By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – A continuing shortage of offers of sanctuary from governments across the world is a vital impediment to the resettlement of refugees. Nearly 1.4 million refugees are estimated to be in urgent need of resettlement worldwide, but only 63,696 or 4.5 per cent were relocated through the UN refugee […]
Global Learning Crisis Stands in the Way of SDGs
By Kwame Buist NEW YORK (IDN) – “Without education, we cannot achieve any of the SDGs,” UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed warned a meeting held at United Nations headquarters to mark International Day of Education. And yet, with 2030 – the year set by the United Nations for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals – looming […]
UN In Search of a Way Out of Passive Role in Libya
By Erol Avdović, WebpublicaPress NEW YORK (IDN) – The United Nations has “some capacity to report back on ceasefire violations” and monitor the fragile peace in Libya, said chief spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric, replying to this reporter’s question. The ceasefire was holding immediately after agreement was reached on January 19 in Berlin […]
Broad-based Deterioration of World Economy Threatening Sustainable Development
By Devinder Kumar NEW DELHI | BANGKOK (IDN) – Prolonged trade disputes and wide-ranging policy uncertainties have catapulted the world economy into a significant and broad-based deterioration in 2019. This threatens to hamper efforts to reduce poverty, create decent jobs, broaden access to affordable and clean energy, and achieve many other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). […]
UN Chief Urged to Name and Shame Perpetrators of Human Rights Violations
By Erol Avdović, WebPublicaPress UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – Informed East River diplomats characterize the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres as a “tough nut”. Perhaps because he feels he is ‘untouchable’ and believes he is above everybody? But others maintain that he is a man of least resistance – in fear of the mightier above him. […]
SDGs Lead UN General Assembly President’s 2020 Priorities
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) – “International peace and security is key to achieving the SDGs, as no development can happen in the absence of peace”, said the President of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande from Nigeria, setting out on January 13 his 2020 priorities, which aim to […]
An Ambitious Global Effort to Deliver The 2030 Promise
By J Nastranis Note: We are a member of the SDG Media Compact. This article is based on UN SDG Media Compact Editorial – 2020 Special Edition. NEW YORK (IDN) – With just ten years to go, an ambitious global effort is being kicked off to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, which […]
Guterres Calls For De-escalating ‘Dangerous’ Geopolitical Tensions
Iran Ambassador Meets With UNESCO Chief Amid Trump Threats By Ramesh Jaura BERLIN | NEW YORK | PARIS (IDN) – “Stop escalation. Exercise maximum restraint. Re-start dialogue. Renew international cooperation.” This is the four-point message of UN Secretary-General António Guterres spelling out what needs to happen now, in capitals across the world, to de-escalate geopolitical […]
UN Chief Regards Youth As the ‘Greatest Source’ Of Hope
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) – With “uncertainty and insecurity all around”, Secretary-General António Guterres has described young people as “the greatest source of hope”. In welcoming the New Year, he said: “The United Nations stands with you and belongs to you”. According to the UN chief, the current situation is characterized by: […]
UN Warns of Growing Inequality Triggering New Great Divergence
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) – In the run-up to 2020, the UN has warned that despite remarkable progress on laying a solid foundation for human development, Thailand, like many other countries, is facing challenges in tackling inequality. This is also a theme on which the 2019 Human Development Report (HDR) from the […]