Human rights obligations cannot be subordinated to commercial seed monopolies by OHCHR, UN Working Group on Peasants   Dec. 2025   UN experts today welcomed a landmark ruling of the High Court of Kenya declaring unconstitutional provisions of the Seed and Plant Varieties Act that criminalised the saving, use, exchange and sale of Indigenous and farm-saved seeds.   “This judgment rightly recognises that seed sharing is not a crime, but a fundamental element of peasants’ identity, resilience and contribution to national food systems,” said the Working Group on Peasants and other people working in rural areas.   The High Court of Kenya found that the law, which granted exclusive marketing and property rights over seeds to breeders and seed companies and exposed farmers to potential imprisonment of up to two years for seed-saving and seed-sharing, violated farmers’ rights to life, livelihood and food.   The Court stressed that centuries-old practices of seed-sharing form the backbone of Kenya’s food security and cultural heritage.   “This decision is a significant affirmation that the human rights of peasants and the imperatives of food security and biodiversity must prevail over overly restrictive intellectual property regimes,” the Working Group said.   The experts noted that similar restrictive provisions, often modelled on the 1991 Act of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), have been incorporated into national laws in many countries – criminalising age-old practices in Indigenous and peasant agriculture.   “The Kenyan ruling sends a clear and timely message that human rights obligations cannot be subordinated to commercial seed monopolies or narrow interpretations of plant breeders’ rights,” the Working Group said.   The decision is consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP), in particular article 19, which recognises the right to seeds, including the right to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seed or propagating material.   The experts recalled their Briefing Paper on the Right to Seeds, which clarifies that States must ensure that seed policies, certification schemes and intellectual property frameworks, are designed and applied in a manner that respects, protects and fulfils these rights, and that peasants-managed seed systems are legally recognised and actively supported.   “Courts play a critical role in ensuring that national laws comply with international human rights standards,” the Working Group said. “Where legislative frameworks have criminalised traditional seed systems or restricted peasants’ customary practices, judicial review offers an essential safeguard to restore the primacy of human rights and the right to food.”   The experts commended the courage and perseverance of Kenyan peasants, Indigenous Peoples and civil society actors who mobilised to secure seeds rights before the Court.   “Their determination offers inspiration to peasant movements worldwide and shows that when courts uphold human rights, they defend not only the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and Indigenous Peoples but also the future of diverse, resilient and sovereign food systems,” they said.   “Kenya’s ruling should inspire similar human-rights-based interpretations of seed laws and plant variety protection regimes in other jurisdictions,” the Working Group said.   http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/12/kenyas-seed-sharing-ruling-milestone-peasants-rights-and-food-security-un   19 Dec. 2025   Domestic interpretations cannot override norms designed to protect humanity from the worst crimes. “Crimes against humanity are imprescriptible under international law.”   UN human rights experts today expressed grave concern over the content of Peru’s Constitutional Court ruling upholding the “impunity” law, which allows statutes of limitations for crimes against humanity.   “This ruling is a dangerous step backward,” the experts said. “Crimes against humanity are imprescriptible under international law.”   The majority decision of four judges upheld the constitutionality of Law 32107, arguing that the statute of limitations could apply to such crimes if committed prior to Peru’s ratification of the Rome Statute and the Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity. The Court further argued that treaty obligations were not self-executing due to an interpretative declaration, invoked legality and non-retroactivity principles, and cited lengthy proceedings.   “As a peremptory norm binding on all States, the prohibition of statutory limitations for crimes against humanity is not contingent on treaty ratification,” the experts said.   “The principle of legality does not shield perpetrators of atrocities that were criminal under international law at the time,” they said. “Neither can delays in proceedings justify impunity for grave violations.”   The UN experts recalled their previous opinions and the decisions of the Inter-American Court and Commission on Human Rights warning Peru about the illegality of the Act under international law.   “Peru is bound by the norms of general international law and by its international obligations. Domestic interpretations cannot override norms designed to protect humanity from the worst crimes,” they said.   The Court’s ruling also ordered the annulment of judicial decisions that disregard the constitutionality of the “impunity law”.   “This decision undermines judicial independence and introduces a risk of additional reprisals against justice operators who are already under attack for applying binding international standards,” the experts said.   They called on Peru to align its laws with international standards, ensure accountability, and protect judicial actors.   “Justice delayed must not become justice denied,” the experts said.   http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/12/peru-un-experts-concerned-about-constitutional-court-ruling-impunity-law
	Violence against women the world’s most persistent and under-addressed human rights crises by WHO, UN Women, UNFPA, agencies   Violence against women remains one of the world’s most persistent and under-addressed human rights crises, with very little progress in two decades, according to a landmark report released today by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN partners.   Nearly 1 in 3 women ​– estimated 840 million globally – have experienced partner or sexual violence during their lifetime, a figure that has barely changed since 2000.   In the last 12 months alone, 316 million women – 11% of those aged 15 or older – were subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner. Progress on reducing intimate partner violence has been painfully slow with only 0.2% annual decline over the past two decades.   For the first time, the report includes national and regional estimates of sexual violence by someone other than a partner. It finds 263 million women have experienced non-partner sexual violence since age 15, a figure experts caution is significantly under-reported due to stigma and fear.   "Violence against women is one of humanity’s oldest and most pervasive injustices, yet still one of the least acted upon," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. "No society can call itself fair, safe or healthy while half its population lives in fear. Ending this violence is not only a matter of policy; it is a matter of dignity, equality and human rights. Behind every statistic is a woman or girl whose life has been forever altered. Empowering women and girls is not optional, it's a prerequisite for peace, development and health. A safer world for women is a better world for everyone."   The new report, released ahead of the International day for the elimination of violence against women and girls observed on 25 November, represents the most comprehensive study on the prevalence of these two forms of violence against women. It updates 2018 estimates released in 2021. It analyses data between 2000 and 2023 from 168 countries, revealing a stark picture of a deeply neglected crisis and critically underfunded response.   Despite mounting evidence on effective strategies to prevent violence against women, the report warns that funding for such initiatives is collapsing – just as when humanitarian emergencies, technological shifts, and rising socio-economic inequality are further increasing risks for millions of women and girls.   For instance, in 2022, only 0.2% of the global development aid was allocated to programmes focused on prevention of violence against women, and funding has further fallen in 2025.   Women subjected to violence face unintended pregnancies, a higher risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections and experiencing depression. Sexual and reproductive health services are an important entry point for survivors to receive the high-quality care they need.   The report underscores the reality that violence against women begins early and risks persist throughout life. For example, in the past 12 months alone, 12.5 million adolescent girls 15-19 years of age or 16% have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner.   While violence occurs in every country, women in least-developed, conflict-affected, and climate-vulnerable settings are disproportionately affected. For example, Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand) reports 38% prevalence of intimate partner violence in the past year – more than 3 times the global average of 11%.   To accelerate global progress and deliver meaningful change for the lives of affected women and girls, the report calls for decisive government action and funding to:   Scale up evidence-based prevention programmes; Strengthen survivor-centred health, legal and social services; Invest in data systems to track progress and reach the most at-risk groups; Enforce laws and policies empowering women and girls.   The report is accompanied by the launch of the second edition of the RESPECT Women: preventing violence against women framework, offering updated guidance for violence prevention, including for humanitarian contexts.   There can be no more silence or inaction. We need leaders to commit and act towards ending violence against women and girls now.   ​"Violence against women inflicts deep and lasting harm that affects their lives, health and dignity. For many, violence is compounded by discrimination based on poverty, disability and other factors, exposing them to even higher risk. The devastating cycle of abuse often ripples through families and communities and across generations. The data paint a grim picture of the toll of inaction. This must change now. We must act urgently together to end this violence and ensure that every woman and girl, in all her diversity, can exercise her rights, realize her potential and contribute fully to more just, equal and prosperous societies.” Diene Keita, Executive Director, UNFPA   "Ending violence against women and girls requires courage, commitment, and collective action. Advancing gender equality is how we build a more equal, safer world for everyone, where every woman and every girl can live a life free from violence.” Dr Sima Bahous, Executive Director, UN Women   “The data shows that many women first experience violence from a partner when they are adolescents. And many children grow up watching their mothers being pushed, hit or humiliated, with violence a part of daily life. The key is to break this pattern of violence against women and girls.” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell   http://www.unfpa.org/press/lifetime-toll-840-million-women-faced-partner-or-sexual-violence http://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116962 http://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240117020 http://respect-prevent-vaw.org/ http://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/explainer/take-action-10-ways-you-can-help-end-violence-against-women http://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/faqs/faqs-the-signs-of-relationship-abuse-and-how-to-help http://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/press-release/2025/10/one-in-three-organizations-have-suspended-or-shut-down-programmes-on-ending-violence-against-women-due-to-funding-cuts   http://www.unwomen.org/en/get-involved/16-days-of-activism http://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2025/12/tipping-point-the-chilling-escalation-of-violence-against-women-in-the-public-sphere-in-the-age-of-ai http://www.unfpa.org/16days http://www.unfpa.org/thevirtualisreal http://www.unfpa.org/bodyright http://africarenewal.un.org/en/magazine/online-abuse-real-violence-and-africas-women-and-girls-are-paying-price http://www.unfpa.org/TFGBV http://www.unfpa.org/gender-based-violence http://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1q/k1qtfqmptt http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/childrens-exposure-intimate-partner-violence-against-their-mothers-pervasive   http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/06/1164531 http://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/faqs/digital-abuse-trolling-stalking-and-other-forms-of-technology-facilitated-violence-against-women http://www.savethechildren.net/news/finland-one-three-girls-facing-sexual-abuse-online-messages-often-becoming-sexual-under-hour http://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/10/intensification-of-efforts-to-eliminate-all-forms-of-violence-against-women-report-of-the-secretary-general-2024 http://blog.witness.org/2025/03/technology-facilitated-gender-based-violence   http://carnegieendowment.org/research/2025/06/the-new-global-struggle-over-gender-rights-and-family-values http://www.ids.ac.uk/news/podcast-strategies-for-countering-gender-backlash http://www.unrisd.org/en/activities/news-items/unrisd-puts-gender-backlash-in-the-spotlight-at-international-gender-champions-biannual-meeting http://www.unrisd.org/en/library/publications/understanding-backlash-against-gender-equality-evidence-trends-and-policy-responses   http://equalmeasures2030.org/2024-sdg-gender-index http://www.unicef.org/adolescent-girls-rights http://www.helpage.org/news/social-protection-can-transform-lives-of-older-women/ http://www.unfpa.org/emergencies http://www.unfpa.org/news/explainer-why-investing-women-and-girls-benefits-everyone http://gi-escr.org/en/resources/publications/a-care-led-transition-to-a-sustainable-future http://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/health/cash-transfer-kenya-poverty.html http://www.hrw.org/news/2025/07/14/standing-firm-on-womens-right-to-live-free-of-violence
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