Bachelet calls pandemic key test for leaders
The U.N. human rights chief opened the Human Rights Council's summer session urging leaders to correct the many inequalities laid bare by the pandemic.
Human Rights
Human rights are the fundamental rights and freedoms inherent to every person. Their modern legal foundation is the International Bill of Human Rights, which consists of three key documents: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The U.N. and its agencies, along with other international organizations, work to protect and promote these rights globally.
Enjoy our Free+ stories and our weekly newsletter
Start your free accessAlready have an account? Log in
U.N. told of potential war crimes in Gaza
The U.N. human rights chief raised the possibility that Israel's military committed war crimes during its latest war with Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers.
ASEAN calls for end to Myanmar killings
Nine Southeast Asian nations demanded that the military in Myanmar — the tenth ASEAN member — should immediately cease all violence and killings.
China rejects call for U.N. probe in Xinjiang
China lashed out against Human Rights Watch's report calling for a U.N.-led probe of alleged crimes against humanity targeting Uyghurs in Xinjiang Province.
U.N. investigator takes charge at Amnesty
Amnesty International named Agnès Callamard as its new secretary general, tapping a veteran human rights investigator to lead a 60-year-old organization.
Turkey exits 'human rights convention of women'
The Turkish president withdrew his nation from Europe's first legally binding treaty on preventing violence against women and removed the central bank chief.
America commits to rights overhaul in U.N. review
The U.S. accepted four-fifths of the almost 350 recommendations for improving its human rights record that other nations served up in a U.N. peer review.
U.N. study shows 'horrifying' violence against women
About 30% of all women worldwide have been subjected to physical or sexual violence at least once during their lives, U.N. agencies found in a survey.
Media group accuses Saudis in 35 reporter cases
Reporters Without Borders filed a criminal complaint against the Saudi crown prince over Jamal Khashoggi's murder and the detention of 34 other journalists.
U.N. experts urge probe of Navalny poisoning
Two U.N. human rights experts called for an international and independent investigation into the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
U.S. seeks to rejoin Human Rights Council
The United States will campaign for a seat on the world's top human rights body, in another reversal of the former Trump administration's foreign policy.
U.N. panel documents decade of war crimes
Syria's combatants have taken advantage of the international community's disastrous failures, the chair of a panel of U.N. investigators said.
Human Rights Council 'deplores' Myanmar coup
Myanmar's military coup drew broad criticism by the U.N. Human Rights Council, which demanded Aung San Suu Kyi's release and civilian rule restored.
U.S. to 're-engage' with Human Rights Council
The Biden-Harris administration will seek U.S. 'observer' status with the U.N. Human Rights Council at Geneva in a reversal of former Trump-era policy.
Days after election, U.S. rights under inspection
With U.S. elections just barely decided, the U.N. Human Rights Council finished putting America's human rights record under a microscope.
Groups cite high number of land mine casualties
At least 5,554 people were killed or wounded last year because they stepped on a land mine or other unexploded devices from war, a new report found.