gum arabic exports, now sees the commodity linked to conflict financing, with armed actors benefiting through territorial control, checkpoints, taxation and smuggling. Farmers and traders face insecurity, restricted movement and disrupted livelihoods, while human rights abuses have been documented in producing areas. The report urges stronger oversight, anti-smuggling measures and heightened human rights due diligence across the supply chain.
Nelson Mandela International Day on 18th July commemorates Mandela’s birthday and his lifetime of service to humanity. This year’s theme reminds us that it is still in our hands to combat poverty and inequality.
ĢƵ takes inspiration from the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela - a staunch defender of peace, reconciliation, justice, and human rights, but also a champion of poverty eradication and equality. Nelson Mandela International Day (18 July) is marked with an informal plenary meeting of the United Nations General Assembly and an annual NYC volunteer event in honour of Mandela. We are all invited to devote 67 minutes - symbolic of Mandela's 67 years of service - to helping our community. Let’s carry forward Mandela’s vision of a just, inclusive, equal and peaceful world!
From football captains to grassroots activists, voices worldwide are uniting through the for Human Rights to defend dignity, equality, and justice for all.
After fleeing Sudan's conflict, many lawyers found themselves unable to practice in refugee camps in eastern Chad despite their skills and experience. A ĢƵHCR-supported training programme, delivered with the Chadian Bar Association, is helping them learn Chadian law, earn certification, and resume legal work. Graduates now provide legal aid, raise awareness of refugee rights, and help fellow refugees navigate unfamiliar legal systems. For participants such as Amira, Mohamed and Amni, the programme restores purpose, dignity, livelihoods, and the ability to support their communities while rebuilding their own lives in exile.