Gaza: Over 400 Palestinians killed around private aid hubs, UN rights office says

Gaza: Over 400 Palestinians killed around private aid hubs, UN rights office says

The alert comes nearly a month since the Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) started operating on 27 May in select hubs, bypassing the UN and other established NGOs. Its food distribution points have been associated frequently with confusion and shooting as desperate and hungry Gazans rush to fetch supplies, said UN human rights office spokesperson […]

Civilian deaths in conflict are surging, warns UN human rights office

Civilian deaths in conflict are surging, warns UN human rights office

At least 48,384 individuals – mostly civilians – were killed in 2024, based on casualties recorded by OHCHR. “Behind every statistic is a story. Behind every data point, a person,” said UN rights chief Volker Türk. This alarming rise in civilian deaths exposes major failures to protect some of the most vulnerable in both peacetime and […]

UN rights office ‘horrified’ by deadly violence at Gaza food distribution sites

UN rights office ‘horrified’ by deadly violence at Gaza food distribution sites

The UN human rights office (OHCHR) in the Occupied Palestinian Territory on Wednesday called on the Israeli military to cease the use of lethal force near aid convoys and food distribution sites. It cited “repeated incidents” of Palestinians being shot or shelled while seeking food, warning that such attacks could constitute war crimes under international […]

Iran-Israel crisis: UN rights office appeals for urgent de-escalation

Iran-Israel crisis: UN rights office appeals for urgent de-escalation

Israel began targeting nuclear and military sites across Iran last Friday, prompting a barrage of retaliatory strikes on Israeli cities. “The UN human rights office urges de-escalation and urgent diplomatic negotiations to end these attacks and find a way forward,” said Ms. Al-Nashif. “We are following closely and are aware of reports that many thousands […]

Israeli actions in Palestinian territories constitute war crimes, Human Rights Council hears

Israeli actions in Palestinian territories constitute war crimes, Human Rights Council hears

“The goal of the Israeli government is abundantly clear: the destruction of life in Gaza.” That’s how Navi Pillay, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, opened her statement to the 59th session of the Council on Tuesday. Calling the war in Gaza “the most ruthless, prolonged and widespread attack against the […]

DR Congo: Human rights violations could amount to war crimes, UN experts say

DR Congo: Human rights violations could amount to war crimes, UN experts say

Volker Türk told the Human Rights Council that the investigation and analysis undertaken by his office, OHCHR, had revealed “an apparent total disregard for the protection of civilians during and after military operations.” The OHCHR’s Fact-Finding Mission in the eastern DRC is also investigating other alleged violations of international humanitarian law, “many of which may […]

‘Behind each crisis, people are suffering,’ Türk tells Human Rights Council

‘Behind each crisis, people are suffering,’ Türk tells Human Rights Council

“We are on an indefensible path of escalating conflict and open disregard for international human rights and humanitarian law,” said Volker Türk, addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Offering a global overview, he painted a stark picture of a world in crisis – with surging armed conflict, deepening climate disruption, emerging technological threats, […]

Gaza: UN rights chief condemns new killings around private aid hub

Gaza: UN rights chief condemns new killings around private aid hub

“Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law and a war crime,” the High Commissioner said in a statement, issued after Palestinians were reportedly killed seeking assistance for a third day running. Mr. Türk also urged Israel to respect “binding orders” issued by the International Court of Justice to fully cooperate with the […]

UN warns of ‘catastrophic’ human rights crisis in Myanmar as violence and economic collapse deepen

UN warns of ‘catastrophic’ human rights crisis in Myanmar as violence and economic collapse deepen

Published ahead of the Human Rights Council’s upcoming session, the report highlighted the worsening situation since the military coup in 2021, which derailed Myanmar’s democratic transition and ignited widespread armed resistance. In the years since, military forces have targeted civilian populations with airstrikes, artillery bombardments and other forms of violence, while anti-military armed groups have […]

UN rights mission deplores deadly Russian strikes in Ukraine

UN rights mission deplores deadly Russian strikes in Ukraine

According to the UN mission, the overnight assault from Saturday into Sunday – one of the largest of its kind since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 – resulted in civilian casualties and damage to homes and infrastructure across 10 regions of Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv. At least three children were among those killed […]

Scam centres are a ‘human rights crisis’, independent experts warn

Scam centres are a ‘human rights crisis’, independent experts warn

It’s believed that hundreds of thousands of trafficked individuals of various nationalities are forced to carry out fraud in the centres located across Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, the Philippines and Malaysia. “The situation has reached the level of a humanitarian and human rights crisis,” said right experts Tomoya Obokata, Siobhán Mullally and Vitit Muntarbhorn. They stressed […]

Civilians killed in drone strike in eastern Ukraine: UN rights monitors

Civilians killed in drone strike in eastern Ukraine: UN rights monitors

At least nine people were killed and seven injured when a Russian drone struck a minibus near the town of Bilopillia in the Sumy region, according to local authorities. HRMMU monitors are in the process of gathering additional information on the circumstances of the attack and its victims. Preliminary reports suggest that the minibus was […]

End senseless killings in the West Bank: UN rights office

End senseless killings in the West Bank: UN rights office

OHCHR has urged Israel to stop all extrajudicial executions and other unlawful use of force and ensure all those responsible are brought to justice. Over the last two weeks, Israeli security forces killed two Palestinian men in planned summary executions, while seven others were killed in conditions that raise concerns over the use of unnecessary […]