United Nations

World Bank Sets out Priorities in "Universal Health Coverage"

January 29, 2018

A press release from the World Bank congratulating a set of countries for their "pro-poor" policies aiming to provide universal health coverage emphasizes government schemes in these countries based on a redistribution of resources, such as through the creation of public insurance plans, over the lowering of prices through competition and deregulation.
Critics Point to Political Motivations in World Bank Index

January 29, 2018

An article in The Economist highlights how, egged on by a recent, "misleading" interview answer by the international institution's chief economist, some observers view the World Bank's "Doing Business" index as an exercise in politics and an encouragement of a "race to the bottom" in regulations that make it more difficult to set up and maintain businesses.
World Bank Calls for More Tax Revenue in Dominican Republic

January 29, 2018

The World Bank has published a report calling on the Dominican Republic to maximize the revenue it gains from tax collection, including by expanding the country's tax base, "to pursue more active social policies and a more inclusive growth."
UNFCCC Promotes Use of Blockchain for Climate Action

January 29, 2018

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has launched a Climate Chain Coalition encouraging the use of blockchain technology among its member organizations to ramp up public reporting on climate action and promote the diversion of investments into climate-friendly projects.
Scholar Points to Merits of US Decision on UNRWA

January 24, 2018

Elliott Abrams of the Council on Foreign Relations writes that the Trump Administration's decision to cut funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), charged with handling Palestinian refugees, is the correct one due to UNRWA's troubling association with radical groups like Hamas and its perpetuation, rather than resolution, of Palestine's "refugee" problem.
US Withholds More Funding from UNRWA

January 24, 2018

The Times of Israel reports that the US State Department has announced its withdrawal of $45 million more in funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) days after the US withheld $65 million as it undergoes a "fundamental re-examination" of its contributions to the agency charged with financing institutions for Palestinian refugees.
NGOs Counter UN Claims of Declining Sex Abuse in CAR

January 24, 2018

USA Today reports that human rights groups are countering claims by UN officials that the number of sex-abuse allegations against UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR) is falling and are calling for the UN to establish an independent tribunal to evaluate such abuse claims.
UN Agencies Fight Health Effects of Global Warming

January 19, 2018

The UN Environment Programme and the World Health Organization have launched a partnership for combating "environmental health risks," including health threats from climate change and "food and nutrition issues."
UNESCO Renews Guide Pushing for Sexuality Education

January 18, 2018

The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently updated its International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education to renew its push for countries to implement "quality comprehensive sexuality education," including for children as young as five years old, as part of the global human rights and health agenda.
UNESCO: Tech Development Must Respect Rights Agenda

January 18, 2018

At a December session in Geneva hosted by the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UNESCO representatives and other commentators called for a broad infusion of the global human rights agenda in the development of "big data and artificial intelligence" technologies.