United Nations

World Bank Hosts Event Promoting Welfare Programs

March 08, 2018

Showing the development institution's increasing interest in promoting welfare programs and climate action rather than focusing on fueling employment and economic growth, the World Bank recently co-hosted a High-Level Forum in Frankfurt to explore how "social safety nets" can help countries respond to shocks caused by "natural and man-made crises."
UN Agent Criticizes Deterrence of Illegal Migration

March 07, 2018

UN Special Rapporteur on torture Nils Melzer has issued a report blaming government policies of "deterrence" and "criminalisation" as "the primary cause" of human rights abuses of illegal migrants and expressing concern that countries are attempting to "physically prevent irregular migrant arrivals" through walls and fences.
ILO Chief Seeks Global Governance of Labor Migration

March 07, 2018

On the occasion of the World Day of Social Justice, UN International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder called for a robust governance system at all levels - including at the global level as part of the upcoming "global compact on migration - for migrating workers, in line with international labor standards developed at the UN.
WHO Panel Targets Unhealthy Lifestyles

March 07, 2018

As UN health officials increasingly wade into the domestic health-policy choices of member countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched an Independent Global High-level Commission on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) to develop and champion government policies targeting the major drivers of NCDs, including unhealthy lifestyle choices.
UNESCO Updates Guidance on Sexuality Education

March 07, 2018

In a recent press release, the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) explains how its recently updated International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education guides education officials across the globe on including in their school curricula lessons seeking to "empower" young people in their sexual choices.
UN Identifies Broad Strategies to Counter Gender Inequality

March 06, 2018

A recent report from UN Women paints a dire picture of inequality between men and women around the world and calls for a range of policies to contribute to "women's empowerment," including "free and universal child care" and raising government revenue to spend on welfare programs "using all strategies available."
UN Agent Labels Israel Court Ruling as "License to Torture"

March 06, 2018

UN Special Rapporteur on torture Nils Melzer has characterized a ruling from the Supreme Court of Israel exempting from prosecution security agents using "pressure techniques" during an interrogation as a "license to torture," warning that any technique that "intentionally inflicts pain or suffering of sufficient intensity to make the victim confess or cooperate amounts to torture."
UN Rights Office Opposes US Deportation of Activist

March 05, 2018

AP reports that the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has opposed the deportation of human-rights activist Maru Mora-Villalpando, a Mexican national who is illegally present in America, on the basis that the move is part of an "increasing pattern of intimidation and retaliation against people defending migrants’ rights" in the country.
UN Panel Offers Blueprint for "Cultural Diversity" in Cities

March 05, 2018

As UN bodies push urban leaders to adopt a global blueprint for development based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and UN-Habitat hosted a panel in Malaysia calling for cities to embrace "cultural diversity" in urban policies to build "sustainable, inclusive" cities across the globe.
UNESCO, Sweden Call for Sexuality Education in Africa

March 05, 2018

The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently partnered with the Government of Sweden on a program in sub-Saharan Africa explaining the importance of the inclusion of "comprehensive sexuality education" in school curricula across the continent.