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While pre-pandemic global poverty rates had been cut by more than half since 2000, the COVID-19 pandemic could increase global poverty by as much as half a billion people,  or 8% of the total human population. In April 2020, the United Nations issued a framework for the immediate socio-economic response to COVID-19 and created the Secretary-General’s UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund. Before the […]

Fifty years ago, Maria Teresa De Los Santos and her husband Abayubá Rivas inherited the 495-hectare cow and sheep farm situated in the Salto department in northern Uruguay. This San Ceferino farm had been in Abayubá’s family since he was born. When his father passed away and it became Abayubá’s responsibility, Maria Teresa left her job

Last August, the eyes of the world were on Afghanistan amidst the dramatic scenes at Kabul airport as people rushed to escape. Today, the global spotlight has shifted elsewhere, yet millions of Afghans are facing a humanitarian crisis. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, remains focused on supporting millions of Afghans facing conflict and displacement. But

Last August, the eyes of the world were on Afghanistan amidst the dramatic scenes at Kabul airport as people rushed to escape. Today, the global spotlight has shifted elsewhere, yet millions of Afghans are facing a humanitarian crisis. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, remains focused on supporting millions of Afghans facing conflict and displacement. But

Today, a major wildfire in France has destroyed thousands of hectares of forest and forced many people to flee their homes. Meanwhile, dry weather, extreme heat and strong winds have combined to fan wildfires across Europe, the United States and other parts of the world over the last few weeks. Extreme wildfires are devastating to people, biodiversity

GENEVA (11 August 2022) – UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet today expressed alarm at the high number of Palestinians, including children, killed and injured in the occupied Palestinian territory this year, including in intense hostilities between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza last weekend. In the past week, 19 Palestinian children have been killed

I am alarmed by reports of several casualties and fatalities yesterday in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown during public protests. I call on the Government of Sierra Leone to hold prompt, impartial and thorough investigations into yesterday’s violence and bring those responsible to account regardless of their status and political affiliation. I urge all sides to

“Human rights are not always respected, so it’s good to have this reminder that we can do something to improve the situation around us,” said Mathias Hofmann, a young Swiss Scout who took part in a UN Human Rights workshop during the Swiss Scouts National Jamboree in Switzerland. “Sometimes it doesn’t cost much to do

Deep in the Amazon rainforest, an indigenous tribe that has remained relatively isolated from the outside world is waging a battle for its survival. For centuries, the Yanomami have inhabited a vast area of pristine forest and large, meandering rivers on the border between Brazil and Venezuela, living off fishing, hunting and fruit gathering. Today,

GENEVA (12 August 2022) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet will conduct an official visit to Bangladesh from Sunday, 14 August, upon the invitation of the Government. This is the first official visit by a UN Human Rights Chief to the country. During her visit to Dhaka, the High Commissioner is scheduled