Human Rights

6 African Peacekeepers Killed; UN Chief Pursues a Second Term; US Sanctions Houthis in Yemen

January 15, 2021

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres pursues a second term; a total of six peacekeepers were killed in Mali and the Central African Republic; Britain helps raise $1 billion for the UN’s Covax vaccine program. You are reading This Week @UN, a summary of the most pressing issues facing the organization. The information is gathered …

Africa, General Assembly, Human Rights, Secretary-General, Security Council, This Week @UN, US-UN Relations

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Healing America and Restoring Its Standing in the World: An A to Z Guide

January 14, 2021

by Mona Ali Khalil

The world watched on Jan. 6, 2021, as thousands of the most extreme supporters of President Donald Trump marched on the United States Capitol after hearing his rallying cry to “fight” and “take back” the country. Inside the Capitol, Vice President Mike Pence was presiding over a joint session of Congress to certify the …

Governance, Health and Population, Human Rights, International Justice, US Foreign Relations, US-UN Relations

5 Comments

TOPIC: WOMEN

For Women in Politics Globally, the Job Can Mean Abuse, Jail or Death

January 4, 2021

by Barbara Crossette

In the early afternoon of May 13, 2020, Joana Mamombe, a member of parliament in Zimbabwe, was seized by security officers after she participated in a pop-up protest, demanding aid for the poor during the Covid pandemic. She and two other rights advocates were accused of violating a lockdown, an act intended to demonstrate …

Gender-Based Violence, Human Rights, Women

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WORLDVIEWS

A New Year’s Hope: Restoring the Progressive Role of the US at the UN

December 28, 2020

by Jessica Neuwirth

A wave of relief and hope is sweeping across the United Nations, and the world, desperately awaiting the inauguration of Joe Biden and the beginning of the restoration of normalcy. Hopefully, we will quickly see the rebuilding of our country’s leadership and much-needed progress in the UN, as well as in other international forums …

Gender-Based Violence, Human Rights, US-UN Relations, WORLDVIEWS

3 Comments

WORLDVIEWS

Many Countries Cheer Gains to Ending the Death Penalty Globally, but Foes Harden Their Stance

December 17, 2020

by Navi Pillay and Ruth Dreifuss

MADRID — A record-breaking vote on a resolution for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty has been passed by the United Nations General Assembly, with 123 countries in favor, 38 voting against and 24 abstaining. The vote, held on Dec. 16, was an improvement over an earlier vote, on Nov. 17 …

General Assembly, Human Rights, WORLDVIEWS

One Comment

‘He Is Who He Is’: 4 Experts Assess the Record of the UN’s António Guterres

December 14, 2020

by Barbara Crossette

Ever since the day in 1946 when the first secretary-general of the United Nations, Trygve Lie of Norway, took office, big powers have meddled in how the job is done. Most often, the United States has been the most intrusive. Lie resigned in 1953, before the end of his second, shortened term, with his …

Gender-Based Violence, Human Rights, Secretary-General, US-UN Relations

2 Comments

WORLDVIEWS

The Vanishing Democracy in Hong Kong

December 1, 2020

by Alan Doss

Recent events in Hong Kong should alert those people who hope that economic development can lead to democratic change. A few weeks ago, the territory’s fragile democratic order took another hit when opposition members of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council resigned to protest the disqualification of four of their members, labeled by the Chinese authorities …

Asia, Governance, Human Rights, WORLDVIEWS

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THIS WEEK @UN

Fed-Up Africans; Has Biden Forgotten the UN?; Don’t Sanction the Houthis

November 20, 2020

by Dulcie Leimbach

Africans are fed up with being sidelined in the Security Council; hey, Joe Biden, don’t overlook the UN; a mother of five competes against 12 men in the Burkina Faso presidential election. You are reading This Week @UN, highlighting the most important news on the world body. The information is drawn from the UN spokesperson’s …

Africa, Human Rights, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Secretary-General, This Week @UN, US-UN Relations

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THIS WEEK @UN

A Norwegian Diplomat Disgraced; Covid Strikes the UN Security Council; Russia Fails to Promote Women’s Rights

October 31, 2020

by Dulcie Leimbach

A scandal involving a Norwegian diplomat erupts; Covid-19 rears its head at the United Nations; and who could become its 194th member state? Greetings from This Week @UN, highlights of the most important news on the world body. The information is drawn from the UN spokesperson’s briefings, our original reporting and other sources. Scoop: In …

General Assembly, Health and Population, Human Rights, Nuclear Disarmament, Security Council, This Week @UN

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UN-75: The Moment to Build a More Inclusive World Order Is Here

October 24, 2020

by María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés and Tijjani Muhammad-Bande

Since its founding 75 years ago, the United Nations has proven, with the support of its member countries and other partners, its worth in complex problem-solving. That includes preventing great-power wars, remedying humanitarian emergencies, safeguarding human rights and reducing extreme poverty. But as we commemorate UN Day, with world leaders having marked the world …

Development, Disarmament, Governance, Health and Population, Human Rights

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THIS WEEK @UN

The Rough Road to Gender Equality; a Major Message on Hunger; No Saudis on the Human Rights Council

October 17, 2020

by Dulcie Leimbach

For once, two pieces of good news from the United Nations: The World Food Program receives the Nobel Peace Prize and the Security Council begins meeting physically again in its chamber. But some reality-checking: 25 years after the Beijing conference on women, the road to gender equality is still being dug. Greetings from This Week …

Africa, Health and Population, Human Rights, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, This Week @UN, US Foreign Relations

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China and Russia Win Human Rights Council Seats, but the Saudis Get Rejected

October 13, 2020

by Dulcie Leimbach

Nearly two and a half years after the United States withdrew from the Human Rights Council, China and Russia have just won elected seats in the body. Both countries suffer from human-rights abuses against their own populations. China and Russia join 13 others as Council members for three-year terms starting on Jan. 1, 2021, …

Human Rights, US-UN Relations

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TOPIC: WOMEN

The UNFPA Is Thriving as It Praises an American Who Kept US Interest Alive

September 29, 2020

by Barbara Crossette

In the rubble of what’s left of American commitments to international organizations, one survivor is doing well. The United Nations Population Fund, or UNFPA, the perennial target of Republican politicians and presidents since the 1980s, is thriving. Arthur Erken, director of communications and strategic partnerships at the Population Fund, said in an interview with …

Health and Population, Human Rights, Women

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THIS WEEK @UN

Protecting a Nobelist, Dr. Mukwege; Climate Chaos; Where Are the Women at #UNGA75?

September 12, 2020

by Dulcie Leimbach

Iran continues to enrich low-grade uranium; the United Nations finally sent peacekeepers to protect Dr. Denis Mukwege, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, after he received more death threats; and the major General Assembly session of world leaders, starting Sept. 22, features only 11 women so far, and the first one to speak is No. …

Africa, Climate and Environment, Education, General Assembly, Human Rights, This Week @UN, US-UN Relations

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WORLDVIEWS

There’s Another Important Election Coming Soon, and It Concerns Universal Human Rights

September 11, 2020

by John Packer

States parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights will elect new experts on Sept. 17 to the Human Rights Committee, which supervises the covenant’s implementation. It is one of the two solemn, widely ratified covenants that codify in treaty form the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and detail …

Human Rights, WORLDVIEWS

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Human Rights

6 African Peacekeepers Killed; UN Chief Pursues a Second Term; US Sanctions Houthis in Yemen

Healing America and Restoring Its Standing in the World: An A to Z Guide

For Women in Politics Globally, the Job Can Mean Abuse, Jail or Death

A New Year’s Hope: Restoring the Progressive Role of the US at the UN

Many Countries Cheer Gains to Ending the Death Penalty Globally, but Foes Harden Their Stance

‘He Is Who He Is’: 4 Experts Assess the Record of the UN’s António Guterres

The Vanishing Democracy in Hong Kong

Fed-Up Africans; Has Biden Forgotten the UN?; Don’t Sanction the Houthis

A Norwegian Diplomat Disgraced; Covid Strikes the UN Security Council; Russia Fails to Promote Women’s Rights

UN-75: The Moment to Build a More Inclusive World Order Is Here

The Rough Road to Gender Equality; a Major Message on Hunger; No Saudis on the Human Rights Council

China and Russia Win Human Rights Council Seats, but the Saudis Get Rejected

The UNFPA Is Thriving as It Praises an American Who Kept US Interest Alive

Protecting a Nobelist, Dr. Mukwege; Climate Chaos; Where Are the Women at #UNGA75?

There’s Another Important Election Coming Soon, and It Concerns Universal Human Rights

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