United Nations

Secretary-General’s 2022 Message

2022 Theme:

Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All!

The world is facing unprecedented and interlocking challenges to human rights.

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Hunger and poverty are increasing – an affront to the economic and social rights of hundreds of millions of people.

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Civic space is shrinking.

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Media freedom and the safety of journalists are in dangerous decline in almost every region of the world.

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Trust in institutions is evaporating, especially among young people.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased levels of violence against women and girls.

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Racism, intolerance and discrimination are running rampant.

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New human rights challenges are emerging from the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

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And we are only beginning to grasp the threat posed to human rights by some new technologies.

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These trying times call for a reignition of our commitment to all human rights - civil, cultural, economic, political and social.

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The Call to Action I launched in 2020 positions human rights at the centre of solutions to the challenges we face.

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This vision is reflected in my report on Our Common Agenda, which calls for a renewed social contract, anchored in human rights.

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The 75th anniversary of the landmark Universal Declaration on Human Rights next year must be an opportunity for action. 

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I urge Member States, civil society, the private sector and others to put human rights at the heart of efforts to reverse today’s damaging trends.

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Human rights are the foundation for human dignity, and the cornerstone of peaceful, inclusive, fair, equal and prosperous societies.

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They are a unifying force and a rallying cry.

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They reflect the most fundamental thing we share – our common humanity. 

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On this Human Rights Day, we reaffirm the universality and indivisibility of all rights, as we stand up for human rights for all.

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