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“When I came here, I saw others, I listened to their stories, and it gave me power to convert weakness into strength,” said Swastika Mali, a Nepalese paralegal and activist at Advocacy Forum Nepal, whose father was disappeared over 20 years ago. Co-organized in Geneva, Switzerland, by the , the  (CED),  the , and UN Human Rights, the  united 720 participants from more than 120 countries and 1,392 attendees online. The event, which primarily gathered relatives of the disappeared, provided a platform to share experiences, challenges, and best practices. It also marked a crucial step in shaping a collective path toward justice, truth, reparation, and the prevention of future disappearances.

Many migrants and refugees are forced to flee their homes due to complex issues, facing violations of both civil and political rights, such as arbitrary detention and torture, as well as economic and social rights. Discriminatory laws and xenophobia often drive these violations and persist in host countries. The Ocean Viking is a search and rescue vessel for migrants in the Central Mediterranean operated by SOS Méditerranée, a humanitarian organization responding to the shipwreck crisis in the region. Rebecca, a midwife on the Ocean Viking emphasizes that the situation has become so politicized that people on the move are often seen as problems rather than individuals, leading to their dehumanization.

A crowd gathered around a makeshift open-air courtroom in a village in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to watch defendants, including feared soldiers, face justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity. This scene has become common in eastern DRC, where mobile court hearings have helped hold perpetrators accountable for human rights violations, particularly sexual violence against women and girls. Supported by the UN Joint Human Rights Office in Congo, mobile courts bring judges, prosecutors, and defense lawyers to remote areas, demonstrating that crimes committed in rural settings can still be prosecuted. 

Diana Jalba believes that nothing is impossible and that disabilities shouldn't limit us. At 29, she has cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects her body movements and muscle coordination, but proudly lives independently in her apartment, managing her own life without needing to explain herself. Her main challenge lies in overcoming barriers to enjoy her rights. Recently, Jalba completed an internship with , which promotes the inclusion of marginalized groups facing discrimination. Through this program, she gained valuable skills and experience while working with mentors. She also takes pride in her work as a translator from home.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Shanley Clémot McLaren and fellow activists launched #StopFisha to combat , which surged with the rise of social media use. The platform tracks and reports abusive accounts, provides legal and psychological support, and advocates for stronger policies. With the rise of technologies like AI and deepfakes, the issue has become more pressing, particularly for women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by online gender-based violence. #StopFisha's efforts are part of a global movement calling for stricter regulation and greater accountability to protect women's digital rights.

A typical day for Priya, 17, and Rani, 18, in Kolkata, India, begins early with the sounds of bustling streets. They clear their sleeping spots, which are protected by plastic sheets. Both girls study in Class 11 at different schools and spend their afternoons with friends, watching over their younger siblings while playing in the street. Despite the challenges faced by street-connected children, Priya and Rani attend private schools, funded by their families and a supporting NGO. They share their education with peers who lack access to schooling.  The Child in Need Institute (CINI) has empowered them to be leaders, naming them "Street Champions." They advocate for children's rights in their community and beyond.

In celebration of Human Rights Day 2024, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk, emphasizes that human rights are about people and their lives, needs, and aspirations, reminding everyone that they are central to building a better future.

Under the theme “,” this year’s campaign highlights how human rights act as a preventive, protective, and transformative force, especially during crises.

Human rights empower individuals and communities to create a better future. By recognizing their importance, we can promote peace, equality, and sustainability. This Human Rights Day (10 December), we emphasize that human rights serve as a crucial preventative and transformative force. challenges us to recognize human rights in our daily lives, to take action against hate speech and misinformation, to counter disinformation and to reignite a global movement for human rights. Defending human rights drives social change and helps to create a fairer society. Follow our live coverage!

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 UN 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.

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 UN Human Rights in Mexico and other key stakeholders to promote human rights through art.

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.

Diego Luna, the Mexican actor, producer, and advocate for freedom of expression, believes that independent journalism is essential, especially in countries like Mexico with a high level of impunity. The documentary film "State of Silence," produced by Luna and directed by Santiago Maza, portrays the risky reality that many Mexican journalists live in. For Luna and Maza, documentary films are a powerful tool to defend media freedom and spark change.

Representation is crucial for people of African descent as it shapes racial perceptions and can promote inclusion. In the , the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights () explores how popular culture and arts can challenge perceptions and reframe narratives about race, history, and identity. Colombian journalist Edna Liliana Valencia worked as a consultant for Disney's Encanto, helping to portray Colombia's beauty and diversity accurately. Artist Anisha Thai expresses the beauty of diversity through dance and choreography, defying myths about being African and Asian. Human rights lawyer Dominique Day reflects on the first Decade for People of African Descent as an opportunity to focus on racial justice and non-discrimination.

Photo: OHCHR

Wendy Flores, a human rights defender from Nicaragua, had to leave her country after defending other victims and supporting their rights. She studied law and later joined the . The protests of April 2018 led by environmental groups, the rural peasant population and students against the government's slow and insufficient response to forest fires in the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve, resulted in the repression of the protesters, the criminalization of demonstrators and their arrests. More than 3,600 civil society organizations have been canceled in Nicaragua during the last five years. Flores fled Nicaragua due to the risk of being criminalized for defending human rights and putting her family in danger.