Press Releases

New York, 30 August 2020 The crime of enforced disappearance is rife across the world. We see new cases almost daily, including the disappearance of defenders of the environment, who are often indigenous peoples. Meanwhile…

New York, 29 August 2020 Commemorated annually since 2010 on the anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk test site in Kazakhstan, the International Day Against Nuclear Tests takes on special meaning in 2020 in also…

New York, 25 August 2020 Tourism is one of the world’s most important economic sectors. It employs one in every ten people on Earth and provides livelihoods to hundreds of millions more. It boosts economies and enables…

New York, 22 August 2020 The right to freedom of religion or belief is firmly trenched in international human rights law and is a cornerstone for inclusive, prosperous and peaceful societies. Yet across the world, we continue…

New York, 21 August 2020 Today, we remember and honour all victims of terrorism. We stand by those who grieve and those who continue to endure the physical and psychological wounds of terrorist atrocities. The impact of…

New York, 19 August 2020 On World Humanitarian Day we honour the work of humanitarians who overcome huge challenges to save and improve the lives of millions of people. These real-life heroes are doing extraordinary things in…

New York, 9 August, 2020 COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on more than 476 million indigenous people around the world. Throughout history, indigenous peoples have been decimated by diseases brought from elsewhere, to…

Education is the key to personal development and the future of societies. It unlocks opportunities and narrows inequalities. It is the bedrock of informed, tolerant societies, and a primary driver of sustainable development…

New York, 30 July 2020 As in other parts of the world, the health, economic and political impact of COVID-19 has been significant across Southeast Asia — hitting the most vulnerable the hardest. The pandemic has highlighted…

New York, 30 July 2020 This year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons honours the first responders helping to end the crime of human trafficking: law enforcement officers, social workers, healthcare professionals, NGO…