UN Human Rights

The imposition of harsh penalties under national security legislation in Hong Kong and Macao SARs is deeply concerning. The second heavy jail sentence handed down to democracy activist Joshua Wong yesterday in HK translates to 16 years in detention for his exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms. In the first known case under Macao’s national security law, the court sentenced former legislator Au Kam San to 12.5 years imprisonment following closed-door hearings, in which Au was not represented by counsel of his choice. @volker_turk reiterates his call for convictions and sentences on national security grounds – in Hong Kong and Macao SARs and elsewhere in China – to be carefully reviewed against their international human rights obligations.

Preventing conflict starts with identifying risks early and protecting people before crises escalate. Our new partnership with @_AfricanUnion puts human rights at the heart of efforts to sustain peace and advance development across Africa: ohchr.org/en/stories/2026/11…

South Sudan is preparing for its first national elections since independence, amid ongoing violence and political tensions. For many South Sudanese, the prospect of elections brings hope for a more peaceful future. But credible elections require more than a vote. Protecting fundamental freedoms and ensuring people can participate freely in political life are essential to building public trust. UN Human Rights continues to call for accountability and respect for human rights as South Sudan works towards a peaceful democratic transition. Learn more: ohchr.org/en/stories/2026/10…

Lasting peace requires addressing the grievances that fuel conflict. By bringing together @_AfricanUnion conflict prevention tools & our human rights expertise, we can help countries recognize when patterns of violations and unresolved grievances are increasing the risk of violence. - @Dabokunda lnkd.in/p/eg-aPeaS

In Peru, journalist Paola Ugaz helped expose abuses within a powerful Catholic organisation. Years of criminal complaints and investigations followed. Her case illustrates how legal proceedings can themselves become a form of punishment. UN Human Rights documented the pattern of harassment and helped secure Ugaz's inclusion as the first journalist in Peru's national protection mechanism for human rights defenders. This gave her formal protection guarantees. On 2 November, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, we reaffirm the importance of protecting journalists from reprisals for their work. Learn more: ohchr.org/en/stories/2026/11…

We are utterly devastated by the death of our colleague Mohammad el Shami in Houthi custody in Yemen, after more than two years of arbitrary detention. This is a heartbreaking loss. Mohammad’s family has not received any explanation of the cause or circumstances of his death. They deserve to know the truth. I demand an urgent, full, independent and thorough investigation. There must be accountability -- @volker_turk UN Human Rights Chief again appeals for the immediate and unconditional release of all other UN personnel who remain detained. ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…

#Russia: UN Human Rights Chief @volker_turk is deeply concerned and saddened by the announcement by the highly respected and fiercely independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper that it was being forced to close. "Throughout its history, Novaya Gazeta and its journalists have made an exceptional contribution to independent reporting and the defence of human rights, often at great personal risk. Its journalists have faced harassment, lawsuits, threats and direct violence," Türk says. ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…

Amid growing polarization and pushback against racial equality, addressing the structural barriers that perpetuate racism and discrimination remains essential. An exchange between UN Human Rights Deputy Chief @Dabokunda & @ibramxk explored these challenges and the leading role of African-American thought leaders and activists in the fight against racism. #FightRacism & changing the systems that allow it to persist.

Europe has the legal frameworks and institutions to combat racial discrimination. The central challenge is implementation. How they translate into institutional accountability and measurable improvements for affected communities? Dr. Elisabeth Kaneza, a former UN Human Rights fellow and founder of the Kaneza Foundation, identifies political will as a decisive factor. Her work illustrates how people directly affected by racism can translate international standards into institutional change. Her foundation helped advance the International Decade for People of African Descent in Germany and contributed to the establishment of a governmental advisory board for its implementation. Read her story: ohchr.org/en/stories/2026/10…

This year, the Human Rights Council recognized that inequalities in care and support systems are both a cause and a consequence of discrimination against women and girls.   Women and girls spend 2.5 times as many hours as men on unpaid care work, limiting their opportunities to earn a living and achieve economic independence.   Women also make up the majority of paid domestic workers, many facing low wages, precarious working conditions and discrimination. Migrant women and women from marginalized racial or ethnic communities predominate care and support workforce and in most precarious conditions.   Women and girls with disabilities, as well as older women, may themselves be carers and care and support workers while facing barriers to accessing the support they need to live independently and participate fully in society.   These inequalities reflect how care responsibilities are distributed and who has access to the support they need. Advancing equality requires addressing how care and support responsibilities are shared, ensuring decent working conditions for care and support workers, and protecting the rights and autonomy of people who need care and support.   On #CareAndSupportDay, we call for care and support policies that advance equality, with decent working conditions and stronger protection for everyone in care and support systems: live.ilo.org/event/building-…   Explore the human rights dimensions of care and support: ohchr.org/en/care-and-suppor….   Read the stories of three young carers in Ireland and how caring for family members has affected their lives: ohchr.org/en/stories/2026/10…

🔜 UN Human Rights Chief @volker_turk holds a press conference in New York at @UN HQ today. Tune in at 13:00 EDT | 18:00 CET to watch LIVE: webtv.un.org/en/asset/k18/k1…

📢 Registration is now open for our #RightsXSummit 2026! Join policymakers, innovators, civil society and changemakers to advance human rights for the digital age, on the road to #UDHR80. 📍 Geneva & online | 18–19 November 👉 Register now: rightsx.ohchr.org/

Minority rights must be protected. Minority voices must be heard. Violations must not go unanswered. Join the 19th UN Forum on Minority Issues to explore how regional cooperation can help make this a reality. 📍 Geneva | 26–27 Nov ⏳ Registration closes 15 November 🔗 Register Now! ohchr.org/en/events/forums/2… #MinorityRights #UNMinorityForum2026

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the world's most translated document, is now available in 578 languages, with Kréol rényoné, spoken on Réunion Island, the latest addition. Explore the Declaration in your language: searchlibrary.ohchr.org/sear…

In Ethiopia, we organized a simulated rape trial. We deliberately chose a sex worker to play the complainant. Why? To expose how prejudice can influence whether a survivor is believed and whether she gets justice.   Through this exercise, we're helping justice officials recognize bias and apply human rights standards in cases of sexual violence. Prejudice can enter the justice process long before judgement is handed. The assumptions made when a survivor first reports violence can affect how her complaint is investigated and whether her case reaches court.   In Ethiopia's Gambella Region, where women and girls face heightened risks of violence and barriers to accessing justice, the response of frontline officials can make a critical difference. We brought together police officers, prosecutors and judges to act in the same case, examining how bias can affect decisions at each stage. The exercise reinforced a fundamental principle: a survivor's profession must never determine her access to justice. Full story : ohchr.org/en/stories/2026/10…

Human rights commitments must translate into meaningful change in people's lives. The Global Alliance for Human Rights is bringing governments, businesses, youth and civil society together to turn commitments into collective action. Join the global movement for human rights. ohchr.org/en/stories/2026/10…

UN Human Rights Chief @volker_turk calls for an end to #Israel’s aggressive operation in the #WestBank city of #Hebron, which forcibly displaced nearly 2,000 Palestinians, demolished homes and commercial property, and deprived residents of the ability to move freely. "Collective punishment is a grave violation of international law. Threats to empty and erase entire neighbourhoods also raise serious concerns of ethnic cleansing," Türk says. ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…