United Nations

UN Funds Assad Allies Blacklisted by US, EU

August 15, 2017

Bloomberg reports that the UN’s 2016 annual report on procurement shows the UN paid at least $18 million to companies with “close ties” to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, including to companies headed by individuals blacklisted by the US and EU.
UN Diplomats to Begin Sea Conservation Treaty Negotiations

August 15, 2017

The New York Times reports that, after two years of initial talks, UN diplomats are set to begin formal negotiations on a treaty that would provide for the global governance of large portions of international waters to protect marine biodiversity and fishing stocks.
UNHCR: Australia Must Continue Services for Refugees

August 15, 2017

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed “grave concern” over the Australian government’s decision to close an offshore refugee processing center, urging the government to carry out its international obligations to provide “viable, humane solutions," as well as medical and security services, to the refugees in Papua New Guinea.
Australia Criticizes UN Agent's Migration Rights Report

August 14, 2017

In response to a report from UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants François Crépeau calling Australia's treatment of asylum seekers a "blemish" on its human rights record, the Australian government argued that the UN agent made a "considerable number" of legal and factual errors in his report and touted the beneficial impact of its strong border-control system.
Observers Condemn Brazilian Report on UN Influence

August 14, 2017

A group of UN human rights mandate holders has condemned a report from the Brazilian Congress accusing the UN of catering to social and environmental activist groups by intruding in policy debates in the country, criticizing the Congress for failing to uphold international human rights obligations to strengthen the protection of indigenous peoples in its territory.
UN Agency Seeks AI Contribution to Social Agenda

August 14, 2017

The UN's International Telecommunication Union (ITU) convened representatives of governments, businesses, UN agencies, and nongovernmental organizations in June at an "AI for Good Global Summit" to discuss governance of artificial intelligence (AI) and how AI technology can help fulfill UN goals on "poverty, hunger, health, education," and the environment.
UN Agency Warns of Drop in Education Funding

August 14, 2017

The Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Irina Bokova has warned that indications from the agency's Global Education Monitoring Report that aid to education is declining could mean a global failure to fulfill the UN's education targets under its comprehensive Sustainable Development Goals.
UNESCO Promotes Teacher Training on "Sustainability" in Asia

August 14, 2017

In June, the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) gathered representatives from 10 universities in Southeast Asia for a workshop on promoting UNESCO's "Education for Sustainable Development" agenda in teacher training programs throughout the region.
UN Agencies Seek Universal "Sexuality Education"

August 14, 2017

A group of UN agencies has launched a joint report on adolescent health calling on all countries to implement "comprehensive sexuality education," including lessons on "promotion of gender equality and respect for human rights," in their national education curricula to ensure protection of "sexual and reproductive health" rights, widely interpreted to include abortion.
California, China Sign Climate Technology Deal

August 14, 2017

Reuters reports that the governments of California and China have responded to US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the UN's Paris climate deal by bypassing US federal authorities in establishing a California-China Clean Technology Partnership to explore carbon emissions trading and green energy development.