Governments seeking to implement public policy initiatives and new globally agreed development goals have a “fundamental tool” that can help them: the Internet.
That’s according to Lenni Montiel, Assistant Secretary-General in the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs, who’s making the case ahead of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) which opens on Tuesday in Brazil.
A system to release children from armed groups in Colombia needs to be set up as soon as possible, according to the UN’s most senior envoy in the country.
It follows a commitment made by FARC, Colombia’s largest rebel group, to stop the recruitment of children under the age of 18.
It’s thought that tens of thousands of children may have been drafted into rebel armies of criminal gangs in the South American nation.
Rocio Franco asked Fabrizio Hochschild , the UN Resident Coordinator in Colombia, to explain the significance of the FARC decision.
Nigerian singer Nneka, and MzVee from Ghana are shining a light on women’s rights through their music.
They stopped by the World Bank Headquarters in Washington to participate in the series #Music4Dev.
The initiative welcomes artists from around the globe to share their music while raising awareness about development issues.
Countries around the world have a duty to protect the innocent and abolish the death penalty.
That was the message brought to the heart of the UN by Kirk Bloodsworth this week.
On death row for two years, he was the first prisoner to be exonerated thanks to DNA evidence, more than 20 years ago.
He was joined by a host of top officials and diplomats at UN headquarters in New York for the launch of a new edition of the book "Moving Away from the Death Penalty."
Matthew Wells was there.
Duration: 3’42″
Concern at “never-ending flow” of vulnerable EU arrivals
The world has been presented a unique opportunity to recognize the contributions and needs of people of African descent.
That’s according to actor and Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover, who is taking an active role in promoting the UN’s International Decade for People of African Descent, which kicked off last December.
Daniel Dickinson spoke with Mr Glover and began by asking him why this international decade is of particular importance to him.
Duration: 4:08
Social protection systems must address the unique needs of persons with disabilities. That’s according to Catalina Devandas Aguilar, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the issue.
Ensuring social protection schemes take into account persons with disabilities can help prevent their exclusion or marginalization in societies as a whole.
The situation for children in Iraq has been described as “absolutely devastating” by the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF.
The agency says that ongoing conflict in the country is keeping two million young people out of school.
UNICEF has built 40 new schools, set up temporary ones, and distributed educational materials to more than 200,000 children, but says it needs US$68 million by the end of the year to carry on with its work.
Culture of “denial and silence” around sexual violence must be broken
The “culture of denial and silence” around sexual violence against women in conflict must be broken according to a leading UN expert.
Zainab Bangura, the UN’s Special Representative on sexual violence in conflict, was the keynote speaker at a gathering at the organization’s headquarters this week.
The event was billed as an opportunity for Ms Bangura to speak personally about her role as a champion for those who have experienced sexual violence.
Veronica Reeves has more.
Duration:1'38"
