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War, climate chaos, division, greed, it is enough to read any media outlet to get the impression that these are the features of our world, the laws of war are violated, peace is out of reach, authoritarianism feeds on division, and power is concentrated in the hands of a select few.
But this is not the whole picture, for behind the headlines is another reality: quieter, less visible, and far more positive.
Around the world, the vast majority of people are shocked by brutality, hatred, and injustice. They do not want wealth and power to determine whose rights deserve respect and whose are trampled upon. They see that destruction and suffering are taking our world to a dead end.
They want everyone, at all times, to respect the rules that protect humanity. They want to protect our planet from threats that make living in it impossible for many of its inhabitants. They do not believe that gender should determine their life opportunities, nor do they want to sacrifice their rights for rapidly evolving technology, under limited oversight.
This is the vision on which the Global Alliance for Human Rights is based, a movement launched by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in June 2026, to bring together everyone who cares about and works for human rights, to convey the voice of the majority, and to direct its enormous energy towards creating real change.
While an individual, government, organization, or institution can contribute to addressing the challenges facing human rights today, a unified global movement can achieve much more.
Today, I see around me the same energy that drove the struggles that fought slavery, colonialism, patriarchy, and apartheid. This does not surprise me. People will always rally their efforts to champion justice, whether within their communities or in solidarity with people living on the other side of the world.
The Global Alliance brings together governments, cities, civil society, youth, businesses, charities, thinkers, artists, and scientists, through practical ways to address people's problems and improve their lives.
One of the Alliance's first initiatives addresses cities for human rights, as cities and local authorities around the world are guided by human rights to find concrete solutions, away from ideology, to address the challenges of contemporary urban life, from transportation to education and social safety nets.
In Baguio City, Philippines, for example, residents can monitor public budgets and tender procedures through a smartphone app, enhancing accountability and transparency in local government decisions. In Kenya, OHCHR staff support local authorities' training in human rights, helping people participate in decisions that affect their lives. Local and regional governments recognize that broadening participation enhances efficiency, resilience, and stability.
Other initiatives of the Global Alliance include mobilizing youth, human rights in the business and technology sectors, climate action, science, philosophy, sports, and faith.
Projects that put human rights into practice every day are everywhere around us: in our streets, classrooms, boardrooms, and local communities, as well as in parliaments and governments around the world. I am inspired by students, civil society leaders, community organizers, local officials, and human rights defenders who work, often quietly, to make their communities safer and improve people's lives.
The Global Alliance aims to connect and strengthen all these projects and initiatives. It is a living cell teeming with activity, building on existing efforts and shaping its program of work in a participatory manner, in response to an ever-changing reality. It will make the voice of the silent majority louder and its presence more visible.
To put it simply, the challenges we face are complex, and governments and societies are called upon to make difficult choices. Human rights provide a compass to guide these choices with greater intelligence, wisdom, and fairness.
We have all wondered at some point: How can we help the hungry children we see on our screens? How can we ensure that medical bills do not drive families into bankruptcy? How can we protect our privacy on the Internet? When we raise these questions for discussion, listen to different perspectives, and work together across sectors and regions, solutions begin to take shape. This is the essence of the Global Alliance's methodology: we imagine; we dialogue; we take action.
The door to participation is now open. We welcome everyone who believes that fairness, dignity, and respect are the foundations for a safer and more stable future for our societies and our planet; especially those who propose solutions and are willing to embody these values in people's lives.
Since the launch of the Alliance a hundred days ago, it has attracted interest from all regions and various sectors, with nearly six hundred entities expressing interest in participating, from governments and local authorities to civil society organizations, academic institutions, and businesses, alongside individuals. The network of Cities for Human Rights has rapidly expanded to include over 120 cities worldwide. Five prominent figures in the world of sports have joined the early supporters of the Alliance. Twelve young men and women who have excelled in driving change have joined the Alliance's advisory group, Youth4Rights.
The movement is underway, the energy is real, and the commitment is present.
Today, it has a name and a home that brings it together.
I invite you to join us, with your ideas and your energy.
Global Alliance for Human Rights
* United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
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