Silence the guns, amplify women’s voices for peace to end rape in wartime

Silence the guns, amplify women’s voices for peace to end rape in wartime

Presenting her annual report, Pramila Patten, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, noted that weapons continue to flow into the hands of perpetrators while most victims remain emptyhanded when it comes to reparations and redress.  “The essential, existential task we face is to silence the guns and amplify the voices of women…

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General Assembly debates Security Council’s rising veto use

General Assembly debates Security Council’s rising veto use

Assembly President Dennis Francis emphasised that the Security Council remains unable to collectively address critical peace and security situations in the Gaza Strip, Mali, Syria and Ukraine as well as concerning the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). “At this precarious time of heightened geopolitical tensions and when ongoing and emerging crises demand our urgent and…

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UNRWA report: UN chief stands with agency, backs findings of probe into 7 October attacks in Israel

UNRWA report: UN chief stands with agency, backs findings of probe into 7 October attacks in Israel

The Final Report, led by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, was due to be released later on Monday; Ms. Colonna was also preparing to speak to journalists at a scheduled noon briefing in New York as Chair of the Independent Review Group on UNRWA.  “The Secretary-General accepts the recommendations contained in Ms. Colonna’s report,” Mr….

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Thousands of children killed or maimed by explosive weapons in populated areas: UNICEF

Thousands of children killed or maimed by explosive weapons in populated areas: UNICEF

UNICEF warned that as urban warfare increases, the use of weapons designed for open battlefields are now a common reality in cities, towns and villages, with devastating effects on their young residents.  Between 2018 and 2022, explosive weapons were responsible for 49.8 per cent of the more than 47,500 instances of children killed and maimed…

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No evidence yet of Israel’s claims against UNWRA: Colonna report

No evidence yet of Israel’s claims against UNWRA: Colonna report

“Israel made public claims that a significant number of UNRWA employees are members of terrorist organisations. However, Israel has yet to provide supporting evidence of this,” according to the 54-page final report, Independent review of mechanisms and procedures to ensure adherence by UNRWA to the humanitarian principle of neutrality. The UN Secretary-General, who received the final…

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UN chief urges ‘surge in investment’ to overcome $4 trillion financing gap

UN chief urges ‘surge in investment’ to overcome $4 trillion financing gap

According to UN estimates, the world is facing an annual financing gap of about $4 trillion to achieve sustainable development, leaving countries with hardly any resources to invest in better education, healthcare, renewable energy or social protection. “The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are hanging by a thread, and with them, the hopes and dreams of…

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