This is the News in Brief from the United Nations. 

UNICEF appeal to help children in crisis 

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) appealed on Monday for $10.3 billion in emergency funding to support children around the world affected by conflict, climate crises, and other catastrophic events.  

The resources will be used throughout next year to support essential programmes for over 110 million children impacted across 155 countries and territories. 

From conflict and displacement to disease outbreaks and soaring rates of malnutrition, UNICEF chief Catherine Russell noted that there are more children in need of humanitarian assistance today than at any other time in recent history. 

Across the globe, she said, children are facing “a deadly mix of crises”, made worse by climate change. 

It is critical to have the right support in place to reach children with “decisive and timely humanitarian action”, she added. 

Sudan: Human rights chief welcomes new pact 

Turning to Sudan, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has welcomed a new pact signed by military and civilians leaders there.  

Calling it “an important first step” towards a political agreement and the restoration of a civilian-led government, he asked for international support during the next phase of transition. 

Mr. Türk said that during a visit last month he had been touched by the Sudanese people’s vision for a future “anchored in human rights and justice”.  

He described the signing of the framework agreement as a huge opportunity to ensure that their vision becomes reality.  

He also welcomed the release of two former officials as “an important confidence-building measure”. 

Development cooperation for human rights: UN experts 

And finally, more than 40 UN-appointed independent human rights experts have issued a joint call for ambitious policies and a recommitment to development cooperation. 

In a statement on Monday, marking the 36th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development, they underscored that these actions are critical to reignite progress towards achieving the 2030 Development Agenda. 

The experts also drew attention to the toll that the COVID19 pandemic has taken on human rights globally. 

They said that a swift recovery that also advances development and climate action goals, must include “the active participation” of everyone concerned. 

And they called on States and international financial institutions to ensure coordinated economic policies and strengthened international cooperation to expand debt relief and sustainability initiatives to developing countries. 

Liz Scaffidi, UN News.