Security Council weighs future of UN war crimes mechanism as closure nears

The discussion focused on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, established by the Council in 2010 to carry forward essential functions after the closure of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Addressing the Council, Mechanism President Graciela Gatti Santana said the body had … Read more

While world waits for details on Iran-US accord, UN calls for Hormuz aid corridor

At the Human Rights Council in Genevadeputy UN rights chief Awa Dabo stressed how disruption to shipping in the Gulf’s narrow strait and the US naval blockade on ships using Iranian ports had upended the world’s energy supply network. The crisis has seriously impacted aviation and restricted humanitarian aid flows, causing a much broader crisis … Read more

World News in Brief: Call for action against child labour, ICC Prosecutor suspended, WFP raises awareness in Egypt

Today, nearly 138 million children remain trapped in child labor globally, including 54 million engaged in hazardous work that threatens their health, safety and development. “This is unacceptable – we must accelerate action,” said Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labor Organization, ILOin a video message. He called for renewed global commitment through expanded … Read more

World News in Brief: Turk condemns Northern Ireland riots, jobs at risk over animal disease spread, heatwaves spark public health crisis in Europe

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed alarm on Thursday over the rioting and destruction in Northern Ireland resulting from the attack which went viral on social media – and the release of police bodycam footage linked to the murder of a student in Southampton by a British-born Sikh. Offering sympathy to victims … Read more

Hate speech spreading ‘faster than ever’, warns UN chief as global action plan is revealed

Mr. Guterres was speaking at UN Headquarters in New York at the launch of the Muscat Plan of Action – an initiative that highlights the role of traditional and Indigenous leaders in promoting peace and strengthening social cohesion. Hate speech “divides communities, dehumanizes entire groups, and sets the stage for bloodshed,” he said. “It is … Read more