U.N. human rights chief says her China visit did not find answers
Michelle Bachelet acknowledged she was unable to adequately judge the situation for Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang Province.
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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Human Rights Council sharpens focus in Ukraine
International investigators were directed to focus their efforts on possible war crimes by Russian soldiers near Ukraine's capital and other regions.
OSCE cites Russian war crimes in Ukraine
Russia has clearly violated international humanitarian law and abused human rights during its invasion of Ukraine since late February, OSCE reported.
U.N. suspends Russia from rights body
The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council, pointing to evidence of grave war crimes in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy tells U.N. of Russian atrocities
Ukraine's president demanded full accountability for Russian forces committing the "most terrible war crimes" since World War II.
U.N. panel to probe abuses in Ukraine
The U.N. Human Rights Council authorized a panel to investigate abuses and violations of international law from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Attacks on 'blue helmets' last year claim 25
At least 24 peacekeepers and a civilian working for the United Nations were killed in deliberate attacks during 2021, according to the U.N. Staff Union.
U.N. authorizes human rights probe of Tigray region's alleged war abuses
The U.N. Human Rights Council created an international commission of experts to investigate the war in Ethiopia.
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.
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.