Compiled by Dick Bennett.
https://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2025/12/omni-center-for-peace-justice-ecology.html
What’s at Stake: “We are experiencing a world where commitments to protect and promote human rights have reached alarming new lows. While we have long fought against the degradation of rights by insisting on accountability of state and private actors for harm and centering the demands of those most impacted by systems of oppression in the U.S. and around the world, we mark this moment while in a profound human rights crisis.
This Human Rights Day invites a reckoning: How did a global system built in the name of “universal rights” become structurally incapable of constraining state violence? “ Center for Constitutional Rights, December 10, 2025.
Contents
UNHCFHR 2025
The following are provided for critical contexts following decades of budget reductions to the UNHCFHR and countless and often atrocious attacks on human rights by nations. –D
UNHCFHR 2013.
Center for Constitutional Rights, December 10, 2025.
Autobiography of Mary Robinson, Everybody Matters
Ann Fagan Ginger, The U.N. Declaration of Human Rights Is the Law: A Guide to U.D.H.R. Articles in Treaties Ratified by the U.S. (ed.) [2009], January 13, 2014.
My anthologies in the Gaza genocide and the Ukraine War should be included.
AI Overview
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the UN’s top official for promoting and protecting human rights globally, currently held by Volker Türk of Austria, appointed in 2022. His office, OHCHR, works to integrate human rights into all UN programs, advises governments, and supports civil society, operating with field offices worldwide. Türk recently highlighted his office’s struggle due to funding cuts, placing it in “survival mode”.
Key Roles & Responsibilities
- Leadership: Heads the OHCHR, the leading UN body for human rights.
- Advocacy: Speaks out against violations and promotes adherence to international human rights law.
- Integration: Works to embed human rights across the entire UN system.
- Field Operations: Manages human rights professionals and monitors situations in over 90 field offices.
About Volker Türk
- Appointment: Became High Commissioner in October 2022.
- Background: An Austrian lawyer with extensive experience in the UN, particularly with UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency).
- Focus: Advocates for innovation in human rights and addresses crises, recently warning of potential atrocities in Sudan and concerns in Hong Kong.
Recent Challenges
- Funding Crisis: Facing severe budget shortfalls from donor nations, impacting operations and staffing.
In Summary
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, currently Volker Türk, leads the crucial OHCHR in its mission to safeguard human rights, but faces significant financial hurdles as rights abuses increase globally, as noted in late 2025.
· Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Türk played a key role in the development of the landmark Global Compact on Refugees. Over the course of his career, he held a num…
Welcome to the United Nations
· Who’s Who on Human Rights at the UN – Better World Campaign
Jul 28, 2025 — The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: The UN’s Human Rights Engine. Volker Türk has been the UN High C…
Better World Campaign
· Global Leadership Team – ohchr
Global Leadership Team * Volker Türk, High Commissioner. * Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner. * Ilze Brands Kehris, Assist…
ohchr
· Show all
Dive deeper in AI Mode
AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
High Commissioner
https://www.ohchr.org › about-us › high-commissioner
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is accountable to the Secretary-General and is responsible for all the activities of OHCHR, as well as for …
| Past High Commissioners Ms. Michelle Bachelet, Chile, 2018-2022 · Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al … |
| Volker Türk Mr. Türk is the current United Nations High Commissioner for … |
| More results from ohchr.org » |
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human …
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Office_of_the_United…
The eighth and current high commissioner is Volker Türk of Austria, who succeeded Michelle Bachelet of Chile on 8 September 2022. In 2018–2019, the department …
How we make a difference 2013
“UN Women for Peace” march on International Women´s Day, led by Yoo Soon-taek, wife of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, with actor and activist Susan Sarandon, and Monique Coleman, UN Champion for Youth, 8 March 2013
© UN Photo/Evan Schneider
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 challenging political and social norms and addressing stereotypes that perpetuate violence against women and girls. “What we need is changed behaviour” Navi Pillay said at an interactive event with youth activists.
Mistreatment in healthcare settings: when a carer becomes a torturer
The Special Rapporteur on torture, Juan Méndez, analyses forms of abuse in healthcare settings which could constitute torture.
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.
Human Rights in the news
Genocide trial in Guatemala
High Commissioner hails the start of the ground-breaking genocide trial of Guatemala’s former head of state and former head of intelligence.
Pillay condems Saudi Arabian executions
High Commissioner strongly condemns the executions of seven Saudi Arabian nationals, saying “they clearly violate international safeguards in the use of the death penalty.”
UN / Private security contractors
The United Nations Working Group on the use of mercenaries announces the start of a study on the use of private military and security companies by the UN bodies worldwide.
Use of drones in Pakistan
Statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, Ben Emmerson, after three days of meetings in Islamabad, Pakistan (11-13 March 2013).
DRC / deaths in detention
A UN research shows that the number of deaths almost doubled in 2012 in detention centers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
More press releases … Make a difference today
Read the latest speech or op-ed from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Meetings and events
Human Rights Council / 22th session
From : 25-02-2013 To : 22-03-2013
PN XX
Human Rights Committee / 107th session
From : 11-03-2013 To : 28-03-2013
PW G
Ad Hoc Committee on the elaboration of complementary standards to ICERD / 5th session
From : 02-04-2013 To : 12-04-2013
PN XXI
Workshop on the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights
From : 05-04-2013 To : 05-04-2013
PN Room XII
Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) / 4th session
From : 08-04-2013 To : 19-04-2013
PN XII
From : 15-04-2013 To : 26-04-2013
PW 1st
Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) / 9th session
From : 15-04-2013 To : 19-04-2013
PW G
WG on communications / 12th session
From : 22-04-2013 To : 26-04-2013
PW G
Working Group on the People of African Descent / 12th session
From : 22-04-2013 To : 26-04-2013
PN XXI
UPR Working Group / 16th session
From : 22-04-2013 To : 03-05-2013
PN XX
WG on Arbitrary Detention / 66th session
From : 29-04-2013 To : 03-05-2013
PW 1st
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) / 50th session
From : 29-04-2013 To : 17-05-2013
PW G
(ICC) International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions / 26th session
From : 06-05-2013 To : 08-05-2013
PN XIX
Committee against Torture (CAT) / 50th session
From : 06-05-2013 To : 31-05-2013
PW 1st
Human Rights Council – Organizational Meeting / 23rd session
From : 13-05-2013 To : 13-05-2013
PN XX
WG on the Right to Development / 14th session
From : 13-05-2013 To : 17-05-2013
PN XXVI
Pre-sessional WG – CESCR 51st session / 51st session
From : 21-05-2013 To : 24-05-2013
PW G
Human Rights Council / 23rd session
From : 27-05-2013 To : 14-06-2013
PN XX
Committee on the Rights of Child (CRC) / 63rd session
From : 27-05-2013 To : 14-06-2013
PW G
Conference of States Parties Convention on the Protecion of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CPED) / 2nd session
From : 28-05-2013 To : 28-05-2013
NY
From : 30-05-2013 To : 30-05-2013
NY
Pre-sessional WG – CRC 64th session / 64th session
From : 17-06-2013 To : 21-06-2013
PW G
Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) / 20th session
From : 17-06-2013 To : 21-06-2013
PN XXI
From : 17-06-2013 To : 21-06-2013
PN XXII
Meeting of persons chairing human rights treaty bodies / 25th session
From : 24-06-2013 To : 28-06-2013
PW G
WG on Situations / 12th session
From : 24-06-2013 To : 28-06-2013
PW 1st
From : 24-06-2013 To : 28-06-2013
PN XXIII
HR Committtee Pre-sess. WG on Communications. 108th
From : 01-07-2013 To : 05-07-2013
PW G
Expert mechanism on the rights of indigenous peoples (EMRIP) / 6th session
From : 08-07-2013 To : 12-07-2013
PW G
Human Rights Committee / 108th session
From : 08-07-2013 To : 26-07-2013
PW G
From : 08-07-2013 To : 26-07-2013
PN XVI
WG on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) / 100th session
From : 15-07-2013 To : 19-07-2013
PN IX
HRC/WG on Discrimination against Women in Law and Practice / 7th session
From : 22-07-2013 To : 26-07-2013
NY
WG on the use of mercenaries / 19th session
From : 29-07-2013 To : 02-08-2013
NY
CEDAW Pre sessional WG for the 57th Session
From : 29-07-2013 To : 02-08-2013
PN XVI
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) / 83rd session
From : 12-08-2013 To : 30-08-2013
PW G
Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council / 11th session
From : 12-08-2013 To : 16-08-2013
PN XX
WG on communications / 13th session
From : 19-08-2013 To : 23-08-2013
PW 1st
Human Rights Council – Organizational meeting / 24th session
From : 26-08-2013 To : 26-08-2013
PN XX
WG on Arbitrary Detention / 67th session
From : 26-08-2013 To : 30-08-2013
PN XXIII
Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) / 10th session
From : 02-09-2013 To : 13-09-2013
PW G
Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) / 6th session
From : 04-09-2013 To : 06-09-2013
NY
From : 09-09-2013 To : 13-09-2013
PW 1st
Human Rights Council / 24th session
From : 09-09-2013 To : 27-09-2013
PN XX
Committee on the Rights of Child (CRC) / 64th session
From : 16-09-2013 To : 04-10-2013
PW G
CEDAW – WG Communications / 26th session
From : 23-09-2013 To : 27-09-2013
PN XVI
HRC/WG on Discrimination against Women in Law and Practice / 8th session
From : 30-09-2013 To : 04-10-2013
PW 1st
From : 30-09-2013 To : 18-10-2013
PN XVI
BoT, UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture / 38th session
From : 30-09-2013 To : 04-10-2013
PW 1st
Meeting of States Parties to the Convention Against Torture (CAT) / 14th session
From : 01-10-2013 To : 01-10-2013
PN XX
Pre-sessional WG – CRC 65th session / 65th session
From : 07-10-2013 To : 11-10-2013
PW G
HR Committtee Pre-sess. WG on Communications. 109th / 109th session
From : 07-10-2013 To : 11-10-2013
PW 1st
From : 07-10-2013 To : 18-10-2013
PN XXI
Human Rights Committee / 109th session
From : 14-10-2013 To : 01-11-2013
PW G
CEDAW Pre sessional WG for the 58th Session / 58th session
From : 21-10-2013 To : 25-10-2013
PN XVI
UPR Working Group / 17th session
From : 21-10-2013 To : 01-11-2013
PN XX
BoT, Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights / 39th session
From : 28-10-2013 To : 31-10-2013
PN XXIII
Committee against Torture (CAT) / 51st session
From : 28-10-2013 To : 22-11-2013
PW 1st
WG on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) / 101st session
From : 30-10-2013 To : 08-11-2013
PN XI
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) / 51st session
From : 04-11-2013 To : 29-11-2013
PW G
Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) / 5th session
From : 04-11-2013 To : 15-11-2013
PN XII
Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) / 21st session
From : 11-11-2013 To : 15-11-2013
PN XXI
WG on Arbitrary Detention / 68th session
From : 13-11-2013 To : 22-11-2013
PN XI
Working Group on the People of African Descent / 13th session
From : 18-11-2013 To : 22-11-2013
PN XVII
BoT, UN Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery / 18th session
From : 18-11-2013 To : 22-11-2013
PN IX
From : 25-11-2013 To : 29-11-2013
PW 1st
Forum on Minorities Issues / 6th session
From : 26-11-2013 To : 27-11-2013
PN XX
WG on the use of mercenaries / 20th session
From : 02-12-2013 To : 06-12-2013
PW 1st
Pre-sessional WG – CESCR 52nd session / 52nd session
From : 02-12-2013 To : 06-12-2013
PWG
Forum of Business and Human Rights / 2nd session
From : 03-12-2013 To : 04-12-2013
PN XX
Human Rights Council – Organizational Session
From : 09-12-2013 To : 09-12-2013
PN XX
From : 11-12-2013 To : 13-12-2013
PN XXI
From : 12-12-2013 To : 12-12-2013
NY
13 of many
Toward a New Vision for Human Rights
Nadia Ben-Youssef, Center for Constitutional Rights via uark.onmicrosoft.com December 10, 2025
Dec 10, 2025, 4:23 PM (16 hours ago)
to James
Dear Dick,
Today, December 10, is Human Rights Day, marking the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948. We are experiencing a world where commitments to protect and promote human rights have reached alarming new lows. While we have long fought against the degradation of rights by insisting on accountability of state and private actors for harm and centering the demands of those most impacted by systems of oppression in the U.S. and around the world, we mark this moment while in a profound human rights crisis.
This Human Rights Day invites a reckoning: How did a global system built in the name of “universal rights” become structurally incapable of constraining state violence? The failures of the UN’s human rights and security architecture, combined with deliberate efforts to weaken what limited protections existed, have brought us to a moment when the thinnest pretexts are sufficient to justify the killings of civilians, the deportation and torture of migrants, the imprisonment and silencing of dissenters, and the erosion of freedoms for us all.
And still we fight.
Cora and Peter Weiss with Deputy Legal Director Maria LaHood and
Senior Staff Attorneys Katherine Gallagher and Pam Spees.
On this Human Rights Day, we honor those struggling for liberation by continuing the work of building a human rights framework worthy of that name: one capable of confronting empire, resisting genocide, and protecting all people without exception. We are guided in our work by the late, visionary Peter Weiss and his partner in life and work, Cora Weiss, who passed away just two days ago on what would have been Peter’s 100th birthday. Cora, a lifelong peace activist and human rights champion, believed deeply in the power of people to work together to bring forth a better world. As Peter argued, we must reorient our approach: not conforming our pursuit of justice to existing law, but reshaping law to serve universal justice, through universal jurisdiction, people-centered accountability, and movements that refuse to allow states to define the limits of our rights.
To a world where human dignity is our foundation and horizon,
Nadia Ben-Youssef
Advocacy Director
The Center for Constitutional Rights stands with social justice movements and communities under threat—fusing litigation, advocacy, and narrative shifting to dismantle systems of oppression regardless of the risk.
Thank you for joining us in the fight for justice.
CCR
666 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10012
Quick links
Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 403 translations
Human rights education and training
National Human Rights Institutions
Human rights by country
Human rights monitoring mechanisms
About us
The OHCHR is the United Nations office with primary responsibility for promoting and protecting the enjoyment and full realization of human rights for all…
Who we are
Our work in the field
How we work with others
Recent publications
Former Irish president Mary Robinson discusses her new memoir ‘Everybody Matters’
Mary Robinson, author of ‘Everybody Matters,’ talked with me about everything from her meeting with the queen of England to the relationship between Ireland and Rwanda.
By J.P. O’Malley, Contributor / March 15, 2013
Mary Robinson became Ireland’s first female president in 1990.
Lee Jin-man/AP
Share on stumbleuponShare on email
In 1990, Mary Robinson became Ireland’s first female president.
As a progressive liberal, Robinson seemed a very unlikely candidate for the job in what was then a deeply conservative country.
Throughout the ’70s and ’80s, she worked as a human rights lawyer as well as a senator, arguing a number of landmark cases that challenged various clauses within the Irish constitution which failed to protect minorities. Robinson fought on behalf of women, who were effectively treated as second-class citizens; homosexuals, who were criminalized for their sexual orientation; and campaigned to change the law on the sale of contraceptives, which were illegal in Ireland without prescription until 1985.
When she became president, Robinson was determined to reinvigorate the role. In 1993, she was the first Irish President to travel to Britain, when she met with Queen Elizabeth II for tea in Buckingham Palace.
Robinson then returned to Britain in 1996 on an official state visit.
From 1997 to 2002, Robinson served as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The role proved to have huge political difficulties, particularly in the post-9/11 world. Robinson openly criticized the Bush Administration, much to the chagrin of then Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan. In 2009, Robinson was awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama.
In recent years, Robinson has returned to Ireland to live, where she set up The Mary Robinson Foundation–Climate Justice, a center for leadership, education and advocacy for those affected by climate change across the globe.
Robinson’s memoir Everybody Matters recalls a long and dedicated career as a public servant, both at national and international level.
Recently she spoke with me about the difficulties the role of UN High Commissioner presented, how Eleanor Roosevelt provided a life-changing moment, and why she has always been persuaded by those who fight for equality and justice through non-violent methods.
Was it your awareness of middle class privilege from an early age that inspired you to peruse a career that fought for justice in society?
Well, I came from a family that was privileged but not rich. My mother was a very warm, engaging, and open person, but she was also quite snobbish. She thought our family were great because we had a background of a colonial past, and plaques on the wall in the Protestant church in the town of Ballina, County Mayo, because the first Catholic in the family was my grandfather. The more she talked about this, the more I was rebelling the other way. For me, it was all about fairness.
You talk about reading Eleanor Roosevelt at any early age. What did you see in her worldview that inspired you?
I always loved people who were inspirational. Figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Michael Davitt, Daniel O’Connell, and Martin Luther King. In 1958, Eleanor Roosevelt made a famous speech on the tenth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and she said: “Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home.” When I read this, I had a lightbulb moment and thought, I really want to be involved in this.
· GOOGLE SEARCH, Ann Fagan Ginger, The U.N. Declaration of Human Rights Is the Law: A Guide to U.D.H.R. Articles in Treaties Ratified by the U.S. (ed.) [2009], January 13, 2014
1. Ann Fagan Ginger – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Fagan_Ginger
Ann Fagan Ginger (born July 11, 1925) is an American lawyer, teacher, writer, and …[2008]; The U.N. Declaration of Human Rights Is the Law: A Guide to …
2. [PDF]
2009_HRN-3_Sep-1 – Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute
mcli.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/2009_HRN-3_Sep.pdf
co-chair an evening with Ann Fagan Ginger of. MCLI discussing The Universal Declaration of. Human Rights Is the Law. She will describe how concerned …
3. [PDF]
2009_HRN-4_Dec-1 – Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute
mcli.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/2009_HRN-4_Dec.pdf
and failing to do, to enforce three U.N. human rights treaties the … law with Ann Ginger) and went on … her – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the …
4. [PDF]
2008_HRN-4_Dec-1 – Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute
mcli.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/2008_HRN-4_Dec.pdf
by B Steensland – Cited by 71 – Related articles
Universal Declaration of Human Rights are the law in the …. (from p. 1). Liz Troutman and Ann Fagan Ginger making presentations at the MCLI CLE at the.
5. [PDF]
Enforcing the Hidden U.S. Equal Rights Law – Digital Commons
digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1471...
by AF Ginger – 2010 – Related articles
Sep 13, 2010 – Ann Fagan Ginger, Enforcing the Hidden U.S. Equal Rights Law, 20 Golden ….. Universal Declaration of Human Rights in defining the “human.
6. The Declaration is The Law – Berkeley Daily Planet
www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/…/31738?...Declaration…Law…Ann…Gin…
Dec 4, 2008 – By Ann Fagan Ginger … 10, “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Is the Law” will be issued by Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute.
7. “Undoing the Bush-Cheney Legacy” with lawyer Anne Fagan Ginger
www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/01/09/18560368.php
Jan 9, 2009 – Find out how to undo the Bush-Cheney legacy and how to use theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights as law. This book party for “Undoing …
8. Ann Fagan Ginger | New Paths to Stop Human Rights Violations in US
www.truth-out.org/…/ann-fagan-ginger-new-paths-stop-human–rights-vi…
Feb 22, 2006 – You know the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) that …It is not enforceable in a court of law (except for those principles also …
9. Human Rights and Peace Law Docket
sunsite.berkeley.edu/meiklejohn/meik-peacelaw/meik-peacelaw-5.html
Ann Fagan Ginger • Editor … Human rights law encompasses economic, social and cultural rights of each person and group in society, … 55 and 56, with many specifics in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in the two International …
10. [PDF]
Ann Fagan Ginger – Seattle University School of Law
www.law.seattleu.edu/Documents/globaljustice/Ginger%20Resume.pdf
Colleges: courses in Global Peaces Studies, International Human Rights, Peace … TheUniversal Declaration of Human Rights Is The Law: a Guide to UDHR …