United Nations

UN Lab Provides “Big Data” on Biodiversity

July 24, 2018

UN agencies and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity have launched the UN Biodiversity Lab as an “interactive mapping platform” providing geospatial data to policymakers, promote efforts to preserve biodiversity across the globe, and eventually to provide “access to big data” on the UN’s sustainable development agenda.
Article Reviews Reasons for US Opposition to Formula Resolution

July 18, 2018

Dr. Susan Yoshihara of the Center for Family and Human Rights examines why negotiators from the US government opposed a draft resolution at the World Health Assembly aimed at implementing a ban on the distribution of and information about infant formula across the globe.
Haley Picks Apart UN Poverty Report

July 16, 2018

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley writes that a recent report from UN human rights mandate holder Philip Alston blaming the US government for creating poverty in the country is a politically motivated and misleading manifesto that is a waste of American tax dollars.
UN Faces Renewed Criticism over Handling of Sexual Abuse

July 16, 2018

The New York Times reports that the UN system, and particularly its development apparatus, is facing a rash of criticism for maintaining a “byzantine” reporting mechanism lacking consistent and predictable procedures for dealing with sexual abuse allegations and often favoring men in power over their female accusers.
Israel Lowers Participation in UNHRC

July 16, 2018

The Times of Israel reports that, following the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Israeli government announced that it has temporarily reduced its participation in the body, which the country’s Prime Minister called a “biased, hostile, anti-Israel organization.”
UNHRC Debate Links SDGs to Rights Agenda

July 13, 2018

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) hosted a discussion at its recent session on how governments must enhance their cooperation on fulfilling the global human rights agenda to contribute to the achievement of the UN’s comprehensive social and environmental targets contained in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UN Poverty Report Provokes Questions on Underlying Data

July 11, 2018

George Russell examines how a recent report from UN human rights mandate holder Philip Alston blaming economic inequality in the US on regressive government measures and “persistent and chronic racial bias” overlooks data on declining poverty rates and is based on input from activist groups that oppose policies of the Trump Administration.
US Emissions Progress Raises Questions on Utility of Paris Climate Deal

July 11, 2018

Jeff Rubin of the Centre for International Governance Innovation explains why the Trump Administration’s withdrawal from the UN’s Paris climate accord has not prevented the US from coming closer to meeting the targets to which it originally agreed under the deal than Canada has come under a government that supports the deal.
UN Launches Sex Abuse Screening System

June 28, 2018

Reuters reports that, responding to allegations of widespread sex abuse within the ranks of the UN system, the UN has announced the launch of a screening system that will prevent former staff members found guilty of sexual misconduct from obtaining jobs at other charities or with other UN agencies.
WHO Seeks Restrictions on Trans-fats in Food

June 28, 2018

The UN's World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a report calling on everyone to reduce their intake of "artery-clogging fatty foods" and pushing for "energetic action from governments" to prevent the inclusion of trans-fats in food products.