This is the News in Brief, from the United Nations.
UN Internet Forum seeks to make legal frameworks on tech and data more up-to-date and inclusive
How to bring laws up to speed with new online technologies, while making room for marginalized voices on the digital space… That’s the central question of the 2018 Internet Governance Forum, hosted by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, in Paris, for three days.
Over 3,000 participants, including political leaders, as well as representatives of civil society organiz ations, the private sector, and experts, are gathering to discussion issues including disinformation, privacy, cybersecurity, and other legal and ethical matters.
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, was in attendance, and he delivered these opening remarks:
“New technologies are transforming every aspect of our lives. Our understanding of the transformations and the disruption they cause is inadequate. Technology should empower not overpower us and, as with past transformative inventions, we need to set policies that contain unintended consequences or malicious use. Discussions on internet governance cannot just remain discussions. Policy, and where relevant normative frameworks, must be developed to ensure impact. We cannot leave our fate in the digital era to the invisible hand of market forces”.
Rohingya refugees: UN reminds that return of displaced must be voluntary above all
The conditions for the repatriation of some 4,350 refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar are not right and those people should not be forced to return, according to the UN refugee agency – UNHCR.
International law states that any return of displaced persons to their homes must be safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable.
UNHCR estimates that there are currently over 900,000 refugees from the Rohingya ethnic group in Bangladesh, after they were forced to flee violence in their native Myanmar.
The head of UNHCR, Filippo Grande, said on Sunday the situation for the returns is not conducive and that the refugees should decide for themselves is they want to go home.
News reports say that the 4,350 people on the list for return were not all adequately informed and that it is unclear how the list was compiled.
The first repatriations are said to start on Thursday.
During World Antiobiotics Awareness Week, UN says ‘our time with antibiotics is running out’
Some five million people could die each year in Asia by 2050 due to resistance to antibiotic or antimicrobial medicines, according to UN agencies.
Many antibiotics are no longer effective in fighting infections which have built up resistance to the medication.
Deaths due to antimicrobial resistance or AMR could surpass annual cancer fatalities, and the UN is now calling the issue a “global health emergency.”
The UN agencies, which include the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Environment Programme have called for the more responsible use of antibiotics in humans, animals and agriculture at the opening of World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) in Asia and the Pacific on Monday.
Conor Lennon, UN News
