World News in Brief: UN helicopter captured in Somalia, Ecuador violence condemned, new Human Rights Council president

World News in Brief: UN helicopter captured in Somalia, Ecuador violence condemned, new Human Rights Council president

The helicopter was captured after it was forced to make an emergency landing in an area controlled by the armed group, according to international media reports. “I can confirm that there was an incident involving a UN-contracted helicopter that took place today in Galmudug in Somalia,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists in New York…

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Draw inspiration from human rights advocates worldwide, urges Guterres

Draw inspiration from human rights advocates worldwide, urges Guterres

Speaking at the awards ceremony of the UN Prize in the Field of Human Rights for 2023, Mr. Guterres stressed that rights defenders themselves were in need of greater protection. “The world needs leaders of countries, corporations, political parties, religious and civil organizations and beyond, to speak out against antisemitism, anti-Muslim bigotry, attacks on minority…

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Explainer: How Darfur became a ‘humanitarian calamity and catastrophic human rights crisis’

Explainer: How Darfur became a ‘humanitarian calamity and catastrophic human rights crisis’

Close to nine million people need humanitarian assistance and reports suggest that some 4000 people have been targeted and killed because of their ethnicity. There are now concerns that Darfur is returning to the years of brutal fighting and increasing atrocities last witnessed two decades ago that left some 300,000 people dead and millions of…

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World News in Brief: WFP ‘pauses’ north Yemen food aid, human rights and sport, Myanmar latest

World News in Brief: WFP ‘pauses’ north Yemen food aid, human rights and sport, Myanmar latest

The region has been under the control of opposition Houthi forces since the internationally recognized Government were driven out of the city in 2015. WFP said that despite negotiating with the authorities for nearly a year to provide a more limited aid programme that would reach around 6.5 million in need, versus the current 9.5…

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UN and African Union sign new human rights agreement

UN and African Union sign new human rights agreement

At the meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat signed a framework agreement on human rights, which follows a previous accord on peace and security, and another on development.  Speaking afterwards to reporters, they underscored the need to reform the global financial architecture to reflect current realities. “What Africa needs…

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