New guidance to protect children from ‘aggressive’ food marketing

New guidance to protect children from ‘aggressive’ food marketing

“Aggressive and pervasive marketing of foods and beverages high in fats, sugars, and salt to children is responsible for unhealthy dietary choices,” said Dr. Francesco Branca, Director of the UN health agency’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety. “Calls to responsible marketing practices have not had a meaningful impact.” As such, he said governments should…

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At Caribbean Summit, UN chief calls for climate action, debt relief, and urgent aid for Haiti

At Caribbean Summit, UN chief calls for climate action, debt relief, and urgent aid for Haiti

Haiti The security situation in Haiti “is appalling,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, recalling his recent visit to the fragile nation. He called for swift action at a time when the humanitarian needs are “soaring”. And although “there is not yet the political solution in sight”, the UN chief expressed hope and optimism. “It is…

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First Person: A Thai police trainer’s ‘passion’ for fighting the SE Asia drug trade

First Person: A Thai police trainer’s ‘passion’ for fighting the SE Asia drug trade

The trainee police officers are part of a network of law enforcement specialists in Thailand, but also across the region, who are cooperating across borders to stem trafficking operations by international crime syndicates. They are collaborating under the border liaison office (BLO) network, supported by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Lt. Colonel…

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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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UN deputy chief praises China’s investment in tackling climate change, forging ‘new development pathway’

UN deputy chief praises China’s investment in tackling climate change, forging ‘new development pathway’

“The challenges are many and they are serious”, Amina Mohammed said, highlighting the plight of the planet. “Almost all our indicators on the climate and ecological crises are pointing in the wrong direction.” She praised China’s role in being an innovator and believer in the power of multilateralism to overcome challenges through collection action, pointing…

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Myanmar: Military’s obstruction of humanitarian aid could be international crime

Myanmar: Military’s obstruction of humanitarian aid could be international crime

The chief of OHCHR’s Myanmar team, James Rodehaver, explained that since their February 2021 coup, the country’s military rulers have been instilling a “climate of fear” to subjugate the civilian population, restricting aid access and using “all means” at their disposal to clamp down on civil society. Brutal tactics He said the military’s tactics had…

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