Amid growing international condemnation over Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine, tens of thousands of people are still trying to escape to neighbouring countries, fleeing en masse. This has brought huge numbers to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, where UNICEF’s spokesperson James Elder has been giving an update on the emotional and tense scenes he’s witnessed, to UN News’s Daniel Johnson.
At an event to mark the occasion and to launch the 25th anniversary study, UNICEF's Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, said the mandate has achieved concrete results for children: "For example, since 2000, at least 170,000 children have been released from armed forces and armed groups, many having survived multiple violations – including abduction or sexual violence." The UN should continue to prioritize helping these children, who have suffered terrible violence, she added. "We should seize all opportunities to increase visibility and awareness of the terrible impact of conflict on children. We should be courageous in taking steps to end impunity and advance accountability for children in situations of armed conflict."
The Security Council is holding an open debate to address violence that targets women in peace and security processes. The meeting is part of its agenda on Women, peace and security, which recognizes the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and girls and stresses the importance of women’s leadership and meaningful participation in the prevention and resolution of conflicts. The implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda is a political commitment in the Secretary General’s Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative.
Survivors of genocide and other atrocities committed by ISIL fighters in Iraq should rest assured that the international community supports them. That’s the message from Christian Ritscher, head of UNITAD, the special UN team investigating these crimes. While it might appear action is slow coming, he said there is no statute of limitations and crimes can be prosecuted “as long as at least one perpetrator is alive.” Mr. Ritscher was in New York recently and spoke to UN News’s Abdelmonem Makki, prior to presenting the latest UNITAD report to the Security Council.
The shadow cast by chemical weapons over modern history has claimed countless victims, both civilians and soldiers across the globe. On the Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare (30 November), the OPCW honours the memory of the victims of these attacks through its mission to eliminate these weapons, offering hope that they will be the last to experience the horror of chemical warfare. The OPCW’s mission is to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention to achieve a world free of chemical weapons in which chemistry is used for peace, progress, and prosperity.
As governments, humanitarian actors, and peacebuilders meet at the UN to discuss the women, peace and security agenda, watch this space for news, updates and voices of women peacebuilders.
War, violent conflict, terrorism and violent extremism have different and devastating consequences for women and girls. In the face of these, women all over the world lead movements to prevent conflict, restore peace and rebuild communities. The women, peace and security agenda was formally established in 2000 by a unanimous Security Council decision. This year’s Security Council’s annual open debate on women, peace and security will focus on investing in the contribution of local women to peacekeeping, peacebuilding and transitional settings during and following UN peace operations.
A child’s right to education cannot be safeguarded in conflict zones without education itself being protected. Education can be a lifesaver. Out of school, children are easy targets of abuse, exploitation and recruitment by armed forces and groups. In 2020, there was an increase of 17 per cent on attacks on schools compared to 2019. The International Day to Protect Education from Attack (9 September) brings attention to the importance of safeguarding schools as places of protection and safety for students and educators and the need to keep education at the top of the public agenda.
More than 14,000 displaced people live in camps in Bambari, most of them women and girls – besides barriers to health care and food, UNFPA documents sexual violence used as a weapon of war.
Engaging young people in peace efforts provides an opportunity to constructively influence areas that directly impact their lives. This year’s International Day of UN Peacekeepers (29 May): “The road to a lasting peace: Leveraging the power of youth for peace and security,” recognizes the significant role of youth in shaping and sustaining peace efforts. Today, tens of thousands of young peacekeepers (between the ages of 18 and 29 years) are deployed around the world and play a major role in helping the missions including in the protection of civilians. #YouthPeaceSecurity #Youth4Peace
An estimated 160,000 people in Gaza now face going hungry as the escalation of violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and across the border into Israel, continues into its second week, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday.
In addition to seeing that they get enough to eat, another priority for the agency’s Country Director in Palestine, Samer AbdelJaber, is making sure that his aid team stays safe, as he explains to UN News’s Daniel Johnson.
The United Nations has designated 8 and 9 May as a time of remembrance and reconciliation, to honour the memory of the millions who lost their lives during the Second World War and to reflect on their profound sacrifices. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the UN’s founding—an enduring testament to the international community's commitment to peace, dignity, and cooperation. Since its inception, the UN has played a central role in promoting the peaceful resolution of disputes and maintaining international peace and security, which remain among the Organization’s core pillars.