NewzIntel.com

Category: United Nations

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Kuehne Climate Center

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    The Kühne Foundation is a family-owned foundation and primarily implements its own projects and programs. It works in four main areas: logistics, medicine, culture, and climate. It mainly works as an operational foundation and pursues its goals less by promoting third parties; instead by primarily initiating, steering and implementing its own projects and programs, sometimes together with partners. This approach is particularly important in the three major areas of logistics, climate action and medicine. Its projects are characterized by a high degree of practical application. The Kühne Foundation manages its projects with a creative and a long term approach, as well as with a high degree of cost awareness and budget discipline in lean structures.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WFP Statement

    Source: World Food Programme

    GAZA, Palestine – 15 World Food Programme trucks were looted late last night in Southern Gaza, while en route to WFP-supported bakeries. These trucks were transporting critical food supplies for hungry populations waiting anxiously for assistance.

    Hunger, desperation, and anxiety over whether more food aid is coming, is contributing to rising insecurity. We need support from the Israeli authorities to get far greater volumes of food assistance into Gaza faster, more consistently, and transported along safer routes, as was done during the ceasefire.

    WFP cannot safely operate under a distribution system that limits the number of bakeries and sites where Gaza’s population can access food. 

    WFP and its partners must also be allowed to distribute wheat flour and food parcels directly to families  directly to families – the most effective way to prevent widespread starvation.

    As WFP has said previously, two million people are facing extreme hunger and famine without immediate action.

    #                    #                       #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 23 May 2025 Departmental update The World Health Assembly endorses the extension of the Global Strategy on Digital Health to 2027 and approves the next phase for 2028–2033

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Digital health is not about applications, platforms, or devices. It’s about transforming how health systems serve people—more equitably, more effectively, and with greater attention to individual needs.

    Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus / WHO Director-General

    Originally endorsed at the Seventy-third World Health Assembly (WHA73) in 2020, the strategy has catalyzed significant progress in equitable digital health implementation across all WHO regions. Key advancements include advancement in the development of national digital health strategies, strengthened collaboration through regional frameworks, enhanced cross-border interoperability, the establishment of guidance and governance on artificial intelligence, and improvements in health information systems. Digital health has also gained sustained global attention, having been included in the agendas of five consecutive G20 presidencies.

    Since the Strategy’s launch, countries and partners have made substantial progress:

    • 129 countries have established national digital health strategies.
    • Over 1,600 government officials from more than 100 countries have received training in digital health and artificial intelligence.
    • Transformative initiatives such as the Global Digital Health Certification Network have been launched, benefiting 1.8 billion people across 80 countries.
    • Critical guidance on artificial intelligence in health has been issued, including the Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence for Health, with global workshops supporting Member States in ethical AI implementation.
    • 130 Member States have conducted digital health maturity assessments using the Global Digital Health Monitor.
    • Government-to-government collaboration on digital health has been established in four WHO regions, with 40 Member States joining the Global Digital Health Partnership.
    • Global collaboration has been strengthened through the Global Initiative on Digital Health, the WHO Innovation Hub and regional frameworks led by WHO, ITU, the African Union, PAHO and other key partners.

    “This extension is not just about adding two more years—it’s about accelerating action. With a renewed mandate extending from 2028 to 2033, we are entering a critical phase where digital health must be purposefully scaled and equitably integrated into every health system. From AI to telehealth, we have the tools; now we must ensure they reach and benefit everyone,” Dr Alain Labrique, Director of WHO’s Department of Digital Health and Innovation.

    With digital health set to play an increasingly central role in universal health coverage, pandemic preparedness, and climate-resilient systems, this extension reaffirms the shared commitment of WHO and its Member States for inclusive, ethical and sustainable digital transformation.

    “,”datePublished”:”2025-05-23T07:48:42.0000000+00:00″,”image”:”https://cdn.who.int/media/images/default-source/topics/health-systems-and-interventions/digital-health/wha-assembly.jpg?sfvrsn=2b149a22_4″,”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”World Health Organization: WHO”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:”https://www.who.int/Images/SchemaOrg/schemaOrgLogo.jpg”,”width”:250,”height”:60}},”dateModified”:”2025-05-23T07:48:42.0000000+00:00″,”mainEntityOfPage”:”https://www.who.int/news/item/23-05-2025-world-health-assembly-endorses-extension-of-the-global-digital-health-strategy-to-2027″,”@context”:”http://schema.org”,”@type”:”NewsArticle”};
    ]]>

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 22 May 2025 Departmental update Millions lack access to basic eyeglasses

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The findings, published in The Lancet Global Health, reveal that progress towards the global target of a 40% increase in eyeglasses coverage by 2030 set at the World Health Assembly in 2021 needs to be accelerated. 

    “Universal access to vision care is entirely achievable but only if we act with urgency and unity,” said Dr Stuart Keel, WHO Technical Officer. “Eyeglasses are among the most cost-effective tools in global health. It is unacceptable that millions still live with poor vision when a simple, affordable solution is within reach. We cannot allow another generation to be left behind.” 

     

    Uneven access to eyeglasses  

    The newly released data reveals that the burden of uncorrected vision loss is not equally shared — it weighs far more heavily on low-income countries, women, and older adults. 

    In low-income countries, two out of every three people who need eyeglasses are unable to get them — a crisis that directly undermines their ability to learn, work, stay safe, and live with dignity. This widespread lack of access to such a simple solution continues to limit opportunities and deepen cycles of poverty and exclusion.  

    Women and older people are consistently less likely to receive the vision correction they need, often sidelined by systemic barriers to access and affordability. 

    The situation is particularly severe in the African region, where around 70% of people with refractive errors do not have access to eyeglasses, leaving millions with avoidable vision impairment that impacts their education, livelihoods, and quality of life.  

    “In 2024, WHO included effective refractive error coverage in its monitoring framework for the 14th General Programme of Work, a clear signal that the world is beginning to recognize the critical importance of accessible, high-quality vision care,” said Professor Rupert Bourne, Principal Investigator from the Vision Loss Expert Group. 

    “Data from over 815 000 people across 76 countries shows that we are off track. Urgent global action is needed to reach the goal of a 40% increase in eyeglasses coverage by 2030,” added Professor Bourne. 

     

    Evidence of progress amidst persistent gaps 

    Despite the challenges, the data shows some encouraging trends. Between 2000 and 2023, there was a 50% improvement in the number of people receiving the correct prescription for eyeglasses — a meaningful step toward reducing avoidable vision loss. 

    While the global burden of refractive error has surged over the past two decades — largely driven by lifestyle-related risk factors, for example increased screen time and reduced outdoor activities during childhood — eyeglasses coverage has still risen by an average of 5% per decade, demonstrating steady progress despite the challenges. 

    Dr Keel added “These improvements demonstrate that progress is possible when vision care is prioritized. Meeting global vision targets will require coordinated action across governments, global organizations, donors, and the private sector. WHO calls on all actors to join forces to ensure that everyone, everywhere, gets the vision care they need.” 

     

    Note to Editors 
    In response to the continued unmet need, WHO launched SPECS 2030 in 2024. This initiative aims at supporting countries to meet the 2030 target by scaling up access to affordable and quality refractive error services  focused on five key strategic pillars: Service design, Personnel development, public Education, Costing, Surveillance and research. 

    “,”datePublished”:”2025-05-22T22:00:00.0000000+00:00″,”image”:”https://cdn.who.int/media/images/default-source/topics/health-and-well-being/disability/blindness-and-vision-impairment/refractive-errorbba5b62c44eb47259668cec45976df40.jpg?sfvrsn=e27c9f_3″,”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”World Health Organization: WHO”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:”https://www.who.int/Images/SchemaOrg/schemaOrgLogo.jpg”,”width”:250,”height”:60}},”dateModified”:”2025-05-22T22:00:00.0000000+00:00″,”mainEntityOfPage”:”https://www.who.int/news/item/22-05-2025-millions-lack-access-to-basic-eyeglasses”,”@context”:”http://schema.org”,”@type”:”NewsArticle”};
    ]]>

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 22 May 2025 Departmental update African Nations unite to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis and boost cross-border collaboration for NTDs

    Source: World Health Organisation

    In a powerful demonstration of country-driven leadership and cross-border solidarity, Ministry of Health representatives from various African countries pledged to intensify action to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

    At a side event held on the margins of the 78th World Health Assembly on Wednesday, 21 May 2025, under the leadership of the African Union Commission, several countries signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis (VL), and endorsed a Call for Action to promote cross-border collaboration and accelerate progress towards elimination targets set for NTDs.

    Eliminating visceral leishmaniasis in eastern Africa

    With this MoU, the ministers or their representatives of Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan agreed to invest resources, develop effective policies and collaborate closely to achieve the ambitious targets outlined in the VL strategic framework launched in June 2024.Additional eastern African countries are expected to sign the MoU in the near future. 

    “As the global community reaches the half-way point towards the road map targets and almost one year after we launched a strategic framework for the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis, the critical role of country-led efforts and cross-border collaboration in accelerating elimination cannot be over emphasized,” said Dr Ibrahima Socé Fall, Director of the

    WHO Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme  in his opening remarks.

    Of all the NTDs, VL is among the deadliest and most outbreak-prone diseases and is endemic in all six WHO regions, with 74% of its global burden in the eastern African epidemiological subregion. Half of the cases occur in children aged under 15 years. Also known as kala-azar, VL is a lethal parasitic disease that causes fever, weight loss, spleen and liver enlargement, and — if untreated — death.

    Ministers and delegates of Chad, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan and Djibouti (left to right) holding the Memorandum of Understanding on elimination of visceral leishmaniasis in eastern Africa /© Orbisswiss Photos & Press

    Accelerating elimination of NTDs through cross-border collaboration

    Like VL, many NTDs are vector-borne or waterborne, making them easily transmissible across borders. The movement of people and animals  further facilitates this spread, posing a barrier to  national elimination goals and progress towards

    road map targets.

    This was the focus of the second significant moment of the event in which a Call for Action on NTD cross-border collaboration was issued by the Ministers of Health of Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria. They urged countries to share experiences in developing collaboration agreements and workplans and take collective action.

    To address this challenge, Member States are encouraged to coordinate efforts and endorse joint MoUs to enable synchronized interventions, surveillance and data-sharing across borders. Regional and multilateral agencies, along with international development partners, should advocate for increased financing, provide technical support and invest in data systems and innovation to strengthen cross-border initiatives towards elimination of all NTDs.

    Climate change adds urgency, as warming temperatures and extreme weather events create favourable conditions for the spread and re-emergence of diseases.  

    Strong cross-border coordination is therefore critical — not only to interrupt transmission in endemic areas but also to maintain elimination through effective post-elimination surveillance.

    “We know that diseases do not stop at borders — and neither should our response. More than 600 million people on our continent remain at risk of at least one of the NTDs,” said Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC in a statement read by Dr Landry Tsague Dongmo, Africa CDC’s Director Center for Primary Health Care. “Africa CDC has been working to enhance cross-border surveillance platforms through the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response framework, in close collaboration with WHO,” he added.

    Towards an NTD-free world

    This crucial side event underscored that while individual country successes are vital, the interconnected nature of NTD transmission necessitates robust cross-border approaches, particularly in the face of challenges like climate change. The commitment of east African nations to tackle VL head-on through unified action sets a compelling precedent for accelerating the elimination of other devastating NTDs.

    These efforts build on significant advances in the fight against NTDs across Africa. As of May 2025, 56 countries have eliminated at least one NTD globally, including Togo (four NTDs) and Benin, Ghana (three NTDs). In 2024 and 2025, several other African countries have achieved this target for one or two NTDs: most recently Chad, Guinea, Mauritania and Niger were acknowledged by WHO for eliminating an NTD.

    “To reach elimination, we need more medical innovation. VL patients and their communities urgently need new, improved oral treatments. The recent successes of South Asian countries, such as Bangladesh, in eliminating kala-azar show that global elimination of this dreadful disease is within our reach, and I would like to commend the inspiring leadership, unity, and commitment shown today by our African partners,” said Dr Luis Pizarro, Executive Director of the non-profit medical research organization Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). 

    The event, themed “Accelerating NTD elimination through country-driven efforts and cross-border collaboration,” was spearheaded by the African Union Commission and the WHO-led Global Onchocerciasis Network for Elimination (GONE), and supported by The END Fund and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi).

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: As more people are driven from their homes in DRC food insecurity worsens, creating heightened humanitarian needs regionally

    Source: World Food Programme

    WFP/Michael Castofas. In Bulengo camp, on the outskirts of Goma, displaced families face a dire and uncertain future as M23 authorities instruct them to dismantle their makeshift shelters.

    KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned today that the sheer scale of people being displaced from their homes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to escalating conflict, is pushing food insecurity to crisis proportions and deepening an already strained humanitarian response both internally and across the region.

    WFP is scaling up its efforts to ensure lifesaving aid reaches displaced communities, but assistance is not keeping pace with the growing needs. 

    Below is an update on food security and WFP operations: 

    Food security inside DRC 

    • Violent clashes between the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC), M23, and other armed groups have uprooted more than 660,000 people since January in Goma alone, leaving these individuals without reliable access to food.
    • In the conflict-affected eastern provinces of DRC, (Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tanganyika) the number of people facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 and above) has risen from 6.6 million to 7.9 million. Some 2.3 million of these people are in IPC phase 4.
    • Food production in North Kivu’s Grand Nord, an important agricultural hub in eastern DRC, is deeply affected by escalating insecurity and mass displacement.
    • According to the latest assessment, more than 90 percent of households in North and South Kivu are facing acute levels of food insecurity, with many families forced to reduce meal sizes, eat less nutritious food and resort to begging.
    • Local food prices have increased as insecurity disrupts trade routes and market access, leaving families struggling.
    • The DRC is now home to 28 million acutely food insecure people (IPC 3 and above).
    • Cross-border displacement is compounding the food crisis. In the first four months of 2025 nearly 140,000 Congolese fled to neighbouring countries, with Burundi and Uganda receiving the largest influxes – 70,000 and 60,000 respectively.
    • People fleeing into neighboring countries have abandoned their farms and many lack access to critical services including food, shelter and healthcare. 

    Food insecurity among Congolese displaced in neighbouring countries

    • Women, children and the elderly are among the hardest hit. They rely on food aid and face increased risks in overcrowded and under-resourced displacement sites in host countries.

    WFP response 

    • WFP has reached 1.1 million people in the eastern provinces of DRC with life-saving food and cash assistance between January and March 2025.
      • daily school meals and take-home rations provided to 115,000 schoolchildren to support learning and nutrition.
      • treatment and nutrition supplements delivered to 340,000 children and pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls.
      • 14,000 people reached with livelihood support programs to rebuild their lives.
    • WFP is also providing critical logistics and supply chain support, ensuring life-saving food and relief items reach even the hardest-to-reach communities.
    • Cross border refugee response:
    • Burundi:  WFP currently supports more than 80,000 refugees, including 25,000 new arrivals who have fled violence in neighboring DRC since January. In March, WFP was forced to reduce food assistance to half rations for all refugees to adjust to the limited humanitarian funding available.
    • Rwanda – WFP supports more than 130,000 refugees, asylum seekers and returnees including 16,700 recent arrivals from DRC, with food assistance through cash, in-kind aid, and livelihood support. But due to funding shortfalls, April saw cash assistance slashed by 50 percent. With a surge in voluntary returns from DRC, WFP is also providing food during transit, and cash for reintegration. Over 2,500 returnees were recorded (?) were recorded by mid-May alone.
    • Uganda  – WFP supports over 630,000 refugees – down from 1.6 million supported in April due to funding challenges. This includes 64,000 refugees who have recently arrived from the DRC.  Acute malnutrition rates have reached emergency thresholds (above 15 percent) in reception centers receiving new arrivals from DRC. WFP supports with hot meals, food assistance, nutrition and livelihood programs.
    • Tanzania:  About 186,000 refugees from Burundi and the DRC rely on WFP for lifesaving food assistance under a strict encampment policy that limits access to livelihoods. Rations were reduced from 82 percent to 65 percent in May and will drop further to 50 percent in June. The risk of a larger refugee influxes remains high, placing further strain on an already stretched response.

    Challenges

    • WFP is working with humanitarian partners to ensure people receive life-saving assistance, but the needs are soaring, and the resources are not keeping pace.
    • Insecurity and ongoing armed clashes are limiting humanitarian access, making it difficult to reach the most vulnerable communities in eastern DRC.
    • The shortage of food commodities is significantly impacting WFP’s emergency response, particularly in South Kivu where general food distributions were not possible in April.
    • Goma airport, a key humanitarian hub, remains closed.

    Funding

    • WFP urgently requires US$433 million to sustain emergency operations in the DRC through October 2025. Without immediate support, millions risk being cut off from lifesaving assistance, further deepening the humanitarian crisis both at country and regional level.
    • Burundi:  WFP requires $16.6 million to deliver complete food assistance to refugees through the end of the year, assuming there is no additional influx. Without additional funding, food assistance for WFP’s existing caseload of refugees will be halted by October.
    • Rwanda:  WFP urgently requires US$12 million to maintain full rations for refugees through 2025. Without immediate funding, cash transfers to refugees and asylum seekers will be halted entirely by August, putting lives at risk.
    • Tanzania:  WFP requires an additional US$ 18 million through April 2026 to provide 75 percent rations for all refugees.
    • Uganda – WFP requires US$26 million to maintain life-saving food assistance at reduced rations through 2025. 

    #                             #                       #

    Note to Editors 

    Package of photos available here.

    Find more information on WFP Emergency response in the DRC

    Read As hunger soars in DRC, WFP regional chief urges joint action to reverse course

    For interviews, please contact WFP.Media@wfp.org

     

    About WFP 

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media @wfpdrc

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 23 May 2025 Six public health champions celebrated at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly

    Source: World Health Organisation

    At an award ceremony taking place during a Plenary of the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly in Geneva on Friday, 23 May 2025, public health prizes and awards were presented to persons and institutions from around the world for their outstanding contributions to public health.

    The six 2025 laureates received their awards from the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly President Teodoro J. Herbosa, together with high-level representatives of the foundations that established these public health awards and prizes, and WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

    In February 2025, the Executive Board of the World Health Organization decided to distinguish six laureates to celebrate their unique role for public health in their countries, their regions and globally.

    They come from four WHO Regions: Africa, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe and Western Pacific.

    Sasakawa Health Prize

    Dr Merete Nordentoft from Denmark is the 2025 winner of the Sasakawa Health Prize

    The Sasakawa Health Prize is awarded for outstanding innovative work in health development to a person or persons, an institution or institutions, or a nongovernmental organization or organizations. Such work includes the promotion of given health programmes or notable advances in primary health care.

    The Executive Board awarded the Sasakawa Health Prize for 2025 to Dr Merete Nordentoft from Denmark for her outstanding innovative work in health development.

    Dr Merete Nordentoft giving the opening speech at the welcoming reception at the IEPA (International Early Psychosis Association) congress in Tokyo. IEPA has played a pivotal role in implementing specialized early intervention services in many countries around the World. Merete Nordentoft was president for IEPA 2014–2016, and she was chairing the scientific committee. © 2014, Courtesy of Merete Nordentoft

    Dr Merete Nordentoft has made important contributions to mental health care by providing concrete, primary health-care-based solutions to address gaps in the chain of care. In 1998, she created the OPUS outreach treatment programme that has resulted in significantly improved outcomes for young people with first-episode psychosis, demonstrating substantial achievements in advancing mental health programmes and improving the quality of care. One of OPUS’s key success factors is the direct involvement of communities and family members. The concept has since served as inspiration for many countries throughout the world. Her intervention research on suicide prevention has directly informed Denmark’s national action plan for suicide prevention, which includes regional suicide preventive clinics and collaboration between helplines run by nongovernmental organizations and professional helplines.

    The focus on early intervention and increasing the accessibility of mental health services at the community level benefits vulnerable groups.

    “With the right support, early enough, recovery is not only possible – it is likely,” said Dr Merete Nordentoft.

    United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize

    Dr Jožica Maučec Zakotnik from Slovenia won the 2025 United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize

    The United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize is awarded for an outstanding contribution to health development to a person or persons, an institution or institutions, or a nongovernmental organization or organizations.

    The Executive Board awarded the 2025 Prize to Dr Jožica Maučec Zakotnik from Slovenia for her outstanding contribution to health development.

    Dr Zakotnik (to the right) at a press conference to launch a new national plan on mental health. © 2017, Courtesy of Jožica Maučec Zakotnik

    Dr Jožica Maučec Zakotnik has made exceptional contributions to the promotion of healthy lifestyles and to ensuring equal access to preventive services in health care for all. She co-developed an innovative model of multidisciplinary, free-of-charge health promotion centres that include access to mental health services, breaking access barriers for the most vulnerable through collaboration with social services and schools.

    She also led the establishment in 2005 of the MURA Health and Development Centre, meant to address social determinants of health in an impoverished region, that became a WHO collaborating centre in 2009 for cross-sectoral approaches to health and development. At the National Public Health Institute, Dr Zakotnik collaborated with firefighting associations to increase awareness of colorectal cancer screening amongst men. As a State Secretary (2001–2004 and 2017–2018), she helped to scale up successful pilot programmes at the national level, including for the first national programme on nutrition, the strategy for promotion of health-enhancing physical activity and the MURA mental health programme.

    “Together we can make a lasting difference in the lives of countless individuals – at home and beyond,” said Dr Jožica Maučec Zakotnik.

    Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and in Health Promotion

    Professor Huali Wang (China) and the Geriatric Healthcare Directorate of the Ministry of Health (State of Kuwait) are the 2025 winners of the Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and in Health Promotion

    His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for the Promotion of Healthy Ageing is awarded to a person or persons, an institution or institutions, or a nongovernmental organization or organizations who have made an outstanding contribution to research, health promotion, policy and/or programmes on healthy ageing.

    The Executive Board awarded the 2025 Prize jointly to Professor Huali Wang (China) and the Geriatric Healthcare Directorate of the Ministry of Health (State of Kuwait) for their outstanding contributions to healthy ageing.

    Professor Huali Wang (middle, the front row) advocated for raising awareness of dementia care and prevention. © 2019, Dementia Care and Research Center, Peking University Institute of Mental Health

    Professor Huali Wang has made significant contributions to healthy ageing at the national and global levels. She helped shape China’s national healthy ageing strategic plan and national dementia action plan, developing a comprehensive approach for mental care. The approach, now active across 27 regions, has resulted in dementia screenings for over 100 000 older adults, as well as health education campaigns and interdisciplinary, community-based service models that integrate professional and family support. Professor Wang also pioneered the development of dementia caregiver support groups, establishing in 2000 China’s first Memory Café, which promotes community involvement and has since become a national model. Professor Wang has championed cognitive stimulation therapy training and implementation in over 20 provinces. Professor Wang has collaborated with WHO on global dementia guidelines and on the iSupport online course, helping to extend caregiver support worldwide. The social prescribing pilot programme that Professor Wang initiated in Shangrao has received global recognition.

    “This award is not just a recognition of our past work but a call to action for future endeavours – together, we can make a difference in the lives of many,” said Professor Huali Wang.

    On-site training of the adopted Kuwait version of the WHO Global Ageing Population Survey (WHO-GAPs) methodology – Kuwait Older Adults Health Survey (KOAHS). © 2024, Courtesy of Fatemah Bendhafari

    The Geriatric Healthcare Directorate at the Ministry of Health, Kuwait, has designed a multifaceted and comprehensive approach to healthy ageing. It developed a National Health Strategy for Older Adults (2024–2030) that provides a clear framework for the provision of accessible, high-quality integrated care and the promotion of active and healthy ageing. The implementation of the Kuwait Older Adults Health Survey has helped to inform policies and improve service delivery. Innovative mobile vaccination campaigns have benefited an additional 1000 older adults and caregivers. Comprehensive training programmes on healthy ageing, benefiting over 1000 caregivers, physicians, pharmacists and nurses are reported to have improved health-care delivery and coverage for older adults by 40%. The Directorate carries out community engagement initiatives to create inclusive and accessible environments that are responsive to the needs of older people and it also collaborates with nongovernmental organizations to foster community support.

    “This recognition is not only a reflection of our efforts, but a renewed responsibility to continue striving for excellence in elderly care, preserving dignity and honouring their lifelong contributions,” said Dr Fatemah Bendhafari from the UAE Geriatric Healthcare Services Directorate of Kuwait’s Ministry of Health.

    Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health

    Professor Helen Rees from South Africa is the 2025 winner of the Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health

    The Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health is awarded to a person or persons, an institution or institutions, a governmental or nongovernmental organization or organizations, who have made an outstanding contribution to public health.

    The WHO Executive Board awarded the 2025 Prize to Professor Helen Rees (South Africa) for her outstanding contribution to public health at the local, national, regional and global levels.

    Professor Helen Rees in one of Wits RHI’s Clinical Trial Laboratories. © 2015, Anthea Pokroy

    Professor Helen Rees founded the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI) in 1994, which has treated over 650 000 people living with HIV and which operates in 52 sites across South Africa with regional partnerships in 23 countries. In 2004, she created the Hillbrow Health Precinct, an innovative model that integrates urban regeneration, medical research and community-based health services, such as care for adolescents living with HIV and vaccination services, and that provides essential health services to some of Johannesburg’s most marginalized residents. Professor Rees has also made major research contributions covering HIV prevention, vaccines against human papillomavirus and COVID-19 and her research on HIV prevention, including pre-exposure prophylaxis and long-acting injectable treatments, has transformed HIV-prevention strategies for vulnerable populations.

    “Public health and human rights are intertwined, driven by the social determinants of health and the access people have to care – let us continue the struggle for health for all,” said Professor Helen Rees.

    Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion

    Dr Majed Zemni from Tunisia is the winner of the 2025 Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion

    The Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion is awarded to a person or persons, an institution or institutions, a governmental or nongovernmental organization or organizations, who or which has/have made a significant contribution to health promotion.

    The Executive Board awarded the 2025 Award to Dr Majed Zemni (Tunisia) for his outstanding contribution to health promotion.

    Dr Majed Zemni (front row, fourth from the right), Chief Executive Officer of the Office National de la Famille et de la Population (ONFP) with participants from various African countries at the international training session in the management of sexual and reproductive health programmes, as part of cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Tunis 2013. © 2013, Office National de la Famille et de la Population

    Dr Majed Zemni has made extensive and impactful contributions to health promotion, particularly in his roles as President of the Tunisian Association of Forensic Medicine and Criminal Sciences and as President of the National Office of Family and Population (ONFP) of Tunisia. He helped issue key legal instruments, such as guidelines for forensic medicine and legislation relating to patients’ rights and medical liability. As part of the National Committee of Medical Ethics, he contributed to the development of protocols for managing the deceased that ensured human dignity during the COVID-19 pandemic. He worked at the Psychological Assistance Centre for Women and Children Victims of Violence. He also maintained the ONFP’s International Training and Research Centre as a WHO collaborating centre. His efforts have helped reorient health services with a patient-centred approach, with particular attention to people living with HIV and persons deprived of their liberty, and through multisectoral engagement involving other ministries and stakeholders in the development and implementation of programmes.

    “Health is a common denominator for all humanity, regardless of borders, races or policies,” said Dr Majed Zemni. “We must all strive to establish health security and a healthier future for all.”
     

    ————————-

    The call for nominations of candidates for each prize is sent out each year after closure of the World Health Assembly. Nominations can be made by national health administrations of a WHO Member State and by any former recipient of the prizes. At its 156th session in February 2025, the Executive Board designated the 2025 winners of the prizes, based on proposals made by a selection panels composed of Executive Board Members, and working independently for each prize.

    See more on public health prizes and awards web page.

    Read detailed information about the public health prizes and awards process.

    Full information can be found in this 78th World Health Assembly document (A78/INF./1).

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: GRM Group Meeting

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    The Group of Experts on Risk Management in Regulatory Systems (GRM) of WP.6 holds bi-monthly meetings to progress its work agenda and encourage exchanges between experts in risk management.

    All experts are welcome to join these meetings. The UNECE WP.6 particularly encourages women experts to consider joining these work flows.

    More information on this group is available on the group’s web page.

    Expected attendance: WP.6 GRM Bureau, members and observers, and secretariat

    Agenda

    Item

    Subject

    Timing

    1a

    Roll call

    0

    1b

    Reminder of WP.6 procedures

    5

    1c

    Approval of the agenda

    5

    2

    Invited guest speaker:

    Masanori Hiraki, Technical Officer, World Customs Organization

    “Latest developments of customs risk management against illicit trade including data analysis, e-commerce, recent trends of illicit trade”

    40

    3

    Project launch: Better regulating distribution of products through online marketplaces

    • Presentation of the project proposal
    • Call of interest for those who would like to participate in the project development / discussions

    15

    4

    Finalization for the GRM project: Integrated Risk Management in Single Window Systems (IRM + SW)

    • Final document being submitted to the annual session
    • Closure of the project
    • Next steps or follow up

    15

    5

    Brief update of the WP.6 Forum meeting

    10

    6

    Proposal to merge the GRM and MARS into a single group of experts

    10

    7

    Update on liaison and events

    5

    8

    Update from the secretariat

    • WP.6 35th session (9-10 Sept. 2025)

    5

    9

    Any other business / Update on risk management related events

    5

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 22 May 2025 Departmental update Dengue Expert Review Panel for Diagnostics

    Source: World Health Organisation

    In response to the 2024–2025 global dengue emergency, the World Health Organization (WHO) activated its Expert Review Panel for Diagnostics (ERPD) to guide the selection and use of appropriate diagnostic tools for dengue. This initiative was coordinated by the Public Health Laboratory Strengthening unit of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme and the Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme in collaboration with WHO’s Prequalification Programme.

    The ERPD provides an expert-driven mechanism to evaluate the potential risks and benefits of in vitro diagnostic (IVD) medical devices that are not currently covered by WHO’s prequalification process or other stringent regulatory assessment. Comprising an independent advisory group of technical experts, the ERPD assesses whether candidate diagnostics meet defined quality and performance criteria and classifies their risk to support evidence-based procurement decisions. Recognizing critical gaps in the availability of IVDs – particularly for epidemic-prone neglected tropical diseases – WHO supports the procurement of diagnostic products and laboratory items essential for managing a wide range of communicable and noncommunicable diseases.

    Following a thorough review process, seven diagnostic products for dengue have been listed. These recommendations are valid for one year and are intended to facilitate timely and informed procurement decisions in the global health response to the dengue emergency.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Rights of the Child Praise Qatar’s Investments in Child Health and Education, Ask about the Age of Criminal Responsibility and Penalties for Child Offenders

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Rights of the Child today concluded its consideration of the fifth and sixth combined periodic reports of Qatar under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with Committee Experts praising the State’s investments in child health and education, and raising questions about its efforts to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility and prohibit the imposition of harsh penalties, including the death penalty and flagellation, on child offenders aged 16 years and over.

    Aissatou Alassane Sidikou, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Qatar, commended Qatar’s efforts to invest in children’s health and education; implement its national development programme, which promoted sustainable development; establish its Ministry of Social Development and Family; and implement the Committee’s recommendations.

    Ms. Sidikou asked whether Qatar’s draft bill on children’s rights would increase the minimum age of criminal responsibility of children, which was currently one of the lowest in the world at seven years, and prohibit imprisonment, flagellation and forced labour for children, which was currently allowed from 16 years of age.  In Qatar, children could be sentenced to death. What measures were in place to strictly prohibit the application of the death penalty on children?

    Rosaria Correa, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said that despite the recommendations of various human rights mechanisms, the new nationality law did not allow Qatari women married to foreign citizens to pass on their nationality to their children. What steps had been taken to amend this law and other laws to allow Qatari women to pass on their nationality to their children?

    Introducing the report, Ahmad bin Hassan Al-Hammadi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar and head of the delegation, said that, over the reporting period, Qatar had worked to strengthen legislative and institutional measures to protect children’s rights in the fields of education, health, social protection and criminal justice. The Qatar National Vision 2030 and the State’s third national development strategy 2024-2030 included key measures addressing children’s rights, and promoted equality and non-discrimination of children.

    The delegation said Qatar had reduced sentences for cases where perpetrators of crimes were children.  Sanctions for children under 16 years did not include corporal punishment or flagellation.  The draft law on the rights of the child would increase the minimum age of criminal liability and define all persons less than 18 years old as children.  It would be adopted and published soon.

    The delegation also said the death penalty could be imposed on children aged 16 to 18, who were more aware of their actions, but judges could commute the sentence, considering the age of the child when the crime was committed.  No one aged 16 to 18 had been sentenced to death in Qatar.

    The Qatari Nationality Code addressed the issue of kinship, the delegation said.  Children of non-Qatari fathers were given the nationality of their father, but such children also had the ability to access Qatari nationality if they had permanent residence.  The State had made great strides in reducing statelessness.

    In closing remarks, Ms. Sidikou said many efforts had been made by the State for children, but challenges remained.  The Committee hoped that the dialogue would help to improve protections for children in Qatar.

    Mr. Al-Hammadi, in concluding remarks, thanked the Committee and all persons who contributed to the constructive dialogue.  Qatar was committed to cooperating with the Committee and to addressing the challenges and risks it faced concerning the rights of the child.  It had achieved great progress in human rights over the years through cooperation with human rights mechanisms.

    Sophie Kiladze, Committee Chair, said in concluding remarks that the information provided by the State party would help the Committee to assess the achievements made by Qatar and the challenges it faced.  The Committee would do its best to develop concluding observations that would strengthen the rights of children in Qatar to the extent possible.

    The delegation of Qatar consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Interior; Ministry of Public Health; Ministry of Social Development and Family; Ministry of Education and Higher Education; Ministry of Justice; Supreme Judiciary Council; Public Prosecution; National Group for Protection of Children from Abuse and Violence; and the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Committee will issue the concluding observations on the report of Qatar at the end of its ninety-ninth session on 30 May. Those, and other documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, will be available on the session’s webpage.  Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet in public this afternoon at 3 p.m. to consider the combined fifth to seventh periodic reports of Brazil (CRC/C/BRA/5-7).

    Report

    The Committee has before it the fifth and sixth combined periodic reports of Qatar (CRC/C/QAT/5-6).

    Presentation of Report

    AHMAD BIN HASSAN AL-HAMMADI, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar and head of the delegation, said that Qatar was firmly and permanently committed to the principles of the Convention. Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution emphasised the role of the family in protecting children from exploitation and neglect, and supporting their development.  The State had worked to strengthen legislative and institutional measures to protect children’s rights in the fields of education, health, social protection and criminal justice.

    The national report was the result of consultation and cooperation between the various national authorities, civil society and children.  The State had made great efforts to address and implement most of the previous recommendations made by the Committee, contributing to tangible progress in ensuring the rights of children.

    The Qatar National Vision 2030 and the State’s third national development strategy 2024-2030 included key measures addressing human rights issues in various fields, including children’s rights, and promoted equality and non-discrimination of children.  Over the reporting period, there had been extensive legislative amendments regarding the protection and promotion of children’s rights, most notably law 22 of 2021 regulating health care services, which included provisions promoting access to health care for all children, and the anti-cybercrime law, which criminalised sexual exploitation.  A draft law on children’s rights was also currently under review; it established effective mechanisms for the protection and development of children’s capacities and promoted the best interests of the child.

    The Ministry of Social Development and Family, established in 2021, was responsible for following up on childhood issues through specialised departments on family development, community welfare, and social protection.  The Qatar Foundation for Social Work had mechanisms for monitoring, follow-up and reporting on protection measures for child victims of violence, as well as awareness campaigns informing children of their rights and methods of reporting and seeking assistance.  The State had also established the National Planning Council, which was responsible for planning and implementing public policies related to children.  The Council of Ministers approved in April 2025 the establishment of the Digital Safety Committee for Children and Young People, and an awareness campaign on the safe use of technology would also be launched in June 2025.

    Efforts had continued to increase the enrolment rates of children, including children with disabilities, in compulsory education.  The overall enrolment rate was more than 97.5 per cent.  The State was encouraging girls to enrol in scientific disciplines; the percentage of girls in these disciplines had reached about 54 per cent at the secondary level.  New schools had also been established to provide technical and specialised education for both boys and girls.  The national education strategy 2024-2030 focused on improving the quality and inclusiveness of education, ensuring equal opportunities and enhancing governance. Five “peace schools” that received children of various nationalities, especially from countries in crisis, including children with disabilities, had been established.

    In the health sector, the national health strategy 2024-2030 was launched, which aimed to promote children’s health by preventing chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, and paying attention to oral health.  The State had established a system of child-friendly hospitals and general paediatric clinics.  The national team for child protection from violence and neglect received approximately 500 cases annually of suspected cases of child abuse and implemented preventive measures in response.  Effective countermeasures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to Qatar having one of the lowest child mortality rates globally.

    Qatar’s Labour Code protected children from exploitation, prohibited their employment before reaching the legal age, and regulated the types of work that children could not do.  Moreover, the consumer protection law and the food control law promoted children’s rights as vulnerable consumers, while the Ministries of Health and Commerce were closely monitoring to ensure safe and healthy food for children.  The State had also launched plans to reduce and assess environmental pollution, especially in areas near schools and residential areas.

    The State had also paid attention to building the capacity of professionals working with children, such as judges, teachers, doctors and media professionals, through training programmes on the Convention delivered in cooperation with civil society.  Qatar was also studying the possibility of establishing a national children’s parliament and had established interactive platforms that allowed children to express their opinions and suggestions, especially when discussing policies that directly affected their lives.

    To protect children’s rights, Qatar was cooperating with United Nations agencies, including the United Nations Children’s Fund, which opened an office at the United Nations House in Doha in 2022. It was working to protect children in conflict areas in countries such as Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, Russia and Ukraine.  The Qatari Education Above All initiative had reached over 17 million children in more than 65 countries.  Qatar had provided humanitarian assistance, including food and health care, to children in Gaza.

    Qatar was fully committed to the implementation of the Convention and its two Optional Protocols, and the protection of children’s rights.  Achieving this goal required continuous reform efforts through measures that kept pace with emerging changes and challenges.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    AISSATOU ALASSANE SIDIKOU, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Qatar, commended Qatar’s efforts to invest in children’s health and education; implement its national development programme, which promoted sustainable development; establish its Ministry on the Rights of Children and Families; and implement the Committee’s recommendations. Why had the State party maintained its reservations to articles two and 14 of the Convention?  The provisions in article two of the Convention were much broader than those of articles 34 and 35 of the Constitution. 

    Why was there was no schedule for adoption of the draft bill on children’s rights, which had been considered by the State for over 15 years?  Would the bill increase the minimum age of criminal responsibility of children, which was currently at seven years, and prohibit imprisonment, flagellation and forced labour for children, which was currently allowed from 16 years of age?  Did the National Human Rights Commission and the National Planning Council have sufficient resources?  How did they coordinate to protect child rights?

    Qatar’s investments in health and education had increased in 2022 and 2024, but these amounts were still below global standards.  Would this be addressed?  Were funds allocated for children in the budget clearly outlined?  How did the State party ensure that resources were equitably assigned?  A national survey conducted in 2023 contained very little information on vulnerable children. What was being done to strengthen data collection on such children?

    Did migrant children have access to mechanisms to report violations of their rights?  How did the State party support access to remedies for child victims? Were there capacity building and awareness raising mechanisms on child rights for State officials, civil society, the media and the public?  Did the National Human Rights Commission’s monitoring mechanism follow up on the implementation of the Convention and receive complaints on violations of the rights of children, including from migrant children?  How did the State party monitor policies and programmes on children’s rights?  Were there regulations that promoted compliance with international standards on children’s rights in the private sector?

    Girls in Qatar continued to face multiple forms of discrimination due to traditional beliefs.  What actions had been taken to change these negative social norms?  Children with disabilities, children with unmarried or foreign parents, and the children of migrant workers were subject to widespread discrimination.  How did the State party ensure that all children had access to basic social services?  Was there a general law prohibiting all forms of discrimination?

    There were no guidelines for professionals on determining the best interests of the child.  Would these be developed?  How did the State party ensure that this principle was applied consistently in all legal procedures?  In Qatar, children could be sentenced to death.  What measures were in place to strictly prohibit the application of the death penalty on children?  How did the State party facilitate the participation of children in matters affecting them?

    Despite the recommendations of various human rights mechanisms, the new nationality law did not allow Qatari women married to foreign citizens to pass on their nationality to their children. What steps had been taken to amend this law and other laws to allow Qatari women to pass on their nationality to their children?

    ROSARIA CORREA, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, welcomed that the State party had taken several measures to address corporal punishment.  Had it assessed the impact that these measures had had on society? There was no law prohibiting corporal punishment.  What legislative efforts had been made to prohibit corporal punishment in all settings? Had studies into violent disciplining been carried out?  What measures had schools adopted to protect children?  How many child victims of violence had received remedies?  How was the State party monitoring child protection measures?  Did the draft bill on child rights address the child protection system?  Who was responsible for representing minors in the courts?

    How was the State party combatting the sale and trafficking of children domestically and internationally?  What was preventing the State from developing a law to ban child marriages?  How did the electronic monitoring system for convicted children work and how effective was it?  What social and psychological programmes were in place to protect the rights of children in conflict with the law and prevent their stigmatisation?

    TIMOTHY P.T. EKESA, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, welcomed the data on children with disabilities that the State party had collected in 2016.  There were concerns that the State party did not provide access to mainstream education to all children with disabilities, as many were enrolled in special schools.  Only a small percentage of schools had inclusive education programmes, and a medical model was used to determine whether children with disabilities were enrolled in special schools.  Many children with disabilities remained out of school due to denial of admission or the inability of their families to pay school fees.  Could the State party provide data on the number of children with disabilities enrolled in mainstream education?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said its reservations to articles two and 14 of the Convention were consistent with Islamic Sharia and public morals.  The draft law on the rights of the child would increase the minimum age of criminal liability.  It would be adopted and published soon.

    In 2016, a programme was set up to investigate cases of violations of children’s rights and provide protection and remedies to victims.  It dealt with between 500 and 600 cases a year, some 30 per cent of which involved violence and negligence.  The programme included awareness raising campaigns on children’s rights and on reporting mistreatment of children.  A confidential hotline had been set up for reporting violence; it received 300 calls a year, 60 per cent of which came from children.  A register for cases of child abuse had recorded some 3,000 cases in recent years, and the Qatari Care Centre had provided psychological care to more than 4,000 children.  A conference on combatting violence against children held in 2020 in Qatar was attended by around 2,000 people.

    Qatar monitored the impact of business activities on children, guided by the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.  The National Human Rights Committee monitored child labour but had not registered any cases. A regional conference had been held in Qatar that had called on businesses not to violate children’s rights in digital spaces.

    The Ministry of Social Affairs had signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Human Rights Committee on cooperation on protecting children’s rights.  This Committee was made up of eight representatives of civil society and five Government employees.  It reviewed legislation concerning children, visited schools to assess violations of children’s right to education, and conducted yearly awareness raising campaigns on the Convention.

    Qatari law did not permit marriages for boys under the age of 17 and girls under the age of 16.  Marriages under the age of 18 were permitted by judges only when there were exceptional circumstances.  A committee had been set up to review the Family Code; it was considering revising the legal minimum age of marriage.  It was very rare for families to allow their children to marry before the age of 18.

    Some six per cent of the national budget was allocated to education, and some 25 per cent of the Ministry of Social Affairs’ budget was allocated to programmes for children.  The State party had dispersed several million Qatari riyals for supporting vulnerable children and families.  A new centre for orphans was established in 2024.

    The Ministry of Education promoted gender equality at all stages of education.  Enrolment rates for boys and girls were equal at primary and secondary schools, and literacy rates were over 99 per cent in 2023.  The Ministry had launched awareness raising campaigns on human rights and non-discrimination.  Guidance was provided to teachers on preventing discrimination against children.  Qataris and non-Qataris received the same treatment in State schools and hospitals. Employers provided migrant workers with health insurance.

    The Qatari Nationality Code addressed the issue of kinship.  Children of non-Qatari fathers were given the nationality of their father, but such children also had the ability to access Qatari nationality if they had permanent residence.  The State had made great strides in reducing statelessness.

    Qatar had laws that enabled children to receive remedies such as compensation if they were victims of a crime. Specialised courts for crimes committed by children and cases of violence against children had been established, which could conduct hearings online.  There was also a witness protection programme for children. Courts had an interpretation and translation service that supported foreign children.  The State assigned lawyers to persons who could not afford them.

    All schools had student councils that allowed students to express their views on issues such as the environment, culture and education.  Cultural activities were organised for children.  Each school calculated its carbon footprint.

    Articles 21 and 68 of the Constitution incorporated the Convention into the legal order.  The State party had increased penalties for trafficking in persons when the victim was under 18 and reduced sentences for cases where perpetrators of crimes were children.  Sanctions for children under 16 years did not include corporal punishment, flagellation or the death penalty. 

    Articles permitting corporal punishment were removed from legislation after the adoption of the Convention. Persons, including parents, who used corporal punishment were held criminally liable.  Guidelines had been developed for parents on disciplining children without using corporal punishment and a centre that worked to educate parents on protecting children had been set up.  Corporal punishment in schools was banned in the 1990s. Inspectors conducted visits to schools to ensure that the rights of students were not violated. 

    The Prosecutor’s Office stepped in if there were conflicts of interest between parents and children.  Child psychologists were deployed to determine the best interests of the child.  Children’s confidentiality was protected in courts.

    The Ministry of Education attached great importance to inclusive education.  Curricula were adapted for children with disabilities and protocols had been adopted for children with autism.  There were programmes for vocational training for children with disabilities.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    ROSARIA CORREA, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said that Qatar had a set of measures to combat violence between children in schools.  Were there response measures and a recording mechanism for such violence? Some 83 per cent of children reportedly suffered from some form of harassment in primary school.

    What measures had been taken to ensure children could grow up in a pollution-free environment and access green spaces?  How did education programmes address climate change?  What impact was climate change having on Qatari children and how was the State working to mitigate its effects?  How was the State party encouraging children’s involvement in designing environmental policies?  How did the State party monitor children’s nutrition?

    How did the State party ensure that parents equally shared responsibilities concerning child-rearing? When parents divorced, the mother lost custody of her children in Qatar.  Were women who were victims of sexual exploitation criminalised in the Criminal Code?

    TIMOTHY P.T. EKESA, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said the national action plan on the inclusion of children with disabilities in schools had commendable objectives, but there was a lack of clarity on measures being implemented to achieve inclusion. Had the plan, which expired in 2023, been renewed?  Were there provisions in draft legislation on persons with disabilities that prohibited discrimination against children with disabilities in education?  The Committee had previously called on the State party to implement a national action plan on human rights education; had this been done?

    The Committee commended the State party’s high quality and widely accessible health care system and the launch of the national health strategy for 2023-2030.  Would children receive targeted attention under the strategy? There were reports of discrimination in access to health centres for non-Qatari citizens.  What measures were in place to address disparities in access to healthcare?  Qatar had one of the highest rates of adolescent obesity in the region.  How was the State party addressing this?  How was it promoting access to mental health for children and adolescents?

    BENOIT VAN KEIRSBILCK, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said that Qatar had not ratified the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Convention against Discrimination in Education.  Why was this?  Why did most Qatari families choose private schools, while non-Qataris typically attended public schools?  What was the State party doing to support education costs?  There were schools that supported children who had dropped out of school; how effective were they?  Was there an official sexual and reproductive health education programme in schools? What was being done to promote access to safe and inclusive spaces for play and recreation?

    The Committee was concerned that Qatar continued to detain migrant children and families.  In which detention centres were migrants placed? Were there plans to revise the policy of detaining migrant children?  Most migrant workers in Qatar were men.  Were there plans to revise family reunification rules to make it more accessible for workers with low wages?  Were there plans to regularise the children of migrants born in Qatar?

    Members of the Al-Ghufran clan had been deprived of their nationality many years ago. How many of these people still did not have Qatari nationality, and were there plans to resolve their situation? How did the State party ensure that migrant children could enrol in schools and how did it investigate complaints issued by domestic workers?  How many girls were working as domestic workers?  What programmes were in place that supported children in street situations? What results had been achieved by the law on trafficking in persons?  What measures had been implemented to prevent and prosecute cases of trafficking in children occurring during the 2022 World Cup?

    Qatar had one of the lowest minimum ages of criminal responsibility in the world, at seven years of age, and many legal protections for child offenders only applied for children under age 16.  How many children up to 18 years old were deprived of liberty and in what settings? Were they mixed with adults?  Were children in detention informed about the National Human Rights Committee’s complaints mechanism?  Did the State party intend to ratify the Safe Schools Declaration?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said corporal punishment against all persons was prohibited, including punishment of persons with disabilities.  There was no dedicated legislation on domestic violence, but there were legislative measures that covered domestic violence, and a court had been set up that specialised in domestic violence and temporary shelters, mandated to protect women and children who were victims of domestic violence.  In 2024, the State party organised workshops training for around 5,000 people on issues such as protecting children from violence and intimidation.  There were around 40,000 confirmed cases of domestic violence between 2024 and 2025.

    Initiatives had been adopted to minimise the impact of climate change on children, including adaption of infrastructure and measures to reduce carbon emissions and increase the use of renewable energy.  The State party had constructed 18 square kilometres of green zones in 2023 and an additional eight in 2024.  There was also a course within the school curriculum that focused on protecting the environment and living sustainably.  Schools celebrated a “sustainability week”.  Qatar had also taken measures to ensure the provision of good quality water.  It periodically monitored water and air quality in schools, kindergartens and public hospitals. 

    Qatar promoted children’s health through various measures.  Nine free health check-ups were provided to children up to age five.  The State party encouraged exclusive breastfeeding up to six months; there had been a sharp increase in breastfeeding rates over the past decade.  The State party had developed programmes to tackle the child obesity rate, which aimed to reduce this rate by 30 per cent by 2030.  School nutrition clinics provided specialised services to prevent childhood obesity and nutritional problems.  A 2022 law governed universal healthcare coverage.

    Sexual and reproductive health education and education on drug addiction were provided in schools from primary level, and there was also teaching on the protection of children from neglect, and online and sexual exploitation.  Children were instructed on how to find psychological assistance, and on alerting authorities about threats.

    Qatar promoted access to a healthy environment for children with disabilities.  It had beaches that had been adapted to ensure accessibility.  Various projects were being developed for children with disabilities up to 2030.  A single database covering all children with disabilities in the education system had been set up.  Qatar had over 5,300 pupils with disabilities in public and private schools.  Some 62 per cent of schools were inclusive. There were specialised training programmes for children with disabilities that supported them to become autonomous.

    Children with disabilities had access to specialised healthcare through 10 healthcare centres tailored to their needs, including four centres for children with autism.  The third national strategy 2024-2030 included measures for improving rehabilitation and diagnosis services for persons with disabilities. Social workers, family and community members were trained to care for children with disabilities and support their inclusion in society. 

    Qatari legislators sought to recognise children with disabilities as having legal capacity on par with others, and to promote their access to work, education and other rights.  The draft disability code had been developed and was now being deliberated by the Government.  Measures to exempt persons with disabilities from certain Government fees were being developed.  Legislators sought to promote access to complaints mechanisms for children with disabilities and their families.  The State funded legal aid services to support children in court, including children with disabilities.

    The draft child code defined all persons less than 18 years old as children.

    As part of the 2024-2030 development strategy, the State party had visited schools and engaged in dialogue with students, parents and teachers.  “Sustainability ambassadors” who promoted environmental protection were appointed in schools, and young people could contribute to the Shura Council. Many children had taken part in drafting the State party’s report.

    The State party was promoting awareness of human rights for children through social education courses and campaigns in schools, through which children learned about the Convention, gender equality, democracy, acceptance of others, cybersecurity, and preventing bullying.  Media campaigns on children’s rights were carried out and manuals and training programmes had been developed to inform teachers, social workers and other public officials about children’s rights.  The State party organised annual events to mark Children’s Day.

    Qatar was committed to protecting school establishments from attack.  It had signed the Safe Schools Declaration and participated in the Education for All initiative.  Qatar helped organise events on 9 September each year at United Nations offices in New York and Geneva to mark the International Day to Protect Education from Attack.

    Public schools applied international standards, including the international baccalaureate programme. Migrant parents could choose the school that their children attended and the language of instruction.  The State ensured the provision of free schooling to students coming from regions of armed conflict.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    BENOIT VAN KEIRSBILCK, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, asked whether police provided sexual education in schools?  Was legal aid free for every child and accessible from the first stage of arrest? Did the State party criminally prosecute children who were addicted to drugs?

    TIMOTHY P.T. EKESA, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said Qatar generally prohibited abortion, only allowing it in three special cases.  There were severe penalties imposed on women who received unauthorised abortions.  How many unauthorised abortions had the State recorded over the reporting period?

    Another Committee Expert asked about the likelihood of approving the children’s act soon.  Would Qatar provide a complete definition of the child in this legislation?

    A Committee Expert asked about awareness raising campaigns in place to reduce the rate of child deaths from road accidents, which remained quite high in Qatar.  How was wastewater treated and what percentage of the population had access to potable water?

    One Committee Expert asked if Qatari children had access to contraception.  Were children who were the product of rape given Qatari nationality? Did national institutions take a gender specific approach?  Was free legal assistance provided to victims of domestic violence?

    A Committee Expert asked about the level of integration that the State party’s hotline had with law enforcement, health services and social services.  What services were provided to children of adults deprived of liberty, including adults on death row?

    SOPHIE KILADZE, Committee Chair, asked whether the State party had measures to reduce children’s screen time and a policy on artificial intelligence and its effects on children.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the 2015 law on the departure of migrants set up a mechanism for entering and exiting Qatar. It regulated the provision of housing, healthcare and education for migrants, as well as the conditions migrants needed to meet to obtain residence permits.  Migrants who did not meet these conditions were deported following the standard procedure.  Persons without identity documents who were accompanied by children, as well as stateless and unaccompanied children, were placed in a shelter while being processed. In 2024, there were 22 such detentions, and thus far there had been six detentions in 2025.  The State party worked with relevant embassies to support processing of these people.

    A directorate had been established that was mandated to prevent road accidents.

    Psychological support was provided to children whose parents had been sentenced to death.  The Criminal Procedural Code provided for two years of reprieve from detention for pregnant women, and when both parents were charged with the same crime, one parent was granted reprieve from detention to care for their children while the other parent was detained.

    The age of criminal liability started from seven years.  From ages seven to 16, judges could only impose sanctions requiring the child’s parents to obey certain commitments or send the child to rehabilitation programmes. The juvenile justice system was based on rehabilitation, not punishment.  Children aged 16 to 18 were more aware of their actions and thus had increased criminal liability.  The death penalty could be used on such children, but judges could commute the sentence, considering the age of the child when the crime was committed.  No one aged 16 to 18 had been sentenced to death in Qatar.

    Qatar had evacuated over 65,000 people from Afghanistan in 2021.  Qatar provided these people with housing and psychological support and facilitated their voluntary travel to other countries.  The State had also evacuated many children from Gaza to Qatar, providing them with free healthcare and education.

    Sexual education was provided by teachers and social workers, not police, in schools.  A national workshop had been set up to develop sexual education; psychologists were involved in this process.

    The State had a legal aid office with attorneys who provided children with free legal assistance and defended them in court.  The office also provided assistance in cases of domestic violence.

    Islamic Sharia was the source of laws in Qatar.  Criminal legislation on abortion was in line with Sharia.  In the State’s view, foetuses had the same rights as adults and benefited from legal protection.  Abortions could only take place if the pregnancy threatened the life of the mother.  Children who were the product of rape could access Qatari nationality.

    Qatar had created legislation combatting cybercrime, which punished all digital intimation and threats.  There were harsher sentences when the victim was a child or had a disability.  The State had also launched a platform that aimed to educate children and families on the safe use of digital technology and build children’s digital skills.  It had a national strategy on artificial intelligence and was committed to developing digital infrastructure that respected human rights. 

    Qatar had acceded to International Labour Organization Conventions 138 and 180 on child labour.  The State’s law on domestic workers protected such workers from exploitation.  The law banned hiring people under 18 years of age for domestic work.  Migrant workers needed to be 18 years of age or older. Domestic workers had the same rights as other workers, including regarding access to healthcare.  There was a Government Department that received complaints from domestic workers, which operated in 11 different languages.

    The State party respected the rights of migrant workers to live with their families.  These workers could bring their children to the State if they fulfilled a strict set of conditions.

    Qatar had criminalised all forms of trafficking of persons, including labour exploitation.  Penalties for trafficking were increased when the victim was a child.  There was a committee within the Ministry of Labour that was responsible for combatting trafficking in persons.  Qatari law was in line with the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

    The hotline for reporting violations of children’s rights was manned by psychologists, who assessed the urgency of the complaint and referred it to the relevant authorities.

    The Qatar Social Work Foundation worked to enhance family bonds and to prevent domestic violence.  It provided lectures for prospective parents and counselling and mediation services seeking to resolve family problems amicability. The Foundation worked to defend children’s rights in cases of divorce, providing them with psychological counselling. Legislation had been developed that ensured that custody could be provided to mothers in cases of divorce.

    Concluding Remarks 

    AISSATOU ALASSANE SIDIKOU, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, thanked the delegation for the interesting dialogue.  Many efforts had been made by the State for children, but challenges remained.  The Committee hoped that the dialogue would help to improve protections for children in Qatar.  Ms. Sidikou said she hoped that the members of the State party would carry all children in their hearts in their work.

    AHMAD BIN HASSAN AL-HAMMADI, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee and all persons who had contributed to the constructive dialogue, which was an important opportunity to promote the rights of the child and global peace.  The State party would use the Committee’s concluding observations to improve measures for children.  The Committee needed to consider the information provided by the State and its cultural specificities.  Qatar was committed to cooperating with the Committee and to addressing the challenges and risks it faced concerning the rights of the child.  It had achieved great progress in human rights over the years through cooperation with human rights mechanisms.

    SOPHIE KILADZE, Committee Chair, said that the information provided by the State party would help the Committee to assess the achievements made by Qatar and the challenges it faced. The Committee respected States’ cultural specificities, but violations of the Convention could not be justified in any circumstances.  The Committee would do its best to develop concluding observations that would strengthen the rights of children in Qatar to the extent possible.  It hoped that the State party would present further progress for children in its next dialogue with the Committee.

    ___________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CRC25.014E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at closing of ECOSOC Segment on Operational Activities for Development [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    This week you have heard from nearly every speaker about the development emergency before us. It is amidst a world in turmoil and uncertainty, as Ambassador Rae has said, but more problematic to us are all the young people in the world that feels a sense of anxiety.

    So indeed it is a time of crisis and countries are struggling still to recover from the impact of the pandemic. There is a war in Europe, and the tragedy and injustices we see in Gaza, in Sudan, in Myanmar.

    At this juncture I think it is important for us to pause and reflect on the progress that has been made and set our trajectory for the year ahead. As and such, I want to point out the vital leadership we have had from Ambassador Szcserski in guiding our discussions over the past three days.

    I would also like to acknowledge and appreciate you, the Member States, for your constructive and active engagement, and our Principles of our agencies, funds and programs, especially my Vice-Chair Achim Steiner,  our Resident Coordinators who participated, the UN Country Teams and the entities who contributed with perspectives and insights from the ground. 

    Excellencies,

    This week we heard a shared readiness to respond to the challenges before us — from Member States, Resident Coordinators, and the UN development system entities.
    Allow me to set out my humble take aways from this segment.

    First, let me say that I have heard from the majority of you that we are delivering on your expectation of a coordinated and coherent system. You were clear that Resident Coordinators must be at the forefront of efforts to deliver on this.

    Second, I have heard your concerns about funding and the challenging landscape before many UN development system entities.

    Third, I have heard your acknowledgement of the immense progress on delivering on efficiencies but noted that we still have a long way before us on the common back offices, our general services and premises. 

    You were clear about your expectations for the road ahead, that we need to shift towards a more tailored UN development system. We are in the process of recalibrating DCO to optimize the ability of the RC system to meet country needs and priorities.

    As the Director of the System-Wide Evaluation Office highlighted earlier today, derivation of country level programming instruments also have to be strengthened. The country configuration exercises would need to be reinvigorated. And we need to move away from a stagnant UN development footprint and ensure that we have an agile and responsive footprint and presence.

    We need to redouble our effort to ensure that entities are fully aligned with the reform imperatives. The business model review of UNSDG entities is an important opportunity to assess alignment and propose some adjustments.  

    We also need to continue to strengthen transparency and accountabilities. The forthcoming review of the management and accountability framework provides an opportunity to do so. Your acknowledgement of the transparency and information provided is welcome, and a testament to the progress that is being made in enabling your oversight.

    Over the course of the next year, we are committed to making progress on these areas. And furthermore, we will continue to strive to provide you with the tools that you need to monitor our adherence to the reforms and encourage you to follow up these discussions at the governing boards.

    In my capacity as UNSDG Chair, I will keep you updated on the progress we make, as we tailor the UN development systems response, including the development coordination office.

    Many of you have stressed that UN80 could provide a drive for addressing these aspects and others highlighted this week, such as renewed efforts to drive efficiencies and accountability.

    UN 80 provides a welcome momentum to continue implementing reforms across the development system.

    Now is the time for us to invest in that future.

    As we approach 2030, the actions that we are going to take now will have a lasting impact on our ability to deliver on the SDGs and our promise to leave no one behind.

    The Secretary-General could not have been clearer. Our efforts will only bear fruit if the broader changes in the international financial systems agreed in the Pact for the Future are implemented.

    Therefore, the Financing for Development Conference (FfD4) taking place in Seville, the World Social Summit, the Food Systems Stocktake, and COP all represent pivotal opportunities to put the goals back on track. But also to demonstrate why it is and how it is that the UN system, this incredible institution, brings people together, challenging those who say that things cannot be done, and give hope to how they can be done, particularly at the country level.

    Excellencies,

    There is no time to lose. We do have a deadline around the corner.

    We can transform our current challenges into opportunities, take the dividends from this crisis and make them happen— but we need to act together, and act now.

    We must underscore, as Ambassador Rae stated, people have a right to justice, they have a right to a life of dignity, and in solidarity, I believe we can show that this reality is possible, for all people on this good earth.

    Thank you so much for the opportunity, we have taken with us lots of homework, to be continued.

    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNESCO brings together World Heritage marine site managers to review groundbreaking environmental DNA Expeditions and citizen science efforts

    Source: United Nations

    On 30 April 2025, managers from the 51 UNESCO World Heritage marine sites convened online with experts from UNESCO to review the results of UNESCO’s pioneering environmental DNA (eDNA) expeditions initiative and to exchange first-hand experiences involving citizen scientists in this world-first effort.

    UNESCO eDNA expeditions is the first global use case for detecting ocean biodiversity with citizen-science using shared eDNA collection approaches. Over three years, more than 250 volunteers, some as young as 6 years old, collected eDNA samples at 21 UNESCO World Heritage marine sites spread across 19 countries. This effort empowered local schoolchildren and communities to contribute to marine biodiversity research and understand the impacts of climate change on their local World Heritage marine site.

    The goal of the online meeting was to share lessons learned and firsthand insights with UNESCO World Heritage marine site managers – both from sites that participated in the initiative and those that did not – on how eDNA, combined with citizen science, can enhance marine biodiversity monitoring in protected areas, especially in the face of climate change threats to the ocean.

    The scientific coordinator of the initiative, based in the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) office in charge of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)’s Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS), presented an overview of the eDNA expeditions initiative. The presentation highlighted global results from the 19 participating countries and outlined future plans to support continued eDNA sampling and citizen science engagement at UNESCO World Heritage marine sites. Published in December 2024, the global results revealed the identification of more than 4,400 marine species, including several species of sharks and rays, marine mammal species, and turtle species. Among these, 120 are listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Remarkably, the eDNA campaign detected 10–20% of the expected local marine fauna at each sampling site—an outcome that, using traditional survey methods, would have required prolonged effort and substantial financial resources.

    Another major outcome of the programme was a parallel climate impact analysis, which assessed the thermal limits of the detected species using projected future ocean temperature scenarios. The findings indicated that in some tropical regions, up to 100% of species may be affected, highlighting the urgent need for adaptive management in response to increasing thermal stress on marine life.

    Managers from UNESCO World Heritage marine sites shared their experiences leading the local eDNA sampling campaigns. A representative from the Everglades National Park World Heritage site (United States of America) highlighted the value of eDNA as a complementary tool to traditional methods for monitoring species presence within the site. The UNESCO-supported eDNA sampling campaign engaged local high school students in hands-on sampling activities, bridging classroom learning with real-world conservation efforts. Parents joined in as well, further strengthening community involvement. Currently, eDNA is used in the park to monitor overall biodiversity, including detecting invasive species like Burmese pythons.

    Meanwhile, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage site (South Africa) shared how the eDNA campaign marked a first for both the site and local schools. High school students and teachers were trained in the techniques of eDNA sampling, with a strong emphasis on safety and following precise protocols. The campaign introduced learners to marine science and emphasized the importance of accuracy in data collection. As some key species were not detected, the campaign uncovered important data gaps and reinforced the importance of ongoing research and enhanced collaboration between marine protected area managers and the scientific community.

    The UNESCO World Heritage List comprises 51 marine sites across 37 countries. Due to their status as the world’s flagship marine protected areas, UNESCO World Heritage marine sites are uniquely positioned to drive change and innovation, help set global standards in conservation excellence, and serve as beacons of hope in a changing ocean.

    This online meeting was made possible with the support of the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB).

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNESCO Strengthens Capacity of the Government of Sindh in Preserving the Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta in Pakistan

    Source: United Nations

    To enhance the capacity of professionals from the Directorate of Antiquities and Archaeology, Sindh, in safeguarding one of Pakistan’s World Heritage Sites – Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta, UNESCO organized a three-day workshop from 12 to 14 May 2025 on the effective restoration and conservation techniques for protecting the site.

    The workshop focused on enhancing the knowledge and understanding on key heritage management topics, including the World Heritage Convention and Outstanding University Value, ensuring authenticity in restoration projects, and ethical considerations of authenticity, reversibility and minimum intervention. The workshop also provided an opportunity to share the best practices and experiences with the professionals from the Directorate of Antiquities and Archaeology, Sindh.

    Mr. Antony Kar Hung Tam, Officer-in-Charge of the UNESCO Office in Pakistan, underscored UNESCO’s enduring commitment to protecting cultural heritage through local empowerment, international collaboration, and sustainable conservation practices. UNESCO, with the support of the Netherlands Funds-in-Trust, has been and will continue putting its efforts to the conservation of the Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta, addressing the damage caused by the monsoon floods in 2022.

    Mr. Abdul Fateh Shaikh, Director General of Antiquities and Archaeology, Sindh, praised the support provided by UNESCO and expressed deep appreciation to the Government of the Netherlands for their continued commitment to heritage preservation.

    Makli Necropolis, located near Thatta in Pakistan’s Sindh province, is among the largest and most extraordinary funerary sites in the world. Situated around 140 kilometers from Karachi, this necropolis is one of the largest burial quarters in the world with graves, tombs and mausoleums of saints, poets, noblemen, governors, princes, kings and queens. Extending over 10 square kilometers, the Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta possess around half a million tombs and graves. The architectural styles reflect a rich confluence of Muslim, Hindu, Persian, Mughal, and Gujarati influences. These tombs are particularly renowned for their distinctive, blue-glazed tiles, intricate stone engravings, refined calligraphic inscriptions, and mesmerizing geometric motifs, testifying to the creative and spiritual expressions of vibrant civilization that once flourished in the region.

    Thatta, being a thriving center of knowledge, arts and culture from 14th to 17th centuries, played a pivotal role in shaping the cultural heritage of the Sindh region. In recognition of its exceptional universal value and artistic legacy, the Makli Necropolis was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. 

    Over the past few decades, the site has faced natural and human hazards. In response, UNESCO has been working closely with the Government of Sindh, to provide technical support in addressing conservation and management issues, deploying reactive monitoring missions and executing conservation and capacity building initiatives. Following the damage caused by the 2022 monsoon, UNESCO mobilized local and international experts, within the framework of World Heritage Emergency Assistance, to undertake damage assessments, capacity building initiatives and immediate remedial measures for emergency stabilization of the site.

    The impact assessment revealed severe structural vulnerabilities in the Shaikh Jyio Tomb and an adjacent unknown tomb from the Samma period (1351–1524). To address these critical issues, UNESCO initiated a restoration project under the Netherlands Funds-in-Trust, in collaboration with the Directorate of Antiquities and Archaeology, Sindh.

    UNESCO’s team of international and local experts followed international standards and procedures required for the restoration work, undertook thorough documentation and condition assessment of both tombs, collected historical evidences through archival and archaeological research and material identification and testing to evaluate the suitability of the stones for conservation and restoration work. All these steps helped to appropriately inform the ongoing restoration work at the unknown tomb.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: “Meaningful inclusion of women is not optional, it is essential”: Member States reinforce support for women in peacekeeping at Ministerial

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    Written by Sophie Boudre and Lesley Myers.

    Ms. Boudre is Deputy Chief, UN Peacekeeping’s Strategic Communications Section, and expert on gender and accountability issues.
    Ms. Myers is the Digital Editor for UN Peacekeeping’s Strategic Communications Section and expert in strategic planning and peacekeeping impact.

    “Inclusive missions are not only fair–but also smarter and more legitimate”, said Ms. Roselinda Soipan Tuya, Cabinet Secretary for Defence of Kenya, at last week’s Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin. More than 130 Member States gathered to discuss the future of peacekeeping, including how to create environments where both men and women are empowered to serve together.  

    Despite progress, women remain underrepresented and face barriers to full participation. This is not only a matter of equality—it also affects effectiveness. Studies123 find that peacekeeping missions are more successful when women are meaningfully represented among military, police, and civilian staff, including at the senior leadership level.  

    During the Ministerial, UN Member States committed to enhancing women’s participation at all levels by fostering an environment where they can thrive. “We need to look at how to make this work in our context,” said Ms. Tuya. “We cannot continue to leave out women… it is like going into a football match without half of the team.”

    Inclusive teams make peacekeeping more effective 

    In the peacekeeping mission in Abyei (UNISFA), an area nestled between Sudan and South Sudan, women peacekeepers were instrumental in building trust with community leaders and women’s groups. This engagement enabled access to new information, which helped UNISFA detect early warnings of attacks and prevent violence.  

    In the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) a military unit from Ghana was deployed that is comprised of 20% women. The unit reports a significant increase of trust in UNIFIL and its forces in the communities where they have patrolled, as well as an increase willingness of women to interact with the mission.  

    Women are often uniquely able to build rapport with community members, granting access to critical security information, such as areas at risk for conflict-related sexual violence, helping us better protect the populations we serve.  

    Visible participation by women in UN peace operations also helps dismantle barriers that prevent local women from engaging in peace and political processes. Women peacekeepers serve as role models, inspiring women and girls to pursue non-traditional paths, in turn acting as catalysts for inclusive societies where women are represented and active at every level. 

    Many steps forward, and more to go 

    Women peacekeepers in civilian, military, and police roles have been rising steadily over the last several years. The share of women in military roles has doubled since 2018, for example, but still sits at just 10%.  

    Persistent barriers continue to limit women’s access to peacekeeping roles—especially in military and leadership positions. Equipment such as flak jackets and helmets are often not designed for women, compromising safety. Inadequate sanitation facilities can prevent women participating in long-range patrols.  

    Creating an inclusive environment—where all personnel, regardless of gender or background, feel empowered and respected—is critical for advancing peace effectively. 

    The UN and Member States are working to address remaining barriers by deploying more women peacekeepers and fostering a work culture that enables them to serve effectively and meaningfully. Recruitment pipelines are being established to increase the pool of women available for deployment, including in leadership roles. Facilities, accommodations, health services, and equipment are being improved to support the needs of all personnel and increased efforts are being made to protect them from sexual harassment.  

    Gen. Mohan Subramanian, Force Commander of the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, underscored the important role mission leaders play in advancing these objectives: “The most important thing to support uniformed women is to ensure leaders [have] the right mindset,” he said.

    Redoubling efforts

    During the Ministerial, Member States made key commitments to continue progress, particularly in military roles.  These included providing gender-sensitive equipment, deploying mixed-gender platoons trained to engage with host communities, and funding “barrier assessments” to identify and address challenges uniformed women face in countries that deploy peacekeepers to UN missions.“An enabling environment begins at home: participation of uniformed women at all levels and all roles at Member State level. All Member States must advance this at a national level,” underscored Brigadier General Jürgen Schrödl, Head of Sub-division III, Directorate-General for Military Strategy and Operations for Germany’s Ministry of Defence.  

    These initiatives aim to remove obstacles preventing women from joining peacekeeping operations and serve to their full potential. With global conflicts at their highest since 1945 and peacekeeping budgets declining, we cannot afford to overlook any measure that enhances our effectiveness. Supporting women’s participation is critical to the success of our mandates. “Meaningful inclusion of women is not optional, it is essential” stressed Monica Bolaños Pérez, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala. “It is a matter of operational effectiveness.”

    Background: What is the Women, Peace and Security Agenda?  

    Adopted in October 2000, the landmark Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) recognizes the vital role of women in peace and security. It calls for increased participation of women at all decision-making levels, protection of women and girls from gender-based violence, and the integration of gender perspectives in peacekeeping and conflict resolution efforts. 

    Since its adoption, UN Peacekeeping has been advancing on integrating gender perspectives and advancing the implementation of the 1325 Agenda including in the current scope of seven peacekeeping missions. 

    In 2018, the UN introduced the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy as a key step towards meeting WPS goals in UN peacekeeping. It aims to increase the meaningful participation of women in military, police and justice and corrections roles across all missions by addressing barriers, setting concrete targets, and fostering inclusive environments.  

    This year marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the resolution.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at the presentation of the report on the Development Coordination Office at the ECOSOC Segment on Operational Activities for Development [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Thank you very much your Excellency – the Vice-President of ECOSOC – Excellencies, colleagues,

    We come together today following a hallmark year for the Resident Coordinator system and entities across the UN Sustainable Development Group.

    As we heard from the Secretary-General yesterday in the presentation of his report, this year has pressed the development system – and we know the year ahead will be ever more testing.

    Six years into the repositioning, we have a resident coordinator system that is delivering for those we serve. And we know that this support is needed now more than ever.

    And that the UN system needs to come together in a coordinated, cohesive manner to provide this support.

    Around the world, people are confronting a convergence of crises. Entrenched conflict, economic instability, persistent poverty and inequalities, constrained multilateralism and declining support for development funding and financing.

    This is precisely the moment in which we must recommit to accelerated action that delivers the Sustainable Development Goals for people and planet – as guided by the roadmap that the 2024 QCPR has set.

    The UN development system, with the leadership of Resident Coordinators, is redoubling its efforts to align with Member States’ expectations, while finding ways to do so more effectively.

    I am grateful for the leadership that Member States have shown in continuing to guide our work.  

    Excellencies,

    My annual report tells the story of a UN development system constantly in motion — resilient, adaptive, ambitious— and firmly anchored in country needs.

    UN teams are delivering – in countries beset by crisis or in communities facing down persistent poverty and inequalities.

    In 2024, 98 per cent of host governments reported that the UN’s activities, as articulated in the Cooperation Frameworks, were closely aligned with national priorities.

    93 per cent of host Governments indicated that RCs and UNCTs provided support for changes in national policies and regulatory frameworks to advance all the SDGs.  A 7 per cent increase over the previous year.

    90 per cent of contributing countries agree that the RC system has scaled up collective action for the SDGs.

    And 84 per cent agree that the RC system helped improve coherence in UN activities and in reducing the duplication of efforts. 

    These are more than numbers. They represent a shift in how we work together as a UN system.

    And the RC system is the engine of this accelerated support to countries.

    First, Resident Coordinators are leveraging national and global processes to boost systems transformation for SDG acceleration.

    Cooperation Frameworks increasingly embed integrated approaches on the priorities agreed with Governments. They are maximizing interventions across multiple SDGs to amplify the impact and ground international commitments in countries.

    RCs and UN country teams spearheaded over 100 national initiatives with Governments to leverage the Summit of the Future to accelerate SDG implementation.

    Second, from civil society to financial institutions, Resident Coordinators are convening the partnerships that scale impact and sustain results.

    Notably, collaboration with international financial institutions is growing — with 73 per cent of UN country teams reporting active engagement with IFIs.

    90 per cent of host governments reported that Resident Coordinators have helped to leverage partnerships to support national SDG efforts.

    Third, Resident Coordinators play a key role in channeling global and country-level sources of funding that incentivize joint work and unlocking financing for SDG solutions.

    The Joint SDG Fund has been the main muscle behind the Resident Coordinators’ efforts to foster joint, transformative and coherent programming. 

    In 2024, the Fund supported RCs and UN teams to initiate 136 new joint programmes across 90 countries in transformative areas such as food systems, energy, digitalization, jobs, and social protection. Cumulatively, the fund has reached over 206 million people and catalyzed $1.6 billion in investments.

    Fourth, the Resident Coordinator system is guiding the UN country teams to deliver development results and enable the realization of efficiencies.  

    Resident Coordinators track implementation of Business Operations Strategy, negotiate arrangements for common premises, facilitate common back offices, and promote the shift towards global service centers.

    Fifth, the Resident Coordinator system is fostering increased accountability and transparency for results.

    They are spearheading efforts to strengthen the accountability to member states including by providing comprehensive Results Reports and improve use of digital platforms for sharing information on the work of UN country teams.

    Excellencies,

    Some of you may be familiar with this positive legacy of the repositioning, however, there are some notable shifts in the past year.

    Member States responded to the Secretary-General’s proposal to provide more funding for the Resident Coordinator system from the regular budget. While the increase of $53m from the regular budget provides a thin but essential cushion of funding –it still falls far short of providing and adequate and sustainable base.

    We still count on Member States to provide voluntary contributions. We rely the UNSDG to pay their portion of the cost-sharing. And we look to both to dutifully pay the levy.

    We are preparing a comprehensive review of the resident coordinator system as requested by the General Assembly for the 81st Session, informed by robust data and analysis. This recalibration exercise will ensure the RC system is optimally capacitated and structured.

    In 2024, because of lack of funding, only 33% of RCO were fully staffed.

    The intake of candidates for the RC/HC talent pipeline had to be paused, with implications on the diversity of expertise available in the future.

    The Resident Coordinator system still remains our most efficient investment to support the sustainable development of countries at scale. Resolving the long term shortfall – which was nearly $80m in 2024 – must be resolved to enable it to fully deliver on the mandates that you have given.  

    There are other lingering challenges which we must overcome.

    The early findings of the system-wide evaluation on country configuration and derivation are stark. As you will hear from the Executive Director of the UNSDG System-Wide Evaluation Office tomorrow, the need for action will be clear.

    Dialogues on UN teams’ configuration have yet to transform country-level presence or expertise, and entities’ programming instruments are still not fully derived from the Cooperation Framework.

    Over the course of this year and next, we will work with Member States and UN Sustainable Development Group Entities to right this ship.

    I count on your leadership, in this forum and in the governing bodies, to ensure that we are all pulling in the same direction, towards more tailored, cohesive, coordinated support. Ensuring that each entity plays to their comparative advantage.

    We are working to ensure that the tools and structures are optimally aligned with the needs of countries.

    The forthcoming reviews of the business models of UNSDG entities, the Management and Accountability Framework and the Cooperation Framework Guidance provide a critical window to ensure the UN system is aligned in structure and process – and guided by clear accountability lines, with much more efficient response.

    Excellencies,

    We are now entering a decisive window — the second half of the 2030 Agenda. And there is absolutely no time to lose.

    In the Pact for the Future, Member States recommitted to advancing the SDGs.

    Let us strengthen the system to enable us to deliver on this commitment.  
     
    And let us ensure that the UN development system receives the support it needs to deliver for the people it serves.

    Let us invest in the United Nations development system, as a matter of shared responsibility and a strategic necessity for a sustainable future that leaves no one behind.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Fresh bread returns for the first time in over two months as limited supplies reach bakeries overnight

    Source: World Food Programme

    GAZA, Palestine – A handful of bakeries in south and central Gaza, supported by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), have resumed bread production after dozens of trucks were finally able to collect cargo from the Kerem Shalom border crossing and deliver it overnight.

    These bakeries are now operational distributing bread via hot meal kitchens. However, after nearly 80 days of a total blockade of humanitarian assistance, families still face a high risk of famine and far more aid is needed across all of Gaza.

    “We are in a race against time to prevent widespread starvation,” said WFP Country Director Antoine Renard. “WFP will capitalize on every opportunity to deliver critical food supplies to Gaza’s desperate population. However, this is just a drop in the bucket of what is needed to reverse the catastrophic levels of hunger. Humanitarian agencies require immediate, unrestricted, and safe access to flood Gaza with lifesaving aid. This is the only way to avert an entirely preventable disaster.”

    Vital convoys entered Gaza this week carrying wheat flour and resources to support kitchen operations for hot meals. Other aid included baby formula, nutrition supplements for malnourished children, as well as medical supplies. But food assistance must go beyond one meal per day and more diverse food items are required to effectively push back the risk of famine. Distributing food parcels directly to families — the most effective way to prevent starvation — is still not allowed. That must change.

    Over 140,000 metric tons of food – enough to feed the entire population for two months – is pre-positioned at aid corridors and ready to be brought into Gaza at scale.

    We call on all parties to uphold this principle and facilitate swift, safe, and unimpeded aid delivery at scale to the more than two million people facing hunger across the Gaza strip.

    #                    #                       #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @wfp_media

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Note to Correspondents: on signing Agreement concerning the Chagos Islands

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General welcomes the signing of Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia.

    This agreement marks a significant step towards resolving a long-standing dispute in the Indian Ocean region and demonstrates the value of diplomacy in addressing historical grievances.

    The Secretary-General urges both parties to continue engaging in constructive discussions to ensure that the rights and aspirations of the Chagossian people are fully respected and upheld.

    The United Nations remains committed to supporting both countries in this process.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Ms. Yasmine Fouad of Egypt – Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

    Source: United Nations MIL-OSI 2

    nited Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, following consultation with the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), announced today the appointment of Yasmine Fouad of Egypt as the next Executive Secretary of the UNCCD.  She will succeed Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania to whom the Secretary-General is deeply grateful for his dedicated service and outstanding commitment to the Organization.

    Serving as Minister of Environment of Egypt since 2018, Ms. Fouad is an expert in environmental diplomacy with over 25 years of experience in environmental governance, global environmental themes and international climate diplomacy.  She has a proven track record in designing and implementing institutional and systemic reforms for sustainable development.

    On the global stage, Ms. Fouad has played a pivotal role in multilateral environmental processes, serving as the President of the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD-COP 14) (2018-2021) and as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 27 Envoy (2021-2022).  She co-led the process for reaching consensus to draft the Global Biodiversity Framework 2030 and played a key role in advancing global initiatives on adaptation, food security, agriculture and nature-based solutions at COP 27. She also spearheaded the Presidential Global Initiative, which links the Rio Conventions launched at CBD COP 14.  She co-facilitated climate finance at five Climate COPs representing the interests of the global South in collaboration with Northern partners.

    Regionally, she has contributed to the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) and African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) (2015-2017) as Assistant Minister of Environment for Sustainable Development, Regional and International Cooperation.  She was instrumental in the technical preparation and coordination of the African Adaptation Initiative and the African Renewable Energy Initiative.  She co-chaired the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Regional Flagship Programmes steering committee including Sustainable Land Management, Desertification, Biodiversity and Ecosystems-based Adaptation to Climate Change.

    As a visiting scholar at Columbia University, Ms. Fouad contributed to the Earth Institute, helping design a Centre of Excellence for Climate Change Adaptation in Egypt.  She holds a Ph.D.in Euro-Mediterranean Studies, Cairo University, and a M.Sc. in Environmental Science, Ain Shams University.  She is fluent in English and Arabic.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 22 May 2025 Note for Media Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly – Daily update: 22 May 2025

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Health progress despite financial challenges 

    Thursday’s Committee B noted the Results Report 2024, and the financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2024–2025. Member States commended the transparency, and the level of detail provided. At the same time, Member States noted with concern that while some important achievements have been realized, progress is insufficient in reaching the SDG targets. In addition, Member States also advocated for more equitable funding across the Organization. The committee approved decision 78/17 Add.1 and 78/17 Add.2. 

    Delegates welcomed WHO’s Investment Round (IR), which will fund the Organization’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work – 2025–2028 (GPW 14) – its global health strategy for the next four years that has the potential to save 40 million lives if fully funded.  By April 2025, pledges of US$ 1.7 billion had been received. During the Health Assembly at least an additional US $210 million was committed, with further amounts expected. Since the start of the Investment Round, 62 pledges have been made by Member States, with a further 20 pledges by philanthropic organizations. Of the 62 pledgers, 35 had not previously provided voluntary contributions to WHO. 

    The pledges not only assure more sustainable financing but show global solidarity in the face of unprecedented challenges. The committee called for increased efforts to secure predictable, resilient and flexible funding.

    Related Documents:

    •  A78/17 Results report 2024 and financial report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024
    • A78/17 Add.1 Draft decision: Results report 2024 (Programme budget 2024–2025: performance assessment) and Financial report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024
    • A78/17 Add.2 Draft decision: Partial and temporary suspension of Financial Regulation VIII, 8.2
    • A78/18 Audited Financial Statements for the year ended
    • A78/36 Results report 2024 (Programme budget 2024–2025: performance assessment) and Financial report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024
    • A78/INF./3 Voluntary contributions by fund and by contributor, 2024
    •  A78/19 Financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2024–2025
    • A78/20 Financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2024–2025: Reporting on operational efficiencies
    • A78/INF./4 Financing and implementation of the Programme budget 2024–2025 WHO presence in countries, territories and areas
    • A78/21 Sustainable financing: WHO investment round
    • A78/37 Proposed programme budget 2026–2027 – Sustainable financing: WHO investment round (Report of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board to the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly)

    Strengthening health emergency preparedness and response

    On 21–22 May 2025, the World Health Assembly discussed WHO’s work in health emergencies. Over the last year, WHO responded to 51 graded emergencies across 89 countries and territories, including global outbreaks of cholera and mpox – a public health emergency of international concern – as well as multiple humanitarian crises. Working with over 900 partners across 28 health clusters, WHO helped provide health assistance for 72 million people in humanitarian settings. Nearly 60% of new emergencies were climate-related, highlighting the growing health impacts of climate change.

    Member States noted the WHO Director-General’s report on the implementation of the health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR) framework. The report outlined progress made in the key areas of collaborative disease surveillance, community protection, safe and scalable care, access to medical countermeasures and emergency coordination, and stressed that insufficient and unpredictable funding poses a significant risk to health systems worldwide.

    Delegates noted the report of the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee (IOAC) for WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme. The report presents several recommendations to the Director-General aimed at strengthening WHO’s work in emergencies. The chair of the IOAC commended WHO’s leadership – particularly that of Dr Mike Ryan, the outgoing Executive Director of the Health Emergencies Programme, for his pivotal role and contributions to global health.

    The Director-General also reported on Universal Health and Preparedness Review (UHPR) to the Assembly, a unique process for Member States to assess their health emergency preparedness. UHPR was launched in November 2020 as a voluntary, country-led mechanism, in response to early lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Related documents:  

    • A78/13 WHO’s work in health emergencies
    • A78/12 Health emergencies preparedness and response: The Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme
    • A78/9 Strengthening the global architecture for health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience
    • A78/4 Consolidated report by the Director-General (including UHPR)

    International Health Regulations remain a cornerstone of global health security

    Member States noted the Director-General’s report on progress made in implementing the International Health Regulations (2005), which outline the rights and obligations of countries in managing public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders.

    In 2024, WHO assessed over 1.2 million raw signals related to public health risks, identifying and verifying 429 events with potential or actual international public health implications.

    All countries but one provided their self-assessment report to the Assembly. Numerous joint external evaluations, after- and intra-action reviews, and training were conducted to strengthen preparedness and response capacities. 

    Member States recommended to the Assembly the adoption of a decision for the Director-General to notify Palestine of the International Health Regulations (2005). This is a step prior to Palestine expressing interest in becoming a States Party to the Regulations. This follows the resolution approved during the World Health Assembly last year on aligning the participation of Palestine in WHO with its participation in the United Nations.

    The Assembly also noted the Standing Recommendations issued by the Director-General on COVID-19 (valid until April 2026) and mpox (valid until August 2025).

    At last year’s World Health Assembly, Member States adopted historic amendments to the Regulations, drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. The amendments are expected to come into force in September 2025.

    Related documents:

    • A78/11 Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005)
    • A78/A/CONF./4 Notifying the International Health Regulations (2005) to Palestine
    • Resolution WHA77.15 (2024): Aligning the participation of Palestine in the World Health Organization with its participation in the United Nations
    • A78/INF./6 Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) Extension of the standing recommendations for mpox
    • A78/INF./7 Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) Extension of the standing recommendations for COVID-19

    Member States urge research into public health and social measures to control outbreaks and pandemics

    Member States approved a decision related to public health and social measures, urging the strengthening of the research base on these interventions. Public health and social measures are nonpharmaceutical interventions used to reduce the spread of an infectious disease and lower hospitalizations and death. Examples include screening for diseases, personal hygiene measures and changing the way people gather or travel. These measures played an important role in buying time for countries to develop and distribute treatments, diagnostics and vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the evidence base on the effectiveness of these measures remains limited.

    Related documents:

    WHO’s response to health needs in Ukraine and refugee-hosting countries

    Delegates noted the Director-General’s report on the implementation of a resolution on WHO’s response to the health emergency triggered by the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. In 2024, WHO reached an estimated 4.7 million people with health support in Ukraine and more than 400 000 refugees in neighbouring countries. WHO delivered over US$ 32.5 million worth of medicines, medical equipment and supplies to health facilities across Ukraine, and over US$ 4.9 million worth of supplies and equipment to refugee-hosting countries. Since 24 February 2022, a total of 2254 attacks on health care have been verified, resulting in 710 injuries and 208 deaths.

    Member States voted on related decisions. The draft decision proposed by Ukraine and other countries to continue, among other things, to restore and strengthen Ukraine’s health-care system was approved. Suggested amendments to the draft decision proposed by the Russian Federation and other countries were rejected.

    Related documents:

    • A78/14 Implementation of resolution WHA75.11 (2022) 
    • A78/A/CONF./3 Health emergency in Ukraine and refugee-receiving and -hosting countries, stemming from the Russian Federation’s aggression
    • A78/A/CONF./3 Add.1 Amendments proposed by Belarus, China, Nicaragua and the Russian Federation
    • A78/A/CONF./3 Add.2 Financial and administrative implications for the Secretariat of decisions proposed for adoption by the Health Assembly

    Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem

    Delegates noted the Director-General’s report on the current health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, with the Gaza Strip facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement, destruction and death. The health system has been severely degraded by attacks, critical shortages of medicines, supplies and fuel, and restricted access. The report stated that between 1 January 2024 and 28 February 2025, 376 attacks on health care were reported in the Gaza Strip, resulting in 286 deaths and 591 injuries.

    The health crisis in the West Bank has worsened since January 2025, with escalating violence and stricter restrictions on movement impeding access to health care.

    WHO’s response has focused on providing essential health services, public health surveillance, disease prevention and control, provision of supplies and logistics, and partner coordination. The report stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, unrestricted humanitarian access and protection of health.

    Member States noted the report and commended WHO’s efforts towards the continuity of health services under difficult conditions. Delegates approved an accompanying resolution.

    Related documents:

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 22 May 2025 News release Health system at breaking point as hostilities further intensify in Gaza, WHO warns

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Israel’s intensified military operations continue to threaten an already weakened health system, amidst worsening mass population displacement and acute shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel and shelter. 

    Four major hospitals in Gaza (Kamal Adwan Hospital, Indonesia Hospital, Hamad Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, and European Gaza Hospital) have had to suspend medical services in the past week due to their proximity to hostilities or evacuation zones, and attacks. WHO has recorded 28 attacks on health care in Gaza during this period and 697 attacks since October 2023.

    Only 19 of Gaza Strip’s 36 hospitals remain operational, including one hospital providing basic care for the remaining patients still inside the hospital, and are struggling under severe supply shortages, lack of health workers, persistent insecurity, and a surge of casualties, all while staff work in impossible conditions. Of the 19 hospitals, 12 provide a variety of health services, while the rest are only able to provide basic emergency care. At least 94% of all hospitals in the Gaza Strip are damaged or destroyed.

    The increased hostilities and new evacuation orders issued across northern and southern Gaza in the past two days threaten to push even more health facilities out of service. This includes 1 hospital, 11 primary care centres, and 13 medical points within the evacuation zones, and an additional 5 hospitals, 1 field hospital, 9 primary care centres, and 23 medical points within 1000 metres of those zones. 

    North Gaza has been stripped of nearly all health care. Al-Awda Hospital is only minimally functional, serving as a trauma stabilization point. It faces an imminent risk of closure due to ongoing insecurity and restricted access. The hospital’s third floor was reportedly attacked on Wednesday, injuring a staff member. Hostilities in the area also damaged the water tank and pipeline. Today, the hospital was attacked again. The third and fourth floors were reportedly hit, injuring two health workers. Patient triage tents, including one provided by WHO, caught fire, which also burned all medical supplies in the warehouse and destroyed vehicles in the basement. A WHO mission attempting to reach the hospital today was impeded.

    The Indonesian Hospital is out of service due to continued military presence since 18 May, making it inaccessible. Yesterday, a WHO mission to the hospital was forced to abort due to the security situation after waiting nearly four hours for clearance to proceed. WHO team had planned to deliver food and water to patients, assess their conditions, and identify critical equipment for transfer. WHO tried to reach the hospital again today, but the mission was impeded.

    Kamal Adwan Hospital, which had the only centre to treat patients with severe acute malnutrition in North Gaza, went out of service on 20 May after intense hostilities in its vicinity, forcing patients to evacuate or be discharged prematurely. 

    In southern Gaza, Nasser Medical Complex, Al-Amal, and Al-Aqsa hospitals are overwhelmed by a surge of injured people, worsened by a new wave of displacement to Deir al Balah and Khan Younis. The European Gaza Hospital remains out of service following an attack on 13 May, cutting off vital services including neurosurgery, cardiac care, and cancer treatment – all unavailable elsewhere in Gaza.

    Currently, across the Gaza Strip, only 2000 hospital beds remain available, for a population of over 2 million people, grossly insufficient to meet the current needs. Of these, at least 40 beds are at risk of being lost as they are in hospitals within newly declared evacuation zones, while an additional 850 could be lost if conditions deteriorate at facilities near these zones.

    Continued hostilities and military presence inhibit patients from accessing care, obstruct staff from providing care, and prevent WHO and partners from resupplying hospitals.

    With each hospital forced out of service, patients lose access to health care, and WHO and partners’ efforts, to sustain Gaza’s health system are undone. The destruction is systematic. Hospitals are rehabilitated and resupplied, only to be exposed to hostilities or attacked again. This destructive cycle must end.

    Amid constant fear and insecurity, health workers, including those from national and international emergency medical teams, continue delivering urgent care in Gaza. WHO salutes their courage and commitment.

    WHO calls for the active protection of health care. Hospitals must never be militarized or targeted.

    WHO calls for aid at scale to be allowed into Gaza through all possible routes, and for unimpeded humanitarian access to reach people wherever they are. Echoing the United Nations’ Relief Chief, WHO reiterates that the UN and its partners have a clear, principled and effective plan to deliver aid with safeguards against diversion, a system that has worked and must be enabled to continue.  

    WHO calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Foresight Transitions

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    Foresight Transitions was set up in 2017 and offers a unique level of research to assist decision making under deep uncertainty across the technology transitions, resource systems, environmental and climate change issues.

    Foresight Transitions provides bespoke analysis based on fundamental research around financial modelling, user perceptions, technological development and regulatory and policy risks in possible futures accommodating for deep uncertainty. Foresight Analysis conducts short bespoke consultancy engagements for confidential value testing of new commercial services for engineering and environmental sector organisations.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Ocean & Coastal Management (Science Direct)

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    Ocean & Coastal Management is the leading international journal dedicated to the study of all aspects of ocean and coastal management and governance. 

    Ocean & Coastal Management aims to advance management, policy and/or governance scholarship related to the sustainable development and conservation of the world’s oceans and coasts.It publishes rigorously peer-reviewed articles on ocean and coastal management and governance from the natural and social sciences, humanities and law, and design professions, and inter-/trans-disciplinary and co-designed research.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Refugees in Kenya at risk of worsening hunger as WFP faces critical funding shortfall

    Source: World Food Programme

    NAIROBI – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today warned that refugees in Kenya are at risk of heightened levels of food insecurity as critical funding shortages force the agency to reduce food assistance to the lowest levels ever recorded.

    Around 720,000 refugees supported by WFP in Kenya will from June receive an in-kind food ration of just 28 percent and all cash assistance will halt, unless additional funding is received.

    Over the past five years, the number of refugees and asylum seekers in Kenya has increased by over 70 percent – from around 500,000 to 843,000 – as people have fled conflict and drought in neighbouring countries like Somalia and South Sudan. But, despite generous support from many donors, growing needs among refugees has outstripped the availability of funds.

    “WFP’s operations supporting refugees in Kenya are under immense strain,” said Baimankay Sankoh, WFP’s Deputy Country Director in Kenya. “With available resources stretched to their limits, we have had to make the difficult decision to again reduce food assistance. This will have a serious impact on vulnerable refugees, increasing the risk of hunger and malnutrition.”

    Many refugee households in Kenya are already experiencing high levels of food insecurity. The Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate among refugee children and pregnant or breastfeeding women in Kenya is above 13 percent. A GAM rate over 10 percent is classed as a nutrition emergency, particularly in refugee settings, meaning urgent intervention is required to prevent life-threatening complications from malnutrition. WFP nutrition programmes for children and mothers ended in late 2024 due to a lack of resources.

    In 2024, WFP, in partnership with Kenya’s Department of Refugee Services (DRS) and UNHCR, provided monthly food assistance – mostly as a mix of cash and in-kind food – to 720,000 refugees in Dadaab and Kakuma camps and Kalobeyei settlement. WFP has repeatedly adjusted rations sizes to align with available funds. The latest reduction in February gave refugees 40 percent of a full food ration based on a daily recommended intake of 2,100 kcal. 

    WFP also supports refugees and host communities with programmes that foster self-reliance and integration by supporting access to fields for crops, building water infrastructure for irrigation and livestock, and constructing food markets to help the community sell their produce. These programmes continue. 

    “Less support will force refugees to make heartbreaking choices — parting with essential belongings, withdrawing children from school, or even a return to home countries despite the dangers,” said Sankoh. “Food assistance is a vital safety net, and we remain committed to doing all we can to support refugees who are trying to rebuild their lives in safety.”

    WFP urgently requires US$44 million to provide full rations and restore cash assistance for all refugees through August.

    #                    #                       #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @wfp_media @wfp_africa @wfp_kenya

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 21 May 2025 Note for Media Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly – Daily update: 21 May 2025

    Source: World Health Organisation

    A “health financing emergency” must drive country-led, data-driven solutions

    Ministers from multiple countries hit by the abrupt cuts in external funding for health agreed on the urgent need for country-owned and implemented strategies – and a laser-sharp focus on health data – at a ministerial dialogue co-hosted by WHO and the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly.

    Opening remarks by Professor Senait Fisseha, Vice President of Global Programs at the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, set the tone by noting that the crisis presents an opportunity for a turnaround in how health financing policies and health data systems are built and operated.

    Specifically, this is a time for countries to reduce their reliance on external health information systems and external financing; build out their domestic data infrastructure, from vital statistics to downstream impact and return-on-investment; and establish resilient systems designed to withstand shocks, so that access to essential services is protected.

    Professor Fisseha called on countries “to use this moment to rethink data and financing in a way that best meets your needs and the needs of your people […] For countries to truly lead and for funders and development partners to start to learn how to follow. Data and financing are a natural place to start because that is where ministers are telling us to start.”

    Dr Tedros said, “From expanding domestic financing to pioneering real-time data systems, many of you are advancing solutions that are scalable, sustainable and rooted in equity. Data and sustainable financing are not just technical matters. They are political choices. They shape who is reached, how quickly, and with what quality of care. And they determine whether we progress or fall behind.”

    Ministers from Barbados, Central African Republic, Egypt, Liberia, Malawi, Rwanda and Sierra Leone, and representatives from the African Union and the World Bank, among others, shared experiences and advice on concrete actions to strengthen data systems, health financing and planning – urging intensified collaboration in the future. They also spoke of the need to leverage the digital transformation and thereby increase transparency and accountability.

    Also discussed: strategies to improve domestic financing capacity while maximizing impact include: strengthening tax administration; exploring revenue sources such as taxes on such items as food, alcohol and tobacco; setting up population-wide mandatory health coverage schemes, coupled with subsidies for low-income households and vulnerable population groups; promoting strategic purchasing of health supplies; prioritizing health in public spending; and integrating externally-funded programmes into domestic financing systems and priorities. 

    Later this week the Assembly will take up the proposed WHA Health Financing Resolution. 

    Related links

    WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the Strategic Roundtable: Data and Sustainable Financing: Twin Foundations to Accelerate UHC – 21 May 2025

    Report on the health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan

    On 21 May 2025, the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly noted a report from the Director-General, outlining WHO’s humanitarian and emergency health response in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, from January 2024 to February 2025.

    A report on the health conditions in the occupied Syrian Golan couldn’t be provided this year again due to the ongoing situation and the lack of disaggregated health data on the Syrian population. Member States were invited to provide guidance on how to support WHO and partners to restore essential health services across Syria and enable a WHO field-assessment mission to the occupied Syrian Golan.   

    Member States expressed grave concerns over the deterioration of the health system in Gaza, including forced displacement, overcrowding and deteriorating sanitation, and attacks on health, stressing the need for concerted action to address the dire health needs.

    A number of Member States presented draft decisions asking the Director-General to continue reporting on the health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and more specifically on food insecurity and malnutrition in the Gaza Strip, and to continue supporting the Palestinian and Syrian health systems. The decision was adopted.

    Related documents

    A78/16: Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan

    A78/B/CONF./1: Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan

    A78/B/CONF./1 Add.1: Financial and administrative implications for the Secretariat of decisions proposed for adoption by the Health Assembly

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Rights of the Child Commend Romania on Deinstitutionalisation Process, Raise Questions on Corporal Punishment and Segregation in Education

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Rights of the Child today concluded its review of the combined sixth and seventh periodic reports of Romania, with Committee Experts commending the State on the deinstitutionalisation process of alternative care centres, while raising questions on the prevalence of corporal punishment and measures taken to combat segregation in education. 

    A Committee Expert said she was happy to hear about the programme for the deinstitutionalisation of alternative care centres; this was something Romania should be proud of, as well as all the foster arrangements being made, especially for children with disabilities. 

    Juliana Scerri Ferrante, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said there seemed to be a lack of parental education programmes around corporal punishment. How could the views of the child be respected if violence was accepted as a disciplinary measure?  Could the Romanian Government take clear steps to train staff and promote child education?  Philip Jaffe, Committee Vice-Chair and Country Taskforce Member, also noted that corporal punishment appeared to remain quite widespread despite being banned in 2004.  What efforts were being made to lower the prevalence and change attitudes among parents and adults? 

    Mr. Jaffe asked what was being done to combat school segregation based on disability, special education needs, and family economic status?  What improvements were being made to increase the improvement of vocational training for older children who may be leaving the school system?  Were there any programmes which specifically targeted economically disadvantaged children?

    The delegation said Romanian legislation completely prohibited violence against children, regardless of the environment.  However, despite the legislation, which was fully aligned with United Nations Conventions, the State needed to fight against mentalities and traditions and to practically change the minds of parents and caregivers, who believed corporal punishment would discipline children better.  Awareness-raising campaigns were being conducted for parents, and mechanisms including hotlines had been developed to support children, including the helpline 119.  Authorities were obligated to launch investigations immediately concerning any allegations of violence against children. 

    The delegation said the Ministry of Education had taken steps to assist children with special educational needs, with the creation of frameworks offering them different kinds of support, based on the type of disability.  Adaptive measures had been taken for Roma children, including stimulating their participation in early education and in summer kindergartens, supporting education in their current language, and translating schoolbooks in their mother tongue, among others.  An increasing number of contracts between schools and the business sector had been recorded, including around 6,000 contracts in the school year 2023/2024. 

    Introducing the report, Helena Omna-Raicu, President of the National Authority for the Protection of Child Rights and Adoption of Romania and head of the delegation, said Romania’s path in recent years had been shaped by profound changes and emerging pressures, including the war in Ukraine and the arrival of thousands of children and families fleeing conflict.  As a neighbouring country, Romania had mobilised rapidly to provide emergency care, protection, psychosocial support, and schooling to children regardless of their nationality. 

    Ms. Omna-Raicu said Romania had made significant progress in certain areas, including in the deinstitutionalisation process.  Of the 167 residential placement centres operating in 2017, 149 had already been closed by the end of March 2025 and over 6,000 children were now benefiting from family-type alternative care.  The remaining 18 placement centres would be closed soon. 

    In closing remarks, Rinchen Chophel, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Coordinator, reiterated the Committee’s appreciation for the Government of Romania’s support to Ukrainian refugees, particularly children.  Significant progress had been made from the last reporting period to the current one, with many looking forward beyond the dialogue. 

    In her closing remarks, Ms. Omna-Raicu, expressed deep gratitude for the dialogue.  The Committee’s concerns regarding urban disparities were noted.  Romania would treat the Committee’s recommendations as an opportunity for deeper transformation. 

     

    The delegation of Romania was comprised of representatives from the National Authority for the Protection of Child Rights and Adoption; the Ministry of Education and Research; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Security; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police; the General Inspectorate for Immigration; the National Administration of Penitentiaries; the Prosecutor’s Office; the National Health Insurance Authority; and the Permanent Mission of Romania to the United Nations Office at Geneva. 

    Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee’s ninety-ninth session and other documents related to the session can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, 21 May to begin its consideration of the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Qatar (CRC/C/QAT/5-6).

    Report

    The Committee has before it the combined sixth and seventh periodic reports of Romania (CRC/C/ROU/6-7).

    Presentation of Report

    HELENA OMNA-RAICU, President of the National Authority for the Protection of Child Rights and Adoption of Romania and head of the delegation, said Romania’s path in recent years had been shaped by profound changes and emerging pressures, including the war in Ukraine and the arrival of thousands of children and families fleeing conflict.  As a neighbouring country, Romania had mobilised rapidly to provide emergency care, protection, psychosocial support, and schooling to children regardless of their nationality.  The State was proud to have established the first Blue Dot in the region at the border crossing with Ukraine and launched the use of the Child Protection Information Management System Primero in only a couple of months after the onset of the refugee crisis, ensuring registration and case management for almost 40,000 refugee children.

    Several new national strategies had been developed for 2021-2027 which aimed to address child poverty and wellbeing, including the national strategy for the protection and promotion of children’s rights “protected children, safe Romania” 2023-2027, and the national strategy on social inclusion and poverty reduction 2022-2027, among others.   Romania had also adopted and begun the implementation of the child guarantee national action plan 2023-2030, which aimed to reduce the number of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion by at least 500,000 by 2030. Romania had seen a measurable decline in the proportion of children at risk of poverty and social exclusion from 41.5 per cent in 2022 to 33.8 per cent in 2024. 

    In April 2024, law 100/2024 was approved which included specific amendments to several laws relevant for social assistance.  The new emergency ordinance no. 96/2024, approved in June 2024 regarding the provision of humanitarian support and assistance by the Romanian State to foreign citizens or stateless persons in special situations coming from the area of the armed conflict in Ukraine, established the legal framework providing refugees with access to a wide range of key national statutory services. Another significant legislative change was enacted by amending law 272/2004 in December 2024, which now mandated the participation of children in public decision-making processes. 

    There had also been several significant programmes launched, including modernising the unique national number 119 for reporting cases of abuse, neglect, exploitation and any other form of violence against children; the development of community services for children and families to prevent separation and support the family reintegration of children from the special protection system; and the development of 200 integrated community centres and 150 daycare centres for children, among others.  Despite these advances, challenges remained, including disparities between rural and urban areas. 

    However, Romania had made significant progress in certain areas, including in the deinstitutionalisation process.  Of the 167 residential placement centres operating in 2017, 149 had already been closed by the end of March 2025 and over 6,000 children were now benefiting from family-type alternative care.  The remaining 18 placement centres would be closed soon.  The use of European Union structural funds had also supported the training of over 11,000 foster carers.  A new programme had also been introduced, aimed to scale-up integrated community-services in 2,000 marginalised rural communities, combining social assistance, health, education, and other types of social support.  Over 800 million euros of European Social Funds were planned for enhancing access to social services for the most vulnerable, including children and their families.

    The State had also expanded support for children at risk of early school leaving by using the early warning mechanism in education, of which around 50,000 participants from 6,950 institutions had completed the training programme.  Targeted policies had been developed that supported the reintegration of children who dropped out during the pandemic, and more resources were reaching schools in deprived communities.  In health, the role of community nurses and Roma health mediators had grown, and work continued to improve access to services for vulnerable groups. 

    Pilot projects on mental health for children had laid the groundwork for more systemic change, with mental health services for children and adolescents being expanded. However, challenges remained in ensuring equitable access to quality services in rural and marginalised areas, addressing shortages of specialised personnel, and improving early identification and intervention for children with developmental delays or disabilities.

    Romania was committed to reducing the number of children affected by poverty and social exclusion by at least 500,000.  The State would also pursue the complete closure of old-type residential centres, with every child in alternative care placed in family-based or community settings. Romania was committed to translating the pledges made during the first-ever global ministerial conference on ending violence against children held at the end of 2024 in Bogota, Columbia, into realities for children. 

    In education, the State aimed to increase the early childhood education enrolment rate by at least 22 per cent for children aged zero to three and at least 95 per cent for children aged four to six.  There would be a focus on improving mental health services for children and linking schools, families, and health providers more effectively, aiming to reduce preventable mortality by 20 per cent compared to 2021 levels for children of all ages.   Finally, Romania would ensure that children had a role in shaping systems through participatory budgeting, monitoring, and children and youth-led policy platforms. Romania remained committed to fully implementing the Convention and to contributing to the global effort to advance child rights everywhere.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    RINCHEN CHOPHEL, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Coordinator, said Romania had achieved a lot since the last report, which the Committee was happy about. Romania’s assistance to the Ukrainian refugees and children should be noted.  There had been significant legislative achievements, particularly the amendments to law 272.  What measures were in place to ensure effective implementation of the law?  The national strategy on social inclusion and poverty reduction 2022-2027, and the child guarantee national action plan 2023-2030 were very welcome developments.  How had these impacted on measures to promote and protect children? Had an assessment been undertaken to evaluate the impact of the national strategy. 

    While welcoming increased allocations to certain sectors, the Coordinator asked what measures were in place to develop a child-friendly budgeting process?  What was the current status of the complaints mechanism in the country for reporting all forms of abuse and violence for children? What had been done to inform children of their right to file a complaint?  Had professionals working with children been trained on receiving complaints concerning children and the Convention? 

    The establishment of the child Ombudsman in 2018 was a crucial step in the right direction, and the Government should be congratulated for that.  What was the current status of the institution?  How did it connect with children?  The Committee noted the State party’s awareness raising activities on the Convention with appreciation, including the translation of the Committee’s general comments into Romanian.  How did these efforts extend to rural children? 

    JULIANA SCERRI FERRANTE, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, asked if the national strategy for school de-segregation been adopted?  If not, then when would this occur?  What measures had been taken to address hate speech? Did the permanent committee set up in every education unit offer a complaints mechanism to children?  If not, how could children complain in schools? 

    What had been done to decrease discrimination against the Roma population?  What efforts had been made to promote the inclusion of Roma in mainstream schooling?  How was discrimination against children with disabilities tackled in education?  There was concern that Romanian law did not define valid reasons on which minor marriages could be authorised and this was left to the discretion of the authorities.  What training was provided to apply the best interests of the child? What approaches had been taken to reduce the preventable mortality of children under five years old?  What was the position of the Romanian Government on the proposed amendment to law 272 regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children?

    There seemed to be a lack of parental education programmes around corporal punishment. How could the views of the child be respected if violence was accepted as a disciplinary measure?  Could the Romanian Government take clear steps to train staff and promote child education?  How were child labour laws enforced?  How would the Romanian Government establish a child participation mechanism?  Were refugee and asylum-seeking children involved in decisions which affected them? Were children provided information on their rights? 

    What measures were being taken to strengthen the capacity of the social welfare services? How were children with disabilities prioritised in reform measures?  What was being done to combat the illicit transfer of children abroad?  Had bilateral agreements been conducted in this regard?  Was the Romanian Government carrying out measures to understand the impact of prison on children?  How were they supported when their parents were incarcerated?  What support was available for young people leaving institutional care? 

    SOPHIE KILADZE, Committee Chair and Country Taskforce Member, said the adoption of law 105/22 providing for automatic birth registration should be considered as positive.  Could more information be provided about how the law worked in practice?  Were there any plans to introduce a statelessness determination procedure?  Was data on statelessness which concerned children disaggregated?  What measures were in place to protect children from excessive screen use?  How did Romania deal with artificial intelligence as a European Union member? Romania had one of the lowest levels of digital skills in the European Union; what measures were being undertaken to promote digital literacy among children, as well as parents? 

    PHILIP JAFFE, Committee Vice-Chair and Country Taskforce Member, said it was wonderful that strong pledges had been made at the global ministerial conference on ending violence against children in Bogota.  How was Romania implementing its mission as a pathfinding global alliance country?  It seemed Romanian children were in need of protection against high levels of physical and sexual violence.  One of the pledges made in Bogota was to conduct a prevalence study on sexual abuse; had the State moved forward with this study?  Were there dedicated teams drawing up the comprehensive framework and strategy which had been promised?  One pledge had been to enhance children’s participation regarding issues of violence.  What efforts had the Government made to ensure that there was a clear public understanding that all forms of violence against children needed to be reported? 

    Corporal punishment appeared to remain quite widespread despite being banned in 2004. What efforts were made to lower the prevalence and change attitudes among parents and adults?  It was encouraging that Romania had been one of 40 countries to recently join a statement of the Human Rights Council, expressing children’s right to protection from corporal punishment.  How was bullying and cyber bullying being addressed at all levels of legislative policy?  Could more information about the child helplines be provided? 

    Was it true that around seven to eight per cent of girls in Romania were married before the age of 18, with that percentage rising to around 20 per cent in the Roma community? What was being done in response to this? Was it true that charges had been dropped against a 17-year-old boy who entered into a non-formal marriage with an 11-year-old girl?  What policy was in practice in the health sector regarding surgical interventions and intersex children?  What were the guidelines to protect their bodily integrity until these children were capable of providing consent? 

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the law on child protection now included clear provisions which made it compulsory for public administrative bodies to involve children in consultations regarding issues which concerned them.  The national strategy on children’s rights was recently adopted and another national action plan was elaborated; these plans were complimentary. This was a comprehensive package which would help the Government to better implement all necessary measures. An assessment of the national strategy had been undertaken.  The State was now piloting a system which would indicate how to establish a model of financing where children would be considered as a different group that would benefit from a different budget. 

    The national programme for schooling in Romania ensured children received food support at schools to increase the enrolment rate and participation.  School supplies were also provided for all school grades. Two hundred euros were provided for the purchase of technology, and remedial lessons were provided to students coming from disadvantaged communities.  Recently, the scholarship system had been extended to encompass more disadvantaged groups. 

    Funds allocated to primary medical care had registered a continuous annual increase.  Just last year, the fund allocated to primary care increased by 24 per cent.  The national observatory was a big achievement for Romania and aimed to identify the children most at risk of being separated from their families, based on indicators.  Training was being conducted on the use of the observatory to ensure the data provided was reliable.   

    The hearing of minors in justice proceedings took place in special rooms, and a psychologist was always required to be present.  The new national strategy for the development of the judicial system provided for another 10 hearing rooms across the country.  There were specially designated prosecutors to handle cases involving minors.  The child Ombudsman was fully operational and cooperated with all institutions.  It had a functioning complaints mechanism.  If an incident was notified to the Ombudsman, an investigation started, which concluded with a set of recommendations sent to the institution responsible to correct the situation.  

    Civil society representatives were part of the consultative groups established at the national level.  A methodology had been issued and piloted regarding identifying and banning segregation within the educational sector.  The measures focused on ensuring an inclusive education.  Any kind of discrimination on criteria such as ethnicity, religion or sex was completely forbidden within the educational system.  Specific places in high schools were allocated for Roma students and students with disabilities.  To ensure access to high quality education, educational services had been developed starting from early education to prevent early dropout and absenteeism.     

    A set of programmes had been introduced, including a monthly allowance for children up to the age of 18, as well as parental leave.  There was also a minimum income support which supported families with children. Emergency ordinance no.96 was developed specifically for children from Ukraine and their families. 

    There was a dedicated intergovernmental group which addressed the subject of forced marriage, with the aim of drafting legislative projects in this regard.  Concerning infant mortality and the number of deaths under one year of age, a regionalised system of care had been introduced to ensure each neonate was born in a medical unit which could provide the services necessary for their care, thereby reducing infant mortality.  An important national programme was in place which contained around 15 interventions, established in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund.  Another programme provided 900 neonatal incubators around the country. 

    A significant number of services had been established to help families in vulnerable situations. A special programme was launched last year on the minimum inclusion income, which focused on how to assist parents within the labour market.  The State was aware of a lack of social assistance in rural areas, which was where the most vulnerable communities lived.  Interventions were directed, including food packages, and local administrative capacities would be developed. 

    A programme had been developed which aimed to establish hearing rooms for children in courts, and 29 hearing rooms were completed in April 2024.  The rooms were used by the Prosecutors and police officers when they had victims who were minors.  The rooms were child-friendly and specially designed with toys.  The child did not see the other people participating in the hearing.  A new strategy adopted in 2025 provided for the need for an additional 10 hearing rooms in the near future. 

    All social services were functioning based on a set of minimum quality standards, which were verified by the national agency for social inspection.   With the United Nations Children’s Fund, Romania was piloting a project which would identify and train foster families to care specifically for children with disabilities.  A child entering the special protection system was prioritised to be reintegrated in a family environment.  Adoption was considered the best solution in this regard, and this could only be decided by a court.  Priority was offered to domestic adoption, but international adoption could be considered after one year. 

    Amendments had been made to allow special spaces for visits in prison with children.  Such spaces were now available in all prison facilities within the Romanian penitentiary system.  There were cooperation protocols in place with the United Nations Children’s Fund and Save the Children which supported parents to develop their parental skills and improve their relationship with their children. The State was aware of the need to develop programmes which addressed the needs of children and adults and improved the relationship within the family.

    The Ministry of Education aimed to develop digital competencies among students and parents. During the pandemic, all students were provided with laptops and digital devices to keep up with the educational process.  In a new initiative launched in partnership with Microsoft, the Ministry of Education had announced the development of a project concerning artificial intelligence for increasing the school performance of students.  A project was also being implemented aimed at improving the digital skills of civil servants. 

    Romania had a dedicated national child help line.  It was toll-free and operational 24/7.  Those operating the calls were specialised counsellors who could refer the cases to the relevant authorities.  Another helpline just referred cases to social services.  The 119 helpline was a recent development, operational from any place in Romania and accessible to children and adults.  After the first year, it had been well received and was being regularly used to inform on any situation concerning a child. 

    Rape of a minor and sexual assault against a minor had been introduced as acts within the Criminal Code.  Rape committed by an adult against a minor under the age of 18 was punished by a prison sentence of between seven to 12 years.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    PHILIP JAFFE, Committee Vice-Chair and Country Taskforce Member, said one in 20 people in Romania held a disability certificate, with around 80,000 being children. What were the difficulties faced by certain groups of children to receive this certificate, including rural children?  Were there any awareness-raising campaigns for rural minorities and poor families regarding their entitlement to services?  Could more information be provided about Romania’s strategy for persons with disabilities?  How were the number and expertise of professionals being scaled up?  To what degree had the State embraced a human-rights approach to disability, as opposed to a medical model of disability?  How many children were still left in institutions? When would such institutions all be closed? 

    There were two recent laws on pre-university education and higher education; could more information be provided about the implementation of these laws?  What was the level of gross domestic product dedicated to education in Romania?  Was there a direct pipeline to hear about the concerns of children within the education system and were these concerns taken seriously?  What was being done to combat school segregation based on disability, special education needs, and family economic status?  Figures suggested that 40 per cent of children with disabilities had limited access to education.  What steps were being made to improve education for children under the age of three? What improvements were being made to increase the improvement of vocational training for older children who may be leaving the school system?  Were there any programmes which specifically targeted economically disadvantaged children?  What was the mission of the Ministry of Youth? 

    SOPHIE KILADZE, Committee Chair and Country Taskforce Member, asked if sufficient resources were dedicated to the capacity building of medical personnel? Did all children have access to health care, including health insurance?  How were vaccinations promoted in the country?  How was breast feeding promoted?  Child obesity was an issue of concern; how was this combatted? Was there a hot meals programme? 

    Mental health was a very important issue.  Was data on mental health being disaggregated, including on suicide?  Was there a comprehensive strategy and action plan regarding the issue of mental health?  Were quality mental health services available in rural and remote areas? According to alarming information, the country had the highest number of adolescent mothers across the European Union. What steps would the State undertake to prevent adolescent pregnancies and subsequent abortions?  Would Romania make reproductive education part of the curriculum? 

    What measures were in place to address drugs or substance abuse?  Were there treatments available for children?  Romania had made substantial efforts for Ukrainian children and other groups of refugees.  How would the State integrate these children long-term?  Were there delays in the enrolment of refugee children and their families into the social services system?  Would amendments be considered in the asylum law to end the detention of families at the legislative level?  Did unaccompanied migrant children have access to services, including psychosocial support and disability services?  Were there any barriers which could hinder access to education? 

    What measures were being undertaken to end child labour, including begging?  What was being done to assist children in street situations?  How were perpetrators investigated and brought to justice?  Were there quality services for child victims of trafficking in place? Was the system of child justice established across the country?  Were adequate financial resources allocated to it?  Was free legal aid available to children in conflict with the law?  Was the detention of children used only as a last resort?  If yes, did it comply with international standards? 

    RINCHEN CHOPHEL, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Coordinator, said one in five children were affected by severe material and social deprivation, which was concerning.  What was the reality on the ground?  The minimum social assistance package had been introduced; could more information be provided on it?  Romania was increasingly vulnerable to droughts, heatwaves, floods and landslides, and it was also grappling with water pollution.  How had the national strategies pertaining to climate change helped to address the challenges of the environment and climate change in the country? What measures were being adopted to take into account children’s needs and views in the development of specific policies, including disaster-preparedness plans?  Were child rights impact assessments carried out when dealing with the business sector? 

    A Committee Expert asked what the national coverage of vaccinations was in the country?  Romania had an epidemic of measles; how did the population react to vaccinations?  How was confidence being built in vaccines?  Were people familiar with the law on rape?  What happened once the 30-day limit for registering births had elapsed? 

    Responses by the Delegation

    Romanian legislation completely prohibited violence against children, regardless of the environment.  However, despite the legislation, which was fully aligned with United Nations Conventions, the State needed to fight against mentalities and traditions and to practically change the minds of parents and caregivers, who believed corporal punishment would discipline children better.  Awareness-raising campaigns were being conducted for parents, and mechanisms including hotlines had been developed to support children, including the helpline 119. 

    Authorities were obligated to launch investigations immediately concerning any allegations of violence against children.  Romania was committed to continuing these efforts and to changing social norms and mentalities.  The numbers of cases of violence against children was increasing, which meant people were becoming more aware of the issue and reporting it. 

    Since 2016, the methodology applied in Romania clearly distinguished between the concept of disability and special education needs.  In Romania, the deinstitutionalisation process was one of the most important commitments of the Government, and the process was now concluding. Currently, out of the 167 residential centres operating in 2017, 149 had already been closed, and more than 6,000 children were benefiting from alternative care.  The legal framework stated that no placement centre could operate without the approved closure plan.  The deinstitutionalisation process also involved finding better alternative and family-based care for children.   Only 18 placement centres remained in the process of being closed, and by 2026 no such centre would be operating in Romania.  The State was still aiming to find family-style solutions for children with disabilities, and a project was being developed with the United Nations Children’s Fund to this end.

    If a birth was declared after the 30-day deadline but less than one year after the birth, the birth certificate could be issued based on approval from the mayor.  If the birth declaration was made more than one year after the birth, the certificate needed to be approved by the mayor and other administrative bodies. 

    More than 2.8 million students were enrolled in the 2023/2024 school year in Romania.  For high school, there had been a significant decrease in dropouts from 2.5 per cent in 2017 to 0.8 per cent in 2024. Around 4.5 per cent of the budget was allocated to education.  The Ministry of Education had taken steps to assist children with special educational needs, with the creation of frameworks offering them different kinds of support, based on the type of disability.  For students with temporary special needs, the law of education presented special measures, including the implementation of schooling hospitals, or schooling at home for those who were required to be in hospital or at home for medical reasons. 

    Adaptive measures had been taken for Roma children, including stimulating their participation in early education and in summer kindergartens, supporting education in their current language, and translating schoolbooks in their mother tongue, among others.  More than 66,000 teachers had been trained in digital and multimedia use.  An increasing number of contracts between schools and the business sector had been recorded, around 6,000 contracts in the school year 2023/2024.  Most teachers had been trained to create open educational resources.  Significant funds had been allocated to modernising rest room facilities in schools. 

    Any student could submit complaints of discrimination via an established framework.  Students benefitted from representation in the school system through several platforms.  The national strategy for sustainable development issued the methodology of the “green week programme”, which contributed to preschoolers and students’ competence in understanding basic concepts of climate change, to initiate individual and protective action to protect the environment.  Teachers were obliged to obtain 90 transferrable professional credits every five years, through attending courses offered by Romanian training houses.

    In recent years, infant mortality had remained relatively stable in Romania.  From 2023 to 2024, the number of doctors treating children increased by five per cent.  Regarding children’s access to medical services, all children were insured in Romania and benefitted from basic medical services across all sectors of health care.  The national health insurance fund also reimbursed certain services.  The Ministry of Health had launched a vaccination campaign in partnership with the Red Cross, to raise awareness of parents; this had been accompanied by a “catch-up” vaccination schedule, resulting in 1,500 children being vaccinated.  A protocol had been signed with the Orthodox Church to establish an active partnership to create a framework for anyone facing a possible cancer diagnosis, offering support.   

    World Breastfeeding Week was celebrated in August each year, as breastfeeding remained one of the most effective ways to provide children with the best start in life. Breast feeding recommendations had been developed with partners, including the World Health Organization, and were relayed to medical practitioners at the local level.  Around 200 integrated community centres would be restructured, elevated and equipped.  A television broadcast had been created to promote the importance of breastfeeding in the first six months of a child’s life.   

    Information and education campaigns had been carried out for children, parents and teachers about the benefits of a healthy diet and the consequences of unhealthy eating. Around 1,000 people had benefited from the campaign.  Substance abuse could be detected by family doctors and psychological services could be recommended.  The national health insurance house implemented the national mental health programme, providing treatment for persons with substance abuses, and ensuring specific treatment for patients with depressive disorders. 

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    RINCHEN CHOPHEL, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Coordinator, said the Government had approved a social assistance programme in 2011 which targeted all communes, but was underfinanced; could more information be provided?  The Environment Week presented was an excellent initiative; how was it being utilised? 

    JULIANA SCERRI FERRANTE, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, asked if there were any supervision orders, where children remained with their family but were supervised?  Were there age assessment procedures during the asylum procedure?  What rights did children applying for asylum have?  Could they appeal any decisions? 

    PHILIP JAFFE, Committee Vice-Chair and Country Taskforce Member, said according to research by the United Nations Children’s Fund, Romanian girls felt much lonelier than Romanian boys.  Was there a reason for this gap? 

    SOPHIE KILADZE, Committee Chair and Country Taskforce Member, asked for clarification on case management coordination? 

    A Committee Expert noted the prevalence of women among the large delegation and asked if women generally had an important and high-profile position in Romania, or if this only occurred when discussing children?  Had there been any programmes to prevent violence?  Had the concept of gender been fully institutionalised? Were teachers trained in detecting signs of violence?  What was the prevalence of child marriage in the country?  What about figures for marriages which were not officially recorded? Had there been any programmes to prevent the phenomenon or sanctions? 

    Was there any mapping of the at-risk populations in the country of female genital mutilation? Was female genital mutilation prohibited in law?  What was the most updated action on sexual exploitation?  Was there any cross-border cooperation between Romania and neighbouring countries?  Did Ukrainian children born in Romania have access to Romanian citizenship?  Did rape victims have access to emergency contraception?

    Another Expert asked about vaccinations from children aged zero to 12; was there distrust in the population when it came to vaccines?  It seemed that tuberculosis was a public health issue.  What was being done in the field of treatment? Were there children whose births had not been declared, particularly among refugees, Roma and migrants?

    A Committee Expert asked about the new concept introduced by the Parliament on parental alienation.  How had this concept been consulted on, particularly with children?  How would the best interests of the child be ensured? What specific measures were being taken to reduce school dropout and improve access to quality education for Roma children?  What mechanisms were in place to monitor and support Roma children who were at risk of dropping out? 

    Another Committee Expert said she was happy to hear about the programme for the deinstitutionalisation of alternative care centres; this was something Romania should be proud of, as well as all the foster arrangements being made, especially for children with disabilities.  What was the State doing to support the families of children with disabilities, particularly those with severe disabilities? 

    Responses by the Delegation 

    The delegation said emergency contraception was available to those who had experienced sexual assault and could be obtained without a prescription.  Adolescent pregnancies were a major concern for the Romanian public health system.  Contraceptives and medical devices were provided free of charge through family centres and through gynaecological departments, where abortions were performed upon request.  Romania was one of the first European countries to offer non-discriminatory HIV/AIDS treatment. 

    Refugees were granted a monthly allowance, one-month’s accommodation, and access to education for minors.  Legislation in the field of asylum provided for beneficiaries to apply for family reunification when family members were not in Romania.  Identity documents needed to be provided to prove family links. Family reunification of unaccompanied minors was carried out with the best interest of the child in mind. Minors from immigrant backgrounds benefitted from the same rights as minors who were Romanian citizens. Romanian language courses provided teaching support, textbooks and workbooks developed on linguistic levels according to the European Union framework.  Priority for asylum applications was given to unaccompanied minors. 

    Medical forensic expertise was used when an asylum applicant could not prove their age and there were serious doubts about their ethnicity.  The declared age of the asylum applicant was accepted if their refusal to undergo the medical expertise was based on compelling reasons.  The assessment was performed with full respect for the minor’s dignity and in as least invasive way as possible. 

    Investigations in child and human trafficking were undertaken by specialists with supervision from specialised prosecutors.  Through law 229/2024, the Romanian Parliament aimed to discourage sex tourism and the pimping of minors.  More than 1,200 criminal cases had been identified regarding child trafficking. The General Inspectorate of Romanian Police organised regular sessions for border police and 

    non-governmental organizations, with the purpose of identifying victims.  More than 125 trainings had been carried out to over 4,000 workers who may encounter trafficking victims through their work. The National Agency against Trafficking in Persons and the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime had implemented a national action plan in the fight against human trafficking to improve the awareness of at-risk groups. 

    In 2024, prosecutors from the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime took part in 35 seminars regarding identifying child victims, compensation for victims, international cooperation, and online sexual exploitation of children, among other topics.  A public awareness campaign had been launched relating to sexual acts between adults and minors.  The message stated that a sexual act committed against a minor of 16 years or under constituted rape, if the age gap was more than five years, and punishments applied. 

    According to Romanian legislation, minors benefited from free legal aid, whether they committed a crime, or if they were victims of a crime.  The Romanian penal system limited sanctions in regard to minors, and measures for deprivation of liberty were only given as a last resort and could only be ordered by a court. 

    The integrated social services project aimed to develop the academic knowledge of professionals working in the social assistance field, and to develop concrete measures for vulnerable groups of people. 

    During “green week”, schools organised activities around several topics relating to the environment.  These were uploaded on a specialised platform dedicated to education on climate change and varied from one educational cycle to another.  The Ministry of Education had developed a programme, the mechanism of early-living alert, which focused on early education for Roma children. 

    In Romania, social services were obligated to identify children in a risk situation.  Children could remain within families and be monitored by social services until the risks were removed.  The parental alienation provision was introduced in all cases relating to violence and neglect.  It was recommended that this provision be removed, as these measures should only be applied by the courts.  There were many trainings offered to judges on methods relating to children’s rights.  Social workers were also trained to provide necessary assistance to visiting parents. Social services could only assist; they could not intervene and solve disputes between parents. 

    Closing Remarks

    RINCHEN CHOPHEL, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Coordinator, reiterated the Committee’s appreciation for the Government of Romania’s support to Ukrainian refugees, particularly children.  The State was encouraged to continue to undertake these activities which were important for solidarity for children.  Significant progress had been made from the last reporting period to the current one, with many looking forward beyond the dialogue.  This was an indication of the Government’s commitment towards children.  As the country moved forward, it was important to put emphasis on implementation and ensure vulnerable children did not miss out. 

    HELENA OMNA-RAICU, President of the National Authority for the Protection of Child Rights and Adoption of Romania and head of the delegation, expressed deep gratitude for the dialogue.  The delegation welcomed the Committee’s emphasis on equality, accountability and sustainability, and would underpin the next stage of the State’s deinstitutionalisation journey.  The Committee’s concerns regarding urban disparities were noted.  It was recognised that rights delayed were rights denied, and the State was committed to accelerating affirmative action. Romania would treat the Committee’s recommendations as an opportunity for deeper transformation. 

    SOPHIE KILADZE, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the fruitful dialogue and commended its members for their clear and comprehensive answers.  Ms. Kiladze extended her best regards to the children of Romania. 

    ___________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

     

    CRC25.013E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: European Journal of Education (Wiley)

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    European Journal of Education aspires to make an impact within and beyond academia, and covers all areas of educational research from global contributors.

    Its scope is broad, international and multidisciplinary, spanning from early years education to adult and continuing education. The journal covers education in all subject areas, as well as papers on topics such as educational psychology, policy, sociology, the curriculum, and learning environments and disabilities. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Setopati

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    News

    Published on

    The topography together with the climatic pattern are the two unchangeable natural components that renders Nepal prone to the water-related hazards. However, these natural factors alone are not responsible for the disasters in Nepal.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 21 May 2025 Departmental update Update on the Call for Expressions of Interest to Join the Coalition

    Source: World Health Organisation

    We would like to thank all institutions that have expressed interest in becoming members of the Global Coalition for Evidence. The Call for Expressions of Interest, originally planned for release in mid-March 2025, has been postponed due to the ongoing restructuring process within WHO.

    We greatly value the enthusiasm and engagement received so far and remain committed to advancing this process once internal steps are finalized. Further updates will be communicated as soon as possible through this website and the EVIPNet LinkedIn Group. We appreciate your understanding and continued interest.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 21 May 2025 Departmental update Technical paper on economic and commercial determinants of health in Small Island Developing States

    Source: World Health Organisation

    This groundbreaking technical paper is informed by and supports the effort by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to tackle the economic and commercial determinants of health—as set out in the 2023 Bridegtown Declaration. In particular, the paper addresses the challenges and opportunities for SIDS in addressing the economic and commercial determinants of noncommunicable diseases, mental health conditions, injuries and violence.

    Titled “Economic and commercial determinants of health in Small Island Developing States: noncommunicable diseases, mental health conditions, injuries and violence,” the paper was unveiled during an official side event at the 78th World Health Assembly focusing on the upcoming UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health.

    The technical paper is the first comprehensive analysis examining how commercial determinants specifically impact health outcomes in SIDS, identifying both challenges and opportunities for intervention.

    Key findings

    The paper reveals several critical common and shared vulnerabilities of SIDS which underpin their economic and commercial determinants of health.:

    • Power imbalances: Due to small populations and limited human and financial resources, SIDS face disproportionate pressure from multinational commercial actors
    • Less diversified economies: Many SIDS rely heavily on sectors centered on potentially health-harming products.
    • Dependence on external supply: Import dependency leaves SIDS susceptible to market fluctuations and disadvantageous trade agreements
    • Interconnected challenges: Climate change, food insecurity and harmful commercial practices compound leading to health harms.

    Recommendations

    The paper outlines five key opportunity areas for addressing economic and commercial determinants of health in SIDS:

    • Creating policy environments that enable health through measures such as taxation of health-harming products as well as regulation of commercial practices such as harmful marketing
    • Safeguarding against conflicts of interest through transparent and coordinated governance mechanisms
    • Empowering community participation in governance for health
    • Strengthening governance for commercial determinants in development approaches
    • Investing in SIDS-SIDS and triangular cooperation

    As Dr Etienne Krug, Director of WHO’s Social Determinants of Health Department, notes in the paper’s foreword: “Tackling the commercial determinants of health in SIDS includes action to support shifting businesses from health-harming to health-promoting practices, addressing power imbalances between public sectors and commercial actors, regulating harmful commercial practices, and improving underlying systems.”

    Building on momentum

    The paper builds on the 2023 Bridgetown Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health, providing a technical foundation for implementing the roadmap established at the SIDS Ministerial Conference in Barbados.

    This paper comes as the Bridgetown Declaration’s importance moves beyond SIDS: it provides the momentum and path forward as the world approaches the Fourth High-Level Meeting. In the same way that the 2007 Declaration of Port-of-Spain on Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic NCDs is credited with building momentum for the first UN high-level meeting on NCDs in 2011 and its transformation of the NCD response, the 2023 Bridgetown Declaration promises to be a catalyst for the rebirth of the response to NCDs and mental health.

    “The time for action is now,” the technical paper concludes, calling for collaborative efforts between SIDS governments, communities, and international partners to develop integrated approaches that prioritize well-being, embrace Indigenous knowledge, and support health-aligned local businesses.

    WHO will continue supporting SIDS and all countries through technical assistance, capacity-building and fostering a global community of practice on commercial determinants of health to protect health, promote wellbeing and save lives.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Strengthening protection of World Heritage Archives with JFIT support

    Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre

    World Heritage site managers and archive specialists throughout South-East Asia are benefitting from a series of capstone activities under the “Safeguarding World Heritage Site Archives” JFIT project, developed in collaboration between CLT and CI sectors.

    Launched in 2023, the project has contributed to conserving important archival collections related to World Heritage by applying global standards on documentary heritage, notably from the Memory of the World programme. Encompassing diverse material such as photographs, maps, restoration plans and digital media, these collections play a crucial role in understanding, protecting and monitoring World Heritage properties.  Made possible through the generous support of the Government of Japan through UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust, the initiative responds to urgent challenges facing archives today.

    In Cambodia, the project has focused on the newest World Heritage property of Koh Ker: Archaeological Site of Ancient Lingapura or Chok Gargyar. Under the auspices of the  National Authority for Preah Vihear, a Standard Operating Procedure is being finalized in order to provide customized guidance for managing the archives of the Koh Ker site.

    In Indonesia, four World Heritage sites will participate in a workshop on “Developing Policies for Disaster Risk Management of Indonesian World Heritage Sites’ Archival Collections” organized collaboratively with the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia on 3-4 June 2025. The workshop targets policy-making levels at the Ministry of Culture and the World Heritage sites of Prambanan Temple Compounds, Borobudur Temple Compounds, Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto, and Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta.

    In Thailand, UNESCO and the Thai Fine Arts Department joined hands to organize a practical training workshop on “Archives and Record Management for World Heritage Sites” on 22-23 May 2025 at the Historic City of Ayutthaya in Thailand. Led by experts from the National Archives of Thailand, this training is designed to equip cultural World Heritage site managers from Thailand and Lao PDR with knowledge and skills in managing their historic documents.  The workshop is planned to showcase archives activities undertaken at Ayutthaya throughout the project, including an upgraded records management facility holding both paper-based and digital records.

    Finally, the project will also see the upcoming launch of UNESCO’s new manual on World Heritage conservation archives management, which will be available in English along with Baha Indonesia, Chinese, Khmer, Russian and Thai through the coordination of UNESCO Jakarta, UNESCO Beijing, UNESCO Phnom Penh, UNESCO Almaty and UNESCO Bangkok, respectively.

    For further information, please contact:

    Culture Unit, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok: culture.bgk@unesco.org 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –