November 29 marks International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, to commemorate the women and girls who fight for human rights around the world, particularly those combating gender based discrimination. In the Commission's Defending Freedoms Project, 15 prisoners of conscience are women.
Nearly 1 in 3 women have been abused in their lifetime. In times of crises, the numbers rise, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent humanitarian crises, conflicts and climate disasters.
The 2023 report from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom on the status of religious freedom around the world is available here.
In his newest report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, UN Secretary General António Guterres renewed his call to all parties in conflict to comply with international humanitarian and human rights law.