This is the News in Brief from the United Nations.
South Sudan: UN humanitarian official condemns killing of aid worker
The top UN humanitarian official in South Sudan has called for law enforcement along roads following the killing of an aid worker in an ambush in Eastern Equatoria on Wednesday.
The aid worker was killed when assailants fired at a clearly marked humanitarian vehicle that was part of a team of international non-governmental organizations and South Sudanese health workers travelling to a health facility.
The team was driving in an area that has seen several roadside ambushes this year.
In a statement on Thursday, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Alain Noudéhou condemned the killing and urged the Government to strengthen law enforcement on roads, which he called “a vital connection” between aid organizations and the communities they serve.
The incident marked the first killing of an aid worker in South Sudan this year. Nine aid workers were killed in 2020.
ILO and partners launch campaign to tackle child labour in Iraq
Moving to Iraq, where the International Labour Organization (ILO) and partners this week launched a nation-wide campaign to combat the worst forms of child labour in the country.
The campaign will target 10,000 children, their families and guardians, teachers, employers, and the media, through a series of activities that aim to raise awareness on the increasing dangers of the issue.
ILO reports child labour has been on the rise in Iraq in recent years. A growing number of children has been forced to work due to a combination of factors that include armed conflict, displacement and economic challenges, which have been further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The campaign aims to inform communities about the negative consequences of child labour and ultimately change behaviour by making the practice unacceptable and an urgent priority for action by the authorities and businesses.
Expert meeting on science and technology for pandemic recovery
And finally, looking to next week when UN trade and development body, UNCTAD, will bring together experts to explore how science, technology and innovation, or STI, can contribute to achieving sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The meeting of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development, which begins on Monday, will examine how STI can help rebuild healthcare systems and socioeconomic structures while reducing inequalities which the pandemic has exposed.
Experts will also look at opportunities offered by so-called frontier technologies, some of which are being used in pandemic response, such as artificial intelligence, big data and robotics.
Dianne Penn, UN News.
