General News

Cultivation of opium poppies, the plant used to manufacture heroin, has dropped by 19 per cent year-on-year, according to a UN survey released on Wednesday.

Afghanistan has provided the majority of the world’s opium production since the early 1990s, and last year it rose to a record level, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said.

But after six years on the rise, the agency figures released for 2015 show a sharp fall.

The expression “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never harm me!” has been used by generations of English-speaking children as a defence against insults.

But teasing, taunting and other forms of bullying can indeed harm children, say experts meeting at the United Nations on Wednesday.

Dianne Penn reports on global efforts to stamp out bullying.

Duration: 4'02"

Smaller companies need to change the way they work, particularly in poorer countries, to ensure that employees aren’t left behind by future economic gains, UN experts said Wednesday.

Pointing to a large productivity gap between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and bigger companies, the International Trade Centre (ITC) says numerous obstacles stand in the way of their growth.

There’s “no safety for women” in Iraq, according to the founder of a network which operates underground shelters there for female survivors of abuse.

Yanar Mohammed, addressed the UN Security Council at an open debate to mark the 15th anniversary of a resolution on women, peace and security.

She founded the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI), and highlighted not only the sexual enslavement and trafficking of women by the extremist group ISIL, but also what she said were failings on the part of the government in Baghdad to treat women equally.

The humanitarian situation in Pakistan has a “positive trajectory” despite an ongoing crisis, according to a senior UN official who has just visited the country.

Five million Pakistanis have been displaced by conflict in recent years, but many are now returning home.

The country is also sheltering Afghan refugees who have fled insecurity over the border.

John Ging is the UN humanitarian office, OCHA’s Operations Director.

Daniel Dickinson asked him for an update on the crisis.

The subordination of women is increasingly at the centre of extremist ideology around the world, according to the author of a report on the implementation of a landmark UN resolution.

Security Council Resolution 1325, which was adopted 15 years ago, addresses the excessive impact of war on women.

It also highlights the role that women can play in conflict resolution and peace.

Social protection is emerging as a critical tool in the drive to end hunger, although the vast majority of the world’s rural poor are yet to be covered.

That’s according to this year’s State of Food and Agriculture Report (SOFA 2015) released by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

SOFA 2015 details the impact of social protection schemes, such as cash transfers, school feeding and public works, on vulnerable people’s lives.

Fifteen years ago this month, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution focusing on the link between gender equality and international peace and security.

More than 100 countries are taking stock of progress on resolution 1325 which stresses the important role women have in conflict resolution, peace negotiations and UN peacekeeping efforts.

Dianne Penn reports.

Duration: 3'04"

A significant drop in the cost of global shipping in the last 20 years has not been passed on to developing countries, despite the fact that they are driving the world’s economy, UN economists said Tuesday.

The finding, which is highlighted in a UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) review of maritime transport, also shows that poorer countries have for the first time started to import more goods than they export.

Recognition from the UN for helping to alleviate the risk of flooding was met with joy and pride on Tuesday, in the English city of Salford.

The historic city in the north of England was one of eight communities recognised as Champions of Disaster Risk Reduction, by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, based in Geneva (UNISDR).

The other communities honoured are in Bangladesh, Cameroon, Colombia, Italy, the Philippines, Sudan and the Pacific island of Vanuatu.