Europe

View of Paris, France, from UNESCO headquarters.
UN Photo/Mark Garten

France must bring counter-terrorism law in line with international rights obligations – UN experts

27 September 2017
Human Rights

Warning of possible “discriminatory repercussions," especially for Muslims, two United Nations rights experts expressed concern over a new law that may perpetuate the emergency measures France introduced in 2015 – establishing a permanent state of emergency.

Tore Hattrem, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

United Nations ‘backbone’ of global order, stresses Norway at Assembly

25 September 2017
Underscoring that the “unprecedented” progress achieved by human kind over the last decades cannot be taken for granted, Norway called for continued international cooperation to safeguard the achievements and to ensure that they remain sustainable.
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for the Relations with States of the Holy See, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Allow people to be ‘dignified agents of their own destiny,’ Holy See tells UN debate

25 September 2017
The Observer of the Holy See, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary of Relations with States, speaking on the final day of the United Nations General Assembly’s annual debate praised this year’s theme – ‘Focusing on People: Striving for peace and a decent life on a sustainable planet’– saying that Pope Francis “never tires of insisting on people first, especially those who suffer, those who are excluded, marginalized and left behind.”
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

New UN report details grave human rights violations in Crimea

25 September 2017
The human rights situation in Crimea has significantly deteriorated under Russian occupation, a United Nations report says, detailing how residents there were affected when Ukrainian laws were substituted by those of Russia, including the imposition of Russian citizenship.
Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Ireland, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

In a globalized world, ‘we must live in each other’s shelter, not shadow,’ Ireland tells UN

23 September 2017
Expressing his faith in the United Nations and its commitment to responding to challenges such as the disasters presently plaguing Latin America and the Caribbean, Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, said that and other issues require the UN to “move from debate to action.”
Prime Minister Charles Michel of Belgium addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

European leaders at General Assembly stress UN’s vital importance in resolving global crises

23 September 2017
European leaders mounted the rostrum of the United Nations General Assembly today to spotlight the vital importance of the world Organization in resolving global crises from climate change and sustainable development to conflicts and refugees and migrants.
Nikos Kotzias, Minister for Foreign Affairs for Greece, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Greece, at UN, spotlights ‘soft power’ to forge regional, international cooperation

23 September 2017
Situated close to what continues to be an extremely turbulent region such as the Middle East and parts of North Africa, Greece is a pillar of stability, its Foreign Minister stressed today at the United Nations General Assembly, also noting that the country remains committed to the protection of human rights of migrants.
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia addresses the general debate of the seventy-second session of the General Assembly.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

President of former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, says human rights must be at centre of global action

23 September 2017
Promotion and protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law must remain at the core of international action, the President of the Government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia said today, lamenting that despite the fact that the United Nations has a robust human rights architecture, violations continue worldwide.
Margot Wallström, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Nordic leaders call for reform that places UN at the centre of global multilateralism

22 September 2017
A reformed and strengthened United Nations is more than ever necessary to tackle the host of challenges confronting the world, from conflicts and terrorism to climate change and sustainable development, Nordic ministers told the General Assembly today.
Péter Szijjártó, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-second session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Hungary, at UN, says roots of terrorism must be tackled; warns ‘migratory waves’ bring terrorists to Europe

22 September 2017
The migration crisis and associated threat of terrorism are the greatest threats ever faced by the European Union, Péter Szijjártó, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Hungary, told the United Nations today, denouncing those that encourage ‘waves’ of migrants, which were only putting thousands of people in danger.