Managing migration is one of the most profound challenges for international cooperation in our time. 

Migration powers economic growth, reduces inequalities and connects diverse societies.  Yet it is also a source of political tensions and human tragedies.  The majority of migrants live and work legally.  But a desperate minority are putting their lives at risk to enter countries where they face suspicion and abuse.

Special Envoy de Mistura attended today the Astana meeting, which was hosted very effectively by President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan and organised under the auspices of the three guarantors of the 30 December 2016 ceasefire – the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey.  The Special Envoy reiterated his belief that maintaining and enhancing the deescalation of violence remains an essential contribution to the shaping of an environment conducive to a political progress in Syria as per Security Council resolution 2254 (2015).  Through his pre

On International Migrants Day, we recognize the contributions and celebrate the vitality of the world’s 258 million migrants. 

Evidence overwhelmingly shows that migrants generate economic, social and cultural benefits for societies everywhere.  Yet hostility towards migrants is unfortunately growing around the world.  Solidarity with migrants has never been more urgent.

UN expert on violence against women urges worldwide adoption of Femicide Watch or gender-related killings observatories

This year’s commemoration of Human Rights Day marks the beginning of a year-long celebration of seven decades since the adoption of one of the world’s most profound and far-reaching international agreements.  The Universal Declaration of Human Rights establishes the equality and dignity of every human being and stipulates that every government has a core duty to enable all people to enjoy all their inalienable rights and freedoms.

“Human Rights Day falls on 10 December every year, the day when, back in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – the world’s most widely translated* and possibly most influential document – was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, itself just three years old at the time.”

Joint call by UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and global and regional mechanisms on women’s rights to eradicate gender based violence against women with focus on Sexual harassment and rape and to update their national action plans in line with the CEDAW new GR No. 35 on gender based violence against women

(Moscow, 24 November 2017): United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock today wrapped up his first official visit to the Russian Federation after meeting key Government officials including the Minister for Civil Defense, Emergency Situations and Disaster Relief Vladimir Puchkov, Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov and representatives from the Ministry of Defense in Moscow.

Every woman and every girl has the right to a life free of violence. Yet this rupture of human rights occurs in a variety of ways in every community, particularly affecting those who are most marginalized and vulnerable. Around the world, more than 1 in 3 women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lives; 750 million women were married before age 18, and more than 250 million have undergone Female Genital Mutilation.