United Nations

UN Panel Decries Impacts of Humanity on Biodiversity

April 26, 2018

AP reports that the UN's Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem recently released four regional reports on biodiversity concluding that global wealth and overcrowding are "undermining well-being across the planet" by contributing to climate change and producing a "lonelier" world with fewer species of plants and animals.
US Objects to Chinese "Feel Good" UNHRC Resolution

April 26, 2018

Reuters reports that US diplomats recently criticized China's introduction at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) of a resolution calling for "mutually beneficial cooperation" that, according to the US, merely served as a vehicle to glorify Chinese President Xi Jinping.
UNESCO Rejects Nationalism on Anti-Racism Day

April 25, 2018

The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) marked the recent International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by hosting lectures and exhibitions countering "nationalist narratives," which it links with racism, and promoting a broad agenda seeking "multiculturalism, global citizenship and intercultural dialogue."
UNESCO Publishes Updates on "Sustainability" Education

April 25, 2018

The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently published an update on its progress in promoting "education for sustainable development," which aims to teach students around the world how to contribute to the creation of a "just and economically viable society respectful of both the environment and cultural diversity."
UNESCO Updates Guidance on Public Sexuality Education

April 24, 2018

The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently published updated guidance on how to use "comprehensive sexuality education" in schools across the globe to prevent gender-based violence, including "emotional violence," and to teach students to challenge "unequal gender and power structures" that can lead to such violence.
UN Launches Global Network of Judges

April 20, 2018

The UN launched an initiative to connect members of the judiciary worldwide to "strengthen judicial cooperation between courts and tribunals from different legal and cultural traditions" and learn to guard against corruption and incursions on judicial independence.
UNFPA Laments Second Year of US Defunding

April 20, 2018

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has issued a statement expressing regret that the US has, for the second straight year under the Trump Administration, decided to withhold funds from UNFPA over the organization's alleged advocacy of "family planning" techniques that include abortion.
UN Body Faces Criticism for NGO Treatment

April 20, 2018

Observing that the UN's Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations is currently a "rogues gallery of human rights violators," Louis Charbonneau of Human Rights Watch criticizes the Committee's attempts to freeze out independent civil society scrutiny of UN decisions and calls for governments of free countries to seek seats on the controversial body.
NGO: China Must Not Undermine UN Rights Work

April 20, 2018

In a statement addressing the UN Human Rights Council, nongovernmental organization Human Rights Watch calls on institutions within the UN human rights system to resist Chinese efforts to "undermine" their ability and will to criticize the declining situation of civil and political rights in that country.
UN Asia-Pacific Forum Pushes Sustainable Energy

April 20, 2018

At an April UN forum in Bangkok, countries in the Asia-Pacific region adopted a ministerial declaration committing to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy by agreeing to a series of actions including greater regional cooperation to facilitate cross-border infrastructure and energy trade.