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“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 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, 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 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 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 (Geneva, 14–17 April) holds its fifth session under the theme of “Expanding the human rights of people of African descent under the ”. 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
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 , echoing the 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 . Follow the .
Since the United Nations General Assembly 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. are overwhelmingly weaponized against women, . 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 opens today in Geneva, with dignitaries from more than 100 States . The brings together world leaders to discuss human rights challenges. The Council’s (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) .
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 .
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.