Protecting children in war is key to lasting peace, top UN envoy warns

In an exclusive interview with UN News, Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frazier, reflected on the alarming rise in grave violations against children and the urgent need to safeguard their future. “The recruitment and use of children is still one of the most widespread and devastating violations we face. In 2024 alone, […]

At-risk mountain vipers and iguanas, in rare company at key wildlife talks

Ethiopian mountain vipers, Galapagos iguanas and Brazil’s Pernambuco tree – prized by violin bow-makers – and are just three of the more than 30 species that could be listed for special protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). “Because the trade in wild animals and plants […]

Putting people at the heart of cities, key to improving urban life

Yet, amid this rapid transformation, one question rises above all: how can innovation truly serve the people, as more and more of them migrate to cities? That question lies at the heart of this year’s World Cities Day, which will be celebrated in Bogotá, Colombia, under the theme People-Centred Smart Cities. Organized by the UN’s […]

Climate science and early warnings key to saving lives

“Early-warning systems work,” he told the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva. “They give farmers the power to protect their crops and livestock. Enable families to evacuate safely. And protect entire communities from devastation.” “We know that disaster-related mortality is at least six times lower in countries with good early-warning systems in place,” the UN chief […]

‘Reparatory justice’ key to ending racism against Africans and their descendants

‘Reparatory justice’ key to ending racism against Africans and their descendants

Doing so is key to dismantling systemic racism that is rooted in legacies of slavery and colonialism, it said. Actions include formal apologies, truth-seeking, memorialisation and education measures, medical and psychosocial support, as well as compensation. Past and present linked For the most part, the report found that that amid some rollback of commitments to […]

Safe seas key to global prosperity, Security Council told

Safe seas key to global prosperity, Security Council told

Keeping sea routes safe today while also addressing emerging challenges was the focus of a debate in the UN Security Council on Monday which was convened by Panama, president for the month of August. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), told the Council that last year, a workforce of just 1.9 million […]

Pollution, melting microbes, undamming rivers, risks for elders: 4 key climate issues

Pollution, melting microbes, undamming rivers, risks for elders: 4 key climate issues

From ancient microbes awakening in melting glaciers to toxic pollutants unleashed by floods, the dangers are no longer distant or theoretical. They are here, and they are growing. The Frontiers Report 2025, released by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), highlights four critical areas where environmental degradation intersects with human vulnerability: legacy pollution, melting glacier microbes, undamming […]

‘A compass towards progress’ – but key development goals remain way off track

‘A compass towards progress’ – but key development goals remain way off track

The UN’s key Sustainable Development Goals Report released Monday by Secretary-General António Guterres, chronicles both progress and setbacks – showing that the world has made significant advances but is still drastically off-track to achieve its development goals by 2030. Seize the day “This report is more than a snapshot of today. It’s also a compass […]

Gaza: Access to key water facility in Khan Younis disrupted, UN reports

Gaza: Access to key water facility in Khan Younis disrupted, UN reports

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Israeli authorities issued displacement orders overnight for two neighbourhoods in Khan Younis, where up to 80,000 people had been living. The Al Satar reservoir – a critical hub for distributing piped water from Israel – has become inaccessible as a result. Grave warnings […]