Think back to a time when you visited a public clinic, sat in a classroom, or clocked out of work knowing you’d have the weekend free. Or perhaps consider the simple comfort of sharing a meal with loved ones, knowing that good, nutritious food was always within reach.
These aren’t just privileges — they are fundamental human rights, even if we don’t always think of them that way. While most countries recognize the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which outlines these freedoms, many people around the world still cannot count on them. That’s where the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), or UN Human Rights, comes in.
“People have this perception that human rights are just about protests, but protests have been part of [their] broader evolution,” Abigail Noko, regional representative of OHCHR in Southern Africa, told Global Citizen. “They’re really about those everyday things that might feel abstract but are at the heart of what it means to be a human being.”
Over the years, as political instability, wars, and new technologies have threatened or stalled progress, UN Human Rights has stepped in to sound the alarm on violations and work closely with governments, civil society, and individuals to protect our ability to live with dignity, security, and opportunity every day.
“Very often our work goes unnoticed because most of what we do happens behind the scenes,” Carlos Rodriguez Osorio, public information officer at OHCHR’s Regional Office for Central America, told Global Citizen.
This often-unseen work is how the office creates meaningful change. At any given moment, it may encourage local governments to fund public education, advocate for inclusive workplace practices, or track conflicts and crises that could give rise to human rights violations — while also helping affected groups recover from past harm.
UN Human Rights’ work tends to happen in the background so that people can go about their lives without worrying about whether their rights are accessible — as it should be. Unfortunately, this vital work is now at risk of backsliding due to donor funding cuts.
This year alone, the United States has withdrawn from the Human Rights Council, restructured the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and reduced funding for UN entities responsible for peacekeeping and human rights. Meanwhile, other major contributors — including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico — have underpaid their annual dues, deepening the financial crisis.
Several European countries, such as France, Finland, and Germany, have also reduced funding for official development assistance — intergovernmental aid that supports human rights initiatives in developing nations. On top of that, the UK has announced plans to cut its foreign aid budget by 40% by the 2027–2028 fiscal year.
When the world’s most powerful mechanism for preventing human rights violations faces a funding shortfall, its ability to protect and promote rights everywhere is threatened.
For some wealthy nations, reducing donations allows them to prioritize military spending or minimize deficits. For the world, however, these cuts mean that much-needed prevention work cannot continue, victims of arbitrary arrest may receive less support, governments may lack guidance to create fairer policies and infrastructure, and discrimination and bullying — both online and offline — may go unaddressed.
A bit of history about UN Human Rights
Reeling from the devastation of two world wars, the Holocaust, and the atomic bomb, world leaders came together in 1945 to prevent such destruction from happening again.
The creation of the United Nations, and later the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, became the primary mechanisms for maintaining global peace and protecting fundamental rights. In December 1993, UN Human Rights was established to ensure all 30 articles of the Declaration were upheld worldwide.
“UN Human Rights really stands on the foundation of the world’s greatest historical lessons relating to some of the most atrocious crimes against humanity and violations, such as slavery, torture, and genocide,” Noko said. “It’s important for us to continue this work so that wars and conflicts can no longer weaponize civilians or harm ordinary people.”
Human rights have never been separate from the world’s biggest challenges, such as ending extreme poverty or addressing the climate crisis. Rather, they enable us to find solutions that leave no person behind — regardless of nationality, gender, race, ability, or any other factor.
“People rely on [UN Human Rights] to keep the conversation going,” Rodriguez Osorio told Global Citizen. “If the conversation stops because there is too much other noise in the world, then the voices of people who are impacted will never be heard.”
Because of UN Human Rights’ legacy and collaborative efforts, countries have been able to establish mechanisms to protect rights locally. As a result, the number of independent human rights institutions has tripled, now covering more than half of the world’s population. The UN office has also encouraged countries to adopt its tracking methodology to collect and report on human rights data, improving transparency.
These efforts cannot continue if UN Human Rights cannot operate. To avoid losing the progress already made, more people need to understand why this office matters — and what’s at stake if we don’t act.
10 reasons why the world needs UN Human Rights now more than ever
The OHCHR works to ensure that people everywhere can know, claim, and enjoy their human rights. It partners with civil society, engages with Special Procedures and Treaty Bodies, and carries out fieldwork such as training, consultations, and community outreach. It also plays a vital role in human rights education and awareness, helping people — many of whom may not even realize they have rights — understand and claim them. Here are 10 reasons why the UN body is indispensable:
- It helps alleviate injustices before they spiral out of control.
Through its network in more than 90 countries — with stand-alone offices and direct engagement with communities and organizations — UN Human Rights functions as a radar for violations. It detects red flags in real time, alerting and advising governments and civil society before violence escalates.
“We are present everywhere in the world. Where crises are happening, we are there,” Rodriguez Osorio said. “We talk to communities, we document abuses, and we sound alarms and provide support before things get worse.” - It exposes cover-ups.
From war crimes to unfair systems that harm entire communities, UN Human Rights investigates what’s really going on and makes sure the world knows about it. By exposing hidden abuses, the agency brings attention to those responsible and encourages corrective action.
For example, in Sri Lanka, UN Human Rights has been helping the families of people who were disappeared by security forces between 1970 and 2009 find justice. The accountability process has involved interviewing victims and their families about their experiences. By pressuring the Sri Lankan government, the agency has made reports more accessible to the public, advocated for criminal charges against those responsible, and supported closure for affected families. - It uses real data to make decisions.
OHCHR provides reliable data and insights into global human rights trends. Its staff are present in more than 90 countries; last year alone, the agency conducted 11,000 monitoring missions, observed nearly 1,000 trials, and documented 15,000 violations.
This data helps identify how vulnerable communities experience rights abuses and guides the next steps to prevent them. Through initiatives like the Human Rights Data Exchange, AI-powered early warning tools, and digital partnerships, UN Human Rights is also pioneering innovative ways to track, protect, and advance human rights in the 21st century.
For instance, by tracking discrimination against Indigenous people in Mexico, OHCHR contributed to a constitutional amendment recognizing the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Afro-Mexicans to participate in decisions on development and land ownership. - It promotes and defends your basic freedoms.
UN Human Rights advocates for and defends vulnerable individuals who are silenced — including young people, people with disabilities, and those facing criminal charges.
In its 2024 Impact Report, OHCHR highlighted global efforts to protect civil liberties. For example, in South Korea, Japan, Belgium, the UK, and the US, the agency raised awareness about violations against students exercising their right to peaceful assembly. In Madagascar, it sent emergency food supplies to two prisons to prevent acute malnutrition among detainees. - It is a constant even in times of crisis.
Whether during a pandemic, natural disaster, conflict, or economic collapse, OHCHR works to ensure vulnerable groups are not excluded from essential services.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, the office pushed governments to safeguard health workers, promote vaccine equity, and prevent the misuse of emergency powers. It also developed guidance to encourage businesses to protect employees with safety measures and ensure people had access to food, health care, education, and mental health support. - It holds truth to power
Whether dealing with a powerful government or a wealthy corporation, UN Human Rights sets standards to ensure rights are respected. When those standards aren’t met, it monitors and provides guidance, while developing international norms such as treaties against torture and discrimination.
Corporations looking to operate globally are expected to follow the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. If they fail to uphold fair pay or safe working conditions, OHCHR investigates and holds them accountable. - It helps your voice be heard.
UN Human Rights is the independent voice on human rights: it upholds your right to express opinions, assemble peacefully, and organize no matter where you live. In places where people are routinely silenced, threatened, or punished for raising their voices, this office helps them report abuses, share their stories, and demand change at the highest — levels influencing international debates and policy decisions. - It pushes leaders to do better.
OHCHR doesn’t just point out problems but actually helps solve them. In Uganda’s Karamoja region, for example, OHCHR helped local leaders apply a human rights and gender-sensitive approach to how they plan, budget, and deliver services to the community. By supporting real, on-the-ground change like this, the UN helps build stronger systems and encourages countries to learn from each other. - It empowers young people.
UN Human Rights works with youth movements on issues that impact the spectrum of human rights.
When it comes to climate inequality, for instance, the office provides a platform to youth so they can ensure their voices are being heard by world leaders. By amplifying youth advocates like Greta Thunberg, the office has supported an increase in youth participation to shed a light on the link between climate change and human rights. - It fights for fairness
OHCHR never discriminates based on nationality, race, gender, or economic status. When it comes to getting into school, finding a job, or accessing health care, human rights are for everyone — not just those born into privilege.
“No matter where you come from or your background, you have the same rights [as everyone else],” Noko said. “We have this really elaborate human rights architecture that tackles a broad range of issues — from the right to education to emerging challenges like climate change and technology. We work to ensure human rights are integrated into these areas so they can serve as an equalizer.”
How to take action for UN Human Rights
When human rights are threatened, it also undermines our ability to advocate for climate justice, equitable health care, gender equality, and an end to extreme poverty. That’s why UN Human Rights is essential — it recognizes that global fights for fairness and justice are interconnected.
A world without UN Human Rights is one where violators are empowered and the legitimacy of rights themselves can be questioned. As global citizens, we must ensure progress is not lost — and take action to protect it.
“We need human rights now more than ever because we’re living in a world where there is more inequality, more poverty, more hate, more discrimination, more wars,” Noko said. “And the reason for that is a lack of implementation of and adherence to human rights.”
Take action with Global Citizen now to learn why this UN office is necessary for protecting and promoting human rights, and preventing conflicts from happening. Then, encourage world leaders to increase their funding for OHCHR to help the world achieve its human rights goals by 2030.