All articles tagged with #united nations
A two‑week ceasefire in the Iran conflict appears to be unraveling as Israel intensifies its bombing of Lebanon and Iran halts oil shipments over a claimed breach. Iran and Pakistan, the brokers of the truce, defend the deal while Israel’s Netanyahu disputes it, prompting reactions from Trump and a sharp condemnation from the UN rights chief as the situation darkens into a potential wider escalation.
The United States, joined by Israel and Argentina, voted against a Ghana-led UN resolution that declares the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity and urges reparations. The nonbinding measure, backed by over 120 nations, ties slavery to ongoing racism and inequality and calls for apologies and compensation. Washington argued there is no legal right to reparations for historical wrongs, highlighting rifts with the Global South and fueling ongoing domestic debates on reparations despite continued advocacy at city and state levels.
The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans the gravest crime against humanity and urging reparations and restitution of cultural items; the 123-3 vote included opposition from the United States, Argentina and Israel, with the UK and EU abstaining. The measure is non-binding but signals broad international support for addressing historic injustices and reparatory justice.
The UN General Assembly adopted Ghana’s resolution to label the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity, urging member states to apologise and support a reparations fund (no amount specified). The vote was 123 in favour, 3 against (USA, Israel, Argentina) with 52 abstentions including the UK and EU members. The measure ties slavery to enduring racial inequalities and backs returning looted artefacts, as reparations dialogue gains momentum among African and Commonwealth leaders.
A new HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, delivered as a twice-yearly injection, is being rolled out in Eswatini and nine high‑risk countries in a bid to end AIDS, described by UN officials as the closest thing to a vaccine. While it could dramatically reduce new infections if scaled globally, the rollout is hampered by years of foreign aid cuts that shuttered mobile clinics and constrained supply. The UN and Global Fund aim to reach millions, but plans to reach about two million people by 2028 fall well short of needs, underscoring the need for expanded funding and procurement to avoid repeating past delays that cost lives.
Bahrain pushed at the UN for a mandate to use all necessary means to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for international shipping, but the proposal drew opposition from several countries, highlighting global disagreements over how to safeguard this critical oil artery amid heightened regional tensions.
A UN Special Rapporteur warns that Israel’s detention system has become a state doctrine of torture and a core element of ongoing genocide against Palestinians, detailing abuses in prisons and across Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. With more than 18,500 Palestinians detained since Oct 2023 (including about 1,500 children), thousands held without charge and hundreds killed, the report calls for an immediate halt to torture, access for international investigators, and accountability, including potential ICC action and warrants for senior officials.
Iran's U.N. ambassador said Tehran will not close the Strait of Hormuz and remains committed to freedom of navigation under international law, while arguing the current tensions stem from U.S. actions and stating Iran's right to security in the waterway; he also cited the supreme leader's comments about continuing to use the 'lever' to block Hormuz, though Iran emphasized it will not close the strait.
A UN committee says intensified U.S. immigration enforcement and President Trump's racist rhetoric have sparked grave human rights violations, citing deaths in ICE custody and racial profiling by ICE/CBP; the White House dismissed the report as biased, highlighting declining crime and a secure border.
UN Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres warns that the global economy is at grave risk as fighting continues in the Middle East, with the US and Israel targeting Iran; he calls for an immediate ceasefire and serious diplomatic negotiations to end the fighting and reduce civilian suffering across the region.
IOC reiterates its commitment to a peaceful, global sporting platform and appeals to UN member states to ensure safe passage for qualified athletes to Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics amid ongoing conflicts, noting the Olympic Truce is aspirational and non-binding with enforcement resting with the UN.
Fighting along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border intensified for a fifth day, with Islamabad claiming Afghan forces killed 67 troops and one Pakistani soldier and Kabul disputing the tally; both sides released casualty figures, and the U.N. warned civilians are paying the price as the Qatar- and Turkey-brokered ceasefire collapses. Pakistan says it will continue operations until Afghan authorities curb militant groups like the TTP, while Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of airspace violations and targeting civilians.
The UN Security Council convened in an emergency session after US and Israel conducted airstrikes on Iran, with Tehran's retaliatory strikes triggering wider regional tensions; UN Secretary-General Guterres urged restraint to prevent a broader, uncontrollable escalation in the volatile Middle East.
The family of Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the West Bank and Gaza, filed a Washington, D.C. lawsuit arguing U.S. sanctions last year violate the First Amendment by punishing her critical reporting on Israel’s actions in Gaza; the State Department calls the move baseless lawfare, while Albanese continues to publish reports and the U.N. and other actors weigh in on the Gaza ceasefire and casualties.
The husband and child of UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese filed a DC federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s sanctions against her, arguing they violate constitutional rights and due process and have severely disrupted her banking access, travel, and academic affiliations as she advocates accountability for actions in Gaza.