‘Our voices need to be included’: Trinidadian youth make case for strong role in climate negotiations

‘Our voices need to be included’: Trinidadian youth make case for strong role in climate negotiations

Small island developing States are particularly vulnerable to climate change consequences, such as rising sea levels and heavy rains that cause flooding, increasing ocean temperatures that affect coral reefs and fishing and frequent hurricanes destroying homes and livelihoods. These countries often suffer from fragile economic conditions and don’t have the means to help their citizens…

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Silence the guns, amplify women’s voices for peace to end rape in wartime

Silence the guns, amplify women’s voices for peace to end rape in wartime

Presenting her annual report, Pramila Patten, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, noted that weapons continue to flow into the hands of perpetrators while most victims remain emptyhanded when it comes to reparations and redress.  “The essential, existential task we face is to silence the guns and amplify the voices of women…

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UN rights office voices concern ahead of elections in Pakistan

UN rights office voices concern ahead of elections in Pakistan

OHCHR denounced all acts of violence against political parties and candidates in the lead-up to Thursday’s vote. Spokesperson Liz Throssell said there have been no less than 24 reported instances in which armed groups have staged attacks against members of political parties. Harassment, arrests and detentions  OHCHR also voiced concern over the pattern of harassment,…

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US: Türk voices regret over first ever execution by nitrogen suffocation

US: Türk voices regret over first ever execution by nitrogen suffocation

“I deeply regret the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in Alabama despite serious concerns that this novel and untested method of suffocation may amount to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment,” said Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR. Convicted of murder in 1988, Mr. Smith, 58, had been sentenced to death in…

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INTERVIEW: Actor Natalie Portman celebrates women and girls’ voices

INTERVIEW: Actor Natalie Portman celebrates women and girls’ voices

In an interview with UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming on the sidelines of SDG Summit 2023 held at UN Headquarters in New York in September, Ms. Portman discussed combatting violence against women and reframing masculinity to be less aggressive and more empathetic towards gender issues. Melissa Fleming: The UN 2023 Gender Snapshot report painted a…

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Afghan girls' voices for education echo loudly through new global campaign

Afghan girls’ voices for education echo loudly through new global campaign

#AfghanGirlsVoices comes precisely two years after the de facto Taliban authorities seized control in Afghanistan and will continue until September 18, which marks the start of their official ban on school for adolescent girls. Voices and visuals The campaign was developed in collaboration with ECW Global Champion Somaya Faruqi, former captain of the Afghan Girls’…

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