United Nations

WHO Calls for Government Action on Diabetes Prevention

April 15, 2016

The UN's World Health Organization ("WHO") has called on governments to fulfill their commitments under the UN Sustainable Development Goals to reduce diabetes in part by promoting "healthy choices" and lifestyles among their citizens.
UN Seeks Expanded Gender Statistics Reporting for SDGs

April 15, 2016

A press release from UN Women examines how the agency is supporting the increased capacity of countries and others to measure "gender statistics," including on "sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights," to determine how best to achieve the UN's comprehensive Sustainable Development Goals ("SDGs") by 2030.
European Diplomats Seek Stricter Airline Emissions Deal

April 15, 2016

The Guardian reports that European diplomats and activists are criticizing a draft plan from the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization to cut global airline emissions to counter climate change for lack of ambition and are calling for a new deal that would provide for "carbon neutral growth after 2020."
UN Agent Calls Strict Abortion Laws Torture

April 14, 2016

Stefano Gennarini writes that UN Special Rapporteur on torture Juan Mendez's recent report declaring that strict abortion laws should be considered to be "torture or ill-treatment" highlights the UN's comprehensive approach to expanding the interpretation of UN treaties and other instruments to include a human right to abortion.
UN Agents Support African Agenda on Terrorism and Human Rights

April 14, 2016

Calling on countries around the world to focus on implementing "international legal norms and standards" in their counterterrorism efforts, a group of UN human rights observers have applauded the African Commission on Human and People's Rights launch of its Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights while Countering Terrorism in Africa.
UN Talks Target Global Governance of Ocean Resources

April 13, 2016

George Russell writes that a UN preparatory committee has begun talks aimed at developing a global, legally binding instrument on UN management of ocean resources that would require the production of "environmental impact assessments" for development projects involving the high seas.
World Bank Accelerates Spending on Climate Change

April 13, 2016

AP reports that, as its senior director for climate change indicates that the organization is "making climate change a central part of everything we're doing," the World Bank has released a detailed climate action plan that will involve large boosts in spending to assist poor countries in meeting their pledges under the UN climate deal agreed last December.
Article: Paris Climate Deal Could Bind Next US President

April 13, 2016

The Washington Post reports that, under the terms of a UN climate deal agreed in Paris in December 2015, the agreement could bind the next US President to follow its reporting and other provisions until withdrawal is permitted in 2019 at the earliest.
Article: UN Pressure Has Led to Permissive Abortion Laws

April 13, 2016

Attorney Kelsey Zorzi of ADF International has published an article describing how the UN's global governance initiatives have succeeded in pressuring countries to adopt more permissive laws on abortion.
UNESCO Signs Updated Education Recommendations

April 13, 2016

Responding to requests from countries to revise the recommendations to reflect "new educational, social, economic, cultural and political trends," officials from the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization ("UNESCO") have signed two updated, "comprehensive" recommendations on adult and vocational education and training policies.