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Human Rights
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 UN Human Rights report. 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.
The United Nations 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 Global Alliance 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 UNHCR-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.
The International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict (19 June) highlights the devastating impact of conflict-related sexual violence on children. Recognized by the UN as one of six grave violations against children in armed conflict, conflict-related sexual violence includes killing of children, recruitment, sexual violence, abduction, attacks against schools and denial of humanitarian access. Often used deliberately as a tactic of war and repression, it causes lifelong physical and psychological harm. Despite legal protections, underreporting and impunity persist. Follow the event on UN Web TV. #EndRapeInWar.
Families of people who were forcibly disappeared in Honduras have spent decades searching for their loved ones, demanding accountability, and preserving the memory of victims in the face of continued impunity.
At a time of growing division, conflict and uncertainty, the Global Alliance for Human Rights seeks to unite people around a shared vision of dignity, equality and justice for all. Convened by the UN Human Rights Office, the Alliance brings together governments, civil society, businesses, cities, academics, young people and communities to champion human rights in everyday life. As the world approaches the 80th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2028, the Alliance aims to transform hope into action—sparking collaboration, inspiring solutions and building a future where human rights are upheld for everyone, everywhere. Watch the launch.
A world of colour should celebrate identity, not diminish it. The International Albinism Awareness Day (13 June) theme, “Proudly in my skin — celebrating all skin tones”, highlights how colour-based discrimination harms dignity, safety and mental wellbeing. Often dismissed as “harmless,” everyday behaviours—such as mockery or stereotypes—can leave lasting emotional scars, especially for children. The message affirms that discrimination based on colour denies equal rights and participation, and calls for challenging prejudice, uplifting voices of persons with albinism, and building inclusive societies.
Over 15 months, eight young people (12–19) from six countries worked to address gaps in the quality of child participation in global decision-making. Drawing on their experiences, surveys and a global consultation, they found children are often underrepresented and engagement is inconsistent. As the Children and Young People’s Task Group, they developed “Include Us!” standards to ensure meaningful participation before, during and after events, grounded in Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The guidance offers practical steps for inclusive, safe and impactful engagement, urging organizers worldwide to adopt them.
“Growing up, I learned very early that the biggest challenge in my life was not my disability but the barriers… especially in the built environment,” says Esther Nagetey, a youth fellow at the International Disability Alliance from Ghana, reminding us that exclusion is often designed, not inevitable. A new UN Human Rights report shows that inaccessible housing and transport systems exclude millions of persons with disabilities from daily life. Although they make up about one in 15 people globally, they face mobility barriers up to 15 times greater, often due to unaffordable or unavailable services. Accessible infrastructure is not optional but a human right, enabling access to education, work and healthcare. Inclusive design is also cost-effective when built early and helps prevent institutionalization. The report urges governments to invest in barrier-free systems, uphold rights, and build communities that foster independence, dignity and full participation.
A new UN Human Rights report spotlights rising religious hatred and violence worldwide, impacting Christians, Jews, Muslims and other religious minorities both online and offline. Incidents range from discrimination and harassment to deadly attacks, while biased AI tools may deepen inequalities. Despite this, initiatives such as interfaith dialogue, global declarations and knowledge-sharing platforms show progress. The report urges governments to enforce anti-discrimination laws, leaders to reject divisive rhetoric, and educators to promote “inclusive faith literacy.” It also calls on tech companies to ensure their systems do not fuel hate, stressing collective action to uphold dignity and prevent violence.
Environmental degradation is driving a global human rights crisis by denying billions their rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. A UN Human Rights policy brief warns that climate change, pollution and ecosystem destruction are undermining States’ obligations to ensure water that is available, accessible, affordable, safe and acceptable for all. The impacts fall disproportionately on marginalized groups, including women and girls, children and Indigenous Peoples and people living in poverty. The crisis is compounded by underinvestment, structural discrimination and, increasingly, the deliberate targeting of water infrastructure in conflicts—threatening health, dignity, equality and even survival.
The Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (Geneva, 14–17 April) holds its fifth session under the theme of “Expanding the human rights of people of African descent under the Second International Decade for People of African Descent”. Despite global commitments, people of African descent still face systemic racism, exclusion and inequalities. This year’s session addresses reparatory justice, through the return of cultural artefacts; the human rights situation of youth of African descent; and the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. Follow the sessions on UN Web TV.