UN News

• Syria receives first COVID-19 vaccines, for most vulnerable
  More than 250,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Syria on Thursday from the UN-backed COVAX initiative, to inoculate the country’s frontline health workers.   
• ‘Careers have no gender’, connect girls to tech, for a brighter future UN urges 
  Despite information and communication technology playing such a key role throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN chief said that half the world remains offline, in his message marking International Girls in ICT Day, on Thursday – most of whom are women and girls in developing countries. 
• The planet’s on ‘red alert’ UN chief warns leaders at President Biden’s climate summit
  World leaders must act now and put the planet on a green path because “we are at the verge of the abyss”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday in his address to the virtual climate summit convened by United States President Joseph Biden. 
• First Person: ‘Youth won’t stay silent’ says Madagascar climate activist
  Young people around the world “won’t stay silent” about the global climate crisis according to a youth activist from Madagascar. 
• Food aid operation begins to reach two million affected by Myanmar crisis
  Two million people facing growing food insecurity linked to the ongoing political crisis in Myanmar are to receive nutrition assistance, amid rising “hunger and desperation”, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Thursday. 
• New Iraqi law ‘major step’ in assisting ISIL’s female victims but more must be done
  A new law in Iraq provides a measure of comfort for women and girls who have survived atrocities of ISIL terrorist fighters, but more must be done, an independent UN human rights expert said on Wednesday. 
• Commit to restoring the planet, UN chief says in message for International Mother Earth Day
  UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for commitment to restoring the planet, and to making peace with nature, in his message to mark International Mother Earth Day, celebrated annually on 22 April. 
• ILO kicks off Green Week to ‘jump-start’ a sustainable future 
  As the world grapples with the devastating economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 crisis, the UN’s labour agency launched ILO Green Week to explore what a green future of work could look like, and how we can get there. 
• Russia: Rights experts call for immediate medical evacuation of Alexei Navalny
  Experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council called on Wednesday for the urgent medical evacuation of detained Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, fearing he is in “serious danger” due to deteriorating health and harsh prison conditions. 
• Ocean benefits increasingly undermined by human activity, UN assessment reveals
  Greater understanding of the ocean is essential if the world is to recover better from the COVID-19 pandemic and achieve agreed targets on sustainable development and climate action, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday in launching a major study on what he called “the life support system of our planet.” 
• UN rights chief welcomes verdict in George Floyd murder case 
  The guilty verdict against Derek Chauvin in the George Floyd murder trial has been welcomed by the UN human rights chief, who said on Wednesday that “any other result would have been a travesty of justice”. 
• UN and partners welcome progress in Libya
  The UN and international partners have welcomed significant progress towards advancing an inclusive and comprehensive political solution in Libya .
• UN chief deeply saddened by death of Chadian President Idriss Déby
  Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has underlined the UN’s solidarity with Chad following the death of the country’s leader, announced on Tuesday. 
• USA: Shackling of aged and infirmed inmate, Mumia Abu-Jamal, ‘deplorable’ say UN rights experts
  A group of UN human rights experts expressed serious concerns on Tuesday over the treatment and wellbeing of an African American prisoner who has been reportedly shackled to his hospital bed, and denied visits from his family, or access to lawyers.    
• UNICEF reports sharp rise in migrant children in Mexico
  The number of migrant children reported in Mexico has increased sharply, jumping from 380 to nearly 3,500 since the beginning of the year: a nine-fold rise, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, reported on Tuesday. 
• La Soufrière volcano: UN launches $29 million appeal to support stricken island of Saint Vincent 
  The UN launched a $29.2 million global funding appeal on Monday to aid citizens of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines affected by the major eruptions spewing from La Soufrière volcano, pledging to remain a “steadfast partner”. 
• World Food Programme reaches deal to supply food to 185,000 children in Venezuela
  The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has signed an agreement with the Government of Venezuela to begin operations to provide the most vulnerable children in the South American country with nutritious school meals, it announced on Tuesday.
• ‘No end’ to conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, warns UNICEF
  Disturbing reports have continued to emerge of widespread abuse of civilians in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, nearly six months since conflict erupted, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.
• Human rights experts demand UAE provide ‘meaningful information’ on Sheikha Latifa
  United Nations independent human rights experts on Tuesday demanded that the United Arab Emirates provide “meaningful information” on the fate of Sheikha Latifa Mohammed Al Maktoum as well as assurances regarding her safety and well-being, “without delay”.
• Thousands flee fresh clashes in Central African Republic: UN agency
  Recent fighting between government forces and rebels in northern Central African Republic (CAR) has forced more than 2,000 refugees into neighboring Chad over the past week, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday. 
• UN chief to Indigenous Forum: ‘Prioritize inclusion and sustainable development’
  Although they represent the greater part of the world’s cultural diversity and speak the major share of its languages, indigenous people are three times more likely to live in extreme poverty, the UN chief told the opening session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on Monday. 
• UN ‘World Court’ marks 75 years of work to ensure peaceful settlement of disputes
  The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is marking its 75th anniversary this week and its current President has said that she is confident the institution and its highly-regarded rules and procedures “will continue to provide fertile ground for the peaceful settlement of inter-State disputes”.
• COVID-19: Greta Thunberg contributes 100,000 Euros to vaccine equity initiative
  The teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg has donated 100,000 Euros to boost global efforts to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to anyone, anywhere, who needs them, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday. 
• UN stands in deep solidarity with Saint Vincent after devastating volcanic eruptions  
  Following a series of powerful eruptions from La Soufrière volcano on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent, the UN chief on Monday expressed deep solidarity with the country’s people and Government.  
• World on the verge of climate ‘abyss’, as temperature rise continues: UN chief
  The Earth’s temperature continues to rise unabated, with 2020 being one of the three warmest years on record, as extreme weather events combine with the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting millions.