UN urges international cooperation to make migration safer in a world on the move

18 December 2017 – On International Migrants Day, the United Nations is appealing for cooperation in managing migration to ensure that its benefits are most widely distributed, and that human rights of all concerned are protected – as recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Paramount that civilians are protected in Yemen, underscores UN

4 December 2017 – Voicing concern over the dramatic escalation in fighting in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, and surrounding areas, that have reportedly killed about one hundred people and injured many more, the United Nations called on the parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations under international law and ensure that civilians are not harmed.

UN chief 'horrified' at buying and selling of African migrants in Libya

20 November 2017 – Expressing horror at news reports and videos showing African migrants in Libya allegedly being sold as slaves, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday called on the authorities to urgently investigate the situation and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The role of education in promoting the rights of children in Africa

Education is the key to unlocking the enjoyments of their rights for every child in Africa. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as a human being below the age of 18 years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier. Children at birth take on the social and economic status of their parents and may be subject to abuse if special care and attention is not given them. They are minors who are socialized through education, formal or informal. At birth every child by nature can be said to be a social animal that can only develop its personality through social interaction.

UN rights office 'deeply concerned' over arrests of LGBT people in Azerbaijan, Egypt and Indonesia

13 October 2017 – The United Nations human rights office on Friday expressed deep concern about a wave of arrests in Azerbaijan, Egypt and Indonesia of more than 180 people perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT), many of whom have reportedly been mistreated by law enforcement officials.

Torture during interrogations not just wrong but also counterproductive – UN rights chief

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

22 September 2017 – The torture and ill-treatment of persons suspected of crimes is not only deeply wrong but, from an interrogator's perspective, also counterproductive, the United Nations human rights chief said today at an event held in New York.

UN rights office gathering info on air strikes in Yemen; urges protection of civilians

25 August 2017 – Reiterating that attacks targeting civilians are prohibited under international law, the United Nations human rights office today confirmed dozens of casualties in airstrikes on villages near the capital, Sana'a.

UN rights chief decries 'unacceptable attack' on Al Jazeera and other media

The United Nations human rights chief today expressed strong concern about international demands that Qatar close down the Al Jazeera network and other affiliated media outlets as extraordinary, unprecedented and clearly unreasonable.

A spokesperson for High Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein told press in Geneva that whether or not you watch it, like it, or agree with its editorial standpoints, Al Jazeera's Arabic and English channels are legitimate, and have many millions of viewers.

Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) Annual Meeting

Every year, the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) hosts a three-day Annual Meeting, drawing together 250–350 academics and practitioners from around the world. This year, the Annual Meeting is being held 15–17 June, at Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, Korea in co-operation with the Korean Academic Council on the United Nations System (KACUNS).

Korean Peninsula: Conflict prevention 'our collective priority' but onus also on DPRK, says UN chief

Preventing armed conflict in north-east Asia is the international community's collective priority while the onus is also on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to refrain from further nuclear testing and explore the path of dialogue, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council today.