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UN Special Rapporteur Discusses Restrictions on Freedom of Expression and Women's Rights in Afghanistan with Canadian Journalists

UN Special Rapporteur Discusses Restrictions on Freedom of Expression and Women's Rights in Afghanistan with Canadian Journalists

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, met with journalists and media organization representatives in Canada to discuss the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan. The meeting, held on November 12, focused on restrictions on freedom of expression, media censorship, and the denial of fundamental rights for women and girls. Najib Aseel, head of the Centre for Freedom of Expression, presented a report highlighting concerns over continued arrests, threats, and media restrictions in Afghanistan. The discussion also touched upon the difficult circumstances faced by Afghan journalists in neighboring countries like Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey, with a call for European governments, including France, to support and resettle at-risk journalists. Participants expressed concern that the international community's response to the Taliban's policies has largely been limited to statements, with little tangible impact on the human rights situation.
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Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed Addresses Fifth Committee's 10th Plenary Meeting

Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed Addresses Fifth Committee's 10th Plenary Meeting

Amina J. Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, delivered remarks at the 10th plenary meeting of the Fifth Committee during the 81st session of the General Assembly. The Fifth Committee is responsible for administrative and budgetary matters of the United Nations. Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed's address likely focused on the financial health of the organization, budget proposals, resource allocation, and administrative reforms. Her participation underscores the importance of sound financial management and efficient administration for the effective functioning of the UN's various programs and initiatives. The meeting, held on November 10, 2026, is a key part of the annual budgetary cycle, where member states review and approve the UN's operational and programmatic budgets.
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Taliban Restrictions Deepen Afghan Humanitarian Crisis, UN Reports

Taliban Restrictions Deepen Afghan Humanitarian Crisis, UN Reports

Afghanistan is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis, more than five years after the Taliban's return to power, according to Bruno Lemarquis, the UN Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan. Speaking on November 6, 2026, Lemarquis highlighted that the country's relative stability is being undermined by a fragile economy, extensive curbs on rights, and severe humanitarian needs. Women and girls, in particular, face 'severe and sweeping' restrictions that limit their access to education, employment, and participation in public life. Since 2021, over 2.6 million girls have been denied secondary education, and female university enrollment is currently at zero. Additionally, Afghan women staffers have been banned from entering United Nations premises across Afghanistan since September 2025, a ban that remains in effect and impacts UN operations. The Taliban's justifications for these restrictions are attributed to a combination of religious extremism and entrenched historical practices of control and disc...
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United Nations University to Host Discussion on 'Pact for the Future' and International Peace and Security

United Nations University to Host Discussion on 'Pact for the Future' and International Peace and Security

On January 28, 2025, the United Nations University (UNU) will host a conversation titled 'The Pact for the Future and International Peace and Security' in Tokyo. The event will feature Tadamichi Yamamoto, a Visiting Professor at Ritsumeikan University and former UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan. He will join UNU Rector Tshilidzi Marwala to discuss the UN's role in maintaining international peace and security, particularly in light of ongoing conflicts such as the war in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as well as other violent conflicts globally. The discussion will explore how the UN can address the evolving nature of contemporary conflicts and the implications of 'The Pact for the Future' for global governance, peace, and security. The UN was established post-World War II with the primary aim of preventing war, but current global events have led to questions about its effectiveness in fulfilling this mission. Concurrently, the UN has expanded its scope, playing a ...
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United Nations Advances Multilateral Reform with 2024 Pact for the Future

United Nations Advances Multilateral Reform with 2024 Pact for the Future

The United Nations has introduced the 2024 Pact for the Future, a comprehensive agenda aimed at multilateral reform. This initiative includes the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations, setting a broad framework for international cooperation. The pact seeks to reconsider representation, digital governance, long-term global responsibility, and international taxation. Negotiations for a UN framework convention on international tax cooperation are slated for the 2025–2027 period. While these processes establish forums for critical discussions, they do not create a binding or comprehensive global constitutional order. The ultimate impact of these initiatives will depend on subsequent legal instruments, national implementation, financial commitments, review mechanisms, and the willingness of member states to accept meaningful accountability. The UN's efforts reflect a recognition that current global governance structures, largely established after World War II, are struggling to addres...
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The US to become first nation to fully shun a UN Human Rights Council review

The US to become first nation to fully shun a UN Human Rights Council review

The United States is to become the first country to skip a regular review of its human rights record at the U.N.'s Human Rights Council
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UN body agrees to postpone review of US rights record after Trump administration snub

UN body agrees to postpone review of US rights record after Trump administration snub

The U.N.'s Human Rights Council has delayed a review of the U.S. human rights record until January
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UN Fifth Committee Discusses Sustainable Funding for Resident Coordinator System

UN Fifth Committee Discusses Sustainable Funding for Resident Coordinator System

The United Nations Fifth Committee, responsible for administrative and budgetary matters, convened its 10th plenary meeting during the 81st session of the General Assembly. A key agenda item was the Secretary-General's report on the funding and governance of the Resident Coordinator System. This system, established eight years prior by resolution 72/279, aims to unify the UN development system around national priorities to achieve the 2030 Agenda. Despite its recognized success in coordinating over $20 billion in annual UN programming across 160 countries and territories, the system has faced persistent funding instability. The Secretary-General's proposal seeks to establish a durable financial solution, primarily by financing recurring staff posts through assessed contributions, moving away from less predictable funding mechanisms like levies and voluntary contributions. The current funding model, heavily reliant on fluctuating aid flows and uneven implementation, has led to significant shortfalls, with p...
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US to skip UN human rights review, drawing censure

US to skip UN human rights review, drawing censure

By Emma Farge GENEVA, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The United States will spurn a UN meeting on Tuesday where its human rights record under President Donald Trump was due to be examined, drawing criticism from rights groups who say violations have surged to levels not seen in decades.
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G7 Foreign Ministers Address Global Crises, Including Famine Risks in Sudan and Gaza

G7 Foreign Ministers Address Global Crises, Including Famine Risks in Sudan and Gaza

G7 Foreign Ministers convened in Paris to coordinate actions on pressing global issues, including the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and emerging humanitarian crises. A significant concern raised was the escalating risk of famine in parts of Darfur and Kordofan in Sudan, attributed to continued fighting, restricted humanitarian access, and attacks on civilian infrastructure. The ministers also addressed the humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling for unimpeded humanitarian access and reconstruction efforts. They reiterated the need for Hamas's disarmament and Israel's progressive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip under agreed conditions. Additionally, the G7 expressed concerns about the profound economic crisis and humanitarian needs in Cuba, emphasizing the importance of improving aid delivery mechanisms. The meeting underscored the interconnectedness of global security, economic stability, and humanitarian well-being, with ministers calling for coordinated action on global food security a...
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US skips UN human rights review, drawing criticism

US skips UN human rights review, drawing criticism

By Emma Farge GENEVA, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The United States spurned a UN meeting on Tuesday where its human rights record under President Donald Trump was due to be examined, drawing criticism from rights groups who say violations have surged to levels not seen in decades.
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UN Experts Call for Human Rights-Centered, Inclusive Negotiations at COP31 Climate Summit

UN Experts Call for Human Rights-Centered, Inclusive Negotiations at COP31 Climate Summit

UN experts have emphasized the critical need for inclusive negotiations and human rights-centered outcomes at COP31, the upcoming climate summit. They assert that the conference must draw on all voices to address the escalating climate crisis, particularly as scientific reports indicate global temperatures are set to exceed the 1.5°C limit. The experts highlighted the importance of extending the work program on mitigation, focusing on phasing out fossil fuels in all forms, including their use as feedstocks for plastics, pesticides, and fertilizers, which contribute to environmental harm and human rights issues. They also called for a decision on food systems that recognizes their role in both driving the climate crisis and expanding fossil fuel use, advocating for the 'defossilization and detoxification' of these systems. Furthermore, the experts urged COP31 to acknowledge Indigenous Peoples, peasants, and women-led agroecology as effective climate solutions.