United Nations

NGO Questions UN Agent on Payments from Russia

October 20, 2017

The nongovernmental organization UN Watch recently questioned UN Special Rapporteur Idriss Jazairy on the relationship between his report calling Russia a victim of human rights violations due to US and EU sanctions against the country and payments he received from the Russian government totaling $50,000.
Western Countries Push for UNHRC Reform

October 20, 2017

The US, UK, and Dutch delegations to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) co-hosted an event on UNHRC reform and issued a joint statement arguing that the continued presence of "serial human rights violators" on the UNHRC undermines its status as a human rights advocate.
Report Shows UN Failure to Address Peacekeeper Abuse

October 20, 2017

The Associated Press has released a report detailing the UN’s lack of effective response to widespread allegations of sexual abuse committed by UN peacekeepers, stating that “the U.N. failed to meet many of its pledges to stop the abuse or help victims.”
British PM Threatens to Cut UN Funding

October 20, 2017

Sky News reports that UK Prime Minister Theresa May has called for UN reform and announced that 30 percent of the UK’s annual contributions to UN agencies will be “conditional on their ability to show they are efficient and transparent.”
French President Pitches Global Environmental Pact

October 19, 2017

French President Emmanuel Macron presented a proposal at the UN General Assembly for a global environmental agreement that would guarantee the right to a clean and healthy environment by fighting climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation.
NGO: UN Mishandled Sexual Abuse Allegations

October 19, 2017

The nongovernmental organization Code Blue has claimed to have obtained evidence of “egregious mishandling” of investigations into sexual abuse allegations surrounding UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic.
Former Ambassador Dismisses UN Reform Efforts

October 19, 2017

Former US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton has dismissed the US-sponsored draft declaration in support of UN reform efforts recently presented by President Trump, saying the draft is “just the usual rhetoric” and is unlikely to produce meaningful change.
UN Agent: Military Readiness Violates Rights

October 18, 2017

The UN Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order Alfred de Zayas has called on countries around the world to "disarm for development" and to "convert war economies into peace economies" to fund the fulfillment of economic, social, and cultural rights.
EU Establishes Fund to Achieve SDGs

October 18, 2017

The Council of the EU has approved a new EU regulation establishing a European fund for sustainable development that will invest in projects in external countries near the EU that aim to fulfill the UN's comprehensive social and environmental targets set out in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Summit Explores Climate Financing for Non-state Actors

October 18, 2017

Leaders from non-state actors such as cities, regions, and civil society gathered at the Climate Chance Summit to discuss how to align public and private financing systems with the global climate agenda as set forth in the Paris agreement on climate change.