Coinciding with the anniversary of the collapse of the former regime, “things are improving,” Mohammad Al Nsour, Chief of the Middle East and North Africa Section at OHCHR told UN News. “Every time we go to Damascus, we can see the change.” OHCHR – blocked from operating inside Syria for …
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‘Every step a struggle:’ Nigerian woman with disabilities leads push for dignity and inclusion — Global Issues
“Sometimes, it feels like the world isn’t made for people like me,” said Shiminenge, her voice steady despite the weight of the words. In Gbajimba, north-central Nigeria, the 32-year-old navigates daily life in a camp for displaced people that offers little space, safety, or accessibility for people living with disabilities. …
UN warns Myanmar’s planned elections will deepen repression and instability — Global Issues
Jeremy Laurence, a spokesperson for the UN human rights office, OHCHR, told reporters in Geneva that voting is expected to begin on 28 December, in what he described as a military-controlled ballot conducted in an environment “rife with threats and violence” and actively suppressed political participation. Many major political parties …
Global measles cases surge as 30 million children miss vaccines, UN health agency warns — Global Issues
Officials said global outbreaks are accelerating as millions of children remain under-immunized following years of COVID-19 pandemic-related disruption. “Measles remains one of the most contagious respiratory viruses,” said Dr. Kate O’Brien, WHO’s Director of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals. “One person can infect up to 18 others. Many people think measles …
UN rights office condemns ‘apparent summary execution’ of two men in the West Bank — Global Issues
The shooting occurred on Thursday in Jenin and was apparently caught on film by a TV channel, OHCHR Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence told journalists in Geneva. He said an internal review was announced following the incident, but statements made by a senior Israeli official sought to absolve security forces of responsibility, …
UN chief condemns Guinea-Bissau coup, urges restoration of constitutional order — Global Issues
UN Secretary-General António Guterres is “deeply concerned by the unfolding events,” his spokesperson said in a statement late on Thursday. “He strongly condemns the coup d’état perpetrated by elements of the military and any attempt to violate constitutional order.” He stressed that disregarding “the will of the people who peacefully …
Setting global industry on a fairer, greener path towards economic growth — Global Issues
The world is inexorably becoming industrialised, raising the prospects of better jobs and livelihoods for many of the world’s poorest. But, in order to truly benefit the global population and the planet as a whole, international trade and industry must go hand in hand with healthier communities, lower emissions and …
Global summit opens in Riyadh — Global Issues
“Industrial development is critical to strengthening economies, fighting poverty, and creating jobs and prosperity,” declared UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his message to the event, delivered by the senior UN official in Saudia Arabia, Mohamed El-Zarkani. Lifting the burden of poverty Delegates from governments, private sector and civil society have …
Schools should be ‘sanctuaries not targets’ says deputy UN chief following latest mass abduction — Global Issues
t was originally reported that 215 pupils had been kidnapped from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger state, early on Friday morning – but the figure was revised upwards to 303 students and 12 teachers, according to The Christian Association of Nigeria. The association’s chair who reportedly visited the school …
As wealth gap widens, UN calls for new industrial deal for world’s poorest — Global Issues
“First, we need to end the war. Then, we have to restart the factories,” says Basher Abdullah, advisor to Sudan’s Minister of Industry and Trade. Like many of the world’s poorest countries, Sudan’s attempts to develop its economy are severely hampered by conflict. Yet, even amidst the brutal civil war, …
Healing the hidden wounds of childbirth — Global Issues
For women like 38-year-old Farhiya from rural Beletweyne, the consequences can be devastating — a painful obstetric fistula, a hole in the birth canal that left her incontinent, isolated, and cut off from her community. “I was stressed, constantly worried, and isolated from my community. I was living in my …
Ukraine faces ‘unprecedented housing crisis’ — Global Issues
More than 236,000 buildings have been destroyed or damaged during the war and over 2.5 million housing units – around 10 per cent of the housing stock – have been damaged in some way or are inaccessible due to the ongoing conflict. The shortage of municipal housing combined with an …
Safeguarding clean water access as climate threats rise — Global Issues
“Healthcare facilities are where the vulnerable seek healing. Yet, without adequate water, sanitation and hygiene, for too many people, expected care can become inadvertent harm,” said Dr. Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Regional Director for Europe. Emphasizing that healthcare is “being tested as never before”, Dr. Kluge insisted …
COP30 kicks off with urgent call to deliver on climate promises and scale up finance — Global Issues
After decades of pledges and annual summits from Kyoto to Sharm el-Sheikh, the planet keeps getting hotter and pressure on governments and big business to act – not just talk – has never been greater. Holding COP30 in Belém, at the edge of the world’s largest tropical rainforest, underscores the …
Holding on to home, as the ocean engulfs the Solomon Islands — Global Issues
Sikaiana, less than two square kilometres, is encircled by the sea and is home to just 300 people. It is also more than 200 kilometres from the main island of the Solomon archipelago. Most homes lie steps from the shore, where high tides flood the tree line and seep into …
‘We want to get our lives back,’ Gaza children declare — Global Issues
“What we need now are notebooks, books, and pens. We want to get our lives back”, said one young Palestinian girl, Sham Al-Abd. She now attends the Deir al-Balah Joint Elementary School run by the UN Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA). Despite the old furniture and the few drawings that brighten …
Aid cuts shutdown or suspend one in three women’s anti-violence programmes — Global Issues
A new UN Women report, At Risk and Underfunded, based on a global survey of 428 women’s rights and civil society groups, finds that one in three have suspended or shut down programmes aimed at ending gender-based violence. More than 40 per cent have scaled back or closed essential services …
Indigenous chef brings Amazonian soul to COP30 — Global Issues
Indigenous chef and activist Tainá Marajoara will serve dishes rooted in ancestral Amazonian traditions, showcasing the biodiversity and spirituality of Brazil’s Indigenous Peoples. Between rounds of negotiations, delegates will be treated to flavours such as maniçoba, açaí and pirarucu – all prepared with more than 10 tonnes of agroecological ingredients …
Sixty-five nations sign first UN treaty to fight cybercrime, in milestone for digital cooperation — Global Issues
Adopted by the General Assembly in December 2024 after five years of negotiation, the Convention against Cybercrime establishes the first universal framework for investigating and prosecuting offences committed online – from ransomware and financial fraud to the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. “The UN Cybercrime Convention is a powerful, legally …
UN urges opening of all Gaza crossings to deliver three-month food supply — Global Issues
The agency says it already has enough supplies in place to feed the entire population of the Strip for three months – if full access is granted by Israel. One week into the fragile ceasefire, WFP has been bringing in an average of 560 tonnes of food each day. “The …
