On 16 September 2025, the voices of young people, powerfully resonated at the Human Rights Council’s Biennial Panel “The role of youth in fostering peaceful societies and creating an enabling environment for the enjoyment of human rights by all” (watch the Session here). With 1.9 billion young people worldwide, the message was clear: youth are not only future leaders, but present agents of peace and human rights. Deputy High Commissioner Nada Al-Nashif opened with a call to take youth seriously as bridge-builders in an increasingly polarized world. She warned of shrinking...

Between May 6 and 12, 2025, we received an incredible 513 responses to our Youth Online Survey on Democracy and Climate Change, from young people and educators in 33 countries across five continents. Notably, 52.2% of respondents were youth aged 18 to 35, ensuring that young voices are central to this important conversation. This survey was launched by IIMA and VIDES in response to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) call for inputs ahead of the Fifth UN Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of...

According to data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), about 70% of the planet’s freshwater reserves are stored in ice and snow, coupled with the fact that nearly two billion people depend on water from glaciers, seasonal snow, and mountain runoff for their daily survival. This shows how glacier loss is a global threat. Can we save them? The UNESCO report The Andean Glacier and Water Atlas: The Impact of Glacier Retreat on Water Resources documents the effects of global warming on the glaciers of the Andes. The retreat of perennial...

The Committee on the Rights of the Child is composed of independent experts who monitor the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by its States parties. It also monitors the implementation of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. All states parties are required to report to the committee on how the rights are being met.  On May 9 and 10, 2023,...

Water is the driving force of all nature. - Leonardo da Vinci Since early times it has been clear to us that water is crucial for our existence and development. Since 1993, this has been officially emphasized by celebrating the 22nd of March as World Water Day. This day serves for all of us as a reminder of the importance of clean water and to become more aware of how we use and manage the water available to us. It is addressed to governments and businesses to create policies and practices...

The United Nations Human Rights Council held its forty-sixth regular session from 22 February to 23 March 2021 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.  It started off with a high-level segment from 22 to 24 February where dignitaries representing more than 130 countries addressed the Council on their governments’ efforts to promote and protect human rights. It was held for the first time entirely online. This session also welcomed the new president, Ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji.  It was opened with speeches from Secretary-General of the United Nations, António...

On September 9, 2020, we will commemorate, for the first time, the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. The General Assembly resolution establishing the International Day affirms that governments have the primary responsibility to provide protection and ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels to all learners, especially those in vulnerable situations. Between 2015 and 2019, 93 countries experienced at least one reported attack on education and more than 22,000 students, teachers, and academics were injured, killed, or harmed in attacks on education during armed conflict or insecurity. Among...

On September 8, we celebrate the International Literacy Day. Established in 1966 by UNESCO, it reminds the international community of the importance of literacy for individuals, communities and societies, and the need for intensified efforts towards more literate societies. Nowadays, the alarming data of 773 million adults and young people lacking basic literacy skills and 617 million children and adolescents not achieving minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics show how literacy still remains a critical challenge. In particular, the International Literacy Day 2020 focuses on “Literacy teaching and learning in the...

On Friday 5th June 2020, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, presented to the NGO representatives the UN Human Rights Report, which is the annual report on the human rights’ work realized by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) around the world for 2019. In her introduction, Mrs. Bachelet underlined that the 2019 report demonstrates how the Office supports States to uphold human rights in the context of eroding multilateralism, in spite of the new threats to civic space and ever more complex climate for...

On January 27, 2020 IIMA joined The 2020 International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust in Palais de Nations, titled: “75 years after Auschwitz – Holocaust Education and Remembrance for Global Justice.” The ceremony began with a video message by Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, where he reminded us of our duty to “never forget” of the tragedies that occured and “vow to tell their stories and honor them” by continuing to defend the dignity and life of  individuals to create a...