United Nations

UN General Assembly

Campaigning to put human rights at the heart of the United Nations

Human rights diplomacy is everybody’s business. Make your voice count at the UN: join Amnesty International’s UN campaigns!

The UN is essential to ensuring accountability by member states for their human rights obligations and commitments. The UN is also a key platform for the development of international human rights laws and standards.

Amnesty International campaigns to put human rights violations on the UN agenda and makes recommendations for action by member states and UN institutions to protect human rights in all countries. Amnesty International also works to strengthen the effectiveness of the UN human rights machinery.

News and reports

News and reports

Israeli artillery fires towards southern Gaza Strip, from Israel side of the border

Ban Ki-moon 'misses opportunity' on Gaza accountability

5 February 2010

The UN Secretary-General has "missed an opportunity" by failing to make an assessment of the credibility of Israeli and Palestinian investigations into violations during the Gaza conflict.
Sudanese President Omar al Bashir

Sudanese President could face genocide charges after ICC reverses ruling

3 February 2010

Amnesty International has reiterated its call for the Sudanese authorities to arrest Omar al Bashir, who is already charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes over his role in the Darfur conflict.

Haiti's human rights challenge

29 January 2010

Two weeks after the earthquake that devastated Haiti, its people are confronted with a human ri
Man walks down street through rubble, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

US and UN must guarantee Haiti emergency assistance

22 January 2010

US authorities and UN agencies in Haiti must urgently resolve the lack of access to emergency aid for those in desperate need following last week's earthquake.
Man walks down street through rubble, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Protection of human rights must accompany relief efforts in Haiti

15 January 2010

Amnesty International called on the UN to put in place measures for the protection of human rights and the most vulnerable among the survivors of devastating earthquake.

Actions

Actions

Girl in Kalma Internally Displaced Persons camp, South Darfur, Sudan.

Protect civilians in Sudan

8 January 2010

2009 was the most violent year in the South of Sudan since the 2005 peace agreement, with over 2,500 people killed and 350,000 displaced.

Artwork by Aishah, aged 13, daughter of disappeared Masood Janjua, taken during a bus trip to Peshawar, Pakistan, 30 July 2005

Seven more ratifications needed for Enforced Disappearance Convention to enter into force

28 August 2009

Governments use enforced disappearance as a tool of repression to silence dissent and eliminate political opposition, as well as to persecute ethnic, religious and political groups. Seven more countries need to commit to the UN's Convention on Enforced Disappearance for it to come into force.
Kibera slum in Kenya

Call for governments to sign up to defend economic, social and cultural rights

13 August 2009

Hunger, homelessness and preventable diseases are not inevitable social problems or simply the result of natural disasters – they are a violation of people’s economic, social and cultural rights.
A wrecked classroom in Gaza, 19 January 2009

Time for accountability for human rights abuses in Gaza and southern Israel

17 February 2009

With fragile ceasefires now in place in Gaza and southern Israel, the full extent of the devastation caused in the recent conflict is becoming increasingly clear.
A wrecked classroom in Gaza, 19 January 2009

Time for accountability in Gaza and southern Israel

26 January 2009

With fragile ceasefires now in place in Gaza and southern Israel, the full extent of the devastation caused in recent weeks is becoming increasingly clear.

Press Release

Press Release

UN urged to condemn Nicaragua’s abortion ban

4 February 2010

The United Nations should urge Nicaragua to repeal its ban on abortion following a human rights' review of the country on 8 February, Amnesty International said today.

Latest Israeli response to Gaza investigations totally inadequate

2 February 2010

Israel’s latest response to the UN on its investigations into alleged violations of international law by its forces in Gaza a year ago is totally inadequate, Amnesty International said today.

Governments must be held to account for secret detentions

27 January 2010

Amnesty International today called on all states to take concrete steps to end secret detention, following publication of a detailed United Nations report on its widespread use in the name of countering terrorism.

World's Biggest Arms Traders Promise Global Arms Treaty

30 October 2009

Today at the United Nation years of discussions and debates, the vast majority of governments – 153 in total - agreed a timetable to establish a "strong and robust" Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) with the "highest common standards" to control international transfers of conventional arms. There is currently no global Treaty on the conventional arms trade.

Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories: Human Rights Council divisions must not obstruct Gaza accountability

16 October 2009

The political divisions surrounding the adoption of today’s Human Rights Council resolution on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories must not become an obstacle to investigations into serious violations of international law reported during the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel, Amnesty International said.