Global

UN Assistant-Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco addresses the UN Security Council and speaks about evolution of peacebuilding throughout the last decades.
UN Photo/JC McIlwaine

FEATURE SERIES: What is UN peacebuilding and its role in preventing conflicts?

27 July 2016
Peace and Security

In conflicts, the United Nations is commonly associated with peacekeeping and UN ‘blue helmets,’ but increasingly the international community’s focus is on “peacebuilding” – the idea of supporting a country throughout all stages of a conflict, including post-conflict recovery and socio-economic development, and on preventing the outbreak of fighting.

Jane Holl Lute, Special Coordinator on improving the United Nations response to sexual exploitation and abuse, gives an interview for the UN News and Media Division's news outlets.
UN Photo/Mark Garten

FEATURE: 'We all have to do what we can' to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse – Jane Holl Lute

26 July 2016
Women

The United Nations has a “zero tolerance” policy towards sexual abuse by anyone working under the blue flag. The matter is one of such weight for the Organization that earlier this year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Jane Holl Lute as the Special Coordinator on improving the UN response to sexual exploitation and abuse.

Source: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) report.

First progress report on Sustainable Development Agenda aims to leave no one behind

20 July 2016
SDGs

The first ever progress report on the new global development agenda provides the most up-to-date statistics on poverty, hunger, education and sanitation, among others, so that the world can address urgent global challenges over the next 15 years.

Women from Samburu, Kenya, gather for a public discussions where they publicly say no to female genital mutilation.
UNICEF/Samuel Leadismo

Majority oppose female genital mutilation in countries where practice persists – UN agency

15 July 2016
Women

New data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reveals that about two-thirds of men, women, boys and girls in countries where female genital mutilation is common say they want the practice to end.

Brain coral, partly damaged from illegal anchoring, Mu Ko Lanta Marine National Park, Thailand.
<a href=http://www.grida.no/photolib/detail/brain-coral-partly-damaged-from-illegal-anchoring-mu-ko-lanta-marine-national-park-thailand_5476>UNEP GRID Arendal/Peter Prokosch</a>

New UN-backed survey reveals ‘alarming’ damage to high seas and marine ecosystems

14 July 2016
Climate and Environment

More than half of the world’s fragile coral reefs are under threat and most of our major fish stocks are now overexploited, according to the latest global assessments on the state of world’s high seas and large marine ecosystems launched today by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

Sixteen-year-old Fatima and her newborn in a shelter for girls and women who have endured sexual and gender-based violence, in Mogadishu, Somalia.
UNICEF/Kate Holt

UN-backed partnership, support fund launched to end violence against children

12 July 2016
Peace and Security

A United Nations-backed partnership and fund were launched today to make achieving the new global target to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children a public priority and a collective responsibility.

Source: UN in collaboration with Project Everyone

INTERVIEW: Sustainable Development Goals must be owned by everyone, says senior UN official

8 July 2016
SDGs

Ahead of next week’s United Nations High-Level Political Forum, Assistant Secretary-General Thomas Gass talks about sustainable development, leaving no one behind, and why this time “it’s for real”.