From education to marriage, major human rights gains of 2025

In 2025, wars and active conflicts threatened civilians around the world. Human rights were under threat in otherwise "peaceful" regions. In Serbia, Tanzania, Nepal and elsewhere, authorities went after anti-government protesters and imposed information blackouts. In the United States, diversity, equity and inclusion measures were rolled back. In Turkey, scores of democratically elected politicians were removed from office and arrested. In Hungary and Kazakhstan, sexual minorities saw their rights curtailed.

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But 2025 also saw some human rights advances. Here are five positive examples.

In January 2025, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize marriage for same-sex couples, drawing praise from the UN Development Program, which said: "Thailand has shown that equality is more than just a buzzword." More than 1,800 couples tied the knot on January 23, the day when the law came into effect.

Almost 40 countries around the world have same-sex marriage laws in place, according to a Pew Research Center survey, with Liechtenstein also joining the small roster of nations this year.

In 2025, 106 women were murdered in Italy because of their gender, according to the Italian statistical office, Istat. Most of them were killed by their partners, ex-partners or other relatives. Many Italians are fed up with this grim reality. That is why the country has now made more money available for women's shelters and other protective facilities, advertised a helpline and launched awareness campaigns.

The Italian parliament passed a law that makes femicide a distinct criminal offense punishable by life imprisonment on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. In the same vein, lawmakers adopted tougher penalties for gender-based crimes like stalking and revenge porn.

About 12 million girls are married off each year, according to Girls Not Brides, a nongovernmental organization. This often results in pressure to drop out of school prematurely and have children early. Just over half of the world's countries still allow under-18 marriages if certain conditions such as parental backing or a judge's approval are given, according to UNESCO data from February.

Colombia closed all existing legal loopholes around under-18 marriage that same month. Bolivia— where about 22% of underage girls are forced into child marriage according to NGO Save the Children — similarly instituted a blanket ban on under-18 marriage in September. The law also imposes jail penalties on civil registrars who officiate child marriages and on adults who enter into such unions.

Portugal, Kuwait and Grenada also closed child marriage loopholes in 2025. Burkina Faso raised the minimum age for marriage to 18, although Girls Not Brides warns that it's unclear whether judicial exemptions are possible.

Malawi, in Southeast Africa, is one of the poorest countries in the world. Economic constraints often determine how long children can go to school. Only eight years of elementary education are compulsory and free of charge.

The government announced in December that, as of 2026, secondary school fees will be scrapped, with final exam fees covered by the state. Although families will still have to pay for materials and school uniforms, the government's decision has been widely welcomed by political observers.

A similar step was taken by Vietnam, which abolished state school fees in September. Until then, certain secondary, upper secondary and preschools charged fees.

Japan, too, got rid of secondary school fees in 2025. Previously, wealthy families still had to pay to send their children to school.

Islam is the state religion of Pakistan. Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and other religious communities only make up a small fraction of the country's overall population. In 2014, Pakistan's Supreme Court criticized the inadequate protection afforded to religious minorities, calling for an independent commission to address the matter. No such body was constituted, with years of resistance and disputes.

It was not until early December this year that Pakistan's parliament passed the National Commission for Minority Rights Bill, which was signed into action by the president. Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told news outlet dawn.com "that this is a commission for non-Muslims. Our Hindu, Christian and Parsi brothers are as good Pakistanis as we are."

The body, whose members are yet to be appointed, will be tasked with representing minorities in legislative procedures and other political processes. The extent of its influence on shaping Pakistan life will likely only become clear in the coming year.