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Category: United Nations

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is a continental autonomous health agency of the African Union established to support public health initiatives of Member States and strengthen the capacity of their public health institutions to detect, prevent, control and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats. Africa CDC supports African Union Member States in providing coordinated and integrated solutions to the inadequacies in their public health infrastructure, human resource capacity, disease surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, and preparedness and response to health emergencies and disasters.

    Established in January 2016 by the 26th Ordinary Assembly of Heads of State and Government and officially launched in January 2017, Africa CDC is guided by the principles of leadership, credibility, ownership, delegated authority, timely dissemination of information, and transparency in carrying out its day-to-day activities. The institution serves as a platform for Member States to share and exchange knowledge and lessons from public health interventions.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WFP welcomes a contribution from Finland to boost school meals programme in Zambia

    Source: World Food Programme

    LUSAKA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a contribution of EUR 500,000 from the Government of Finland to strengthen Zambia’s national school meals programme. The one-year initiative will enhance the nutrition of over 34,000 learners in thirty-three schools across Zambia while promoting climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable food systems.

    Finland, as the co-chair of the School Meals Coalition, is a strong and longstanding supporter of school meals globally. For years, Finland has provided continuous support to several WFP school meals operations and remains committed to strengthening these efforts. 

    With Finland’s support, and in collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Agriculture, WFP will procure ninety-eight metric tonnes of beans to complement cereals provided for school meals by the Zambian government. The initiative will directly link the demand for nutritious food in schools with supply from local smallholder farmers, creating a stable market for their produce. In addition, irrigated school gardens will be established to further improve the diversity and quality of school meals.

    “Finland and Zambia share longstanding warm relations,” said Saana Halinen, Ambassador of Finland to Zambia. “School meals are an investment in the future of Zambia, and I am incredibly happy that Finnish support is complimenting the government’s efforts in expanding the school meals programme. Allocating resources to child nutrition is the single and most important investment any country can make.”

    To further boost sustainability and resilience, schools will receive energy efficient stoves and handwashing stations, while teachers, learners, and surrounding communities will benefit from training in sustainable agriculture, nutrition, and hygiene practices.

    “This support from Finland comes at a critical time for Zambia as we address the aftermath of last year’s drought, working closely with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Agriculture” said Cissy Kabasuuga, WFP Country Representative in Zambia. “The funding will not only meet the immediate nutritional needs of thousands of learners but also help build a stronger, more resilient food system for the future.” 

    WFP, in partnership with the Government of Zambia launched a comprehensive five-year strategic plan in 2023 which seeks to eliminate hunger, improve nutrition, and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities to food shocks. The plan allows for national institutions to take the lead, reducing the need for humanitarian interventions. 

    Finland, as the co-chair of the School Meals Coalition, is a strong and longstanding supporter of school meals globally. For years, Finland has provided continuous support to several WFP school meals operations and remains committed to strengthening these efforts. 

    About WFP

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on X @wfp_media @WFP_Zambia, @wfp_southernafrica.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Urgent Global Action Needed to Prevent Greater Regional Instability as Sudan War Enters Third Year

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Geneva/ Port Sudan, 15 April 2025 – As the brutal war in Sudan entered its third year today, the International Organization of Migration (IOM) called for immediate, coordinated international action to help alleviate the unimaginable scale of human suffering caused by the conflict and to prevent even greater instability across the region.

    The conflict has triggered the world’s largest displacement crisis and one of the most severe humanitarian emergencies. More than 11.3 million people are now internally displaced —8.6 million of them uprooted by the current conflict—while an additional 3.9 million have fled across borders into neighbouring countries in the past two years alone, desperately seeking safety, food, and shelter.

    Today, over 30 million people—two-thirds of Sudan’s population—are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, including 16 million children.

    “The war has pushed Sudan to the brink. Thousands of lives have been lost to violence, families torn apart, and the hopes and aspirations of millions shattered in the face of starvation, disease, and the complete collapse of the economy,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “And even with the violence, many displaced people are attempting to return to their homes, only to find total devastation. Sudan desperately needs humanitarian aid, and equally important, longer-term investment to ensure people can return safely, and that they, and their communities, can recover and rebuild their lives.”

    Concurrently, as thousands struggle to survive in the ravaged Darfur region, humanitarians have a rapidly shrinking window to scale cross-border operations from Chad before the incoming rains disrupt this critical humanitarian lifeline.

    With continued cross-border displacement and fragile situations in neighbouring countries like South Sudan and Chad, the risk of regional destabilization is growing. Humanitarian response must be complemented with durable and sustainable solutions for returnees, refugees, their host communities and governments.

    Since the outbreak of the conflict, IOM has provided lifesaving assistance and protection – including emergency shelter, water, sanitation, and health services – to nearly four million people across Sudan and neighbouring countries.  Through its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), IOM is also providing vital data to guide the entire humanitarian response plans.

    In Chad, South Sudan, and Ethiopia, IOM is assisting newly arrived refugees and returnees through border reception, onward transportation, health screenings, and basic relief. It also works with host communities to promote social cohesion and resilience – key to preventing further instability.

    Despite the scale of need, IOM’s response plan is only ten percent funded as of April 2025. Without immediate funding, operations will be severely disrupted. Data collection will halt. Over 100 humanitarian partners will lose access to essential supplies. Millions will be left without life-saving support.

    IOM urgently appeals to the international community for immediate and sustained funding to scale up operations; these include life-saving services under health, protection, movement assistance, shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene support, as well as support to key enabling services for the broader humanitarian response. Humanitarian partners must not be left without the tools to respond.

    “The people of Sudan cannot afford to be kept waiting. The international community must deliver a clear and united message: the people of Sudan are not forgotten,” DG Pope said.

    For more information, please contact IOM Media Centre

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s statement on the second anniversary of the Sudanese conflict

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Two years into a devastating war, Sudan remains in a crisis of staggering proportions, with civilians paying the highest price.
     
    Indiscriminate shelling and air strikes continue to kill and maim. Markets, hospitals, schools, places of worship and displacement sites are being attacked. Sexual violence is rampant, with women and girls subjected to horrific acts. Civilians suffer from gross violations and abuses from all warring parties.
     
    Almost 12 million people have fled their homes, in what has become the world’s largest displacement crisis. More than 3.8 million of these have crossed into neighbouring countries.
     
    More than 30 million people require humanitarian support. Half of the population – some 25 million people – are acutely hungry. As the lean season looms, famine has been identified in at least five locations and is projected to spread further.
     
    Aid workers have been targeted: at least 90 have lost their lives since the fighting began.
     
    Basic services have been decimated, with millions of children deprived of education, and less than one-quarter of health facilities are functional in the hardest hit areas. Attacks on infrastructure have left people without electricity and access to safe water.
     
    Last year, the United Nations and its partners reached more than 15.6 million people with at least one form of assistance. But the needs remain overwhelming. Conflict and insecurity, coupled with bureaucratic impediments and drastic funding cuts, have kept humanitarians from increasing their presence in many areas where assistance is needed most.
     
    Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the parties’ disregard for human life. In addition to their obligations under international humanitarian and international human rights law, the warring parties have made commitments to protect civilians, including in the Jeddah Declaration of May 2023. Such commitments must be translated into concrete action. Independent, impartial and transparent investigations into all reports of violations and abuses are also crucial.
     
    The only way to ensure the protection of civilians is to end this senseless conflict.
     
    I am deeply concerned that weapons and fighters continue to flow into Sudan, allowing the conflict to persist and spread across the country. The external support and flow of weapons must end. Those with greatest influence on the parties must use it to better the lives of people in Sudan – not to perpetuate this disaster.
     
    Comprehensive, revitalised and well-coordinated political efforts are urgently needed to prevent Sudan’s further fragmentation. As an international community, we must find ways to help the Sudanese people bring this unspeakable catastrophe to an end and establish acceptable transitional arrangements.
     
    Sudan remains a highest priority for the United Nations. I will continue to engage with regional leaders on means to enhance our collective efforts for peace.
     
    This will complement the ongoing work of my Personal Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, who will seek to ensure international mediation efforts are mutually reinforcing.
     
    He will also continue to explore with the parties ways to bring them closer to a peaceful solution and support and empower civilians as they work towards a common vision for Sudan’s future.
     
    We must renew our focus on finding an end to this brutal war. The world must not forget the people of Sudan.  
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: South-South and Triangular Cooperation Furthers Efforts to Promote Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Urban Health Resilience

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) concluded the fifth online certificate training programme titled “Leveraging South-South and Triangular Cooperation: Inclusive and Technological Innovations for Urban Health and Disaster Risk Reduction” on 12, 19, and 26 March 2025.

    Building on a successful partnership since 2020, this fifth training programme emphasized the importance of a whole-of-society approach, particularly in addressing the needs of the most at-risk groups—such as women, older persons, and persons with disabilities—in disaster risk reduction, health emergencies, and disaster risk management. Through expert-led discussions and practical case studies, participants gained valuable insights into advancing inclusive, resilient, and healthy cities through technological innovations and South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

    “This training programme embodies the principles of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which explicitly calls for an inclusive approach that considers the needs of all populations and groups. Through South-South and Triangular Cooperation, we can share valuable lessons and innovative approaches that ensure no one is left behind when disaster strikes.”

    – Piedad Huerta Arneros, Chief of Office of Country and Subregional Coordination in PAHO/WHO, in her Opening Remarks

    The first training session, led by UNDRR Global Education and Training Institute (GETI) on 12 March, emphasized disability-inclusive urban resilience in practice. The session introduced participants to the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities – Annex for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, a practical tool that supports local governments in ensuring meaningful participation and accessibility for persons with disabilities in disaster risk planning and implementation.

    “Persons with disabilities must be decision-makers in resilience strategies that affect their lives. Inclusion is not only a right—it improves the quality and relevance of our actions,” 

    – Carlos Kaiser, Executive Director of ONG Inclusiva

    Practical case studies from Quezon City in the Philippines, and Pudahuel Municipality in Chile—both of which have applied the Disability Inclusion Scorecard provided real-world application insights for participants. “Since the implementation of the Disability Inclusion Scorecard, we have been able to strengthen our approach and adopt the necessary adjustments to close the gaps,” said Maria Elena Opazo, Director of Disaster Risk Management Department of Pudahuel Municipality.

    Ma. Bianca D. Perez, Head of the Disaster Risk and Management Office of Quezon City, also emphasized how they were empowered to cater to the different needs of people with disabilities, “Profile of those capacitated [was collected] to ensure that the interventions were equitable, not just a one-size-fits-all solution, but cater to the different types of disabilities identified.”

    According to UNDRR’s 2023 Global Survey on Disability and Disasters: 84% of persons with disabilities reported being unprepared for disasters and 56% reported lacking access to disaster risk information. These figures highlight the urgency to ensure the meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities in disaster risk reduction planning.

    Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR, has offered three recommendations for action to all participants: 

    “First, we must continue building the awareness and capacity of institutions and staff to address this problem. For our part, UNDRR remains committed to supporting capacity development and to fostering all-of-government and whole-of-society approaches to disaster risk reduction. 

    Second, we must ensure that there are mechanisms to engage with at-risk groups and to capture their needs in planning processes. This is why UNDRR developed and piloted the Annex for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, as part of our Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities. We invite all local governments to utilize this tested tool. 

    And third, we need to promote international cooperation and the sharing of good practices among countries, especially South-South and Triangular cooperation. By learning from each other, exchanging good practices, and working collaboratively, countries can accelerate the adoption of new solutions to ensure no one is left behind.”

    – Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR

    A mini quiz at the end of the first training session reinforced key learning messages. A total of 1,362 unique participants from 141 countries and territories joined this session live, reflecting strong global interest in inclusive urban resilience approaches.

    This joint training includes three online training sessions. The second session, led by PAHO/WHO on 19 March, explored the intersection of ageing, disability, and urban health emergencies, highlighting the importance of integrating diverse actors into disaster risk reduction and urban resilience planning to ensure inclusive and accessible solutions. The final session, led by UNOSSC on 26 March, was centered on leveraging technological innovation for urban disaster risk reduction and management. This session facilitated the exchange of knowledge and good practices on cutting-edge, low-cost, and high-impact technologies that can enhance urban resilience through South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

    Dima Al-Khatib, Director of UNOSSC, called attention to the importance of South-South Cooperation, especially in capacity building activities to further SDGs

    “South-South Cooperation fosters collaboration amongst developing countries by facilitating knowledge exchange, technical cooperation, and resource sharing to achieve mutual development goals.”

    – Dima Al-Khatib, Director of UNOSSC

    The UNDRR-UNOSSC-PAHO Joint Certificate Training Programme 2025 featured 30 expert speakers, with a balanced gender representation, and provided simultaneous interpretation in Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish, as well as International Sign Language, to ensure accessibility and inclusion.

    The training series has been highly successful, attracting over 9,800 live session participants and 6,500 self-paced learners from 155 countries and territories over the past four training programmes. This year’s training alone attracted over 3,200 registrants, with 1,846 participants including 71 persons with disabilities, reflecting its growing reach and impact.

    For more information and session recordings, please visit https://www.undrr.org/event/undrr-unossc-paho2025

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: A land at risk, a willingness to change: Guatemala strengthens its path to resilience

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    In the heart of Central America, where volcanoes carve the skyline and rivers wind through dense forests, Guatemala’s stunning geography is also a source of vulnerability. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tropical storms, floods, and droughts are part of everyday life—constant reminders of the urgency to strengthen the country’s resilience.

    Against this backdrop, the recent visit of Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), marked a pivotal moment. Joined by Claudinne Ogaldes, Executive Secretary of the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), and Miguel Barreto, UN Resident Coordinator in Guatemala, the mission went beyond reaffirming existing commitments—it generated new partnerships and concrete proposals to advance disaster risk reduction nationwide.

    One of the key political moments of the visit came during a meeting with Vice President Karin Herrera, who expressed the government’s commitment to strengthening SE-CONRED’s role within the state. She proposed including the institution in Guatemala’s main economic and social decision-making bodies, acknowledging that risk reduction must be a whole-of-government responsibility. “Investing in prevention means protecting the future of the most vulnerable populations,” said the Vice President.

    There was also a renewed call to reform CONRED’s legal and policy framework, broadening its mandate, improving inter-institutional coordination, and increasing budget allocations for both prospective and corrective risk management. While Hurricane Mitch in 1998 marked a turning point for Guatemala—leading to the establishment of structures such as CONRED and a stronger emphasis on prevention—the current scale and complexity of risk demand a deeper transformation. Only a bold, sustained shift will ensure sustainable development anchored in resilience and informed by risk.

    “We have made progress in disaster risk reduction in Guatemala. We have strengthened the staff of CONRED’s Executive Secretariat, not only in the capital, but throughout the country, with more teams to support municipalities in risk management. But we still need to stop building risk. We need to be a more resilient country, one that complies with the standards and does not perpetuate its vulnerability,” said Claudinne Ogaldes, Executive Secretary of CONRED.

    The mission coincided with the XXI Meeting of the National Platform for Dialogue, which served as a forum to define the foundations of Guatemala’s position for the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2025. During the meeting, participants emphasized the need to strengthen multi-hazard early warning systems, integrate risk into national and sectoral planning, and foster participatory and inclusive governance rooted in resilience.

    Throughout the week, several concrete commitments were secured. The National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH) expressed its intention to move forward with the adoption of the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), a key tool for standardizing warnings and improving hazard response. Representatives from the telecommunications sector also voiced their readiness to explore the implementation of Cell Broadcasting systems, in coordination with UN agencies and inspired by good practices across the region.

    At the regional level, the mission included high-level meetings at the Coordination Centre for Disaster Prevention in Central America and the Dominican Republic (CEPREDENAC) and with the Executive Secretariat of the Council of Ministers of Finance of Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic (COSEFIN). These exchanges helped pave the way for stronger risk-informed public financing and a future dialogue with finance ministers on integrating disaster risk into national budgets, public investment, and fiscal policy. The goal is clear: move beyond reactive and corrective approaches and instead channel resources into forward-looking, preventive measures that build long-term resilience.

    The Guatemalan private sector also demonstrated strong engagement. A pilot initiative was presented, developed with a national bank and the ARISE Network, aimed at promoting risk-informed decision-making in small and medium-sized enterprises. The Sustainable Finance Advisory Council of CentraRSE expressed its commitment to embedding disaster risk reduction within the country’s financial architecture, including banking and insurance systems.

    Throughout the mission, the leadership of local and community actors was palpable. A visit to the Ingenio Magdalena sugar mill underscored the value of public-private-community alliances for prevention and preparedness. The mission also recognized the critical roles played by youth, women, Indigenous peoples, and local governments in building resilience from the ground up.

    In this national effort, the United Nations System has served as a strategic partner and catalyst. The mission reaffirmed the leadership of Resident Coordinator Miguel Barreto in promoting effective, results-driven cooperation. It also confirmed that resilience will be a strategic priority within the next UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) in Guatemala.

    “Guatemala is demonstrating that it is possible to anticipate risk, plan ahead and protect what is most valuable: lives, livelihoods and communities. To achieve this, it is essential to direct public and private investment towards resilient infrastructure, accompanied by adequate financing. Only then will we stop building risk and start building resilience,” said Kamal Kishore.

    “We have identified areas of convergence and cross-cutting issues where agencies can work together. For example, incorporating early warning and prevention into all operational activities of the system,” added Miguel Barreto, UN Resident Coordinator.

    The results of the mission highlight the value of strategic, targeted cooperation. Through UNDRR’s technical support—working closely with SE-CONRED and the broader UN system—Guatemala is forging a more coordinated, inclusive approach to disaster risk reduction. Far from being an isolated initiative, this is a collective effort to ensure that risk reduction becomes a shared responsibility, embedded across sectors and driven by political will, technical excellence, and local leadership.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Jinnah Institute

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    Jinnah Institute is an independent policy research and public advocacy think tank in Pakistan. The Institute advances the causes of:

    • Democratic institution building and strengthening state capacity for delivery on policy goals;
    • National and human security discourse with an emphasis on regional peace;
    • Entitlement to fundamental rights and freedoms;
    • Accountability of public bodies and government;
    • Building public equity in a plural and inclusive national identity.

    To meet these objectives, Jinnah Institute engages with policy-makers, government, media, civil society, state institutions and academia. The Institute actively seeks to articulate independent national security strategies for Pakistan which incorporate the country’s strategic imperatives while providing room for constructive engagement with the international community, as well as policy and opinion makers.

    By serving as a bridge between academia and policy-making, and focusing on capacity building for the state and other policy making institutions, the Institute creates an enabling context and public space for ideas and resources to come together through mediums such as policy briefs, reports, lectures, seminars, round-tables and caucuses.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: BMC Infectious Diseases

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    BMC Infectious Diseases is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on all aspects of the prevention, diagnosis and management of infectious and sexually transmitted diseases in humans and animals, as well as related molecular genetics, pathophysiology, and epidemiology.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Churchill Trust

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust is an organisation established in 1965 following the death of Sir Winston Churchill. 

    The Trust was formed with the principal objective of perpetuating and honouring Sir Winston’s memory by the awarding of Memorial Fellowships, to be known as ‘Churchill Fellowships’.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Remarks by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem at the Fourth Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

    Source: United Nations Population Fund

    Madame Chair,
    President of the General Assembly,
    Excellencies, 
    Distinguished delegates, 
    Dear young people,

    I greet you in peace, always of concern for African people all over the world and the noble pursuit of the United Nations.

    It is an honor for me to join you at this esteemed Forum. Since its establishment four years ago, UNFPA has been present at every session, a testament to our unflinching support for the crucial mandate of this Forum. 

    As a people, we have come to learn through history – our shared African history – that progress comes when we rise and demand long overdue justice. Referencing the great Frederick Douglass: 

    “If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation, want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning, they want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters.”

    And so the struggle for full freedom carries on, in this generation spearheaded by the African Union, including its sixth region, its proud diaspora.

    For UNFPA, that means carrying on with our important work to uphold the dignity and rights of women and girls of African descent, who continually face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and oppression, yet still contributing massively to shaping economies, cultures and scientific developments, including robotics, artificial intelligence, mathematics, populations studies, and so much more.

    UNFPA is assisting countries to disaggregate population data by race and ethnicity to help us lift the cloak of invisibility off groups too often left behind. Why? Because you cannot change what you cannot see.

    With UNFPA’s support, 22 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean now include race and ethnic self-identification in their censuses, which is essential in devising policies to end inequality and discrimination. 

    UNFPA addresses disparities in reproductive health, because as we know all too well, it is Black women and adolescent girls who are at a much higher risk of maternal mortality and the consequences of adolescent pregnancy. This must change and it should not take five, ten or twenty years for that change to manifest.

    In partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and with the generous support of Luxembourg, UNFPA recently launched the Global Maternal Health Coalition for People of African Descent. The first technical workshop of this Coalition is due to take place later this year.

    We are also pleased to partner on targeted interventions for the implementation of Recommendation Number 5 of the Committee of Experts for the Belém do Pará Convention. It calls on countries to end gender-based violence against women of African descent.  

    Gender-based violence is an ugly, troubling epidemic now exacerbated by online toxicity directed at women and girls of African descent. This Forum has a role to play in insisting that racism and sexism have no place in public dialogue, including in the digital space.

    Let us take heart from last year’s first-ever commemoration of the International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent on July 25th, led by the Governments of Brazil and Colombia. This is another important step towards uplifting people of African descent and advancing gender equality. 

    The beauty of Black women is undeniable and it is our business to instill in every young girl an appreciation of her inner beauty and her inherent strength.

    Excellencies, dear partners,

    Stony the road we trod
    Bitter the chastening rod
    Felt in the days when hope unborn had died
    Yet with a steady beat
    Have not our weary feet
    Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?

    Yes we have arrived to this place, yet am I wrong to say that the road ahead is uncertain? We cannot wait to act to protect the hard-won gains that began from the moment of abduction from Africa, through the Middle Passage, up until today.

    Already, there is heightened pushback on progress that intended to level the playing field and improve the everyday lives of Black people in areas such as education, health and employment. 

    Already, we have seen attacks on innocent migrants whose only desire was to make a better life for themselves and their children. 

    Meanwhile, on the African continent conflict and war are having repercussions far and wide.

    Now is the time to recommit to our quest for peace and equality. Now is the time for recognition. Now is the time to raise the demand for justice for all people of African descent.

    Excellencies, dear partners,

    “I am my mother’s daughter, and the drums of Africa still beat in my heart.” 

    These are words of educator and activist Mary McLeod Bethune.

    That drum invites us to dialogue. 

    I am delighted to invite all of you to an extraordinary moment that will take place outside this afternoon at 1:15pm at the Ark of Return memorial dedicated to the victims of enslavement, which is marking 10 years since it was unveiled. It is there that you will be able to hear the sounds and rhythms of drums – drums that will connect us and guide our common heartbeats as we work together towards building a peaceful, equal, healthy and just world for people of African descent, and for all.

    Muchas gracias, Adelante! 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks to the Fourth Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    We meet at a time of profound challenges – both old and new.

    When current divides are growing.

    And the legacies of colonialism and enslavement continue to poison our world.

    We still bear witness to the scourge of racism, which blights lives and stains societies.

    People of African descent continue to face injustice, exclusion, systemic discrimination and violence.

    And even artificial intelligence, which holds such promise for humanity, too often mirrors and amplifies the same inequalities and racial biases that have plagued us for centuries.

    Power is concentrated in the hands of the few.

    And too many people, countries and communities remain unable to benefit from all that these technologies have to offer.

    The Permanent Forum on People of African Descent was established to challenge these injustices.

    To amplify the voices of people of African descent.

    And to accelerate progress towards a world of dignity, justice and equality. 

    To accomplish this goal, we must push for action at every level:

    A critical objective is the need for reparatory justice frameworks grounded in international human rights law.

    Developed with the inclusive and meaningful participation of affected communities.

    That acknowledges the terrible harms and injustices caused, and their continued manifestations and ramifications.

    And that redresses past wrongs.

    We need to eliminate bias from artificial intelligence, and to ensure that these technologies advance equality, inclusion and digital justice.

    Including by delivering on the commitments in the Global Digital Compact agreed last year.

    And by investing in capacity development to ensure people of African descent can shape, build and govern AI technologies.

    And we must continue to address racism in all its forms – particularly where it is embedded in laws, policies and institutions.

    All of us have a responsibility to play our part – international organizations, governments, businesses, and individuals.

    And to drive action across this Second International Decade for People of African Descent.

    In particular, I urge all countries to deliver on their commitments in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action – the blueprint for combatting racism, racial discrimination and intolerance.

    Together, with courage and with determination – let us forge ahead toward a world where the human rights of people of African descent are fully respected, protected, and fulfilled.

    I wish you a productive session.

    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 14 April 2025 Departmental update New study highlights multiple long-term health complications from female genital mutilation

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Female genital mutilation (FGM) affects almost all dimensions of the health of women and girls, according to a new study published today from the World Health Organization (WHO) together with the United Nations’ Human Reproduction Programme (HRP). Health complications of the practice can be severe and life-long, causing both mental and physical health risks.

    Published in BMC Public Health, the publication analyzes evidence from more than 75 studies in around 30 countries to paint a comprehensive picture of the ways that FGM impacts survivors’ health at different life stages.

    It shows that women with FGM are significantly more likely to experience a wide range of complications during childbirth compared to those without, for instance. They have more than double the risk of enduring prolonged or obstructed labour or haemorrhage, while being significantly more likely to require emergency caesarean sections or forceps delivery.

    In addition, women with FGM have an almost three-times greater risk of depression or anxiety, and a 4.4 times higher likelihood of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.

    There is a critical need to ensure timely, high-quality health care for survivors, to engage communities for prevention and ensure families are aware of FGM’s harmful effects, alongside serious political commitment to stop the practice and educate and empower women and girls.

    Dr Pascale Allotey / Director of SRHR at WHO and head of HRP

    “This study paints a devastating picture of the manifold health implications of female genital mutilation, spanning mental and physical health and undermining emotional well-being,” said Dr Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO and head of HRP. “There is a critical need to ensure timely, high-quality health care for survivors, to engage communities for prevention and ensure families are aware of FGM’s harmful effects, alongside serious political commitment to stop the practice and educate and empower women and girls.”

    FGM is a harmful practice that involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs such as cutting or burning. It is an extreme form of gender discrimination and a stark violation of women and girls’ human rights.

    It is estimated that around 230 million women and girls alive today have undergone FGM. While evidence shows the overall proportion of those who experience FGM is declining, absolute numbers could increase given rising youth populations in countries where it is practiced. Abandonment of FGM is challenging, given that it is driven by deep-set cultural beliefs and norms.

    Also of concern, evidence shows more cases of FGM are now performed by health workers – its so-called medicalization – due in part to misperceptions that their involvement makes it safer and reduces risks. In fact, some studies have shown that longer-term damage from “medicalized” FGM may be greater, since it can result in deeper, more severe cuts.

    FGM’s immediate risks can be life-threatening and include severe infections, heavy blood loss, as well as extreme pain and emotional trauma. Longer-term consequences for survivors include, as well as those described above, menstrual difficulties; urological complications, including urinary tract infections and difficulty urinating; and painful sexual intercourse.

    In addition to various obstetric risks for women, the paper highlights that FGM can also have impacts on babies during or following childbirth. Babies born to women who had FGM are more likely to experience birth complications like fetal distress or asphyxia, resulting in lower newborn survival rates.

    Recognizing FGM’s devastating health impacts, WHO supports efforts to strengthen prevention efforts within the health sector, engaging health workers to educate communities and family members, while providing clinical guidance on effective care for survivors.

    Understanding the range of complications FGM can cause – spanning acute risks as well as impacts on obstetric and neonatal, gynaecological, urological, sexual and mental health – is critical for ensuring survivors receive appropriate treatment and support. Drawing on this evidence, WHO will shortly release a new guideline covering both FGM prevention and clinical care for affected women and girls. FGM is currently common in around 30 countries across Africa and Asia.

    About

    The present study, titled Exploring the health complications of female genital mutilation through a systematic review and meta-analysis, updates and expands previous reviews, compiling all available data on health complications from studies with comparison groups of women with and without FGM, and by the different types of FGM. The result of this process is a comprehensive summary of its various health complications.

    The study was supported by the Governments of Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland alongside HRP (the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction). HRP is the main research institution within the United Nations system for sexual and reproductive health.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s video message for the UN Pavillion Welcome Message at Expo2025

    Source: United Nations

    Download the video here:
    https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/vi…

    As Secretary-General of the United Nations, I welcome you to the United Nations Pavilion at Expo 2025.  

    This Pavilion is a window into our work around the world — from our founding in 1945, right through today.

    As you continue exploring, you will discover how the United Nations plays a key role in people’s lives today — including here in Japan.   

    This Pavilion also symbolizes an important truth — building a better, more peaceful future requires all countries, and all people, working as one. 

    You are about to enter an immersive theatre providing a glimpse of one possible future.

    A world in which everyone thrives in peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.  

    A world we can only create together by achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and boosting climate action. 

    But this future is not automatic.

    It requires all of us — and all of you — working to achieve it.

    The future that you are about to see is possible.

    Let’s unite and work together to make it a reality.   

    Thank you. Arigatou gozaimasu.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 47 million health workers and advocates call for cleaner air to curb pollution deaths

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Over 50 countries, cities, and organizations pledged new commitments on Thursday to tackle air pollution, protect public health, and help halve its deadly impacts by 2040 – a goal backed by a petition from 47 million health professionals, patients and advocates demanding clean air be made a public health priority. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Countries reach historic deal to cut shipping emissions

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    By Vibhu Mishra

    Climate and Environment

    After years of intense negotiations, countries on Friday reached a landmark deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions from global shipping, setting mandatory fuel standards and introducing an industry-wide carbon pricing mechanism.

    The framework – agreed during the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee – aims for net-zero emissions from the sector by 2050 and will be formally adopted in October before coming into force in 2027.

    They will apply to large ocean-going vessels over 5,000 gross tonnage, which collectively account for 85 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions from the marine shipping fleet.

    IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez hailed the breakthrough, emphasising the collaborative spirit that led to the deal.

    “The approval of draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI mandating the IMO net-zero framework represents another significant step in our collective efforts to combat climate change, to modernize shipping and demonstrates that IMO delivers on its commitments.”

    MARPOL Annex VI refers to provisions in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, specifically addressing air pollution.

    It already includes mandatory energy efficiency requirements for ships and has 108 Parties covering roughly 97 per cent of the world’s merchant shipping fleet by tonnage.

    Intense negotiations

    Negotiations – which culminated on Friday in London – were particularly challenging.

    According to media reports, around a dozen countries – including the United States – were opposed to the framework. The proposal was ultimately put to a vote and passed.

    A turning point for the shipping industry

    The framework introduces a dual approach: a global fuel standard that will progressively lower the annual greenhouse gas fuel intensity of marine fuels, and a greenhouse gas pricing mechanism requiring high-emitting ships to pay for their excess pollution.

    Under the new system, ships that exceed emissions limits will need to acquire remedial units to offset their excess pollution. Meanwhile, vessels operating with zero or near-zero emissions will be eligible for financial rewards, creating a market-driven push toward cleaner maritime transport.

    © IMO

    A cargo ship moored at a port in Europe.

    Supporting vulnerable countries

    A key element of the new framework is the IMO Net-Zero Fund, which will collect revenues from the carbon pricing mechanism.

    These funds will support innovation, research, infrastructure and transition initiatives in developing countries.

    It will also be used to mitigate negative impacts on vulnerable nations, such as small island developing States (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs), which bear the brunt of both climate change and economic pressures in the shipping sector.

    Next steps: Adoption and implementation

    The draft regulations will undergo formal adoption in October 2025.

    If ratified during the IMO session, as expected, the measures will enter into force in 2027, giving the industry time to adapt to new requirements and invest in alternative fuels and technologies.

    The International Maritime Organization

    The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the UN specialized agency responsible for the safety and security of global shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.

    Established in 1948 and headquartered in London, it develops international treaties, such as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) or the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Closing remarks by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem at the 58th session of the Commission on Population and Development

    Source: United Nations Population Fund

    Madam Chair,
    Excellencies,
    Distinguished delegates, 
    Leaders of civil society,
    Dear colleagues, dear young people,

    Muy buenos días! Greetings of peace – always on our minds as we deliberate in this multilateral space – peace in the home, peace in our hearts, peace in the wider world.

    Last year’s 57th session of this Commission celebrated ICDP30. It drew record participation. This year again, this Commission garnered considerable engagement from Member States, civil society, from advocates for issues that affect older people and young advocates, too – all mobilized by the relevance of the theme: “Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages”.

    In adopting the ICPD Programme of Action 31 years ago in Cairo, Member States set out a vision for the achievement of people-centred sustainable development, through investing in health, including sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, promoting gender equality, and empowering adolescents and youth. 

    Deliberations of this Commission revealed that deeper investments in health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, have driven progress in economic and social development, advanced social justice and supported individual well-being.

    As the Commission opened on World Health Day, there was good news on maternal mortality. Your efforts over the years to improve maternal health outcomes have contributed to a remarkable drop in deaths worldwide.

    The news, however, was less positive for Indigenous women, African women and women of African descent, and for women in humanitarian settings – far too many of whom continue to be left behind. Now, there is urgent need to go further to ensure that no woman dies needlessly from entirely preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

    As you highlighted, we as a global community need to do better to reduce inequalities in access to healthcare, including through financing and strengthened international cooperation and partnerships.

    We heard your hopes and priorities for furthering these investments to achieve universal health coverage and truly leave no one behind.

    You voiced commitment to improve health and well-being for populations at all ages; to end violence against women, including online; to ensure that child marriage and harmful practices no longer diminish the lives and experiences of women and girls and young people, in all their diversity.

    How unfortunate, then, that the Commission’s best efforts could not translate into an action-oriented outcome this year. Because let us be clear, millions of lives are on the line. Because this year like no other, women and girls expect UNFPA and the entire United Nations to rush to their rescue.

    And once again, it will be poor people who are cast aside, and as always sadly, it is women and girls with the most vulnerability and the least access to health services who will bear the greatest burden of ill health and preventable deaths.

    In recent months, the world appears to be in retreat, turning a face of indifference to human suffering at a time when humanitarian crises are pushing more and more people to the brink. As the principle of international solidarity comes under attack, more and more people are dying. They are being denied fundamental rights and choices, food, life-saving medicines and the basic necessities of life, caught up in catastrophes not of their own making, and for women and girls, there is a battle over their own bodies.

    Who is listening to the women and girls? Who will defend their fundamental rights? I can assure you that UNFPA is listening. We are responding based on the evidence, based on what women and girls tell us they need. We are committed to defending their fundamental freedoms, wherever they may be – in an urban centre or a rural area, in a refugee camp, fleeing violence or disaster, trapped by hunger and war. We will continue to do the necessary research, data analysis, the surveys and census advising to support countries who strongly desire to improve statistical data collection and usage to identify and address the needs of their people.

    As language is debated in these august halls, let us unfailingly uphold the fundamental values that must never be compromised.

    Principle 1 of the ICPD Programme of Action and Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirm that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

    And what better way to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the UN Charter than for “we the people” to “reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women”.

    Madam Chair,
    Distinguished delegates,

    This Commission is the guardian of the ICPD Programme of Action. Your work, historically, has bettered millions upon millions of lives around the world. Even as there are opposing positions, I hope that we can agree that much more unites us than divides us.

    Let us send a signal to those whom we serve that what is done here still matters.

    For UNFPA, we will do our utmost to assist Member States to move forward. Because this is no time to turn back. Human lives, human rights and human dignity are at stake. 

    Let us hold fast to Principle 3 of the ICPD Programme of Action:

    “The right to development is a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights, and the human person is the central subject of development.”

    In this regard, UNFPA notes with great appreciation your adoption of the decision on the special theme for the 60th  session of the CPD on “Population, poverty eradication and sustainable development”, and we look forward to supporting Member States, in collaboration with our partners at DESA.

    On behalf of all of us at UNFPA, I join in thanking our distinguished Chairperson, H.E. Ms. Catharina Jannigje Lasseur of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, for her vision, her astute leadership, and her proactive engagement over months of preparation, and we commend her colleague Ms. Iris De Leede.

    We appreciate the dedication and commitment of the CPD58 Bureau members from Burundi, Lebanon, Moldova, and Uruguay. 

    Special thanks to the co-facilitators, Norma Abi Karam of Lebanon and Jessica Orduz of Colombia, for their tireless efforts to promote evidence-based discussions on the draft resolution.

    May I recognize the UN DESA Population Division for their stewardship of the Commission, and the close partnership with UNFPA to support these efforts. 

    To my own UNFPA expert colleagues, thank you for your long hours and skilled contributions to this year’s session. 

    A final note of thanks to the distinguished representatives, delegates and observers of this 58th Commission for your hard work and active participation in the deliberations.

    I happily observed that this 58th session has been distinguished by meaningful participation by young people and by intergenerational dialogue to good effect. As commissioners, you have carried the aspirations for health of young people and older people, and you have carried our common aspiration for the healing of an increasingly ravaged planet.

    It is my hope that this Commission’s discussions will continue to shape national policies, influence international agreements, and galvanize partnerships that make a real difference in people’s lives. These deliberations provide an important substantial contribution to the upcoming 2025 High Level Political Forum and its review of SDG 3 on good health and SDG 5 on gender equality and towards the preparations for the Fourth Financing for Development Conference and the Second World Summit on Social Development.

    Excellencies, distinguished delegates,

    Quoting the gifted African poet Warsan Shire:

    i held an atlas in my lap
    ran my fingers across the whole world
    and whispered
    where does it hurt?

    it answered
    everywhere
    everywhere
    everywhere.

    In looking forward to constructive substantive reflections next year under the theme “population, technology and research in the context of sustainable development”, on behalf of UNFPA, allow me to reaffirm our commitment to partnering with the 59th CPD Chair and all of you to support the full implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and support the continued success of the 2030 Agenda and the Pact of the Future.

    Remember that good health and healthy longevity begin with safe motherhood in the antenatal period. Let us continue to take forward our collective responsibility for a future in which everyone enjoys good health and well-being and everyone – at all ages – benefits from the fruits of sustainable development and lives in dignity and peace.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 11 April 2025 Departmental update Malaria progress in jeopardy amid foreign aid cuts

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Since 2000, investments in the global malaria response have prevented more than 2 billion cases and nearly 13 million deaths. Yet efforts to control and eliminate malaria are in jeopardy as communities and programmes face the fallout of recent funding cuts.

    Malaria is preventable and curable – but without prompt diagnosis and treatment, it can rapidly escalate to severe illness and death, particularly among young children and pregnant women. In 2023 alone, malaria claimed nearly 600 000 lives, with an estimated 95% of these deaths occurring in the WHO African Region.[1]

    The 2025 funding cuts to malaria programmes put millions of additional lives at risk and could reverse decades of progress earned, in part, through longstanding investments from the United States of America and other global partners. ​ Between 2010 and 2023, the USA contributed an average of 37% of global malaria financing through both bilateral and multilateral channels.[2]  

    The recent experience of the COVID-19 pandemic showed that sudden interruptions to malaria service delivery can be deadly. In 2020, COVID-related disruptions to the provision of malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment led to an estimated 14 million more malaria cases and an additional 47 000 deaths.[3]  

    “History has shown us what happens if we let down our guard against malaria,” cautions Dr Daniel Ngamije, Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme. “In 1969, the global eradication effort was abandoned, triggering a resurgence in cases and deaths. It took nearly 30 years for world leaders to come together and restore momentum.”

    Although funding for some USA-supported malaria programmes has been reinstated, the disruptions have left critical gaps. Without the rapid delivery of prevention and treatment services to at-risk populations, the consequences could be fatal.  

    Findings of rapid WHO survey

    The impact is being felt across the health sector. Of the 108 WHO country offices that took part in a recent WHO survey, nearly three quarters reported severe disruptions to health services following the pause in overseas development assistance (ODA).

    Responses from country offices suggest that budget cuts are already translating into increased out-of-pocket payments for patients, with the poor and vulnerable likely to carry the heaviest financial burden. The survey highlighted job losses for health and care workers as well as disruptions to information systems and to the supply of medicines and health products.

    Reponses to malaria have been particularly affected. Of the 64 malaria-endemic countries surveyed, more than half reported moderate or severe disruptions to malaria services.

    Impact of funding shortfall highlighted at WHO advisory committee meeting

    Further information was shared in this week’s WHO Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG) meeting, held from 8–10 April. MPAG members heard updates on current challenges and priority actions taken by countries and their global partners to respond to immediate funding shortfalls.

    Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) have been a cornerstone of malaria prevention efforts in Africa over the past 2 decades. By early April 2025, more than 40% of planned ITN distribution campaigns designed to reach 425 million people were either delayed or at risk of being derailed, according to data provided by national malaria programmes.

    Nearly 30% of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) campaigns to protect 58 million children were also off track. In many African countries, stocks of rapid diagnostic tests and medicines have reached critically low levels.

    Reductions in funding also threaten to undermine critical investments in scientific innovation, including in new and improved preventive, diagnostic and treatment interventions as well as in new tools to address drug and insecticide resistance.

    “We must not allow funding setbacks to derail the global malaria agenda,” noted Dr Jérôme Salomon, WHO Assistant Director-General, in his opening remarks at MPAG. “We urge all stakeholders to sustain their commitments, safeguard national plans, and coordinate adaptation strategies in response to the shifting funding landscape.”

    Country leadership and partner support critical to response

    In Nigeria, lawmakers have approved an additional US$ 200 million for the health sector as part of a 2025 spending plan – an effort to mitigate the impact of the recent suspension of USA foreign aid.[4]  Across Africa, other countries are strengthening coordination mechanisms and taking steps to close critical gaps through the use of domestic resources.

    WHO and partners remain committed to supporting national governments and civil society in securing sustained funding and delivering integrated solutions to protect those most at risk. Achieving resilient and self-financed health systems will require increased domestic investment in health and a strategic use of available resources to maximize impact.

    “This is the moment for data-driven decision making – for ensuring every dollar is used wisely,” said Dr Dyann Wirth, MPAG Chair. “People and communities already facing poverty and vulnerability will bear the brunt of these funding cuts.  We must embrace equity-focused action and stand up for sustainable solutions that leave no one behind.”

    In March 2025, WHO and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria launched a cross-partner working group of technical experts and donor agencies to ensure rapid, aligned support for countries where it is most needed.

    “It is critical, now more than ever, to ensure that our malaria interventions are fully integrated within broader health systems,” noted Dr Michael Charles, CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria. “Our collective efforts must continue to focus on streamlining, on coordination and on sustainable financing. And, at the end of the day, we must ensure that we are putting countries first.”

    Sustained investment in primary health care and delivering integrated, life-saving services – particularly for vulnerable populations – must remain a priority.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Concluding Session, Commission on Population and Development Fails to Adopt Text on Ensuring Healthy Lives, Promoting Well-being for All

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Several Delegates Take Issue with Language Concerning Sexual, Reproductive Health Services, Reproductive Rights

    The Commission on Population and Development failed to adopt an outcome document today as it concluded its fifty-eighth session, with delegates sharply divided about support for sexual and reproductive rights, and some questioning commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    At the outset of the meeting, Catharina Jannigje Lasseur (Netherlands), Chair of the Commission at its fifty-eighth session, withdrew the draft resolution she had circulated earlier, citing a lack of agreement among delegations.  While noting “strong efforts towards consensus”, she acknowledged: “I see no other possibility at this late hour than to withdraw my proposal.”

    If adopted, that wide-ranging text, titled “Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages” (document E/CN.9/2025/L.4), would have urged Member States to ensure everyone’s right to the enjoyment of the highest-attainable standard of physical and mental health and called on them to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services.  It would have also called on Governments to take concrete measures towards the full implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development.

    The Programme, adopted by 179 countries at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo, set out an ambitious vision about the relationships between population, development and individual well-being.  It recognized that reproductive health and rights, as well as women’s empowerment and gender equality, are cornerstones of development.

    In the contentious discussion that followed the Chair’s withdrawal of her resolution, many speakers expressed regret that the Commission could not adopt a consensus text this year but diverged as to why agreement was not possible.

    Several speakers took issue with language concerning “sexual and reproductive health services”, as well as “reproductive rights”.  The representative of Djibouti said that there is an “ever-growing number of delegations who have come to realize that [these terms] have become — and remain — highly controversial”. Similarly, the observer for the Holy See said:  “This language has always been controversial.”  Nigeria’s delegate said that, despite various calls for the removal of certain language, the facilitators ignored these requests, which concern “cultural and ethical values and core national priorities”.

    Burundi’s delegate underscored that the phrase “sexual and reproductive rights” must not be interpreted to mean the right to abortion.  The term “gender” must be understood as exclusively meaning the biological sexes of male and female.  Further, “a strong family policy” must be at the heart of sustainable development, he said. The representatives of Iran, Cameroon, Belarus and the Russian Federation also said they could not agree with a text that did not incorporate references to the role of the family.

    However, South Africa’s delegate, delivering a statement on behalf of a number of countries, said:  “We are deeply concerned by what we have witnessed in this forum around fundamental rights and issues that have enjoyed long-standing consensus in the United Nations.”  Noting the ongoing challenge to human rights — including the right to development and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights — she reaffirmed commitment to the International Conference on Population and Development’s Programme of Action.

    Poland’s delegate, speaking for the European Union, also reiterated support to that Programme and the role of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in advancing sexual and reproductive health and gender equality. She stressed the need to ensure that “we live in a world without sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices, where all women and girls can make choices about their life, health and well-being, where the potential of every individual is fulfilled and no mother or infant dies simply because the health system has failed them”.

    Inclusive and resilient health systems, universal healthcare and inclusive sexual health and reproductive services are essential to sustainable development, stressed Sweden’s representative, while France’s delegate stressed that reproductive rights “are what determines access to development for women and girls”.

    The representative of the United States, meanwhile, said that his delegation “rejects and denounces the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and will no longer affirm the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals] as a matter of course”.

    Many delegations, however, took the floor to reaffirm their support for the 2030 Agenda, including the representatives of Chile, Lebanon, Colombia, the Republic of Moldova, the Philippines and Japan.  The representatives of Portugal, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Australia (also speaking for Canada and New Zealand), Norway, Belgium and Luxembourg expressed concern that foundational references to the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs were consistently challenged during negotiations.

    “We cannot become accustomed to delegations picking and choosing from international commitments,” Brazil’s delegate said.  China’s delegate described the rejection of references to the 2030 Agenda as “a regression in the course of history”.

    In the face of such attacks, Germany’s delegate said, it is all the more vital to work together to realize the aspirations collectively agreed upon in the International Conference on Population and Development’s Programme of Action, the 2030 Agenda and the Pact for the Future.  The United Kingdom’s representative warned that “ignoring links between health, climate change and inequality do not make them disappear”, while Uruguay’s delegate observed:  “Sadly, we are living in a time when reason is insufficient.”

    Algeria’s representative sounded a more-hopeful note:  “Thanks to the work of this Commission, it was possible to have an exchange of views and achieve agreements that will undoubtedly facilitate negotiations in the future.”  For his part, the representative of Bangladesh urged:  “Let us not allow short-term differences to undermine our long-term destiny; consensus is not the surrender of national interests, it is the recognition that our fates are intertwined.”

    In her closing remarks, Ms. Lasseur encouraged delegates to reflect upon the larger role of the Commission.  With 116 Member States speaking in the general debate and more than 30 side events, this year’s session featured many examples of positive steps that have been made to implement the International Conference on Population and Development’s Programme of Action, she said.  “This shows that the [Programme and the Commission on Population and Development] are very much alive and kicking,” she said.  Participating in this forum, she added, “really made it clear to me who we are fighting for:  women and girls, often living in rural areas, sometimes in dangerous conflict settings, lacking access to basic healthcare services, not having the basic necessities to live a life of dignity”.

    “How unfortunate then that the Commission’s best efforts could not translate into an action-oriented outcome this year,” said Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA, in her closing remarks.  People are dying because they are denied fundamental rights and choices, food, life-saving medicines and the basic necessities of life, caught up in catastrophes not of their own making, and for women and girls, in battles over their own bodies.

    “In this year, like no other, women and girls expect UNFPA and the United Nations to rush to their rescue,” she said, adding that once again, it will be poor people and the most vulnerable women and girls who will bear the greatest burden of ill health and preventable deaths.  “Who is listening to them?  Who will defend their fundamental rights?” she asked.  Reaffirming the Fund’s commitment to listening to them, she said it will continue to respond “based on what women and girls tell us they need”.

    Also regretting the lack of an outcome document, Bjørg Sandkjær, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, expressed appreciation for the “frank, thoughtful and interactive” discussions held throughout the week.  The Commission heard about important progress in improving people’s health and well-being over the past decades even as it learned about the many health-related SDG targets that are off track.  She noted that these insights will feed into the Economic and Social Council’s activities.

    In other business, the Commission adopted the report of its fifty-eighth session (document E/CN.9/2025/L.3) and the provisional agenda of the fifty-ninth session (document E/CN.9/2025/L.2).  The Russian Federation’s delegate said his delegation was short-handed because one member arrived late due to visa delays and stressed that the United States has a legal obligation to issue visas in a timely manner.

    The Chair said that in the absence of an outcome document, she would prepare a summary of the proceedings.  Iran’s delegate said such a summary should not be considered a representation of the positions of delegations.

    The Commission also adopted a decision (document E/CN.9/2025/L.5), which decided that the special theme for its sixtieth session, to be held in 2027, will be “Population, poverty eradication and sustainable development”.  The Russian Federation’s delegate, noting that eliminating poverty is an important global goal, hailed the consensus by which the Commission chose the theme.

    The Commission then concluded its fifty-eighth session and opened its fifty-ninth session, electing Zéphyrin Maniratanga (Burundi) as Chair and Arb Kapisyzi (Albania), Sasha-Kay Kayann Watson (Jamaica) and Stéphanie Toschi (Luxembourg) as Vice-Chairs.  The nomination of the remaining Vice-Chair, to represent Asia-Pacific States, was deferred to a later date.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Hidden explosives continue to threaten communities

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    This story was written by the UN Mine Action Service’s South Sudan team. In close cooperation with South Sudan’s National Mine Action Authority and other partners, the team coordinates demining efforts and reaches out to communities to raise awareness on the dangers of explosive hazards and how to avoid them.
     

    After a conflict, after the guns fall silent, the legacy of war often remains hidden beneath the soil, lying on roadsides and scattered across farmland. Landmines and explosive remnants of war are left behind, threatening communities that are already reeling from the effects of violence.  

    This is the reality for many communities in South Sudan, a country that has faced decades of armed conflict and humanitarian crises. A farmer preparing their land, a child walking to school, a cattle herder guiding livestock, or a woman collecting firewood – all are put at risk by these hidden threats. So, too, are the humanitarians trying to reach communities that are in dire need of food, water, and medical assistance.  

    Since 2004, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), an integral part of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, has been working with South Sudan’s National Mine Action Authority and other partners to remove these hidden killers. Important progress has been made, but large areas remain contaminated, and renewed fighting risks reversing the progress made in clearing land.
     

     

    Together, UNMAS and its partners have cleared explosive remnants of war from thousands of kilometers of roads and land, letting life return to normal where demining has taken place. Farmers like Daniel Kong, from Malakal, who once feared tilling his land, can now cultivate their crops without fear. When his village was declared safe from mines, Mr. Kong was able to return to farming, letting him provide food for his family and earn a livelihood in the market. Pastoralists and women collecting firewood can now move freely without the fear of stepping on a hidden threat. Schools that were once contaminated with abandoned explosive weapons are now filled with students. This is a critical step forward in protecting children, who, over the last five years, have made up 80% of South Sudan’s victims of explosive remnants. Families can be reconnected, traders can resume their work, and humanitarians can deliver aid more safely. 

     

    However, South Sudan and some other conflict-affected areas around the world are facing renewed instability and the mass displacement of populations, reversing hard-won gains and posing new threats. This has made the need for mine action more urgent than ever.  

    Member State support will be critical to enabling UNMAS, UN peacekeeping missions, and our partners to continue to clear explosive threats and educate communities on how to identify and avoid them. At the upcoming Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin, they will have the opportunity to contribute specialized personnel, weapons and ammunitions management training, and other critical resources that will help demining efforts across the globe. By working together, we can make places like South Sudan safer for communities and the people living in them. Every explosive item removed is a future restored and a step closer to peace.
     

     

    This story is part of the “Peacekeeping Impact” story series, which reports on the impact peacekeeping has for the people and communities it serves. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Adopting Fifth Committee Resolutions, General Assembly Also Decides to Hold Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Turkmenistan in August

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    The General Assembly today decided to hold the third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Awaza, Turkmenistan, from 5 to 8 August, as the 193-member organ adopted several drafts, including those recommended by its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary).

    Adopting the draft resolution titled “Further modalities of the third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries” (document A/79/L.71) without a vote, the Assembly welcomed and accepted “with appreciation the generous offer of the Government of Turkmenistan to host” the Conference under the theme “Driving progress through partnerships”.

    The Assembly also decided to rename the Conference outcome document the “Awaza Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2024–2034”.

    A representative of the Secretariat explained that to service the event, the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management and the Department of Global Communications would require a total estimated cost of $254,700 in 2025 for additional meetings and documentation workload.

    “Every effort will be made to meet the requirements within their capacity, and there would be no programme budget implications for 2025,” he said, adding however:  “Its ability to implement the mandate will depend on the availability of adequate liquidity resources.”  He further noted that the Government of Turkmenistan will need to defray the additional costs directly or indirectly involved.

    Intergovernmental Organizations Invited to Participate in UN Ocean Conference

    Also acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted a draft decision (document A/79/L.73), by which it invited the intergovernmental organizations identified in the Secretariat note (document A/79/850) — namely the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation and the North Pacific Marine Science Organization — to participate as observers in the work of the 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14.

    Recommendations by Fifth Committee

    The Assembly then adopted five drafts recommended by its Fifth Committee without a vote.  (See document A/C.5/79/INF/3 and Press Release GA/AB/4495 for background.)

    Funding Approved for Measures to Combat Islamophobia

    By the draft resolution titled “Special subjects relating to the programme budget for 2025” (document A/79/652/Add.1), the Assembly approved additional appropriations of $774,200 to implement its resolution 78/264 on measures to combat Islamophobia, $479,900 to implement decisions by the Human Rights Council and $95.39 million for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).  The Assembly also requested the Secretary-General to provide an analysis on the impact of the rapid development of emerging technologies, increase transparency and clarity of information and communications technology (ICT) expenditure, and submit a proposal on the presentation of the costs of such technology.

    The draft resolution “Human resources management” (document A/79/839) has the Assembly note rule 3.3 of the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations regarding appointment and promotion and stress that paragraph 66 of its resolution 79/257 of 24 December 2024 does not relate to cases of “promotions”. It also stressed that any changes to the “Guidelines for determination of level and step on recruitment to the Professional category and above” by the Secretary-General shall be fully in line with Assembly resolutions and decisions.

    Importance of Joint Inspection Unit

    By the draft resolution “Joint Inspection Unit” (document A/79/840), the Assembly took note of the Unit’s report for 2024, its programme of work for 2025 and the Secretary-General’s note on Unit’s 2024 report.  By other terms, it stressed the importance of the Unit’s oversight functions in identifying concrete managerial, administrative and programming questions within the participating organizations and providing the General Assembly and other legislative organs action-oriented recommendations.  Underscoring the unique role of the Unit as an external and independent system-wide inspection, evaluation and investigation body, the Assembly reaffirmed the Unit’s independence and stressed that budget estimates are to be prepared in a transparent consistent manner for submission to the Assembly.

    The draft resolution “Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 48/218 B, 54/244, 59/272, 64/263, 69/253 and 74/257” (document A/79/649) has the Assembly reiterate the five-year non-renewable term of the Under-Secretary General for Internal Oversight Services, and requested the Secretary-General to continue to ensure the full implementation of resolution 48/218 in future appointments.  It also decided to evaluate and review at its eighty-fourth session the functions and reporting procedures of the Office of Internal Oversight Services and to that end to include in the provisional agenda of that session an item entitled “Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 48/218, 54/244, 59/272, 64/263, 69/253, 74/257 and 79/___”.

    Assembly Defers Consideration of Fifth Committee Agenda Items 

    By the draft decision titled “Questions deferred for future consideration” (document A/79/653/Add.1), the Assembly decided to defer until the second part of its resumed seventy-ninth session consideration of the Secretary-General’s report on improving the United Nations financial situation, as well as the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).  Further, the Assembly decided to defer until its eightieth session consideration of Secretary-General’s report on standards of accommodation for air travel and the related ACABQ report, and to the first part of its resumed eightieth session consideration of the Secretary-General’s report on the review of the UN Secretariat internship programme, as well as the related ACABQ report.

    Additionally, the Assembly took note of the Fifth Committee’s report concerning agenda items 141 “Improving the financial situation of the United Nations” (document A/79/838), 137 “Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations” and 150 “Report on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (document A/79/648/Add.1).

    Filling Vacancies on Contribution, Audit Committees

    Acting on the Fifth Committee’s recommendations without a vote, the Assembly appointed Denis Piminov (Russian Federation), Benjamin Sieberns (Germany) and Fu Liheng (China) as members of the Committee on Contributions, and Eric Oduro Osae (Ghana) as a member of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee, for terms of office from today to 31 December 2026.

    Application of Article 19 of UN Charter:  Congo Reduces Its Arrears

    In other business, the Assembly took note of Congo’s payment necessary to reduce the arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the United Nations Charter (document A/79/720/Add.4).

    Tribute to Former Assembly President

    It also observed a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of the President of the forty-nineth session of the Assembly, Amara Essy (Côte d’Ivoire), who passed away on 8 April.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Myanmar: Military strikes persist amid earthquake response efforts

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Human Rights

    Military operations continue in Myanmar despite ceasefires declared after the recent earthquake that killed more than 3,600 people, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Friday. 

    “At a moment when the sole focus should be on ensuring humanitarian aid gets to disaster zones, the military is instead launching attacks,” spokesperson Ravini Shamdasani told journalists in Geneva.

    Since the 28 March disaster, military forces have reportedly carried out over 120 attacks, she said, and more than half occurred after a declared ceasefire was due to have gone into effect on 2 April.

    Devastated areas hit

    Most attacks involved aerial and artillery strikes, including in areas impacted by the quake. 

    “Numerous strikes have been reported in populated areas, with many appearing to amount to indiscriminate attacks and to breach the principle of proportionality in international humanitarian law,” she added.

    Myanmar was already facing political, humanitarian, human rights and economic crisis before the earthquake struck.  

    The miliary seized power from the democratically elected government in February 2021 and has been engaged in a brutal civil war with opposition militias.

    Aid obstacles, amnesty appeal

    Ms. Shamdasani said UN human rights chief Volker Türk is calling on the military to remove any and all obstacles to aid delivery and to cease military operations. 

    She noted that areas at the epicentre of the quake in Sagaing, particularly those controlled by opponents of the military, have had to rely on local community responses for search and rescue, and to meet basic needs.

    “As the traditionally festive season of Thingyan and the start of a new year begins on Sunday in Myanmar, we call for common efforts to assist those in greatest need,” she added.

    In this regard, OHCHR called on the military to announce a full amnesty for detainees it has incarcerated since February 2021, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint.

    ‘Perfect storm’ for disease

    Meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is worried that the earthquake has created “a perfect storm for the emergence of infectious disease outbreaks.”

    Eric Ribaira, UNICEF Myanmar’s chief of health said that even before the disaster, the country faced outbreaks of vaccine preventable and communicable diseases such as measles, malaria, dengue and cholera.

    “The situation is so much more dangerous now for people, especially children, in these earthquake-affected areas,” he told UN News.

    Mr. Ribaira explained that earthquakes spark population displacement which can lead to overcrowded areas, such as temporary shelters, while water and sanitation systems are disrupted causing contaminated water supplies and poor hygiene conditions.

    Children may also get respiratory infections from dust and debris from collapsed buildings, he added.

    UNICEF is helping to provide clean drinking water and sanitation, as well as necessary supplies so that pregnant women can deliver safely. 

    “So far, we have reached about 700 pregnant and lactating women with newborn and clean delivery kits. And we plan to reach much, much more in the coming days,” said Mr. Ribaira.

    UNICEF and aid partners have also deployed general medical kits to cover approximately 250,000 people for the next three months, but he stressed that more support is critical.

    “The needs are huge, and we must do everything we can to prevent these outbreaks and ensure that women can deliver their babies safely and the general population has urgent medical support when they need it,” he said.

    UN mobilizing aid

    This week, the UN and partners launched a $275 million appeal as an addendum to a humanitarian plan to reach some 1.1 people in Myanmar.

    The earthquake has pushed two million people into reliance on aid. They join nearly 20 million others who already required humanitarian assistance.

    UN agencies, partners and Member States have rapidly mobilized aid, including medical care, shelter, safe water, hygiene kits, and food.

    To further strengthen efforts on the ground, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated an additional $5 million for earthquake response, which follows an earlier disbursement of $5 million. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Digital Square

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    Digital Square is a digital health marketplace—or ‘square’—where supply and demand come together to accelerate health equity. Digital Square brings partners together to improve how the global community designs, uses, and pays for digital health tools and approaches. It works with innovators to advance adaptable, replicable tools that are designed to work together seamlessly. It works with governments and country-based technology experts to strengthen local capacity to implement and manage digital health programs. It works with donors to identify new ways to invest that ensure long-term success and align with country priorities. By strengthening the coordination among these partners, Digital Square reorients the market to better match tools and approaches to the needs of countries and communities.   

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Push World to Deliver on Commitments Set Forth in Pact for the Future, Secretary-General Urges at G7+ Ministerial Meeting

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the opening of the Group of Seven Plus (g7+) ministerial meeting, in Dili, today: 

    I am pleased to convey my heartfelt greetings to the g7+ ministerial meeting as you mark your fifteenth anniversary in Dili — where your inspiring journey began. 

    This city, like many of your countries, symbolizes both the wounds of conflict and the strength and resolve it takes to overcome them — and I was deeply moved by your wonderful hospitality as we marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the independence referendum last year.

    Your people understand better than most the heavy cost of fragility and the daily work of rebuilding lives with dignity and hope. Your organization was born from that spirit of resilience and purpose and the shared recognition that lasting peace is the foundation of progress. 

    Over the years, you have championed cooperation, solidarity and country-led solutions.  You have also made a difference at the global level, including through your leadership in helping to secure Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions.

    Yet, fragilities are deepening around the world. Protracted conflicts, widening inequalities and a raging climate crisis are fuelling displacement and instability with your nations often bearing the heaviest burden, despite contributing least to these crises.

    These plights cannot be ignored.  The world cannot let your calls go unanswered.  We need solidarity for solutions, and that is the spirit of the Pact for the Future that you helped shape.

    The Pact charts a course to reform peace and security cooperation, prioritizing conflict prevention, mediation and peacebuilding. It seeks to strengthen coordination, including South-South cooperation, to develop innovative approaches and expand opportunities for women and young people.

    The Pact also calls for reform of the global financial architecture through bigger and bolder multilateral development banks; effective debt relief for fragile economies; an annual Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Stimulus of $500 billion; and better access to concessional finance — recognizing vulnerabilities through the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index.

    We must push the world to deliver on those commitments, including at the fourth Financing for Development Conference in June.  And we must push for climate justice.  Many of you are on the front lines watching as rising seas and extreme weather threaten lives and livelihoods.

    As we prepare for COP30 [thirtieth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change], we need to see countries turn promises into action.  Developed countries must scale up adaptation finance.  We need meaningful contributions to the Fund for loss and damage.  And we need confidence the $1.3 trillion will be delivered.

    Your journey over the past 15 years shows us that solidarity is a common responsibility.  As we work to tackle global challenges and implement the Pact for the Future, your voices will be vital to strengthen multilateralism, prevent conflict, and forge a future of dignity and sustainable development for all.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: DR Congo crisis: Children subjected to deliberate, systemic sexual violence

    Source: United Nations 2

    By Vibhu Mishra

    Peace and Security

    Sexual violence against children in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reached staggering proportions, with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reporting thousands of new cases in just two months – evidence that it’s being used as a systemic weapon of war and deliberate terror tactic.

    Spokesperson James Elder told reporters in Geneva via video link from Goma that children could account for up to 45 per cent of the nearly 10,000 cases of rape and sexual violence documented in January and February, amid heightened tensions between Rwanda-backed M23 rebels and Government forces across the mineral-rich region, where dozens of armed groups are active.

    This translates to a horrifying reality – “a child was raped every half an hour,” he said.

    “We are not talking about isolated incidents; we are talking about a systemic crisis. We are seeing survivors as young as toddlers. It is a weapon of war and a deliberate tactic of terror. And it destroys families and communities.”

    A hidden epidemic of sexual violence

    The crisis is likely worse than the reported figures suggest, Mr. Elder added. Stigma, fear, and insecurity means many cases go unreported, creating a hidden epidemic of sexual violence that should “shake us to our core.”

    He underscored the urgent need for intervention by the international community.

    “What should that action look like? We need additional prevention efforts, survivor-centred services, and safe, accessible ways for survivors to report abuse without fear. Survivors must see the world stand with them, not turn away. And perpetrators must face justice.”

    He further warned that the already dire situation is being exacerbated by a growing funding shortfall. Critical services for survivors – such as medical care, psychological support and legal assistance – are being severely impacted by funding cuts.

    “In just one hospital I visited this week, 127 survivors of rape had no access to PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) kits … they are no longer getting even the basic medical care they need,” Mr. Elder said, highlighting the consequences of budget constraints.

    If the funding gap is not filled, the agency estimates that 250,000 children will miss out on essential services related to gender-based violence and protection in armed conflict over the next 12 weeks alone.

    Long-term consequences

    The funding crisis extends beyond immediate support.

    In 2026, projections indicate that 100,000 children in the DRC could miss out on lifesaving measles vaccinations, nearly two million children will not be screened for malnutrition, and almost half a million will be left without access to clean water.

    “The cost of inaction is not abstract. It is measured in preventable suffering and lost futures,” Mr. Elder said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: US tariffs move could see three per cent fall in global trade, says top UN economist

    Source: United Nations 2

    Economic Development

    Global trade could shrink by three per cent as a result of the United States’ new tariff measures which in the longer term could reshape and boost as-yet untapped regional commercial links, a top UN economist confirmed on Friday.

    “There will be shifting, I think, in supply chains, there will be a reassessment of global alliances. There will be geopolitical shifts and economic as well,” said Pamela Coke-Hamilton, head of the International Trade Centre (ITC).

    Speaking in Geneva after Wednesday’s announcement by the White House of a 90-day pause on “reciprocal tariffs” for most countries with the exception of China, Mrs. Coke-Hamilton noted that exports from Mexico had already been “highly impacted” by earlier seismic changes to US trade policy.

    “Countries like Mexico, China and Thailand, but also countries in southern Africa are among the most affected, alongside the US itself,” she said.

    While the 90-day pause on the so-called reciprocal tariffs applies to imports from most countries and brings down rates to a still hefty 10 per cent, tariffs on imports from China currently stand at 145 per cent.

    China, meanwhile, has raised tariffs against US exports – in effect import taxes on goods – to 125 per cent.

    Already, Mexico’s products for export have shifted away from markets such as the US, China, Europe and other Latin American countries to make “modest gains” instead in Canada, Brazil “and to a lesser extent, India”, the ITC chief insisted.

    Other countries have followed suit, including Vietnam, whose exports “are redirecting away from the US, Mexico and China”, while “increasing substantially” towards the EU, Republic of Korea and others, said Mrs. Coke-Hamilton, whose UN specialised agency offers assistance to developing countries.

    The problem for emerging economies is that they are less well equipped to “pivot” when faced with “instabilities”, the ITC chief explained, since they often lack the manufacturing diversity and ability to add value to raw commodities of more industrialized nations.

    Especially vulnerable trading partners of the US include Lesotho, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Madagascar and Myanmar that are “the most exposed”, she continued.

    Confirming that the World Trade Organization (WTO) had estimated that commerce between China and the US could drop by up to 80 per cent if the highly unusual situation continues, the ITC Executive Secretary pointed out that they constituted only “three per cent to four per cent of world trade…[so] there is 96 per cent out there that is still trading and that will trade”.

    Nonetheless, the impact of the “indeterminate extension of 90 days on and on” has not been good for global commerce and “does not necessarily lend itself to stability”, Mrs. Coke-Hamilton continued.

    “Irrespective of whether there is an extension, on and on, the fact that there is no stability, there is no predictability will affect trade and firms and decisions that are being made in real time.”

    She added: “This would not be the first time that there have been tremors in the world economic system. We have seen it over the last 50 years in different dispensations. This one is probably a little more harsh, a little more tremulous.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN refugee agency calls for greater investment in Syrian returnees

    Source: United Nations 2

    Migrants and Refugees

    Roughly 400,000 Syrians have returned home from the region since the fall of the Assad regime last December, while more than a million internally displaced persons (IDPs) have gone back to their communities. 

    The estimates are from the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, which on Friday called for increased funding to support Syrian returnees as needs intensify at a time when aid budgets globally are being slashed.

    “Since the fall of the Assad regime, returning home and starting anew has become a possibility for Syrians,” said UNHCR spokesperson Céline Schmitt, speaking from Damascus to journalists in Geneva.

    “With investment in aid and early recovery, we can create opportunities and keep up the hope of Syrians,” she insisted. “Seizing this opportunity is our collective responsibility.”

    ‘Window of opportunity’

    Ms. Schmitt said that “as the school year ends, summer will be a critical moment for voluntary returns and a window of opportunity that should not be missed.”

    Syrians will need support in the areas of shelter, livelihoods, protection and legal assistance, for returns to be successful and sustainable.  

    “The risk is that, without adequate funding, the projected 1.5 million returns this year may not happen, and those who do return may have no other choice but to leave again,” she warned.

    Invest in returns

    Therefore, support for UNHCR and other humanitarian actors is crucial for stability, she said, in the face of severe funding cuts which are putting millions of lives at risk.

    Currently, nearly 16.7 million people inside Syria – about 90 per cent of the population – require some form of humanitarian assistance. Over 7.4 million Syrians are still displaced within the country.

    “Now is the time to invest in facilitating the return of refugees who have been waiting years for this moment,” she said.

    Aid cuts threaten operations

    In January, UNHCR launched an operational framework to help 1.5 million refugees and two million IDPs return home this year. Although $575 million is required, only $71 million has been pledged to date.

    Ms. Schmitt noted that this is happening amidst a significant reduction in donor funding between 2024 and 2025.

    “These cuts are impacting our workforce, which will shrink by 30 per cent inside Syria, significantly affecting our ability to provide critical support,” she said.

    Additionally, lack of proper funding could force UNHCR to pause some of its life-saving activities. The agency supports 122 community centres and 44 per cent will have to close by the summer. 

    The centres provide critical aid such as mental health support, legal assistance, prevention of gender-based violence and mine awareness education. 

    “They also foster social cohesion, and their closure will impact returnees and their communities as well as UNHCR’s local partners,” she added.

    Appeal to donors

    Ms. Schmitt said that despite these difficult and unprecedented times, UNHCR is committed to staying and delivering in Syria, urging donors to “make an extra effort in spite of the global economic challenges.”

    She also appealed “to wealthy countries who have not been contributing” to support effort to ensure the safe and dignified return of Syrian refugees, stressing that “it is crucial not to miss this historic opportunity.”

    Online support 

    UNHCR has launched a digital platform called  Syria is Home to provide timely and impartial information on the return process including legal steps, identification documents, access to housing, health care, education and more. 

    Under Frequently asked questions (FAQs), Syrians can get guidance on renewing identity documents, support to repair destroyed or damaged homes and accessing legal aid and counselling support.

    The platform, which is continuously updated, aims to provide credible and up-to-date information to help people make informed decisions, plan for their future and remain hopeful.  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNFPA Launches The Equalizer Challenge to Scale Women’s Health Innovations

    Source: United Nations Population Fund

    New York, 11 April 2025 – UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, in collaboration with MIT Solve, IE University, and Women of Wearables, is announcing the launch of The Equalizer Challenge: Scaling Women’s Health Innovations. This innovation challenge, enabled by the generous support from the Governments of Germany and Luxembourg, will support women-led enterprises in moving their projects beyond the pilot stage and achieving meaningful, scalable impact on women’s health. 

    Women’s health remains critically underfunded. “Every minute, at least two women die globally from breast or cervical cancer or pregnancy-related complications due to inequitable access to healthcare,” says Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA.

    Despite the severity of these issues, only 1% of global healthcare research and innovation funding addresses female-specific conditions beyond oncology. Even more alarmingly, only 0.2% of research and development funding focuses on sexual and reproductive health in developing countries, despite its critical role in determining lifelong well-being. Gender biases persist in technology and healthcare design, reinforcing the need for inclusive, impactful solutions. The Equalizer Challenge seeks to bridge this gap by investing in innovations that reach underserved communities, leaving no one behind.

    The challenge provides catalytic funding alongside a six-month capacity development programme featuring biweekly coaching, expert mentorship, and direct connections to global health and investment networks. Whether through medical devices, digital health platforms, personalized medicine, or breakthrough solutions addressing health conditions unique to women, this challenge seeks bold, women-led innovations that don’t just push boundaries but break through them, reshaping the future of care.

    More information on eligibility and how to apply is available here.

    APPLY NOW!

    About UNFPA 

    UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPA’s mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA calls for the realization of reproductive rights for all and supports access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services, including voluntary family planning, quality maternal health care and comprehensive sexuality education.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Gaza: UN rights office condemns Israeli buffer zone plan

    Source: United Nations 2

    Peace and Security

    The UN human rights office said on Friday it fears that Israel may intend to permanently remove civilians in Gaza as part of an expanded buffer zone, amid evacuations orders and escalating bombardment.

    Hostilities in the Gaza Strip resumed mid-March following the collapse of the ceasefire and Israel’s border closure.

    As it enters its sixth week, the denial of aid into the enclave has left more than 2.1 million Gazans trapped without access to food, drinking water, and basic services.

    Israel in recent weeks has ramped up its attacks on civilian infrastructure such as  residential buildings and camps, leaving many more dead or missing under the rubble.  

    Between March 18 and April 9, Israeli forces have struck housing and tents for internally displaced people (IDPs) on 224 occasions during 36 separate strikes, according to the UN rights office, OHCHR.  

    ‘Forcible transfer’

    Ms. Shamdasani also highlighted the growing trend in attacks against media workers, reporting that at least 209 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the deadly Hamas-led terror attacks of October 2023, as Israel continues to deny international media entry into the Strip.

    The OHCHR spokesperson acknowledged that the temporary evacuation of civilians in certain areas can be legal, under strict conditions.

    But “the nature and scope of the evacuation orders raises serious concerns that Israel intends permanently to remove the civilian population from these areas in order to create a so-called buffer zone”, she said.  

    “Permanently displacing the civilian population within occupied territory amounts to forcible transfer, which is a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and a crime against humanity.”

    War crimes

    Combatants need to demonstrate compliance with the rules of war, particularly the principles of distinction – meaning defenceless civilians should not be targeted – as well as proportionality and precaution.

    “Intentionally directing attacks against civilians not taking a direct part in hostilities constitutes a war crime, further compounding the desperate conditions for Palestinian civilians,” Ms. Shamdasani said.

    OHCHR has also repeatedly warned that collective punishment and the use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of war, constitute crimes under international law.

    Ms. Shamdasani also stressed that her office was “seriously concerned that Israel appears to be inflicting on Palestinians in Gaza, conditions of life increasingly incompatible with their continued existence as a group”.

    © WHO

    Women wait to receive food at a distribution point in Gaza City.

    Supplies pile up

    With stocks of drugs sharply declining, medicines and other essential supplies have been piling up at the shuttered border crossings.  

    Almost 36 million tons of supplies in Dubai are on standby for entry into the enclave, according to Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, World Health Organization Representative (WHO) for the West Bank and Gaza.

    Medical evacuations for patients in need of urgent treatment have slowed significantly. Likewise, the number of international emergency medical teams deployed has dropped, depriving hospitals of the help they crucially need, “because the caseload is immense”, Dr. Peeperkorn stressed.

    “We urgently call for the immediate resumption of medical evacuation through all possible routes, particularly restoring the medical referral pathway to the West Bank and Jerusalem.” 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Sudan war has created suffering of ‘industrial proportions’, aid agencies warn

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    Two years since Sudan’s brutal conflict began, UN agencies warned that famine is spreading and civilians of all ages continue to suffer shocking abuse, including rape and gang rape.

    “With no viable peace in sight, the Sudanese are trapped in a humanitarian crisis of industrial proportions,” said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN aid coordination office, OCHA.

    “Two out of three people need aid, that’s 30 million people…This, of course, demands a massive ramp-up of international support; what we see instead is donors pulling back funding across the world.”

    The war between rival militaries – the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – began on 15 April 2023 after a breakdown in transition to civilian rule, following the overthrow of long-time President Omar al-Bashir. Heavy fighting has levelled towns and cities and claimed tens of thousands of lives.

    At least 12.4 million people have been uprooted from their homes, including more than 3.3 million refugees.

    Rape as a weapon of war

    Since the outset, relief workers and others including the UN human rights office, OHCHR, have repeatedly warned that sexual violence remains pervasive across Sudan.

    “One survivor recounted that she was told, ‘We are your men now,’ before RSF fighters raped her in front of her children,” said Li Fung, OHCHR Representative in Sudan, speaking to journalists in Geneva via video link from Nairobi.

    Meanwhile, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reiterated deep concerns about the 25 million Sudanese facing famine. “Two years of war has turned Sudan into the world’s largest hunger catastrophe and famine is spreading,” said Leni Kinzli, WFP Communications Officer for Sudan, also speaking from the Kenyan capital.

    Invaluable support

    In an appeal for funding to support the UN agency’s work, she testified to the value of food assistance for internally displaced people (IDPs): “It means that a father who has been torn from his home in Khartoum can feed his family of four; it means that a mother in an IDP camp in Kassala can cook a simple meal for her young daughters and so that they don’t fall into malnutrition.”

    Amid reports that the paramilitary RSF paramilitary had taken the key Darfur town of Um Kadadah from the SAF, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) warned that attacks on healthcare personnel and facilities “are on the rise”.

    The past two years have seen 156 confirmed attacks on health “causing more than 300 deaths and over 270 injuries among either patients or healthcare workers”, said

    Dr Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative in Sudan, speaking via video link from Cairo.

    Funding cuts dilemma

    Echoing those concerns, UN Women reported that 80 per cent of hospitals in conflict areas are no longer functioning, with maternal deaths rising “alarmingly”.

    A full eight in 10 displaced women and girls in Sudan now lack access to clean water, said Sofia Calltorp, UN Women Director in Geneva, highlighting the impact of deep cuts to funding for humanitarian work globally.

    “The latest global cuts in humanitarian funding have put critical programmes at risk, with teams forced to make unreasonable choices and refugees being left to resort to harmful strategies to meet their basic needs,” said UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokesperson Olga Sarrado.

    “Inside Sudan, reduced funding will cut access to clean water for at least half a million displaced people, significantly increasing risks of cholera and other waterborne diseases,” she added.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Early warnings save lives: how Barbados’ risk-informed decisions prevented a disaster

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    As the global climate crisis intensifies, the importance of multi-hazard early warning systems becomes more urgent. The “Early Warnings for All” (EW4All) initiative calls for every person on Earth to be protected by such systems by 2027, in line with Target G of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Barbados is emerging as a clear example of what this vision looks like in action.

    In August 2024, Barbadian authorities made the difficult but decisive choice to postpone a major cultural event due to a fast-developing thunderstorm threat. The Soca 5.0 concert—one of the highlights of the annual Crop Over Season—was interrupted and ultimately cancelled based on real-time meteorological data. While the decision sparked frustration among attendees, it likely prevented serious harm: lightning strikes were recorded within a 5-kilometer radius of the venue shortly after the evacuation began.

    This response illustrates the life-saving potential of early warnings. But to fully appreciate its significance, it helps to understand the broader context.

    Over the last five years, Barbados has faced an increase in high-intensity thunderstorms marked by frequent lightning activity. In June 2021, a system commonly referred to as “the freak storm” produced more than 4,700 lightning strikes in under an hour, overwhelming power grids. More recently, in October 2023, the outer bands of Hurricane Tammy triggered lightning bursts at a rate of 100 strikes every 15 minutes.

    These past events set a precedent that made the 2024 thunderstorm threat impossible to ignore. On August 4, a tropical wave—monitored by the Barbados Meteorological Service (BMS)—created unstable conditions just as the Soca 5.0 concert was set to begin at the National Botanical Gardens. Initially, BMS issued a thunderstorm watch, later upgraded to a warning in coordination with the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) and the Minister of Home Affairs. Based on risk assessments and historical patterns, the event was postponed and the venue evacuated.

    The decision was not based on instinct or precaution alone. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools and lightning strike data provided by BMS, authorities confirmed multiple lightning strikes occurred within a 5-kilometer radius of the venue on August 4.  

    Given the presence of thousands of attendees, metallic stage equipment, and barricades, the site was highly exposed. GIS-based buffer analysis confirmed that a minor westward shift in the storm’s path could have resulted in direct strikes at the concert location. In such a setting, even a single lightning strike could have caused mass casualties.

    By integrating risk data with real-time weather forecasts, Barbados avoided what could have been a national tragedy.

    This case exemplifies the core principles of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative. Launched by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2022, the initiative seeks not only to increase the availability of multi-hazard early warning systems, but to ensure they lead to timely and effective action.

    Barbados is actively implementing EW4All through concrete reforms. The government has approved the expansion of DEM’s workforce, including a new four-person unit specifically aligned with EW4All objectives. This unit includes a GIS and Information Management System Specialist, highlighting the country’s focus on strengthening risk knowledge. In parallel, Barbados is developing a Disaster Risk Information Management System (DRIMS)—a national platform that will consolidate risk data for use by government, private sector, and civil society, which is complementing the National Coastal Risk Information and Planning Platform (NCRIPP).

    One of the key lessons from the Soca 5.0 case is the importance of public trust in early warnings. While the event’s cancellation was met with disappointment, the decision was grounded in science and taken to protect lives.

    Effective risk communication is essential—especially when protective measures disrupt daily life or major cultural events. Authorities must ensure that messages are not only timely and technically sound, but also accessible, understandable, and inclusive. Using multiple communication channels, addressing concerns in real time, and fostering public trust—long before a crisis hits—are all critical components of a successful multi-hazard early warning system.

    The Soca 5.0 decision was more than just a weather-related cancellation; it was a high-stakes, evidence-based intervention that exemplifies what risk-informed governance looks like. It shows how science, data, and decisive leadership can work together to prevent disaster—before it strikes.

    As climate change continues to amplify the frequency and intensity of extreme weather, multi-hazard early warning systems will play a growing role in protecting lives and livelihoods. Barbados’ experience offers a compelling example of how the EW4All vision is already being realized—and why its global implementation is urgent and necessary. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –