Human Rights Hub
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom established a Human Rights Hub in Geneva. As a hub for the Foundation's human rights work, it strengthens respect for and compliance with human rights and promotes the rules-based international legal order. The hub connects human rights defenders and civil society organizations with each other and with UN organizations in Geneva.
News
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Half the Talent, Half the Voice
Today marks the third anniversary of the United Nations' designation of June 24th as the International Day of Women in Diplomacy. Yet, despite this symbolic recognition, meaningful progress toward making diplomacy more inclusive for women remains limited.
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Russia's Copycats: Anti-LGBTQI+ legislation in Hungary, Bulgaria and Georgia
The rapid proliferation of anti-LGBTQI+ laws and policies in Hungary, Bulgaria, and Georgia reveals a disturbing pattern in Europe and beyond: the deliberate erosion of legal protections for LGBTQI+ communities and the systematic weaponization of anti-minority propaganda.
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Talks with Iran: Can Geneva bring diplomacy back?
Geneva once again becomes a stage for international diplomacy and the pursuit of peace. The talks on Iran's nuclear program show how valuable dialogue, trust, and a return to principles of international law are.
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Reflecting on the UPR for Türkiye – Key Takeaways from Our Side-Event and the Formal Review
Türkiye’s Universal Periodic Review, a peer review of human rights undertaken by all UN Member States, took place on May 6, 2025, in the midst of one of the most alarming surge in human rights violations in the country.
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Media Freedom on Trial
Worldwide the work of journalists is criminalised in order to silence critical voices. Journalist Blessed Mhlanga from Heart and Soul Broadcasting Services Ltd. was arrested in March after his interview with an opponent of President Emmerson Mnangagawa in Zimbabwe. He is accused of inciting public violence. Read his letter from the prison in Harare.
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A Safe Society for Development: The Fight Against FGM in Tanzania
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the courage of the women, men, and youth who have stood up against Female Genital Mutilation. Their stories inspire a future where girls and women can live free from harm, fully empowered to shape their destinies.
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High-level Segment at the UN Human Rights Council
The United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) 58th session engaged in a segment featuring keynote speeches from high-level representatives such as Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the UN, the High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and 116 Foreign, Deputy or Prime Ministers speaking on behalf of their countries.
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Violence in Myanmar: women targeted by the military and resistance groups
Women in Myanmar have been exposed to massive violence since the military coup in 2021. A new study shows the dramatic consequences and calls for better access to justice.
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Unseen & Unheard
This publication aims to amplify the voices of Zimbabwe’s LGBTQIA+ community, documenting their lived experiences and advocating for meaningful change. Through these stories, we seek to challenge societal prejudice, hold authorities accountable, and inspire the alignment of Zimbabwe’s laws with its constitutional ideals of equality.
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Call for Authors
The FNF Human Rights Hub is looking for authors with demonstrated knowledge and expertise regarding anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
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Universal Periodic Review Session 48: Slovenia
Slovenia underwent its fourth Universal Periodic Review, a peer review of the human rights records of all 193 member states.
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Universal Periodic Review Session 48: Iran
Iran underwent its fourth Universal Periodic Review, a peer review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States.
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The Glass Half-Full: Democracy and Human Rights for Gen Z in the USA
As part of a wider survey, this paper focuses on the results related to the United States of America (USA). What does American Gen Z think about human rights and democracy?
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Survey: Generation Z in Poland
Poland took the EU presidency on 1 January 2025.
The EU elections in June 2024 showed that more and more young voters are voting for right wing parties. Thus, the Hub set out to ask: How does Polish youth feel about democracy? What do they think about human rights? How do they judge their governments’ performance?
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Human Rights Politics: An Introduction
How can political science help us make sense of the complex reality of human rights politics? This book provides students and practitioners with essential tools to structure and analyze human rights issues using social science approaches. Drawing on decades of academic and practical experience, it explores key actors, institutions, and critical debates in the field.
