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Global Issues:
Human Rights

Across the world, families of people who have disappeared continue to live with the same unanswered question: Where are they? Enforced disappearances leave relatives facing years of uncertainty while they search for truth, justice and accountability. Families and civil society groups often lead these efforts, despite facing threats, harassment and other obstacles. The ������ Human Rights Office stresses that States must investigate disappearances, search for missing people and ensure victims’ rights to truth, justice and reparation. Preventing future disappearances also requires stronger action, accountability and international cooperation.

In rural Honduras, 115 women from the Galilean Peasant Women’s Movement are fighting for land to grow food, support their families and build a better future. Led by Nolvia Albertina Ovando, the women have faced eviction, threats, stigma and criminalisation. Ovando was detained for five months after a 2023 eviction and was later cleared of the public stigma against her. In November 2025, the National Agrarian Institute agreed to grant the group 300 manzanas — 210 hectares / 510 acres —  of land, but ownership has yet to be formally transferred. With support from , the women continue pressing for land rights, gender equality and dignity.

2026 marks 20 years since the adoption of the , the only universal treaty dedicated to preventing and eradicating the practice. Under the slogan “,” the anniversary puts victims’ rights to truth, justice and reparation at the centre. As enforced disappearances persist worldwide, universal ratification and full implementation remain urgent priorities.  On the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances (August 30), the ������ notes that only 78 Member States are currently to the convention.

More than two decades after Liberia’s civil wars, efforts to address wartime atrocities and corruption are advancing. The government is moving to establish War and Economic Crimes and National Anti-Corruption Courts, with draft statutes submitted to the Legislature in May 2026. is supporting the process through legal advice, capacity-building and victim-centred approaches to accountability. It is also advancing the rights of informal workers, who make up 68% of Liberia’s workforce. Recent progress includes the registration of the Federation of Informal Sector Workers of Liberia as a trade union and reforms aimed at stronger labour protections.

Born in Liberia to a Liberian mother and Lebanese father, Aziza Sbaity grew up embracing both cultures before civil unrest forced her family to relocate to Lebanon. Adapting to a less diverse environment, she drew strength from her family and found belonging through sport. Initially passionate about basketball, her speed led her to athletics, where she discovered confidence, purpose and acceptance. Now Lebanon’s fastest woman and a national record holder, Sbaity uses her platform to champion inclusion and equality. Recognized in the BBC 100 Women list in 2023, she inspires young people through advocacy and is launching an athletics academy to expand opportunities for all children, including those with disabilities.

A resin that helps bind everything from soft drinks to medicines now at the centre of Sudan’s devastating war economy, according to a new . Sudan’s gum arabic trade, long vital to global food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, has become deeply entangled in the country’s conflict. Sudan, which once supplied 70-80% of global crude gum arabic exports, now sees the commodity linked to conflict financing, with armed actors benefiting through territorial control, checkpoints, taxation and smuggling. Farmers and traders face insecurity, restricted movement and disrupted livelihoods, while human rights abuses have been documented in producing areas. The report urges stronger oversight, anti-smuggling measures and heightened human rights due diligence across the supply chain.

Nelson Mandela International Day on 18th July commemorates Mandela’s birthday and his lifetime of service to humanity. This year’s theme reminds us that it is still in our hands to combat poverty and inequality.

������ takes inspiration from the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela - a staunch defender of peace, reconciliation, justice, and human rights, but also a champion of poverty eradication and equality. Nelson Mandela International Day (18 July) is marked with an informal plenary meeting of the United Nations General Assembly and an annual NYC volunteer event in honour of Mandela. We are all invited to devote 67 minutes - symbolic of Mandela's 67 years of service - to helping our community. Let’s carry forward Mandela’s vision of a just, inclusive, equal and peaceful world!

From football captains to grassroots activists, voices worldwide are uniting through the for Human Rights to defend dignity, equality, and justice for all.

After fleeing Sudan's conflict, many lawyers found themselves unable to practice in refugee camps in eastern Chad despite their skills and experience. A ������HCR-supported training programme, delivered with the Chadian Bar Association, is helping them learn Chadian law, earn certification, and resume legal work. Graduates now provide legal aid, raise awareness of refugee rights, and help fellow refugees navigate unfamiliar legal systems. For participants such as Amira, Mohamed and Amni, the programme restores purpose, dignity, livelihoods, and the ability to support their communities while rebuilding their own lives in exile.

The International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict (19 June) highlights the devastating impact of conflict-related sexual violence on children. Recognized by the ������ as one of in armed conflict, conflict-related sexual violence includes killing of children, recruitment, sexual violence, abduction, attacks against schools and denial of humanitarian access. Often used deliberately as a tactic of war and repression, it causes lifelong physical and psychological harm. Despite legal protections, underreporting and impunity persist. Follow the event on . #EndRapeInWar.

Families of people who were forcibly disappeared in Honduras have spent decades searching for their loved ones, demanding accountability, and preserving the memory of victims in the face of continued impunity.

At a time of growing division, conflict and uncertainty, the seeks to unite people around a shared vision of dignity, equality and justice for all. Convened by the ������ Human Rights Office, the Alliance brings together governments, civil society, businesses, cities, academics, young people and communities to champion human rights in everyday life. As the world approaches the 80th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2028, the Alliance aims to transform hope into action—sparking collaboration, inspiring solutions and building a future where human rights are upheld for everyone, everywhere. .

A world of colour should celebrate identity, not diminish it. The International Albinism Awareness Day (13 June) theme, “Proudly in my skin — celebrating all skin tones”, highlights how colour-based discrimination harms dignity, safety and mental wellbeing. Often dismissed as “harmless,” everyday behaviours—such as mockery or stereotypes—can leave lasting emotional scars, especially for children. The message affirms that discrimination based on colour denies equal rights and participation, and calls for challenging prejudice, uplifting voices of persons with albinism, and building inclusive societies.