Access to education for girls in Afghanistan and justice for all the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and his associates are just two of the most prominent issues. There are many more – so much more to do before all women’s rights are recognised throughout the world.

Today is International Women’s Day. Learn more about this special UN day and how the UN is marking it here: www.un.org/en/observanc...

Women have only 64% of the legal rights that men hold worldwide.

As conflict escalates in the Middle East after the US/Israel strikes on Iran and Iranian retaliatory strikes on Israel and Gulf states, all parties are obligated to respect int'l humanitarian law and prioritize civilian protection. HRW's statement:

I write up the UNSC's emergency meeting on Iran. "The meeting was an opportunity for Council members to signal where their sympathies lay in the conflict. By this metric, it was a success for Washington." www.crisisgroup.org/anb/middle-e...

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for President Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Commissioner for Children's Rights, concerning the war crime of unlawful deportation and transfer of children. Other atrocity crimes are under investigation.

As a direct party to the conflict, Russia has also contravened the UN Charter by vetoing Security Council resolutions/amendments that name it as the aggressor and call for the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.

Russia violated international law by invading the sovereign state of Ukraine. This was in the first instance a crime of aggression.

Today marks the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing war, which has taken hundreds of thousands of lives, on both sides, and caused immense destruction and suffering in Ukraine.

UN fact-finding mission finds evidence of a genocidal campaign targeting non-Arab communities in Sudan lnkd.in/eYE679xc lnkd.in/ehWFRkXA

Today is the World Day of Social Justice. Learn more about this special UN day here: www.un.org/en/observanc...

Watch Rebecca's question (1:15:21) and President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock’s response (1:23:30) here: webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1c...

“What concrete steps can Member States take to support the integrity, independence, and effective use of institutions such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court—particularly when the Security Council is unable to act?” - @rebeccaashoot.bsky.social

NEW COMMENTARY | When the Board of Peace Meets in Washington, Gaza’s Future Will Be on the Line The Board of Peace is tasked with making peace in Gaza stick. However, the body’s prospects remain unclear and the challenges facing it are steep. www.crisisgroup.org/cmt/middle-e...

🚨 New from @hrw.org: #UN member states should select a champion of #HumanRights as the next UN Secretary-General as the UN faces a crisis amid a global retreat on rights & democracy. - by Widad Franco

"In this moment when the values of multilateralism are being chipped away, it is up to us—in our capacity as professionals, as voters, and as members of organizations like the UNA-UK—to take a stand." Listen to the UN Secretary-General's full speech from our UNGA at 80 conference⬇️

Now the real work begins: we urge states to center victims and survivors, gender considerations, and civil society participation! Read more about the treaty here: t.co/Dt7sE1d9T0

The 1st session of the #CAH #PrepCom is over and the ImPact Coalition on Strengthening Intl Judicial Institutions commends the successful conclusion of the first #PrepCom on an essential Crimes against Humanity treaty.

Today is the International Day of Peaceful Coexistence. Learn more about this special UN day – marked for the first time this 28th January – here: www.un.org/en/observanc...

The ICJ is yet to issue a ruling on South Africa’s allegation that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Amnesty, among others, has concluded genocide is taking place. The UK government, as a party to the Genocide Convention, is complicit in failing to do all it could to stop this genocide.

Earlier this month, the ICJ began hearing The Gambia’s allegation of genocide by Myanmar of the Rohingyas.

The Holocaust was not the first genocide, nor the last. The genocide of Armenians at the hands of the Turks was Lemkin’s initial focus.

The term “genocide” was coined in 1944 by the lawyer Raphael Lemkin, a Jew himself from Lwów/Lviv, and the driving force behind the Genocide Convention, which came into being in the aftermath of the Holocaust.

And we remember that the Nazis also persecuted and murdered millions of other groups of people, including Roma and Sinti people, disabled people, gay people and political opponents.

In marking the genocide of Jews in Europe, we remind ourselves of the ongoing need to combat anti-Semitism and, more broadly, racism, prejudice and intolerance, wherever they occur.

You can learn more about this special day, Holocaust Day, and watch the commemoration at the UN here: www.un.org/en/observanc...

Today is the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. On this day, we remember the genocide of 6 million Jewish men, women and children by the Nazis and their collaborators during World War II.

“Maybe Trump will build a model of the UN building in Mar-a-Lago, where they can all meet,” said Richard Gowan, [... of the ...] International Crisis Group. “It’s more likely this just turns into a rather narcissistic talking shop where leaders can cosplay being in the security council.”

Listen to interview with the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, in defence of the United Nations with BBC here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

"[Trump’s] board of peace swaps this inequity for another that is even more unjust … in this new forum, Trump alone would have an absolute veto.” From Julian Borger's article: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

“The inequity represented by the five permanent members of the UN security council, … has long rankled the rest of the world. The use and abuse of the permanent members’ veto privilege, particularly by Russia and the US, has long paralysed the council as a body for global governance."

Reminder: this is tomorrow evening! All welcome - link to register in the replies

The Veto: “The single greatest threat to global peace and security” – online film event The Network is hosting this powerful documentary on the history and problems of the UN Security Council veto at 19.00 (UK time) on 22nd January 2026.

Guterres mentioned support of permanent members UK and France for the veto not to be used against resolutions addressing mass atrocities. Listen to the interview from 1:28 and specifically on the Security Council from 4:50: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, told the BBC this morning that reforms to the Security Council are needed: 1) to its composition, to be representative of the world today 2) limits to the veto power, currently held by the 5 permanent members.

Special sessions needed at UN Human Rights Council and UN Security Council on deterring further massacres in Iran and to pursue international criminal justice, including referring Iran to the International Criminal Court. Sign the call in this petition: www.amnesty.org/en/petition/...

Iranian authorities have unleashed an unprecedented deadly crackdown to crush the protests & cut all internet access to conceal their crimes. Call on the international community to urgently act to end further massacres of protesters in Iran. Act now ✊ amn.st/63326CLAAI

Wanted: a visionary to stand firm amid tyranny and turmoil Finding a new secretary general is an enormous challenge for the United Nations this year, writes Isabel Coles https://bit.ly/49wfCUS

Trump’s actions are illegal – but his greed may hold him in check bit.ly/3LtYyH0

The International Court of Justice will soon enter hearings on the merits of a landmark genocide case against Myanmar. Amid ongoing violations against the Rohingya, the world must stand firm in pursuing justice and a path toward ending impunity.

Yesterday the UN Security Council debated the situation between the US and Venezuela following the dramatic events of the last couple of days. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said: “I have consistently stressed the imperative of full respect, by all, for international law, including

Amnesty International raises human rights concerns following US military action in Venezuela: www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...

The Veto: “The single greatest threat to global peace and security” – online film event The Network is hosting this powerful documentary on the history and problems of the UN Security Council veto at 19.00 (UK time) on 22nd January 2026.

Last Tuesday, 9th December, was the UN’s special day on genocide. The genocide in Gaza continues. A ceasefire deal was agreed between Israel and Hamas in October, but the killing hasn’t stopped and only a trickle of humanitarian aid is making its way into Gaza.

When Ian McKellen asks, the Amnesty Shop delivers, making sure everyone knows where to get those last-minute presents.

Join us where history was made: On 17 January 2026, 80 years after delegates gathered in Methodist Central Hall Westminster for the first UN General Assembly, UNA-UK invites you back to the very same room for a landmark public event. Tickets available now⬇️