This is the News in Brief from the United Nations.
Funding shortfall in Iraq
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), briefed the Security Council on Wednesday via videoconference, spotlighting funding shortfalls as her utmost concern.
After saluting the “enormous sacrifices” made that led to Iraq’s “freedom and sovereignty”, the Special Representative lamented that both the Funding Facility for Stabilization and the Humanitarian Response Plan are facing enormous financial gaps of $300 and $500 million, respectively.
The UNAMI chief recalled that Iraq’s “daunting challenges” did not arise overnight and “will not be resolved tomorrow” but as Iraqis “press ahead” they need an engaged international community at their side.
Social media’s Pinterest steps up to combat vaccination misinformation
Misinformation on vaccines is “as contagious and dangerous as the diseases it helps to spread”. That's according to the head of the UN health agency.
And it is being disseminated far and fast on social media throughout many countries, including during critical vaccination campaigns like those underway for polio in Pakistan or yellow fever in South America.
With this in mind, Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, or WHO, expressed his appreciation to the internet photo sharing service Pinterest for its commitment to provide only evidence-based vaccine information to its users. In this way protecting public health.
“We hope to see other social media platforms around the world following Pinterest’s lead”, he said.
A positive step for indigenous women
Turning to Canada, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, welcomed a bill removing sexual discrimination from a federal law dealing with Indigenous peoples.
Before the bill entered into force on 15 August, provisions within the Indian Act meant women lost their status when they married non-Indigenous men, while men who married non-Indigenous women kept theirs.
“For decades, First Nations women and their descendants have faced sex-based discrimination that has been perpetuated by these provisions, constituting a violation of international and national gender equality standards,” said the UN expert.
Ana Carmo, UN News.
