More women police means ‘safer future for everyone’: Guterres

More women police means ‘safer future for everyone’: Guterres

He delivered his message marking the first eve International Day of Police Cooperation, designated by the UN General Assembly during its 77th session.  “Women’s participation promotes access to justice for all, including for victims of gender-based violence, who may be more likely to seek help from women officers”, said the UN chief.  Women police officers play a…

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‘Without renewables, there can be no future’: 5 ways to power the transition to renewable energy

‘Without renewables, there can be no future’: 5 ways to power the transition to renewable energy

Renewable technologies like wind and solar power are, in most cases, cheaper than the fossil fuels that are driving climate change, but the world needs to prioritize the transformation of energy systems to renewable energy. The Climate Ambition Summit, scheduled for 20 September at UN Headquarters in New York, will consider how to accelerate this transformation….

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Accountability key to Sri Lanka’s future: UN rights chief

Accountability key to Sri Lanka’s future: UN rights chief

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stressed the urgency of addressing these challenges if the country is to move forward, recalling the 2022 anti-Government protests demanding a fairer and more inclusive society. “But the potential for a historic transformation that would address long-standing challenges is far from being realized.” The UN rights chief’s…

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UN expert sounds alarm over ‘contemporary forms of slavery’ in Canada

UN expert sounds alarm over ‘contemporary forms of slavery’ in Canada

Tomoya Obokata, the Human Rights Council-appointed Special Rapporteur on the global scourge of modern slavery issued his statement at the end of a 14-day visit. He called on the Canadian Government to intensify its efforts to safeguard workers’ rights and offer a clear pathway to permanent residency for all migrants. Migrant workers at risk “I am deeply…

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‘Act together’ for clean air, Guterres urges

‘Act together’ for clean air, Guterres urges

Airborne contaminants are one of the most significant environmental health risks. According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), 99 per cent of the world’s population breathes polluted air, with the exposure significantly worse in low and middle-income countries.  The pervasive nature of air pollution requires global collaboration. This year’s theme, Together for Clean Air, addresses the urgent…

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'Climate breakdown' alert as air quality dips during heatwaves: UN chief

‘Climate breakdown’ alert as air quality dips during heatwaves: UN chief

The news came as the UN chief released a strongly worded statement on a record summer of global warming in the northern hemisphere, according to the European Union’s climate service Copernicus. Dog days bite back “Our planet has just endured a season of simmering – the hottest summer on record,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres,…

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Guterres leads call to make Africa ‘a renewable energy superpower’

Guterres leads call to make Africa ‘a renewable energy superpower’

Secretary-General António Guterres was addressing the African Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, noting that despite “extreme heat, ferocious floods, and tens of thousands dead from devastating droughts”, the continent was responsible for less than four per cent of emissions. “The blow inflicted on development is all around with growing hunger and displacement”, he said. ‘Quantum…

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