UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk speaks at an end of year press conference, at the United Nations in Geneva, 10 December 2025. (Keystone/Martial Trezzini)

🛠️UN human rights branch in 'survival mode' as funding dries up. As the world celebrates Human Rights Day, the system meant to protect people’s rights worldwide is struggling from the funding crisis, forcing job cuts, shrinking operations and leaving defenders on the ground exposed.

👩🏻‍💻New report shows rise in violence against women journalists and activists linked to digital abuse. A study by UN Women, the European Commission and a data research firm found that over 40 per cent of women faced abuse and harassment in 2025.

🌱UN environment head warns of climate complacency. Unep’s chief Inger Andersen – speaking at the launch of a report that found that global GDP will drop 20 per cent by 2100 if a business-as-usual approach prevails – said the world’s poorest people will be the worst hit.

💉The first global pandemic treaty — and the woman who made it happen. As countries try to iron out disagreements over pathogen access and benefit sharing in an annex to the treaty, the agreement's negotiation co-chair Precious Matsoso talks about what it took to get all countries to see eye to eye after contentious discussions.