News items | The United Nations Office at Geneva

Welcome to the United Nations

‘A compass towards progress’ – but key development goals remain way off track

Global life expectancy increased by an astonishing five years between 2000 and 2019. And then since the COVID-19 pandemic, it slid backwards by almost two. More than 110 million children have entered school since 2015 – but by 2023, 272 million children still had no access to the classroom.…

Sudan: Humanitarian needs deepen amid rising hostilities and heavy rains

Escalating violence, displacement and heavy rains are deepening the needs of civilians caught in the war in Sudan, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said on Monday. Nearly 27 months have…

WHO urges rollout of first long-acting HIV prevention jab

A breakthrough HIV drug that only needs to be injected twice a year to offer near-total protection from the virus and developing AIDS should be made available “immediately” at pharmacies, clinics and via online consultations, the UN health agency said on Monday…

Security Council renews UN’s Haiti mission amid spiralling crises

Amid runaway gang violence and crumbling state authority, the Security Council on Monday unanimously extended the mandate of the UN’s political mission in Haiti until the end of the year. Aid agencies remain deeply concerned by the humanitarian crisis playing out across the Caribbean island nation…

Yemen: Security Council extends UN mission in crucial port city amid escalating Red Sea strife

The Security Council on Monday renewed the mandate of the UN mission in Yemen’s key port city of Hudaydah, as regional tensions spike and international concern mounts over recent Houthi rebel attacks on shipping in the Red Sea…

Gaza: UNICEF mourns seven children killed queuing for water

The head of UN child rights agency UNICEF has called for Israel to review its rules of engagement in Gaza after seven children were killed while waiting for water at a distribution point. The…

World News in Brief: Inter-ethnic violence in Syria, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, global information security

Clashes on Sunday between Sunni Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze militia have reportedly left at least 30 dead in Syria’s predominantly-Druze city of Sweida. The violence erupted two days after a…

UN-backed labour standards at risk as tariff uncertainty grows

Garment factories around the world which have signed up to implement UN-backed labour standards may simply stop investing in improving working conditions, due to widespread uncertainty over tariff levels, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO…

UN forum to spotlight health, gender equality, oceans, in critical bid to meet development goals

As the deadline for the 2030 Agenda looms, ministers, experts, and civil society leaders from around the world will convene in New York next week for a high-level UN forum to fast-track action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs…

Smurf your voice: Global campaign urges everyone to speak up for a better future

The Smurfs are back – and this time they are smurfing up a global storm. Teaming up with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Paramount Pictures, the iconic blue characters are leading a campaign that encourages children and grownups everywhere to “Speak Up” for a better world…