United Nations

HRC Launches "War Crimes" Investigation into Gaza Conflict

July 30, 2014

The UN Human Rights Council ("HRC") has adopted a resolution condemning Israel for failing to end its presence in Palestinian territories and sending a team to Gaza to investigate alleged "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity" committed by parties to the conflict.
UN Calls for End of "Occupation" During Fighting in Gaza

July 30, 2014

Citing Israel's "international legal obligation to protect civilians" during its conflict with Hamas in Gaza, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on both sides of the conflict to respect a ceasefire and ultimately for Israel to end "the nearly half century of occupation" of Palestinian territories.
UNESCO Presses for Implementation of "Right to Education"

July 30, 2014

The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization ("UNESCO") has published a set of guidelines pushing for countries to review and amend their education laws and policies to correspond with international instruments establishing a global right to education.
U.S. Seeks UN Governance of Airplane Emission Levels

July 30, 2014

The U.S. ambassador to the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization has expressed hope that the body will come to an agreement on a global standard to curb airplane carbon emissions in an effort to fight climate change.
Commentators Criticize Politically Motivated UN Development Goals

July 30, 2014

Calling the UN's proposed "Sustainable Development Goals" vague, politically motivated, and, in some cases, counterproductive, Brett Schaefer and Terry Miller of the Heritage Foundation write that the U.S. should reject the current version of the goals and seek goals that instead measure anti-poverty progress.
UN Considers Palestinian Request for "Protection System"

July 30, 2014

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has reported to the UN Security Council that he is considering a request from Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to place Palestine under a UN "protection system" that would protect Palestinians against "Israeli aggression" and alleged human rights violations.
UN Schools in Gaza Used to Store Rockets

July 28, 2014

The UN has announced that it has made two discoveries of rockets stored at UN-run schools in Gaza, and that the first set of rockets, which the UN delivered to local authorities, have since gone missing.
UN's Draft Development Goals Focus on "Sustainability"

July 23, 2014

The UN has produced a draft document containing a large number of vague and sometimes contradictory goals for "sustainable development" as it seeks to implement an international agenda on environmental protection and economic equality.
UNOHCHR Releases Report on Mass Surveillance

July 23, 2014

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights ("UNOHCHR") has published a report describing its views on the responsibilities of governments and businesses worldwide to avoid human rights violations in mass internet and telecommunications surveillance.
Pillay: Snowden Should Be Shielded from U.S. Prosecution

July 23, 2014

Arguing that his revelations regarding the U.S. National Security Agency cast important light on human rights violations, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has expressed her desire that criminal prosecution of Edward Snowden for exposing state secrets be avoided.