United Nations

UN Members Discuss Creation of Broad Environmental Pact

February 04, 2019

A working group of UN member states recently gathered in Nairobi to discuss a report from the UN Secretary-General calling for the creation of a Global Pact for the Environment, which would serve as a “legally binding instrument for all countries, outlining rules and principles on international environmental law.”
UN Report: Lack of Enforcement Jeopardizes Environmental Rights

February 04, 2019

In its first report on the “environmental rule of law,” the UN Environment Programme warned that states are failing to enforce the rapidly proliferating national laws aimed at preventing environmental degradation and called for “political will” to enforce these laws to ensure the “human right to a healthy environment.”
UNESCO Report Focuses on Countering Bullying

January 31, 2019

The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently published a report calling on countries to introduce measures to end school bullying, warning of high proportions of students who are subject both to “physical” and “psychological” bullying in schools and online fora around the world.
Israel Blocks Palestine from UN Disarmament Panel

January 31, 2019

The Times of Israel reports that Israeli diplomats blocked a bid by Palestinian representatives to obtain observer status at the UN Conference on Disarmament, asserting the attempt of Palestine to join the panel was part of a series of efforts “to politicize the work of professional international organizations.”
UNESCO Institute Engages with Games Industry on SDG Promotion

January 31, 2019

UNESCO’s Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development has engaged with the company Hatch to produce games that push children to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Indian Officials Critique UNSC Debate on Climate Change

January 30, 2019

The Economic Times reports that Indian diplomats used the recent UN Security Council (UNSC) debate on global security impacts of climate change to point out that the UNSC is not the appropriate institution to address global warming and that security-based action on the phenomenon could be counterproductive.
UN Rights Chief Seeks Record Funding to Pursue Broad Agenda

January 25, 2019

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has called for national governments to provide the “record” 2019 funding she needs to undertake “the most ambitious programme of work ever” pursued by her office, including rights related to migration, inequality, and climate change.
UN Observer Issues Global Principles on Economic Rights Impacts

January 22, 2019

UN Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky has published a set of “Guiding Principles” requiring governments at all levels and international financial institutions to perform human rights impact assessments when they make any policies implementing economic reforms.
UNHRC Seeks to Embed Rights Agenda in SDGs

January 16, 2019

Demonstrating the body’s commitment to advancing a broad range of economic, social, and cultural “rights,” the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has scheduled a meeting to discuss “synergies between the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and human rights.”
Palestine Lobbies UNSC for Vote on UN Membership

January 16, 2019

Al Jazeera reports that Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki has announced his country is submitting a bid for full membership at the UN and that he will lobby members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) to permit a vote on the application.