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Category: United Nations

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the situation in Yemen [scroll down for Arabic]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the airstrikes conducted by the United States over the course of 17 and 18 April in and around Yemen’s port of Ra’s Isa, which reportedly resulted in scores of civilian casualties, including five humanitarian workers injured. Humanitarian assistance has been mobilized to support nearby health facilities. He is also alarmed by reports of significant damage to the port infrastructure and of possible oil leaks into the Red Sea. 

    The Secretary General is also deeply concerned about the ongoing missile and drone strikes conducted by the Houthis against Israel and in the Red Sea and calls on the Houthis to cease such attacks immediately. He also underscores that Security Council resolution 2768 (2025) related to Houthi attacks against merchant and commercial vessels must be fully respected.
    The Secretary-General recalls that international law, including international humanitarian law as applicable, must be respected at all times, and he appeals to all to respect and protect civilians as well as civilian infrastructure.

    The Secretary-General remains deeply troubled about the risk of further escalation in the region and continues to urge all to exercise utmost restraint. The Secretary-General also reiterates his call for the immediate and unconditional release of all the UN and other personnel arbitrarily detained by the Houthis.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Note to Correspondents: Rosemary DiCarlo concludes visit to Lebanon

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo just completed a trip to Lebanon, in follow up to the January visit by the Secretary-General, to reaffirm the steadfast support of the United Nations for the country during this critical period. 

    Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo conveyed the support of the United Nations to the parties in fulfilling their obligations under the Cessation of Hostilities Understanding and the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006) and all other relevant Security Council resolutions, including through UNIFIL and UNSCOL. DiCarlo also reaffirmed United Nations support for the Government of Lebanon as it seeks to advance its critical reform agenda and extend state authority. 

    On 17 April, the Under-Secretary-General visited the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission and its area of operations in southern Lebanon, to see firsthand the impact from the recent hostilities on villages along the Blue Line.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Disrupting Disasters

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    This is a podcast about doing disasters differently, because the future demands it. Join Elizabeth McNaughton in conversation with disaster experts from around the world.

    They’ll share stories and learnings from their work, all while discussing how we can change the way we do disaster preparedness, response and recovery to rise to the level of today’s climate challenges. Elizabeth is a disaster specialist and founder of Disastrous, a professional development and innovation hub for those working in disasters.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNDRR, Green Climate Fund, the West African Development Bank and Early Warning for All Partners join hands to empower Togo to strengthen climate and disaster risk management

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    From 8 to 11 April 2025, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Office for Northeast Asia and Global Education and Training Institute (ONEA & GETI), in partnership with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the West African Development Bank (BOAD), hosted a technical Training of Trainers workshop on “Tools for Implementing Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Information and Early Warning Systems Projects” with national stakeholders from Togo. The workshop, held in Incheon, Republic of Korea, was organized in support of the implementation of the recently approved GCF co-funded project, ‘Strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities within high climatic and disaster risk areas in Togo,’ to help build capacity and technical knowledge of key governmental stakeholders to support the project’s activities.

    Throughout the training, representatives from Togo’s key institutions involved in disaster risk reduction, climate information and early warning, including the National Agency for Civil Protection (ANPC), the Togolese Meteorological Agency (ANAMET), the Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources (MERF), and other project partners including the West African Development Bank (BOAD) and the African Risk Capacity (ARC), joined sessions delivered by UNDRR, GCF, as well as international partners from CREWS, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), UN Climate Technology Centre and Network (UNCTCN), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Core themes included disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation (CCA), multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) and anticipatory action, gender mainstreaming and diversity, equity and inclusion in DRR, project monitoring and evaluation, forecast-based finance, and climate investment planning. Participants explored global frameworks, such as the Sendai Framework, the Paris Agreement, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and discussed the design, coordination, and financing structure for the new GCF co-financed initiative in Togo.

    In addition to in-depth sessions on GCF’s project implementation, reporting, and results frameworks, the workshop introduced practical tools such as the Sendai Framework Monitor Custom Indicators and the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities, and its thematic annexes to support national and local level DRR planning. Technical partners presented available tools and collaborative approaches under the Early Warnings for All Initiative and shared examples from country-level implementation. Practical experience from the Republic of Korea was also shared through a presentation from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) on its integrated disaster management system and emergency communication tools, showcasing how the four pillars of early warning, including risk knowledge, monitoring and forecasting, dissemination and communication, and response capability, are implemented through advanced technologies and inter-agency coordination.

    The final day of the workshop included a field visit to the Incheon Metropolitan City Safety Situation Division, a core facility within Korea’s urban resilience infrastructure. Participants toured the division’s integrated monitoring and control systems, including real-time CCTV surveillance, flood sensors, wildfire alert systems, and automated detection systems for identifying unusual events and alerting operators. City officials shared how Incheon leverages digital tools and interdepartmental coordination to ensure fast, reliable disaster alert delivery across sectors. The visit served as a practical demonstration of how smart governance and technology can strengthen resilience at the local level. Participants reflected on the field visit to the Incheon Metropolitan City Safety Situation Division, sharing valuable insights and inspirations drawn from the experience:

    “The visit has given us a lot of inspiration for setting up our operations room (soon to be equipped) in coordination with the UNDRR. The Project will help to strengthen current data collection, processing and dissemination for early warning. We hope that one day we will also have an observation network similar to the one in Incheon.” – Yoma Baka (Director General of ANPC)

    “We have great enthusiasm for the tools that we observed during the visit to Incheon City Hall. This visit brought a very operational character to the workshop.” – Komi Sossou (Environmentalist Expert in Climate Change and Sustainable Development of MERF & MERF Focal Point at the National Disaster Risk Management Platform)

    The workshop concluded with reflections and action planning for the national implementation of the SAP048 project. Participants expressed their commitment to applying the lessons learned and strengthening coordination among national and international partners. The training served as an important milestone in Togo’s progress toward scaling up climate resilience and ensuring that early warnings reach all vulnerable communities. The trained trainers are expected to support a training for national stakeholders in Togo in the coming months, as part of a number of project inception activities planned by BOAD in coordination with national and international partners.

    “We now have more inspiration to better innovate in disaster management.” – Sanetienone Damorou (National Focal Point of Project SAP048 ‘Strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities in high climate and disaster risk areas in Togo’ of ANPC)

    “Throughout the four days we had an opportunity to share experience and learn about disaster risk management. We learned a lot and we see that there is much be done in our country, and that the new project can greatly contribute to improving and implementing certain activities. We also heard from partners interested to support this project. It is important that we really work together.” – Méwekiwé Egbare (Engineer in Agrometeorology of ANAMET & Head of the Weather Center of GMN)

    “This training is important in terms of sharing experience and learning tools and getting a better idea of what technical partners can do. It’s a training course for trainers, so it’s essential that we can replicate it at home.” – Aissatou Diagne (Climate Projects Supervision Specialist (DSPC) of BOAD)

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families Concludes Fortieth Session after Adopting Concluding Observations on the Reports of Jamaica, Mexico and Niger

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families this afternoon concluded its fortieth session after adopting concluding observations on the reports of Jamaica, Mexico and Niger.

    The concluding observations will be available on the webpage of the session in the coming days.

    Fatimata Diallo, Committee Chair, reiterated the urgent need to redouble efforts to save lives and protect the human rights of migrants.  Current migration channels were not adapted to new migration patterns, which often pushed migrants through irregular and dangerous routes, where they risked violence, exploitation, abuse, or loss of life.  The year 2023 was the deadliest year in the last decade for migrants using these routes.  Migration issues were cross-cutting across the humanitarian and development fields and should be considered in relevant instruments and forums, including the Global Compact on Refugees, the Global Refugee Forum, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

    As of 21 February 2025, 60 States were parties to the Convention.  The Committee was pleased that, in November 2024, Zimbabwe became the sixtieth State party to the Convention.  The Committee continued its campaign for ratification by raising awareness in collaboration with States parties, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and civil society organizations, and by disseminating its general comments worldwide. While ratification by 60 States was a good start, the Convention remained the least ratified of the core international human rights treaties.  In line with the recommendations of the President of Global Migration Policy Associates, a concerted, organised, well resourced, multi-stakeholder, and independently led campaign was a key means of obtaining more ratifications.

    Ms. Diallo noted that the treaty body system had been affected by chronic resource constraints, in addition to the current liquidity crisis, which prevented this Committee and others from fully implementing their activities.  It was vital that these resources were strengthened.  Despite these constraints, the process of strengthening the treaty bodies had led to significant results, in response to the adoption of General Assembly resolution 68/268.  At the Meeting of Chairpersons of Treaty Bodies in June this year, States were urged to approve the introduction of a predictable eight-year review timetable, with follow-up reviews in between.  It was regrettable that the resolution recently adopted in New York did not take into account the recommendations on the foreseeable eight-year timetable, including on the harmonisation of the working methods of the Committees.

    Ms. Diallo commended the Governments of Jamaica, Mexico and Niger, whose reports were reviewed this session, for their commitment to and participation in the dialogue.  Also during the session, the Committee adopted the list of issues for Tajikistan, in relation to its third periodic report, as well as the lists of issues prior to reporting for Fiji, Guinea and Ecuador in relation to their initial, second and fourth periodic reports respectively.

    The Chair then briefed the Committee on other activities which were undertaken during the session.  The Committee had held collaborative dialogues with the International Labour Organization, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and the Committee against Torture.  On 15 April, the Committee held a public side event to launch the general comment on the convergent protection of the rights of migrant workers and members of their families through the Convention and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, with participation from States, United Nations agencies, and civil society. 

    Finally, the Committee adopted the draft annual report covering the thirty-ninth and fortieth sessions, as well as intersessional activities.  Ms. Diallo thanked all Committee members and members of the Secretariat for their commitment to what had been a busy and successful session.

    The forty-first session of the Committee is scheduled to be held in December 2025 in Geneva.

    ___________

    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.

     

    CMW25.006E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: South Sudan on the brink as peace deal falters, UN warns

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    By Vibhu Mishra

    South Sudan stands at a dangerous crossroads as rising political tensions threaten to derail a fragile peace deal, amid growing fears of renewed conflict in the world’s youngest nation, already buckling under a deepening humanitarian crisis.

    Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for South Sudan, warned that a political standoff between President Salva Kiir and former First Vice President Riek Machar – the two principal signatories to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement – has now degenerated into direct military confrontation.

    Volatility is mounting amid reports of renewed mobilisation by the White Army militia and South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) in Upper Nile state, the alleged recruitment of children, and the deployment of Ugandan forces at the government’s request.

    Misinformation, disinformation and hate speech are fuelling political and ethnic tensions.

    “This situation is darkly reminiscent of the conflicts of 2013 and 2016, which cost over 400,000 lives,” Mr. Haysom said, briefing ambassadors in the Security Council.

    “The overriding imperative now is to urgently avert a relapse into full-scale conflict, refocus efforts on accelerating the implementation of the Agreement, and advance the transition towards South Sudan’s first democratic elections.”

    Spillover of war in Sudan

    Mr. Haysom underscored the urgent need for collective effort by national and international stakeholders to secure a cessation of hostilities, preserve the Revitalized Peace Agreement and ensure an end to the continuous cycles of incomplete transitions.

    The parties must resolve tensions through dialogue, build trust and confidence, refocus on the peace agreement and consensus-based decision making, and strongly commit not to return to war, he said.

    “We need look no further than across the northern border to Sudan for a stark reminder of how quickly a country can descend into catastrophic conflict. This region cannot afford another crisis that could further destabilise an already fragile landscape,” he stressed.

    UN pushes for dialogue

    Mr. Haysom, who also heads the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), highlighted its diplomatic efforts alongside the African Union, the regional bloc IGAD, Pope Francis and others to urge restraint and restore dialogue.

    He urged the Security Council to support steps to ease tensions, especially in the Nasir region of Upper Nile state; respect for the ceasefire; the release of detained officials; and encourage South Sudan’s leaders to put the interests of the people first.

    UNMISS also remains engaged in supporting civic and political space, and rule of law, while also focusing on protection of civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance and monitoring human rights. However, it faces limitations – especially in the face of a broader conflict – such as access denials and operating constraints.

    “UNMISS is a peacekeeping mission – not an army – and cannot be everywhere, all at once,” Mr. Haysom said.

    Humanitarian fallout worsening

    The political and security situation is unfolding against a backdrop of what the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) called a “humanitarian nightmare in the making”.

    Also briefing ambassadors, Edem Wosornu, OCHA Director of Operations, warned that conditions have dramatically deteriorated over the past eight months.Across South Sudan, over 9.3 million people – three-quarters of the population – require humanitarian assistance, about half of them are children

    Since February, insecurity in Upper Nile has displaced 130,000 people, including thousands into Ethiopia as refugees. Hospitals have also been forced to shut down due to attacks and destruction, while nearly 7.7 million people are facing acute food insecurity.

    The crisis is feared to worsen as the rainy season begins. Last year, severe flooding affected about 1.4 million people, displaced communities and disrupted food production, fuelling localised violence.

    Break the cycle of violence

    Despite ongoing relief efforts, both UN officials underscored that humanitarian aid cannot substitute for political will.

    What is needed, they stressed, is urgent, sustained, and coordinated action – from national leaders, regional guarantors and the international community – to prevent the situation from spiralling.

    “Another war is a risk South Sudan simply cannot afford, nor can the wider region,” Mr. Haysom said.

    “The Revitalized Peace Agreement remains the only viable framework to break this cycle of violence in South Sudan.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee against Torture Praise France’s Engagement with the Review Process, Ask about Prison Overcrowding and Excessive Use of Force by the Police

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee against Torture today concluded its consideration of the eighth periodic report of France under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, with Committee Experts praising the State’s engagement with the review process, and raising questions about prison overcrowding and excessive use of force by the police.

    Abderrazak Rouwane, Country Co-Rapporteur and Committee Expert, commended France’s strong engagement with the review process, with the participation of a large, high-level delegation, the national human rights institution and civil society.

    Mr. Rouwane said conditions in French prisons were very concerning, with serious overcrowding. There were over 79,000 prisoners, although there were only 61,000 prison places, and there were reports of rodent, cockroach and bedbug infestations, poor sanitation facilities, and a lack of penitentiary staff.  What measures were in place to prevent prison occupancy from exceeding 100 per cent?

    Jorge Contesse, Country Co-Rapporteur and Committee Expert, said excessive use of force by French police officers at road checks and during protests had in certain cases led to serious injury and death.  A 2017 law allowed police officers to fire on civilians if they believed that they posed a significant threat, which reportedly influenced the rise in deaths caused by police officers since 2017.  What measures were in place to prevent excessive use of force by the police?

    Introducing the report, Isabelle Rome, Ambassador for Human Rights, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France and head of the delegation, said France was working to fight against prison overcrowding and improve prison conditions.  The Ministry of Justice was developing alternatives to incarceration, strengthening early release mechanisms and constructing prison buildings to create 15,000 additional places.  Some 6,500 new places had been created and 17 new detention facilitates had been established thus far.

    The delegation added that a 2019 law scrapped prison terms of less than one month, while a 2021 law strengthened mechanisms for early release such as bail and a 2023 law promoted alternatives to detention, such as house arrests with electronic tags and community service

    On excessive use of force by police officers, Ms. Rome said various training activities had been conducted for State officials on human rights and the prevention of violence. The police code of ethics stated that force was to be used only when necessary and proportionate to the seriousness of the threat.  France had also reformed its doctrine of policing demonstrations, guaranteeing the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly.

    The delegation added that the judiciary imposed proper sanctions for cases of excessive use of force, including imprisonment.  There were 350 cases of excessive use of force in 2021.  In 96 per cent of convictions, perpetrators were imprisoned; the average prison term was 15 months.

    In closing remarks, Erdogan Iscan, Committee Vice-Chair and acting Chair for the dialogue, expressed appreciation for the delegation’s active engagement in the constructive dialogue.  The Committee’s recommendations would aim to improve the implementation of the Convention in the State party and eliminate obstacles.

    In her concluding remarks, Ms. Rome said that the Committee’s painstaking work would inspire the State party in its future endeavours.  Its recommendations would be closely scrutinised by the State party.  France would continue to promote the Convention and combat torture around the world.

    The delegation of France consisted of representatives from the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Overseas Territories; Ministry of the Interior; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of the Armed Forces; Ministry of Health and Prevention; French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons; and the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Committee will issue concluding observations on the report of France at the end of its eighty-second session on 2 May.  Those, and other documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, will be available on the website of the session.  Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, and webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet in public on Wednesday, 23 April at 10 a.m. to consider the third periodic report of Turkmenistan (CAT/C/TKM/3).

     

    Report

    The Committee has before it the eighth periodic report of France (CAT/C/FRA/8).

    Presentation of Report

    ISABELLE ROME, Ambassador for Human Rights, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France and head of the delegation, said respect for human rights and the prohibition of any act of torture or inhuman and degrading treatment were priorities in France’s foreign policy.  On the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the President made concrete commitments, such as the organisation of the ninth World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Paris in 2026.  On the fortieth anniversary of the Convention in 2024, France issued a statement reaffirming its support for the universalisation and implementation of the Convention and its Optional Protocol. Together with its partners, France organised the first World Congress on Enforced Disappearances in Geneva at the end of January 2025. 

    As a member of the Global Alliance for Torture-Free Trade, France would continue to support the development of an international and binding legal instrument on trade in goods which could be used for capital punishment or torture.  While France already applied European provisions on such trade, regulating trade in such goods at the international level would be a crucial step towards eradicating torture and ill-treatment globally.

    France had strengthened its public policies regarding torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment since its last report in 2020.  Various training activities for State officials on human rights and the prevention of violence had been increased.  The Code of Ethics of the National Police and the National Gendarmerie stated that force was to be used only within the framework set by law, only when necessary, and proportionate to the seriousness of the threat.  Judicial authorities investigated the most serious cases of alleged crimes and misdemeanours by police officers.  The State had also reformed its doctrine of policing demonstrations, guaranteeing the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

    The legal framework guaranteed the right of persons in police custody to notify any person of their choice, the right to a doctor, the right to silence, and the right to be immediately assisted by a lawyer.  France was also working to fight against prison overcrowding and improve prison conditions.  It adopted a preventive remedy mechanism in April 2021 to guarantee the right to respect for dignity in detention and a decree in June 2023 on legal aid.  In addition, the Ministry of Justice was developing alternatives to incarceration, strengthening early release mechanisms and constructing prison buildings to create 15,000 places.  Measures had been put in place to increase access to psychiatric care in prisons and to control the use of solitary confinement.  The policy to combat suicide in prisons was bearing fruit, and measures to prevent and punish gender-based violence against intersex and transgender people had been implemented.  Further, at psychiatric establishments, structural reforms and significant financial measures had been taken to strengthen care and the training of caregivers.

    The immigration law of January 2024 introduced several significant advances: the creation of “France asylum” spaces and territorial chambers of the National Court of Asylum, simplification of immigration litigation, more effective protection of the most vulnerable asylum seekers, the cessation of detention of families with minors, and the creation of a fine for employers who used the work of foreigners without a residence permit in France.

    France was under no obligation under the Convention to remove the statute of limitations on the offence of torture.  However, the offence of torture as a predicate offence of the crime against humanity remained imprescriptible.

    In December 2023, France presented its third national plan to combat the exploitation and trafficking of human beings, for the years 2024 to 2027, consisting of 60 measures, the follow-up of which would be coordinated by an interministerial committee.  The Central Office for the Repression of Trafficking in Human Beings had also developed a strategy to combat the prostitution system and sexual exploitation.

    France was more committed than ever to the fight against discrimination, hate crimes and hate speech, in particular acts committed online.  A national unit for the fight against online hate was created within the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office in 2020.  The National Plan for Equality developed for the period 2023-2026 included concrete and ambitious actions to eradicate the scourge of hatred and violence.  In May 2024, the President announced the creation of a new non-governmental organization, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.  A May 2024 law was also introduced to regulate the digital space to strengthen the repression of hate speech.

    In New Caledonia, the Government had been particularly active to guarantee the safety of people during the recent riots.  Emergency measures, for the benefit of the economic world and local authorities, had been deployed.  The working mission set up by the Head of State was engaging in dialogue with the local political forces, in the spirit of the Nouméa Accords.  In Mayotte, France had carried out operations aimed at restoring public order and combatting illegal immigration, and had accelerated the processing of asylum applications.  It was also heavily mobilised in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido. France remained committed to supporting the people of Mayotte in this ordeal by mobilising all the resources necessary for reconstruction and the restoration of daily life.

    Nine years after France’s last examination before this Committee and five years after the publication of its national report, France was staying the course to ensure that progress was made in the fight against torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, in France and internationally.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    JORGE CONTESSE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said France’s Criminal Code criminalised torture but did not specifically define the crime. The State needed to integrate a definition that was in line with article one of the Convention.  Why was the State party reluctant to have a stand-alone definition of torture, unlike other common law countries?  What court rulings had included specific definitions of torture? Why had France refused to remove the statute of limitations on torture crimes unless the crime was a crime against humanity?

    Reportedly, there were excessive delays in police informing detainees of their rights, particularly for arrests after demonstrations.  There were reports of excessive arrests to dissuade protesters.  Police custody lasted up to 48 hours, but this could be extended to 96 hours for serious offences.  The Committee was concerned by reported plans to increase the length of police custody, and reports of excessive handcuffing and poor training of police on custody regulations.  Was training on police ethics provided only on recruitment or continuously?  Was training provided on the Istanbul Protocol? Were there plans to introduce tools to monitor torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in police custody?

    Excessive use of force by French police officers at road checks and during protests had in certain cases led to serious injury and death.  What measures were in place to prevent excessive use of force?  One man of African descent had died in 2016 following arrest, and no one had been held accountable.  There were grounds to believe that there was a lack of proper training on excessive use of force.  A law of 2017 allowed police officers to fire on civilians if they believed that they posed a significant threat.  This law had reportedly influenced the rise in deaths caused by police officers since 2017.  Had the State party implemented measures to address racism in the police force?  What were the findings of the 2024 thinktank established to assess the increase in incidents of excessive use of force? What measures were in place to prevent excessive use of force by the police and what penalties were issued to perpetrators?

    In New Caledonia, eight Kanak protesters were killed by French officials under the state of emergency.  A large number of protesters were arrested and many claimed to have been beaten by police officers.  Why were detained persons taken to mainland France?  Why did the State party refuse to recognise the rights of indigenous peoples on French territory?

    Restrictions on immigration had reportedly increased due to a recent law on immigration control.  The fast-tracked procedure introduced by this law gave asylum seekers less time to prepare their cases.  What was the State party’s view of these legal changes?  How were lawyers who represented asylum seekers chosen and how was their performance assessed?  There were concerns about unlawful deportations and failure to respect the rights of asylum seekers.  France had forcibly expelled over 3,500 asylum seekers without sufficiently assessing the risks that they faced in their home countries.  What measures were in place to prevent forced expulsions? Would the State party respect the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights in this regard?  How many appeals had been made against forced removals and what were their outcomes?

    State law was clear that French courts could prosecute people pursuant to the Convention for torture crimes committed outside of France; why did the same provisions not apply on crimes committed domestically?  France had called for the arrest of the President of the Russian Federation under the Rome Statute in 2024 but had stated that the President of Israel was immune to the International Court of Justice’s arrest warrant.  Why did its position differ for these two leaders?

    ABDERRAZAK ROUWANE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, welcomed that the State party had provided detailed responses to the list of issues.  He also commended France’s strong engagement with the review process, with the participation of a large, high-level delegation, the national human rights institution and civil society.

    Nothing justified the violence that had been seen since Sunday in prisons against penitentiary staff in France, but conditions in prisons were very concerning, with serious prison overcrowding.  There were over 79,000 prisoners in France, although there were only 61,000 prison places. The overcrowding rate was 150 per cent on average, and one prison had a rate of over 300 per cent.  There had been a 5.6 per cent increase in pre-trial detainees in 2024 compared to 2023.  There were reports of rodent, cockroach and bedbug infestations in prisons, poor sanitation facilities, a lack of access to natural light, and a lack of penitentiary staff. 

    What measures were in place to develop a law to prevent prison occupancy from exceeding 100 per cent?  Detainees were not informed about the complex complaints’ mechanisms available.  What measures would the State party take to bolster non-custodial alternatives and reduce the use of pre-trial detention? How did the State party ensure that full body searches were only conducted when necessary and prevent excessive night surveillance activities?  What was the legal framework related to body searches, night searches, and the complaints mechanism for prisoners?

    Prison overcrowding inhibited prisoners’ access to medical services.  Detainees needed to send written advanced requests for medical check-ups and there was a high rate of cancellation of medical transfers due to logistical difficulties.  Detainees with psychosocial disabilities were disproportionately represented in prisons. What steps had been taken to improve access to medical services in prisons and to prevent the incarceration of persons with psychosocial disabilities?  The number of suicides in places of deprivation of liberty in 2024 had increased compared to 2023, despite measures implemented to prevent them. How many investigations had been opened into suicides, and how many staff had been convicted related to prison deaths?

    Disciplinary seclusion measures were reportedly excessively used in places of deprivation of liberty.  How was the State party addressing this issue?  The law provided a maximum duration of solitary confinement for up to 30 days. What measures would the State party take to ban solitary confinement for minors aged between 16 and 18 and persons with psychosocial disabilities? 

    Maximum security wings had been established for persons accused of terrorism that were tantamount to solitary confinement.  Detainees were systematically handcuffed when guards carried out random checks and there were frequent full body searches.  What measures were in place to increase human contact for persons in these wings and to protect their rights?  How would the State party prevent the unnecessary detention of persons with disabilities and ensure that such people had access to the necessary support and facilities that they needed?

    Police custody facilities were small and inappropriate, with overcrowding, poor sanitation facilities, unwashed blankets and lack of access to drinking water.  In one case, a detainee had spent the night handcuffed to a waiting bench rather than being placed in a cell.  How would the State party ensure that handcuffs were used only as provided for in law, improve detainment facilities, and strengthen training for police officers on detainees’ rights?

    The Committee welcomed the 2024 ban on administrative detention for children.  However, administrative detention centres increasingly resembled prisons, with poor facilities, insufficient provision of food, and wire cages for detainees.  How would the State party improve conditions in administrative detention and prevent the detention of unaccompanied minors in Mayotte?

    There were 112 holding areas at ports on French territory.  Some 8,600 persons were held in these areas in 2023, where conditions were reportedly worsening.  There was no separation of men, women and children, and it was hard for detainees to access health care and psychological care, leading to suicides.  There were also reports of detained persons being subjected to violence.  How would the State party encourage civil society organizations and oversight bodies to visit these areas?  How would it improve conditions and access to support services and prevent the detainment of children in these areas?

    There were around 500 incidents reported to the Ombudsman in 2023 related to the excessive use of force by police officers.  Administrative penalties had been issued to police officers in around 40 cases.  The rate of prosecutions for such cases had fallen between 2016 and 2021.  Why was this?  The Committee was concerned by the increase in the use of tasers.  Three people were seriously injured in 2023 by tasers.  A 30-year-old man’s heart had stopped twice after police used a taser on him.  How did the State party ensure that the use of tasers followed principles of proportionality?

    Another Committee Expert cited reports that police identity checks disproportionately targeted persons belonging to racial and ethnic minorities, particularly Black and Arab persons.  Would the Government take measures to ensure that police used stop-and-search measures in strict compliance with international law?  What oversight was there of these practices?

    One Committee Expert asked about measures to properly investigate cases of sexual violence and to strengthen support services for victims of sexual violence and incest. There were reports of mothers being criminalised for child abduction in cases where they sought to protect their children from abusive fathers.  How would the State prevent the prosecution of mothers in such cases?  Could the State party provide information on investigations into cases of sexual violence committed by French troops in the Central African Republic?  What safeguards were in place to ensure consent for medical procedures on intersex persons?

    A Committee Expert asked about pre-deployment training provided to French peacekeepers on international humanitarian law.  What training did police receive on the use of tasers and other equipment?  The United Nations General Assembly had called on States to prevent and prohibit trade in equipment for the purposes of torture. What legal and policy measures were in place in this regard?

    One Committee Expert said that in recent years, the Government had initiated fewer investigations into trafficking and prosecuted fewer traffickers.  Enforcement authorities reportedly continued to arrest child victims of forced begging and deport undocumented minors from Mayotte without investigating whether they were victims of trafficking.  How was this being prevented?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said France believed that the Criminal Code covered the provisions of the Convention; there was thus no need to revise it.  There was a 2022 court of cassation ruling that included a definition of torture that was in line with that of the European Convention on Human Rights.  The crime of torture was not time-barred when it was part of a crime against humanity or genocide.  The statute of limitations lasted for 20 years from the commission of the crime; the State party believed that this was long enough.

    There had been major reforms to police custody legislation that allowed for immediate access to lawyers from the moment of detention.  Persons in detention could inform third parties of the detention and needed to be immediately informed of their rights.  Police custody was rendered void if it did not respect legal regulations.  It could not exceed 24 hours, but could be extended by courts in certain situations, such as in cases of drug trafficking and terrorism due to the complex nature of investigations.  Preventative arrest was illegal in France.

    Respect for human dignity and hygiene in places of deprivation of liberty was a priority for the State party.  It was modernising police detention facilities, installing floor heating, and expanding cell sizes.  The Police Commissioner and the Head of the Gendarme Brigade were responsible for ensuring appropriate detention conditions and regular cleaning.  There were regular inspections of the gendarmerie and police stations.  The percentage of blankets that had been washed had increased between 2016 and 2021, and single-use blankets were also being used.  Water was not available in cells for security reasons, but police were required to provide water to detainees when they asked for it. Persons were not to be placed in cells with blocked toilets.  Around 90 per cent of facilities had hygiene kits.

    There was initial training for police and gendarmerie officers on regulations related to arrests, ethics and appropriate use of force, and additional training was provided to officers upon promotion.  Officers who handled weapons needed to go through training each year on rules related to the use of weapons.  Work psychology programmes had been set up that promoted de-escalation and delaying the use of weapons.  Victims’ associations provided testimony during training courses. 

    The national training college for prison guards provided theoretical training on European legislation on human rights and the use of force, and virtual reality helmets were used in practical training for guards on preventing violence.  Prison guards were trained to build positive relationships with inmates and to use non-violent means of resolving conflicts. Persons who conducted hearings of asylum seekers were trained on the Istanbul Protocol and on identifying victims of torture.  A Government body had been established that focused on issues of torture and trauma in asylum assessments.

    Police and the gendarme were guided by the Criminal Code, which gave them the right to decide whether to handcuff an individual based on the threat that they posed and the flight risk.  Training taught officers how to observe and read situations and to follow technical guidelines.  Handcuffing to a fixed point could only be done when necessary to prevent persons in custody from becoming a danger to themselves or police.  Handcuffing persons lying on their stomach was prohibited in 2021.

    Tear gas was not recommended to be used in closed areas such as football stadiums.  There was rigorous training on tear gas, flash-ball launchers and tasers, which could not be used on moving vehicles.  Police were bound to provide immediate assistance to persons struck by these weapons.  Sonar grenades were used to disperse crowds rather than explosive devices. There was post-facto judicial oversight on the use of these devices.

    Police could only carry out identity checks if there was a suspicion of illegal or threatening behaviour or an arrest warrant.  Body searches sometimes needed to be carried out during identity checks to check for weapons.  Only officers of the same sex could carry out such searches and there was post-facto judicial oversight.

    State agents received ongoing training on the appropriate use of force.  The 2017 law spelled out the rules on the appropriate use of force, respecting the principles of necessity and proportionality. There were 5,300 assaults on police in 2023.  In 2015 and 2016, many police officers had been killed; this number had reduced each year since.

    Law enforcement officials’ activity was monitored by plaintiffs, external oversight bodies and superiors.  Members of the public could report illegal behaviour via various channels; some 6,000 complaints had been received in 2024.  Investigations were carried out into all complaints, and prosecutions or administrative actions were taken to respond to failings.  Close to 600 police officers had been sanctioned in 2024. The judiciary imposed proper sanctions for cases of excessive use of force, including imprisonment.  There were 350 cases of excessive use of force in 2021.  In 96 per cent of convictions, perpetrators were imprisoned; the average prison term was 15 months.

    Racial and facial profiling were prohibited.  Complaints related to racial profiling and discriminatory identity checks represented only a small percentage of complaints against police.  Officers were required to explain why identity checks were carried out and to wear body cameras when carrying out checks.

    Training was provided to prison staff at juvenile detention centres on responding to violent situations.  Prison guards were not allowed to use any form of violence against detainees. Force could only be used when necessary and needed to be proportionate.  Excessive use of force was reported to the judiciary for investigation.  Accused guards could be suspended and their salary withheld.

    The rights of irregular migrants were systematically respected in administrative detention centres. People placed in these centres were deemed to be a threat to public order; half of the people in these centres had served prison sentences.  All cases of excessive use of force by officials were subject to judicial oversight.

    New Caledonia had been trying to develop its institutional framework.  Some stakeholders had been expressing their discontent with this process, giving rise to protests in spring 2024, in which hundreds of people were injured.  There were 14 deaths, including deaths of two gendarmes.  Hundreds of firearms were fired at police officers, and hundreds of people who participated in the protests were subsequently subjected to prison sentences.  A minister for the overseas territories had since been appointed and would promote a peaceful emancipation process.

    All persons’ rights were protected in France, regardless of their cultural and racial heritage.  French authorities paid special attention to the needs and desires of persons living in its overseas territories, including related to health, education and land rights. The legal framework was reconciled with customary laws in Guyana and New Caledonia by customary councils of indigenous peoples.  Authorities supported these bodies and sought to increase their resources.

    Deaths of migrants could be attributed to traffickers and businesses that exploited migrants’ suffering.  Some 73 migrants had died in the English Channel.  Law enforcement officials sought to prevent deaths of migrants at sea. When foreign citizens posed threats to the country, they could be extradited.  Appeals to extraditions could be lodged within 24 hours of the decision.  Qualified legal experts represented foreigners that lodged appeals.  The principle of non-refoulement was respected by France in extradition procedures.  Risks of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment were taken into consideration by officials at all stages of proceedings. France sought guarantees from receiving countries that extradited persons would not be subjected to torture.

    The overall prison occupation rate was 131 per cent as of 2025.  The Ministry of Justice had rolled out a voluntary prison regulation policy.  A 2019 law scrapped prison terms of less than one month, while a 2021 law strengthened mechanisms for early release such as bail.  A 2023 law promoted alternatives to detention, such as house arrests with electronic tags and community service.  There was a programme in place to add 15,000 prison places.  Some 6,500 new places had been created and 17 new detention facilitates had been established thus far.  In 2024, 18 million euros were allocated to renovation and maintenance of overseas prisons.  In Mayotte, Cyclone Chido had caused damage to detention facilities; funds had been allocated to ensure repairs and to reduce overcrowding in these facilities.

    French law established strict conditions for the detention of minors.  Minors aged 16 to 18 could only be held in solitary confinement for three to six days, or in single person blocks from five to seven days. Seclusion did not restrict their access to family visits or medical and education services.  The number of suicides in prisons had increased in recent years; it was around 140 in 2024.  The increase was proportionate to the increase in the prison population. An action plan for preventing suicides had been drafted in 2023.  The State had provided over 1,800 prison staff with training on preventing suicide and a hotline had been established to report detainees’ suicide risks.

    All detainees were provided with healthcare that was of the same quality of that of the general population free of charge.  Each place of deprivation of liberty had a healthcare clinic.  The State party was encouraging student doctors to carry out internships at prisons, and to try job sharing between hospitals and prison clinics.

    All sexual relationships with children aged 14 or younger were considered to be rape.  When persons reported sexual violence by partners, anti-family violence units carried out investigations and judicial action was taken against perpetrators.

    There was currently a legal debate raging in France related to the obligation to cooperate with the rulings of the International Criminal Court.  French courts would rule on this issue, reviewing arrest warrant requests and the immunities that applied to officials. 

    France trained military staff who were to be deployed overseas on international humanitarian and human rights law, including the prohibition of torture.  Allegations of abuse citing members of the French armed forces were handed over to judicial authorities for investigation.  Constant assessments of human rights protections by French armed forces were conducted in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross.  France applied internationally determined sanctions and embargos on goods that could be used for capital punishment and torture.

    A bioethics law was adopted in 2021 and six centres specialised in caring for intersex children had been set up.  Experts made proposals regarding treatment and therapy for intersex children.  The aim was to avoid abusive therapy. Assessments were well received by surgeons and families.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    JORGE CONTESSE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked if France planned to take measures to incorporate the complete prohibition of torture in domestic law and prevent superior orders from being used as a defence for the act. Were superiors held accountable for subordinates’ actions if they were aware of them?  It was striking that France refused to define torture in its legislation or to remove the statute of limitations on it.  Why was this?  Had there been cases in which individuals had sought to lodge torture cases after the statute of limitations had elapsed?

    In one case of a killing by police, it seemed that there was there was no immediate threat to officers when they fired on a person.  Had the concept of “imminent threat” intentionally been removed from the 2017 law?  Why had killings by police reportedly increased five-fold since the introduction of the law?  There was a large discrepancy between the number of cases of racial profiling recorded by the State and the number reported by civil society.  Why was this?

    Leaders of indigenous independence movements had reportedly been held in seclusion in New Caledonia for more than 300 days.  Was this information credible?  Why had persons who were detained in New Caledonia transferred to the mainland? Did transferred persons consent to such transfers?  Dialogue was needed to advance toward emancipation in New Caledonia.  How did the State party ensure that the best legal experts provided counsel to persons who came before asylum authorities?

    The International Criminal Court specified that Heads of State did not enjoy immunity from arrest warrants.  How did France understand its obligations to the Court?

    ABDERRAZAK ROUWANE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said that the dialogue had been fruitful.  The Committee welcomed the recent survey undertaken on hate crimes conducted in 2023, which found that more than three-fifths of these crimes concerned racial discrimination.  The Committee welcomed measures adopted in the national anti-racism plan to eliminate racism; what results had been achieved by the plan?  What follow-up had the State party carried out on the Ombudsperson’s recommendations concerning medical procedures on intersex persons? The Ombudsperson had called for the prohibition of flash-ball launchers; had this been enacted?

    Other Committee Experts asked questions on reports of excessive use of physical restraints in psychiatric institutions, monitoring of such institutions, and strategies to increase the number of qualified medical personnel and prevent violence against children in them; measures to ensure that the definition of rape in the Criminal Code was in line with international standards; and steps taken to ensure the safety of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in detention.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the Criminal Code stated that persons were held criminally responsible for carrying out orders that were clearly unlawful.

    There was complete withdrawal of parental authority when a parent posed a risk to children. Various judicial bodies collaborated to assess cases of parental abduction and domestic violence.

    The 2017 law on internal security specified that weapons could only be used when strictly necessary and after verbal orders were given.  Police considered the imminence of danger when acting.  State figures suggested that there had been a 44 per cent increase in deaths caused by police since the adoption of the 2017 law, not a five-fold increase.

    Professional lawyers were appointed to defend asylum seekers.  It was not up to the French Government to give instructions regarding how cases of transfer from New Caledonia to the mainland were handled. The Government had been working to improve detention conditions in New Caledonia.

    Full body searches could only be used as a last resort measure.  Searches into cavities were banned.  Training on body searches was provided for prison staff.  Some 48 cases had been brought against prison staff for repeated searches.  There was an awareness raising campaign in place on promoting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in prison.  Transgender persons were placed in vulnerable wings only as a last resort.  Reports of discrimination or sexual violence against these persons were investigated.

    There was administrative, medical and judicial oversight of psychiatric institutions. Reforms that were undertaken in 2021 ensured that authorised institutions had the necessary equipment and resources.  Doctors needed to obtain authorisation to carry out non-consensual medical procedures and there was judicial oversight of such procedures and of hospitalisations.

    The law on rape covered non-consensual contact with genitals.  In 2021, the act of ordering rape was considered a crime.

    Concluding Remarks

    ERDOGAN ISCAN, Committee Vice-Chair and acting Chair for the dialogue, expressed appreciation for the delegation’s active engagement in the constructive dialogue. The multilateral system was facing a political and financial crisis and it was important to reacknowledge the value of the United Nations Charter.  The dialogue was an essential tool for this process.  The Committee’s recommendations would aim to improve the implementation of the Convention in the State party and eliminate obstacles in this regard. It would identify three recommendations for immediate follow-up within a year.

    ISABELLE ROME, Ambassador for Human Rights, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the high-quality dialogue.  The Committee’s painstaking work would inspire the State party in its future endeavours.  France was a living democracy and could only move forward.  The Committee’s recommendations would be closely scrutinised by the State party, including regarding the statute of limitations. The legal reforms implemented by the State party aimed to strengthen the rights of all persons in France, including those in detention.  There was no tolerance for discrimination.  France would continue to promote the Convention and combat torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment around the world.

    ___________

    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.

     

     

    CAT25.006E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Joint Statement by the Solutions Champions Marking 27 Years of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    New York/Geneva, 17 April 2025 – Today marks the 27th anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement – a landmark framework that defines the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and outlines the responsibilities of national governments and other authorities to protect and support them. Since their acknowledgment by the UN Commission on Human Rights in 1998, the Principles have served as a foundation for national and international responses. They have shaped domestic laws, informed policies and supported efforts to uphold the rights and dignity of millions of IDPs around the world. 

    Yet despite this progress, internal displacement continues to rise at an alarming rate. Today, 76 million people are displaced within their own countries due to conflict, violence, disasters, and increasingly the impacts of extreme weather shocks. Millions of people have remained trapped in protracted displacement for years or even decades. This growing global crisis calls for a renewed commitment to the Guiding Principles and support for governments to meet their responsibilities to provide protection, assistance, and long-term solutions.

    At the heart of the Guiding Principles is the concept of “sovereignty as responsibility”. IDPs are citizens or residents of their country, and national authorities have a duty to protect their rights and promote durable solutions in line with their wishes and international standards. 

    Solutions require strong national leadership, inclusive planning and long-term investments to help people regain self-reliance and rebuild their lives in dignity and peace. At a time when humanitarian needs are surging and resources decreasing, we are concerned about the risk of reversing hard-won gains on addressing internal displacement achieved over the past years. Now more than ever, we need to foster long-term solutions, stability and inclusion. 

    As the United Nations’ Solutions Champions, and guided by the Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, we reaffirm our shared commitment to support IDPs and host communities in moving from crisis to lasting recovery, peace and development. We will seek to advance cost-effective actions from the onset of a crisis, provide support to national leadership wherever possible, strengthen local capacities and ensure the voices of IDPs guide the support they receive. We will also do more to reduce the risk of future displacement through early warning systems, support for local confict and resolution mechanisms, disaster risk reduction, and building resilience to extreme weather shocks.

    We also urge governments to integrate the Guiding Principles into national laws and policies, and to lead on the design and financing of sustainable solutions. IDPs must be included in national development strategies and efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals to ensure that no one is left behind. Finally, we further encourage governments that have already taken steps in this direction to continue their leadership and share good practices to support others. 

    This anniversary is a moment for reflection and action. Displacement should not mean despair. Solutions are possible – but only if we act together, and act now.

    Signed,

    The Solutions Champions:

    IOM Director General

    UNDP Administrator

    N High Commissioner for Refugees

    Emergency Relief Coordinator

    Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs

    Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Persistent violence and displacement lead to record hunger in Haiti as needs skyrocket

    Source: World Food Programme

    WFP scaling up emergency assistance in hard-hit areas, but needs outpacing available resources.

    PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Despite the United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP) expanded emergency response, an escalation in violence, displacement, economic turmoil and disruptions to local food production are fueling hunger, leaving millions at risk.

    The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report shows a record 5.7 million people – more than half of all Haitians – are projected to experience acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+) through June 2025. Of those, just over two million are projected to face Emergency level hunger (IPC phase 4), while about 8,400 people are expected to face Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5), the most critical level of food insecurity where people experience an extreme lack of food, severe acute malnutrition and risk of starvation. 

    Growing armed violence has driven massive displacement and increased hunger as armed groups seek to expand their control, forcing over one million people from their homes. In Port-au-Prince, displaced families are sheltering in schools and public buildings, enduring overcrowded and unsanitary conditions with limited access to clean water, food and healthcare.

    WFP and its partners have significantly scaled up operations in Haiti, reaching more than 1.3 million people to date in 2025. This includes one million people in March, a record number of people assisted in one month, but more is urgently needed.

    “Right now, we’re fighting to just hold the line on hunger,” said Wanja Kaaria, WFP Country Director in Haiti. “Without the immense efforts already underway, the situation would be far worse. To keep pace with the growing crisis, we call on the international community to provide urgent support – and above all, the country needs peace.”

    WFP is providing first-line emergency assistance as well as long-term support to those internally displaced. So far in 2025, WFP has supplied 740,000 hot meals to more than 112,000 recently displaced people, as well as cash for food and support to prevent malnutrition among children. 

    WFP has also secured unprecedented access to areas controlled by armed groups, delivering lifesaving food to hard-to-reach communities in Croix-des-Bouquets, Cité Soleil, Lower Delmas and La Saline.

    Meanwhile, the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), managed by WFP, continues to serve as a vital lifeline for the humanitarian response — ensuring aid workers and supplies reach communities in need.

    WFP urgently needs US$53.7 million to continue its life-saving operations in Haiti over the next six months.

    Note to the editor:
    Photos available here
    More about Haiti here
    IPC Report here 
    More information about the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification scales

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at the Opening of the 4th Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals (P4G) Summit [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Your Excellency To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam,
    Your Excellency Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam,
    Your Excellency Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,
    Your Excellency Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia,
    Excellencies,
    Distinguished guests,

    On behalf of the Secretary-General, António Guterres, I thank the Government of Viet Nam and the co-chairs H.E. Mr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and the Prime Minister of Denmark for organizing this year’s P4G Summit.

    This year marks a crucial inflection point: the tenth anniversary of both the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.

    A decade has passed, and much progress has been made.

    But let’s state what we all know to be true: we are nowhere near where we need to be.

    As I speak, there are 750 million people who do not have access to electricity.

    2 billion people have no clean cooking solutions to cook their dinner tonight.

    Children across the world are breathing air increasingly filled with fossil fuel emissions affecting their health.

    Not only are we not where we need to be, but  intensifying climate shocks and geopolitical turmoil threaten to push back some of the progress and development wins of the past decade.

    These statistics, and the picture I have painted is enough to make some give up. But as the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, ‘Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness’.

    Excellencies, three things give me hope today.

    First, what I see in this room today – leaders, representatives of governments, businesses, investors, and civil society from around the world. By showing up, you are showing your commitment to building societies that are more sustainable, more resilient, more inclusive, and more prosperous. You are not giving up.

    Second, the relentless human endeavor for genuine collaboration gives me hope. The Just Energy Transition Partnerships and the P4G’s public-private partnership are just two examples.  By working together for a common purpose, we can help emerging and developing economies transform their energy, water, and food systems to become zero-carbon and more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable.

    Third, the economic imperatives of taking climate action have never been stronger and more urgent.

    Last year, climate disasters caused 320 billion dollars worth of damage worldwide.

    The climate crisis is draining our pockets of resources that we desperately need for development.

    Yet experts estimate that every dollar invested in climate adaptation generates a return of up to 10 times.

    Meanwhile, the costs of wind, solar, and battery storage have plummeted so much that they have become the cheapest source of new electricity across most markets.

     Last year, renewables accounted for 92.5% of all new power capacity added globally, and clean power surpassed 40% of global electricity generation for the first time.

    This is not just an opportunity for tomorrow – the clean energy sector is already driving development and boosting jobs, accelerating digitalization and granting energy access to a wider range of people .

    1.5 million jobs and 10 per cent of GDP growth globally were added in 2023 across the sector.

    And crucially, most economies are now breaking the link between GDP growth and rising emissions.

    Viet Nam is setting the pace on clean energy. Its bold shift from coal isn’t just fighting climate change, it’s fuelling a fairer, more equal future for all.

    Excellencies,

    We have a rare opportunity in our hands.
     
    A new economic era is about to begin — and we’re right at the cusp of setting a concrete pathway to green growth.

    One that can ensure energy access, affordability, and security, and one that can create zero-carbon, disaster-resilient, and sustainable societies while protecting people and planet. At the UN, we have translated that vision and what it means for the multilateral system, under the Pact for the Future.

    Yet time is a luxury we do not have.

    The climate crisis is setting the pace and scale. It’s our responsibility to keep up.

    Investment is critical.

    To keep 1.5 degrees in reach and deliver on the SDGs, experts estimate that 2.4 trillion dollars per year will need to flow to emerging and developing economies outside China by 2030.

    That means around 1.6 trillion dollars of that going to the clean energy transition.

    And it means around 250 billion dollars to strengthen adaptation and resilience.

    And so, I urge every government leader here today to use the tools at your disposal.

    Accelerate the readily available, cost-effective solutions.

    And drive change with smart policies and reforms at every level – locally, nationally, and globally.

    The next round of national climate plans — or Nationally Determined Contributions — due well before COP 30 present a unique opportunity in this mission. As does meeting the Baku Road Map to deliver 1.3 trillion in Belém.

    They are the key to syncing energy and development plans, building energy efficient infrastructure that aligns with a country’s climate goals, developing industries of the future in green energy, as Vietnam has demonstrated, and creating clear, consistent policies that draw big investments.

    This means aligning national energy and development strategies, including regulatory framework to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with sustainable agricultural systems, digitalization, job creation, and clean energy access – fostering policy coherence and predictability to attract investments at scale.

    Viet Nam is demonstrating that attracting investments, even in challenging times, is not only possible but achievable. With FDI reaching impressive new levels of $2-3 billion every month, Vietnam stands as a powerful example for others to follow. 

    To the corporate, financial, and civil society leaders in the room, I urge you to keep up the pressure. Keep innovating and collaborating and shifting obstacles into business opportunities.

    And keep creating new models and partnerships that can mobilize finance at scale to drive commitments on climate and sustainable development into real investments in peoples’ lives.

    Finally, let us commit to deliver on the promise of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement to our people today and for future generations.

    Thank you.                                                    
    ***
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 17 April 2025 Joint News Release Africa CDC and WHO update mpox strategy as outbreaks persist

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Mpox is a viral illness that spreads between people, mainly through close contact. It causes painful skin and mucosal lesions, often accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. The disease can be debilitating and disfiguring. 

    Historically a zoonotic disease transmitted from infected animals, mpox has increasingly shown a tendency to spread between people. In 2022, a variant of the virus, clade IIb, began spreading globally through sexual contact. Since late 2023, yet another viral strain, clade Ib, began spreading through sexual networks and within households and through close contact. This prompted Africa CDC to declare a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security and the WHO Director-General to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in August 2024. 

    By August 2024, the virus had begun spreading from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to 4 neighbouring countries. Since then, 28 countries around the world have reported cases of mpox due to clade Ib. Outside Africa, cases remain largely travel-related. However, within Africa, in addition to transmission in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, local transmission has now been documented in additional countries including the Republic of the Congo, South Africa, South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia. 

    Since the declaration of the emergency, both regional and global support has increased, particularly for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the epicentre of the outbreak. The Africa CDC and WHO Joint Continental Mpox Plan has guided these efforts, focusing on ten key pillars: coordination, risk communication and community engagement, disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, clinical management, infection prevention and control, vaccination, research, logistics, and maintaining essential health services. 

    Vaccination efforts are underway, with more than 650 000 doses administered in 6 countries, 90% of which have been administered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Overall, over a million doses have been delivered to 10 countries, with efforts ongoing to secure additional vaccine supplies. 

    Diagnostic testing capacity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has grown significantly, driven by the expansion of laboratory infrastructure – from 2 laboratories in late 2023 to 23 laboratories in 12 provinces today. With new, near-point-of-care tests currently being rolled out in the country, capacity is expected to increase even further. 

    Despite this progress, major challenges remain. Ongoing conflict and insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the incidence of mpox remains high, as well as humanitarian aid cuts, continue to limit the public health response and restrict access to essential services. Across countries and partners, over US$ 220 million is needed to fill funding gaps for the mpox response.  

    The updated Continental Response Plan calls for intensified efforts to bring outbreaks under control, while also taking concrete actions to integrate mpox into routine health services.  

    Along with the Continental Response Plan for Africa, WHO has updated the global strategic plan to curb – and where feasible, to stop – human-to-human transmission of mpox. In the first two months of 2025, 60 countries reported mpox, with the majority of cases and deaths reported from the African continent.  The joint Continental Response Plan is aligned with the global strategy. 

    Africa CDC and WHO continue to work closely with national governments, local communities, and partners to curb transmission, control the outbreak, and build longer-term resilience within public health systems. 

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    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IOM, University of Pennsylvania Partner to Harness Innovation for Global Migration Challenges

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Berlin/Philadelphia 17 April 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Penn Development Research Initiative (PDRI/DevLab@Penn) at the University of Pennsylvania today announced a new partnership aimed at leveraging data and technology to address pressing global migration issues. This collaboration will focus on innovative approaches to data analysis, using cutting-edge tools to enhance understanding of migration dynamics and inform effective solutions. 

    IOM and PDRI/DevLab@Penn will combine their extensive expertise in data and research methodologies. By integrating advanced technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, the institutions aim to improve the analysis of global migration trends and provide actionable insights. 

    “Through this exciting new partnership with the University of Pennsylvania, IOM will be able to harness innovative technologies to act quickly and in more targeted ways. Combatting smuggling and trafficking and anticipating displacement before it happens are just some of the ways we can put these advanced technologies to use,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope.  

    “Our research is so much better when we have partners like IOM. We have jointly developed an ambitious learning agenda that aims to tackle human trafficking networks, the impact of climate on migration at a granular scale, and the use of machine learning to forecast forced displacement. We are extremely excited to be working with IOM,” said Erik Wibbels, Co-director of PDRI/DevLab@Penn. 

    This partnership will help develop global datasets and new techniques to evaluate the impact of migration policies and programs. The initiative also emphasizes the importance of ethical practices in data collection and analysis, and as it adheres to strict privacy and legal frameworks, the collaboration aims to balance the need for actionable insights with safeguarding human rights. 

    The partnership will be formally launched on Friday, April 18 at an event hosted by Perry World House, IOM, and PDRI/DevLab@Penn as part of the Perry World House conference, “From Migrant to Mainstay: Safeguarding Human Rights after the Journey”.  
     

    Register to the event launch here. 

    Note to Editors: 

    About IOM’s commitment to data: 

    IOM is dedicated to advancing the collection, analysis, and dissemination of migration data to improve policy-making and humanitarian response. IOM is the pre-eminent source of migration and displacement data worldwide. Learn more:  https://www.iom.int/migration-data  

    About PDRI/DevLab@Penn: 

     PDRI/DevLab@Penn, housed at the University of Pennsylvania, is a leading hub of innovation in the application of AI and machine learning for international development. Its mission is to advance research and foster impactful programming worldwide. Learn more: https://pdri-devlab.upenn.edu/about-us/ 

    For more information, please contact: 

    In Berlin: Andi Armia Pratiwi, IOM, Email: apratiwi@iom.int 

    In Washington: Stacey Cohan, IOM, Email: scohan@iom.int  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 17 April 2025 How young advocates are preventing child marriage and early pregnancy in Nepal

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Evidence shows that investing in adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) reduces adolescent pregnancy and child marriage, improves health, empowers girls and strengthens economies.

    Between 2000 and 2021, the global adolescent birth rate fell by 34%, and between 2010 and 2020 child marriage declined by 24%. Progress has been driven by efforts across diverse sectors, from health to education, with integral contributions from young leaders. However, pregnancy and childbirth related complications are the leading cause of death among 15–19-year-old girls and more than 12 million teenage girls give birth globally every year.

    We sat down with Darshana Rijal, a young social leader in Nepal, who is also the vice president of the youth-led organization YUWA (which means ‘youth’ in Nepali). She has participated in several WHO-supported workshops and conferences as a young leader making change in this space.

    Darshana strongly advocates for improved policies that support sexual and reproductive health, family planning services and health information for young people, including sexuality education and programmes that give young people a voice in decision-making.

    Q: How much of a problem is child marriage in the communities where you work?

    A: Poverty, lack of education and deeply entrenched norms push girls into early marriage. I have met young women who were forced to leave school because they were getting married. In humanitarian crises or climate disasters, girls are at even higher risk as families struggle with economic pressures and see marriage as their last resort to get some money in.

    Q: What other problems do young people in your community face?

    A: One of the biggest barriers for young people to access health care is stigma. When adolescents seek contraceptives or other services, they are often judged by health professionals. This prevents them from getting the care they need. There are even more challenges for adolescents living in rural areas where child marriage is most common.

    Q: What have you learned in your work with communities throughout Nepal?

    A: Education programmes can be life changing. After setting up a system with the government, we ensured girls stayed in school instead of being forced into child marriage. Now, more and more young people are completing their education. For instance, we conducted a three-day class on sexual and reproductive health and rights in rural Nepal, where child marriage rates are high. We taught young people about consent, healthy relationships, and that girls should have a say in their relationships. Later, we learned that some of them had successfully stopped child marriage by speaking with their parents and convincing them to wait until the legal age of 21. We also did a monitoring visit back to the area, and it was amazing to see how the young people we taught had become educators themselves. They were passing on knowledge about consent, healthy relationships, and girls’ rights.

    Q: Through your work, what successes have you seen when rolling out targeted work on child marriages and adolescent pregnancy?

    A: Education programmes need to be accessible. We visited three different communities to teach about sexual and reproductive health and rights. In one, we used regular Nepali, while in the other two, we worked with local facilitators in their native languages. The response was much stronger in the communities where we used local languages – it showed us that resources need to be in languages young people can relate to. In some villages, no one had ever graduated high school.

    Q: What is your biggest demand in relation to young people’s health?

    A: We as young people must be at the forefront of this change. When girls are given the power to lead, they transform not only their own lives but also their entire communities. I want to see a world where a girl’s potential is not cut short. They are not only the future, but they are also the present cornerstones of our society. For me, activism is about challenging the status quo and creating opportunities for youth to lead change. In Nepal, adolescents make up a very large group of our population, so it is ensuring that our rights are respected and prioritized. We are often misheard and misrepresented and put aside, when in reality adolescent needs are vast and concrete, especially for adolescent girls.

    WHO is launching a guideline for preventing early pregnancy and poor reproductive outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. The guideline promotes the meaningful engagement of adolescents in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of efforts to address their rights and needs.

    Partnering with a wide range of organizations, including those that are youth-led, will be essential to the uptake of the recommendations in the updated guideline. Reflecting this, WHO’s Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, including the UN Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP), plans to develop policies and tools, including communication materials, that are accessible and useful to young people and youth-led organizations.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee against Torture Commend Armenia on Proactively Addressing Issues in Prisons, Raise Questions on Ensuring Police Accountability for Excessive Use of Force and Tackling the Criminal Subculture in Prisons

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee against Torture today concluded its consideration of the fifth periodic report of Armenia.  Committee Experts commended the State on proactively addressing issues in its main prisons, while raising questions on ensuring the accountability of police officers for excessive use of force and tackling the criminal subculture within prisons. 

    Anna Racu, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the Committee welcomed the swift and constructive response by the Armenian authorities regarding the “quarantine” and disciplinary blocks at Artik Prison, which were promptly closed for refurbishment, ensuring that these areas no longer remained in a state of severe disrepair.  This proactive approach to addressing immediate concerns was commendable.

    Peter Kessing, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said it had been reported that there were still cases where the police used excessive force in conflict with the Convention.  Were audio or video recordings of police interrogation mandatory?  Were taped interrogations routinely reviewed to identify potential instances and acts of torture?  What initiatives had Armenia taken to prevent excessive use of force, including lethal force, by the police in future demonstrations and protests? 

    Ms. Racu said in Armenia, the influence of the criminal subculture significantly undermined the reputation of the prison administration.  What measures had been taken by the Government to break down the informal hierarchies and criminal gangs and networks that had an informal power in many of Armenia’s penitentiary institutions?  What steps were being taken to ensure that all prisoners, regardless of their social status or affiliations, had equal protection under the law and were not subject to discrimination or abuse, including sexual abuse by other inmates or informal leaders?  What measures were being taken to address corruption among prison staff?

    The delegation said in 2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs was established as a civilian oversight body over the police.  It was responsible for areas of public safety, security and disaster risk management, and was driven by the objective of introducing human rights-based approaches in policing and public services.  The large-scale use of video surveillance in police operations ensured accountability of the police.  Patrol police wore body cameras all the time, acknowledged by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture as an important tool for the prevention of torture.

    The delegation said Armenia had produced a draft bill which criminalised receiving or leading groups promoting the criminal subculture.  Since 2024, significant structural reforms had been undertaken and a new operational department now functioned within the central penitentiary service, containing an intelligence unit which was equipped with tools used by criminal police.  From 2022 to 2024, 60 criminal cases were initiated and nine came from penitentiary institutions.  Addressing the criminal subculture was a top priority for Armenia’s Ministry of Justice, the police and penitentiary units.

    Introducing the report, Anna Karapetyan, Deputy Minister of Justice of Armenia and head of the delegation, said based on its Constitution and ratified international treaties, Armenia had taken strong steps to establish legal provisions and capacities to combat torture and hold violators accountable. In 2021, the new Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes were adopted, followed by the adoption of the new Penitentiary Code in 2022.  The new Criminal Code prescribed three levels of penalty according to the aggravating circumstances of torture and brought substantive changes to the procedure of initiating criminal investigations.  While Armenia continued to uphold its human rights commitments domestically, the continued imprisonment, ill-treatment and torture of Armenian prisoners of war and other detainees held by Azerbaijan remained a concern.

    In concluding remarks, Claude Heller, Committee Chairperson, thanked the delegation for the excellent and informative dialogue.  The multilateral system was in deep crisis, at the political level and financially.  However, despite all these restrictions, the Committee worked arduously, objectively and constructively to produce a positive impact on the lives of people in the States parties.

    In her closing remarks, Ms. Karapetyan expressed sincere appreciation to the Committee for the excellent dialogue. The Committee’s comments and recommendations reinforced the shared responsibility held together for the prohibition of torture everywhere, under all circumstances.

    The delegation of Armenia consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs; the Ministry of Internal Affairs; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Prosecutor General; the Investigative Committee; and the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Committee will issue concluding observations on the report of Armenia at the end of its eighty-second session on 2 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, and webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet in public on Thursday, 17 April at 3 p.m. to conclude its consideration of the eighth periodic report of France (CAT/C/FRA/8).

    Report

    The Committee has before it the fifth periodic report of Armenia (CAT/C/ARM/5).

    Presentation of Report

    ANNA KARAPETYAN, Deputy Minister of Justice of Armenia and head of the delegation, said based on its Constitution and ratified international treaties, Armenia had taken strong steps to establish legal provisions and capacities to combat torture and hold violators accountable.  Armenia had made notable progress in preventing torture and ill-treatment through several strategic reforms.  The 2020–2022 Human Rights Action Plan envisaged 15 actions, including installing audio-video recording in interrogation rooms, developing the relevant guidelines on the investigation of cases of torture, and wide-scale training for professionals in law enforcement, healthcare, and justice, among others. 

    The ongoing 2023–2025 Human Rights Action Plan reinforced the absolute right to be free from torture, including through strengthening the reporting mechanism, enhancing the capabilities of the relevant Department in the Investigative Committee, and improving the conditions of the detention facilities in penitentiary institutions and courts.  The 2020–2022 Police Reform Strategy led to a significant achievement in strengthening civilian oversight of the police, through the establishment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2023.  The 2019–2023 and 2023-2026 Penitentiary and Probation Strategies, along with a dedicated 2021–2022 plan on suicide prevention, contributed to better detention conditions and medical documentation practices. 

    In 2021, the new Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes were adopted, followed by the adoption of the new Penitentiary Code in 2022.  The new Criminal Code prescribed three levels of penalty according to the aggravating circumstances of torture and brought substantive changes to the procedure of initiating criminal investigations.  The new Criminal Procedure Code guaranteed the minimum rights of arrested persons, as outlined in article 110, which were aligned with international standards. 

    In 2021, the Government adopted a decree furthering the procedure of filling in and monitoring the medical examination protocol, which was extended to police detention facilities.  In 2022, amendments were adopted to the Internal Regulations of Police Detention Facilities, making it mandatory to conduct medical examination of arrestees by ambulance in each case of admitting a new arrestee, regardless of the presence of bodily injuries or health complaints. 

    The adoption of the law on police guard in 2024 envisaged the establishment of the new police guard instead of the current police troops, shifting from a militarised service to the modern policing approach with a specialisation on crowd management.  The law on advocacy ensured attorneys could communicate privately with clients, and detainees had the right to inform the third party of their detention.  The new Penitentiary Code established the right of lawyers to freely meet their clients in prisons or detention facilities without requiring special permission for access.  It was noteworthy that the Criminal Procedure Code required almost all types of investigative actions, including interrogations, to be audio and video recorded. 

    Following the dissolution of the Special Investigative Service in 2021, the mandate for investigating acts of torture was transferred to the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia, where a dedicated division consisting of eight investigators was responsible for handling such cases.  Allegations of torture or ill-treatment committed by investigators of the Investigative Committee were reviewed by the Anti-Corruption Committee. By 2024, 386 criminal proceedings were investigated, with 133 terminated and one case involving four individuals referred to court.  In recent years two torture verdicts had been rendered, although neither had entered into force yet. 

    Alleged police violence was investigated under other articles of the Criminal Code; three police officers had been convicted for obstructing lawful professional activities of journalists during 2018 protests and were dismissed from the police service as a result of disciplinary proceedings.  Similarly, three police officers were dismissed from service for obstructing lawful professional activities of journalists during mass protests of 2015.

    The new Criminal Code also introduced new types of preventive measures that acted as non-custodial alternatives to detention, such as house arrest and administrative supervision. In 2024, these alternative preventive measures were applied to 1,587 defendants.  Similarly, the new Criminal Code provided the limitation of liberty as an alternative to incarceration.  The Civil Code now included provisions for redress for torture victims.  Victims also had the right to rehabilitation, including compensation for medical care, and access to free psychological and legal services.  This year within the implementation of the Human Rights Strategy and deriving Action Plan, a study was developed regarding the possible directions of the establishment of the rehabilitation centre.  The new Codes were currently undergoing a monitoring phase; necessary steps would be taken to address any potential shortcomings which may arise. 

    Armenia had made significant progress in countering domestic violence, in particular through the new Criminal Code which defined “close relative,” which included spouses and former spouses, as well as individuals in or formerly in marital relations. 

    While Armenia continued to uphold its human rights commitments domestically, the continued imprisonment, ill-treatment and torture of Armenian prisoners of war and other detainees held by Azerbaijan remained a concern.  The Committee, in its most recent concluding observations on Azerbaijan, had expressed deep concern regarding Azerbaijan’s conduct and the ongoing detention of the 23 Armenian individuals, which remainedMs. Karapetyan concluded by stating that Armenia was fully committed to the full and effective implementation of the Convention.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    PETER KESSING, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said since Armenia’s last review by the Committee in 2017, progress had been made in prohibiting and preventing torture and ill-treatment.  In particular, the Committee noted and commended the State party for the enactment of a fundamentally new Criminal Code, a new Criminal Procedure Code, and a new Penitentiary Code, which were very positive signs.  Additionally, Armenia had joined the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and had undertaken significant reforms in the police, penitentiary, and justice sectors in recent years. 

    Could the delegation elaborate on specific cases and court decisions where Armenian courts had applied the principle in article 5 (3) of the Constitution and found that international law, including the Convention, took precedence over national law? Mr. Kessing commended Armenia and the Armenian Constitution for article 81, and the obligation to take the views of United Nations Committees into account when interpreting the Constitution, which illustrated a strong commitment to international law.  Could cases be provided where the practice of the Committee had been taken into account when interpreting the Armenian Constitution?

    It was reported that the definition of ‘State officials’ in Armenian law was narrow, and did not include staff working in psychiatric institutions or medical workers. Was this correct?  Did this mean that those people working in psychiatric institutions or medical workers could not be investigated or prosecuted for torture? If this was the case, was Armenia considering amending and broadening the definition of ‘State officials’ in line with the obligation in the Convention against Torture?  Pursuant to the new Criminal Code, no limitation periods were applicable to the offence of torture and the offence of abusing and exceeding public authority.  Did this apply retroactively to past cases of torture?  Was there still a statute of limitations in relation to civilian court cases concerning redress and compensation for torture? 

    Regarding the Virabyan case from 2012, could the delegation explain what decision the Armenian Court of Cassation had taken, after the court received the advisory opinion from the European Court of Human Rights in April 2022?   Had the Armenian Court of Cassation handed down a decision? Had the police officer responsible for torturing Mr. Virabyan been held accountable?  Could the delegation confirm that evidence and material extracted by use of torture or ill-treatment would always be excluded from court proceedings in Armenia?  Were there concrete cases where Armenian courts had excluded torture-material? 

      

    According to the Council of Europe, Armenia had the second highest proportion of pre-trial detainees in Europe, with 53 per cent of the people in Armenian prisons being held in pre-trial detention; this was a very high rate.  It was expected that the new Criminal Codes that entered into force during the second half of 2022 would help further reduce the number of remand prisoners.  Had the necessary implementing laws and by-laws been adopted to ensure the full implementation of the new Criminal Codes?  Had the new Criminal Codes reduced the number of remand prisoners? Could up to date information about the use of electric monitoring and other alternatives to detention be provided? 

    It had been reported that there were still cases where the police used excessive force in conflict with the Convention.  What was the status of police reform?  What concrete initiatives had been taken to date to reform the police?  Were all individuals who were arrested informed about the reason for their arrest?  Were audio or video recordings of police interrogation mandatory?  Were taped interrogations routinely reviewed to identify potential instances and acts of torture?

    What initiatives had Armenia taken to prevent excessive use of force, including lethal force, by the police in future demonstrations and protests? 

    Despite progress made by Armenia since the last review, it was reported that the quality of the investigations of police conduct remained a significant issue. 

    It was a positive sign that criminal cases concerning alleged police torture were initiated and investigated, but it was reported that torture cases often remained unsolved for many years and rarely led to criminal charges.  Could updated information about the number of investigations into torture and ill-treatment over the last three years be provided? 

    The Committee had been informed that after the adoption of the new Criminal Codes, it was more difficult for lawyers to assist alleged victims of torture in court proceedings, due to the 30 per cent tax applied; was this correct?  Could information about the legal and practical independence of the Investigative Committee of Armenia established in 2022 be provided?  Was the Committee fully independent from the Police?  Would Armenia take steps to ensure a more prompt and effective investigation of police complaints?  Were alleged perpetrators of torture immediately suspended from their duties for the duration of the investigation?

    During the last two examinations of Armenia by the Committee, the police’s excessive use of force in connection with a protest in March 2008 following the February elections, leading to the death of 10 people, was discussed.  The Committee expressed its concern over the slow and ineffective investigation of the situation.  What was the status of the investigation into the 2008 demonstration and later demonstrations?  How many police officers had been identified and held accountable in disciplinary, civilian or criminal proceedings?  What kind of sentences had they received?   Had the victims been provided redress and compensation as required under the Convention? 

    The Committee was aware of reports alleging that Armenian forces had violated international humanitarian law and human rights law during the conflict.  Had Armenia taken steps to ensure that alleged war crimes committed by Armenian forces during the conflict were promptly and impartially investigated by an independent body? 

    As part of a new expedited asylum procedure, there was a 15-day deadline for applying for asylum for asylum seekers arriving illegally to Armenia.  Was this correct?  If so, how many asylum requests had been rejected over the last three years due to the 15-day deadline?  Was it correct that asylum seekers were being prosecuted for illegal entry in Armenia in conflict with domestic law and article 31 in the Refugee Convention that was ratified by Armenia?  Would the State party take further measures to ensure that this practice was ended? What steps were taken to ensure that asylum seekers in detention had access to fair and efficient refugee status determination procedures, as well as appeals procedures with suspensive effect on the deportation order?

    The Human Rights Defender of Armenia was established by law in October 2003, and since 2006 had been accredited “A” status by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institution.  In October 2024, the institution reiterated its recommendation that a clear, transparent and participatory selection and appointment process for membership of the Human Rights Defender’s decision-making body must be included in relevant legislation.  Had Armenia taken steps to implement this recommendation? 

    Was it true that the salaries of staff working in the Human Rights Defender’s office were lower than comparable positions in the public sector?  What was the State party doing to remedy the situation?  How many complaints of torture or ill-treatment had the Human Rights Defender received over the last three years?  Could the Human Rights Defender recommend redress to a victim of torture or ill-treatment and criminal proceedings against alleged perpetrators of torture and ill-treatment?  How did the State party follow-up on the recommendations of the national preventive mechanism? 

    The Committee hoped that Armenia would consider making a declaration under article 22 of the Convention and recognise the Committee’s competence to receive and consider individual complaints.  This would provide redress to victims and assist Armenia in implementing the Convention and developing a justice system in line with international human rights law.

    ANNA RACU, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said since Armenia’s last review by this Committee in 2016, there had been notable advancements in the country’s human rights framework.  Significant reforms had been made, including amendments to national legislation and the adoption of policies aimed at improving detention conditions and aligning with international standards.  These positive steps were a testimony of Armenia’s commitment to enhance its legal and institutional frameworks to combat torture and ill-treatment and different forms of violence. 

    The Committee welcomed the fact that periodic professional trainings on the Convention and European Committee for the Prevention of Torture were carried out for the police and prison staff.  The Committee commended the positive initiative that jurisprudence of the European Court for Human Rights was included in the common core curricula for judges, prosecutors, prison staff and civil servants.  The National Strategy for Human Rights Protection (2020–2022) and its action plan emphasised the importance of capacity building for law enforcement and prison staff, including training on human rights and torture prevention.  Had there been any other specific strategic documents that envisaged capacity building activities for law enforcement, judges and prosecutors and other groups with specific competencies under the Convention?   

    It was positive that the Armenian Government had managed to establish a good cooperation with international partners.  The Police Academy and Penitentiary Service Training Centre had incorporated elements of human rights education into their curricula, while the introduction of specialised training modules on the absolute prohibition of torture had been a step forward.  However, some sources indicated that there were some issues that continued to affect the overall effectiveness of the training programmes.  

    What oversight mechanisms were in place to ensure police officers were adequately trained and disciplined for misconduct related to the use of force or mistreatment during arrest or detention?  What measures were in place to ensure that training on the Istanbul Protocol and the prohibition of torture was effectively applied in practice?  Were the training programmes based on practical aspects, which emerged from specific cases or recorded human rights violations? With respect to the courses held for medical personnel, were there plans to provide mandatory training on the Istanbul Protocol, given its importance for proper documentation of torture?

    Had the State party implemented any training programmes focused on the prevention of torture and the appropriate use of force for military personnel, intelligence officers, and security guards, particularly in the context of ongoing tensions related to the military conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh?  How many officers had undergone this training and was it mandatory?

    Could information on recent developments or reforms aimed at improving the living conditions and the treatment of inmates be provided?  Had measures been taken to enhance oversight and accountability within the prison system?  It was encouraging to note the significant progress made, particularly the comprehensive refurbishment of Abovyan Prison, including the reconstruction of the wing for mothers with children and the installation of ventilation and heating systems in the main accommodation areas of Armavir Prison.  These initiatives were important steps forward in enhancing the material conditions for inmates and improving their overall living environment. Furthermore, the Committee welcomed the swift and constructive response by the Armenian authorities regarding the “quarantine” and disciplinary blocks at Artik Prison, which were promptly closed for refurbishment, ensuring that these areas no longer remained in a state of severe disrepair. 

    This proactive approach to addressing immediate concerns was commendable.  These efforts reflected a commitment to addressing longstanding issues in Armenia’s prison system, and the Committee looked forward to seeing the continued actions for the refurbishment of Artik and Armavir Prisons. 

    Despite these positive developments, there were some concerns.  The activities of the “Kosh” and “Hrazdan” penitentiary institutions were suspended on 1 January 2022.  Despite the ongoing discussions on the need to suspend the activities of the “Nubarashen” penitentiary institution, it continued to operate.  Could the delegation’s views regarding these institutions be provided?  Could detailed information regarding the number of inmates in Armenian prisons over the past four years be provided?  What steps had been taken to address overcrowding, including the use of non-custodial measures and alternatives to detention?

    Current legislation in Armenia allowed for the restriction of family communication for up to one month for any violation, which contradicted the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules) and European Prison Rules.  What specific rehabilitation programmes were available for prisoners in Armenia? Could an update be provided on recidivism rates and the successful reintegration of former prisoners, as well as the approach of the Government on cooperation with civil society organizations for the benefits of inmates?

    By transferring the competence of medical services to the Ministry of Justice and subsequently to the Ministry of Health, Armenia had taken important steps towards the independence of medical staff in detention.  However, there were still some problematic areas.  After the reform of medical prison services, how independent were the prison doctors from the prison administration?  What systems ensured they could prioritise inmate health without external pressures?  How was access to specialised medical treatment managed for inmates requiring complex care? What oversight mechanisms monitored the quality of healthcare services in prisons?  What measures were implemented to prevent the spread of communicable diseases among inmates? 

    Could an update on harm reduction programmes for drug users, those with HIV and treatment for prisoners with disabilities be provided?  What was the current level of medical equipment and medicines available in prisons?  What specialised medical equipment and healthcare provisions were available for women in detention?  What protocols were in place for documenting injuries from torture or violence, and could inmates and lawyers access these reports?

    What rules and formal protocols existed for medical professionals to document injuries or signs of torture and ill-treatment?  What training did medical professionals receive on identifying and reporting signs of torture and ill-treatment? 

    How were reports of torture and ill-treatment by medical professionals submitted to the competent authorities? 

    In 2023, there were 29 suicide attempts by 22 individuals, primarily concentrated in the “Nubarashen” and “Armavir” institutions. Submissions received from human rights non-governmental organizations indicated that many deaths were attributed to pre-existing health conditions and inadequate medical care.  What were the delegation’s views on the effectiveness of the procedure for checking and assessing the risk of suicide and self-harm? What specific assessments were in place to identify individuals at risk?  Were there cells with safe conditions with no easy access to means of killing oneself? What specific training programmes were provided to penitentiary staff regarding prevention and managing suicidal tendencies, self-harm behaviours, and instances of violence among inmates?

    In Armenia, the influence of the criminal subculture significantly undermined the reputation of the prison administration.  Despite the implementation of legislative amendments by the State to reduce the influence of the criminal subculture in penitentiary institutions and measures aimed at their practical application, the influence of the criminal subculture in places of deprivation of liberty still continued to exist.  What measures had been taken by the Government to break down the informal hierarchies and criminal gangs and networks that had an informal power in many of Armenia’s penitentiary institutions?  What steps were being taken to ensure that all prisoners, regardless of their social status or affiliations, had equal protection under the law and were not subject to discrimination or abuse, including sexual abuse by other inmates or informal leaders?  What measures were being taken to address corruption among prison staff?

    What specific measures had the Armenian Government implemented over the past few years to increase the number of prison staff?  How had the Government addressed the issue of staff retention, including any changes to salaries, working conditions, or benefits aimed at reducing turnover among prison personnel?

    What efforts were being made to ensure that staffing levels in penitentiaries met international standards, particularly concerning the ratio of staff to prisoners?

    A Committee Expert said the Committee had received information that seven out of 10 children aged one to 14 years old were subject to psychological or corporal punishment. What was the State party doing to prevent violence against children?  The Committee had also received reports which revealed concerning cases of violence against children with disabilities, including at a psychological care home in 2023, where a resident was restrained with chains. What measures had Armenia adopted to eliminate unauthorised physical restraints and other inhumane practices in care institutions? 

    Another Committee Expert asked if there were any Azerbaijanis who remained in Armenia’s custody? What procedures had been implemented to ensure any abuse of prisoners of war was fully investigated?  Had there been any kind of arrangements aimed at ensuring the returning prisoner would be promptly investigated for torture cases by the receiving side?  What measures had been taken to prevent discrimination and hate speech against those of Azerbaijani origin? 

    An Expert asked what training members of special teams received, and what were rules on the use of force?  Was equipment deployed by special units certified?  Was it imported or manufactured locally? 

    Responses by the Delegation 

    The delegation said the monitoring of the Criminal Procedure Code had already led to 13 amendments.  International law prevailed in Armenia.  Evidence and materials obtained through torture were totally excluded from criminal cases.  Currently, more than 52 per cent of inmates in penitentiary institutions were in pretrial detention.  Audio and video recording in police stations were mandatory for every case. 

    Armenia had advanced legislation regarding asylum seekers and victims of trafficking. International law had almost been copied into the criminal legislation, particularly article 31 of the Geneva Convention on the status of refugees.  A small limitation had been imposed in consultation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which related to the 15 days of applying for asylum for three groups of cases: unlawful entry to the country, if the person was being criminally prosecuted, and for those who had been apprehended. Under this rule, 14 cases of asylum had been rejected, five approved and five suspended.

    The Human Rights Defender was ensured access to all penitentiary records.  Most of the recommendations from the Human Rights Defender’s Office were taken into account when completing renovations and works in the penitentiary institutions.  Currently, the Human Rights Defender could not initiate court cases but could provide briefs to the Constitutional Court.  New legislation on discrimination was being developed which stipulated that the Human Rights Defender could recommend cases to court when it came to discrimination.  Currently, Armenia was not discussing the possibility of implementing article 22. 

    The National Human Rights Action Plan provided for the relevant chapters for each individual who should receive training on torture prevention.  Currently the Ministry of Justice was in the process of developing a single human rights training programme for staff at the penitentiary institutions.  There were two key educational complexes which provided training to judges, the judiciary and police officers.  Last year the Human Rights Defender’s Office provided training to all police detention facilities. 

    In 2024, a mother and childcare penitentiary institution was constructed.  Currently, the sanitation facilities were adapted to meet the needs of pregnant women and children up to three years old.   Food preparation for penitentiary institutions had been outsourced to a private company, which ensured dietary diversity. More than 95 per cent of the inmates were satisfied with the food provided. 

    From 2019, persons deprived of their liberty under the age of 19 were included in the general education programme to ensure the continuity of education.  Surveys had been conducted among inmates to identify those without secondary education, and efforts had been made to provide them with secondary education or vocational training.  Last year, an innovative workshop was opened for inmates, allowing them to make furnishings for other institutions, providing them with the necessary equipment and materials.

    Responses by the Delegation 

    The delegation said under Armenian law, amnesty did not apply to individuals who had committed the crime of torture.  The term public official had been broadened to include any person who had the authority to act on behalf of the State.  As such, all individuals operating in this capacity could be held criminally liable. All institutions which could be engaged in cases of torture were covered within the criminal legislation for criminal liability.  Armenia had ratified the Rome Statute and remained fully committed to aligning its national legislation with the requirements of the International Criminal Court.  Trainings for public officials, judges and members of the Investigative Committee were planned with international officials in this regard. 

    There had been a notable increase in detention motions of around 20 per cent in 2024, compared to previous years.  The percentage of granted motions of detention had generally decreased. Legislative amendments and relevant trainings had been organised for the probation service, and they were being monitored.  A thematic report on the practical challenges of alternative measures was developed in 2022 to see where the law could be improved.  Work was being done to ensure that pro bono lawyers would be exempt from taxes.

    Armenia had produced a draft bill which criminalised receiving or leading groups promoting the criminal subculture.  Since 2024, significant structural reforms had been undertaken and a new operational department now functioned within the central penitentiary service, containing an intelligence unit which was equipped with tools used by criminal police. From 2022 to 2024, 60 criminal cases were initiated and nine came from penitentiary institutions.  Addressing the criminal subculture was a top priority for Armenia’s Ministry of Justice, the police and penitentiary units.

    The fight against corruption remained a top priority for the Armenian Government, and a strategy had been underway for the past three years.  Individuals could submit anonymous reports via an online platform, directly accessible to the Ministry of Justice, under the whistleblowers law. 

    The penitentiary service guaranteed equal treatment, and the Criminal Code ensured equality for all convicted individuals.  Any case of attempted suicide or self-harm was reported to investigative authorities. Mental health and suicide risk monitoring tools had been implemented in all penitentiary institutions since 2022. In every case of suicide, attempted suicide, or self-harm, a comprehensive analysis of the situation was undertaken. Since July 2024, a risk and needs assessment tool was introduced which supported the rehabilitation services.   

    In 2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs was established as a civilian oversight body over the police.  It was responsible for areas of public safety, security and disaster risk management, and was driven by the objective of introducing human rights-based approaches in policing and public services.  The large-scale use of video surveillance in police operations ensured the accountability of the police.  Under the new Criminal Procedure Code, the police were no longer authorised to conduct interrogations of persons accused of committing a crime.  This responsibility had been transferred to the independent Investigative Committee.  Patrol police wore body cameras all the time, acknowledged by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture as an important tool for the prevention of torture.  Work was underway to provide the same equipment to community police.

    In 2024, operations of nine out of 33 police facilities were discontinued, with an additional two terminated in 2025.  Modernization and renovation works were planned for the remaining facilities to ensure compliance with international standards.  In 2024, joint trainings on documenting and reporting torture were organised for police officers and medical professionals, with the support of the Council of Europe.  Trainings based on the provisions of the Convention and the Istanbul Protocol were being developed and were expected to be scheduled this year. 

    Over the past 10 years, there had been several police officers dismissed due to exhibiting excessive use of force against journalists during demonstrations.  To ensure the independence of medical professionals from the police, since 2022, medical examinations in police facilities were conducted exclusively by the doctors of ambulance services. 

    In 2024, the law on the police guard was adopted, which provided for the establishment of a new specialised police service with clear criteria for proportional use of force. This law and the relevant bylaws aimed to create the correct modus operandi for Armenian police officers, particularly in the context of mass demonstrations. 

    In 2024, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in cooperation with the migration and citizenship service, had conducted trainings for penitentiary officials on cases of asylum.  The Bar Association of Armenia provided the penitentiary service with leaflets and posters related to granting asylum, available in eight languages.  They contained information about the grounds for granting asylum and rights of asylum seekers. 

    The criminal case of March 2008 remained ongoing, and the Committee had already been provided with information pertaining to this case.  Taking into account the volume and complexity of the case, investigative teams had been set up to ensure the comprehensive investigation.  Around 7,000 victims had been questioned over the course of the investigation.  As part of the ongoing forensic examination being conducted, firearms were being submitted for study.  More information would be provided in writing. 

    Concerning the case of Mr. Virabyan, the advisory opinion of the European Court of Human Rights was applied in the decision of the court of cassation.  The Convention took precedence over domestic legislation, and this was applied in the case of Mr. Virabyan.  In 2024, two convictions were rendered under the Criminal Code for police officials found guilty of the crime of torture, with the individuals sentenced to four years in prison. 

    Targeted interventions had been adopted in care home settings to prevent cases of abuse.  A draft order addressing the submission of anonymous reports in care institutions was now in process.  This would allow standardised information to be provided to beneficiaries about the clearly defined mechanism for submitting complaints. 

    In April 2024, a procedure was adopted for referring child victims of violence, and where necessary placing the child within a family, institution or support centre. Corporal punishment was prohibited in all settings, including the family setting.  Children who had experienced violence were entitled to State support, and entities responsible for childcare were required to promptly report any instances of violence.  In recent years, Armenia had made progress in expanding the welfare and rights of the child. 

    To strengthen the independence of medical personnel in penitentiary institutions, the penitentiary centre was founded independently in 2018.  Medical examinations were carried out by a doctor, totally excluding the employees of penitentiary institutions and out of earshot of penitentiary staff. A preliminary examination of mental health and suicide risks was ensured.  In cases of suspected torture and ill-treatment, all injuries were noted and documented. 

    The medical examinations of persons deprived of their liberty were organised in a timely manner, without undue delay.  Upon entering the penitentiary institution, persons deprived of their liberty underwent a mental health screening within 24 hours, and psychologists and mental health staff were stationed at the centres.  The law on reproductive health applied to everyone, including those in prisons. Tests were performed for all sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.  If a positive result was received, medical staff would begin medical treatment. 

    The Ministry of Justice had implemented a wide range of awareness raising activities in all penitentiary institutions, including posters on combatting torture.  Video material regarding the prohibition of torture was also disseminated publicly.  Armenia was actively working to combat hate speech and had classified hate speech through technology as a distinct type of cybercrime.  A comprehensive range of awareness raising activities to address the manifestations of hate speech had been implemented, including a month-long campaign in high traffic areas, such as the metro, highlighting the negative impacts of hate speech.  Armenia was currently drafting a new strategy on combatting discrimination and hate speech, to address the possible issues which may arise during the investigation processes.  This had stemmed from the human rights agenda of the Government. 

    Questions by Committee Experts

    PETER KESSING, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, commended Armenia for the efforts made to comply with the Convention.  What happened if a person was not able to comply with the 15 days of deadline in relation to asylum applications?  Had any of the cases against police officers led to criminal proceedings?  Regarding the March 2008 investigation, 17 years was a long time, and the Committee looked forward to receiving the written information from the delegation. Was it true that cases by the Investigative Committee were slow?  Would the State take measures to make investigations more prompt?  Was the committee fully independent from the police? Had Armenia undertaken any investigations into allegations of mistreatment of Azerbaijani soldiers and civilians on Armenian soil?  The national mechanism to follow up on concluding observations was a positive step.  Could more information on this mechanism be provided? 

    ANNA RACU, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the Committee was concerned about the lack of community services for psychiatric patients, and the lack of a mechanism for the deinstitutionalisation of children in social care homes.  Could more information about the reform of social care homes in Armenia be provided? Which institution had oversight on psychiatric facilities?  Did civil society organizations have access to monitoring visits?  Did any complaints mechanisms exist in these institutions? How many complaints had been received and what had been the results?  Could updated statistics be provided in cases where victims had been offered redress and compensation?  How did the Government plan to ensure that compensation was accessible to victims, even in cases where perpetrators remained unidentified? 

    There were ongoing efforts by the Government to monitor violent incidents and deaths within the armed forces, but there was a significant lack of public oversight over the military units.  The practice of non-statutory relationships among servicemen, which often resulted in bullying, violence and sexual abuse, persisted.  What specific measures were being taken by the Armenian military management to address and prevent violence in the army?  What steps was the Government taking to increase public oversight of the military?  How did the Government plan to ensure that the military was held accountable for offences such as injuries and murders?  What actions were being taken to provide psychological support for soldiers to prevent suicide and address mental health issues? 

    Armenia had made notable progress in addressing gender-based and domestic violence.  The adoption of the 2017 law on violence in the family was a significant step forward.  However, there were concerns about the high number of incidents of gender-based violence, particularly during the pandemic.  It was important to ensure access to free health care services to victims and survivors, and shelters must be accessible to victims with disabilities.  What measures were in place to address the gaps in the reporting system, particularly in rural and remote areas?  What shelters were available for victims and survivors?  How did Armenia intend to integrate the provisions of the Istanbul Convention into its domestic legislation?  When would it be ratified? 

    Responses by the Delegation 

    The delegation said the independence and impartiality of the Investigative Committee was ensured through a special unit, tasked with investigating torture and abuse by officials. Regarding allegations of torture of Azerbaijanis soldiers, comprehensive investigations had been undertaken relating to videos received.  However, the investigations remained ongoing.  There were currently no prisoners of Azerbaijani origins in Armenia’s custody; all individuals had been returned.  In stark contrast, Azerbaijan continued to hold Armenian nationals in its custody, in contrast to its national obligations.  The closure of the Red Cross office in Azerbaijan had created a protection gap.  International human rights organizations had reported grave human rights violations by Azerbaijani forces. 

    Armenia was establishing a mechanism for reporting and follow-up on human rights recommendations. The national mechanism would be a permanent structure which involved members of judicial and legislative branches of the Government. 

    If the applicant for asylum missed the 15-day deadline, the person was treated not as an asylum seeker, but as a foreigner.  The law had been developed with assistance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and non-governmental organization colleagues. 

    There were 67 disciplinary proceedings launched against police officers last year, with 27 resulting in finding no violations.  As a result of one of the proceedings, three police officers were found guilty and dismissed from service. 

    The fight against gender-based violence was an ongoing process carried out with State and non-State parties and civil society actors.  State financed shelter services were available which provided victims with safe accommodation and psychosocial and legal support.  Over the past five years, the number of individuals receiving these services had increased, due to the increase in social workers.  The law on the protection of domestic violence had undergone many changes, with almost 11 provisions amended.  The provision concerning the reconciliation procedure had been annulled, and now stipulated for medical services to be provided to victims of violence based on the type of violence they had experienced. 

    Armenia had conducted awareness raising campaigns which focused on educating stakeholders on the importance of the Istanbul Convention as it pertained to gender-based violence.  Recent legal reforms strengthened protections for victims, improved measures for reporting violence, and improved training for police and those dealing with victims.  A new vulnerability assessment system was being launched, which would help families overcome extreme poverty. 

    Since 2014, the number of children in institutional care had been reduced five-fold from more than 2,000 to less than 400.  There were now three crisis centres providing round the clock care to children.  There had been a sharp increase in foster care placements over the last five years. 

    Regarding the armed groups, there were several main actors within the human rights action plan, including suicide and self-harm prevention groups, which operated within military units.  Legal and human rights education efforts had also been strengthened, with training courses provided on torture and ill-treatment, targeting military personnel. 

    Closing Remarks

    CLAUDE HELLER, Committee Chairperson, thanked the delegation for the excellent and informative dialogue.  The multilateral system was in deep crisis at the political level and financially. However, despite all these restrictions, the Committee worked arduously, objectively and constructively to produce a positive impact on the lives of people in the States parties. 

    ANNA KARAPETYAN, Deputy Minister of Justice of Armenia and head of the delegation, expressed sincere appreciation to the Committee for the excellent dialogue. The Committee’s comments and recommendations reinforced the shared responsibility held together for the prohibition of torture everywhere, under all circumstances.  Armenia was proud of the progress made but recognised that the journey for a torture-free society was ongoing.  Armenia remained committed to working towards this goal. 

    ___________

    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.

     

    CAT25.005E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Matsuyama City

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    Matsuyama City is the local government of the capital city of Ehime Prefecture on Japan’s Shikoku Island. Matsuyama City provides public services to the citizen of the city. 

    　Estimated population as of April 1, 2022 (based on the most recent census, with additions and subtractions of births, deaths, and in- and out-migration data)

    • Total population: 503,123
    • Men: 235,901
    • Women: 267,222
    • Number of households: 239,436
    • Average household size: 2.10
    • Population density: 1,172 people/km2
    • Matsuyama City has an area of
      ​​429.35 square kilometers

    DRR activities

    　Matsuyama City has a warm Seto Inland Sea climate, with an average annual temperature of 16.8°C. The annual precipitation is about 1,300mm, with most rain in June and little rain in December.
    　Overall, the city enjoys mild and favorable climatic conditions, with little precipitation, very little snowfall, and fewer typhoons than Kochi Prefecture and Tokushima Prefecture on the Pacific coast.

    Matsuyama City is actively implementing various DRR activities and also has joined the MCR2030 of UNDRR in the year 2023. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation: Coherence pathways in Europe and Central Asia

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    The overarching goal of the report is to assess the state of policy coherence between disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) across 16 countries in Europe and Central Asia, and to support the development of coherent approaches in line with global frameworks such as the Sendai Framework, the Paris Agreement, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This report identifies gaps, showcases emerging good practices, and provides actionable recommendations to foster greater policy coherence – helping governments to avoid maladaptation, improve resource efficiency, and enhance resilience-building efforts across sectors.

    Despite significant progress in individual DRR and CCA initiatives, there remains a gap in integrating these efforts across Europe and Central Asia. Enhancing policy coherence can lead to more effective and efficient resource use, improved resilience, and better outcomes for sustainable development. Key recommendations to strengthen coherence in the region proposed by this report include:

    • Strategic alignment: Align and integrate DRR and climate action planning into existing mechanisms and use resilience as framework to broadly engage and mobilize stakeholders and institutions.Institutional coordination: Improve institutional coordination to overcome siloed approaches and establish dedicated plattforms for coordination and to ensure DRR stakeholders are included in climate action, sustainable development and residence decision making spaces.
    • Technical collaboration: Promote technical collaboration through data sharing and implementing cross-cutting actions e.g. through joint action plans, especially in common areas between DRR and CCA such as early warning systems and agrifood systems.
    • Financial integration: Integrate risk reduction principles into government investment decisions, promote joint financing mechanisms between DRR and climate action and capitalize on both domestic and international climate finance opportunities.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk (Taylor & Francis)

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk is an open access journal publishing research on geospatial (GIS and GPS) and remote sensing techniques applied to risk management of natural hazards.

    The aim of Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk is to address new concepts and approaches using geospatial and remote sensing techniques to study monitoring, mapping, risk mitigation, risk vulnerability and early warning of natural hazards. Regional case studies must clearly demonstrate a broader implication for an international audience.

    Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk covers the following topics:

    • Remote sensing techniques
    • Natural hazards associated with land, ocean, atmosphere, land-ocean-atmosphere coupling and climate change
    • Emerging problems related to multi-hazard risk assessment, multi-vulnerability risk assessment, risk quantification and the economic aspects of hazards.
    • Results of findings on major natural hazards

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Fiji defence minister draws flak for six-week trip to meet peacekeepers

    RNZ Pacific

    Fiji’s Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs is facing a backlash after announcing that he was undertaking a multi-country, six-week “official travel overseas” to visit Fijian peacekeepers in the Middle East.

    Pio Tikoduadua’s supporters say he should “disregard critics” for his commitment to Fijian peacekeepers, which “highlights a profound dedication to duty and leadership”.

    However, those who oppose the 42-day trip say it is “a waste of time”, and that there are other pressing priorities, such as health and infrastructure upgrades, where taxpayers money should be directed.

    Tikoduadua has had to defend his travel, saying that the travel cost was “tightly managed”.

    He said that, while he accepts that public officials must always be answerable to the people they serve, “I will not remain silent when cheap shots are taken at the dignity of our troops, or when assumptions are passed off as fact.”

    “Let me speak plainly: I am not travelling abroad for a vacation,” he said in a statement.

    “I am going to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our men and women in uniform — Fijians who serve in some of the harshest, most dangerous corners of the world, far away from home and family, under the blue flag of the United Nations and the red, white and blue of our own.

    ‘I know what that means’
    Tikoduadua, a former soldier and peacekeeper, said, “I know what that means [to wear the Fiji Military Forces uniform].”

    “I marched under the same sun, carried the same weight, and endured the same silence of being away from home during moments that mattered most.

    “This trip spans multiple countries because our troops are spread across multiple missions — UNDOF in the Golan Heights, UNTSO in Jerusalem and Tiberias, and the MFO in Sinai. I will not pick and choose which deployments are ‘worth the airfare’. They all are.”

    He added the trip was not about photo opportunities, but about fulfilling his duty of care — to hear peacekeepers’ concerns directly.

    “To suggest that a Zoom call can replace that responsibility is not just naïve — it is offensive.”

    However, the opposition Labour Party has called it “unbelievably absurd”.

    “Six weeks is a long, long time for a highly paid minister to be away from his duties at home,” the party said in a statement.

    Standing ‘shoulder to shoulder’
    “To make it worse, [Tikoduadua] adds that he is . . . ‘not going on a vacation but to stand shoulder to shoulder with our men and women in uniform’.

    “Minister, it’s going to cost the taxpayer thousands to send you on this junket as we see it.”

    Tikoduadua confirmed that he is set to receive standard overseas per diem as set by government policy, “just like any public servant representing the country abroad”.

    “That allowance covers meals, local transport, and incidentals-not luxury. There is no ‘bonus’, no inflated figure, and certainly no special payout on top of my salary.

    As a cabinet minister, the Defence Minister is entitled to business class travel and travel insurance for official meetings. He is also entitled to overseas travelling allowance — UNDP subsistence allowance plus 50 percent, according to the Parliamentary Remunerations Act 2014.

    Tikoduadua said that he had heard those who had raised concerns in good faith.

    “To those who prefer outrage over facts, and politics over patriotism — I suggest you speak to the families of the soldiers I will be visiting,” he said.

    “Ask them if their sons and daughters are worth the minister’s time and presence. Then tell me whether staying behind would have been the right thing to do.”

    Responding to criticism on his official Facebook page, Tikoduadua said: “I do not travel to take advantage of taxpayers. I travel because my job demands it.”

    His travel ends on May 25.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IOM, Global Donors Forum Partner to Raise USD 10 Million in Zakat Funds to Help End Modern Slavery

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Geneva 16 April 2025 — The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Global Donors Forum (GDF) have today signed a new agreement to work together and raise up to USD 10 million in Zakat-based donations to support IOM’s efforts to fight modern slavery and trafficking around the world.

    An estimated 50 million people worldwide are affected by modern slavery, including human trafficking, on any given day. One in three victims of trafficking is a child, and up to 78 per cent of victims are trafficked for forced labour and sexual exploitation. With unprecedented levels of human displacement worldwide due to conflict, disaster and extreme poverty, millions are being pushed into vulnerable situations—heightening their risk of human trafficking, forced labour, and forced marriage.

    “This collaboration creates an opportunity to channel faith-based giving to meet critical humanitarian needs and strengthen efforts to end modern slavery,” said IOM Chief of Staff Mohammed Abdiker. “By aligning our operational expertise with GDF’s outreach to Muslim philanthropic networks, we can help restore freedom and protect the dignity of those most in need.”

    Under this new collaboration, GDF will lead the fundraising efforts, reaching out to donors and ensuring that all Zakat contributions follow Islamic guidelines. IOM will distribute funding through its recently launched Islamic Philanthropy Fund and use its global expertise to identify, design, and implement programmes that assist survivors of modern slavery. This includes rescuing victims, helping them recover and reintegrate into society, providing legal and psychological support, and offering education and livelihood opportunities.

    “Modern slavery is a moral crisis that demands a moral response. Through this partnership, we are leveraging the power of Zakat—a sacred obligation in Islam—to protect the rights and freedom of those who have been stripped of both,” said Dr Tariq Cheema, founder and convener of the GDF.

    The agreement brings together IOM’s experience as a leader in counter trafficking and protection with GDF’s strong network of Muslim donors and institutions. Both organizations share a common goal: to help people trapped in modern slavery and uphold their rights and dignity. The partnership is inspired by the Islamic principle of Riqab—a category of Zakat that supports the freeing of those in bondage.

    Note to Editors

    Launched in 2025, the Islamic Philanthropy Fund is part of IOM’s broader effort to strengthen resource mobilization and extend vital support to some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. As the Islamic Philanthropy Fund continues to build strategic partnerships, it also welcomes public contributions—upholding a 100 per cent Zakat distribution policy to ensure every donation reaches people in need.

    The Global Donors Forum is the main event of the World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists. It works to promote effective, ethical, and faith-driven giving in Muslim communities around the world.

    For more information, please contact IOM Media Centre

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 16 April 2025 Departmental update Country-level champions meet to strengthen interagency coordination of mental health and psychosocial support across humanitarian emergencies

    Source: World Health Organisation

    In February 2025, the co-chairs of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) Technical Working Groups (TWGs) from humanitarian emergencies around the world gathered in Ethiopia for a global meeting to strengthen interagency coordination and share country-level experiences.

    Hosted by WHO Ethiopia and convened by the IASC MHPSS Reference Group, the meeting brought together 40 MHPSS leaders from 29 emergency settings, including Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, and the occupied Palestinian territories.

    The four-day strategic forum provided an opportunity for participants to exchange practical approaches to coordination, identify common challenges, and explore solutions to strengthen MHPSS service delivery in crisis settings. It also reinforced the importance of country-led leadership, peer learning, and interagency collaboration in advancing the MHPSS agenda in emergencies. The IASC MHPSS Reference Group serves as a global platform and is the highest level of humanitarian coordination in MHPSS. It is co-chaired by WHO and IFRC and comprises 65 member organizations, including NGOs, UN agencies, international agencies, and academics.

    This was this was the second meeting of its kind organized by the Reference Group, following the first held in Ukraine in 2019. The wide geographic representation and diversity of agency and sectors contributed to productive discussions and exchanges. Participants rated the meeting highly, highlighting the value of the interactive sessions, peer learning opportunities, and combination of theoretical learning, real-world case study exercises to practice skills, and  one-on-one consultation clinics with global and country-level technical experts.

    Global MHPSS TWG Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 3-6 Feb 2025 – packed with sessions on multisectoral deep dives, tool and method highlights, country experiences, consultations, technical insights, team building and learnings, and interactive exercises on technical topics such as IASC tools including the MHPSS Minimum Service Package, MHPSS coordination, mapping, monitoring and evaluation, assessments, etc.

    In the same week, an MHPSS global-national forum was organized to capitalize on the presence of international MHPSS country leaders and engage national professionals in Ethiopia dedicated to enhancing MHPSS in humanitarian crises. The event, organized by IASC MHPSS RG and WHO Ethiopia, featured a series of high-level and technical interventions focused on ways to strengthen MHPSS coordination and service delivery, particularly in Ethiopia, and globally. Speakers included the WHO Representative to Ethiopia, the IASC MHPSS RG Co-chairs from WHO and IFRC, TWG chairs, and representatives from Africa CDC, UNICEF, ECHO, the Embassy of the Netherlands, country offices of partner agencies. 

    Following the Global MHPSS TWG meeting, an Academic Writing training was held from February 8 to 9. This training, convened by the IASC MHPSS RG and hosted by ARQ International, and co-organized by WHO, the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team and Intervention journal, brought together MHPSS experts to support the development of country-led, evidence-based documentation and publications. Participants took part in theoretical presentations, interactive exercises, and dedicated writing time, covering essential topics such as formulating working titles, pitching ideas, drafting outlines, navigating the publication process, and leveraging AI tools. Ongoing technical support is being provided to assist participants in finalizing and submitting their publications. 

    MHPSS Academic Writing Training, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 8-9 Feb 2025

    Together, the global meeting, national forum, and academic writing training represented a coordinated effort to strengthen MHPSS leadership, collaboration, and evidence generation in humanitarian settings. These events underscored the value of sustained investment in interagency coordination and knowledge sharing to improve mental health and psychosocial support for people affected by crises.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 16 April 2025 Departmental update WHO launches new guide to help boost quality in health services

    Source: World Health Organisation

    To monitor quality improvement initiatives, it is important to select quality of care (QoC) indicators that are closely aligned with the improvement aims. These indicators should reflect the targeted care outcomes, key processes, essential inputs to be improved, and any potential unintended consequences. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, a range of helpful resources is provided to guide the process. 

    To effectively monitor and improve quality of care, it’s important to assess and strengthen the health information system (HIS) to ensure it can capture relevant indicators. Some needed QoC indicators may not exist in the local HIS, and evaluating its readiness can highlight gaps and integration opportunities. However, adding new indicators should be carefully planned, aligned with programme priorities, and based on available resources and national HIS review cycles. Ideally, only indicators essential for long-term monitoring should be integrated, as including those for short-term initiatives may overburden the system. 

    Regular measurement of selected quality indicators is essential for tracking progress and guiding improvements. In addition to monitoring whether QoC indicator results are improving as they make changes, quality improvement teams can use qualitative information to assess whether the specific changes they are testing are feasible, acceptable, and sustainable in the local setting. Both quantitative and qualitative information is important for improvement and learning. 

    High-quality data is crucial for accurate insights and building trust amongst quality improvement actors. There is a cycle of data use and quality, which can either strengthen or erode both elements: when the quality of data is poor it is less trusted and less used, leading to lower demand for data and less resources invested into strengthening data systems. Interventions to assess and improve the quality of data can be applied to data already available HIS or to data that is collected during a time-limited quality improvement initiative. 

    When managers and health workers lack experience with selecting, measuring or interpreting QoC indicators, practical support is essential to build their skills. This can include education, training, mentoring and professional development tailored to their roles. Scaling up these competencies also requires supportive policies, strong leadership, technical resources, sustainable funding, skilled staff and coordination between the health and education sectors. 

    With the right tools, clear indicators and empowered health workers, measuring quality of care becomes more than a task; it becomes a driver for better health for every mother, newborn, child and adolescent. 

    “,”datePublished”:”2025-04-16T05:04:00.0000000+00:00″,”image”:”https://cdn.who.int/media/images/default-source/topics/medicines-medical-devices-and-medical-care/emergency-care/trauma-care-in-khartoum.jpg?sfvrsn=929993b6_10″,”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”:”2025-04-16T05:04:00.0000000+00:00″,”mainEntityOfPage”:”https://www.who.int/news/item/16-04-2025-who-launches-new-guide-to-help-boost-quality-in-health-services”,”@context”:”http://schema.org”,”@type”:”NewsArticle”};
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    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 16 April 2025 Departmental update Global momentum builds: World Health Organization (WHO) convenes second Global Clinical Trials Forum to drive efficiency and impact, accelerate clinical trials

    Source: World Health Organisation

    A future where clinical trials are faster, more inclusive and directly embedded in health systems came closer to reality as over 100 global stakeholders gathered at WHO headquarters in Geneva for the second Global Clinical Trials Forum (GCTF). This was a pivotal event accelerating the implementation of WHO’s Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials and the vision of World Health Assembly Resolution WHA75.8.

    Themed “Action for Impact,” this year’s Forum marked a significant step in translating global standards into national reforms and institutional workplans. Participants included national health research governance agencies, clinical trial regulators and ethics bodies, funders, civil society organizations, academic institutions and industry leaders.

    Turning guidance into action

    The Forum came at a crucial moment, just months after the launch of WHO’s Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials in September 2024, and amid final preparations for the release of the Global Action Plan for Clinical Trial Ecosystem Strengthening (GAP-CTS). This action plan, built on stakeholder consultations between 2022 and 2025, outlines tangible, measurable steps to strengthen trial governance, infrastructure, workforce and inclusion across diverse settings.

    Centring people and ethics in research

    A major theme of the Forum was putting people at the centre of clinical research. With new WHO guidance aligned to the revised Declaration of Helsinki, the Forum spotlighted patient involvement, diversity, and equity – not as add-ons but as cornerstones of good science.

    Inclusion is not optional. It’s central to generating reliable, actionable evidence that serves all populations.

    From global commitments to national action

    The Forum featured powerful examples of national reform. Case studies from Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa showcased how countries are adopting WHO guidance to transform their clinical research ecosystems. This includes removing unnecessary bureaucracy, digitizing submission systems, setting up single research ethics committee models, embedding patient involvement and community engagement structures, and providing one-stop shops for sponsors to discuss how to navigate clinical trial systems. These case studies illustrated how countries are localizing global guidance to fit their contexts, demonstrating that change is possible and already underway.

    Participants engaged in a series of technical sessions and breakout groups to co-develop 12–18-month workplans aligned to the nine pillars of the GAP-CTS, including:

    • strengthening national ecosystems and leadership
    • expanding inclusive training initiatives
    • addressing barriers faced by underrepresented populations
    • embedding trials into health systems
    • scaling up digital solutions and registry transparency
    • enabling adoption of innovative trial designs
    • advancing international collaboration.

    Looking ahead

    WHO will continue to support countries and partners that are prioritizing clinical research strengthening as part of their health systems strengthening and public health preparedness. Translation of WHO Guidance into WHO official languages is underway, and regional workplans will be developed in partnership with WHO regional offices.

    As countries and organizations move from commitments to concrete actions, the GCTF provides a powerful platform for collaboration, peer learning and collective impact, ensuring that clinical trials are ethical, inclusive, scientifically sound and built for real-world relevance, and benefiting all people, everywhere.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: University of the Philippines Diliman

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    The University of the Philippines Diliman, also referred to as UP Diliman or simply University of the Philippines, is a public, coeducational, research university located in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.

    It was established on February 12, 1949, as the flagship campus and seat of administration of the University of the Philippines System, the national university of the Philippines.

    As a member of the University of the Philippines System, it is the fourth oldest and is the largest constituent campus in terms of the number of degree-granting academic units, student population, faculty, and library resources.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Urban forestry & urban greening (Science Direct)

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    Urban Forestry and Urban Greening is a refereed, international journal aimed at presenting high-quality research with urban and peri-urban woody and non-woody vegetation and its use, planning, design, establishment and management as its main topics. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening concentrates on all tree-dominated (as joint together in urban forests) as well as other green resources in and around urban areas, such as woodlands, public and private urban parks and gardens, urban nature areas, street tree and square plantations, botanical gardens and cemeteries, building envelop greening, etc.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 16 April 2025 News release WHO Member States conclude negotiations and make significant progress on draft pandemic agreement

    Source: World Health Organisation

    After more than three years of intensive negotiations, WHO Member States took a major step forward in efforts to make the world safer from pandemics, by forging a draft agreement for consideration at the upcoming World Health Assembly in May. The proposal aims to strengthen global collaboration on prevention, preparedness and response to future pandemic threats.

    In December 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO Member States established the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB)to draft and negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument, under the WHO Constitution, to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

    Following 13 formal rounds of meetings, nine of which were extended, and many informal and intersessional negotiations on various aspects of the draft agreement, the INB today finalized a proposal for the WHO Pandemic Agreement. The outcome of the INB’s work will now be presented to the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly for its consideration.

    “The nations of the world made history in Geneva today,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “In reaching consensus on the Pandemic Agreement, not only did they put in place a generational accord to make the world safer, they have also demonstrated that multilateralism is alive and well, and that in our divided world, nations can still work together to find common ground, and a shared response to shared threats. I thank WHO’s Member States, and their negotiating teams, for their foresight, commitment and tireless work. We look forward to the World Health Assembly’s consideration of the agreement and – we hope – its adoption.”

    Proposals within the text developed by the INB include establishing a pathogen access and benefit sharing system; taking concrete measures on pandemic prevention, including through a One Health approach; building geographically diverse research and development capacities; facilitating the transfer of technology and related knowledge, skills and expertise for the production of pandemic-related health products; mobilizing  a skilled, trained and multidisciplinary national and global health emergency workforce; setting up a coordinating financial mechanism; taking concrete measures to strengthen preparedness, readiness and health system functions and resilience; and establishing a global supply chain and logistics network.

    The proposal affirms the sovereignty of countries to address public health matters within their borders, and provides that nothing in the draft agreement shall be interpreted as providing WHO any authority to direct, order, alter or prescribe national laws or policies, or mandate States to take specific actions, such as ban or accept travellers, impose vaccination mandates or therapeutic or diagnostic measures or implement lockdowns.

    Dr Tedros paid tribute to the members of the Bureau who guided the INB process: Co-Chairs Ms Precious Matsoso (South Africa) and Ambassador Anne-Claire Amprou (France), and Vice-Chairs Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes (Brazil), Ambassador Amr Ramadan (Egypt), Dr Viroj Tangcharoensathien (Thailand); and Ms Fleur Davies (Australia). Past members included former Co-Chair, Mr Roland Driece (the Netherlands), and former Vice-Chairs Ambassador Honsei (Japan) and Mr Ahmed Soliman (Egypt). The Director-General also acknowledged the constant support provided by WHO Secretariat colleagues.

    INB Co-Chair Ms Matsoso said: “I am overjoyed by the coming together of countries, from all regions of the world, around a proposal to increase equity and, thereby, protect future generations from the suffering and losses we suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. The negotiations, at times, have been difficult and protracted. But this monumental effort has been sustained by the shared understanding that viruses do not respect borders, that no one is safe from pandemics until everyone is safe, and that collective health security is an aspiration we deeply believe in and want to strengthen.”

    Fellow INB Co-Chair, Ambassador Amprou, said the draft agreement is a major step in strengthening the global health security architecture so people of the world would be better protected from the next pandemic.

    “In drafting this historic agreement, the countries of the world have demonstrated their shared commitment to preventing and protecting everyone, everywhere, from future pandemic threats,” Ambassador Amprou said. “While the commitment to prevention through the One Health approach is a major step forward in protecting populations, the response will be faster, more effective and more equitable. This is a historic agreement for health security, equity and international solidarity.”

    The INB was established in December 2021, at a special session of the World Health Assembly , bringing together Member States and relevant stakeholders, including international organizations, private sector, and civil society. At the World Health Assembly in  June 2024, governments made concrete commitments to complete negotiations on a global pandemic agreement within a year. The upcoming Assembly starting 19 May 2025 will consider the proposal developed by the INB and take the final decision on whether to adopt the instrument under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on Rights of Migrant Workers Launches General Comment on the Convergence of the Migrant Workers’ Convention and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on Migrant Workers today held an event to launch its general comment six on the convergent protection of the rights of migrant workers and members of their families through the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and the Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular migration.

    Fatimata Diallo, Committee Chair, in opening remarks, said migrants, especially those in an irregular situation, were disproportionately exposed to abuses and human rights violations, and often did not have access to due process or remedies.  More than 8,900 people died on migration routes in 2024.  Yet, the human rights dimensions of migration remained largely neglected, and inflammatory and xenophobic rhetoric against migrants helped politicians win votes.

    Ms. Diallo said the Convention and the Global Compact were unique, complementary and mutually reinforcing to advance migration governance and promote and protect the rights of all migrants. General comment six offered avenues for the coordination of the convergent measures for protection of the rights of migrant workers and members of their families in the Convention and the Global Compact.

    Peggy Hicks, Director, Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in opening remarks that general comment six was a milestone in international efforts to ensure that States aligned migration governance with international human rights obligations. Ms. Hicks called on all States, including those that had endorsed the Global Compact but had not yet ratified the Convention, to engage in dialogue on ratifying this important human rights instrument.

    Introducing the general comment, Mohammed Charef, Committee Expert and Chair of the Committee’s Working Group on the Convention and the Global Compact, said the Convention and the Global Compact both called for the protection of migrants from human rights violations, measures to promote decent work and access to social security, and efforts to help migrants reach their potential.  The general comment sought to help States parties to implement their commitments under these instruments and promote effective, tangible respect for the rights of migrants.

    The Committee heard statements marking the launch of the general comment by panellists from Permanent Missions and United Nations agencies, before holding a general discussion on how the Convention and the Global Compact could be implemented in synergy.

    In the discussion, speakers welcomed the adoption of general comment six, which they said assisted States in implementing their commitments under the Convention and the Global Compact and in managing migration with a human rights lens.

    Speakers welcomed that the general comment promoted non-criminalisation of migration.  States needed to adopt measures to combat the intolerance of migrants, particularly vulnerable persons, and to further facilitate regular migration, they said.

    Speaking as panellists were Carlos D. Sorreta, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva; Fernando Espinosa Olivera, Deputy Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva; Abdellah Boutadghart, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva; Catalina Devandas, Senior Director, Office of Partnerships, Advocacy and Communications, International Organization for Migration; Gladys Cisneros, Chief of Branch, Labour Migration Unit, International Labour Organization; Patrick Eba, Deputy Director, Department of International Protection, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; Tasha Gill, Global Lead on Migration and Displacement, United Nations Children’s Fund Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia; Jonathan Prentice, Head of the Secretariat, United Nations Network on Migration; Patrick Taran, President, Global Migration Policy Associates; Alan Desmond, Editor, Journal of Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Law, University of Leicester, United Kingdom; and Ariel Cejas Meliare, Procurador Penitenciario de la Nación [Procurator’s Office of the Nation of Argentina].

    Bangladesh, Honduras and Burkina Faso took the floor in the discussion.

    The Committee on Migrant Worker’s fortieth session is being held from 7 to 17 April.  All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, 17 April, to close its fortieth session.

    Opening Remarks

    FATIMATA DIALLO, Committee Chair, said currently, some 281 million people lived and worked in countries that were not their own. Migration was the symptom and effect of profound social, economic, and environmental pressures and changes around the world.  Migrants, especially those in an irregular situation, were disproportionately exposed to abuses and human rights violations, and often did not have access to due process or remedies.  As border controls had become stricter and regular pathways of entry and stay had narrowed, migrants’ journeys had become longer, more fragmented and more dangerous. More than 40,000 women, men and children between 2014 and 2021 had been declared dead or missing en route, and countless other disappearances had never been reported.  More than 8,900 people died on migration routes in 2024.

    Yet, the human rights dimensions of migration remained largely neglected.  The issue of migration was usually approached from the perspective of economic development or border security and control.  Inflammatory and xenophobic rhetoric against migrants helped politicians win votes, and in times of crisis, the migrant was a convenient scapegoat to blame for social and economic hardship.

    The Convention – a global legally binding instrument on migration – and the Global Compact – a non-binding instrument – were important international mechanisms in the context of migration.  They were unique, complementary and mutually reinforcing to advance migration governance and promote and protect the rights of all migrants, regardless of their migration status. 

    The Global Compact was first and foremost a strategic policy instrument for guidance, which was nevertheless anchored in the norms and standards of international law.  It was the most comprehensive migration governance instrument in the history of international migration, contributing to the protection of the various human rights of migrants and helping to operationalise the provisions of the Convention.  It laid the groundwork for Member States to create a strategy that protected all migrants in vulnerable situations through a range of mechanisms, including the provision of regular access pathways.

    The Convention, conversely, provided a comprehensive international legal framework for the promotion of the human rights of migrant workers and their family members, and remained the best strategy to prevent abuses and address the vulnerabilities that many migrants faced. It established minimum human rights standards, which were legally binding on States parties and applied to migrant workers and members of their families. 

    General comment six offered avenues for complementary coordination for the convergent protection of the rights of migrant workers and members of their families through the Convention and the Global Compact.

    The ratification of treaties could have a transformative effect.  Governments had used treaty provisions and treaty body recommendations to advance complex societal changes that faced resistance at the national level, such as adopting comprehensive non-discrimination legislation. Regrettably, none of the 27 European Union Member States had signed or ratified the Convention.  Convincing these States to ratify was important, not only because the European Union was an important migrant destination, but also because they had robust democratic institutions and vibrant civil society activity, and could meaningfully implement and comply with the Convention. Ratification by European Union Member States would send a strong message of support for this core human rights instrument.  It was time for the European Union and the Committee to engage in dialogue on the ratification of the Convention.

    The Convention did not create new rights, besides a few exceptions, but incorporated the fundamental human rights set out in the main international human rights instruments, applying them to a vast and specific category of the world’s population, namely migrant workers and members of their families.  Ms. Diallo called on States to support the Committee’s ratification campaign.

    PEGGY HICKS, Director, Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said migration was the history of humanity. The worrying trend of dehumanising anti-migrant narratives, and securitised and punitive migration policies, limited access to safe migration pathways, while the criminalisation of solidarity was placing migrants and communities at heightened human rights risks. It was time to re-centre migration governance on human rights protection and strengthen international cooperation grounded in the dignity and rights of all people, regardless of migration status.

    General comment six was a milestone in international efforts to ensure that States aligned migration governance with international human rights obligations.  It illustrated the complementarity between the Convention and the Global Compact – each reinforcing and completing the other and constituting a bridge between soft law and treaty law, providing interpretative guidance for States to implement the Global Compact commitments consistently with international human rights standards.

    The Global Compact was the first inter-governmentally negotiated agreement which covered all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner.  It respected States’ sovereign right to determine who entered and stayed in their territory and demonstrated commitment to international cooperation on migration.  It presented a significant opportunity to improve governance of migration, to address the challenges associated with today’s migration, and to strengthen the contribution of migrants and migration to sustainable development.  It also explicitly reinforced the importance of human rights and international law through its guiding principle on human rights and its commitment to the principles of non-regression and non-discrimination.

    The Convention offered detailed and binding provisions that complemented and strengthened the Compact’s more aspirational commitments.  On regularisation, for example, it provided concrete and binding guidance, requiring States parties to “take appropriate measures to ensure that [an irregular] situation did not persist” when migrant workers and members of their families were in an irregular situation within their territory, and stressed that States parties should consider adopting policies to prevent migrant workers and members of their families from falling into irregularity.

    The Convention was currently the least ratified of the core international human rights treaties, with only 60 States parties. Increasing the number of ratifications of the Convention remained a top priority for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.  At the same time, many countries had accepted many of the standards enshrined in the Convention via the ratification of other human rights treaties, the provisions of which mirrored the core rights codified in the Convention.

    Some of the recent work of the Committee highlighted the relevance of the Convention and the Committee’s work even to non-States parties, such as the joint general comments with the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which provided authoritative guidance that was equally applicable to all 196 States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Ms. Hicks also applauded the Committee for elaborating two joint general comments with the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on principles and guidelines for eradicating xenophobia towards migrants.  The two draft general comments were already at an advanced stage and would be discussed at the current session.

    As the international community worked towards the implementation of the Global Compact, there was now also momentum for States parties, with the support of the Committee and its partners, to increase the number of States parties to the Convention.  The Convention had a unique role as the only binding global treaty focused on the rights of migrant workers and their families, with its principles echoed throughout the Global Compact. 

    Ms. Hicks encouraged the recognition that soft law and treaty law were not at odds, but rather mutually reinforcing.  This general comment helped bridge the two and offered useful guidance to all States, regardless of the ratification status. She invited States to consider Convention obligations in future implementation and review processes, such as the International Migration Reviews, and called on all States, including those that had endorsed the Global Compact but had not yet ratified the Convention, to engage in a dialogue with the Committee and the Office of the High Commissioner to discuss the benefits of ratifying this important human rights instrument.

    Statements Introducing the General Comment

    MOHAMMED CHAREF, Committee Expert and Chair of the Committee’s Working Group on the Convention and the Global Compact, called on all parties to carefully read the general comment, disseminate it and support its implementation.  In many countries, there were reports of serious and repeated violations of the rights of migrant workers, which had direct consequences on the most vulnerable among them.  Despite the alarmist discourse that was often used regarding migrant workers, there were many success stories associated with migration in the business, sport, music and science fields.  Human rights needed to be put at the heart of discussions concerning migrant workers.

    States needed to commit to their international obligations.  The Convention and the Global Compact had convergent goals, though only the former was binding.  Both instruments were rooted in values such as State sovereignty and respect for human rights.  They called for the protection of migrants from human rights violations such as trafficking and measures to promote decent work and access to social security.  Both instruments called for efforts to help migrants reach their potential.

    The general comment was based on broad-ranging consultations with civil society and stakeholders in Geneva and around the world. It sought to help States parties to implement their commitments under the Global Compact and to strengthen migration governance.  The general comment sought to promote effective and tangible respect for the rights of migrants.  Mr. Charef praised the efforts of champion countries of the Convention and called on States that had not yet ratified it to do so.  Ratification issues were more of a political nature than a legal one. The Committee would continue to encourage actors to promote the ratification of the Convention.

    The Global Compact and the Convention were two essential instruments for promoting the rights of migrant workers.  The Committee would promote their implementation and help build a brighter future for migrants around the world.

    EDGAR CORZO SOSA, Committee Expert and Member of the Committee’s Working Group on the Convention and the Global Compact, said the general comment juxtaposed two different instruments that needed to complement each other, rather than be put against each other.  One of its main goals was to provide authoritative guidance on how States could meet their obligations under these two instruments.  The general comment did not water down the human rights standards developed by the Committee, but rather built on them.  Safe, orderly and regular migration was a goal that could not be reached if human rights were left behind.  In the general comment, the Committee identified 14 common points between the two instruments, relating to topics such as decent work, returns, remittances, childhood, family, gender, protection, defence and trafficking in persons.

    The general comment provided a vision of migration governance that fully respected human rights.  The Committee would do its part in periodic reviews to promote its implementation.  It would hold a meeting with States in future to assess the impact that the general comment was having on human rights, and was calling on civil society to help disseminate it.

    Panel Statements

    CARLOS D. SORRETA, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva, thanked the Committee for its work on general comment six.  There were over 10 million Filipinos working in almost all regions of the world.  The Philippines promoted effective and fair governance of migration.  The State party aimed to safeguard the rights of all migrant workers and establish legal pathways to migration.  It had instituted a stringent anti-human trafficking law and had established gender-responsive mechanisms for migrants in distress in host countries.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines facilitated the return of over a million Filipinos.  It had passed laws allowing for dual citizenship and absentee voting, and developed a programme for enticing entrepreneurs and professionals to return to the State.  Most countries with which the Philippines negotiated with to protect its migrants were not parties to the Convention or the Global Compact. However, there were normative baselines that these States needed to uphold.  Over the years, protections for migrants had increased, influenced by these two instruments.

    FERNANDO ESPINOSA OLIVERA, Deputy Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva, said there was back-peddling on human rights and discriminatory discourse against migrants worldwide.  In this context, international agreements concerning migrants were very important. Mexico had led the creation of international frameworks, including the Global Compact, that guaranteed the respect of migrants and promoted secure, orderly, regular and humane migration. Mexico welcomed general comment six, which was the product of broad consultations.  It would help to bring greater consistency in efforts to protect migrants. 

    There were several commonalities between the Convention and the Global Compact.  Mexico had developed State agencies and policies for caring for migrants abroad and supporting their reintegration, as well as tools for collecting data on migrants.  The governance of migration was only possible when it respected human rights.  All States needed to adopt constructive approaches and respect their obligations in the field of human rights and international law.

    ABDELLAH BOUTADGHART, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva, said the general comment was the product of a long and transparent process. Morocco hailed the Committee’s efforts to seek inputs from States on the general comment.  Currently, migrants around the work were facing xenophobia and violations of their rights.  The general comment would support efforts to protect their rights. 

    Morocco had developed a strategy to promote the rights of migrants on its territory.  It had regularised the status of many irregular migrants and supported their access to State services.  The Government sought to ensure that migrants could enjoy their rights. It had helped over 8,000 citizens of African countries seeking to return to their home countries to do so. Morocco shouldered its responsibilities in terms of border management and combatting trafficking in persons. States were obliged to ensure that the general comment was a success, and to develop policies on migration that were based on facts rather than disinformation.

    CATALINA DEVANDAS, Senior Director, Office of Partnerships, Advocacy and Communications, International Organization for Migration, said around 60 per cent of migrants were migrant workers.  Migrant workers constituted 4.7 per cent of the global workforce.  Over 650 billion United States dollars were sent in remittances to low and middle-income countries in 2024.  Remittances were key to development and reducing poverty. 

    The general comment promoted the benefits of safe and orderly migration and equal treatment in employment for migrant workers.  It called for key actors, including migrants themselves, to be included in conversations on migration policies and for migrants to be direct beneficiaries of these policies.  Despite the ongoing challenges, the past few decades had seen immense progress in the protection of the rights of migrants and the promotion of the benefits of migration for all.  The Convention and the Global Compact were two examples of this progress, and the general comment was an important tool for breathing new life into these instruments.

    GLADYS CISNEROS, Chief of Branch, Labour Migration Unit, International Labour Organization, said migrant workers were three times more likely to be in situations of forced labour.  Exploitation of migrant workers generated some 30 billion dollars in profits each year. In many countries, migrant workers faced legal and practical barriers to freedom of association.  These examples highlighted the urgent need for the protection of migrant workers’ rights. 

    Many International Labour Organization Conventions supplemented the rights guaranteed by the Global Compact and the Convention.  The International Labour Organization hoped to continue its collaboration with the Committee, and the Global Compact provided a crucial framework for this collaboration.  It guided States parties in the implementation of the Global Compact and the Convention.  States and civil society needed to closely study the general comment and make use of it to ensure the implementation of the Global Compact and the Convention.

    TASHA GILL, Global Lead on Migration and Displacement, United Nations Children’s Fund Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, said the general comment emphasised protecting children from statelessness by ensuring that all births were registered.  It promoted family reunification for migrant workers and their families and the protection of children’s rights at borders.  Further, the general comment called for the establishment of safeguards to ensure that migrant children could attend school, highlighting the risks of child labour.  Many children were left behind when their parents left their countries to work. The general comment called for policies to support these children.

    JONATHAN PRENTICE, Head of the Secretariat, United Nations Network on Migration, said the Global Compact outlined the ways in which safe and orderly migration could be achieved and recognised the need to review progress in its implementation on a periodic basis.  The Committee needed to exert further efforts to promote the implementation of the Global Compact and the general comment.  The Global Compact had a long way to go before it was fully realised, but its existence and potential were not to be underestimated.

    PATRICK TARAN, President, Global Migration Policy Associates, saluted the sixtieth ratification of the Convention by Zimbabwe.  This was a milestone achievement.  In addition to the 60 States parties, there were also 11 States that had signed the Convention but had yet to ratify it.  Demand for skilled labour was growing worldwide.  Migrants and migration were worth nine trillion dollars to the global economy.  However, pushbacks against the rights of migrants continued.  The Convention and the Global Compact were complementary only when States had ratified both.  No country could be a champion of migrant workers’ rights until they had ratified the Convention. 

    The death rate for migrant workers at work was at least three times the rate for migrants in transit.  Foreign workers were at least twice as likely as nationals to die at work in European Union Member States.  These deaths were a result of the lack of implementation of the standards of the Convention.  There needed to be a joint general comment on the complementarity of the Convention and the two International Labour Organization Conventions that addressed migrant workers.  The global campaign for ratification of the Convention needed to be rejuvenated. With more resources, the Committee could achieve at least 100 ratifications by 2030.

    United Nations Women said the general comment provided clarity on States’ obligations under the Global Compact and the Convention. At every stage of migration, women’s rights were non-negotiable.  Harmful narratives needed to be combatted, and migration pathways needed to be made safe for women.  Migrant women regularly faced human rights violations and threats en route. States needed to promote the participation of migrant women in policy development, strengthen protections for migrant women, and promote their access to work.  United Nations Women would help States to convert their commitments into transformative action for migrants.

    ALAN DESMOND, Editor, Journal of Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Law, University of Leicester, United Kingdom, said the general comment would be of great use in ensuring that States that had ratified the Global Compact and the Convention implemented their obligations, and in raising awareness of the Convention. The two instruments were not identical, and it was important for States to fully implement both.  Remittances were a vital source of income for migrant families and they helped to promote economic development.  Migrants often had to pay disproportionate transaction fees, sometimes as much as 10 per cent.  International commitments had been developed to reduce remittance costs. The Convention and the Global Compact conferred on migrant workers the right to send remittances and on States the obligation to facilitate such remittances.  The holistic implementation of the two instruments would help to support migrants’ ability to send remittances, among other rights.

    Poor sound quality prevented interpretation of the statement made by ARIEL CEJAS MELIARE, Procurador Penitenciario de la Nación [Procurator’s Office of the Nation of Argentina].

    Discussion

    In the ensuing discussion, speakers welcomed the adoption of general comment six, which assisted States in implementing their commitments under the Convention and the Global Compact and would help States to manage migration with a human rights lens.  Migration governance called for a coherent vision.  Speakers welcomed that the general comment promoted non-criminalisation of migration.  States needed to adopt measures to combat the intolerance of migrants, particularly vulnerable persons, and to further facilitate regular migration, they said.

    Speakers presented policies to promote orderly migration, naturalise irregular migrants, and combat trafficking in persons and statelessness.  They also congratulated the Committee on its efforts to promote the rights of migrant workers.

    Concluding Remarks

    CARLOS D. SORRETA, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva, said the Philippines was developing an initiative to strengthen social stability and access to medical services for migrants.  This would help improve the situation of migrants abroad and when they returned home.  The State was calling on receiving countries to join the Convention.  Migrants had a transformative effect on the countries in which they worked.  Countries that had in the past criminalised Filipino migrant workers whose rights were violated by employers were now holding such employers to account.  This trend needed to continue.

    ABDELLAH BOUTADGHART, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva, said that there was a need to ground migration policy in evidence, away from xenophobic discourse.  It was welcome to hear the strong support for this approach from all speakers.

    MOHAMMED CHAREF, Committee Expert and Chair of the Committee’s Working Group on the Convention and the Global Compact, said he was moved by the support expressed for the general comment by participants.  During these challenging times, there needed to be collaboration between all parties to address migrant workers’ complex situation and support them.

    EDGAR CORZO SOSA, Committee Expert and Member of the Committee’s Working Group on the Convention and the Global Compact, said the Committee would spare no effort to promote the implementation of the general comment, and ensure that the good standards and practices established in the Convention and the Global Compact were implemented around the world.

    FATIMATA DIALLO, Committee Chair, said the Committee hoped that the general comment would be a roadmap for States parties to improve protections for migrants and migrant workers.  It would take into consideration all comments made by participants and work to disseminate the general comment through its outreach activities.  It hoped that the general comment would contribute to promoting the protection of migrant workers across the world.

    ___________

    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.

     

    CMW25.005E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Local Environment: The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    Local Environment: The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability is a peer-reviewed journal that serves researchers, activists, non-governmental organizations, students, educators, policymakers, and practitioners. The journal focuses on sustainability planning, policy, and politics, emphasizing theoretical, conceptual, and empirical studies that intersect with equity, justice, and the local environment. It offers an inclusive platform for a wide range of voices and viewpoints to critically examine, evaluate, and discuss environmental, social, and economic policies, processes, and strategies essential for advancing social justice and sustainability—referred to as “Just Sustainabilities”—at the local level.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on two years of conflict in Sudan

    Source: United Nations Population Fund

    Two years into the conflict in Sudan, civilians continue to bear the brunt of this crisis.

    The latest attack on Zamzam camp saw approximately 100 people killed, including aid workers who were running one of the camp’s last remaining health facilities. 

    Sexual violence has scarred women and girls from the start of this crisis. A staggering 12 million people are at risk of gender-based violence – an 80 per cent increase since last year – while only one in four facilities set up to provide the clinical management of rape is functional. 

    Over the past two years, attacks on hospitals and other health facilities have decimated the already struggling health system. Only 1 in 5 health facilities in areas that have experienced heavy fighting remain open, making childbirth life threatening for the estimated 1,000 displaced women who give birth every day. Malnutrition is also increasing the odds of pregnancy-related complications, particularly for those teetering on the brink of famine.

    Since the beginning of the war in April 2023, UNFPA has worked with women-led organizations and other local partners to provide reproductive health and protection services to over 750,000 people, including through 71 mobile health teams and 64 women’s and girls’ safe spaces. This is despite tremendous logistical challenges.

    Yet, recent funding cuts are jeopardizing progress, posing a catastrophic blow to an already underfunded humanitarian response operation. Funding cuts to UNFPA in Sudan will leave 475,000 women in Sudan and neighbouring countries without maternal health or gender-based violence services. UNFPA is appealing for $119.6 million to provide life-saving reproductive health and protection services this year in Sudan. Last year, our humanitarian response in the country was only 60 percent funded.

    UNFPA calls for an end to this brutal war. In line with international humanitarian law, civilians and the infrastructure they rely on must be protected. Violence against women and girls must stop. Survivors must have access to medical and psychosocial support services, and those responsible must be held to account. Unhindered humanitarian aid must flow freely into and across Sudan by every route possible. 

    The world must not turn its back on the women and girls of Sudan. 

    UNFPA has strong local partnerships and is on the ground and ready to deliver. What we urgently need is global action, commitment and funding for the women and girls of Sudan. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IOM Chief Urges Greater Global Support to Haiti Amid Growing Crisis

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Port-au-Prince, 15 April 2025 – Amid a worsening humanitarian emergency in Haiti, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director General Amy Pope concluded a high-level visit this week urging the international community to step up and support for communities uprooted by violence and instability.

    More than 1 million people are now displaced inside of Haiti – triple the number from just a year ago. Gang control over vast areas of Port-au-Prince has forced families to flee repeatedly, leaving them without access to shelter, water, or medical care. At the same time, nearly 200,000 Haitians were deported back from neighboring countries last year, adding pressure to already overwhelmed local systems.

    “This is one of the most complex and urgent crises in the world, with implications for regional and global stability,” said DG Pope. “When we invest in humanitarian support, we don’t just save lives – we build resilience and safety to helps stabilize communities and reduce the conditions that cause forced migration.”

    During her visit, DG Pope met with displaced families at a Port-au-Prince site, listening to their experiences and assessing their most pressing needs. “A mother told me she had fled her neighborhood three times in two months. She was living under a tarp with her children, with no idea where they could go next,” DG Pope said. “These are not just statistics—they are lives caught in crisis over and over.”

    DG Pope also held discussions with Haitian Government officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Religious Affairs, and Haitians Living Abroad, to identify concrete ways to reinforce migration governance, broaden access to legal documentation, and strengthen reintegration.

    IOM is currently leading efforts across more than 50 displacement sites, including shelter, camp management, protection, and emergency water, sanitation and hygiene services – even in areas affected by violence. The organization is also working with communities to rehabilitate infrastructure and expand access to education and livelihoods.

    Beyond immediate relief, IOM is also helping people reintegrate into communities, including through the rehabilitation of public infrastructure to expand access to essential services in areas that are hosting displaced people.

    “The Haitian people are showing remarkable strength in the face of unthinkable hardship,” DG Pope said. “But relying on resilience alone is not a strategy. The Haitian people need support—and they need it now. The cost of inaction will not only be measured in lives lost, but also in broader instability that affects us all.”

    IOM remains committed to working alongside the Haitian people and the Haitian Government to restore safety, dignity, and opportunities for people across the country.

    For more information please contact: 

     

    In Haiti: Antoine Lemonnier, alemonnier@iom.int 

    In Panama: Jorge Gallo, jgallo@iom.int 

    In Geneva: Daniela Rovina, drovina@iom.int 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT)

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    The Lithuanian public broadcaster, Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT), is the media group that is owned by the public. As a taxpayer-funded institution, LRT’s fundamental mission is to serve the public interest and the public’s right to trustworthy and objective information.

    Lithuanian Radio and Television dates to 1926 when the first radio station started regular broadcasting from the then temporary capital of Lithuania, Kaunas. The television service has been broadcasting since 1957. Radio and television services are now operated from LRT’s headquarters in Vilnius.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –