View previous stories
	Human rights belong to all of us by Volker Turk United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights   10 Dec. 2024   "Human rights are not abstract ideas or ideologies. They are about who we are, and how we live. They are grounded in facts, in law and in compassion. They embody our needs and our hopes.   A safe home. Food and clean water. Health care. Education. Decent work and a liveable minimum wage. To live in peace. To be free to express your opinion. Human rights do not belong to any political party, or to any region of the world. They belong to all of us.   They are simple, powerful ideas that motivate people to stand up for themselves and for others. And with all the extreme human suffering we are dealing with today, we need to double down and insist on respect for the human rights of all.   States and political leaders, businesses and community leaders, in fact all of us, need to support, defend, preserve and strengthen fundamental human rights values.   And support those at the forefront of this challenge - human rights defenders, civil society groups and grassroots human rights movements.   In my role, I encounter great suffering and despair, but also see glimmers of hope and determination. I see vibrant networks for human rights around the world – people joining forces to combat discrimination, to build allies, to counter disinformation with facts and with compassion.   People – young and not so young – taking to the streets, going to their lawmakers and to the courts to fight for their rights and those of others, for climate action and against discrimination.   People are calling on their leaders to work for equality, justice and peace, to act to defend their freedoms, their democratic institutions, the future of their planet.   As I look back at the year, I would like to highlight 3 key issues that continue to have massive ramifications for human rights around the world.   First, the proliferation of armed conflict, and the erosion of respect for international humanitarian and human rights law in the conduct of hostilities, and the apparent indifference of powerful actors to the immense numbers of casualties and suffering.   The disregard for international law and apparent indifference to civilian lives and protection of critical infrastructure have been starkly in focus in the conflict in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Lebanon, as well as in Ukraine, Sudan and Myanmar, to name just a few very stark examples.   The year has been marked by horrific numbers of people killed and severely injured in conflict, on and off the battlefield. Just this past weekend, at least 184 people were killed in violence orchestrated by the leader of a powerful gang in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, in the Cité Soleil area. These latest killings bring the death toll just this year in Haiti to a staggering 5,000 people.   We need to stem the flow of arms into Haiti, Sudan and Myanmar; to put on notice those providing arms, including to Israel and non-State armed actors in Lebanon, Syria, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, that international law requires States to exercise care that weapons they provide are not used to commit violations.   We need to insist that it is not okay, and not legal, to use anti-personnel mines in Ukraine, it is not okay to provide them for use there, and it is not okay to reduce the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons.   Instead, there should be an all-out effort by States to make it harder – not easier – to use such horrific weapons in the first place. I urge all States to refrain from taking any steps that fuel conflict and lead to further escalation.   The cost of war is so high. The human toll is incalculable. States need to do all in their power to insist that such senseless conflicts and suffering end. The world must turn away from the death spiral of militarized approaches to security, and find its way back to mediation, dialogue, negotiation and confidence-building.   We need to stand in solidarity, and insist on the protection of the human rights of Syrians of all ethnic and religious groups, of Ukrainians and Russians affected by repression, for Palestinians and Israelis, for Sudanese, for the diverse peoples of Myanmar, for people on all sides. It is time for renewed activism, for overcoming divisions and forging alliances for peace-making.   Second, we witness a dangerous proliferation of disinformation, the blurring of lines between reality and fiction. The viral spread of disinformation on social platforms and in some traditional media, including State-sponsored and State-funded disinformation campaigns, is sowing divisions and hatred, and discrediting human rights defenders, independent journalism and international institutions.   People in leadership positions must stop the “othering” that dehumanizes entire communities, fuels hatred and violence, and feeds toxic ideologies and racism, including white supremacism.   There has been a worrying proliferation this year of politicians who scapegoat minorities, blaming them for depriving people of their economic, social, cultural rights, invoking so-called “family or cultural values”. This amounts in reality to anti-human rights and anti-human values.   And unfortunately, in my line of work, I also see a strong tendency to shoot the messenger – rather than focus on the seriousness of the message and engage in meaningful debate around difficult issues.   And third, one of the biggest challenges to our long-term security – the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. It is crucial that States summon the leadership and political energy required to tackle the ongoing and worsening catastrophe that is the triple planetary crisis.   I am concerned by the lack of ambition shown in the most recent climate negotiations, and by reports that some countries are considering backing out of their commitments to climate action. We cannot continue like this. States have a legal obligation to prevent foreseeable harm to their people and their rights.   On this Human Rights Day, I invite you and all of us to build and support alliances in our own lives, cities, communities, and workplaces to stand in defence of the human rights and dignity of every person".   http://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day/live-coverage http://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2025/03/turbulence-and-unpredictability-amid-growing-conflict-and-divided http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/02/un-expert-welcomes-african-court-ruling-against-tanzania-failing-protect http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/01/uganda-comment-supreme-court-ruling-trial-civilians-military-courts http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/01/un-human-rights-office-launches-us500-million-appeal-reinvigorate-global Visit the related web page
	Create a world where the rights of every child are protected and upheld by Catherine Russell UNICEF Executive Director   Dec. 2024   Launch of UNICEF’s 2025 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal.   “As we speak today, millions of children are being denied their fundamental rights because of a broad array of interconnected crises – from conflict, and the consequences of climate change, to public health emergencies and rising poverty.   “We estimate that right now, more than 460 million children are living in or fleeing from devastating conflicts. They are being wounded and killed in their homes and communities. Their schools and hospitals are coming under attack. And they are losing out on access to the services they need – like protection, safe water, sanitation, vaccinations, and education.   “This includes the State of Palestine and Israel, where more than a year on from the brutal attack on Israel, the situation for children in the region almost defies description. Israeli children have been killed and taken hostage, while thousands have been displaced from their homes.   “In Gaza, more than 44,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, up to 60 per cent of whom are women and children. All of Gaza’s nearly 1.1 million children need humanitarian assistance to survive, and most are now displaced inside an area smaller than 50 square kilometers. Hunger and acute malnutrition are widespread – especially in the north – and thousands of children have suffered grave rights violations.   “In nearby Lebanon, we hope the recently announced ceasefire will bring an end to the war which has killed more than 240 children, injured around 1,400, and upended the lives of countless others. This is an essential first step toward allowing communities to heal and rebuild after months of turmoil and loss.   “But the destruction of homes, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure inside the country has interrupted the education of over two million children … and left many without access to health care and basic services. Restoring these vital lifelines is critical to ensuring that children can recover and thrive.   “Meanwhile, the armed conflict in Sudan rages on, ravaging the country’s civilian population. Conflict, massive displacement, and constraints on humanitarian access have resulted in devastating food insecurity, malnutrition, and grave rights violations.   “In June, I visited Port Sudan and saw firsthand how children, especially girls, are impacted every day by a conflict that has left more than half of the country’s 24 million children in urgent need of assistance.   “While there, I met an 11-year-old girl named Areeg. She told me how she and her family had been displaced multiple times by the ongoing civil war, and that one of her closest friends had been killed.   Life is difficult for Areeg, but she and her family are safe now. Each day, she visits a UNICEF-run Child Friendly Space where she can draw, play and be a child for a few hours. “I love to draw,” said told me because she can put all her emotions into her artwork.   “I must reiterate that in terms of scale, the humanitarian consequences of the war in Sudan are the most extraordinary we have seen in the past twenty years.   “Beyond the crises which dominate the global headlines, we continue to see historic levels of children in need of humanitarian assistance amidst so-called ‘forgotten emergencies.’   “In Myanmar, for example, an estimated 3.4 million people – nearly 40 per cent of whom are children – have been displaced by violence.   This includes intensifying conflict in Rakhine State where UNICEF has received alarming reports that civilians, particularly children and families, are being targeted or caught in the crossfire, resulting in deaths and severe injuries.   “Or in Haiti, where more than 700,000 people, including 365,000 children, are now internally displaced because of horrific violence perpetrated by armed groups. Across the country, six million people, including 3.3 million children, need humanitarian assistance … with most facing severe food insecurity.   “And in the Democratic Republic of the Congo … nearly 15 million children affected by conflict need humanitarian assistance and protection.   “At the same time, children are at growing risk from the intensifying climate crisis. Today, more than 1 billion children – nearly half the world’s children – live in countries that are at extremely high-risk for the impacts of climate change.   “As a result, they are increasingly exposed to droughts and heatwaves, more powerful storms and more extensive flooding, air pollution and disease. Disasters linked to climate change are disrupting children’s supplies of nutritious food and safe water; and they are undermining essential social service delivery.   “Climate change and conflict are also displacing children from their homes and communities – often multiple times. At the end of 2023, nearly 50 million children were displaced due to conflict, violence, and natural disasters – accounting for 40 per cent of all forcibly displaced people globally.   “We estimate that extreme weather including floods, droughts and storms are displacing 20,000 children every day. And, on average, children’s displacement lasts five years, meaning that many children spend up to a quarter of their childhood in host locations, often with their basic rights denied.   “Again, the scale of children’s humanitarian needs is at a historically high level, with more children impacted every day. Looking ahead to 2025, we estimate that 213 million children in 146 countries and territories will need humanitarian assistance over the course of the year – a staggeringly high number.   “It is UNICEF’s mandate to reach each of these children with the essential services and supplies they need, to ensure they are protected, and their rights upheld.   “Around the world, our organization has the field presence, dedicated staff, and partners to deliver on this mandate – even in the hardest-to-reach places. Through the first half of this year, UNICEF and our partners have reached millions of children and families with humanitarian assistance.   “This included providing more than 26 million children and women with primary health care, reaching over 17 million people with safe drinking water, helping nearly 10 million children access education services, and screening more than 12 million children for wasting (severe malnutrition).   “These results show what we can achieve for children. But to succeed for every child, we require flexible, predictable, and timely funding.   “UNICEF is appealing for $9.9 billion in funding to support our humanitarian action for children in 2025. These funds will help us to reach 109 million children living through humanitarian crises with both immediate life-saving services, and investments for their longer-term development.   “I have seen firsthand all that is possible when we place children first … and work together to reach those living in humanitarian crises with the support they need most. UNICEF is committed to these children, and our staff and partners will stay on the ground working tirelessly to deliver for them.   “I hope donors will support us in these efforts … and be generous and courageous for children. They remain our world’s best investment. We can create a world where the rights of every child are protected and upheld. We can create a world fit for every child.   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/remarks-unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-launch-unicefs-2025-humanitarian http://www.unicef.org/reports/humanitarian-action-children-2025-overview http://www.unicef.org/appeals Visit the related web page
	View more stories