October 22, 2020 No comments
Rohingya conference pledges to ‘remain steadfast’ in finding solutions to crisis
INTERNATIONAL, 22 October 2020, Migrants and Refugees - A joint UN-hosted donor conference to rally international support behind Myanmar’s displaced Rohingya minority, ended on Thursday with a promise to continue engaging with concerned countries towards finding a long-term solution to their plight. “We will continue to work together to maintain international attention on the Rohingya crisis and to shift from short-term critical interventions, to a more sustained and stable support”, said the closing statement from co-hosts the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the European Union (EU), United Kingdom and United States. “We are grateful to all who have participated…including those who have announced or pledged funding for the international humanitarian response, those who are supporting members of the Rohingya communities in other ways - not least by...
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October 22, 2020 No comments
Classroom crisis: Avert a ‘generational catastrophe’, urges UN chief
INTERNATIONAL, 22 October 2020, Culture and Education - The world is at risk of suffering “a generational catastrophe” as COVID-19 wreaks havoc on the education of students globally, the UN chief said on Thursday. In a video message to the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Global Education Meeting (GEM), Secretary-General António Guterres reminded delegates that the pandemic had had a “disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable and marginalized children and youth”. “The progress we have made, especially for girls and young women, is under threat”, he said. “We now need to support the learning recovery in low and middle income countries – and to factor education into every stimulus package”. Tackling the situation To successfully avert the crisis, Mr. Guterres upheld the importance of recognizing education as “a...
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October 22, 2020 No comments
Independent UN rights experts urge Thai government to allow peaceful protests
INTERNATIONAL, 22 October 2020, Human Rights - Calling the latest imposition of a state of emergency in Thailand, a “draconian measure”, UN-appointed human rights experts on Thursday urged the Government there to guarantee the fundamental rights of peaceful assembly and free speech. In a statement, the independent rights experts called for an end to a crackdown on peaceful protests. “The imposition of a state of emergency is the latest in a series of draconian measures aimed at stifling peaceful demonstrations and criminalizing dissenting voices”, they said. Urging authorities to allow students, human rights defenders and others to protest in a peaceful manner, the UN experts called for demonstrators to “be allowed to freely speak their mind and share their political views, both online and offline, without prosecution.” ‘Unnecessary force’ On 15 October “severe emergency measures” were imposed around the capital Bangkok, prohibiting gatherings of more than...
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October 22, 2020 No comments
Little progress on disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan
INTERNATIONAL, 22 October 2020, Peace and Security - Despite the strengthening of the relationship between Sudan and South Sudan, little progress has been made regarding the disputed Abyei region, the head of UN Peacekeeping told the Security Council on Thursday. Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed ambassadors on recent developments concerning the oil-rich border area, where the UN interim security force, UNISFA, has been deployed since 2011 to protect civilians and humanitarians. He recalled the signing earlier this month of an historic peace agreement between the Sudanese authorities and several armed groups from Darfur following a year of negotiations facilitated by South Sudan. The two neighbours have also signalled their intention to relaunch the political process to discuss the final stages of Abyei and its border areas, which Mr. Lacroix...
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October 22, 2020 No comments
FROM THE FIELD: Women guardians of the environment
INTERNATIONAL, 22 October 2020, Climate Change - Women from around the world are being given a more prominent role in the fight against climate change, thanks to the efforts of the UN Development Programme (UNDP). Globally, countries are being encouraged to update their plans to curb climate change and restrict the increase in temperatures to at least two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, a process which is being supported by UNDP. The impacts of a warming planet are being felt globally, as weather patterns become more unpredictable, and the frequency and intensity of disasters increase. UNDP/Zaimis Olmos | A woman fisher prepares her nets on the Caribbean Island, Dominica. The knowledge and leadership skills of women are being factored into the plans to reverse adverse climatic conditions;...
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