By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 11 October 2023 (IDN) — The UN’s 47-member Geneva-based Human Rights Council (HRC) has had a longstanding notoriety for having several so-called “repressive regimes” and “authoritarian governments” as its members—elected by the 193-member General Assembly. At the elections, held by secret ballot on 10 October, the 15 new members […]
Is Russia Planning to Revoke its Ratification of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty?
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 10 October 2023 (IDN) — The Russian Federation, which made several implicit threats to use nuclear weapons in its ongoing military conflict in Ukraine, is reportedly toying with the idea of withdrawing its ratification of the landmark Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The international wire service Reuters reported […]
Bonn Conference Sends Signal of Solidarity in Climate Action
By Ramesh Jaura BERLIN | 9 October 2023 (IDN) — Twenty-five countries have pledged 9.322 billion US dollars for climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. According to German government sources, further pledges for significant funding are expected before the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference convenes from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in […]
Kenyan Police, to Fight Gang Violence in Haiti, Comes Under Fire
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS 7 October 2023 (IDN) — A Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission led by Kenya –assigned to the politically troubled Caribbean nation of Haiti—has come under fire even before it could get off the ground. Amnesty International (AI) Kenya says there is a need to thoroughly assess Kenyan security forces’ human […]
UN Human Rights Council: Are Inmates Taking over the Asylum?
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS. 5 October 2023 (IDN) — When the 193-member General Assembly (GA) elected some of the so-called “repressive regimes” as members of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in a bygone era, US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher remarked: “The inmates have taken over the asylum”. And, as an after-thought, he added: “I […]
Small Island Nations Are at the Forefront of Our Global Crises
By Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. NEW YORK. 4 October 2023 (IDN) — Over the past six weeks, the United Nations has facilitated an intensive round of consultations and meetings in the three regions of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the world. What struck me while visiting Mauritius, St. Vincent […]
France Attempts to Pressure Australia to Stop Engaging with Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty
By ICAN GENEVA. 3 October 2023 (IDN) — Recent statements by a French diplomat to “the Australian” newspaper criticizing Australia’s decision to observe the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) reveal the panicked efforts by nuclear-armed states to undermine the treaty as support for the ban continues to grow. It also shows […]
UN Can Prevent 21st Century Becoming a Tragedy
By Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden. 3 October 2023 (IDN) — In Ukraine, there is war. The only place where it is happening on a significant scale in the Western hemisphere. Elsewhere in the Middle East, there are only two “live” wars—Syria and Yemen. In Latin America and the Caribbean, zero. In Asia, only in Myanmar. […]
Kenyan Troops to Fight Gang Violence in Haiti with US Funds
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | NAIROBI. 2 October 2023 (IDN) — After months of fruitless efforts to control spiraling gang violence in Haiti, a framework for defense cooperation has been signed by the United States and Kenya aimed at creating a multinational force to quash the violence that has brutally taken […]
Human Rights Activists Facing Threats in 40 Countries for Cooperating with UN
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS, 29 September 2023 (IDN) — Be warned: If you are a human rights activist or an individual cooperating with the UN in revealing abuses, you may be under surveillance or in danger of facing physical threats. A new report from Secretary-General António Guterres says that from 1 May last year […]