United Nations

The United Nations is the largest intergovernmental organisation in the world, and has the promotion and protection of human rights among its core objectives.

Through its various political bodies, including the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and UN Human Rights Council (HRC), UN Member States make commitments on how they will protect freedom of expression at the national level, as well as agreeing collective action in response to the world’s most pressing human rights issues.

ARTICLE 19 shapes and ensures support for standard-setting initiatives on freedom of expression at the UN, informing our advocacy through the local and national human rights priorities of our regional offices and partners.   We leverage various UN human rights mechanisms to hold states to account for freedom of expression violations. This includes through the UNGA and HRC, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and UN special procedures, in particular the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, the treaty bodies, and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism. In turn, our national advocacy work uses the obligations and commitments of States’ at the UN to drive local change.

UN: Ensure gendered approach to the safety of journalists
18.03.2025 2 min read

UN: Ensure gendered approach to the safety of journalists

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UN: Brazil government must implement protections for defenders
05.03.2025 1 min read

UN: Brazil government must implement protections for defenders

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UN: Thai government must undertake constitutional reform
05.03.2025 3 min read

UN: Thai government must undertake constitutional reform

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UN: Human Rights Council convenes as human rights are ‘suffocated’ globally
24.02.2025 7 min read

UN: Human Rights Council convenes as human rights are ‘suffocated’ globally

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UN: Joint submission to protect a healthy future for our information society
19.02.2025 2 min read

UN: Joint submission to protect a healthy future for our information society

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UN: AI governance and international panel must prioritise human rights
18.02.2025 3 min read

UN: AI governance and international panel must prioritise human rights

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UN: AI governance and safeguarding freedom of expression
18.02.2025 19 min read

UN: AI governance and safeguarding freedom of expression

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Thailand: A seat on Human Rights Council must prompt constitutional reform
11.02.2025 5 min read

Thailand: A seat on Human Rights Council must prompt constitutional reform

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ARTICLE 19 welcomes new trustees to our International Board
27.01.2025 5 min read

ARTICLE 19 welcomes new trustees to our International Board

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