This web-based publication is meant as a reference tool for Members of the European Parliament and staff on information about and useful contacts for the international human rights framework and, more generally, to raise awareness about the normative work of the United Nations and its funds, programmes and specialized agencies.

Inaugurated in 2005, the Minorities Fellowship Programme (MFP) is OHCHR’s flagship training initiative, dedicated to empowering human rights defenders from national, ethnic, religious, and linguistic minority communities.

Discover the key insights and recommendations from the consultation on racism, discrimination, and health in the European Union. The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recently hosted a pivotal two-day consultation focusing on the right to health for People of African Descent. The resulting report, set to shape the post-2025 EU Anti-racism Action Plan, offers crucial insight for promoting health equity and combating racial discrimination across Europe.

The Right to Health of People of African Descent: Addressing Racism and Health Inequities

On June 26-27, the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) held a two-day conference focusing on the right to health for People of African Descent. The event aimed to develop actionable recommendations to feed into the next cycle of the EU Anti-racism Action Plan, promoting health equity and combating racism across Europe.

As the Olympic Games returned this year in Paris, the worldwide competition displays athletic excellence, showcasing the best of human potential. Beyond the physical prowess, the Olympics are deeply linked to the promotion of human rights. The convening power and peaceful ambitions of the Games serve as a beacon for global unity. As athletes from around the world gather in Paris, the Olympic spirit calls for a renewed commitment to human dignity, equality, and peace.

2024 is a record-breaking electoral year with citizens from 64 countries around the globe casting their ballots this year. This includes the European Parliament elections taking place from 6 to 9 June, which will shape the EU for the next 5 years. Yet as a record number of people heading to the polls, these elections are taking place against a backdrop of global democratic decline, shrinking civic space and disinformation, with serious implications for human rights.

In 2024, as in previous annual exercises, the UN Human Rights Office for Europe contributed to the targeted stakeholder consultation held by the European Commission for 2024 in the context of its annual rule of law report.

On 11-12 December, 2023, the UN Human Rights led a high level event in Geneva to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The event organized on the occasion of Human Rights Day (10 December) garnered pledges and marked the culmination of national and regional dialogues, including the European and Central Asia dialogue on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.