United Nations

Photo (From left to right): Ambassador Dominika Krois, Permanent Representative of Poland to UNIDO and President of the Industrial Development Board; Gerd Müller, Director General-elect of UNIDO; at the forty-ninth session of the Board on 12 July 2021. Credit: UNIDO

Germany's Gerd Müller Chosen as Next UNIDO Director General

By Reinhard Jacobsen

VIENNA (IDN) — The Industrial Development Board of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has recommended Gerd Müller of Germany to be the Organization’s next Director-General. He is currently Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany.

The Board’s recommendation will be forwarded for approval to the UNIDO General Conference—the Organization’s highest policymaking organ—at its nineteenth session, which will take place from November 29 to December 3, 2021.

: Reinhard Jacobsen; UN INSIDER; 13 July 2021

Photo: A Security Council meeting in progress. Credit: United Nations.

DON'T QUOTE ME: When the UN’s Most Powerful Body Enjoyed its Lighter Moments…

By Thalif Deen

NEW YORK (IDN) — As the UN’s most powerful political body, the 15-member Security Council (UNSC) is armed with a mandate to maintain international peace and security.

But regretfully, it has been missing in action (MIA) in recent months, particularly in the ongoing conflicts in Palestine and Myanmar, where it has failed to take action against the perpetrators of violence resulting in hundreds of civilian killings and destruction of homes.

: Thalif Deen; UN INSIDER; 09 July 2021

Photo: Yeshialem Gebreegziabher, 27, holds her daughter, Kalkidan Yeman, 6 months old, who is suffering from malnutrition at Aby Adi Health center in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, Credit: UNICEFPhoto: Yeshialem Gebreegziabher, 27, holds her daughter, Kalkidan Yeman, 6 months old, who is suffering from malnutrition at Aby Adi Health center in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, Credit: UNICEF

400,000 in Tigray Cross 'Threshold into Famine', Some 2 Million Expected to Follow Suit

By Caroline Mwanga

NEW YORK (IDN) — The Security Council in its first open meeting on the conflict in the fidgety northern Ethiopian region has passionately called for immediate and unrestricted humanitarian access to Tigray—and for an end to deadly attacks on aid workers. Ramesh Rajasingham, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said: "One of the most distressing trends is an alarming rise in food insecurity and hunger due to conflict. More than 400,000 people are estimated to have crossed the threshold into famine and another 1.8 million people are on the brink of famine.

: Caroline Mwanga; SUSTAINABILITY; Peace & Justice; 04 July 2021

Photo: Women’s leadership is one of the key drivers for gender equality worldwide. Credit: UN Women

Historic Forum Concludes in Paris Pledging to Advance Gender Equality by 2026

By Jaya Ramachandran

PARIS (IDN) — The historic Generation Equality Forum concluded in Paris on July 2 with the announcement of gender equality commitments and launch of a global five-year action plan to accelerate gender equality by 2026. The Forum’s bold, action-oriented agenda will be under-written by nearly USD 40 Billion of confirmed investments as well as ambitious policy and programme commitments from governments, philanthropy, civil society, youth organizations and the private sector.

: Jaya Ramachandran; SUSTAINABILITY; Gender Equality; 04 July 2021

WHO Issues First Global Report in Artificial Intelligence in Health

By Jamshed Baruah

GENEVA (IDN) — Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds great promise for improving the delivery of healthcare and medicine worldwide, but only if ethics and human rights are put at the heart of its design, deployment, and use, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO's report, Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health, is the result of two years of consultations held by a panel of international experts appointed by WHO.

: Jamshed Baruah; SUSTAINABILITY; Health & Well Being; 29 June 2021

Generation Equality Forum Will Consider Seven Ways to Change the World

By Caroline Mwanga

NEW YORK (IDN) — Convened by UN Women and co-hosted by the governments of Mexico and France, in partnership with youth and civil society, the Generation Equality Forum is taking place in Paris, from June 30 to July 2. The Forum will bring together governments, feminist leaders, youth, and change makers from every sector, to announce trailblazing gender equality investments, programmes, and policies. It will mark the beginning of a five-year action journey led by six Action Coalitions and a Compact on Women, Peace and Security, and Humanitarian Action.

: Caroline Mwanga; SUSTAINABILITY; Gender Equality; 28 June 2021

Photo: António Guterres (right) takes the oath of office for his second five-year term as Secretary-General of the United Nations. The oath is administered by Volkan Bozkir, President of the seventy-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly. Credit: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Guterres Calls for New Era Of ‘Solidarity and Equality’ After Re-appointment As UN Secretary-General

By Caroline Mwaga

NEW YORK (IDN) — “We are truly at a crossroads, with consequential choices before us. Paradigms are shifting. Old orthodoxies are being flipped,” António Guterres told ambassadors after being re-appointed on June 18 to a second term as UN Secretary-General. He was the sole candidate from the UN’s 193 Member States to vie for its top job. His first five-year term began in January 2017. He was nominated by his homeland, Portugal, and appointed by acclamation by the General Assembly, following prior endorsement by the UN Security Council, for a second term that runs from January 2022 to December 2026.

: Caroline Mwanga; UN INSIDER; 21 June 2021

Photo: A group of children. Credit: UNCTAD

Productive Capacities Key to Achieving Sustainable and Growth in LDCs

By Radwan Jakeem

NEW YORK (IDN) — The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has brought to light not only the systemic interdependence of countries, but also the socioeconomic fragility of the global economy. From a trade and development perspective, this has been felt most acutely in the most vulnerable developing countries—the least developed countries (LDCs), says the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

: Radwan Jakeem; SUSTAINABILITY; Poverty; 16 June 2021

Image: Coral reef fish swim in French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean. Ocean Image Bank/Jayne Jenkins.

The Ocean Is Now in Need of Support

By Santo D. Banerjee

NEW YORK (IDN) — “The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods” was the theme for World Oceans Day 2021 as well as a declaration of intentions that launches a decade of challenges to get the Sustainable Development Goal 14, “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources”, by 2030.

The importance of the theme of this year's World Oceans Day celebrated on June 8, is underlined by the fact that the ocean covers over 70% of the planet. It is our life source, supporting humanity’s sustenance and that of every other organism on earth.

: Santo D. Banerjee; SUSTAINABILITY; Oceans, seas and marine resources; 09 June 2021

Photo: Risk of COVID-19 surge threatens Africa’s health facilities. Credit: WHO Africa

WHO Warns of the Risk of COVID-19 Upsurge Threatening Africa’s Health Facilities

By Jamshed Baruah

GENEVA | BRAZZAVILLE (IDN) — The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of the threat of a third wave of COVID-19 in Africa threatening Africa's health facilities, and advised them to urgently boost critical care capacity to prevent health facilities from being overwhelmed. At the same time, vaccine shipments to the continent are grinding to a near halt.