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As the world observed the International Day for People of African Descent on 31 August, progress on eradicating racism is mixed and the road to equality and justice remains long.

Renowned historian Verene Shepherd, who chairs the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (), sat down with ’s Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer to about how the human rights body works with States towards this goal.

Professor Shepherd also recounted how her own experiences as a woman of African descent strengthened her resolve and fuelled her anti-racist advocacy.

Audio Credit Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer, UN News - Geneva
Photo Credit UNTV Geneva

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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a milestone document in the history of human rights, was drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world. Article 2 of the declaration states: "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status".

On July 28 we marked the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Colombia’s conflict has torn the souls of Colombians apart for almost 70 years. The only road we have left is reconciliation.

Exiled Afghan women’s football teams scores goals in Australia in hopes of making a future in their new country, facilitated by .

Yokasta Valle is a five-time World Boxing Champion, but she is most passionate about using the power of her punch to knock out hate. Born in Nicaragua before migrating to Costa Rica, Yokasta has suffered of discrimination both as a migrant and as a woman in a sport dominated by men. “There were always people who told me, ‘You’re never going to make it.’ But those words just served as fuel for me to say, ‘Okay, I’m going to show you otherwise.’” Yokasta recently signed on to be a United Nations Costa Rica champion and met with the UN’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide.

Nelson Mandela was a colossus of courage and conviction. He was a giant of our times, whose legacy we best honour through action. As Mandela said, “It is in your hands to make of the world a better place”. And so, every year on , we ask people around the world to take action and inspire change by making a difference in their communities. As we commemorate Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy, let us be animated by his spirit of humanity, dignity and justice. Donate your own time to public service.

is a fast-expanding field dedicated to understanding the brain and creating technologies that interact with it. In the medical realm, where neurotechnology has been well regulated, it has proved to have great potential to improve the lives and well-being of people affected by paralysis, neurological disorders, and mental illnesses, including depression. has hence organized an to further assess neurotechnology’s immense potential in addition to its ethical challenges to human rights and fundamental freedoms.

According to , women face unprecedented levels of targeted violence, which takes many forms, including attacks on women in politics and women human rights defenders.

For many women around the world, the devastating loss of a partner is magnified by the long-term struggle for their basic rights and dignity. Even though there are more than 258 million widows around the world, historically, widows have been left unseen and unsupported. Today, as armed conflicts leave women newly widowed or with disappeared partners, the unique experiences and needs of widows must be brought to the forefront. This International Widows’ Day (23 June), let’s make their voices lead to the path to equality.

Every new wave of conflict brings a rising tide of human tragedy, including the oldest, most silenced, and least condemned crime - sexual violence. The violence, sexual harassment and gender-based hate speech have also surged in the digital space. This International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict focuses on how information and communications technology is also being used to propagate this violence. Join us at a live event on 19 June, 10:00 a.m., to stand in solidarity with the survivors as we lift our voices to say: “#EndRapeInWar”. Watch the live .

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (15 June) aims to promote the dignity of older individuals and their right to live without fear or violence. Ahead of the , this year’s commemoration will connect with the year-long campaign to promote and recognize this milestone. Aligned with the 2023 theme of "Addressing gender-based violence in older age - policy, law, and evidence-based responses," an expert panel will deliver updates on closing the circle and engage in further discussions. Follow the event on .

June marks the 30th anniversary of the , a landmark document that paved the way for human rights breakthroughs. To celebrate the occasion, held a  in Vienna to reflect on progress and revitalize a worldwide consensus on human rights. Thirty years after the Vienna Declaration, the world faces multiple crises, and the commitment to human rights is more important than ever. The two-day event is a key milestone in a year-long initiative to celebrate the .

As we together to celebrate Pride Month, stands in solidarity with LGBTQI communities – a reminder of our commitment to human rights, equality and decriminalized same-sex relationships.

The holds its second session on 30 May to 2 June 2023 under the theme: “Realizing the Dream: A UN Declaration on the promotion, protection and full respect of the human rights of people of African descent”. Towards this end, the discussions will focus on human rights concerns of people of African descent on issues such as global reparatory justice; Pan-Africanism for dignity, justice, and peace; transnational migration; recognizing and addressing systemic and structural racism; and health, well-being, and intergenerational trauma.