This is the News in Brief, from the United Nations
World deserves to know truth of Kashoggi disappearance: UN human rights chief
UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, says there should be an independent investigation into the fate of Saudi journalist Jamal Kashoggi, if joint efforts by Turkey and Saudi Arabia fail to uncover the facts.
Ms. Bachelet, whose official title is United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has also called for diplomatic immunity to be waived to ensure the joint investigation is effective, impartial and transparent.
Speaking exclusively to UN News at United Nations headquarters in New York on Wednesday, Ms. Bachelet said that Mr. Kashoggi’s family, and the world, deserve to know the truth:
“We have first urged both countries - Turkey and Saudi Arabia – that’s the decision they have done, to do a joint investigation but we have mentioned that this investigation should be thorough, should be transparent, should be a very serious investigation so people could know the whereabouts of Jamal Khashoggi, or if (he) was killed, to know the circumstances and that the perpetrators will be brought to justice. We also urge that no immunity be considered here, because we believe it’s a huge crime and this needs to be not only investigated, (it) needs the truth to come out, and perpetrators brought to justice. If it doesn’t work we might need another kind of investigation, but for now, we hope that it’s already been done, some of this, even though it’s 12 days later. His family, and the world, deserves to know the truth.”
Look out for a full interview with Ms. Bachelet on our Website, news.un.org
UN Chief says ending poverty ‘a question of justice’ on International Day
Speaking on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, UN Secretary General António Guterres has stressed the fundamental connection between eradicating poverty and upholding equal rights for all.
Since the day was launched 25 years ago, nearly a billion people have escaped poverty, said Mr. Guterres, thanks to political leadership, inclusive economic development and international cooperation.
However, 700 million people are still being left behind, and are unable to meet their basic daily needs.
Eradicating poverty in all its forms is a key element of Sustainable Development Goal 1, which aims to foster social protection systems for all.
World population set to grow another 2.2 billion by 2050: UN Survey
And there will be 2.2 billion more people on the planet by 2050, according to a new UN survey, released on Wednesday.
Over half that growth is expected to take place in sub-Saharan Africa, where women face limited access to healthcare and education, and entrenched gender discrimination.
The State of the World Population 2018 report, produced by the UN Population Fund, or UNFPA, shows that there are 43 countries where women have four or more children, and 38 of these are in Africa.
If UNFPA’s predictions are correct, over a quarter of the world’s population will be in Africa by 2050, up from 17 per cent today.
Conor Lennon, UN News.
