“We call on world leaders to launch negotiations of a new legally binding instrument to set clear prohibitions and restrictions on autonomous weapon systems and to conclude such negotiations by 2026,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres and ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said on Thursday. “In the current security landscape, setting clear international red lines will benefit…
Agreed at the fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), in Bonn, Germany, the Global Framework on Chemicals sets concrete targets and guidelines across the lifecycle of chemicals. Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), welcomed the new framework. “Everyone on this planet should be able to live and work without fear…
Growing concern over safety and security prompted UN Secretary-General António Guterres to address the global phenomenon on Wednesday – during his remarks at an event commemorating the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. “Children’s education is being snatched away by threats, violence and attacks.” Mr. Guterres said, during his remarks to a group of…
Climate change and conflict Briefing the Security Council, Lt. Gen. Mohan Subramanian, Force Commander of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) recalled when dykes collapsed in Unity State in October 2022, leading to flash floods not seen in nearly six decades, displacing over 170,000 people to the provincial capital Bentiu. If left unaddressed the…
Chinese President Xi Jinping says that China should establish a strong security fence around its Internet under the supervision of the ruling Communist Party, he wants to protect online data and information. At the end of the ongoing two-day cyber security meeting in Beijing, President Xi Jinping instructed the officials, saying that measures must be…
Presenting her latest annual report, Virginia Gamba, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, appealed for “bold and resolute action” to protect boys and girls at risk of death, recruitment, rape and other horrors. The report covers 26 situations in five regions worldwide, representing another high. Countries include Ethiopia, Mozambique and…
“Aggressive and pervasive marketing of foods and beverages high in fats, sugars, and salt to children is responsible for unhealthy dietary choices,” said Dr. Francesco Branca, Director of the UN health agency’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety. “Calls to responsible marketing practices have not had a meaningful impact.” As such, he said governments should…
“The lives of millions depend on that responsibility being given meaning,” Special Adviser on responsibility to protect (R2P) issues George Okoth-Obbo said, introducing the Secretary-General’s latest report and speaking on his behalf. “This annual debate is a reminder to us not to drift from our commitment, our duty, our responsibility to protect.” Preventing ‘contagion of mass…
Image: Courtesy of Hindustan Times. Former US President Barack Obama says that if Narendra Modi’s government does not provide protection to India’s ethnic minorities, India is in danger of disintegrating. He said this in an interview given to American media in response to a question about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to America. The former…
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for greater action to protect oceans in his message to mark World Oceans Day on Thursday. “The ocean is the foundation of life. It supplies the air we breathe and food we eat. It regulates our climate and weather. The ocean is our planet’s greatest reservoir of biodiversity,” he…
