Stopping war, stepping up climate action: Francis wraps up UNGA78

Stopping war, stepping up climate action: Francis wraps up UNGA78

In his first press conference in post, Assembly President Dennis Francis briefed journalists on highlights from the 78th general debate of Heads of State of Government from the 193 countries that comprise the UN, which concluded earlier this week. It marked the first time the gathering has been fully in-person since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Elevating…

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‘The world cannot afford Cold War 2.0,’ Pakistan leader tells UN Assembly

‘The world cannot afford Cold War 2.0,’ Pakistan leader tells UN Assembly

Addressing the Assembly’s annual general debate, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, said, “the world cannot afford Cold War 2.0,” because there are a raft of challenges facing humankind that can only be addressed through global cooperation. Multiple shocks Indeed, a series of external “shocks” – COVID-19, climate change and conflict – have devastated developing economies, reversed decades of…

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Addicted to war, power and greed, humanity is ‘killing itself’, warns Colombian President

Addicted to war, power and greed, humanity is ‘killing itself’, warns Colombian President

“It would seem as though the global leadership has made enemies with life,” he said in his address to the Assembly’s annual general debate, stressing that the past year of climate catastrophes and conflict had been a “terrifying indicator” that humanity is running headlong towards “extinction.”  President Petro proposed two UN-backed peace conferences to resolve…

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'Peace has no losers’, Erdogan says, vowing to step up efforts to end war in Ukraine

‘Peace has no losers’, Erdogan says, vowing to step up efforts to end war in Ukraine

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan began his passionate and wide-ranging speech by highlighting the humanitarian crises, political conflicts, and social tensions plaguing various regions worldwide, emphasizing the difficulty in addressing these issues amid global economic problems. He expressed grave concern about the use of terrorism as an instrument in proxy wars in regions like Syria, North Africa, and…

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Sudan: UN ‘will never stay neutral’ amid war and human rights abuses

Sudan: UN ‘will never stay neutral’ amid war and human rights abuses

But he stressed the UN “will never stay neutral” when it comes to demanding accountability for war crimes and other human rights abuses. Final briefing Volker Perthes, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan, was addressing the Security Council for the final time. He announced he will step down from the role, more than six…

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War crimes intensifying: Myanmar human rights investigators

War crimes intensifying: Myanmar human rights investigators

“The frequency and intensity of war crimes and crimes against humanity has only increased in recent months,” said Nicholas Koumjian, head of the investigation team, formally known as the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM). ‘Brazen bombings’ Addressing the forum in Geneva, he described even “more brazen aerial bombings and indiscriminate shelling, resulting in the deaths…

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‘Immense challenges’ block justice for Ukrainian war victims, rights experts warn

‘Immense challenges’ block justice for Ukrainian war victims, rights experts warn

Speaking in Kyiv, Commission Chair Erik Møse pointed to continuing patterns of violations by Russian armed forces, including wilful killings, unlawful confinement, torture, rape, and illegal deportations, many of which qualify as war crimes. According to the Commission, the Ukrainian legal system faced “immense challenges” to provide accountability and justice to the victims and ensure…

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Ukraine: Widespread learning loss continues due to war, COVID-19

Ukraine: Widespread learning loss continues due to war, COVID-19

“Inside Ukraine, attacks on schools have continued unabated, leaving children deeply distressed and without safe spaces to learn”, declared Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, who recently returned from the country. “Not only has this left Ukraine’s children struggling to progress in their education, but they are also struggling to…

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