By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK | 15 July 2024 (IDN) — The vote by the National Assembly of The Gambia to uphold the ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), reaffirming its commitments to human rights, gender equality, and protecting the health and well-being of girls and women, has been commended by UN agencies. FGM involves […]
New Report Faults Deterioration of Civil Rights in India, Urges UN To Interfere
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA | 14 July 2024 (IDN) — CIVICUS, World Alliance for Citizen Participation, has documented the use of restrictive legislation against activists, journalists and others critical of the state, along with harassment and attacks. In its report to the UN Human Rights Committee on the state of civic space in India, CIVICUS […]
Former UN Humanitarian Affairs Chief Warns of Failing Collective Responsibility
By Kasmira Jefford GENEVA | 12 July 2024 (IDN | Geneva Solutions) — The United Nations’ top aid chief stepped down last month at a time of huge pressure on the humanitarian sector to meet record global needs. In his last briefing with journalists, Martin Griffiths said it would be up to his successor to […]
Is the IAEA Securing Medical Radioactive Sources in Conflict Areas?
By Tariq Rauf* VIENNA | 11 July 2024 (IDN) — On Friday, 12th July 2024, the 35-member Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will meet in emergency session to discuss the bombing of a children’s hospital in Kyiv and the safety and security of medical radioactive sources in use in the […]
UN Projects World Population to Rise: from 8.2 to 10.3 billion in mid-2080s
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 11 July 2024 (IDN) — The world’s population is expected to rise—from the current 8.2 billion people to around 10.3 billion in the mid-2080s—and eventually stabilize at around 10.2 billion by the end of the century. The new projections were released on July 11 by the United Nations in […]
The Ukraine War Could Have Been Averted If the UN Charter Had Been Observed
By Michael von der Schulenburg* BRUSSELS | 11 July 2024 (IDN) — As the war in Ukraine continues, we must once again ask ourselves perhaps the most important question about a peaceful future for humanity: can there be a world in which peace and an international order can be guaranteed by joint agreements between states, […]
Geneva Is a Western, And Not Global, Hub for Multilateralism
By Kasmira Jefford GENEVA | 10 July 2024 (IDN | Geneva Solutions) — A study revealing international Geneva’s largely western donor base suggests the city is not as global as it claims. Donor contributions to international organisations in Geneva have almost quintupled over the last two decades, according to a study released by the Geneva […]
Gaza’s War and US Arms Call for Investigation of Complicity in Genocide
By P I Gomes The writer is former Ambassador of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the European Union and ACP Group of States, Brussels. PORT OF SPAIN | 10 July 2024 (IDN) —The relentless bombardment of Gaza, the slaughter of Palestinian civilians, mainly women and children, in Rafah continued at an intensified level by […]
EU-UNESCO Dialogue on Human Rights-based Digital Transformation
By Reinhard Jacobsen BRUSSELS | 7 July (IDN) — At a pivotal dialogue, leaders from the European Union and UNESCO have committed to “responsibly harness” digital innovation for sustainable development, cultural diversity, human rights and gender equality. The event on 5 July was co-chaired by Zazie Schafer, Director of UNESCO’s Bureau of Strategic Planning, and […]
India: Homage to the Veteran Diplomat Muchkund Dubey Who Died at 90
Prof. Dubey was an expert on disarmament and development cooperation. He served as India’s foreign secretary in 1990-91, and as India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Permanent Representative to UN Organisations in Geneva. He died on 26 June 2024 at the age of 90. By Saurabh Kumar* NEW DELHI | 6 July 2024 (IDN) —I […]