‘We must stand up for our shared humanity – each and every day’: UN human rights chief

Tuesday’s solemn commemoration marks the day 81 years ago that the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp – where over a million people were murdered – was liberated by Allied forces towards the end of World War Two.  Commenting on the disturbing rise of antisemitism in recent years – including the “heinous attacks” targeting Jewish communities […]

Secretary-General on UN at 80: Humanity strongest when we stand as one

Speaking at Methodist Central Hall, the very same venue where the first-ever UN General Assembly was held on 10 January 1946, Mr. Guterres called on delegates at the event to be “bold enough to change. Bold enough to find the courage of those who came to this Hall 80 years ago to forge a better world.”  From bomb shelter to diplomatic […]

Guterres in Japan: ‘Humanity is strongest when we stand as one’

Guterres in Japan: ‘Humanity is strongest when we stand as one’

It brings together more than 160 countries and organizations – a testament to Japan’s enduring commitment to global dialogue and cooperation, said Secretary-General António Guterres.   “Japan has helped shape some of the most important multilateral achievements of our time,” he added, commending Japan for choosing peace and international cooperation following defeat at the end […]

Famine in Gaza: ‘a failure of humanity itself,’ says UN chief

Famine in Gaza: ‘a failure of humanity itself,’ says UN chief

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the results of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis were no mystery: “It is a man-made disaster, a moral indictment – and a failure of humanity itself. “Famine is not about food; it is the deliberate collapse of the systems needed for human survival.” Famine conditions are projected […]

Two ex-militia leaders in Central African Republic sentenced for war crimes, crimes against humanity

Two ex-militia leaders in Central African Republic sentenced for war crimes, crimes against humanity

Alfred Yekatom and Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona received prison sentences of 15 and 12 years for their roles in brutal attacks against civilians – primarily from the country’s mainly Muslim Seleka population – during the 2013-14 civil war. They were found guilty “beyond any reasonable doubt” of leading and facilitating attacks on civilians in the capital, Bangui, […]

Unprecedented Afghan returns are ‘a test of our collective humanity’

Unprecedented Afghan returns are ‘a test of our collective humanity’

Roza Otunbayeva, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, made the appeal during a visit to the Islam Qala border crossing with Iran on Tuesday where she witnessed the daily influx of tens of thousands of returnees. She also met returnee families, aid partners and regional de facto officials. Alarm bells should be ringing “What should be a […]

Israeli attacks on Gaza schools could be crimes against humanity: UN probe

Israeli attacks on Gaza schools could be crimes against humanity: UN probe

The UN Human Rights Council-mandated Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) report found that Israeli forces have used airstrikes, shelling, burning, and controlled demolitions to damage or destroy more than 90 per cent of schools and university buildings across Gaza. This destruction in the wake of the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel […]

‘My husband died in my arms’: Russian drone attacks on Ukrainians amount to crimes against humanity, UN investigators report

‘My husband died in my arms’: Russian drone attacks on Ukrainians amount to crimes against humanity, UN investigators report

“Russian armed forces have committed the crimes against humanity of murder and the war crimes of attacking civilians, through a months-long pattern of drone attacks targeting civilians on the right bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Province,” the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine said. Attacks have been carried out since July 2024 […]