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Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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December 10, 2025 Human rights

Human rights are under attack worldwide, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said on Human Rights Day, celebrated on December 10.

Turk noted that the past year "was difficult" – against the backdrop of declining funding for human rights activities, anti-rights movements are increasingly receiving resources and increasing their influence.

The Energy of Social Movements – Potential for Transformation

According to him, defense industry profits are growing rapidly, while funding for humanitarian aid and civil society organizations is declining. Revenues for the 100 largest defense companies reached a record $679 billion in 2024.

Human rights defenders around the world are attacked, face sanctions and prosecution, while those who order crimes remain unpunished.

Despite these trends, Türk emphasized, in many countries – from Nepal and Serbia to Ecuador, Tanzania, Indonesia, Morocco, and Peru – young people are taking to the streets and engaging in social media activities to protest war, inequality, corruption, and repression.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on governments to "harness the energy of social movements" as a potential for transformation, rather than suppress them.

“I call on governments around the world to harness the energy of these social movements to create opportunities for broader transformative reforms, rather than rushing to suppress them or label them as extremism and threats to national security,” Turk said.

He said the UN Human Rights Office he leads has lost about $90 million in revenue this year, leading to the loss of 300 jobs and cuts to key programs, including in Colombia, Myanmar, Tunisia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Türk specifically noted the rapid growth of anti-rights and anti-gender movements. These organizations receive funding from donors in Europe, Russia, and the United States. According to the European Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Rights, in Europe alone, they raised nearly $1.2 billion between 2019 and 2023.

Humanitarian consequences of conflicts

Türk paid special attention to the humanitarian consequences of the conflicts. In Gaza, he said, attacks continue, access to essential services remains limited, and the West Bank has seen an unprecedented level of attacks by Israeli forces and settlers.

The situation in Africa also remains grave: in the eastern part of the DR Congo, clashes continue between the army and the Rwandan-backed M23 group, while in Sudan, almost the entire population has been affected by the conflict between the country's armed forces and the Rapid Intervention Forces.

Speaking about Ukraine, Türk said the number of civilian casualties had risen by 24 percent compared to last year due to Russia's intensive use of long-range weapons and continued attempts to seize additional territory.

"Large-scale attacks on Ukraine's energy system have led to emergency and prolonged daily power outages, water supply, and heating interruptions in many areas," Türk said.

"Urgent steps must be taken to alleviate the suffering [of the population], including the return of displaced children, the exchange of prisoners of war and the unconditional release of civilians held by Russian authorities," he added.

In concluding his address, the High Commissioner noted that despite all the difficulties, the global movement in support of human rights remains unabated. He expressed confidence that journalists, human rights defenders, and youth initiatives will continue to make progress.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

December 10, 2025 Culture and education

From the textile traditions of Belarus and the culinary practices of Central Asia to the ritual dances of Kenya, UNESCO inscribed dozens of new forms of heritage on its lists this year. The decisions were made at the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which opened on December 8 in New Delhi, India.

Unlike monuments and historical sites, intangible cultural heritage encompasses crafts, customs, musical and ritual traditions, and social practices that communities pass on from generation to generation. UNESCO emphasizes that the richness of human traditions is at risk of being lost due to social, economic, and environmental challenges.

Heritage in urgent need of protection

This year, traditions from all over the world were inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Among them is the Neglyubka textile tradition—the art of hand weaving and embroidery practiced in the village of Neglyubka in the Gomel region of Belarus. They create unique towels, household items, and clothing items. The tradition is primarily maintained by women, passing on skills within families, often from grandmothers and mothers to daughters. Neglyubka weaving is an important symbol of local identity and a factor in economic development, attracting tourists and researchers. However, the tradition is currently threatened by a dwindling number of artisans.

The list also includes the practice of making and playing the kobyz, a musical instrument common in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region within Uzbekistan. This ancient, two-stringed, bow-shaped instrument is handcrafted from local woods, with strings and a bow made of horsehair. The body is covered in leather and decorated with carvings. The kobyz is more than just a musical instrument; it is a key element of the nomadic cultural heritage. It is played by storytellers, or jyrau, who perform epic works using the throat singing technique. This tradition fosters community, transmits historical memory, and maintains cultural ties between generations.

Also on this year's list are ritual dances in Kenya, color printing on wooden boards in Vietnam, playing the clay musical instrument borindo in Pakistan, mud house building techniques in Panama, traditional ceramics in Paraguay, sea salt production in the Philippines, moliceiro boat making in Portugal, epic singing with lahut in Albania, and the "landship" tradition of Barbados.

Living heritage of global significance

UNESCO also expanded its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

It incorporates Tajik traditions associated with sumanak, a traditional Navruz dish made from sprouted wheat with butter, flour, and walnuts. The preparation process takes up to a day and is accompanied by women singing and dancing, while men tend the fire and perform physical labor.

Also added to the list are Georgian practices related to the cultivation and harvesting of endemic wheat varieties, traditional bread baking, and agricultural rituals. Wheat symbolizes life, prosperity, and the continuity of generations. These traditions are an important part of Georgian life.

The Kyrgyz drink "maksym" and its unique preparation methods have also been added to the UNESCO list. This thick, fermented drink is made by frying flour in mutton fat and then fermenting it. Its preparation brings families together and symbolizes prosperity and hospitality.

The list also includes: the ceremonial men's cloak bisht (Middle East), the Venezuelan genre of joropo, the Bolivian festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the Argentine genre of cuarteto, Tangail sare weaving in Bangladesh, miniatures in the style of Behzad (Afghanistan), Belgian puppet theater, Christmas traditions of Belize, Bulgarian bagpipes, the wedding procession "zaffa" in the countries of Africa and the Middle East, and other traditions.

UNESCO emphasizes that rapid social change, migration, climate change, and a loss of interest in history among young people threaten the disappearance of traditions that have shaped the cultural identity of peoples for centuries. New designations help attract attention, resources, and support to ensure the survival of these unique practices.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

December 10, 2025 Humanitarian aid

At a meeting of the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher said Afghanistan is facing one of the largest humanitarian disasters in modern times.

Nearly 22 million Afghans will require aid in 2026, making the country the third-worst humanitarian crisis in the world after Sudan and Yemen.

Famine and natural disasters

To help 17.5 million people in Afghanistan, the UN is appealing for $1.7 billion, of which $375.9 million is urgently needed to help 3.9 million of the most vulnerable Afghans. The number of people suffering from hunger in Afghanistan has increased for the first time in four years, reaching 17.4 million. More than 2.6 million refugees will have returned to the country in 2025, and more than four million in the past two years alone. Most of them are women and children, who face severe restrictions on education, employment, and access to healthcare.

The country was further devastated by two major earthquakes in August and November, which claimed thousands of lives and destroyed entire villages. Drought has affected 3.4 million people this year, reducing crop yields and accelerating the depletion of water resources.

Restrictions on women's employment

Tom Fletcher emphasized that restrictions on women's work in humanitarian organizations seriously complicate the provision of foreign aid. In September, the country's de facto authorities banned female UN staff from visiting offices, and in October, from working at key reception centers for returning refugees. Furthermore, humanitarian operations face bureaucratic obstacles and pressure from local authorities.

External financing deficit

The lack of funding has already had dire consequences. For the first time in years, with the onset of cold weather, international food supplies were almost nonexistent: only about a million people received aid, down from 5.6 million the previous year. 305 food centers were closed, depriving 1.1 million children of vital support. 422 medical facilities also closed, cutting off access to healthcare for three million people.

In closing his remarks, Tom Fletcher made three key requests of the Security Council members: to uphold the humanitarian exception in Resolution 2615, insist on lifting restrictions on women aid workers and funding a global humanitarian plan to avoid further cuts to aid for the people of Afghanistan.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.