The Council of Europe calls upon the Governments of its Member States to ensure non-discrimination , including on grounds of genetic characteristics, and the protection of private life in the framework of insurance contracts covering risks related to health, age or death.

The Venezuelan government has targeted critics of its ineffective efforts to alleviate severe shortages of essential medicines and food while the crisis persists, Human Rights Watch said in a report released on 24 October. 

On 24 October, UN Day is celebrated. This year's UN Day will be used to highlight concrete actions people can take to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

On 20 October, reported that seven months after the signature of the EU-Turkey deal and despite the huge amount of funds pledged by the EU, more than 50,000 migrants and refugees still live in substandard conditions in Greece and lack proper access to healthcare.

19 October, the United Nations General Assembly marked the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

On 18 October, to mark the 10th European  Anti-Trafficking  Day, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) published a new guidebook for national authorities based on examples of good practice from across the continent.

Companies which fail to check for infringements on human rights in their business and their suppliers are putting themselves at legal and reputational risk, according to a new report.

The OSCE Programme Office in Astana held its second training seminar in 2016 on  anti-torture  standards for some 30 judges from regional courts on 17 October 2016.

On 13 October 2016, The General Assembly today appointed by acclamation the former Prime Minister of Portugal, António Guterres, as the next United Nations Secretary-General, to succeed Ban Ki-moon when he steps down on 31 December.

On 13 October, Highlighting “considerable” inequalities among countries when it comes to enabling people with tuberculosis to access cost-effective diagnosis and treatment, a new United Nations health report has called for political commitment and increased funding to prevent, detect and treat the disease if global targets are to be met.