International Women’s Day recognizes the critical contributions of women human rights defenders and feminist movements, who use the transformative power of digital technology to connect, mobilize, and drive social change, while fighting against the persistent pushback of women’s rights. The digital world offers immense opportunities, but it isn’t immune to the persistent backlash against women’s rights and gender equality including gender-based violence and digital exclusion. “International Women’s Day reminds us of the patriarchal power dynamics, old and new, that hold our world back from fulfilling the rights of all women and girls,” said UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk, "The digital space has yet to undergo a much-needed feminist revolution – and it must."

"You saved me!” It was with this cry that five-year-old Aruna Candé threw himself into the arms of his godmother. Aruna had lived on the streets in Dakar begging since the age of 3 to survive. He was able to return to his village and family in rural Guinea Bissau thanks UN Human Rights West Africa Regional Office. Aruna’s case is not isolated.  In west African countries, many children are taken away from their parents when they are at a very young age, to go and beg in the capitals of neighbouring countries, thus becoming victims of human trafficking.

The hashtags that pepper social media may seem innocuous. UN Human Rights helped #QueremosAObtilia (#WeWantObtilia) go viral, leading to the release of abducted human rights activists.  

“A gender equal world is a more accessible, more free, and more peaceful world,” said Pashtana Dorani. “It is a fascinating world, where men and women have equal pay; a world where girls and boys are not told which colour is for which or told they cannot play sports or do anything.” The efforts of women human rights defenders like Dorani continue to be indispensable for the rights of women and girls. UN Human Rights supports the courageous women demanding an end to discrimination and advocating for legal reforms to ensure their rights and justice.

On Human Rights Day (10 December), UN Human Rights will launch a year-long campaign to promote and recognise the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR 75), which will be celebrated on 10 December 2023. The year-long campaign will showcase the UDHR by focusing on its legacy, relevance and activism using the slogan, “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All.” The UDHR 75 campaign will promote the universality of human rights and empower everyone, especially young people, to stand up for human rights.

The Universal Declaration for Human Rights (UDHR) consists of the fundamental human rights and freedoms to which all of us, everywhere around the world, are entitled. It guarantees our rights without distinction of nationality, place of residence, gender, national or ethnic origin, religion, language, or any other status. This year's Human Rights Day (10 December) launches a year-long campaign to showcase the 75th anniversary of the UDHR by focusing on its legacy, relevance and activism. Join us in promoting the day by sharing digital resources on your social media or learn how to take action.

This year’s OxFID Global Youth Challenge 2022 focused on the advancement of the implementation of the fourth phase of the World Programme for Human Rights Education. “People cannot protect, defend, and promote something that they do not fully understand,” said Jean Linis-Dinco, the leader of one of the three winning teams, “It is imperative for young people to come together and understand human rights.” UN Human Rights strives to ensure that the work on human rights education is not only conducted for youth, but also with and by youth.

Indigenous peoples offer us valuable ways to address the global water crisis through their traditional practices, both in terms of the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems and the democratic governance of safe drinking water and sanitation. In the worldviews of indigenous peoples, water belongs to everyone and should remain available to all, as a common good. Voicing their concerns, indigenous peoples pointed out numerous challenges on water rights they face that have undermined their access to clean water and proper sanitation, according to a new OHCHR report.

The Compassion House project, funded by the UN Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, helps hundreds of thousands of enslaved people.

Sometimes, we might unintentionally trigger a harmful narrative on migration. In this episode of the UN Human Rights podcast, #StandUp4HumanRights, we focus on how migration is not one-dimensional and why telling individual stories of migration, which reflect all dimensions of people, can help avoid perpetuating harmful narratives.

Meet Musician Austin Zhang who uses the power of music, harmonizing his saxophone jazz melodies with a recording of his mother’s own story of migration, to accentuate the emotions of her story.

“I had to share my mother's story and just to give people that perspective of that side of life and how real it is for many people to this day,” he said. “It was very important to me and also just the gratitude that I have for her and her journey.”

“With over 50% of the Madagascar population under 20 years of age, the participation of youth in addressing the root causes of conflict is essential if we are to succeed in consolidating sustainable peace,” said Sabine Lauber, Senior Human Rights Adviser for the UN Country Team.

The Rary Aro Mada project - supporting the protection of young human rights defenders and peace builders - has just entered its second phase with the establishment of regional human rights observatories. The main mission of the observatories is to document cases of human rights violations. Among the young people trained by the human rights team in Madagascar under this project are 9 young people, including 5 women, who have been designated as coordinators of these observatories.

In 2010, the streets of Osh in southern Kyrgyzstan experienced tragic events, residents would like to forget: an inter-ethnic conflict between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz that killed at least 426 people, burned down 2500 homes and forced thousands to flee. Today, nearly 28% of Kyrgyzstan’s population is composed of ethnic minorities but fewer than 5% of civil servants come from these groups. In the Osh and Djalal-Abad regions, an internship programme designed by UN Human Rights has expanded opportunities in the civil service for ethnic minorities, women and people with disabilities.

All families are different. Some have a mum, dad and kids. Some have two mums or two dads. Some have many generations. Others are just two people. Others still are a ‘chosen family’ or a group of close friends. All families are different. At their best, they provide community, support, and the courage to be your best self. They make you feel seen. Safe. At home. They empower you to thrive. UN Human Rights celebrates families in all their amazing diversity - the families who love and accept you just the way you are. Celebrate with us!

Nataliia, a human rights officer working with the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. She listens to the stories of internally displaced persons in Uzhhorod, in Ukraine’s west. One of her key jobs now is to gather first-hand information on allegations of international human rights abuses and humanitarian law violations resulting from the armed attack of the Russian Federation on Ukraine. She talks to people on the ground, listens to their stories and documents what has happened to them or their loved ones, looking to help verify civilian casualty incidents.

Simply for being who they are, women and girls who are lesbian, gay, bi, trans, intersex or queer (LGBTIQ+) often experience extreme stigma and prejudice, even from the people closest to them. Together, let’s make this a world where women and girls are free to be themselves and can thrive, no matter who they are or whom they love. Join us and take a stand with LGBTIQ+ women everywhere!