United Nations

Palestinian Representative Claims Right to UN Membership

February 05, 2019

AP reports that the Palestinian Authority’s representative to the UN has predicted his country will become a full member of the international organization when “obstacles” are removed at the UN Security Council, indicating his country has a right to such membership through a 1947 resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly.
Former UN Observer Accused US of “War Crimes” in Venezuela

February 05, 2019

As the constitutional and economic crisis in Venezuela continues, The Independent reports that former UN Independent Expert Alfred de Zayas has pointed to his official report on the country accusing the US of “war crimes” for allegedly triggering the worsening economic conditions in the country through sanctions.
UN Agent Investigates Responsibility for Khashoggi Murder

February 05, 2019

The New York Times reports that UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Agnès Callamard is leading a UN inquiry on the murder of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul, with her mandate including the person or government that bears responsibility for the killing.
UN Manages G7 Program on Advancing SDGs in Africa

February 05, 2019

The Italian government recently opened the Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable Development in Rome as a vehicle, hosted by the UN Development Programme, for Group of 7 (G7) countries and African governments to collaborate on fulfilling the broad targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa.
WHO Considers Roadmap on Access to Medicines

February 05, 2019

Intellectual Property Watch reports that the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board recently held meetings to consider approval of a WHO “roadmap” aimed at making medicines more affordable, including policies to improve “equitable access” through intellectual property rights.
UN Members Discuss Creation of Broad Environmental Pact

February 04, 2019

A working group of UN member states recently gathered in Nairobi to discuss a report from the UN Secretary-General calling for the creation of a Global Pact for the Environment, which would serve as a “legally binding instrument for all countries, outlining rules and principles on international environmental law.”
UN Report: Lack of Enforcement Jeopardizes Environmental Rights

February 04, 2019

In its first report on the “environmental rule of law,” the UN Environment Programme warned that states are failing to enforce the rapidly proliferating national laws aimed at preventing environmental degradation and called for “political will” to enforce these laws to ensure the “human right to a healthy environment.”
UNESCO Report Focuses on Countering Bullying

January 31, 2019

The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently published a report calling on countries to introduce measures to end school bullying, warning of high proportions of students who are subject both to “physical” and “psychological” bullying in schools and online fora around the world.
Israel Blocks Palestine from UN Disarmament Panel

January 31, 2019

The Times of Israel reports that Israeli diplomats blocked a bid by Palestinian representatives to obtain observer status at the UN Conference on Disarmament, asserting the attempt of Palestine to join the panel was part of a series of efforts “to politicize the work of professional international organizations.”
UNESCO Institute Engages with Games Industry on SDG Promotion

January 31, 2019

UNESCO’s Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development has engaged with the company Hatch to produce games that push children to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).