United Nations

UN Laments US Withdrawal from Climate Deal

June 02, 2017

Responding to President Donald Trump's announcement that the US will withdraw from the UN's 2015 Paris deal on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, UN officials called the decision a "major disappointment" that could contribute to global crises ranging from rising sea levels to terrorism to refugee flows.
Doran: US Must Demand UNHRC Members Uphold Rights

June 02, 2017

Andrew Doran writes that, in order to address the harm the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is inflicting on the civil and political rights agenda around the world, the US must condition its future involvement in the UNHRC on the compliance by members with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, particularly with regard to religious freedom.
EU Council Promotes Global Governance of Oceans

May 30, 2017

The Council of the EU has adopted a set of conclusions welcoming the participation of EU institutions in setting the standards of "international ocean governance," a signal of the supranational organization's participation in the fulfillment of the UN's comprehensive "sustainable development" agenda.
UN Agents Push Right to Health Resources for Migrants

May 26, 2017

A group of UN human rights mandate holders has issued a statement calling on countries participating in upcoming talks to launch a Global Compact for Migration to uphold the right of people with disabilities against discrimination by dedicating financial resources to ensuring healthcare, including "psycho-social support," for disabled migrants.
UN Launches Panel on Achieving "Urban Agenda"

May 26, 2017

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed an independent panel charged with reporting on the fulfillment of the UN's New Urban Agenda, a social and environmental wishlist launched last year at the international organization's "Habitat III" conference in Ecuador to enhance efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
UN Promotes Wide-ranging SDGs at World Ocean Festival

May 25, 2017

The UN and environmental activists recently demonstrated their continued commitment to the international organization's comprehensive Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by hosting a World Ocean Festival in New York to bring attention to the impact of global warming on oceans and the need to meet the ocean-related targets in the SDGs.
Schaefer: US Must Pressure UN on Whistle-blower Rules

May 25, 2017

Brett Schaefer of the Heritage Foundation writes that US officials should motivate UN agencies to pursue best practices in the protection of whistle-blowers by exercising their statutory authority to withhold a portion of the funding of these agencies and communicating what improvements must be made to restore full US contributions.
UN Struggles to Rein in WHO Travel Costs

May 24, 2017

The Associated Press reports that lack of accountability for unreasonable travel costs at the UN's World Health Organization (WHO) is causing concern among government donors and the UN system, as the agency's spending on travel in recent years has outstripped its spending to combat some of the world's most serious diseases.
UN Agency Seeks End of Refugee Transfers to Hungary

May 24, 2017

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has called on EU member states to suspend all transfers of asylum seekers to Hungary, asserting that the country's policy requiring the detention and eventual expulsion of anyone unlawfully crossing its border violates international law.
Campaign Pushes Link Between Climate, Rights

May 24, 2017

In a contribution to The Hill, former President of Ireland and climate change campaigner Mary Robinson announces a global campaign promoting "climate justice" and seeking to link universal access to renewable energy sources to the UN's "economic, social, and cultural human rights" agenda and its comprehensive Sustainable Development Goals.