United Nations

UN Chief Sparks Criticism by Scrapping Reproductive Report

April 20, 2016

An article from C-Fam asserts that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's recent decision not to issue a "reproductive health" report will make it more difficult for observers to track UN spending on reproductive health efforts in the context of the UN's increased support for "sexual and reproductive health rights," often interpreted to include family planning and abortion.
UN Agents Call for Rights-based Drug Regime

April 20, 2016

On the eve of the UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem, a group of UN human rights observers have called on governments to adopt a more human rights-focused approach to drugs and to abandon drug policies that rely on enforcement through criminalization or embrace "the harmful concept of a 'drug-free world.'"
UN Rights Chief Warns of "Ugly" US Election Rhetoric

April 19, 2016

In recent remarks at Case Western Reserve University Law School, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein warned that the current US election campaign had conjured the “ugly phantom of racial and religious division” and indicated that the world would be closely monitoring the Republican Party's choice of candidate.
Newman: UN Sex Abuse Problem Lies in Contributing Countries

April 19, 2016

News presenter Cathy Newman writes that the UN cannot expect to solve the sex abuse scandal in its peacekeeping forces as long as it continues to accept troops from countries whose armies are guilty of "appalling" human rights abuses.
Schaefer Calls for Greater Accountability in UN Peacekeeping

April 19, 2016

In testimony before a subcommittee in the US House of Representatives, Brett Schaefer of the Heritage Foundation calls on Congress to threaten financial consequences if the UN does not make its peacekeeping operations more transparent and accountable, including by taking steps to hold contributing countries responsible for criminal actions of their troops.
Article Calls for Global Governance Progress at G20 Summit

April 19, 2016

Former Chinese official and Ambassador to the World Trade Organization Zhenyu Sun writes on what he sees as opportunities for attendees at the upcoming Group of 20 ("G20") summit in Hangzhou, China, to advance global economic governance through agreements on trade and development funding.
Official Seeks Role in Advancing UN "Sustainability" Agenda

April 18, 2016

President of the UN Economic and Social Council ("ECOSOC") Oh Joon has called for stakeholders to use ECOSOC's Development Cooperation Forum as a vehicle to advance the UN's comprehensive Sustainable Development Goals.
WHO Calls for Government Action on Diabetes Prevention

April 15, 2016

The UN's World Health Organization ("WHO") has called on governments to fulfill their commitments under the UN Sustainable Development Goals to reduce diabetes in part by promoting "healthy choices" and lifestyles among their citizens.
UN Seeks Expanded Gender Statistics Reporting for SDGs

April 15, 2016

A press release from UN Women examines how the agency is supporting the increased capacity of countries and others to measure "gender statistics," including on "sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights," to determine how best to achieve the UN's comprehensive Sustainable Development Goals ("SDGs") by 2030.
European Diplomats Seek Stricter Airline Emissions Deal

April 15, 2016

The Guardian reports that European diplomats and activists are criticizing a draft plan from the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization to cut global airline emissions to counter climate change for lack of ambition and are calling for a new deal that would provide for "carbon neutral growth after 2020."