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‘Brighter future hangs in the balance’ in Syria after 14 years of war

1 month 3 weeks ago Breadcrumb Home ‘Brighter future hangs in the balance’ in Syria after 14 years of war 13 March 2025 © UNICEF/Hanna Asmar Many children have been unable to attend school in Syria due to the conflict. The Constitutional Declaration issued by Syria’s caretaker authorities marks a pivotal moment in the country’s turbulent transition, with UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen expressing cautious optimism about its…

Conflict, hunger, poverty impede children's early development: Türk

1 month 3 weeks ago Breadcrumb Home Conflict, hunger, poverty impede children's early development: Türk 13 March 2025 © ESCAP/Armin Hari A mother and her daughter try to shield themselves from rain as they walk in a market. Governments everywhere are “letting children down instead of lifting them up” as conflict, hunger, poverty and climate change hold back child development, UN rights chief Volker Türk told Member States…

UN chief hails Kyrgyz-Tajik border treaty breakthrough

1 month 3 weeks ago Breadcrumb Home UN chief hails Kyrgyz-Tajik border treaty breakthrough 13 March 2025 © Unsplash/Mike Dudin Presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan met in the former's capital, Bishkek, to sign the historical State Border Treaty. The UN Secretary-General warmly welcomed the presidential signing of the State Border Treaty by Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on Thursday following decades-long negotiations…

Director-General's remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the XII Global Baku Forum "Rethinking World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities"

1 month 3 weeks ago Breadcrumb Home Director-General's remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the XII Global Baku Forum "Rethinking World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities" 13 March 2025 Tatiana Valovaya Opening ceremonyXII Global Baku Forum “Rethinking World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities”Thursday, 13 March 2025 at 10:00 a.m., Gulustan Palace, BakuYour Excellency President Aliyev,Excellencies,Ladies and gentlemen,It is a great honour and pleasure to address the Global Baku…

Afghanistan: Opium prices approach historic peaks, crime syndicates benefit

1 month 3 weeks ago Breadcrumb Home Afghanistan: Opium prices approach historic peaks, crime syndicates benefit 12 March 2025 UNAMA/Najeeb Farzad A heroin user in the Russian Cultural Palace in Kabul. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime warns that even more powerful synthetic drugs may see growing demand following the ban on poppy cultivation. Prices for opium in Afghanistan have increased tenfold since the de facto authorities…

Human Rights Council: Significant increase in child victims of trafficking

1 month 3 weeks ago Breadcrumb Home Human Rights Council: Significant increase in child victims of trafficking 12 March 2025 © UNICEF/Jim Holmes A mother whose daughter was trafficked at the age of sixteen covers her face to protect her identity. Children make up almost four in 10 victims of trafficking worldwide, but the true number of youngsters caught up in the illegal practice is likely much higher, a senior UN…

UN launches gender equality plan: ‘We’re at a turning point’

1 month 3 weeks ago Breadcrumb Home UN launches gender equality plan: ‘We’re at a turning point’ 12 March 2025 UN Photo Sarah Hendriks, director of UN Women's policy, programme and intergovernmental division, at the launch of the Beijing+30 Action Agenda. The UN launched a bold new action agenda to boost rights and achieve gender equality at a high-level event on the sidelines of the ongoing Commission on the Status of…

Guterres prioritises UN reform to ensure taxpayers’ money reaches those in need

1 month 3 weeks ago Breadcrumb Home Guterres prioritises UN reform to ensure taxpayers’ money reaches those in need 12 March 2025 UN Photo/Manuel Elías UN Secretary-General António Guterres briefs the media about the UN80 Initiative. The United Nations is prioritising reform to ensure it remains effective, cost-efficient and responsive to the people it serves, Secretary-General António Guterres announced Wednesday, as part of…

Humanitarian system at breaking point as funding cuts force life-or-death choices

1 month 3 weeks ago Breadcrumb Home Humanitarian system at breaking point as funding cuts force life-or-death choices 12 March 2025 UNOCHA/Giles Clarke Aid programmes in Yemen are already being forced to shut down due to lack of funding. The UN’s top relief official warned on Wednesday that the global humanitarian system has reached breaking point, with funding cuts forcing life-or-death decisions over which aid programmes to…

World News in Brief: Gaza aid ‘unravelling’, funding cuts in Ukraine, concern over Syria aid access, Duterte in ICC custody

1 month 3 weeks ago Breadcrumb Home World News in Brief: Gaza aid ‘unravelling’, funding cuts in Ukraine, concern over Syria aid access, Duterte in ICC custody 12 March 2025 © UNRWA A woman in Gaza waits to return home. Following 11 days of an Israeli aid blockade in Gaza, “crucial progress” made during the first six weeks of the ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas militants “continues to unravel”, said UN Spokesperson…