@UNHumanRights' regional representation in Southeast Asia. Providing #humanrights news and inspiration to advocates throughout #Asia. #StandUp4HumanRights
Bangkok, Thailand
Joined October 2015
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The UN Charter entered into force on 24 October 1945.
Today, we mark #UNDay by expressing our gratitude to everyone working tirelessly alongside us to make universal human rights an everyday reality.
UN Human Rights Asia retweeted
Biodiversity loss is not only an environmental crisis; it’s a human rights crisis. I hope #COP17Armenia will drive a massive shift towards policies and practices that protect and restore nature, rather than destroying it.
By shaping public perception, the media can advance the safety and dignity of people on the move.
Journalists from South and South-East Asia gathered in Bangkok on 6-8 Oct for hands-on training organised by @OHCHRAsia and @dw_akademie, with support from the Government of Japan and @GERinThailand.
Participants learned how to challenge harmful stereotypes and misinformation surrounding migration and trafficking into cyber scam operations through evidence-based reporting, narrative change approaches and stronger digital security practices.
💬 “The combination of human rights principles, conflict-sensitive journalism and practical storytelling exercises made the training relevant to my work,” said one participant.
"Europe and Asia bring different perspectives, but our rights, our economies, our technologies and our environment are deeply interconnected. Human rights give us a shared foundation; they are a compass that can guide policies and decisions from the local to the global; and they offer concrete solutions to our challenges."
- UN Human Rights Chief @volker_turk’s statement at #ASEMHR24 Seminar in Mongolia.
Human rights defenders need a safe and secure digital space.
@OHCHRAsia is working to enhance digital security and resilience of those defending the rights of marginalised groups, including migrants and refugees, by equipping them with practical tools and support networks in and beyond Thailand.
In a workshop held on 1-2 Oct with support of @EUinThailand and the Government of Japan, 36 participants from tech, media, human rights advocacy and legal aid organisations co-created strategies to prevent and respond to online and offline attacks and harmful narratives.
How can the media cover migration and scam trafficking responsibly and with nuance?
Learn more from DW Akademie’s interview with OHCHR Regional Representative Cynthia Veliko: bit.ly/4BajPdU
UN Human Rights Asia retweeted
#Myanmar: @volker_turk deplores military airstrikes that reportedly kil at least 50 people at a market in Kyauktaw township in Rakhine State. The attack underlines grave plight faced by civilians in Myanmar.
ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…
UN Human Rights Asia retweeted
SLAPPs can use claims of defamation, libel or invasion of privacy to financially exhaust, intimidate & criminalize people speaking on matters of public interest. Our new report examines how SLAPPs shrink civic space, how to recognize the pattern, and the safeguards needed to prevent abuse of the courts. Learn more: ohchr.org/en/stories/2026/09…
Discrimination should not define anyone’s destiny. But discrimination persists in many forms, and piecemeal laws leave protection gaps.
The UN Human Rights Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific supports comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, which prohibits all forms of discrimination and translates international commitments to equality into enforceable rights under national law.
The launch of this Alliance is timely given Asia’s uneven progress towards holistic legal frameworks that provide broad coverage, effective remedies and strong enforcement mechanisms.
Learn more: bit.ly/4jg3wW8
⏰ REMINDER: Don’t miss our online discussion tomorrow!
How can we advance comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation in Asia?
Learn about regional experiences in strengthening collaboration for equality, inclusion and human rights.
Register now for our online discussion marking the 25th anniversary of the UN’s anti-racism blueprint – the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action: bit.ly/4cTFbBR
UN Human Rights Asia retweeted
60 years ago, countries adopted the two International Covenants, protecting civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
From freedom of expression and equality before the law to health, education, work and an adequate standard of living, these rights shape our everyday lives.
Learn more: ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-…
Trust is the heart of meaningful engagement. But businesses and civil society often face barriers to building mutual trust required for advancing responsible business conduct.
Adopted 15 years ago, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights have established a robust framework for collective action.
As #UNRBHR2026 concludes, @OHCHRAsia representative Cynthia Veliko calls for strengthened implementation and accountability to address evolving challenges, including shrinking civic space and uneven quality of engagement, to ensure that those most vulnerable can realize their rights and thrive in Asia-Pacific’s dynamic business environment.
🌐 On 15 September 2026, @OHCHRAsia and B-Tech Project, in partnership with @UNICEFAPRO, organized a session on “𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻: 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵” as part of the United Nations Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum, Asia-Pacific.
👉 The session brought together speakers from tech company, government, international organization and BHR consulting. The session highlighted how human rights safeguards for children's safety and well-being must be embedded, not as an afterthought but the starting point within the AI product design.
▶️ The summary note for the session will soon be published on the B-Tech portal.
UN Human Rights Asia retweeted
Speaking up for human rights should never come at a cost.
But people around the world continue to be targeted for cooperating with the @UN on human rights.
We call on States to refrain from any acts of intimidation and reprisals, ensure accountability for violations and abuses, and protect those who engage with the UN.
ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…
UN Human Rights Asia retweeted
Punitive and criminalization-based approaches to migration can deepen exclusion and irregularity, harming people on the move and those who defend their rights.
OHCHR’s new brief Beyond Criminalization examines these impacts & sets out recommendations for rights-based migration governance.
ohchr.org/sites/default/file…
#StandUp4Migrants
UN Human Rights Asia retweeted
Look at almost any public debate right now: cost of living, migration, climate, equality. These are difficult questions, and people genuinely disagree about what should be done. We're working through those disagreements at a time of deep polarization, with debate often reduced to opposing sides, anger and people talking past one another.
These are the conditions in which democracy has to operate. What helps us navigate them?
Deliberative democracy creates open and inclusive spaces where people can access reliable information, speak and participate safely, hear different perspectives, examine evidence and help shape decisions that affect their lives.
Education for civic participation is part of this. Knowledge and critical thinking help people assess competing claims, engage constructively with disagreement and participate effectively in public life.
Together, these conditions foster trust, protect human rights, strengthen democratic institutions and give people greater agency and ownership in democratic decision-making.
This International Day of Democracy, the conversation continues towards the Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law in Geneva on 16–17 November, focused on education for civic participation.
ohchr.org/en/events/sessions…
Our session at #UNRBHR2026 is starting soon!
Tune in at undp.zoom.us/j/82430223660
UN Human Rights Asia retweeted
We are at a watershed moment for AI. The calls by three leading tech companies to slow AI development should set all alarm bells ringing.
My call to governments and tech companies: ohchr.org/sites/default/file…
It’s been a productive first day at #UNRBHR2026!
At a session marking the 40th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Right to Development, OHCHR Regional Representative Cynthia Veliko emphasized that in a world where emerging technologies threaten to deepen inequalities, and where communities most affected by climate change often contribute the least to the problem, “development should expand freedom, opportunity and dignity for all, while respecting the limits of our planet and leaving no one behind.”
How can we advance comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation in Asia?
Learn about regional experiences in strengthening collaboration for equality, inclusion and human rights.
Register now for our online discussion marking the 25th anniversary of the UN’s anti-racism blueprint – the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action: bit.ly/4cTFbBR