UN and Microsoft announce £3.8m partnership on human rights

Microsoft plans to develop and use technology to help the UN human rights office

Microsoft says it is contributing 5 million US dollars (£3.8 million) over five years to the UN human rights office in a "landmark partnership" that could prod other big private-sector donors to follow suit.

The Washington state-based company plans to develop and use technology to help the UN rights office "predict, analyse and respond to critical human rights situations" at a time of arbitrary killings, rape, detention without trial and other abuses around the world.

The partnership was quietly launched last year and formally launched on Tuesday.

It comes amid uncertainty about the rights office's main funding source: countries and governments.

The US, traditionally a major donor, is considering cuts to its funding for UN institutions as part of Trump administration plans to trim the State Department budget.