“It is incongruous that a wealthy country like Australia has tens of thousands of people trapped in modern slavery,” said Professor Justine Nolan, a Law and Justice professor and the Director of the Australian Human Rights Institute – a leading research center dedicated to advancing human rights. To counter this, Australia recognised and pledged to address modern slavery legally, which led to the appointment of an “anti-slavery Commissioner,” a long-awaited position. “The appointment of an Australian Anti-slavery Commissioner is a step forward in developing meaningful responses to addressing modern slavery in Australian companies, operations and supply chains,” said Nolan. Another scholar, Jennifer Burn, the Director of Anti-Slavery Australia, at the University of Technology Sydney described the appointment of an anti-slavery Commissioner as a “powerful” demonstration of commitment to addressing the prevalence and prevention of modern slavery. “This role has the potential to bring real, measurable change across sectors and borders,” Burn said. In December 2023, more than 150 States and other entities globally made nearly 800 commitments to take action to advance human rights for all. The pledges were part of the commemoration marking 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “One of the key objectives of the Human Rights 75 initiative was to garner pledges to bring about concrete change towards greater enjoyment of human rights for all,” said UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk. The High Commissioner invited key human rights stakeholders, including Member States, regional organizations, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, businesses, and young people, to discuss the importance of human rights as a pathway to solutions and make human rights commitments. “Time bound, many of the stakeholders vowed to create concrete change towards the enjoyment of human rights for all. With a potential to be transformative,” said Türk. Australia"s efforts towards fulfilling its pledge on countering modern slavery is one of many human rights commitments honoured worldwide. Different entities set different timelines to achieve human rights pledges. Some have been met. Others are work in progress - spanning several years. The pledges varied: from bridging the digital divide to increasing donor funding on gender equality and strengthening feminist foreign policies; from strengthening economic, social and cultural rights to ensuring universal health care; from promoting access to education and social protection to eradicating extreme poverty, as well as ratification of UN conventions. What follows is a snapshot of some of those pledges fulfilled in full or partially in the last year. The United States of America’s human rights pledges in 2024 emphasized the importance of safeguarding human rights, supporting press freedom, and fostering responsible business conduct. To this end, the US pledged to provide protection of journalists and free media and support for human rights defenders. The U.S. State Department allocated over $4 million to global programmes designed to enhance the safety and security of journalists while fostering free and independent media. These efforts were made through collaborations with governments and non-governmental organizations to advance democratic development and bolster protection for journalists worldwide. And on a National Plan on Responsible Business Conduct, released in March 2024, it outlines a strategy to promote human rights due diligence across private sector practices, federal procurement policies, and government operations. Colombia, pledged to accelerate implementation of a public policy to help dismantle criminal organizations and the structures supporting them, and enacted a decree to that end in 2024. Access to public information was also a trending pledge. North Macedonia –implemented its pledge by establishing a new Ministry of Digital Transformation – aimed at improving access to information. While Zambia adopted an access to information law and reviewed the national policy on environment. The enactment of the law is seen by many as a significant milestone for freedom of expression and the media landscape - as it provides a strong foundation for the enjoyment of the right to information. Ratifying International Human Rights Treaties States around the world renewed their commitments to turn human rights principles into concrete actions through ratifying international human rights treaties, with a record of 37ratifications by 26 States. There are nine core international human rights treaties. These are legally binding international laws and mandatory obligations. Once a State ratifies a treaty it becomes a party to that specific treaty. The treaties have a long history of some more recent than others and countries gradual adoption over time. Different countries adopted certain human rights treaties at varying times, with the range being from 14 years ago to over 50 years ago. The record number of ratifications via the pledges saw States becoming parties to international treaties, also known as Conventions, showing their commitment to protecting and upholding international human rights law. Ratified treaties included the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Thailand, for example, ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED). The ICPPED is the only universal treaty specifically dedicated to enforced disappearance. It is binding on States parties. Prior to the ratification of the Convention by Thailand, the situation of enforced disappearances in the country was under the scrutiny of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. According to the last report of this special procedure, as of 10 May 2024, 77 "enforced or involuntary disappearance" cases reported to the Working Group remained opened”. All disappearances that occurred after the entry into force of the ICPPED in Thailand will now be under the authority of the Committee on Enforced disappearances. It also monitors how the government protects people against disappearances as stipulated in the Convention. “The ratification of ICPPED opens a new channel to raise awareness in the international community on enforced disappearance issues both from the past and in the future, as well as the conditions that continue to allow this violation to occur,” said Prakaidao Phurksakasemsuk, Deputy Director of Cross-Cultural Foundation, a local NGO. “I hope that everyone can see their loved ones again, that the wait for justice ends, and that no one is forced to disappear ever again,” she added. “We are pleased to see countries coming through with their ratifications under the Human Rights 75 initiative, especially of the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, with the highest ratifications, further reinforcing the human rights ecosystem,” said Olivier de Frouville, the chairperson of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances. Cote D’Ivoire ratified five conventions as part of its pledge. With this, the country completed its ratification of all nine core international human rights treaties. On September 27, 2023, Cote d’Ivoire acceded to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. The country also acceded to the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), which entered into force on March 31, 2023. Human rights defender Marthe Coulibaly welcomed the ratification of the migrant workers treaty as well as the UN Convention on Torture. She highlighted that a Council of Ministers adopted a draft law to establish an independent National Detention Observatory - tasked with preventing torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. “Adhering to the OPCAT requires the establishment of a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) against torture within one year from the protocol’s entry into force,” said Coulibaly. This mechanism will be an independent administrative authority that will be tasked with preventing torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. She added, “Cote d’Ivoire’s international commitments regarding migrants entail more appropriate treatment of these populations.” This includes accommodating migrants in the northern Cote D’Ivoire with shelters meeting basic needs – for example receiving financial support, material and food donations, and access to schools. See how many treaties your country has ratified. View the ratification status by country or by treaty Civil Society Organizations Civil society organizations also made pledges and reported advances in advocacy for human rights defenders, freedom of expression and of association as well as safety for journalists. As part of its pledge to advocate for human rights defenders arbitrarily detained, CIVICUS released People Power Under Attack 2024, a report which highlighted the detention of protesters as the most prevalent violation of civic freedoms, recorded in at least 76 countries. “CIVICUS has continued to engage to support the release of wrongfully detained human rights defenders and activists through various actions, campaigns, and broader advocacy efforts,” the report stated. Action Aid, an international NGO dedicated to combating poverty and injustice, has strived to fulfill its pledge to scale up support for movements. "2024 has been a transformative year as we implemented the HR75 pledge by supporting over 100 national social movements, aiding hundreds of youth activists and movement leaders. Together with OHCHR, we continue to strengthen the global ecosystem of protection involving both donors, protection mechanisms, multilateral institutions and CSO’s,” said Anne Louise Carstens, International Director for Social Movements ActionAid, Denmark. Console Mission, a grassroots NGO in Nepal dedicated to enhancing children"s sustainable education and public health, pushed pledges for an international legal instrument to protect older persons. National Human Rights Institutions National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) also worked towards fulfilling their pledges. Of the more than 16 NHRIs that pledged during HR 75, almost one third of them completed their commitments, with a 2024 deadline. These ranged from strengthening the independence of institutions to promoting cooperation with civil society organizations. NHRI’s are independent bodies established by states to promote and protect human rights, ensuring compliance with international standards. Azerbaijan’s Ombudsperson, Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, pledged to protect the rights of disappeared persons during the protracted Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which began in 1988. Following a resurgence of violence in 2023, the Ombudsperson’s office reported significant progress in fulfilling this pledge. Efforts resulted in the discovery of mass graves, enabling the identification of missing persons. Sweden’s Institute for Human Rights rolled out its pledge for public information campaigns that targeted minorities and vulnerable groups who face direct hate campaigns. This was done through numerous digital advertisements; the campaign was titled: “Human Rights. Dangerous to take for granted. Vital to defend.” The campaign reached almost seven million people. This pledge spans four years, lasting until 2027. NHRI’s in Croatia, Mongolia, Austria, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, reported activities to fulfill their Human Right 75 pledges on improving advocacy opportunities through partnerships with civil society and law makers. Meanwhile, the government of Oman reported efforts towards fulfilling its pledge to promote the independence of national human rights institutions. This in turn promotes fairness and sustainability in Oman’s human rights institutions by integrating principles into laws and decisions through collaboration with government agencies and community organizations. “ Several countries introduced new bills or reformed anti-discrimination laws in line with their Human Rights 75 pledges. “ Volker Türk, UN Human Rights Chief States pledges In addition to ratifying more treaties, Member States also made pledges on numerous challenging human rights issues. For example, 32 pledges were made on the environment and climate change, including on promoting the right to a safe, healthy and sustainable environment, on mitigating risks and ensuring climate justice. There was also some momentum towards transitional justice. The Marshall Islands, initiated a seven-year pledge to raise awareness and pursue justice for victims of nuclear testing —referred to as the "nuclear legacy." It has set in motion plans for the creation of a museum dedicated to memorializing human rights violations caused by its nuclear testing. Separately, in 2024, the government appointed a Presidential Envoy for Nuclear Justice and Human Rights to further these efforts on transitional justice. “This is a historical unresolved issue of securing nuclear justice for the people of the Marshall Islands. This is a legacy not only of suffering loss and frustration but also of strength and unwavering commitment to justice,” Ariana Tibon-Kilma, a descendant of the survivors of the 1946 – 1958 nuclear weapons testing told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Benin adopted a law, regulating legal aid. The law constitutes a milestone in the government’s effort to fulfill its pledge to “establish a mechanism for legal aid and legal assistance to promote a modern, independent, efficient, and accessible justice system for all. On business and human rights pledges – 15 commitments were made by dm Drogerie markt d.o.o., Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Iberdrola, S.A., Louis Dreyfus Company, Meta, The International Organization of Employers and UN B-Tech Community of Practice. These pledges included adopting national strategies or legislation on due diligence. Some of these included addressing the needs of local communities, with the aim of improving and developing the community, commitments towards taking measures in policies, labour, products, and ensure that everyone in business value chains to respect and protect fundamental human, treating people with dignity and respect. Social media giant META also pledged its commitment to uphold human rights as defined in its corporate human rights policy and in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The UN Human Rights Office calls on countries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders to share updates on the progress of their pledged commitments. N.B. We have not covered all individual countries, civil society organizations and other entities in this story.