Category: Human Rights

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has hailed the first convictions issued by Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP) as a “crucial milestone” in the country’s pursuit of accountability and reconciliation. In its inaugural ruling, the SJP convicted seven senior members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia–Popular Army (FARC-EP) for war crimes […]

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has denounced the sentencing of Kyrgyz journalists Joomart Duulatov and Aleksandr Aleksandrov, who were each handed five-year prison terms by a local court on charges of inciting riots. Both worked as cameramen for Kloop, a prominent investigative outlet known for its anti-corruption reporting. The charges stem from a video […]

Interview transcript Secretary-General, welcome to this interview with UN News. In a few days, world leaders are going to gather in this chamber. How would you describe the state of the world that is the backdrop for this General Assembly? Secretary-General: We are facing a global crisis. Conflicts are multiplying in the context in which […]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for the immediate release of José Ángel Pérez, 55, and Alejandro Antonio Henríquez, 29, two human rights defenders arrested in El Salvador on May 12 while peacefully protesting the eviction of hundreds of families from the El Bosque community near San Salvador. The pair face charges of “aggressive resistance” […]

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has denounced the sentencing of Belarusian journalist Ihar Ilyash, who received a four-year prison term and a fine of 4,200 rubles (approximately US$1,240) from the Minsk City Court on September 16, 2025. Ilyash was convicted on charges of promoting “extremist activities” and “discrediting the Republic of Belarus.” The verdict […]

Barbie and Peter Reynolds, a British couple detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan earlier this year, have been released and flown to Doha, Qatar, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters. The pair were reportedly taken into custody in February under undisclosed circumstances. Their release was facilitated through diplomatic efforts […]

In a major victory for migrant and refugee rights, on September 14, Ontario became the last province in Canada to block the Canada Border Services Agency from using provincial jails to incarcerate migrants and asylum seekers on administrative grounds. The border agency said that “as of September 15, there are no people detained in a […]

The Secretary-General’s annual report, released on Thursday ahead of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly’s yearly high-level session, offers a sobering yet resolute account of the Organization’s efforts in the face of mounting challenges. Mr. Guterres highlighted the resilience of UN personnel, committed to delivering hope and help to those in need despite […]

“The evidence is clear: when migrants have access to rights and opportunities, they contribute substantially to the societies that host them,” said Kristina Mejo, the head of the agency in Ecuador. Venezuelans currently number around 441,000 in Ecuador, with households paying nearly $47 million in taxes annually. Their contributions have been enabled by public policies […]

17 September 2025 — A report presented to the UN Human Rights Council by the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances has raised alarm over the increasing use of enforced disappearances against land and environmental defenders worldwide. The report identifies a disturbing pattern in regions with weak governance, where activists opposing powerful economic interests […]