“I think it’s a false premise that human rights are dead. To some extent, I think its being promulgated by naysayers and people who have given up on the framework,” said Eleanor Kennedy, senior policy expert from the Open Society Foundation (OSF) in this episode of Voices of Dignity: Pathways to Justice by UN Human Rights.

Last year, OSF put out “Can Democracy Deliver?” a first of its kind look at attitudes and opinions toward all aspects of democracy and human rights. Kennedy said the report brought up many surprising and challenging attitudes regarding human rights and its mechanisms, including if current human rights frameworks actually were delivering on their promises.

But one idea that came through loud and clear in the report, Kennedy stressed, was that the rumours of the demise of human rights has been greatly exaggerated.

The absence of justice directly fuels conflict. Lack of justice, be it actual or perceived, causes resentment and conflict at both the individual and societal levels. United Nations peace operations that provide support to national justice and security institutions are governed by UN Security Council resolutions. The overall objective remains to strengthen national capacities; extend the authority of the State; and enhance the effectiveness and inclusiveness of justice and security institutions as well as confidence in those institutions, with a view to preventing violence, fighting impunity and sustaining peace. 

Corruption not only follows conflict but is also frequently one of its root causes. Corruption also undermines human development and increases inequality. It corrodes rule of law and destroys public trust in governments and leaders. The 2022 International Anti-Corruption Day (9 December) seeks to highlight the crucial link between anti-corruption and peace, security, and development. At its core is the notion that tackling corruption is the right and responsibility of everyone, and that only through cooperation can we overcome the negative impact of this crime.

“I got such a feeling of outrage, healthy outrage, proactive outrage, which I still feel now.”

Staffan de Mistura has dedicated his life to making a difference. Now the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, he spent a large part of his 48-year career at the UN striving for an end to some of the most intractable conflicts of modern times.  

“I have no regrets. I would have never chosen another type of job. I think you can [make a difference] even in the worst-case scenario - always.”

From Syria and Afghanistan to Sudan and Iraq, the seasoned diplomat is known for bringing creative thinking to the negotiating table even when others have lost hope. In this episode of Awake at Night with Melissa Fleming, Staffan de Mistura reflects on harnessing constructive outrage as a driving force, on his determination in the face of despair, and why at 75, he isn’t ready to retire just yet.

This year, the International Day of Democracy (15 September) focuses on the importance of media freedom to democracy, peace, and delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals. Free, independent and pluralistic media, able to keep the public informed on matters of public interest, is a key ingredient to democracy. It enables the public to make informed decisions and hold governments to account. Increasingly, journalists around the world face limits to their ability to operate freely – with a grave impact on human rights, democracy and development.

Sweet Victory is a game that introduces players to behavioral science tactics and techniques that are relevant to peace and security questions. It encourages using behavioral science to strengthen resilience against disinformation and political manipulation. Sweet Victory was developed by the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UN DPPA).

We face a global crisis of trust. COVID-19 has caused the greatest ever recorded reversal in human development. It has also compounded the crises that we already face: planet threatening climate change, environmental degradation, poverty and deepening inequalities. The pandemic also underscored how vital effective political leadership is in all aspects of our lives. It has never been more important to have political processes and institutions that we can trust to act in our best interests. A key facet of UNDP’s new Strategic Plan is reimagining governance.

Bringing public attention to parliaments is particularly important at this critical time for democracy when people are losing trust in political institutions and democracy itself is facing challenges from populist and nationalist movements. If democracy is to thrive, then parliaments need to be strong, transparent, accountable, and representative. The International Day of Parliamentarism is a time to review parliaments’ progress to be more representative and move with the times, through self-assessments, by working to include more women and young MPs, and by adapting to new technologies.

United Nations Public Service Day (23 June) celebrates the value and virtue of public service to the community, including its contribution to the development process. The Day recognizes the work of public servants and encourages young people to pursue careers in the public sector. A virtual event, themed “Building back better from COVID-19: Enhancing innovative partnerships to meet the Sustainable Development Goals,” will be held on the 22 June. This year’s UN Public Service Award winners will also be announced during the online event. Follow the discussions on UN Web TV.

When we vote, we're not just choosing a leader, a lawmaker, our local councillor or between two opposite policies. We're shaping the policies that have real impact in our lives. But, who should ensure that citizens receive accurate information? The media, political parties and electoral regulators have a role to play. Because when information is accurate, extensive and available, our elections remain free and fair, and democracy thrives. Learn more about how UNESCO protects freedom of expression and the safety of journalists.

With public resources under huge strain as countries respond to and recover from the pandemic, a renewed focus on tackling corruption in public procurement couldn’t be more urgent.

The ninth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption takes place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, from 13 to 17 December 2021. Every two years the States Parties to the Convention meet to review the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument, to discuss ways to improve cooperation to achieve the Convention’s objectives. The focus of the conference includes recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic with integrity while strengthening international cooperation.

The unprecedented COVID-19 crisis has resulted in major social, political, and legal challenges globally. As states around the world adopt emergency measures to address the crisis, it is critical that they continue to uphold the rule of law, protect and respect international standards and basic principles of legality, and the right to access justice, remedies, and due process. On this International Day of Democracy (15 September), the Secretary-General calls to look beyond the pandemic and commit to a future in which we recognize human rights and the rule of law as fundamental to democracy.

United Nations Public Service Day (23 June) recognizes public servants, the value of public service to the community, its contribution to the development process, and encourages young people to pursue careers in the public sector. As the pandemic introduced remote work in government, digital service delivery, virtual services; the future public service needs to be more agile, tech-savvy, data-driven, and human-centric.  Join the virtual celebration on 23 June (9:00 – 10:30am EDT) under the theme of “Innovating the Future Public Service: New Government Models for a New Era to Reach the SDGs”.

The race to vaccinate against COVID-19 continues, but the pace of inoculation varies across countries, with access unavailable to many. Global cooperation must be stepped up to produce and distribute vaccines at affordable costs. The sooner vaccinations curb the pandemic, the faster economies can return to normal. Many low-income countries, even after doing their part, face challenges in dealing with the pandemic, in the near term and for development over time, as indicated in recent IMF research. They will need additional assistance.