Category: Human Rights

Day of the Girl Child spotlights 25 years of progress, with more on the horizon The world’s one billion young girls, were celebrated on Friday as an “unscripted and unstoppable” force for change, with 11 October designated each year the International Day of the Girl Child.   Every day, girls under-18 are challenging stereotypes, breaking barriers, and leading movements to tackle the issues that affect… Read More

Every day, girls under-18 are challenging stereotypes, breaking barriers, and leading movements to tackle the issues that affect them, and beyond, Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message for the Day.   “As the theme of this year’s observance underscores, they are proving to be unscripted and unstoppable” in their undertakings, from eliminating child marriage, to closing the education gap, addressing violence and standing strong against the climate crisis.   The Day… Read More

Speaking at a meeting in Geneva aiming to convince more countries to assist the many millions of people around the world who live in nationless limbo, Mr. Grandi warned that much more action was needed, five years since UNHCR launched its #IBelong campaign to end statelessness. “The progress is far from assured: damaging forms of nationalism and the manipulation of… Read More

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday called for dialogue between the Government and the demonstrators, and also expressed sadness over the loss of life. The UN human rights office, OHCHR, said reports indicate that up to 30 people have been killed in demonstrations across the country, though this number has not been verified. Hundreds more were reportedly injured, including members of the security… Read More

“Azizbek Ashurov’s story is one of great personal resolve and tenacity,” said Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees on Tuesday, hailing Mr. Ashurov as an example of the “power of an individual to inspire and mobilize collective action”. Speaking to journalists in Geneva, the UNHCR laureate described his family’s difficulties in gaining citizenship in Kyrgystan after moving from Uzbekistan… Read More

“His vision continues to resonate across the world, including through the work of the United Nations for mutual understanding, equality, sustainable development, the empowerment of young people, and the peaceful resolution of disputes”, Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message commemorating the day. “In today’s turbulent times”, he continued, “violence takes many forms: from the destructive impact of the climate… Read More

By 2030, 1.4 billion elderly people globally will outnumber youth – a big rise from 2017, when that figure stood at 962 million.  Numbers in the developing world are seeing the steepest hikes. In South-East Asia alone, the elderly account for nearly 10 percent of the population as of 2017, compared to eight percent in 2010. This number will continue to increase, with older people expected to… Read More

Welcoming the development, UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, said he hoped that it would lead to both sides meeting “in the nearest opportunity” to resume the discussions on a future exchange, as per the UN-led deal signed by their representatives in the Swedish capital last December. Describing the release of conflict-related prisoners as a “unilateral” move by Ansar… Read More

In his speech to the UN General Assembly, Mr. Abbas strongly rejected the “arrogant” pre-election announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s of an “illegal plan” to annex and apply sovereignty over the Jordan Valley, the northern Dead Sea and other Occupied Palestinian Territories.     Vowing that if any such plan were carried out, by any Israeli Government, Palestine would… Read More

The Convention is the most widely-ratified international human rights accord in history; a landmark achievement which meant “for the first time, governments explicitly recognized that children have the same human rights as adults”, UN chief António Guterres said, adding that the document put in the spotlight the “specific additional rights that recognize their special status as dependents.” The high-level meeting… Read More