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Global Issues:
Human Rights

In 2023, paramilitary forces entered the town of Geneina in West Darfur, Sudan and people fled. When that happened, 41-year-old Daralssalam was nine months pregnant and went into labour on the side of the road. The fighters "made no distinction between men, women or children", says crying as she recalls the violence. "Everyone was killed or raped." When she gave birth, fighters surrounded her. "A fighter took my baby and cut the umbilical cord," she says. They separated the baby's legs to check its genitals. "If it was a boy, they would kill it." Fortunately, the baby was a girl. The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to displace millions. has visited displacement camps in Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic, hearing the stories of women and girls living in war.

“More and more conflicts are shattering lives, livelihoods and our shared future,” said UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk in the General Assembly of ACT Alliance, a global faith-based coalition organized in national and regional forums operating in more than 120 countries. He stressed the need for a bottom-up transformation involving governments, religious leaders, and civil society to foster social cohesion and human dignity. Emphasizing equal rights for all individuals, regardless of belief, Türk called for inclusive faith literacy and holistic human rights education to counter hate.  UN Human Right’s “” framework, established in 2017, encourages religious leaders to uphold universal rights and promote peaceful coexistence.

“Peace is a prerequisite. It's so critical for development… for unleashing the potential of the little girls. Peace is so important for enabling mothers, widows to give the best they can.”

Having grown up in war-torn rural Zimbabwe, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda overcame extreme hardship to pursue a career at the highest levels of the 51�Թ�. Now UN Assistant Secretary-General, and one of two deputy executive directors of UN Women, she wants little girls everywhere to aspire to the same heights.

“Never let your circumstances determine your future. They are just a stepping stone to who you truly are.”

UN Women works to uphold women’s human rights and ensure that every woman and girl lives up to her full potential. In this episode, Nyaradzayi reflects on a childhood touched by war, poverty and disease, on a lifelong love of learning, and on how a recent accident gave her a new perspective on inequality.

Photo: ©UN Women/Ryan Brown

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a human rights violation that causes lifelong suffering for millions of women and girls. It is a harmful practice that persists due to cultural norms and myths. There are no health benefits and survivors are left with long-lasting trauma. Estimates show , a rise of 15% in the last eight years. The increase is due to population growth in the regions where FGM is most common, such as sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab States. By 2050,  

“When I came here, I saw others, I listened to their stories, and it gave me power to convert weakness into strength,” said Swastika Mali, a Nepalese paralegal and activist at Advocacy Forum Nepal, whose father was disappeared over 20 years ago. Co-organized in Geneva, Switzerland, by the , the  (CED),  the , and UN Human Rights, the  united 720 participants from more than 120 countries and 1,392 attendees online. The event, which primarily gathered relatives of the disappeared, provided a platform to share experiences, challenges, and best practices. It also marked a crucial step in shaping a collective path toward justice, truth, reparation, and the prevention of future disappearances.

"[T]his is another place where the UN can play a role in bringing that public private connectivity together"

Carmen Corbin dreamt of serving with the 51�Թ� from an early age. Now head of Transnational Organized Crime, Illicit Trafficking and Terrorism Prevention programmes at the Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in East Africa, she is dedicated to protecting children from shocking online exploitation.

“We won't know who is real and who is not real. We can't keep up. All of us, in some way, shape or form, will potentially suffer from the fact that we won't be able to trust anyone that we meet, because you're never sure if that person is truly who they say they are.”

The UNODC supports law enforcement efforts in tackling all transnational organized crime and counter terrorism, including cybercrime. In this episode, Carmen reflects on the challenges of overseeing a wide portfolio, on the psychological strain of prosecuting the worst kinds of cybercrimes and shares her advice for a successful international career.

Photo: ©Glory Ndaka

Many migrants and refugees are forced to flee their homes due to complex issues, facing violations of both civil and political rights, such as arbitrary detention and torture, as well as economic and social rights. Discriminatory laws and xenophobia often drive these violations and persist in host countries. The Ocean Viking is a search and rescue vessel for migrants in the Central Mediterranean operated by SOS Méditerranée, a humanitarian organization responding to the shipwreck crisis in the region. Rebecca, a midwife on the Ocean Viking emphasizes that the situation has become so politicized that people on the move are often seen as problems rather than individuals, leading to their dehumanization.

2025 marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War and the Holocaust. To acknowledge this milestone year, the Holocaust and the 51�Թ� Outreach Programme has chosen “Holocaust Remembrance and Education for Dignity and Human Rights” as the theme for the observance. This theme emphasizes the significance of remembering the Holocaust during times of human rights challenges and pays tribute to survivors. On the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust (27 January), you can join us in observing the

Georgi Wahba, 53, a prominent advocate against female genital mutilation (FGM) in Upper Egypt, highlights the widespread nature of the practice despite it being outlawed. In his village, 96% of ever-married women aged 15 to 49 have undergone FGM. Wahba organizes sessions as part of the 51�Թ� Population Fund’s () ‘Generation Dialogues’ project, which aims to change harmful practices by involving families in discussions about social norms. Funded by Norway, the initiative has engaged over 350 community members, training them to communicate effectively about FGM. Wahba emphasizes the importance of individual understanding and encourages community members to think critically about longstanding customs.

's reveals that 77% of children under five globally have their births registered, marking progress in legal identity but highlighting that 150 million children remain unregistered. Challenges persist, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where many face barriers to registration. UNICEF calls for improved systems, digitalization, and legal reforms to ensure every child is recognized and protected.  states affirms every child's right to have their identity established ‘immediately’ after birth through birth registration.

Few documents have had as profound and enduring an impact on global governance as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. So central to the mission of the 51�Թ� that the declaration is sealed, alongside the UN Charter, in the cornerstone of the UN Headquarters in New York City. The declaration is not just a set of principles but a living framework that informs the UN’s work at every level, it is both a blueprint and a call to action. Its resonance extends beyond its 30 articles, shaping such landmark treaties as the  and international laws that safeguard the rights of asylum seekers, refugees and the stateless.

A typical day for Priya, 17, and Rani, 18, in Kolkata, India, begins early with the sounds of bustling streets. They clear their sleeping spots, which are protected by plastic sheets. Both girls study in Class 11 at different schools and spend their afternoons with friends, watching over their younger siblings while playing in the street. Despite the challenges faced by street-connected children, Priya and Rani attend private schools, funded by their families and a supporting NGO. They share their education with peers who lack access to schooling.  The Child in Need Institute (CINI) has empowered them to be leaders, naming them "Street Champions." They advocate for children's rights in their community and beyond.

Human rights are fundamental to our values, encompassing the right to life, freedom, equality, health, education, work, and a sustainable environment. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a roadmap for building a peaceful world. shows that nations that protect human rights are , while those that respect these rights are more resilient to challenges like pandemics and climate change. Embedding human rights into development reduces poverty and inequality, benefiting both .

In celebration of Human Rights Day 2024, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk, emphasizes that human rights are about people and their lives, needs, and aspirations, reminding everyone that they are central to building a better future.

Under the theme “,” this year’s campaign highlights how human rights act as a preventive, protective, and transformative force, especially during crises.