How we make a difference 2013
“Realizing the Right to Development” – a vision for transformative development
The UN Human Rights Office launches a publication, which clarifies the meaning and status of the right to development, and examines its principles, as they are applied to national development policies and governance as well as to the issues of aid, debt, trade, technology transfer, intellectual property, access to medicines, climate change and sustainable development.
Changing the debate on migration through art
On the occasion of International Migrants Day, the UN Human Rights Office and the International Labour Organization launch a series of cartoons to challenge myths and encourage a positive public perception of migration.
A call to “Orange the World” to end violence against women
Physical violence inflicted by intimate partners is the most common form of violence experienced by women. The UN Human Rights Office supports the UNiTE Campaign to create a symbolic vision of a world free from violence against women.
Making human rights in business a priority
More than 1,000 participants from over 100 countries across the world representing civil society organizations, affected persons and communities, governments and corporations in manufacturing, information and communication technology, mining, oil and energy, agribusiness, banking and finance recently met at the United Nations second annual Forum on Business and Human Rights to address the impacts of business on human rights.
Human Rights Day Celebrated Around the World
Human Rights Day events throughout the world commemorated the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.
UN discussion addresses violence against women human rights defenders
“Too often, women human rights defenders are targeted, often even physically attacked, when perceived as challenging socio-cultural norms and traditions related to their status as women,” says Navi Pillay at the UN Human Rights Council’s annual day to explore questions of gender equality.
Human Rights: a look at the next 20 years
A special event marked the end of the year-long commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the UN Human Rights Office with a series of interactive conversations on human rights issues.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
The world mourns the passing of Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest statesmen of the modern era. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay remembers her fellow countryman as a man who fought for dignity and liberty for all citizens, regardless of race.
2013 United Nations Human Rights Prize
Every five years, the UN Human Rights Prize is an award given to individuals and organizations in recognition of outstanding achievement in human rights.
Ending Forced Marriage Worldwide
Forced marriage is a global problem, affecting both boys and girls and cutting across countries, cultures, religions and ethnicities.
Human rights at the centre of development
Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay and Chair of United Nations Development Group Helen Clarke affirm that human rights mainstreaming has become part of the core work of the United Nations development system.
The right to privacy in the digital age
UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay describes a ‘blurring of lines between the public and private sphere” brought about by modern communications technology and the challenges this poses to ensuring effective protection of the right to privacy.
Post-conflict societies: learning history from different points of view
In a report presented during the United Nations General Assembly’s 68th session in New York, Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights Farida Shaheed said the writing and teaching of history in divided and post-conflict areas should serve the purpose of fostering critical thinking.
Demystifying migration: giving a voice to millions
“We urgently need to demystify migration and present a more accurate picture of contemporary migration,” said UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay during the 2013 High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development, held at the United Nations in New York.
"Hidden" victims: the children of parents on death row
The Human Rights Council, at its latest meeting in Geneva, has brought to the fore the human rights of children whose parents are on death row, urging States to provide appropriate protection and assistance.
Embracing a new paradigm for development
A UN Human Rights Office side event on the Post-2015 Agenda held at the United Nations in New York focused on innovative and practical human rights recommendations from Member States, the UN and civil society.
Vienna+20: A new vision for human rights
The Vienna+20 high-level event, held at the United Nations in New York, brought together Presidents, Ministers, civil society, the Deputy Secretary-General and, for the first time ever, two former and the current UN Human Rights Chiefs, to reflect on the human rights progress over the past 20 years and the way forward.
Human Rights Council’s 24th session opens in Geneva
At the opening of the 24th Session of the Human Rights Council, UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay expressed her distress over the current human rights challenges throughout the world starting with the catastrophic situation in Syria, and highlighted the Office’s recent achievements.
Migration: human stories that mirror rising global inequalities
In the lead-up to a summit on migration at the UN General Assembly in New York, Pillay urges a switch in approach by policy makers from one which frames the movement of millions annually as an economic and political phenomenon to one which is based on universal agreement that every person is entitled to the full range of human rights.
Women’s rights in political transitions
A group of leading human rights advocates share their views on political transitions and women’s enjoyment of their rights in their respective countries at an event organized by the UN Human Rights Office.
Tracking progress in achieving human rights goals
The United Nations looks beyond the Millennium Development Goals set fifteen years ago and begins work on the succeeding strategies, most importantly how to assess progress in reaching the agreed targets.
Access to justice for indigenous peoples
A major new study finds indigenous peoples are more likely to be the victims of crime, to come into contact with police, be charged with offences and to serve time.
States should respect people’s right to privacy- UN expert
Modern State surveillance techniques impede individual’s ability to freely express themselves, seek and receive information, consequently infringing on their right to privacy, finds Frank La Rue, UN expert on freedom of expression.
ICPD Beyond 2014: advancing human rights for all women
The ICPD Beyond 2014 International Conference on Human Rights provided an interactive forum for highlighting human rights achievements since the landmark 1994 Programme of Action, while addressing the current challenges impacting sexual and reproductive health rights.
Migrant workers: their right to health care
The Special Rapporteur on the right to health says many of the more than a hundred million migrants who leave their countries every year have little or no access to medical help of any kind.
Demand fosters human trafficking
The UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, highlights that the link between demand and supply needs to be better understood by States to end human trafficking.
Vienna+20 – the future of human rights
The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action agreed at the World Conference on Human Rights in 1993 has been described as one of the landmark documents of the twentieth century. The global human rights movement reviews progress since and assesses the future.
The Luminarium: A creative space for discussion
A 1,000 square metre inflatable art installation—Luminarium—was displayed on the grounds of the Palais des Nations in Geneva, which was sponsored by the United Kingdom Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
“A little bit of money makes a real difference”
Romani human rights activist, Valeriu Nicolae, runs and funds from his own resources a project aimed at giving young people in a Bucharest ghetto a future free of drugs and crime through education and sports.
Assisting Communities Together: ACT promoting human rights education
Young Roma women and students in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia explore and put into practice basic human rights principles with the assistance of programmes supported by a joint funding venture of the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Development Programme.
Secure housing for millions remains a global challenge
“Millions of people around the world still face the threat of eviction or displacement,” says the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Raquel Rolnik, in her latest report, which was presented during the 22nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council.
UN Human Rights Prize 2013
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is seeking nominations for the 2013 UN Prize in the Field of Human Rights. Nominations can be sent from a variety of sources: Member States, SA, NGOs and from other appropriate sources.
Empowering Roma in rural Hungary
UN and civil society are making efforts to empower the Roma in Cserehát region in their struggle against socio-economic exclusion and racial discrimination.
Combating child sex tourism
By 2030 the number of international tourists will reach an estimated 1.8 billion. Tourism, however, has a dark side and can be a potential vehicle for child abuse. Child sex tourism (CST) is a growing trend affecting millions of children around the globe.
The right to peace
An intergovernmental working group has begun what is expected to be a long and complex negotiation aimed at drafting a UN Declaration on the Right to Peace. A first report is to be presented to the June 2013 session of the Human Rights Council.
Time to kick racism out of football
“Sport at its best is inclusive, generous-hearted and fundamentally multicultural, based on values such as teamwork, loyalty, merit and self-control”, said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, at a panel discussion on racism in sport.
A move to raise a healthier generation of kids
Human rights and health experts participated in an interactive dialogue on the challenges in achieving the full realization of the right of the child to health during the full-day meeting on the Rights of the Child.
20 years working for human rights
Two decades on from the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, the international community recalls it as a ‘milestone’ in the development of the global human rights movement.
The 22nd Session of the Human Rights Council opens in Geneva
At the opening of the 22nd Session of the Human Rights Council, the UN Human Rights Chief, Navi Pillay, evokes the 20th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, and acknowledges achievements and challenges ahead.
The Equality Imperative
UN Human Rights Chief, Navi Pillay, speaks on addressing inequalities in the future framework for development post-2015, the target date for the UN Millennium Development Goals.
Beyond bars: a chance for a meaningful life
Under the UN initiative “Delivering as One,” United Nations agencies in Uruguay bring together their expertise to support a far reaching reform of the prison system, designed to give inmates skills and prepare them for the outside world.
Fighting incitement to crimes against humanity
A multi-layered approach is needed to counter hate speech that could incite genocide and other crimes against humanity, says Adama Dieng, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide.
Manal Al-Sharif: a driving force for change
Manal Al-Sharif, a women’s rights activist in Saudi Arabia, participated in the UN Social Forum in Geneva on a panel discussion on the role of social media and activism.
Helping Nepal achieve lasting peace
“Peace will only be achieved through the pursuit of justice and the ending of impunity,” says UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay referring to an ordinance recently proposed by the Government of Nepal.
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