In an interview with UN News, Mohamed Al Hassan, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNAMI, said the Mission’s planned closure reflects the profound transformation Iraq has undergone since UNAMI was established in 2003, when the country was emerging from dictatorship, regional wars and the violence of ISIL. He recalled that the Mission… [Read More]
UN Warns of Growing Water Scarcity as Pressure on Global Water Resources Intensifies
The latest 2025 AQUASTAT Water Data Snapshot highlights growing pressure on global freshwater resources, showing a continued decline in renewable water availability, defined as the freshwater replenished annually through precipitation in rivers and aquifers. Over the past decade, renewable water availability per person has fallen by seven per cent, underscoring increasing stress on water systems… [Read More]
Eastern DR Congo Violence Deepens, Raising Alarms Over Potential Regional War
A renewed offensive by the Alliance Fleuve Congo/Mouvement du 23 mars (AFC/M23) in South Kivu has reignited large-scale fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, only days after international agreements were signed to ease tensions. United Nations officials and humanitarian organizations report civilian deaths, widespread destruction of infrastructure and the displacement of hundreds of… [Read More]
Youth Urged to Champion Global Peace by UN Alliance of Civilizations
Ahead of the 11th Global Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Miguel Ángel Moratinos urged youth worldwide to reclaim peace as a global priority. He emphasized that the future depends on a generation willing to prioritize dialogue over division and humanity over hatred, highlighting the critical role young people play in… [Read More]
Youth Urged by UN Alliance of Civilizations to Make Peace a Global Priority
Speaking to UN News ahead of the 11th Global Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Miguel Ángel Moratinos urged youth worldwide to make peace a global priority. He emphasized that the future depends on a generation willing to choose dialogue over division and humanity over hatred. Reflecting on the Alliance’s 20-year… [Read More]
Timor-Leste Launches Farm-to-School Program to Support Children’s Nutrition and Local Farmers
unaffordable for most households, the United Nations is supporting efforts to broaden the benefits of development. At Cossamar Primary School in Same, 500 students now receive school meals that include more protein and vegetables, improving both nutrition and classroom alertness. Similarly, at Betano Primary School on the southern coast, students benefit from balanced meals that… [Read More]
€100 Million Armenia Investment: EIB Global and Ardshinbank Drive Economic Growth and Employment
EIB Global and Ardshinbank have launched a €100 million partnership to expand access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and mid-cap companies across Armenia. The initiative aims to support around 300 Armenian firms and sustain more than 10,000 jobs by providing the necessary resources for businesses to modernize operations, expand production, adopt… [Read More]
$500 Million Ontario Critical Minerals Processing Fund Announced
Ontario has officially launched the $500 million Critical Minerals Processing Fund (CMPF) to accelerate the province’s critical minerals processing capacity and strengthen domestic supply chains. First announced in the 2025 Budget, the CMPF aims to ensure that critical minerals mined in Ontario are processed locally by Ontario workers, reinforcing the province’s global leadership in this… [Read More]
Toronto At-Risk Youth to Benefit from Expanded Justice Centres by Canada and Ontario
Canada and Ontario are jointly expanding youth justice centres in Toronto to better support at-risk youth, providing comprehensive services that address social, educational, and rehabilitative needs. The centres combine community-based programs, mentorship, and tailored interventions to promote positive development and reduce youth recidivism. The expansion aligns with federal and provincial strategies that prioritize rehabilitation over… [Read More]
Ministers Lawless and Harkin Unveil Over €39 Million Funding for FET Sector
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD and Minister of State for Further Education, Apprenticeship, Construction and Climate Skills Marian Harkin TD have announced over €39 million in devolved capital funding for Ireland’s 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs). This funding includes an increased standard Devolved Capital Grant of… [Read More]
UK PACT 2.0 Fund Boosts UK-Malaysia Climate Partnership
The United Kingdom and Malaysia have strengthened their climate partnership with the launch of the second phase of the Malaysia-UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) Fund, the UK’s largest bilateral climate programme in Malaysia. The fund will focus on accelerating progress in green finance and carbon markets, supporting Malaysia’s efforts to achieve its… [Read More]
£500,000 Connect Fund Opens to Support Northern Ireland Voluntary Sector
Community and voluntary organisations across Northern Ireland will have the opportunity to apply for a £500,000 funding round under the Northern Ireland Office’s (NIO) Connect Fund, which aims to support initiatives that strengthen East-West collaboration across the UK. The fund, launched earlier this year, provides up to £500,000 per financial year from a two-year £1… [Read More]
2025 Milestones in Social Health Protection Highlighted by ILO
GENEVA (ILO News) – On International Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, the ILO reaffirmed its commitment to a rights-based approach to achieving health for all. Throughout 2025, the organization collaborated with governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and international partners to strengthen social health protection systems and support countries in advancing toward universal health coverage. A… [Read More]
Strengthening Indonesia’s MSMEs and Informal Sector Through ILO Financial Inclusion Initiatives
The International Labour Organization (ILO) reaffirmed its commitment to advancing financial inclusion in Indonesia to strengthen micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), informal workers, and rural economies. Speaking at a media briefing in Jakarta, the ILO emphasized that connecting MSMEs and farmers to formal financial services enhances productivity, income stability, and enterprise resilience, while supporting… [Read More]
Training Boosts Mongolian Prosecutors’ Capacity on Fundamental Labour Rights
Over 290 prosecutors and officials from Mongolia’s Prosecutor’s Office participated in a training organized by the ILO, in collaboration with the Training and Research Institute under the Office of the Prosecutor General of Mongolia. The programme focused on strengthening the prosecutorial system’s capacity to uphold labour rights and enforce international labour standards, with particular emphasis… [Read More]
Assessor Training in Bishoftu Boosts Ethiopia’s Recognition of Prior Learning Initiative
Ethiopia is advancing the national rollout of its Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) system, with 35 assessors completing a four-day training in Bishoftu under the ILO Global Skills Programme, supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. The training aimed to build assessor capacity to recognise the skills of competent but unqualified workers, paving the… [Read More]
Youth and the Future of Work Highlighted at International Labour Festa in Korea’s Gyeonggi Province
The 2025 International Labour Festa on Youth and the Future of Work, co-hosted by Gyeonggi Province, Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labour, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), will take place from 15 to 17 December 2025 at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. The event aims to catalyze local and global action on youth employment… [Read More]
Fabjona’s Role in Expanding Digital Access in Albania
Fabjona, 25, from Vora, Albania, faced a life-changing accident that left her with mobility challenges. Rather than letting her circumstances define her, she chose to focus on recovery, education, and personal growth. Despite physical obstacles, she returned to her studies, earned her degree, and prepared herself for opportunities where her abilities, not limitations, would take… [Read More]
EU States Strengthen Strict Measures Against Migrants
Following a gathering of Council of Europe states on International Human Rights Day, 27 countries called for “migration reform,” criticizing the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights for upholding the rights of migrants and asylum seekers. This rhetoric coincides with the European Union’s recent wave of restrictive and harsh… [Read More]
Rule of Law in France Under Pressure: Analyzing Backsliding Trends
On December 9, CIVICUS Monitor, an independent organization that evaluates civic freedoms worldwide, downgraded France’s civic space from “narrowed” to “obstructed.” This decision reflects years of growing restrictions on civil society, including escalating police violence, increased surveillance, arrests of protesters, targeting of journalists, and persistent limitations on fundamental rights. The French government has also increasingly… [Read More]
Best Practices in Gender-Responsive Human Rights Due Diligence
The ETI Gender Responsive Action Community (GRACE) programme highlighted that preventing gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) requires long-term, systemic change rather than quick fixes. Success depends on shifting power, building trust, and creating systems that genuinely work for women, reflecting both the challenges and opportunities for brands, suppliers, and communities to drive meaningful impact. A… [Read More]
Advancing Human Trafficking Prevention: OSCE Symposium in the Mediterranean Region
The OSCE Symposium on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in the Mediterranean Region focused on delivering faster and more effective support for vulnerable migrants and trafficking victims across the region. Held at the Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) in Vicenza, the event brought together government officials, anti-trafficking practitioners, and representatives of international… [Read More]
Planning and Implementing Joint Needs Assessments: Insights from UNHCR-WFP Country Exchange in Egypt, Zimbabwe, and South Sudan
In Egypt, the refugee landscape has shifted dramatically following the Sudan crisis, with registered refugees tripling since March 2023 to over 1.4 million, 75 percent of whom are Sudanese nationals. Economic instability, including inflation and currency depreciation, has heightened vulnerabilities for both refugees and host communities. A joint assessment by WFP and UNHCR revealed that… [Read More]
