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UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre

INTERVIEW: Advancing human rights, a ‘never ending process’ says new UN rights chief

17 October 2018
Human Rights

In August, Michelle Bachelet, twice-elected President of Chile and the first head of UN Women, was confirmed as the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, replacing Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.

WHO

‘Virginity testing’: a human rights violation, with no scientific basis - UN

17 October 2018
Women

A group of United Nations agencies has issued a joint statement calling for a ban on tests meant to assess the virginity of a girl or a woman, which is a common practice in at least 20 countries.

WFP/Jonathan Dumont

UN Chief says ending poverty ‘a question of justice’ on International Day

17 October 2018
Human Rights

Highlighting that for the United Nations, eliminating poverty in all its forms remains one of the greatest global challenges and priorities, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed the fundamental connection between eradicating poverty and upholding equal rights for all.

UNFPA/Ollivier Girard

World population set to grow another 2.2 billion by 2050: UN survey

17 October 2018
Economic Development

The world’s population is set to grow by 2.2 billion between now and 2050, the UN said on Wednesday, and more than half of that growth - 1.3 billion - is likely to be in sub-Saharan Africa, where women’s rights are hampered by limited access to healthcare and education, along with “entrenched gender discrimination”.

©FAO/Amos Gumulira

World Food Day: here’s what the UN is doing to fix ‘intolerable’ wrong of hunger

16 October 2018
Economic Development

“In our world of plenty, one person in nine does not have enough to eat”, said United Nations chief António Guterres on Tuesday, marking World Food Day. With this year’s theme, “our actions are our future”, the UN and its partners, held events and launched information campaigns worldwide, to amplify one message: achieving zero hunger by 2030 is possible, provided we “join forces”.

© World Bank/Flickr

UN experts report: Business ‘dragging its feet’ on human rights worldwide

16 October 2018
Human Rights

Too many businesses are putting profit above human rights and “ignoring” their obligations, while governments fail to “regulate and lead by example”, according to a United Nations human rights report, published on Tuesday.

UNDP Rwanda/Alice Kayibanda

Investing in rural women and girls, ‘essential’ for everyone’s future: UN chief

15 October 2018
Women

Marking International Day of Rural Women, on Monday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on countries to ensure that women and girls living in rural areas can enioy their human rights as this would enable making “progress for all”.

©FAO/Tamiru Legesse

Benefits of rural migration effect often overlooked, new UN report suggests

15 October 2018
Economic Development

Agricultural policies should work to maximize the contributions of rural migration to economic and social development, while minimizing the costs, says a major new report released on Monday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

UN Photo/Manuel Elias

Human Rights Council election: 5 things you need to know about it

15 October 2018
Human Rights

The United Nations General Assembly held secret-ballot elections for the Human Rights Council (HRC) on Friday.  As of 1 January next year, the 18 newly-elected States will serve for three years on the UN’s highest inter-governmental body, mandated to protect and promote human rights worldwide.

Photo via WMBD

On their epic journeys, migratory birds connect nations and inspire people, UN says on World Day

13 October 2018
Culture and Education

Highlighting the challenges migratory birds face in their epic journeys, senior United Nations officials have called on the global community to join forces and “unify voices for bird conservation.”