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Global Issues:
Human Rights

In June 2017, Indigenous Ñomndaa’ journalist Marcela de Jesus Natalia was shot three times by a gunman outside her radio station. Initially presumed dead, she survived and, with support from lawyers, advocates, and �山����Human Rights, continues to seek justice. Her attack stemmed from her efforts to inform Indigenous Peoples about their rights, notably regarding education, justice, and violence against women, creating a climate of fear for media workers. “I didn't think he wanted to kill me,” she said. “I turned around. The first bullet went to my forehead. I put my hand up, [and] the bullet went in and came out. The second one shattered my jaw. Then this guy held me, dragged me, gave me a final shot in my head and laid me on the pavement.”

Water should be managed as a common good accessible to all, rather than as a market commodity, says the . Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, advocates for a human rights-based approach to water management, arguing that access should not depend on an individual’s ability to pay. Arrojo-Agudo highlights water's crucial role in societal cohesion and outlines three priorities for water usage: “water for life,” essential for human dignity; “water in functions of general interest,” vital for society; and “water economy,” used for productive activities.  His offers recommendations for managing water as a common good, including principles of non-deterioration, restoration of polluted ecosystems, cost recovery for services, and cost-effectiveness.

“I’m a Black woman, so I cannot approach anti-racism without addressing feminism. As a woman of color, I face multiple layers of oppression,” said Rokhaya Diallo, a French journalist and commissioner of the O’Neill-Lancet Commission on Racism, Structural Discrimination and Global Health. Diallo spoke during a new session of the in Geneva, which addressed systemic racism and intersectionality. Chief Volker Türk presented a emphasizing that is vital for tackling systemic racism and the legacies of enslavement and colonialism. The report notes that systemic racism arises from multiple intersecting forms of discrimination, creating unique experiences of oppression.

Pictured is a refugee family of nine making the most of the limited space in their prefabricated hut in Baqa'a Camp near Amman [circa 1970]. As a result of contributions from governments, voluntary organizations and individuals, prefabricated huts offering better protection against the elements than the canvas tents they'd replaced were set up in the emergency camps in East Jordan.

was by the General Assembly on 8 December 1949 () to carry out direct relief and works programmes for Palestine refugees, following the 1948 war. UNRWA has contributed to the welfare and human development of four generations of Palestine refugees, defined as “persons whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948, and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 war”. The encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance, including in times of armed conflict.

When the �山����agency began operations in 1950, it was responding to the needs of about 750,000 Palestine refugees. Today, some 5.9 million Palestine refugees in the occupied Palestinian territory, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria are eligible for UNRWA services.

documents the critical work the agency has been doing in the region for the last 74 years.

Eva Jiménez Bracamontes, a Mexican illustrator and street artist, created a big mural called “All rights, all people” at the ‘Central de Abastos’ market in Mexico City. The mural aimed to bring attention to human rights issues in Mexico, such as enforced disappearances, the right to food, education, culture, migrants, discrimination, and racism. The project, run as part of the , received support from �山����Human Rights in Mexico and other key stakeholders to promote human rights through art.

Journalists reporting from crisis- and conflict zones face severe threats in carrying out their critical work. Between 2006 and 2024, around the world, with close to nine out of ten cases of these killings remaining judicially unresolved. The safety of the reporters in these contexts is a crucial issue. The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (2 November) aims to promote a broader discussion on their security, including the prevention, protection and prosecution concerns of journalists facing such challenges.

and the �山����system advocate for the universal abolition of the death penalty for three main reasons: it is profoundly difficult to reconcile with human rights, especially the right to life; however robust a judicial system may be, it is prone to bias and error; and there’s little to no evidence that the death penalty is a significant deterrent to crime in general. The US continues to face issues of due process, racial bias, and reliability of testimonies in capital punishment cases, raising concerns about wrongful convictions and the risk of executing innocent people. According to civil society, around 200 death row prisoners have been exonerated in the US since 1973 because of wrongful convictions, some of them posthumously.

As we celebrate , it’s crucial to acknowledge that despite food being a fundamental human right, millions still face hunger due to conflicts, inequalities, and economic downturns, underscoring the urgent need for access to diverse, nutritious foods for all.

urged reforms to end the exploitation of incarcerated individuals, stating their right to decent work and the need for better conditions, protections, and rehabilitation opportunities within prison systems globally.

The Roma minority in Moldova has long faced discrimination in various aspects of life. A program led by is helping vulnerable Roma families integrate into society through trained Roma community mediators. For example, Raisa Demeniuk, a Roma community mediator, helped a marginalized family obtain identity documents, enroll their children in school, and access healthcare and social protection benefits, improving their livelihoods and social inclusion.

The organization of collectives to search for disappeared persons in Mexico has grown exponentially in the last 15 years. Official records indicate that there are currently 115,000 people whose whereabouts are unknown. The highest concentration of disappearances occurred from 2006 to date, coinciding with the beginning of the 'war on drugs.' According to , the main challenges include widespread impunity, deficient institutional capacities to search for people, limited institutional coordination and collaboration, insecurity, and risks faced by human rights defenders. The is working to advance the fight against the disappearance of persons by providing technical advice, aiding civil society organizations, and increasing visibility and awareness of the problem.

The will hold its (9 September-11 October) at the United Nations in Geneva. On its opening day, the session will be addressed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, with reflections on pressing human rights issues from around the world. During the session, the Council will hold around 30 interactions with special rapporteurs, expert mechanisms and investigative probes, and with Mr. Türk on Nicaragua, Myanmar, Ukraine, Honduras, and Haiti. The 47-member Council will also hold discussions on Afghanistan, Sudan, racial justice and equality in law enforcement, the nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among other topics. 

The community of Guapinol in northern Honduras, with a population of 3,000, depends on agriculture, livestock, and remittances from the United States. Surrounded by African palm plantations, the Guapinol River is slowly returning to being a source of shade and clean water, as it always had been until 2018 when people realized that the water became heavily polluted. Juana Zúniga, an environmentalist, and her partner José Cedillo have fought for the human right to a healthy environment. Their advocacy led to the passing of an important law, Executive Decree 18-2024, which safeguards protected areas in Honduras and prohibits mining in these areas.

On the seventh commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism on 21 August 2024, join us to honor the powerful voices of victims as they use their experiences and journeys to create meaningful and positive change by raising awareness about the long-lasting impact of terrorism. By amplifying these voices, the International Day seeks to inspire collective action and empower individuals and communities to work towards a future defined by peace, solidarity, and resilience.