OHCHR | Feature stories

Feature stories

Reflecting on 25 years of women’s rights action
Twenty-five years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, experts celebrate that document’s vision of women’s rights and discuss its continued relevance to address remaining and new challenges.
6 March 2020

Turning the tide on gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa
Through her innovative approach to healing and transformation, Thokozani Ndabaand and the young women she supports bring new hope to the survivors of sexual violence in Setswetla, just outside Alexandra township in South Africa.
29 November 2019

On International Women’s Day, Stand With Her
Generations of courageous women and feminist movements have together stood up for social change by fighting for human rights. On International Women’s Day, they are being recognised and honoured. The #IStandWithHer campaign will tell some of their stories.
7 March 2019

Hidden wounds
Excision remains firmly anchored in the traditions of 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East.
28 April 2016

UN Women’s Committee makes inquiry into sexual and reproductive health rights in the Philippines
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women issues its findings on a sexual and reproductive health rights violations inquiry in the Philippines.
23 June 2015

Women’s rights in political transitions
A group of leading human rights advocates share their views on political transitions and women’s enjoyment of their rights in their respective countries at an event organized by the UN Human Rights Office.
7 August 2013

ICPD Beyond 2014: advancing human rights for all women
The ICPD Beyond 2014 International Conference on Human Rights provided an interactive forum for highlighting human rights achievements since the landmark 1994 Programme of Action, while addressing the current challenges impacting sexual and reproductive health rights.
9 July 2013

Discrimination faced by rural women impacts negatively food security
The UN independent expert on the right to food deplores the negative impact of discrimination faced by rural women on food security, in his new report to the Human Rights Council.
12 March 2013

Ending gender-based violence and discrimination: Youth as agents of change
UN Human Rights Chief recognizes the crucial role of youth to effect positive transformative change by addressing stereotypes that perpetuate violence against women and girls, at an interactive event with youth activists.
12 March 2013

Women are powerful drivers of progress when free to claim their rights
Inspiring women leaders share their personal experience on the enabling factors that have allowed them to assume positions of leadership at the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council.
5 March 2013

A case of domestic violence in Mexico: Grettel’s quest for justice
The Mexican Supreme Court orders a local tribunal to reinstate attempted murder charges against a man who almost killed a young woman.
8 January 2013

A long way to go: progress in combatting violence against women in Afghanistan
The latest United Nations report on violence against women in Afghanistan describes renewed concerns that “conservative elements resistant to women’s rights are again gaining strength.”
28 December 2012

Advancing Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Mexico
"Indigenous women suffer two types of discrimination, as indigenous people and as women," says UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay.
7 July 2011

Combating laws that negatively affect women’s everyday lives
Despite the progress already made in adopting equality laws, many women do not fully enjoy human rights
20 June 2011

Religion, belief and women’s rights
UN human rights chief Navi Pillay warns against the reassertion of discriminatory practices against women amid political transition in the Middle East and North Africa.
7 April 2011

International Women’s Day
UN human rights chief Navi Pillay urges solidarity with women in every corner of the world working for positive change in their communities.
8 March 2011

From herding goats to protecting women’s rights
Jane Meriwas escaped motherhood at an early age and vowed to protect and promote education for other young girls in her community.
7 March 2011

Human rights defender from Gaza advocates for women
Zeinab-Al-Ghonaimy, human rights defender from Gaza, advocates for an end to discrimination against women.
30 November 2010

Right to education to achieve development
UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay discusses with African research scholars the role of women of science in development.
27 October 2010

Competition for Reporting on Human Rights in DRC
Canadian NGO, Journalists for Human Rights and OHCHR launch a competition for best news features on human rights in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
17 September 2010

Meryl Streep urges action against gender discrimination
Actress Meryl Streep adds her voice to those calling on Governments round the world to take action to revoke discriminatory laws against women and girls.
10 March 2010

Women in Congo seek justice
Sexual violence is a hallmark of the conflict in Eastern Congo. Justice for most of the women has been elusive.
25 December 2009

Protecting forcibly displaced women from discrimination and violence
Justice for victims of sexual violence and discrimination a central requirement, says the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
21 July 2009

Silence is Violence
A new UN report focuses on threats and attacks against women participating in public life and the widespread but under-reported problem of rape.
10 July 2009

High Commissioner: Make equal rights a daily reality for all women
We strive to make equal rights a daily reality in the lives of all women, High Commissioner said in a landmark lecture on women’s rights.
2 July 2009

Inequality before the law
Fourteen years on from the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, the repeal of discriminatory laws is a continuing struggle.
8 June 2009

Double Odds: Women overcoming Multiple Discrimination
A special side-event at the Durban Review Conference discusses discrimination not just on the basis of race but also gender.
21 April 2009

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