Global

Young Timorese Reads Local Newspaper
UN Photo/Martine Perret

UNGA meeting spotlights the ‘press behind bars’, as experts denounce record number of jailed journalists

28 September 2018
Human Rights

Regularly threatened, attacked and killed, journalists are also being imprisoned in record numbers around the world, an event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly highlighted on Friday. These practices undermine not only the fundamental human rights of the reporters themselves, but also the public’s right to receive and impart information, rights experts warn.

Protecting women and girls through safe abortion
Infographic: WHO

Access to legal abortion services needed, to prevent 47,000 women dying each year - UN rights experts

28 September 2018
Women

States across the world should act now to decriminalise abortion and make every effort to ensure women and girls have the right to make their own decisions about pregnancy, said a group of United Nations human rights experts on Friday, in a statement marking International Safe Abortion Day.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon of Spain addresses the seventy-third session of the United Nations General Assembly.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Now is the time for cooperative leadership, not nationalist rhetoric, Spain’s Prime Minister says at UN

27 September 2018
UN Affairs

The world is facing enormous global challenges, Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, Prime Minister of Spain, told the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, underscoring that these times “do not need nationalist or non-inclusive rhetoric.”

Donald Tusk, President of the European Council of the European Union, addresses the seventy-third session of the United Nations General Assembly.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

More unity, ‘collective action’ needed to maintain international order, EU leader tells UN Assembly

27 September 2018
UN Affairs

Rules-based international order is under “great strain,” Donald Tusk, President of the European Council of the European Union (EU), told the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, saying that his organization is “fighting intensely” to preserve it.

Young students visiting UNHQ from Turkey pose at the #UNGA sign at the Visitors Plaza.
UN Photo/Kim Haughton

UN News Daily Guide: debate continues, ‘soft power’ for peace, protecting minorities and the press

27 September 2018
UN Affairs

On the occasion of the 73rd General Assembly, the UN is hosting a plethora of events with some of the world’s most prominent leaders and experts, to set the pace on dozens of critical global topics. To help you navigate the frenzy and make sure you don’t miss out on anything important, UN News has prepared this fifth daily guide for you to keep your finger on the pulse.

A group of Japanese women look at the Universal Declaration of Human Rights during a visit to the UN's interim headquarters in Lake Success in February 1950
UN Photo

Human rights ‘success stories’ shared at the UN to serve as example, and inspire others

27 September 2018
Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is 70 this year and since then, it’s helped improve the rights of vulnerable women, children and men worldwide. The “Good Human Rights Stories” initiative was launched by 14 countries and the European Union to highlight the strengthening of rights, and inspire nations worldwide to follow suit. 

A health worker checks a patients blood sugar levels with blood glucose meter.
PAHO/WHO

Chronic illnesses: UN stands up to stop 41 million avoidable deaths per year

27 September 2018
Health

“Heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, chronic lung disease, depression” – just some of the illnesses outlined by World Health Organization (WHO) chief Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, who drove home the danger by asking delegates to stand up, when they heard the name of an illness that had killed someone they loved: One by one, every single person in the room, got to their feet.

Promotional materials meant to highlight the “no excuses, zero tolerance” approach to sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel.
UN Photo/Nektarios Markogiannis

World leaders commit to continue UN fight against sexual exploitation and abuse

27 September 2018
UN Affairs

World leaders joined with United Nations entities on Thursday to reaffirm their continued personal commitment to support efforts to combat sexual exploitation and abuse across the Organization.

The Gardens of Versailles Palace.
UN News/Jing Zhang

World Tourism Day: harnessing new technologies to transform travel

27 September 2018
Economic Development

The United Nations is marking this year’s World Tourism Day by exploring how technological advances such as big data, artificial intelligence and digital platforms can contribute to the way people travel and foster innovation in the tourism industry.

United Nations General Assembly prepares to hold a meeting on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías

On day two of UN General Assembly’s annual debate, it’s multilateralism all the way

26 September 2018
SDGs

From trade to climate change to development and fighting diseases, world leaders mounted the podium of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday to deliver a ringing endorsement of multilateralism, singling out a strengthened UN as the prime tool for improving humanity’s lot.