Category: Peace and Security

Protests around the world: Politicians must address ‘growing deficit of trust’, urges Guterres

UN Bolivia/Patricia Cusicanqui Demonstrators protest on the streets of La Paz, Bolivia. Protests in cities across the world in recent days show that “people are hurting and want to be heard” by political leaders who must now address a “growing deficit of trust”, said the UN chief on Friday. Speaking to correspondents at UN Headquarters in New York, António […]

UN and Red Cross chiefs appeal for end to use of explosive weapons in cities

With some 50 million people in urban areas suffering from the impact of armed conflict, war in cities “cannot be back page news”, the UN Secretary-General and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Wednesday. António Guterres and Peter Maurer have issued a joint appeal which calls on countries and warring parties […]

‘Whole spectrum of Afghan society’ must get behind peace talks, UN envoy tells Security Council

The long Afghan conflict can only be resolved by “direct talks” between its own people, the chief of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) told the Security Council on Tuesday, underscoring that they must be inclusive and represent “the whole spectrum of Afghan society”. “The events of recent days and weeks have shown, more […]

Hospitals among seven health centres attacked in Syria’s north-east

Seven health centres in Syria’s north-west have been reportedly attacked in recent days and two of them have been destroyed, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday. Attacks ‘verified on four facilities, three pending’ In a statement, the UN health agency said that the facilities included four hospitals and two primary health care centres […]

All States have ‘primary responsibility’ to protect against hate attacks

The UN’s top rights official has added her voice to condemnation of the weekend mass-shootings in the cities of El Paso and Dayton, insisting on Tuesday that “not just the US, but all States” should do more to stop discrimination. Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Michelle Bachelet’s spokesperson, Rupert Colville, from the Office of the High Commissioner […]