United Nations

French President Pitches Global Environmental Pact

October 19, 2017

French President Emmanuel Macron presented a proposal at the UN General Assembly for a global environmental agreement that would guarantee the right to a clean and healthy environment by fighting climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation.
NGO: UN Mishandled Sexual Abuse Allegations

October 19, 2017

The nongovernmental organization Code Blue has claimed to have obtained evidence of “egregious mishandling” of investigations into sexual abuse allegations surrounding UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic.
Former Ambassador Dismisses UN Reform Efforts

October 19, 2017

Former US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton has dismissed the US-sponsored draft declaration in support of UN reform efforts recently presented by President Trump, saying the draft is “just the usual rhetoric” and is unlikely to produce meaningful change.
UN Agent: Military Readiness Violates Rights

October 18, 2017

The UN Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order Alfred de Zayas has called on countries around the world to "disarm for development" and to "convert war economies into peace economies" to fund the fulfillment of economic, social, and cultural rights.
EU Establishes Fund to Achieve SDGs

October 18, 2017

The Council of the EU has approved a new EU regulation establishing a European fund for sustainable development that will invest in projects in external countries near the EU that aim to fulfill the UN's comprehensive social and environmental targets set out in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Summit Explores Climate Financing for Non-state Actors

October 18, 2017

Leaders from non-state actors such as cities, regions, and civil society gathered at the Climate Chance Summit to discuss how to align public and private financing systems with the global climate agenda as set forth in the Paris agreement on climate change.
OHCHR Develops Measurement Tools for Human Rights SDGs

October 18, 2017

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) held a consultation meeting with selected statistical institutes and human rights organizations to formulate ways to measure progress toward human rights targets under the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UN, World Bank Push SDG-based Peace Initiative

October 17, 2017

The UN and the World Bank Group are collaborating on a Humanitarian-Development-Peace Initiative seeking to use the UN's comprehensive social and environmental targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address conflicts in fragile countries such as Somalia and Yemen.
UN Agency Publishes Global Tourist Guidelines

October 16, 2017

The UN World Tourism Organization recently launched a "Travel.Enjoy.Respect" campaign offering a global manual guiding "responsible travellers" visiting other countries on how to "respect nature, respect culture, and respect your host."
UN Panel Pushes Samoa to Uphold "Sexual Rights"

October 16, 2017

Following a recent visit to Samoa, the UN Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women concluded that the country has failed so far to uphold "women's sexual and reproductive rights" and must establish a "state-sponsored social welfare system" to fully combat gender discrimination.