Israel-Palestine: Protection of civilians ‘must be paramount’ in war Guterres tells Security Council

UN News is winding down live coverage of today’s events in the Council soon. For full blow by blow coverage of the debate so far and the speakers still to come on the Israel-Palestine crisis, you can visit our special UN Meetings Coverage Section, here. Syria Syria’s Representative Al Haka Dindi, said Israel’s criminal and…

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Meth trafficking surges in and around Afghanistan

World News in Brief, Afghanistan rights abuses, Sudan crisis deepens, Australia votes no

The series of deadly earthquakes and possibility of massive involuntary returns, all add up to the need for urgent action to avoid further suffering and potential instability, said Richard Bennett.  “A grave picture has emerged, providing a glimpse of what may lie ahead for the human rights of many Afghans, particularly women and girls, and also…

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Explainer: Why women’s role in sustaining peace is more critical than ever

Explainer: Why women’s role in sustaining peace is more critical than ever

On 25 October, the United Nations will mark the adoption in 2000 of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) to improve the protection of women and girls during conflicts, and recognize their leadership and unique roles in peace processes.  Today, more than 600 million women and girls live in conflict-affected countries. In 2022, the United Nations verified nearly 2,500…

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Israel-Palestine: Gaza buckles under fuel shortage, healthcare in crisis

Israel-Palestine: Gaza buckles under fuel shortage, healthcare in crisis

Doctors have been performing surgeries without anaesthesia or other basic surgical supplies, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said in an update, noting that fuel has become the “most vital commodity” in Gaza. Without it, “trucks can’t move and generators can’t produce electricity for hospitals, bakeries and water desalination plants,” said Tamara Alrifai, spokesperson for…

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Haiti: UN envoy upholds critical role of elections amid rising gang violence

Haiti: UN envoy upholds critical role of elections amid rising gang violence

“Elections are the only path and the only imperative to restore democratic institutions in Haiti. Only democracy and the rule of law can form the basis from which Haiti can progress towards development and growth,” she said. The envoy, who also heads the UN Office in Haiti, BINUH, underlined the “enormous significance” of the Council’s…

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World News in Brief: Femicide ‘pandemic’, war crimes appeal to Israeli lawyers, Syria child detainees

World News in Brief: Femicide ‘pandemic’, war crimes appeal to Israeli lawyers, Syria child detainees

That’s the message from the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Morris Tidball-Binz, who said on Monday that perpetrators are mostly, but not exclusively, partners or ex-partners, and often escape accountability “due to a lack of proper investigation”. A 2022 report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN…

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Human right to food needs ‘massive investment’: Guterres

Human right to food needs ‘massive investment’: Guterres

Addressing the UN-backed body meeting in Rome on Monday, António Guterres underscored that the session was taking place “at a moment of crisis for global food security” and provided some sobering statistics.  “Last year, 735 million people went hungry. More than 3 billion cannot afford a healthy diet,” said the Secretary-General in a video message, adding…

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Kosovo: Dialogue and building trust, key to defusing tensions

Kosovo: Dialogue and building trust, key to defusing tensions

Briefing ambassadors, Caroline Ziadeh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General cited a “serious” incident on 24 September, that saw five people – including a Kosovo police officer – killed and others injured. “[These events] exacerbated an already deteriorating security environment, characterized by an atmosphere of mutual suspicion and contradictory perceptions touching much of the population,” she…

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