Law and Crime Prevention

Interior view of Hagia Sophia
UN News/Jing Zhang

Keep Turkey’s Hagia Sophia ‘a space for meeting of cultures’, UN rights experts urge

31 July 2020

The historic Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, designated a mosque once again earlier this month by the Turkish Government, should be maintained as an inter-cultural space “reflecting the diversity and complexity of Turkey and its history”, said two independent human rights experts on Friday.

Samrawit, a 20-year-old Eritrean asylum-seeker braids her friend's hair at the UNHCR Emergency Transit Centre in Gashora, Rwanda.
© UNHCR/Alissa Everett

World Day against Human Trafficking spotlights essential role of first responders

30 July 2020

The UN commemorated World Day against Human Trafficking on Thursday spotlighting the essential – but often overlooked - role of first responders who identify the millions of victims worldwide, helping them secure justice, and rebuild their lives.

Protesters gather at a park in Brooklyn, New York City to demonstrate against racism and police violence.
UN News/Daniel Dickinson

How do you define lawful peaceful protest? The UN Human Rights Committee has a clear answer

29 July 2020

People have the right to demonstrate peacefully and Governments should respect international law and let them do so, senior UN-appointed independent rights experts said on Wednesday.

(FILE PHOTO) A cyclist in Wonsan City, in DPRK.
OCHA/David Ohana

Human rights report details ‘heartbreaking’ accounts of women detained in DPRK

28 July 2020
Asia Pacific

Women forcibly returned to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) are subjected to torture, ill treatment, sexual abuse, and other violations, according to a report published on Tuesday by the UN Human Rights office.

A Yazidi Kurd from Sinjar who was abducted by ISIL, pictured here in Mamilyan Camp for internally displaced persons in Akre, Iraq.
Giles Clarke/Getty Images Reportage

Iraq: ISIL’s acts of terror ‘divorced from the values of all faiths’ 

16 July 2020
Middle East

Religious leaders from communities across Iraq called for greater “healing and reconciliation” during a UN-organized event on Thursday, reaffirming their commitment to support survivors of crimes perpetrated by ISIL terrorist fighters.

 

A sample of gold taken from a mine.
© UNICEF/Claudia Berger

Venezuela: UN report highlights criminal control of mining area, and wider justice concerns

15 July 2020
Americas

The Human Rights Council on Wednesday heard reports of serious exploitation and abuse of children and indigenous communities in Venezuela, where mining for gold and other minerals is booming.

Consequences of cyber terrorism span across borders.
UNODC

‘Strengthen multilateralism’ to combat global terrorism

10 July 2020
Global

Although COVID-19 has tested “national resilience, international solidarity and multilateral cooperation”, we must not “pause our efforts” in the battle against terrorism, the UN counter-terrorism chief said on Friday.

Rescued orphan elephants at David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya.
UNEP/Natalia Mroz

Wildlife crime putting environment and health at risk: UN report

10 July 2020
Global

The COVID-19 pandemic shows how wildlife crime is a threat not only to the environment but to human health, according to a new UN report issued on Friday.

Health workers in Madagascar test citizens for COVID-19.
World Bank/Henitsoa Rafalia

Illegal trade in fake or faulty COVID-19 products booming, new UN research reveals

8 July 2020
Global

A surge in demand for medical products to combat COVID-19 has led to a jump in the trafficking of substandard and faulty merchandise, according to new UN research published on Wednesday.

 

Information about COVID-19 is being distributed in some of Afghanistan's remotest areas.
IFAD

Protect ordinary Afghans ahead of peace talks, urges UN Mission chief

2 July 2020
Asia Pacific

Ahead of hoped-for peace talks between Afghan Government and Taliban negotiators, UN peacekeepers in Afghanistan have urged parties to “redouble” their efforts to keep civilians safe.