Rights defender killings hit record high as UN pushes to shore up humanitarian action

Preliminary data indicates that some 950 human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists were killed or forcibly disappeared worldwide in 2025, more than double the number a decade ago. 

These and other alarming trends are highlighted in Human Rights Count 2026, OHCHR's latest global dataset documenting attacks on defenders, civilian deaths in conflicts, patterns of discrimination worldwide and the state of institutions tasked with protecting universal human rights.

Key takeaways:

• Every 10 hours, a human rights defender, journalist or trade unionist is killed or disappeared
• Every hour, a child dies in armed conflict
• One in five people have experienced discrimination in the past year
• Violence against human rights defenders has reached record levels, with at least 5,995 killed since 2015

Read the full report here.

Humanitarian affairs under the spotlight

Working towards bolstering the UN's work around the world, the Economic and Social Council began on Wednesday its annual three-day-long humanitarian affairs segment, where Member States, the UN system, partners and the private sector gathered to discuss challenges and opportunities ahead.

Follow the humanitarian affairs debate here

At the opening session, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher warned that with the humanitarian mission often contested, aid organizations not only face a gap between growing needs and shrinking funding, but between needs and the ability to deliver.

Respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of aid workers are indispensable to humanitarian action, the UN relief chief said.

"The future of humanitarian action will not be decided by humanitarians alone," Mr. Fletcher said, calling on Member States, parties to conflict, donors, development partners and the private sector to all play their part.

Watch UN Web TV's broadcast of the opening meeting below: