UN INFORMATION SERVICE GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons and representatives of UN Women, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Food Programme, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Four years of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
Sofia Calltorp, head of UN Women in Geneva, spoke of her recent visit to Ukraine, where she had met many resilient and courageous women. These women were sustaining communities, keeping businesses running, and holding families together. More than 5,000 women and girls had been killed and 14,000 injured in the four years of war, and 2025 had been the deadliest year yet, including for women and girls. A just and lasting peace was needed in Ukraine, for which international support was more needed than ever. Many women and girls across Ukraine had seen their lives reduced to what they could carry with them. They persevered, but resilience did not run on empty. Women-led organizations remained at the heart of humanitarian response, but they were under a serious strain because of the funding cuts. At the same time, Ukraine’s energy crisis was deepening, with 65 percent of the country’s power producing capacities destroyed, affecting everyone in the country, but particularly women who were highly represented in the most vulnerable sectors. No electricity meant no school for many children and no work for many women. Humanitarian action had to be matched with long-term investment in recovery and women’s leadership.
Sabine Freizer Gunes, Representative of UN Women in Ukraine, speaking from Kyiv, said that the majority of Kyiv’s population was cold these days. Behind the numbers of women and girls killed and injured, there were real lives and real stories. Women-run organizations in the country were being pushed towards collapse because of the funding cuts. They used to be the backbone of the humanitarian response over the past four years. UN Women’s new report documented the scale of the funding crisis and its impact on women and girls. Due to to the funding reductions, these organizations in Ukraine were projected to lose over USD 50 million this year. This was going to severely constraint organizational capacity and delivery, and as many as 63,000 women and girls could lose access to services this year. Support was urgently needed, stressed Ms. Freizer Gunes. Weakening women’s organizations at this point meant weakening the overall humanitarian effort in the country.
More details are available here.
Jaime Wah, Deputy Head of Delegation for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Ukraine, also connecting from Kyiv, said that for many the situation today was worse it had ever been. Constant attacks on energy systems had left whole communities without heating or light. This was not only about infrastructure, but about people. This was a humanitarian crisis, and generators could not empower every apartment, and the most vulnerable were most affected. IFRC had distributed generators to local communities, with the help of Ukraine’s Red Cross, along with home repairs and other basic necessities to help people live with dignity. Darkness and isolation were contributing to mental hardship, stressed Ms. Wah. At the heart of the Red Cross’s work were volunteers: over 8,000 local volunteers were making a difference in their communities. IFRC’s revised emergency appeal for 2026 to 2027 faced a funding gap of more than CHF 260 million. Without sustained support, assistance would be reduced, repairs delayed and vulnerable families left with fewer options. Resilience required resources, and governments and donors were thus urged to invest in recovery and longer-term sustainability efforts.
Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), informed that WHO had verified more than 2,872 confirmed attacks against health care, resulting in 233 deaths and 937 injuries among health workers and patients. Facilities operated beyond surge capacity with the workforce depleted and infrastructure damaged. The beginning of 2026 had been particularly alarming: in just first six weeks, nine people had been killed, already half of all deaths recorded in attacks on health care in 2025. In the most affected regions, about 60 percent of people assessed their health as poor or very poor, compared to 47 percent in non-frontline areas. In 2025, WHO had reached 1.9 million people in frontline and hard-to-reach communities, informed Mr. Lindmeier. Mental health needs remained high, with 72 percent of people surveyed experiencing issues in the past year, including anxiety and depression. Access to medicines was also one of the most persistent barriers to health in Ukraine. Mr. Lindmeier stated that WHO’s work in Ukraine went beyond emergency response to building long-term resilience. It took a systemic approach that combined emergency preparedness with sustained investments in mental health, the health workforce, diagnostics, surveillance, and essential health services. Providing details on WHO’s work in Ukraine, Mr. Lindmeier stressed that in 2025 WHO had provided 319 metric tons of medical supplies to 954 health facilities, reaching over one million people through 52 interagency convoys and 40 direct WHO deliveries.
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said that the 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan for Ukraine, which aimed to help 4.12 million people, was currently only 14 percent funded.
Replying to questions, Ms. Wah, for IFRC, said that Kyiv was facing an average of 22 hours of power outages per day, affecting as many as 1.8 million people. Millions of people across Ukraine were experiencing the same fate. Generators were always a temporary solution, and power outages sometimes went for over 24 hours. There used to be scheduled electricity cuts, but now the situation was more unpredictable, and generators could not run for long periods. Ms. Freizer Gunes, for UN Women, on another question, said that UN Women had surveyed 108 women rights and women-led organizations across the country, of which one-third said they would not be able to continue working within six months unless funding arrived. Mr. Lindmeier, for WHO, said that over the past four years, as many as 390,000 disabilities had been added, and those people needed adequate care and support. Sources indicated that over 100,000 amputations had been performed in past four years.
Deteriorating humanitarian situation in Somalia
Ross Smith, World Food Programme (WFP) Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response, speaking from Rome, stated that the situation in the country was deteriorating, and the country was in the midst of a hunger crisis, after two failed rainy seasons and continuous instability. WFP’s life-saving resources would come to an end in several weeks unless new funding came in. The world had to pay attention and assist millions of men, women and children in Somalia. In 2022, famine had been narrowly averted, but today, once again, most food security alarms were flashing red. The country was on the same path as in 2022, with a quarter of the population facing crisis levels of food insecurity. Half a million people had been displaced just in recent weeks. WFP and partners had for many years been a lifeline for people in Somalia but were now able to reach only one in seven people: only 640,000 out of the 4.4 million people in need were being currently assisted. Cash transfers had also been significantly reduced. To prevent famine and build resilience, international support was needed now, stressed Mr. Smith. WFP had teams on the ground and the capacity to prevent famine, but it needed more resources to deliver. Somalia was at a precipice of another decisive moment, and the time for action was now.
More information on WFP’s work in Somalia is available here.
One year since the transition in Syria and the impact on children
Muzoon Almellehan, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador, speaking from Newcastle, said that she had left Syria as a child. The previous week, she had returned to her country as UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador. Millions of children in the country now wondered whether they could count on stability and continue their education. A recent UNICEF survey had found that one in three Syrian adolescents had been displaced at least once. Syria now stood at a critical moment, with renewed sense of hope and determination across the country. Progress was visible, and communities were coming back together. Children still faced daily risks from UXOs and damaged infrastructure, which had led to hundreds of casualties among children. More than four million Syrians remained displaced outside camps, and over 1.3 million were in camps. In every community she had visited, Ms. Almellehan had seen young people speak with dignity and hope. Young people were resilient and ready to bloom again, but resilience should never replace support and investment. Education remained the most urgent priority.
UNICEF was working across Syria and in neighbouring countries to reach children in need by rehabilitating schools, restoring water systems, providing health and nutrition services, supporting mental health and psychosocial care, and helping children return to learning. With local partners on the ground, UNICEF was also investing in skills development, vocational training and employment pathways for young people – because Syria's recovery would be built by its youth, stressed Ms. Almellehan. Every child in Syria deserved to grow up safe, to learn, to dream and to rebuild: that was their right, and it was international community’s responsibility to make it a reality. Sustained and flexible funding was needed to ensure recovery. Syria ought not be forgotten.
Answering questions from the media, Ms. Almellehan said that millions of children were deprived of their right to education, but UNICEF and partners were on the ground trying to reach children in need. Bringing children into classrooms would give them a shot at the future.
Arrests of children in Iran
Ricardo Pires, for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), read a statement from the previous day regarding arrests of children following protests in Iran. UNICEF was deeply concerned by the reports that children arrested in connection with the recent public unrest in Iran remain in detention. While the number of children currently detained, or the conditions of their detention could not be verified, UNICEF urged that immediate, independent access be granted to all detained children to assess their situation, treatment, and well-being. Children deprived of their liberty had to be treated with humanity and dignity and enabled to maintain regular contact with their families. These were binding obligations under international law and had to be upheld at all times.
Report on grave abuses against those trafficked into scam centres
Jeremy Laurence, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), informed that an OHCHR report published today graphically detailed the lived experiences of some of the hundreds of thousands of people trafficked from dozens of countries around the world into working in entrenched scam operations mostly in Southeast Asia, as well as far beyond. The report documented instances of torture and other ill-treatment, sexual abuse and exploitation, forced abortions, food deprivation, solitary confinement, among other grave human rights abuses. Survivors also shared experiences of border officials aiding scam recruiters, and of threats and extortion by police. The operations described were fluid, with some survivors sharing experiences of being held in immense compounds resembling self-contained towns, some over 500 acres in size, made up of heavily fortified multi-story buildings with barbed wire-topped high walls, guarded by armed security personnel.
A victim from Sri Lanka related how those who failed to meet monthly scamming targets were subject to immersion in water containers for hours. Victims also recounted being forced to witness or even conduct grave abuse of others as a means to ensure compliance; one Bangladeshi victim said that he had been ordered to beat other workers and a victim from Ghana recounted being forced to watch his friend being beaten in front of him. They told of people losing their lives as they attempted to escape, including falling from balconies and roofs in the compounds. OHCHR urged States and regional bodies to act effectively against corruption, which was deeply entrenched in such lucrative scamming operations, and to prosecute the criminal syndicates behind them. It also recalled the importance of independent media, human rights defenders and civil society organizations being able to carry out their vital anti-trafficking work free from interference.
The full statement is available here.
Pia Oberoi, Senior Human Rights Officer at the OHCHR, stated that behavioural science could be used to explain why people did what they did. More than two years after the alarm had been raised first, how come people were still being recruited in such fraudulent operations, asked Ms. Oberoi. Most of those who chose that path felt they had few options when they had decided to go forward. The role of trust was significant in the recruitment, and the majority of those recruited had been brought on board through someone they had trusted. Information campaigns on their own were unlikely to prevent such recruitment; what was needed was far better social media oversight, as well as better regulated legal migratory options. The OHCHR report can be read here.
Child trafficking in Haiti
Marta Hurtado, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), informed that a new UN report detailed brutal and widespread trafficking of children by Haitian gangs, warning their actions threatened not only the wellbeing of today’s children but also of future generations. Most of the 26 gangs currently operating in Haiti were involved in child trafficking. The report described the different forms of exploitation to which children are subjected, ranging from running errands, monitoring security forces, or collecting extortion payments, to more violent acts like destruction of property, kidnappings, targeted killings and sexual violence. While there was no comprehensive data on the number of children trafficked by gangs, in 2024, the UN estimated that more than 500,000 children had been living in areas under gang control. As per the latest estimates, gang violence had forced more than 1.4 million people to flee their homes.
The report also said that despite some initiatives, insufficient attention was given to preventing child trafficking before it occurred, including by addressing the economic, social, and educational root causes that place children at risk of trafficking, while also ensuring accountability for traffickers to prevent future violations. The report called for a comprehensive, human rights-centered strategy built around seven pillars: expanding social protection programs for vulnerable families in the capital, reinforcing schools as protective spaces, developing child-friendly spaces outside schools, increasing youth vocational and employment opportunities, strengthening rights-compliant law enforcement, prioritizing rehabilitation over punishment, and improving accountability for child traffickers.
The full press release can be accessed here.
Announcements
Alessandra Vellucci, for the UN Information Service (UNIS), informed that the Human Rights Council would open its 61st session in the Assembly Hall on Monday, 23 February at 9 am. The session would last till 31 March. The opening session would hear opening statements by the UN Secretary-General, the President of the UN General Assembly, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Swiss Federal Councilor for Foreign Affairs.
On 23 February at 2 pm, the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations would hold a stakeout in Hall XIV, at which Ambassador Daniel Meron would address the media.
On 24 February, Annalena Baerbock, the President of the General Assembly, would address the media at 10 am, ahead of the regular press briefing.
On 26 February 2026 at 1 pm, OHCHR Special Procedures would hold a press conference on attacks against the UN system, Special procedures and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories. Speakers would be: Nicolas Levrat, Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues; Richard Bennett, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan; George Katrougalos, Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories; and Fernanda Hopenhaym, Member of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights.
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Womenwould close its 92nd session this afternoon and issue its concluding observations on the countries reviewed: Vietnam, Iraq, Lithuania, Netherlands, Argentina, Czechia, El Salvador, and Lesotho
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights would close its 79th session on 25 February and issue its concluding observations on the countries reviewed: Kenya, Uruguay, Georgia, and Australia.
On 25 February, from 2:30 pm, the Social Justice Day would be marked in Room XIV with an event “Exploring FANON: Decolonization, Mind, and Social Justice”. More information is available here.
Finally, Jeremy Laurence, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), informed that the High Commissioner had just returned from a trip to India where he had attended the AI Impact Summit, the first to be held in the Global South. The High Commissioner’s speeches were available online.
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