Israel-Palestine: UN chief strongly condemns mounting violence, acts of terror

Israel-Palestine: UN chief strongly condemns mounting violence, acts of terror

“Israel’s airstrikes and ground operations in a crowded refugee camp were the worst violence in the West Bank in many years,” said António Guterres, referring to the two day long military assault in Jenin which began on Monday morning, involving the use of airstrikes, and missiles fired from drones. According to the Palestinian health ministry…

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UN voices ‘shock and condemnation’ as gender-based violence soars across Sudan

UN voices ‘shock and condemnation’ as gender-based violence soars across Sudan

The violations include conflict-related sexual violence against internally displaced and refugee women and girls forced to flee for their lives. Agency chiefs from humanitarian coordination office OCHA, the human rights office (OHCHR), the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA), UN Women and the World…

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‘Generations of Haitians’ at risk, warns Guterres, calling for international force to help quell gang violence

‘Generations of Haitians’ at risk, warns Guterres, calling for international force to help quell gang violence

The UN chief expressed deep concern at the extreme vulnerability faced by the Haitian people – especially women and girls – because of brutally violent and “predatory” armed gangs, like those encircling the capital, blocking main roads and controlling access to water, food, health care.  “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the widespread sexual violence…

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Time to end gender-based violence, boost role of women in politics, public life

Time to end gender-based violence, boost role of women in politics, public life

Speaking to the Council’s annual meeting in Geneva on protecting the rights of women and girls, the UN High Commissioner said it was an urgent task, and there needed to be zero-tolerance of gender-based violence.  He highlighted the alarming reality that female human rights defenders, women journalists, and those in public office and political decision-making…

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Urgent reform needed to shield women and children from violence during custody battles

Urgent reform needed to shield women and children from violence during custody battles

“The tendency of family courts to dismiss the history of domestic violence and abuse in custody cases, especially where mothers and/or children have brought forward credible allegations of domestic abuse, including coercive control, physical or sexual abuse is unacceptable,” said Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, in a report to the Human Rights Council…

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DRC: Lives shattered by violence, displacement and hunger in ‘forgotten crisis’: WFP

DRC: Lives shattered by violence, displacement and hunger in ‘forgotten crisis’: WFP

According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), since March 2022 alone, 5.7 million people have been displaced in the eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri.  Record displacement Overall, 6.2 million people have fled their homes across the country – the highest number in Africa. “The country is continental in size with…

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End ‘digital divide’ to support victims of sexual violence: Guterres

End ‘digital divide’ to support victims of sexual violence: Guterres

In his message marking the day, the Secretary-General condemned the use of sexual violence as a tactic of ‘war, torture, and repression’ in the conflicts that affect hundreds of millions of people around the world. “Harrowing reports from across the globe are a terrible reminder that this despicable crime persists despite international commitments to stamp…

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UN representative alarmed by sexual violence against women and girls in DRC

UN representative alarmed by sexual violence against women and girls in DRC

“Allegations of grave cases of sexual violence against civilians, including children, in particular affecting IDPs fleeing conflict in the eastern DRC, is a matter of profound concern which requires immediate action,” said the top UN official who advocates for women and girls impacted by sexual violence. The representative spoke of how she was “deeply troubled”…

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