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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.
Half a century after armed agents stormed a Rio de Janeiro home and vanished Brazilian congressman Rubens Paiva without a trace, his daughters stepped into a Geneva hearing room carrying fifty‑five years of silence, grief and unanswered questions, transforming their family’s long‑suppressed trauma into a public appeal before the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances, echoing the campaign call to put victims first and demand urgent global action as families worldwide continue to suffer without truth, justice or accountability.
Thirty-two years after the Genocide against the Tutsi, the United Nations mourns the more than one million people murdered in just 100 days and honours the dignity that was stolen from the victims. On the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda (7 April), the UN pays tribute to the survivors while acknowledging the international community’s failure to act. But remembrance alone is not enough: we must reject hatred, strengthen our social fabric and institutions, and uphold the Genocide Convention. Follow the Memorial Ceremony at 10 A.M. New York time.
Since the United Nations General Assembly designated 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day in 2007, the UN has worked to advance the human rights and full inclusion of autistic people. Over the years, significant progress has been made, driven in large part by autistic advocates who have worked tirelessly to bring the lived experiences of autistic individuals to the forefront of global discussions. The 2026 observance reaffirms the dignity and equal worth of autistic people and calls for rejecting misinformation and limiting narratives to uphold their inherent rights.
She woke to a nightmare: AI-generated sexual images of her had spread online while she slept, reaching thousands within minutes. For many women and girls, this is now an everyday reality. Deepfakes are overwhelmingly weaponized against women, often pornographic and non-consensual. Once shared, they spread rapidly and are nearly impossible to remove, causing lasting harm. Accountability remains weak: laws lag, enforcement is inconsistent, and platforms respond slowly. Reporting can retraumatize survivors, while perpetrators go unpunished. Ending this abuse requires stronger laws, faster action by platforms, and better survivor support. Deepfake abuse is preventable and survivors are demanding justice.
Zero Discrimination Day (1 March) calls attention to the right of every person to live with dignity and equality. This year, UNAIDS spotlights the ongoing discrimination faced by people living with and at risk of HIV. It continues to block access to health services, violate human rights, and slow progress toward ending AIDS by 2030. New data from more than 30,000 people living with HIV in 25 countries show that stigma and discrimination remain widespread, putting lives and communities at risk. Together, we can build a world where everyone is respected, included, and free to live without fear or prejudice.
The high-level segment of the UN Human Rights Council opens today in Geneva, with dignitaries from more than 100 States addressing the Council. The meeting brings together world leaders to discuss human rights challenges. The Council’s 61st regular session (23 February–31 March 2026) will feature debates, interactive dialogues and panel discussions on issues such as disability rights, children’s rights, peace and sustainable development. Delegations will also review human rights situations in different countries, appoint new independent experts and adopt resolutions to guide future action.
One Kenyan man is breaking tradition to stand up for girls - nearly 30 years ago, a student asked Patrick Ngigi for help and this changed the direction of his life. “In 1997, I was working as a head teacher when a girl came to me and pleaded for help [...] I took her to my mother’s house because we didn’t have any rescue centres available. That is how the Mission with a Vision rescue centre began.” The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) supports this and other prevention initiatives.
Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) by 2030 depends on continuous global engagement and investment. The 2026 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (6 February) centers on the theme “Towards 2030: No end to FGM without sustained commitment and investment.” The observance calls on the international community to uphold long-term support, policies, and community initiatives, safeguarding progress and accelerating the elimination of FGM. Join us and share your voice with #Invest2EndFGM and #EndFGM to ensure every woman and girl can live free from this harmful practice.
Born from the ashes of the Second World War, the United Nations emerged determined to prevent the horrors of the Holocaust from ever recurring. These crimes shaped modern human rights law, inspiring the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Genocide Convention. The International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust (27 January) honours victims and warns against hatred and antisemitism. The UN Secretary-General, the General Assembly and diplomats observe the International Day with Holocaust survivors and their families. Watch live or on demand on UN WebTV.
The most read about issue on the UN website in 2025 was Human Rights. Human rights are at the heart of everything we value: the right to life, freedom, and equality. The right to health and education. The right to work, rest, and have a family. Access to justice, physical integrity, freedom from torture, and the right to development in a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. As the 2025 Human Rights Day campaign phrased it - human rights are our everyday essentials. When we protect human rights, we protect what makes us human.
In a year when the very foundations of human rights have been tested, Human Rights Day (10 December) reminds us of a vital truth: human rights aren’t abstract; they’re the everyday freedoms we depend on. This year’s UN Human Rights Day campaign, Our Everyday Essentials, reaffirms the enduring relevance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its core values — equality, justice, freedom, and dignity — reminding us that human rights remain a steadfast promise for society. Join us and share your voice on social media using #OurEverydayRights.
Human rights are our compass in turbulent times, guiding us through uncertainty. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk launched the 2025 Human Rights Day campaign, warning that rising inequalities, conflicts, and climate crises threaten fundamental rights. Marking the UN Charter’s 80th anniversary, Türk urged solidarity and advocacy. The “Our Everyday Essentials” campaign seeks to reaffirm the enduring relevance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, showing how rights like food, education, and freedom shape daily life. Share your essentials through our online form or on social media using the hashtag #OurEverydayRights.