Afghanistan now ‘most repressive country’ for women, Security Council hears

Afghanistan now ‘most repressive country’ for women, Security Council hears

Roza Isakovna Otunbayeva, UN Special Representative and head of the UN’s Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, strongly condemned recent Taliban decrees that have further eroded the rights of Afghan women. However, she also urged the international community to preserve “whatever political space exists” for frank discussions with Afghanistan’s leaders, warning of rapidly deteriorating humanitarian and…

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LDC5: Proposed online university sparks hope of bridging education gap in least developed countries

LDC5: Proposed online university sparks hope of bridging education gap in least developed countries

Notwithstanding progress in increasing enrolment rates for primary education, 16.2 per cent of children of primary school age were out of school in least developed countries (LDCs) in 2019 and almost half of children out of school worldwide are in those same countries, with girls, children with disabilities and other children in vulnerable situations disproportionately…

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Envoy ‘deeply disturbed’ by mounting violence between Israelis and Palestinians

Envoy ‘deeply disturbed’ by mounting violence between Israelis and Palestinians

“We are in the midst of a cycle of violence that must be stopped immediately,” Tor Wennesland said in a statement on Wednesday.  Concern for civilians  “I am deeply disturbed by the continuing violence and appalled by the attacks of Israeli settlers against Palestinians two days ago in Huwwara, near Nablus. Israel, as the occupying…

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New UK asylum bill would be in ‘clear breach’ of international law: UNHCR

New UK asylum bill would be in ‘clear breach’ of international law: UNHCR

If adopted, the new bill would deny the right to seek refugee protection to people arriving irregularly in the UK, such as those risking their lives to cross the English Channel in small boats. Instead, these asylum-seekers would face detention and deportation, without having their individual circumstances examined. “This would be a clear breach of…

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In Ukraine, Guterres pledges to keep seeking ‘solutions and a just peace’

In Ukraine, Guterres pledges to keep seeking ‘solutions and a just peace’

António Guterres expressed “deep solidarity” with all of those who have become victims of the full-scale Russian invasion of February last year. Violation of the Charter “The position of the United Nations, which I have consistently expressed, is crystal clear: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a violation of the UN Charter and international law”, declared…

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Philippines urged to compensate women survivors of wartime rape by Japanese soldiers

Philippines urged to compensate women survivors of wartime rape by Japanese soldiers

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) called for the authorities to provide full reparation and an official apology to the survivors, who have suffered decades of physical, psychological and other consequences.  ‘Symbolic’ victory  “This is a symbolic moment of victory for these victims who were previously silenced, ignored, written off and…

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'Mum does not cry or scream anymore': Breaking the silence of domestic abuse in Tajikistan

‘Mum does not cry or scream anymore’: Breaking the silence of domestic abuse in Tajikistan

Like many women in Tajikistan, Shermatova Marjona has experienced gender-based violence. Ms. Shermatova met her husband while she was working abroad as a cleaner in Moscow, Russia. It wasn’t long before they were married, and he persuaded her to send all the money she earned to her father-in-law in Tajikistan, who was to use the…

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