By Sean Buchanan NEW YORK (IDN) – The experts who fan out across the world to research, hold consultations and gather information on a vast range of human rights violations often find themselves caught in the crosshairs of international and domestic politics. Independent of governments and institutions – including the UN’s Human Rights Council which […]
Kosovo Elections Herald ‘Most Significant Change’ in 12 Years
By Radwan Jakeem NEW YORK (IDN) – The Security Council has been told that the snap elections held on October 6 in Kosovo had the highest voter turnout since 2010 and represent “the most significant change in the political landscape” there in a dozen years. These were called during a difficult time of internal political […]
UN Calls for A Global Green New Deal and Radical Reforms
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA (IDN) – In a bold move, new UN report has proposed a series of reform measures to make debt, capital and banks work for development and finance a Global Green New Deal generating a net increase in global employment of at least 170 million jobs, with cleaner industrialization in the South […]
Sri Lanka Praised for Advancing the Cluster Munitions Convention’s Objectives
By Jamshed Baruah GENEVA (IDN) – Sri Lanka has won kudos for a number of progressive measures taken during its presidency of the Ninth Meeting of States Parties (MSP) to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) that addresses the humanitarian consequences and unacceptable harm caused to civilians by cluster munitions, through a categorical prohibition and […]
UN Forced to Close Down Life-Saving Aid Operations in Yemen
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK (IDN) – Because money pledged by Member States has “failed to materialize”, the United Nations is being forced to cease several relief operations in Yemen, which is embroiled in the worst humanitarian crisis triggered by a long-drawn conflict. “All of us are ashamed by the situation,” Lise Grande, UN Humanitarian […]
Remembering and Paying Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism
UN Chief Calls for Long-Term, Multi-Faceted Support By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – In the run-up to the second International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has underlined that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations remains a global challenge. “It causes lasting damage to […]
Nationally-owned Transitions Are Key to Sustainable Peace
Viewpoint by António Guterres Following are extensive extracts from the UN Secretary-General’s remarks at Security Council Briefing on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace: Strengthening Partnerships for Successful Nationally-owned Transitions on July 18, 2019. NEW YORK (IDN-INPS) – United Nations special political missions and peacekeeping operations are some of our most effective tools to promote and maintain […]
Nuclear Watchdog Chief Amano Leaves Behind a Rich Legacy
By Reinhard Jacobsen VIENNA (IDN) – Within days of his decision to step down for health reasons in March 2020 as Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukia Amano passed away at the age of 72 on July 22, 2019. His latest mandate was due to run until 2021. He headed the […]
Unlocking Emotional Intelligence to Achieve Global Goals
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) – A vibrant and diverse network of students, academics, scientists, researchers, think tanks, and institutions of higher education around the world, serve as incubators of new ideas, inventions and solutions to diverse global challenges, and are therefore vital to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The United Nations […]
Cambodia, Recipient in 1993, Gives Back to UN Peacekeeping
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK | JUBA, South Sudan (IDN) – “Cambodia received peacekeeping troops in 1993, and we feel that we have to contribute in the same way as other countries did when they worked in the UN mission in our country,” remembers Colonel Channy Vongvannak. “So, we understand that countries and people […]