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© John Isaac / World Bank

Human rights are the ‘means by which governments can successfully beat pandemics’, says UNAIDS chief

27 August 2020
Health

Some of the world’s most marginalized and defenseless communities have fallen victim to violence and other rights abuses during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the UN agency dedicated to tackling the AIDS virus to urge Governments to protect the most vulnerable, particularly key populations at higher risk of HIV. 

WHO/PAHO

Togo overcomes ‘sleeping sickness’ as a public health problem

27 August 2020
Health

The West African nation of Togo has eliminated human African trypanosomiasis or “sleeping sickness” as a public health problem, becoming the first in the continent to achieve the milestone, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) has said. 

© UNICEF/Everett

Globally, 1 in 3 children missed out on remote learning when COVID-19 shuttered schools

27 August 2020
Culture and Education

For at least 463 million children whose schools closed due to COVID-19, “there was no such a thing as remote learning,” the head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday, as the agency launched a new report outlining the limitations of remote learning and exposing the deep inequalities in access.  

OCHA/Themba Linden

Facing pandemic, economic and political challenges, Iraq Government ‘operating in the eyes of multiple storms at once’

26 August 2020
Peace and Security

The COVID-19 pandemic is aggravating deep-rooted economic, social and political challenges in Iraq, but elections in 2021 – if credible - could open a new chapter for the Middle East nation after years of conflict and strife, the UN’s top official in the country said Wednesday. 

Public Domain

UN again calls for full ratification of nuclear test-ban treaty

26 August 2020
Peace and Security

Achieving a nuclear-free world is the best way to honour lives devastated by these weapons, the UN disarmament chief told a virtual meeting held on Wednesday to commemorate the International Day against Nuclear Tests, observed annually on 29 August. 

© UNICEF/Pavel Zmey

COVID-19: UN urges ramping up social protection programmes to safeguard those most vulnerable

26 August 2020
Health

The socio-economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted UN agencies on Wednesday to call on countries to increase social protection programmes to protect those most at risk. 

© World Bank

Digital economy can put citizens in control of finance, says UN taskforce

26 August 2020
Economic Development

A UN taskforce set up to look into the risks and benefits of the digital economy, has concluded that it could have a transformational impact on sustainable development, and empower citizens, both as taxpayers and investors.

© UNICEF/Kate Holt

Refugees at risk of hunger and malnutrition, as relief hit in Eastern Africa

26 August 2020
Humanitarian Aid

UN World Food Programme (WFP) has been forced to reduce its food and cash assistance for refugees in Eastern Africa by up to 30 per cent, the agency has said, voicing fears that the reductions could worsen in the coming months unless urgent additional funding is received in time. 

UNFPA Bangladesh/Allison Joyce

Address root causes of the Rohingya refugee crisis, urges UN chief

26 August 2020
Migrants and Refugees

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for greater attention to the Rohingya refugee crisis – which entered its fourth year – and for addressing the root causes of the conflict. 

UNICEF Angola

‘Momentous milestone’ as Africa eradicates wild poliovirus

25 August 2020
Health

The wild poliovirus has been eradicated in Africa, health officials announced on Tuesday, calling it a “momentous milestone” for the continent.