UN agencies launch emergency response after devastating Türkiye and Syria quakes

UN agencies launch emergency response after devastating Türkiye and Syria quakes

“My heart goes out to the people of Türkiye and Syria in this hour of tragedy” said the UN Secretary-General António Guterres in a statement. “The United Nations is fully committed to supporting the response. Our teams are on the ground assessing the needs and providing assistance.” In a situation overview published shortly after 4pm GMT, UN…

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UN relief chief tells Security Council ‘we can do better’ in Ukraine

UN relief chief tells Security Council ‘we can do better’ in Ukraine

“On the eve of the horrific one-year milestone, we have a lot to do and we can do better,” said Martin Griffiths, who also serves as the Emergency Relief Coordinator. 14,000 civilian casualties A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report documented 14,000 civilian casualties, 17.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and 7.5 million…

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Around 4.2 million girls at risk for Female Genital Mutilation says Guterres, stressing men must also speak out

Around 4.2 million girls at risk for Female Genital Mutilation says Guterres, stressing men must also speak out

António Guterres said that the practice of genital cutting, prevalent in some cultures for more than a thousand years, causes lifelong damage to both the physical and mental health of women and girls. ‘Vicious manifestation of the patriarchy’ “It is one of the most vicious manifestations of the patriarchy that permeates our world”, he added….

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‘Act decisively before it is too late’, Guterres warns countries, laying out his priorities for 2023

‘Act decisively before it is too late’, Guterres warns countries, laying out his priorities for 2023

Addressing the General Assembly in New York, he appealed for urgent action now to achieve peace, economic rights and development, climate action, respect for diversity, and inclusive societies – both today and for generations to come.  Before unfolding his 2023 roadmap, the Secretary-General extended condolences to the families of the victims of the devastating earthquakes…

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UN human rights chief calls on Mali to reverse ‘regrettable’ expulsion order

UN human rights chief calls on Mali to reverse ‘regrettable’ expulsion order

“I deeply regret the decision by the Malian authorities to declare my representative, Guillaume Ngefa, as persona non grata and to order him to leave the country in 48 hours,” Volker Türk said. Mr. Ngefa, Director of the Human Rights Division of the UN Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and Representative of the High Commissioner…

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China: Tibetan children forced to assimilate, independent rights experts fear

China: Tibetan children forced to assimilate, independent rights experts fear

“We are very disturbed that in recent years the residential school system for Tibetan children appears to act as a mandatory large-scale programme intended to assimilate Tibetans into majority Han culture, contrary to international human rights standards,” they said in a statement.  Erosion of identity  Residential schools provide educational content and an environment centred around…

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‘Put people first’ in drive to realize Sustainable Development Goals

‘Put people first’ in drive to realize Sustainable Development Goals

“Putting people first means we must create opportunities for young people to accumulate knowledge and skills relevant for the labour market through education, training, and early work experience,” Lachezara Stoeva said. The current dim projections for global economic growth simply require it. Amid multiple global interconnected crises, advancing efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for…

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South African peacekeeper killed after helicopter comes under fire mid-flight in DR Congo

South African peacekeeper killed after helicopter comes under fire mid-flight in DR Congo

In a statement issued by his Spokesperson, UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the attack, which left the South African ‘blue helmet’ dead, and another wounded. Emergency landing According to news reports, the severely injured peacekeeper was able to continue flying, and along with the rest of the crew, managed to land at the airport of the…

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