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Corruption represents ‘ultimate betrayal’ of public trust: Guterres
15 October 2020
Corruption is not only a crime but immoral and the “ultimate betrayal” of public trust, the UN Secretary-General has said, calling on everyone to work together and stamp out the global scourge, in all its forms.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Secretary-General António Guterres underlined that in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, corruption was proving to be even more damaging in its…
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Social protection coverage in Asia and the Pacific ‘riddled with gaps’
15 October 2020
More than half the population of the vast Asia and Pacific region lack any social protection coverage, leaving populations vulnerable to ill-health, poverty, inequality and social exclusion, a new UN report has found.
The need for social protection safety nets has been further highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (…
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Three billion people globally lack handwashing facilities at home: UNICEF
15 October 2020
Although handwashing with soap is vital in the fight against infectious diseases, including COVID-19, billions of people around the world do not have ready access to a place to do it, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday.
According to new estimates from UNICEF, 40 per cent of the world’s population – or 3 billion people – do not have a handwashing facility with water and…
10 months ago
NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF COSTA RICA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AT GENEVA
15 October 2020
Presentation of Credentials
Catalina Devandas Aguilar, the new Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented her credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Since 1 December 2014, Ms. Devandas Aguilar had been serving as United Nations Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities. From January 2011 to December 2014, she was a programme officer for…
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Continued violence strains Colombia peace process, Security Council hears
15 October 2020
Enormous challenges remain on the road to lasting peace in Colombia, where despite ongoing attacks and stigmatization, the vast majority of former FARC-EP fighters who laid down their weapons under a 2016 peace agreement with the Government, remain engaged in the reintegration process, the head of the UN mission in the South American country says.
Carlos Ruiz Massieu, presenting the…
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Talks begin to resolve disputed Lebanon-Israel maritime border
14 October 2020
The UN Secretary-General has welcomed the launch of ground-breaking discussions on Wednesday, over the disputed maritime border between Lebanon and Israel in the eastern Mediterranean, following a framework agreement between the two nations at the beginning of the month.
The process to resolve the long-running dispute, which could lead to the development of what news reports suggest are…
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Progress against tuberculosis ‘at risk’: WHO
14 October 2020
Urgent action and funding are needed to sustain progress in the global fight against tuberculosis (TB), the UN World Health Organization (WHO) has said, warning that global targets for prevention and treatment “will likely be missed”.
According to the UN health agency, though TB cases fell by 9 per cent and deaths by 14 per cent between 2015 and 2019, access to TB services remains a challenge.
“Equitable…
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Myanmar: ‘Shocking’ killing of children allegedly used as human shields
14 October 2020
UN agencies in Myanmar have expressed ‘sadness’ and ‘shock’ over the killing of two boys, allegedly used as human shields by security forces in the country’s northern Rakhine province, earlier this month.
The two boys were killed in a crossfire between Myanmar’s military, known as the Tatmadaw, and the separatist Arakan Army. The incident occurred on 5 October in Buthidaung township…
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Thousands displaced by fighting in southern Afghanistan
14 October 2020
Thousands of people have been displaced and critical health services interrupted, after fighting erupted last weekend between security forces and Taliban fighters in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, the UN humanitarian office has reported.
There are also reports that 200 people have been killed or injured.
As thousands of families flee #Helmand fighting, Taliban & ANSF urged to take…
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Stand in solidarity with world’s poor, UN chief says in message for International Day
13 October 2020
The UN Secretary-General has called for solidarity with all people living in poverty, during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Secretary-General António Guterres issued the appeal in a video message to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, observed annually on 17 October.
This year, up to 115 million people could be pushed into poverty because of…
