United Nations

UN Group: US Detention of Migrants Violates Rights

August 16, 2017

A report from the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to the UN Human Rights Council asserts that US detention of illegal migrants and asylum seekers after they cross the US border violates international human rights law, arguing that the US must only use arrest and confinement of migrants while they await trial as a "last resort."
UN Memo Warns of Major Problems in Peacekeeping Unit

August 16, 2017

George Russell reports that an internal memo authored by the UN's top commander in the Central African Republic warns of the lack of discipline and incompetence of a Congolese unit stationed in the country, signaling that the UN has not yet solved the major problems leading to the recent UN peacekeeping sexual-abuse crisis in Africa.
EU, Governments Agree to Collaborate on SDGs

August 16, 2017

EU institutions and EU member states agreed in June to "a comprehensive common framework for European development cooperation" entitled "New European Consensus on Development" requiring them to collaborate on the fulfillment of the UN's comprehensive social and environmental targets embodied in the organization's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Haley Criticizes UN Rights Chief Report Targeting Israel

August 16, 2017

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has issued a press release criticizing a report from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein for unfairly targeting Israel for alleged rights violations and exceeding the UN office's mandate by calling for the International Court of Justice to issue an advisory opinion condemning alleged Israeli crimes.
UN, IOC Agree SDG Partnership

August 16, 2017

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has announced a new partnership between the UN and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with the aim of using sports to help draw attention to and fulfill the UN's comprehensive Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UN Rights Chief Pushes for Israeli "War Crimes" Investigations

August 15, 2017

In a June report, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein called on both Israel and Palestine to heed demands from the UN rights office to pursue accountability for alleged war crimes committed in their territories.
Israeli PM Calls for Dissolution of UNRWA

August 15, 2017

Reuters reports that, in response to the discovery of tunnels used for terrorism purposes under schools supported by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinians, along with the alleged support for terrorist incitement among the UN agency's staff, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the "dismantling" of UNRWA.
US Proposes $1 Billion Cut to UN Peacekeeping Funding

August 15, 2017

Reuters reports that, reflecting complaints from President Donald Trump that US contributions to the UN peacekeeping system are disproportionate, an opening proposal submitted by the US government to the UN in June for its contribution to the organization's annual peacekeeping budget would cut $1 billion from its contribution the previous year.
Israel Protests Terror Tunnels at UNSC

August 15, 2017

The Times of Israel reports that the Israeli government has protested to the UN Security Council (UNSC) regarding tunnels discovered under UN-supported schools in Gaza potentially used to move fighters or smuggle goods, calling on the UNSC to condemn Hamas and ramp up action to prevent the use of UN institutions to hide such tunnels.
German Official Seeks UN "Crisis Fund"

August 15, 2017

Reuters reports that German Development Minister Gerd Mueller has called for the UN to establish a permanent 10 billion euro "crisis fund," to be extracted from countries on the basis of "financial strength," to provide food aid to prevent famines in East Africa.