U.N. urged to probe U.S. and global racism
The world's top human rights body heard calls for it to authorize two separate U.N.-mandated Commissions of Inquiry into racism in the U.S. and worldwide.
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 work to protect and promote these rights globally.
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Racism debate slated for U.N. rights panel
The U.N. Human Rights Council agreed to an African Union request for an urgent debate on systemic racism and police brutality.
U.N. experts condemn U.S. crackdowns
U.N. human rights experts called on U.S. authorities to end the use of violence towards demonstrators protesting systemic racism and police brutality.
Racism flagged in U.N. reviews of the United States' human rights record
Dozens of nations repeatedly urged the U.S. to eradicate systemic racism and police brutality, but not much changed.
U.N. expert: Myanmar atrocities continue
A U.N. human rights investigator urged the world body to "step up its efforts" to protect ethnic and religious minorities from the Myanmar military.
U.N. finds abuses with some lockdowns
The U.N. human rights chief warned some governments are abusing emergency powers to fight the pandemic by resorting to police brutality and other tactics.
Domestic abuse rises with virus lockdowns due to the pandemic
An upsurge in domestic violence has been reported in all regions as many people grapple with stay-at-home orders.
U.N. reboots 1995 plan for gender equality
A U.N.-led global commission recommitted the world to achieving gender equality, in a relaunch and update of a quarter-century old landmark agreement.
U.N. issues 'call to action' on human rights
U.N. leaders challenged nations, businesses and citizens to respond to a "call to action" for greater efforts to withstand a rising tide of human rights abuses.
U.N. reports on war agonies for Syrian kids
Syria's civil war has stolen the childhoods of 5 million boys and girls including many killed or suffering grave abuses of their rights, U.N. experts said.
HRW warns China is undermining human rights and institutions
Experts cautioned that China has been using its economic muscle to silence critics at home and increasingly abroad.
Decade of sharp rise in attacks globally on children in conflicts
The number of grave violations against children in conflicts more than doubled in the past decade from a decade earlier.
Progress and worry as children's rights treaty enters fourth decade
A human rights treaty helped make children healthier, but they still face threats like climate change and online abuse.
White Helmets ally, humanitarian leader found dead in Turkey
Police are investigating the death of James Le Mesurier, whose organization founded and supported White Helmets in Syria.
U.N. expert says world of social media is 'failing' to deter hate speech
Nations and companies are required to ensure their policies on hate speech comply with international human rights law.
U.N. mission to probe suspected human rights abuses in Venezuela
The Human Rights Council created a mission to investigate cases in the beleaguered country from the past five years.