In a report titled “Three Years Too Long,” the UN documented 546 verified incidents of sexual violence across 16 of Sudan’s 18 states since fighting erupted between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces in April 2023.

The report verified that at least 838 people were subjected to rape, gang rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage, forced prostitution, sexual torture, trafficking and other forms of sexual violence. Victims included 539 women, 284 girls, eight men and seven boys.

According to the findings, approximately 87 percent of documented cases were attributed to the RSF, affiliated groups and allied Arab militias.

The UN Human Rights Office cautioned that the verified figures likely represent only a fraction of the true scale of abuse, citing underreporting driven by insecurity, social stigma, the collapse of health services and the absence of functioning judicial institutions.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the findings indicated that sexual violence was being systematically used as a weapon of war. The report stated there were reasonable grounds to believe that some abuses committed in Sudan, particularly in Darfur, may amount to crimes against humanity when carried out as part of widespread or systematic attacks against civilian populations.

Investigators highlighted incidents linked to RSF operations in El-Geneina and Ardamata in 2023, as well as attacks around Zamzam displacement camp and El-Fasher in 2025.

Among the verified cases, nearly one-quarter involved gang rape. The report documented incidents in which multiple perpetrators assaulted a single victim and recorded at least 85 cases involving sexual slavery and forced domestic servitude.

The UN also reported that at least 13 victims died following acts of sexual violence, most after gang rapes. The youngest recorded victim was nine years old. Investigators further documented at least 59 pregnancies resulting from rape.

Particular concern was raised over allegations of ethnically targeted sexual violence against members of the Masalit community in West Darfur. According to testimony cited in the report, attackers questioned victims about their ethnic identity before carrying out assaults, suggesting a deliberate pattern of persecution.

Sudanese human rights activist Hala Al-Karib said the report confirmed years of documentation by civil society organizations that had repeatedly warned of the systematic use of sexual violence throughout the conflict.

Al-Karib described the findings as evidence of a broader strategy aimed at terrorizing and fragmenting communities. She also criticized what she characterized as an inadequate international response to the conflict and warned that continued arms flows and external interference were contributing to the humanitarian crisis.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the documented abuses should shock the international community, emphasizing that the verified cases likely represented only a small portion of the violence occurring across the country.

The report called on all parties to the conflict to issue and enforce orders prohibiting sexual violence, conduct independent investigations into alleged abuses and remove amnesty protections for international crimes.

It also urged international mediators and governments involved in peace efforts to ensure accountability mechanisms remain central to any ceasefire agreement or future political settlement.

Sudan’s conflict, which began in April 2023 following a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, has triggered one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, displacing millions of people and devastating large parts of the country.

The comments came days after European Union member states approved new migration rules that permit the establishment of so-called “return hubs” outside the bloc, where rejected asylum seekers and migrants could be transferred after being denied permission to remain in EU territory.

Turk said the measures must be implemented in full compliance with international human rights and refugee law, stressing that EU governments cannot transfer their legal obligations to third countries.

“EU states cannot simply outsource their human rights obligations to third states in this context,” Turk said in a statement.

The new framework reflects a broader shift across Europe toward stricter migration controls, as governments face sustained political pressure from anti-immigration and far-right parties that have gained support in several countries in recent years.

European policymakers have increasingly focused on improving deportation and repatriation procedures after years of criticism that existing systems were ineffective. According to EU figures cited by officials, fewer than 30 percent of individuals ordered to leave the bloc are ultimately returned to their countries of origin.

Turk cautioned that returning migrants to countries where they could face persecution, abuse or other serious harm would violate the principle of non-refoulement, a cornerstone of international refugee and human rights law.

“International human rights law and refugee law are very clear — no-one should be returned to a place where they would be at risk of serious human rights violations or other irreparable harm,” he said.

The UN rights chief expressed particular concern about the detention and transfer of vulnerable groups, including children, describing such actions as highly sensitive exercises of state authority that carry significant risks of rights violations.

Under the new rules, migrants subject to deportation orders must cooperate with authorities and leave EU territory. Those deemed security threats, considered likely to abscond, or who refuse to comply may be detained for up to two years.

Turk called for robust oversight mechanisms to ensure respect for due process, family unity and the best interests of children. He said deportation decisions should be based on individual assessments and should not be executed before legal appeals have been completed.

He also urged European governments to avoid linking migration to security concerns in public debate and called for a more balanced approach that recognizes migrants’ contributions to European economies and societies.

The migration package marks one of the most significant changes to the EU’s return system in recent years and is expected to remain a subject of debate among human rights organizations, national governments and EU institutions as implementation begins.

The comments came days after European Union member states approved new migration rules that permit the establishment of so-called “return hubs” outside the bloc, where rejected asylum seekers and migrants could be transferred after being denied permission to remain in EU territory.

Turk said the measures must be implemented in full compliance with international human rights and refugee law, stressing that EU governments cannot transfer their legal obligations to third countries.

“EU states cannot simply outsource their human rights obligations to third states in this context,” Turk said in a statement.

The new framework reflects a broader shift across Europe toward stricter migration controls, as governments face sustained political pressure from anti-immigration and far-right parties that have gained support in several countries in recent years.

European policymakers have increasingly focused on improving deportation and repatriation procedures after years of criticism that existing systems were ineffective. According to EU figures cited by officials, fewer than 30 percent of individuals ordered to leave the bloc are ultimately returned to their countries of origin.

Turk cautioned that returning migrants to countries where they could face persecution, abuse or other serious harm would violate the principle of non-refoulement, a cornerstone of international refugee and human rights law.

“International human rights law and refugee law are very clear — no-one should be returned to a place where they would be at risk of serious human rights violations or other irreparable harm,” he said.

The UN rights chief expressed particular concern about the detention and transfer of vulnerable groups, including children, describing such actions as highly sensitive exercises of state authority that carry significant risks of rights violations.

Under the new rules, migrants subject to deportation orders must cooperate with authorities and leave EU territory. Those deemed security threats, considered likely to abscond, or who refuse to comply may be detained for up to two years.

Turk called for robust oversight mechanisms to ensure respect for due process, family unity and the best interests of children. He said deportation decisions should be based on individual assessments and should not be executed before legal appeals have been completed.

He also urged European governments to avoid linking migration to security concerns in public debate and called for a more balanced approach that recognizes migrants’ contributions to European economies and societies.

The migration package marks one of the most significant changes to the EU’s return system in recent years and is expected to remain a subject of debate among human rights organizations, national governments and EU institutions as implementation begins.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that Sudan’s conflict had expanded and intensified, with armed groups increasingly using drones in attacks.

The UN rights office documented more than 1,000 civilian deaths linked to drone strikes between January and May 2026, Turk said.Sudan has been gripped by a prolonged conflict that has caused widespread displacement and a severe humanitarian crisis.

The escalation of drone attacks has added another layer of danger for civilians caught between rival forces, as fighting continues across several parts of the country.

The UN has repeatedly raised concerns over the impact of the conflict on civilians and called for greater protection of non-combatants.

In a statement issued in Geneva, the UN human rights office said its Sudan monitoring team had determined that drone attacks accounted for more than 80 percent of all conflict-related civilian deaths recorded during the first four months of 2026.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said the rapid expansion of drone warfare had transformed the nature of the conflict.“Armed drones have now become by far and away the leading cause of civilian deaths,” Turk said.

The warning underscores escalating concerns among humanitarian agencies and international observers over the intensifying use of unmanned aerial systems in Sudan’s civil war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

The conflict has devastated large parts of the country, displaced millions of civilians and triggered what aid organizations describe as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.The UN did not specify which parties were responsible for the drone strikes cited in its report, but rights monitors have repeatedly warned that the growing availability of armed drone technology has widened the scale and reach of attacks on populated areas.

Human rights officials cautioned that the increasing reliance on drones risked accelerating civilian casualties while further complicating efforts to secure ceasefires or humanitarian access.

Sudan’s capital Khartoum and several regions including Darfur have witnessed heavy fighting, air strikes and widespread destruction since the war began, with repeated allegations of violations of international humanitarian law by both sides.

International mediation efforts led by regional powers, the African Union and the United Nations have so far failed to produce a durable ceasefire.

The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said at least nine of those executed were linked to protests that shook Iran in January 2026, while 10 others were put to death for alleged membership in opposition groups and two were executed on spying charges.

The agency said many of those detained had been subjected to enforced disappearances, torture and what it described as cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, including forced confessions, some of which were later broadcast publicly, as well as mock executions.

“I am appalled that on top of the already severe impacts of the conflict the rights of the Iranian people continue to be stripped from them by the authorities, in harsh and brutal ways,” U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement.

“In times of war, threats to human rights increase exponentially. Yet even where national security is invoked, human rights can only be limited where strictly necessary and proportionate,” he said.Turk called on Iranian authorities to halt further executions, establish a moratorium on the death penalty, ensure due process and fair trial guarantees, and immediately release those arbitrarily detained.

OHCHR said many people, including minors, remain at risk of capital punishment because of Iran’s broad interpretation of national security offenses. It said judicial proceedings were often accelerated and some death sentences, including those of at least nine executed protesters, were reportedly based on coerced confessions.

The agency also raised concerns over the transfer of dozens of prisoners, including prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, to undisclosed locations.Iran remains one of the world’s leading users of capital punishment and executes more people annually than any country except China, according to rights groups including Amnesty International.

Turk also criticized prison conditions across Iran, describing them as dire, with overcrowding and severe shortages of food, water, hygiene supplies, medicine and access to medical care.In Chabahar prison on March 18, detainees protesting the prolonged suspension of food distribution were reportedly met with lethal force.

OHCHR said security forces killed at least five prisoners and injured 21 others after confronting demonstrators inside the prison.The agency further said internet access in Iran had been almost completely shut down for 61 consecutive days, describing it as one of the longest nationwide shutdowns ever recorded.

“This is denying people across the country access to vital information, silencing independent voices, and inflicting enormous social and economic harm,” Turk said.He said the restrictions were worsening an already fragile humanitarian and economic situation and urged authorities to restore access immediately.

Survivors of torture from multiple regions are advocating for the adoption of a new international framework aimed at strengthening accountability, rehabilitation, and recognition, as the United Nations intensifies efforts to address gaps in justice systems worldwide.

The proposed Charter of Rights of Victims and Survivors of Torture, developed over three years through consultations and regional hearings, was presented at the 61st session of the Human Rights Council in March 2026 by UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Alice Edwards.

The document outlines standards intended to guide states in addressing the long-term consequences of torture, with a focus on survivor participation and access to justice.The charter draws on more than 120 submissions from survivors globally and reflects recurring patterns identified across different regions.

According to Edwards, survivors frequently face a second phase of hardship after the abuse itself, marked by difficulties in securing recognition, accessing healthcare, and navigating complex legal systems.“Many described a second struggle: to be believed, to access care, to navigate complex institutions, and to obtain legal recognition,” Edwards said, adding that institutional barriers often prolong suffering rather than alleviate it.

The initiative has been supported by organizations working with survivors, including those funded through the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. It seeks to shift the focus of anti-torture frameworks toward long-term recovery and systemic reform, rather than solely prohibition and punishment.

For survivors such as Shireen Khudeeda, a Yazidi woman abducted during the 2014 attacks by Islamic State in Iraq’s Sinjar region, the consequences of torture extend far beyond physical harm. Held in captivity for three years and subjected to severe abuse, Khudeeda now advocates for justice, including the identification of mass graves and support for affected communities.

“Sometimes when it’s physical you can treat it, but torture in your soul you can never heal it,” she said, reflecting on the enduring psychological impact of her experience.More than a decade after the attacks, many Yazidi families remain without closure, with missing relatives yet to be accounted for.

Khudeeda said that even when answers emerge, they can reignite trauma, citing the identification of her father’s remains as a moment that brought both confirmation and renewed grief.In Mexico, Italia Méndez, a survivor of sexual torture during a 2006 police operation in San Salvador Atenco, continues to pursue justice nearly two decades after the events. Her case, along with those of other women, was recognized by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in 2018.

Despite this ruling, Méndez said access to adequate medical care and reparations remains limited.“We have a binding judgment and yet we still have not been able to access even the most basic thing, which is dignified and specialised medical care,” she said, describing ongoing challenges in receiving treatment for the long-term effects of torture.

Méndez emphasized that her advocacy is collective, reflecting a broader effort by survivors to prevent recurrence and address systemic impunity. She said continued legal action remains necessary to secure accountability and meaningful redress.In Burundi, Donatien Ndabigeze, a survivor of political violence linked to the 2015 crisis, has pursued justice through international mechanisms.

His case was recognized by the UN Committee Against Torture, which found the state responsible for violations. Ndabigeze said the decision affirmed the severity of the abuses and underscored the importance of international accountability mechanisms.“My case is not only personal; it reflects the situation of many Burundians,” he said, adding that access to justice often requires engagement beyond national systems when domestic remedies are unavailable.

The experiences of these survivors illustrate broader structural challenges identified in the charter. Edwards noted that justice processes are often fragmented and slow, with accountability typically achieved through cumulative efforts involving documentation, litigation, and sustained advocacy.“Accountability rarely happens through a single dramatic moment. It is usually cumulative,” she said.

The charter emphasizes that survivors should play an active role in shaping policies and institutions designed to address torture. It calls for their inclusion not only as witnesses but as stakeholders in decision-making processes, reflecting a shift toward participatory approaches in human rights governance.“Survivors are not merely witnesses to atrocity.

They are rights-holders, advocates and architects of positive change,” Edwards said, cautioning against tokenistic engagement that limits participation to symbolic gestures.For Méndez, the initiative represents a significant step toward recognizing the expertise of survivors. She said incorporating their perspectives into policy design is essential to ensuring that justice mechanisms are responsive and effective.

The charter outlines key areas for reform, including ensuring access to rehabilitation services, strengthening legal recognition, preventing re-traumatization, and establishing safeguards to avoid recurrence. It also underscores the need for systems that restore dignity and rebuild trust between individuals and institutions.

Khudeeda said that speaking out is a necessary part of that process, particularly for communities that have experienced large-scale atrocities. “Because we lost everything, there is nothing else to lose,” she said, describing advocacy as a means of demanding accountability and recognition.

Ndabigeze similarly highlighted the importance of visibility, noting that survivor testimony can challenge societal silence and bring attention to the human impact behind statistical data.The charter is intended as a practical framework for states, with proponents urging governments to adopt and implement its provisions.

Edwards said that embedding survivor perspectives into policy design could improve both prevention and response mechanisms.“If the Charter were implemented, survivors would no longer feel invisible,” she said, adding that timely access to rehabilitation and meaningful participation would strengthen trust in institutions.The initiative comes amid broader international efforts to enhance accountability for human rights violations and improve support systems for victims. By centring the experiences of survivors, the charter aims to address longstanding gaps in justice systems and reinforce global commitments to preventing torture and supporting those affected by it.

“Justice after torture restores dignity — and only when trust is rebuilt can societies prosper and thrive,” Edwards said.

Kyrgyzstan has reaffirmed its commitment to abolishing the death penalty following a period of intense public debate triggered by a high-profile criminal case, with authorities and international partners emphasizing prevention and rule-of-law reforms as more effective responses to violent crime.

The debate emerged after the rape and murder of a young girl in September 2025, which prompted widespread public outrage and calls for the reinstatement of capital punishment. The issue quickly gained political traction, culminating in a formal proposal by President Sadyr Japarov to seek a constitutional review of whether the death penalty could be reintroduced.

The Constitutional Court delivered its ruling on 10 December 2025, concluding that reinstating capital punishment would violate Kyrgyzstan’s international treaty obligations, which are embedded within its constitutional framework. The decision effectively blocked any immediate return to the death penalty and reinforced the country’s legal commitments under international law.

Kyrgyzstan has maintained a moratorium on executions since 1998 and formally abolished the death penalty in 2010 following its ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The protocol obliges signatory states to take all necessary measures to prevent the reintroduction of capital punishment.

The United Nations human rights office played a consultative role throughout the process. According to Matilda Bogner, Regional Representative for Central Asia, the office engaged with both executive and judicial authorities to provide guidance on international legal standards and treaty obligations.

“It is positive to see that despite an initiative that appeared to have strong public backing but did not comply with international obligations, the rule of law approach ultimately prevailed in Kyrgyzstan,” Bogner said.The episode has also prompted broader discussions within the country about the nature of justice, particularly in cases involving serious violent crime.

While public sentiment in the aftermath of the incident favored harsher punitive measures, international human rights officials have argued that such approaches are not supported by evidence as effective deterrents.UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said that while the crimes cited by authorities were “clearly appalling” and required accountability, there is no empirical basis to conclude that capital punishment reduces the incidence of serious offenses.

He called instead for responses grounded in prevention, victim protection, and institutional strengthening.Türk emphasized the need for a “well-resourced, victim-centred approach” to tackling violence, particularly sexual and gender-based violence.

This approach, he said, should focus on improving access to justice and ensuring that systems are capable of responding effectively to early warning signs.Bogner echoed this perspective, noting that a predictable and consistent rule-of-law framework is more effective in preventing violence than reintroducing capital punishment into a system that may lack uniformity in enforcement. “A rule of law process that is predictable is a better form of prevention of egregious cases,” she said.

The focus on prevention has translated into ongoing institutional reforms. The UN human rights office is working with Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs to develop a new risk assessment system aimed at strengthening early intervention in cases of gender-based violence. The system is intended to enable law enforcement agencies to identify potential risks, monitor evolving situations, and take timely action to prevent escalation.

Authorities in Kyrgyzstan have also reiterated their commitment to upholding international legal standards following the Constitutional Court’s decision. Officials, including representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have emphasized the importance of maintaining adherence to the rule of law while addressing public concerns over safety and justice.

The case highlights the challenges faced by governments in balancing public demand for punitive measures with international legal obligations and evidence-based policy approaches. It also underscores the broader shift in international human rights discourse toward prevention-focused strategies, particularly in addressing gender-based violence.

Efforts to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks are seen as critical to improving outcomes for victims. This includes ensuring that police and judicial systems are adequately resourced, capable of responding promptly to complaints, and equipped to handle sensitive cases involving women and girls.

The UN human rights office has indicated that its engagement with Kyrgyz authorities will continue, with a focus on building systems that prioritize accountability and prevention. The approach aligns with broader international efforts to address gender-based violence through structural reforms rather than punitive escalation.

The developments in Kyrgyzstan reflect an evolving policy stance in which adherence to international obligations and evidence-based approaches are being prioritized over retributive measures, even in the face of strong public pressure following serious criminal incidents.

Environmental degradation and systemic inequality are leaving billions of people without access to safe drinking water and sanitation, according to a United Nations policy brief that underscores the growing intersection between climate pressures, public health risks, and human rights obligations.

The brief, prepared by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on behalf of UN-Water, estimates that around 2.1 billion people globally lack access to safely managed drinking water, while 3.4 billion do not have access to safely managed sanitation services.

The findings are intended to guide policymakers and government authorities in designing laws and strategies that address water scarcity and environmental stress through a human rights-based framework.Under international human rights law, states are required to ensure that water and sanitation services are available, accessible, affordable, acceptable, and of adequate quality.

These obligations are central to maintaining public health, supporting livelihoods, and ensuring a basic standard of dignity.Despite these commitments, the report highlights persistent and widespread gaps in service delivery. More than 1,000 children under the age of five die each day from diseases linked to unsafe water, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene.

The burden of water access also falls disproportionately on women and girls, who collectively spend an estimated 250 million hours daily collecting water, often under conditions that expose them to physical risk and limit opportunities for education and employment.

The report identifies chronic underinvestment in the water and sanitation sector as a major constraint, noting that funding levels remain insufficient relative to the scale of the challenge. This underinvestment comes despite the sector’s critical role in climate resilience, economic development, and disease prevention.

According to the brief, environmental degradation is compounding existing inequalities and disproportionately affecting marginalized populations. Groups identified as particularly vulnerable include women and girls, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, Indigenous communities, people living in poverty, and those displaced by conflict or environmental stress.

“For many, the denial of access to safe drinking water and sanitation is a result, not of scarcity alone, but of exclusion and inaccessibility woven into institutions and infrastructure,” the report states, highlighting structural barriers that limit equitable access.The document also draws attention to emerging and conflict-related threats to water security.

It notes that water infrastructure has increasingly been targeted in armed conflicts, in violation of international humanitarian law. In Gaza, the destruction of desalination facilities and damage to water systems has forced civilians to rely on contaminated supplies. In Sudan, attacks on water and electricity infrastructure have disrupted access for millions, while in Yemen, sanitation facilities supported by international organizations have been struck by airstrikes.

In addition to conflict-related risks, the brief identifies new pressures linked to technological and industrial expansion. The rapid growth of data centres, for example, is emerging as a significant but often overlooked source of water consumption. A single one-megawatt data centre can require more than 25 million litres of water annually for cooling, an amount roughly equivalent to the daily consumption needs of 300,000 people.

Amid these challenges, the report outlines examples of policy interventions that integrate human rights principles into water governance. Case studies from multiple countries illustrate how targeted reforms can improve access, affordability, and sustainability.In Bangladesh, a community-led initiative enabled residents in coastal areas to co-finance a climate-resilient water facility, with women trained to manage operations.

The program contributed to a reduction in waterborne diseases and improved school attendance among girls, and has since been replicated across hundreds of administrative wards.In Costa Rica, a water tariff reform introduced progressive pricing, charging higher rates for heavy users while offering subsidized rates for low-income households. The approach improved affordability for vulnerable populations while encouraging conservation, demonstrating how economic regulation can align with human rights objectives.

The brief emphasizes that such initiatives are most effective when supported by strong governance frameworks. It calls for greater transparency, public participation, and access to information, alongside legal mechanisms that allow individuals to seek redress when rights are violated.States are also urged to integrate water and sanitation priorities into broader policy frameworks, including climate adaptation plans, biodiversity strategies, and disaster risk reduction efforts.

The report highlights the need for financing models that are predictable, accessible, and aligned with human rights standards, as well as the importance of strengthening local governance capacities.Gender considerations are identified as a critical component of effective policy design.

The report calls for measures to address structural inequalities, including gender-responsive budgeting, increased representation of women in decision-making, and protections against gender-based violence linked to water access.The role of the private sector is also addressed, with the report referencing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Companies are expected to conduct due diligence, disclose environmental and social impacts, and provide remedies where harm occurs.

Governments, in turn, are tasked with regulating corporate activity to prevent abuses affecting water and sanitation systems.UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said that addressing water and sanitation challenges requires sustained political and financial commitment. “Investment in water is an investment in dignity, equality, public health, and sustainable development,” he said in a statement marking World Water Day 2026.

The findings highlight the scale and complexity of the global water crisis, with environmental degradation, population pressures, and governance gaps continuing to strain already fragile systems.

The United Nations human rights office has launched the second season of its podcast series “Economies that Work for All,” advancing its push to integrate human rights principles into global economic policymaking amid growing concerns over inequality and sustainability.

The series, produced by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in collaboration with the UN System Staff College’s Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development, builds on earlier discussions around the concept of a “human rights economy.” The initiative seeks to address a central question posed by UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk: who benefits from existing economic systems.

The framing reflects a broader institutional concern that current economic structures are failing to deliver equitable outcomes. According to Türk, a human rights-based approach to economic governance places individuals and environmental sustainability at the core of decision-making, aligning policy outcomes with broader social objectives.

“Economies that Work for All” explores the intersection of economic systems and human rights, positioning the latter as a framework for addressing systemic challenges such as inequality, exclusion, and environmental degradation. The concept is also tied to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which emphasizes inclusive growth and social equity.

The first season of the podcast introduced foundational ideas behind the human rights economy framework through discussions with policymakers and economists. Contributors included Mariana Mazzucato, Jayati Ghosh, Kate Raworth, Grieve Chelwa, and Epsy Campbell, who examined how rights-based approaches could reshape economic thinking and policy design.

The newly launched second season shifts focus toward implementation, examining how governments are applying these principles in practice. Through a series of weekly episodes, the podcast highlights policy initiatives across different regions, offering case studies on how human rights considerations can inform economic decision-making.

The opening episode features Spain’s Minister of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and the 2030 Agenda, Pablo Bustinduy, discussing national efforts to align economic policy with inclusivity and social welfare objectives. The discussion reflects broader European debates on balancing growth with social protection and equitable distribution.

Subsequent episodes examine fiscal and structural reforms in emerging and developing economies. One episode focuses on Brazil’s approach to taxation, with Poliana Garcia Ferreira from the Ministry of Finance outlining measures aimed at reducing inequality through redistributive policies. The discussion highlights the role of tax systems in addressing income disparities and supporting public services.

Another episode explores South Africa’s efforts to implement a rights-based approach to climate transition. Dorah Modise, Executive Director of the Presidential Climate Commission, discusses strategies for aligning environmental policy with social justice, particularly in the context of shifting away from carbon-intensive industries.

The series also includes a case study on Sri Lanka, where economist Ahilan Kadirgamar reflects on the country’s economic challenges and the potential for rethinking development through a human rights lens. The episode examines how past economic crises can inform more inclusive policy frameworks going forward.

Housing policy is addressed in a separate episode featuring Leilani Farha, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing and current Global Director of The Shift. The discussion emphasizes the need to treat housing as a fundamental human right rather than a financial asset, particularly in urban environments facing affordability pressures.

The podcast initiative comes at a time when multilateral institutions are increasingly examining the social impact of economic policies. Rising inequality, climate-related risks, and uneven recovery patterns following global economic disruptions have intensified calls for policy frameworks that prioritize inclusivity and resilience.

Türk said that grounding economic decisions in human rights can enhance public trust and improve long-term sustainability. The approach, he argued, provides a structured way to align economic outcomes with broader societal goals, including poverty reduction, environmental protection, and access to essential services.

The UN’s emphasis on a human rights economy reflects an evolving policy discourse that seeks to move beyond traditional growth metrics. By integrating social and environmental considerations into economic planning, the framework aims to support more balanced and durable development outcomes.

The first episode of the second season became available on March 30, with subsequent episodes scheduled for weekly release. The series is accessible through major podcast platforms and forms part of a broader UN effort to engage policymakers, academics, and the public on issues at the intersection of economics and human rights.