UN Photo/Stuart Price
Gains by Abyei interim force can help advance resolution of border issues between Sudan and South Sudan, UN peacekeeping chief says
30 April 2019
Peace and Security
The United Nations security force for Abyei remains essential to stability in the border regions between Sudan and South Sudan, the UN peacekeeping chief said on Tuesday, proposing the creation of a civilian unit to support progress towards political resolution of the dispute between the neighboring countries, and requesting a six-month extension of its mandate.
© UNHCR/Andrew McConnell
‘Action and tangible progress’ needed to finally ‘win the peace’ for Syrians: UN envoy
30 April 2019
Peace and Security
It will take “action and tangible progress” between Syrian Government and opposition leaders, not just dialogue, to bring about lasting peace said the UN Special Envoy for the war-torn country on Tuesday, stressing that Syria “contains many threats for renewed escalation”.
WHO/Junior Kannah
Ebola situation worsening in DR Congo, amidst growing ‘funding gap’ UN health agency warns
30 April 2019
Health
Strengthening both security and the Ebola response effort is essential to contain the growing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UN health agency’s officials said on Tuesday, following a visit to the epicentre of what is already the worst outbreak in the country’s history.
UNDP Colombia
FROM THE FIELD: Hardy seeds bear fruit to protect Colombia’s environment
30 April 2019
Climate Change
Communities in Colombia in South America are being helped by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to preserve and reintroduce indigenous crops as a way to combat the effects of climate change.
LATEST NEWS
WFP/Mohamed Razak
Tuesday’s Daily Brief: Guterres calls for restraint in Venezuela, Jazz Day, the importance of breastfeeding, and updates from Libya, Iran and Mozambique
30 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
This Tuesday, we cover: the cost of almost one month of fighting in Libya's capital; humanitarian responses in Iran and Mozambique following devastating storms and rains; Guterres calls for calm in Venezuela; how breastfeeding can prevent obesity in children; and a very jazzy celebration...
Audio - 3' Playlist
OCHA/Saviano Abreu
UN aid teams scramble to reach ‘most remote places’ cut off by Cyclone Kenneth in Mozambique
30 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
With heavy rains expected to continue in the coming days across northern Mozambique, access to the most remote areas affected by Cyclone Kenneth “remains difficult” the UN warned on Tuesday.
OCHA/Giles Clarke
Libya: UN mobilized to support thousands uprooted by Tripoli clashes, renews call for humanitarian truce
30 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
Since fighting broke out on the edge of Libya’s capital, Tripoli, earlier this month, over 42,000 people have been displaced and thousands are believed trapped in the city’s southern outskirts. As UN humanitarian teams work around the clock to provide life-saving assistance, human rights chief Michelle Bachelet stressed on Tuesday the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, and humanitarian corridor for civilians.
UN Photo/Manuel Elias
‘Continuing absence’ of political solution to Israel-Palestine conflict ‘undermines and compounds’ UN efforts to end wholesale crisis
29 April 2019
Peace and Security
The UN is “continuing to address the humanitarian, economic and political crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” but efforts are continually undermined by the lack of any political progress towards a two-State solution, said the head of UN Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) on Monday.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Hatred ‘a threat to everyone’, declares Guterres calling for global effort to end xenophobia and ‘loathsome rhetoric’
29 April 2019
Law and Crime Prevention
A “disturbing groundswell” of hate-based violence and intolerance aimed at worshippers across all faiths, must be countered soon before it’s too late, the United Nations Secretary-General said on Monday, noting murderous attacks in just the past few days on a synagogue in California, and a church in Burkina Faso.
UNICEF/Santiago Arcos
Monday’s Daily Brief: drug-resistant diseases, Venezuelan refugees, fighting in Tripoli, and hate speech
29 April 2019
Health
Top stories this Monday include: 10 million people could die every year due to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria; 300,000 Venezuelan children in Colombia need humanitarian aid; civilians continue to be under fire in Libya; and a summit to tackle hate speech.
Audio - 3'8" Playlist
UNICEF/Santiago Arcos
Some 300,000 Venezuelan children in Colombia need humanitarian assistance; UNICEF looks to boost response funding
29 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
Without increased support, the health, education and well-being of at least 327,000 children from Venezuela living as migrants and refugees in Colombia will be in jeopardy, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Monday.
UNMISS/Janet Adongo
Bringing justice to the people: how the UN is helping communities deal with disputes in remote and dangerous areas
29 April 2019
Law and Crime Prevention
Justice can be hard to come by in countries hit by conflict. To ensure that communities can settle disputes, and see criminals lawfully punished, UN peacekeeping missions support mobile courts, which travel to places where no regular court exists.
PAHO/WHO
UN, global health agencies sound alarm on drug-resistant infections; new recommendations to reduce ‘staggering number’ of future deaths
29 April 2019
Health
Deaths caused by infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria will skyrocket over the next two decades, along with huge economic costs, without immediate, ambitious and coordinated action, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and partners warned on Monday.
UN Photo/Aliza Eliazarov
Senior UN official strongly condemns Southern California synagogue attack
28 April 2019
Human Rights
The top official for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) has strongly condemned the attack Saturday on a synagogue in Southern California, denouncing the deadly incident as a hate crime targeting Sabbath worshipers on the last day of Passover.
LATEST NEWS
OCHA/Saviano Abreu
UN appeals for international support as flood waters rise in wake of second Mozambique cyclone
28 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
With Mozambique and Comoros battling heavy rains and raging flood waters in the wake of Cyclone Kenneth – the second major storm to hit southern Africa in the past six weeks – the United Nations and its humanitarian partners are supporting national authorities in assessing needs and providing help.
UNESCO/Silvan Rehfeld
How UN cultural treasures helped set the stage for Game of Thrones
28 April 2019
Culture and Education
From King’s Landing to the Iron Bank, so many of the breathtaking backdrops seen on the smash hit Game of Thrones television series are available for future generations to enjoy, thanks to a key, but little-known role played by the United Nations cultural agency.
ILO/Marcel Crozet
Work to make the world a better place: 5 things you need to know about ‘green jobs’
28 April 2019
Climate Change
Imagine a world in which practically everyone works in jobs that are helping to transform the global economy, and bring about a world where business can thrive and the needs of the most vulnerable people are met.
Audio - 4'47" Playlist
UN China/Zhao Yun
‘The green economy is the future,’ UN chief says in Beijing, urging climate solutions that strengthen economies, protect the environment
27 April 2019
Economic Development
Winning the race against climate change to keep our planet livable and on a healthy trajectory requires action rooted in sustainable solutions aligned with the Paris Agreement and the UN-driven 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Saturday.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
A world first: Women at the helm of every UN Regional Commission
27 April 2019
Women
Although United Nations Regional Commissions have been in existence for more than 70 years, for the first time ever, each one is currently headed by a woman designated by Secretary-General António Guterres. This accomplishment underscores that, since the day he took office, the UN chief has been determined to achieve gender parity by 2030 as part of the Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UNDP Belarus/Siarhei Hapon
Chernobyl nuclear disaster-affected areas spring to life, 33 years on
26 April 2019
Economic Development
More than three decades after the devastating explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, parts of Belarus’ adjoining regions have sprung back to life and the biggest of them, Homiel, has become a leading destination for domestic and international investors.
Audio - 8'25" Playlist
WFP
Friday’s Daily Brief: UN chief in China, counter-terrorism, updates from Bangladesh, Mali and Mozambique
26 April 2019
Economic Development
This Friday, we cover: the UN Secretary-General's message in China for sustainable development; the toll of a second cyclone in Mozambique; what UN officials saw first-hand in the Rohingya refugee camp of Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh; the impact of insecurity on education in Mali; and the importance of information-sharing in the fight against terrorism.
Audio - 3'57" Playlist
© UNHCR/Will Swanson
Future of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh ‘hangs in the balance’ – UNHCR chief
26 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
The critical needs of 1.2 million mostly Rohingya refugees in south-eastern Bangladesh were top of the agenda for a fact-finding mission to the region by three senior United Nations officials, who called for continuing support on Friday for them from the international community.
WFP/Nour Hemici
New Mozambique storm rips off roofs, brings lashing rain as aid response kicks in
26 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
Tropical Cyclone Kenneth swept into northern Mozambique on Thursday evening bringing heavy rain and winds in excess of 225 kilometres per hour (140 miles per hour) after lashing the Comoros islands, where it claimed at least three lives, UN agencies said on Friday.
UN China/Zhao Yun
At China’s Belt and Road Forum, Guterres calls for 'inclusive, sustainable and durable' development
26 April 2019
SDGs
China’s international trade and economic development plan – known as the Belt and Road Initiative – could contribute to a more equitable, prosperous world, and to reversing the negative impact of climate change, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Friday, speaking in Beijing, China.
LATEST NEWS
UN China/Zhao Yun
At China’s Belt and Road Forum, Guterres calls for 'inclusive, sustainable and durable' development
26 April 2019
SDGs
China’s international trade and economic development plan – known as the Belt and Road Initiative – could contribute to a more equitable, prosperous world, and to reversing the negative impact of climate change, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Friday, speaking in Beijing, China.
UNICEF/Tomas Vlach
Security Council: UN calls for ‘spirit and letter’ of Ukraine agreements to be upheld, as Russia issues simplified citizenship decree
25 April 2019
Peace and Security
The UN’s political affairs chief has urged all parties to the peace plan protocol for eastern Ukraine known as the Minsk Agreements, to avoid “any unilateral steps” that could undermine efforts to demilitarize the eastern conflict zone.
UNICEF/James Oatway
Thursday’s Daily Brief: Malaria Day, women in tech, updates on Mozambique, the Sahel, Myanmar, Israel and Syria
25 April 2019
Human Rights
This Thursday, we cover: where we stand on tackling malaria; bracing up for a new storm in Mozambique; the need to make more room for women in tech; boosting resilience in the Sahel; a resurgence of violence in Syria; and human rights in Myanmar and Israel.
Audio - 3'16" Playlist
ITU/M.Tewelde
Change attitudes for future generations of women in tech, UN urges
25 April 2019
Women
When women and girls are empowered with technology, the whole world benefits. That’s one key message from the International Day for girls in the field of information and communications technology, or ICT, marked on Thursday.
WHO/Mark Nieuwenhof
‘Zero malaria starts with me’ UN health agency urges grassroots responsibility on World Day
25 April 2019
Health
After more than a decade of steady advances in fighting malaria, progress has leveled off, which is why this World Malaria Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting a grassroots campaign to emphasize country ownership and community empowerment to improve malaria prevention and care.
© UNHCR/Luiz Fernando Godinho
Aid preparations gear up as Mozambique braces for second massive storm
25 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
Emergency measures are being stepped up by the UN and partners in northern Mozambique, amid fears that another devastating tropical storm could batter coastal areas on Thursday evening, weeks after Cyclone Idai claimed hundreds of lives and flooded vast swathes of the south of the country.
UNICEF/Mahmood Fadhel
Vaccinations create ‘umbrella of immunity’ against global measles outbreaks, says UNICEF
24 April 2019
Health
Between 2010 and 2017, an average of 21.1 million children missed their first dose of the measles vaccine, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) revealed on Wednesday, stressing its importance to creating “an umbrella of immunity for everyone.”
Audio - 11'22" Playlist
UN Photo/Loey Felipe
‘You can and should do more’ to include people with disabilities, wheelchair-bound Syrian advocate tells Security Council in searing speech
24 April 2019
Peace and Security
The UN Security Council was told on Wednesday that people with disabilities “can’t wait any longer” for more of a say in how the world’s top diplomatic forum for peace and security, factors their needs into its work.
UNICEF/Seyba Keïta
Wednesday’s Daily Brief: Diplomacy for Peace Day, #VaccinesWork, the cost of war on Afghans, tech and well-being
24 April 2019
UN Affairs
Top news for Wednesday includes: the first-ever International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, the launch of World Immunization Week, civilians continuing to bear the brunt of ongoing violence in Afghanistan, the need for more regulation in the tech industry, a call for more exercise and less screen time for children, and a plea by the UN refugees High Commissioner not to let extremism divide us.
Audio - 2'32" Playlist
UN Photo/Cia Pak
Multilateralism’s ‘proven record of service’ is focus of first-ever International Day
24 April 2019
UN Affairs
The International Day of Multilateralismand Diplomacy for Peace “underscores the value of international cooperation for the common good”, according to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres marking its first-ever observance on Wednesday.
LATEST NEWS
UNICEF
Under-fives' daily screen time should be kept to 60 minutes only, warns WHO
24 April 2019
Health
Toddlers should spend no more than 60 minutes passively watching a screen every day, while babies under 12 months should have none, to ensure that they grow up fit and well, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday, as part of a campaign to tackle the global obesity crisis.
Audio - 3'50" Playlist
UN Photo/Laura Jarriel
UN rights chief ‘strongly’ condemns ‘shocking’ mass executions in Saudi Arabia
24 April 2019
Human Rights
Despite repeated appeals by the United Nations human rights system, Saudi Arabia’s decision to go ahead with the beheading of 37 men, drew strong condemnation on Wednesday from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet.
UNICEF/Quan
UN celebrates books as ‘bridges across cultures’
23 April 2019
Culture and Education
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO has long celebrated the power of International Book and Copyright Day, marked on 23 April, but this year, special attention is being paid to the protection of indigenous languages, many of which are threatened with extinction.
MINUSMA/Harandane Dicko
Tuesday’s Daily Brief: sexual violence in conflict, a malaria vaccine trial, updates on Libya, Ebola in DR Congo, Sri Lanka and Mali
23 April 2019
Women
Here are our top stories for this Tuesday: a focus on conflict-related sexual violence at the Security Council, a groundbreaking trial for a malaria vaccine in Malawi, thousands seeking shelter in Libya’s capital as fighting continues, concerns in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after the attack of an Ebola treatment centre, an update on the death toll of the Sri Lanka attacks, and the Security Council’s condemnation of the killing of peacekeepers in Mali.
Audio - 3'40" Playlist
UNMISS/Isaac Billy
Protect women’s rights ‘before, during and after conflict’ UN chief tells high-level Security Council debate
23 April 2019
Human Rights
Over the course of the past decade, there has been “a paradigm shift” in understanding the devastating impact of sexual violence in conflict on international peace and security, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council during a high-level debate on Tuesday.
UNOCHA/Giles Clarke
Libya: Thousands seek shelter in health clinics from Tripoli fighting, UN warns
23 April 2019
Peace and Security
Nearly three weeks since fighting began near the Libyan capital Tripoli, the UN health agency warned on Tuesday that “large numbers” of people are sheltering in medical clinics, while civilians continue to be killed or injured, and refugees and migrants remain exposed to clashes.
PATH
New malaria vaccine trial in Malawi marks ‘an innovation milestone', declares UN health agency
23 April 2019
Health
A new vaccine against deadly malaria which has been 30 years in development, was made available for the first time to infants in Malawi on Tuesday, marking an “innovation milestone”, said the World Health Organization (WHO).
WMO/Jason Salisbury
Monday’s Daily Brief: Earth Day, looking for a solution to Libya crisis, focus on indigenous issues, Security Council on Sri Lanka, a high-level visit to Bangladesh
22 April 2019
Climate Change
Top news for Monday include: the celebration of International Mother Earth Day, efforts by the UN to push for a political solution to the Libyan crisis, the opening of the annual Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the UN Security Council's condemnation of the Sri Lanka attacks, and an upcoming UN high-level mission to Bangladesh to highlight the humanitarian needs of Rohingya refugees settled there.
Audio - 2'53" Playlist
UN News/Laura Quiñones
‘Do everything in your power to tackle climate change’ UN chief urges on Mother Earth Day
22 April 2019
Climate Change
Marking International Mother Earth Day, the UN on Monday debated how best to build “an equitable and sustainable future” for all, through enhanced education and climate action, on the road to a key international summit on the issue due to take place in September.
Audio Playlist
UN Photo/Loey Felipe
Traditional knowledge at ‘core’ of indigenous heritage, and ‘must be protected’, says UN Forum
22 April 2019
Human Rights
Traditional knowledge is at the core of indigenous identity, culture and heritage around the world, the chair of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues said at the annual event’s opening day on Monday, stressing that it “must be protected”.
LATEST NEWS
World Bank/Dominic Sansoni
UN, world leaders, condemn Sri Lanka terrorist attacks targeting churches, hotels, which leave more than 200 dead
21 April 2019
Peace and Security
More than 200 have been killed and hundreds injured by a series of explosions inside churches and hotels in Sri Lanka, as Christians gathered for services to celebrate Easter. In a statement, UN chief António Guterres said he was "outraged by the terror attacks" and called for the perpetrators to be "swiftly brought to justice".
MINUSMA/Harandane Dicko
Killing of Egyptian peacekeeper in Mali ‘may constitute war crimes’ Guterres warns, urging ‘swift action’
20 April 2019
Peace and Security
An improvised roadside mine which exploded hitting a UN peacekeeping convoy in Mali, killing one ‘blue helmet’ from Egypt, and wounding four others, may constitute a war crime, the UN Chief said on Saturday, as senior UN officials condemned the blast.
IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
5 world-changing ideas: our top picks for World Creativity and Innovation Day
20 April 2019
Economic Development
A low-cost, tiny home that provides everything you need. A boat made of recycled plastic and flip-flops. Vaccine-delivery drones… As the planet marks World Creativity and Innovation Day on Sunday, we’ve selected our favorite ideas to light up the way to a better future for all, across several sectors.
Audio - 7'7" Playlist
© UNICEF/Guy Hubbard
UN condemns attack on Ebola treatment centre in DR Congo which left doctor dead, two others injured
19 April 2019
Health
The UN has condemned an attack on an Ebola treatment centre in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Friday, which led to the death of a doctor working for the World Health Organization (WHO), and injured two others.
IOM/Sandra Black
More than 3,400 classrooms damaged or destroyed by Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, says UN Children’s Fund
19 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
More than 305,000 children in Mozambique are losing out on lessons at school since the devastating floods caused by Cyclone Idai, which struck southeast Africa just over a month ago.
UNICEF/Romenzi
As fighting in Libya escalates, so does number of children ‘at imminent risk of injury or death’
18 April 2019
Peace and Security
In and around Tripoli, an increasing number of children are “at imminent risk of injury or death” two senior United Nations officials warned on Thursday, citing a surge of aggression in crisis-torn Libya.
UNICEF/Hasen
Thursday’s Daily Brief: impact of bad working conditions, Syria and Libya humanitarian news, human rights in Bahrain, families reunified in South Sudan
18 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
Thursday’s top news includes: A new report on the dangerous impact of stressful working conditions; the need to decongest Al Hol camp in Syria; a US$2 million allocation from the UN’s emergency fund to ramp up the humanitarian response in Libya; human rights concerns over a mass terrorism trial in Bahrain; and 6,000 children reunited with their parents and caregivers in South Sudan.
Audio - 3'47" Playlist
UNICEF/Delil Soleiman
‘Foreign children’ in overwhelmed Syrian camp need urgent international help, says top UN official
18 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
Help is needed urgently from the international community to help some 2,500 apparently stateless “foreign children” at a camp for the displaced, in north-east Syria, a top UN official said on Thursday.
UNICEF/Aidroos Alaidroos
‘Vaccines are safe’ and save lives, UNICEF declares, launching new #VaccinesWork campaign
18 April 2019
Health
Amid a surge in outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced on Thursday a new social media campaign, emphasizing that “vaccines are safe, and they save lives”.
UN Photo/Ilyas Ahmed
Service and Sacrifice: Ugandan 'Blue Helmets' support UN efforts to bring peace to Somalia
18 April 2019
Peace and Security
A contingent of 530 Ugandan “Blue Helmets” (63 women, 467 men) is playing a crucial role in the United Nations’ efforts to help bring peace and stability to Somalia. They make up the United Nations Guard Unit (UNGU, that is tasked with protecting UN compounds in Mogadishu in order to assist the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) to carry out their mandate.
LATEST NEWS
ILO/Deloche P
Stress, overtime, disease, contribute to 2.8 million workers’ deaths per year, reports UN labour agency
18 April 2019
Health
Stress, excessively-long working hours and disease, contribute to the deaths of nearly 2.8 million workers every year, while an additional 374 million people get injured or fall ill because of their jobs, the UN labour agency, ILO, said on Thursday.
Audio - 5'23" Playlist
UNAMID/Albert Gonzalez Farran
Wednesday’s Daily Brief: Sudan, Libya, Yemen updates, solutions for e-waste, flood response in Iran, online security for children
17 April 2019
Peace and Security
At the top of the news agenda on Wednesday: updates on violence in Sudan’s Darfur and in Libya, how e-waste can become an employment opportunity, help for the 2 million affected by floods in Iran, and efforts to make the internet safer for children.
Audio - 3'24" Playlist
UNOCHA/Giles Clarke
Libya: Heavy shelling and civilian deaths ‘blatant violation’ of international law - UN envoy
17 April 2019
Peace and Security
Heavy shelling overnight on Tuesday which hit a densely-populated neighbourhood of Libya’s capital, Tripoli, was condemned “in the strongest terms” by the head of the UN Mission there, after “scores” of civilians were reportedly killed and injured.
UNAMID
Violence on the rise in Darfur following Sudan military takeover, but UN-AU peacekeeping mission maintains ‘robust posture’
17 April 2019
Peace and Security
Security across the volatile Darfur region of Sudan has deteriorated since last week’s military takeover in Khartoum, the UN Security Council heard on Wednesday, but the peacekeeping mission in Darfur has “remained vigilant” in the face of rising violence.
UNAMA/Eric Kanalstein
Progress against torture in Afghan detention centres, but Government needs to do more, says UN report
17 April 2019
Human Rights
Torture is likely still widespread in Afghanistan’s State-run prisons for detainees linked to ongoing conflict there, the UN said on Wednesday, while also noting an “encouraging reduction” in the level of abuse since 2016.
Audio - 6'47" Playlist
ILO
Turn toxic e-waste into a source of ‘decent work’, UN labour agency urges
17 April 2019
SDGs
A “toxic flood of electric and electronic waste” that is growing by the day across the world, should be urgently converted into a source of decent work, that can also protect populations from its harmful effects, the United Nations labour agency said on Wednesday.
© UNHCR/Roberto Carlos Sanchez
Tuesday’s Daily Brief: UNESCO ready to help after Notre Dame fire, and updates on Libya, Nicaragua, and the Cyclone Idai response
16 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
On Tuesday, top stories include: UNESCO ready to assist in rebuilding Notre Dame in the wake of a devastating fire; Nicaraguan refugees reach 60,000, a year after the crisis started; concern in Libya regarding medical access as hostilities continue; and one million reached with food assistance in Mozambique.
Audio - 4'21" Playlist
Photo: UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)
UN Security Council condemns Taliban offensive as a blow against ‘sustainable peace’
16 April 2019
Peace and Security
The United Nations Security Council has condemned the announcement by Taliban militants in Afghanistan of its spring offensive, saying it will result in more “unnecessary suffering and destruction for the Afghan people”.
UNESCO/George Papagiannis
UNESCO experts ready to assist reconstruction of iconic Notre Dame, following devastating blaze
16 April 2019
Culture and Education
Two-thirds of the largely medieval roof of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris have “gone” after the devastating fire in Paris on Monday evening, but UN cultural experts are standing by to offer help where it is needed in rebuilding the iconic structure.
Audio - 6'34" Playlist
© UNHCR/Roberto Carlos Sanchez
Nicaragua crisis: One year in, more than 60,000 have fled, seeking refuge
16 April 2019
Migrants and Refugees
Doctors, journalists, students and farmers are among more than 60,000 Nicaraguans who have fled the country in fear of their lives since anti-Government demonstrations began last April, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, said on Tuesday.
LATEST NEWS
World Bank/Dominic Chavez
‘A global measles crisis’ is well underway, UN agency chiefs warn
15 April 2019
Health
Noting a 300 per cent surge in the number of measles cases during the first three months of this year, compared to the same period last year, two UN agency heads declared on Monday that we now stand “in the middle of a global measles crisis”.
Katie Dallinger
Monday’s Daily Brief: ‘Horror’ at Notre Dame fire disaster, Yemen still bleeding, measles now ‘global crisis’
15 April 2019
Culture and Education
Top news on Monday includes: UN chief expresses his horror over the huge blaze in Notre Dame; a deal over Hudaydah troop withdrawal beckons, but war intensifies; “global measles crisis” underway.
Audio - 3'11" Playlist
World Bank/Steve Harris
‘Critical moment’ for sustainable development, UN chief tells major financing forum
15 April 2019
SDGs
“Uneven growth, rising debt levels, possible upticks in financial volatility, and heightened global trade tensions” are hampering progress on reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN chief António Guterres told the Forum on Financing for Development on Monday, during what he called “a critical moment” to “accelerate action for sustainable development”.
OCHA/Giles Clarke
Plan for troop pullback ‘now accepted’ by rival forces around key Yemen port, but fighting intensifying elsewhere, Security Council warned
15 April 2019
Peace and Security
A plan to withdraw forces from front lines in and around the key Yemeni port of Hudaydah has been accepted by pro-Government forces and Houthi rebels, the UN Special Envoy to the country told the Security Council on Monday, warning however that war shows “no sign of abating” elsewhere.
WHO/T. Habjouqa
Greater transparency, fairer prices for medicines ‘a global human rights issue’, says UN health agency
14 April 2019
Health
While developing countries have long struggled with the price of medicines, today’s costs have rendered it a world-wide challenge, and the key topic of concern at a global medicines forum in South Africa, co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO).
UNICEF/James Oatway
Cholera surges, children in urgent need one month after Idai slammed southern Africa: UNICEF
13 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
One month after Cyclone Idai devastated parts of Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) appealed to the international community to help some 1.6 million children still reeling from its impact.
UN Photo/Logan Abassi
Impact of high debt levels on least developed countries ‘cannot be overstated’, says UN
13 April 2019
SDGs
The impact of high levels of debt on development efforts “cannot be overstated”, the head of the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) told a Ministerial Breakfast Meeting on least developed countries (LDCs) on Saturday.
World Bank/Vincent Tremeau
Ebola not an international ‘health emergency’ but risks spreading across DR Congo border, warns UN health agency
12 April 2019
Health
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) “does not constitute a public health emergency of international concern”, according to a statement issued on Friday by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Photo: UNICEF Nigeria
Friday’s Daily Brief: human rights in Sudan, sombre anniversaries for Rwanda and Nigeria, and fears of ‘chaos’ in Libya
12 April 2019
Human Rights
Top news on Friday included: a call for respect for human rights in Sudan’s protests; the 25th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda; five years since the Chibok girls were abducted in Nigeria; the UN chief condemning a deadly terrorist attack in Pakistan; continued fighting in Libya’s capital; and an update on Colombia’s peace process.
Audio - 4'20" Playlist
UNICEF/Giacomo Pirozzi
From ‘dead on the inside’ to ‘truly alive’: Survivor of genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda recounts her story as UN marks 25th anniversary
12 April 2019
Human Rights
“Miraculously I had no machete marks” a survivor of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda told a solemn United Nations event in New York on Friday, 25 years on, to remember the systematic killing of more than one million people, over less than three months.
LATEST NEWS
UN Sudan/Ayman Suliman
Sudan military committed to ‘ensuring stability’ and ‘peaceful transition’ says senior diplomat, as UN rights chief appeals for protesters’ rights to be upheld
12 April 2019
Peace and Security
Sudan’s military has an “overarching duty” to refrain from using violence against protesters and ensure that their human rights are protected amid concerns of a further escalation, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Friday.
OCHA/Giles Clarke
Thursday's Daily Brief: Women in peacekeeping, the arrest of Sudan’s leader, updates on Libya, Nigeria and Syria
11 April 2019
Peace and Security
On Thursday, the Security Council looked at the key role played by women in the UN’s peacekeeping operations. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange could be exposed to “serious human rights violations”, following his arrest in the United Kingdom, according a UN independent human rights expert. Fighting continues to escalate in Tripoli, Libya, and in Idlib, Syria, and 10,000 conflict-affected people were forcibly relocated in Nigeria and are in dire need of humanitarian aid.
Audio - 3'4" Playlist
UN Sudan/Ayman Suliman
‘Democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people’ must be met urges Guterres, following military removal of al-Bashir from power
11 April 2019
Peace and Security
UN chief António Guterres said on Thursday that the “democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people” need to be realized through “an appropriate and inclusive transition process”, following the overthrow and arrest of President Omar al-Bashir by order of the country’s new military governing council.
UNICEF/Uddin
‘The clock is ticking’ on meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, says UN deputy chief
11 April 2019
SDGs
Pointing to climate change, inequalities and other serious challenges, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told a forum on Thursday Development that “the clock is ticking” down, to making the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
MINUSCA/Hervé Serefio
Women must be at ‘centre of peacekeeping decision-making’, UN chief tells Security Council
11 April 2019
Peace and Security
Women’s rights, voices and participation must be at “the centre of peacekeeping decision-making”, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Thursday, describing them as “central to sustainable solutions” to challenges facing the Organization worldwide.
UN Photo/Mark Garten
UN experts warn Assange arrest exposes him to risk of serious human rights violations
11 April 2019
Human Rights
Independent UN rights experts on Thursday said the arrest of Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange by police in the United Kingdom, after the Ecuadorian Government decided to stop granting him asylum in their London embassy, exposed him to “the risk of serious human rights violations”, if extradited to the United States.
Mohamed Alalem
‘Still time' to stop a ‘bloody battle’ for Libya’s capital, insists Guterres
10 April 2019
Peace and Security
Speaking to reporters outside the Security Council in New York on Wednesday night, UN chief António Guterres said there was still time for a “bloody battle for Tripoli” to be avoided, despite the continuing fighting in and around the Libyan capital.
UNICEF/Luis Kelly
Mexico cannot move forward ‘without addressing the shadows of the past’, says UN rights chief
10 April 2019
Human Rights
Concluding “five intense, interesting and rewarding working days” in Mexico, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Wednesday that the country was going through a “crucial” period where it needed to reckon with “the shadows of the past”, before it can move forward.
World Bank/Samson
‘A trusted voice’ for social justice: Guterres celebrates 100 years of the International Labour Organization
10 April 2019
Human Rights
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has been “a trusted voice” to “ensure social justice in every corner of our world”, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday, at a high-level meeting to commemorate the centenary of what was the first ever United Nations agency.
Audio - 4'43" Playlist
©UNHCR/Vincent Tremeau
Venezuela’s needs ‘significant and growing’ UN humanitarian chief warns Security Council, as ‘unparalleled’ exodus continues
10 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
Over a month after two competing resolutions on Venezuela failed to pass, the UN Security Council met on Wednesday to discuss the “very real humanitarian problem” facing the country, where close to seven million people are in dire need of aid, and some 5,000 people continue to flee across borders every day.
LATEST NEWS
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
More than four in 10 women, live in fear of refusing partner’s sexual demands, new UN global study finds
10 April 2019
Women
More than four in 10 women in 51 countries surveyed, feel they have no choice but to agree to their partner’s sexual demands, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, said on Wednesday, noting that they are also unable to make basic decisions about getting pregnant and accessing health care for themselves.
UN Social Media Team
‘Once-in-a-generation opportunity’ will be squandered, warns Guterres, unless social, economic, environmental challenges are met
9 April 2019
SDGs
Unless the world faces its “social, economic and environmental challenges head-on”, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will not be met.
World Bank/Simone D. McCourtie
IMF cuts global growth outlook, but predicts pick up later in 2019
9 April 2019
Economic Development
The outlook for global growth is at its lowest since the financial crisis, but expected to pick up in the second half of 2019, the International Monetary Fund reported on Tuesday, so long as “policy missteps that could harm economic activity” are avoided.
© UNICEF/UN0247721/Arcos
UN’s Grandi slams ‘toxic language of politics’ aimed at refugees, migrants
9 April 2019
Migrants and Refugees
In a heartfelt briefing to the Security Council on Tuesday, Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has said that, during his three and a half decades as an international civil servant, he has “never seen such toxicity, such poisonous language in politics, media and social media,” directed towards refugees, migrants and foreigners.
© UNHCR/Sufyan Ararah
Libyan national conference postponed, nearly 500,000 children at ‘direct risk’ from fighting around Tripoli
9 April 2019
Peace and Security
An imminent UN-led Libyan conference seeking to set up elections for the war-ravaged, oil-rich country has been postponed because of ongoing clashes near the capital, the top United Nations official in the country said on Tuesday.
WHO/M. Nieuwenhof
Mozambique’s Beira city ‘returning to life’, elsewhere UN teams assess damage, deliver assistance
9 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
Nearly one month after Cyclone Idai slammed into the southeast African coast, the streets of Mozambique’s busy port city of Beira are “returning to life” as the search for survivors continues throughout neighbouring Zimbabwe, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday.
OCHA/Franck Kuwonu
Niger population’s suffering ‘increasing with each passing month’: UN Refugee Agency
9 April 2019
Peace and Security
An upsurge of violence in the south-east of Niger means that the population’s suffering is increasing “with each passing month,” a UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) spokesperson warned on Tuesday, at a press briefing in Geneva. In March alone, some 88 civilians were reported to have died during attacks.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre
UN rights chief Bachelet appeals for dialogue in Sudan amid reports ‘70 killed’ in demonstrations
9 April 2019
Human Rights
Sudan’s authorities have an “over-arching responsibility” to protect protesters, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said on Tuesday, amid reports that 70 people have died in the latest anti-Government clashes.
Giles Clarke/UN OCHA
Yemen blast kills 14 children, leaves others fighting for their lives in Sana’a
9 April 2019
Peace and Security
Further details have emerged of an attack on a school in the Yemeni capital Sana’a at the weekend which killed 14 youngsters and critically injured 16 others.
WFP/Abeer Etefa
Sudan: ‘Exercise utmost restraint’ urges Guterres as thousands march in Khartoum, sparking deadly clashes
8 April 2019
Peace and Security
With security forces reportedly firing tear gas at protesters and signs that there may be division between the army and security forces in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, over how to deal with ongoing demonstrations, the UN chief on Monday called on “all actors to exercise utmost restraint and avoid violence.”
LATEST NEWS
UN Photo/Evan Schneider
Urgently address ‘defining challenges of our time’, to empower youth worldwide, top UN official tells forum
8 April 2019
SDGs
Young people require “skills, values, jobs and livelihoods that empower them” so they can help forge a more sustainable world, the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) said on Monday, kicking off its eighth Annual Youth Forum.
© UNICEF/UNI154440/Pirozzi
Praising Roma’s contributions in Europe, UN expert urges end to rising intolerance and hate speech
8 April 2019
Human Rights
An independent United Nations expert called on Monday for immediate action to end discrimination and combat racist rhetoric against Roma, Europe’s largest minority group.
UNOCHA/Giles Clarke
UPDATED: Thousands flee fighting around Libyan capital as Guterres condemns escalation, urges 'immediate halt' to all military operations
8 April 2019
Peace and Security
The UN chief António Guterres strongly condemned on Monday night the military escalation and ongoing fighting in and around the Libyan capital, Tripoli, including an aerial attack earlier in the day by aircraft from the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) force, which closed the city's only functioning civilian airport.
Audio - 3'49" Playlist
FAO photo
To meet development goals, UN agriculture agency ‘cannot only focus on tackling hunger anymore’
8 April 2019
SDGs
Innovating agriculture and promoting nutrition-sensitive food systems top the Food and Agriculture Agency’s (FAO) to-do list, its chief told the United Nations agriculture agency’s governing council on Monday, saying "we cannot only focus on tackling hunger anymore".
OCHA/Giles Clarke
Yemen: 11 more ‘terrible, senseless’ civilian deaths reported, following attack in Sana’a - top UN official
8 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, Lise Grande, has expressed her outrage at the ‘terrible, senseless deaths’ of 11 civilians in the capital, Sana’a on Sunday, in which scores were also injured.
Audio - 4'45" Playlist
UNICEF/UN0281069/Vishwanathan
‘Health is a right, not a privilege’ says WHO chief on World Health Day
7 April 2019
Health
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has marked World Health Day, which falls on Sunday, with a reiteration of the UN’s stance on health: that it is a fundamental human right, not a privilege.
UN Photo/Beatrice Mategwa
25 years on from genocide against the Tutsi, UN Chief warns of ‘dangerous trends of rising xenophobia, racism and intolerance’
7 April 2019
Human Rights
In a message to commemorate the 25-year anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi, during which Hutu and others who opposed the genocide were also killed, UN chief António Guterres has warned of dangerous trends of rising xenophobia, racism and intolerance in many parts of the world.
Photo: UN/ Mohammad Abu Ghoush.
UN chief reaffirms commitment to untying ‘Gordian knot’ of Middle East conflict and instability
6 April 2019
Economic Development
Underlining the “enormous” opportunities for sustainable development and investment in the Middle East, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has reaffirmed the Organization’s deep engagement in a “surge of diplomacy for peace,” to “untie the Gordian knot of conflict and instability.”
UNICEF/Santiago Arcos
Venezuelans brave torrential border river, face exploitation, abuse – UN urges greater protection
5 April 2019
Migrants and Refugees
Noting that the Venezuela refugee crisis will leave some 1.1 million children, returnees and people in-transit lacking protection and basic services across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in 2019, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) called on regional Governments to uphold their rights and protect unaccompanied, undocumented children.
UN/Mohammed Omar Omar
UN committed ‘to support the Libyan people’ as Guterres departs ‘with deep concern and a heavy heart’
5 April 2019
Peace and Security
The United Nations Secretary-General left Libya on Friday voicing his hope that the divided country can “avoid a bloody confrontation” in and around the capital Tripoli.
LATEST NEWS
© UNICEF/UN0229016/Sirman
Myanmar military target civilians in deadly helicopter attack, UN rights office issues war crimes warning
5 April 2019
Human Rights
Intensifying clashes between the Myanmar military and armed separatists that reportedly involved a deadly helicopter bombing raid on civilians earlier this week in Rakhine state, have been condemned by the UN human rights office, OHCHR.
UNICEF/Akash
Millions of Bangladeshi children at risk from climate crisis, warns UNICEF
4 April 2019
Climate Change
More than 19 million children in Bangladesh are at risk from devastating floods, cyclones and other environmental disasters linked to climate change, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Friday in a new report.
UN Spokesperson/Florencia Soto Niño
‘The welfare of the Libyan people’ the UN’s sole agenda for the country, says Guterres in Tripoli
4 April 2019
Peace and Security
Helping to promote a “Libyan-led and Libyan owned political solution” to resolve years of instability and insecurity there that puts the “welfare of the Libyan people” first, is the sole agenda of the United Nations within the country, Secretary-General António Guterres told a press conference in the nation’s capital, Tripoli on Thursday.
UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras
UN agencies urge Brunei to repeal new ‘extreme and unjustified’ penal code
4 April 2019
Human Rights
New criminal laws in Brunei that impose the death penalty for same-sex relationships, adultery and childbirth out of marriage, “breach international human rights norms”, and should be suspended or repealed said the heads of two United Nations agencies on Thursday.
OCHA/Htet Htet Oo
Women outliving men ‘everywhere’, new UN health agency statistics report shows
4 April 2019
Health
Average life-expectancy globally has increased by five-and-a-half years since the turn of the century, and women outlive men “everywhere”, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.
World Bank/ Dominic Chavez
Fight against climate change and poverty will fail without overhaul of global financial system, says major UN report
4 April 2019
SDGs
A major new UN-led report, involving more than 60 international organizations, warns that a comprehensive overhaul of the world’s financial system is necessary, if governments are to honour commitments to tackle critical issues, such as combatting climate change and eradicating poverty by 2030.
UNMAS/Juan Arredondo
Removing deadly mines means ‘new horizons and hope’, clears a path to SDGs, says UN chief
4 April 2019
Peace and Security
The path towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development must be “clear of landmines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices (IEDs)”, the United Nations Secretary-General said on Thursday, International Mine Awareness Day.
UNFICYP/Katarina Zahorska
Peacekeeping: A 'great opportunity' to develop professionally and personally
4 April 2019
Peace and Security
A senior commander from Argentina, who has been deployed to the United Nations peacekeeping mission on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, has said that serving the UN is a “great opportunity” to develop professionally and personally.
UN Photo/Mohamed Alalem
In Libya, Guterres ‘deeply concerned’ by risk of fresh military confrontation, urges restraint
4 April 2019
Peace and Security
The UN chief has expressed his deep concern by the reported advance of forces based in the east, towards the Libyan capital, Tripoli, declaring that “there is no military solution” to restoring peace and stability to the country.
UN Photo/Albert González Farran
'Score a goal’ for humanity, says Mohammed, celebrating winning link between sport and development
3 April 2019
SDGs
Celebrating the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told an event in New York on Wednesday - headquarters of team UN - that “sport helps find common ground” during times of division.
LATEST NEWS
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt
UN chief pays tribute to Egypt’s role in avoiding ‘dramatic’ escalation in conflict across the Gaza-Israel border
3 April 2019
Peace and Security
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has paid tribute to the role played by Egypt in helping to avoid a “dramatic” escalation of violence in Gaza over recent months, as tensions grew over Palestinian protests at the border, Hamas rocket attacks, and reprisal airstrikes by Israel.
MINUSTAH/Logan Abassi
Haiti stands ‘at the crossroads’ between peacekeeping, development – Bachelet urges strengthened ‘human rights protection’
3 April 2019
Peace and Security
With the end of the UN’s peacekeeping presence in Haiti in sight, the UN’s human rights chief told the Security Council on Wednesday that the country now stands “at the crossroads between peacekeeping and development”, urging all concerned parties to continue building on progress made, or “risk losing it” altogether.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe
UN chief commends Algerians for ‘mature and calm’ demonstrations for change, leading up to presidential resignation
3 April 2019
Peace and Security
In the wake of the resignation in Algeria of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the UN Secretary-General on Wednesday saluted “the mature and calm nature” of protests involving hundreds of thousands of citizens who took to the streets peacefully in recent weeks, to express “their desire for change.”
UNICEF/Meyer
Lack of basic water facilities risks millions of lives globally: UN health agency
3 April 2019
Health
More than two billion people face grave health risks because basic water facilities are not available in one in four medical centres globally, the UN has said, in an appeal to countries to do more to prevent the transmission of treatable infections that can turn deadly if not washed or flushed, away.
Audio - 6'27" Playlist
UNICEF/Ashley Gilbertson
Help prevent children ‘from becoming victims in the first place’, implores Guterres at campaign launch
2 April 2019
Peace and Security
From killing and maiming, to recruitment, sexual abuse and abduction, “violence against children in armed conflict can take many forms”, said Secretary-General António Guterres, in a special message delivered at the launch of a new UN advocacy campaign on Tuesday - Act to Protect Children Affected by Conflict.
UN Photo/Rick Bajornas
Prospect of a nuclear war ‘higher than it has been in generations’, warns UN
2 April 2019
Peace and Security
In a world defined by “competition over cooperation, and the acquisition of arms, prioritized over the pursuit of diplomacy”, the threat of a nuclear weapon being used is “higher than it has been in generations,” the Security Council heard on Tuesday.
UNICEF
Strengthen inclusion, participation of people with autism to ‘achieve their full potential’ says UN chief
2 April 2019
Human Rights
On World Autism Awareness Day, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres underscored in his message on Tuesday, the importance of technology which helps people living with autism “achieve their full potential”.
UNICEF/Campeanu
Acute food insecurity ‘far too high’ UN agency warns, as 113 million go hungry
2 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
Approximately 113 million people in 53 countries experienced high levels of food insecurity last year, according to a new joint UN and European Union (EU) report released on Tuesday, which warns that these crises are primarily driven by conflict and climate-related disasters.
UNICEF/UN0293297/DE WET
Massive cholera vaccine campaign planned for cyclone-ravaged Mozambique, as UN calls for 'urgent' step-up in support
2 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
Around 900,000 doses of cholera vaccine arrived in Mozambique on Tuesday to help stave off a possible epidemic, after the devastation caused by Cyclone Idai, amid reports that the disease has already infected more than 1,000 people in affected areas.
UN Photo/Mahmoud Abd ELLatiff
‘Counter and reject’ leaders who seek to ‘exploit differences’ between us, urges Guterres at historic mosque in Cairo
2 April 2019
Human Rights
Speaking in Cairo’s historic al-Azhar mosque on Tuesday, UN chief António Guterres issued a call for societies, faiths and cultures everywhere to “focus on what unites us”, urging everyone to work together towards realizing the 2030 Agenda “for the collective benefit of all”.
LATEST NEWS
ILO/A. Khemka
New UN data tool shows 'mismatch' between government aid and places modern slavery exists
2 April 2019
Human Rights
A new interactive data tool created by the UN University Centre for Policy Research, which shows a mismatch between where modern slavery occurs, and where governments are spending resources to address it, could help make a positive impact on policy debates surrounding the issue.
UNDP Yemen
Wars have rules: 5 things the UN humanitarian chief wants countries to tackle so human suffering in conflict can be minimized
1 April 2019
Humanitarian Aid
With the rights and lives of millions of women, children and men uprooted by conflict every year, the UN Security Council held a special meeting on Monday to examine ways to promote and strengthen the rule of law, especially in the humanitarian field.
Dominic Chavez/World Bank
UN highlights profound implication of population trends on sustainable development
1 April 2019
Economic Development
The United Nations is highlighting the important role that population trends play in promoting sustainable development, during the annual Commission on Population and Development, which began at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday.
UN Photo/Manuel Elias
Brunei’s new penal code would enshrine ‘cruel and inhuman punishments’ UN rights chief warns
1 April 2019
Human Rights
Proposed changes to Brunei’s penal code to incorporate punishments under a strict interpretation of Islamic law - including death by stoning - should be halted, the UN’s top human rights official, Michelle Bachelet, said on Monday.
