New UN websites & publications
UN in General
Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement
https://www.un.org/en/content/action-agenda-on-internal-displacement/
More people are currently displaced within their own countries than ever recorded before due to conflict, violence, disasters and the impact of climate change. The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has doubled over the last ten years, with women, children and marginalized groups often facing the greatest impacts. Millions of people have remained trapped in displacement for years, some even for decades. The report of the Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement challenged us not to accept the status quo and to step up collective action on internal displacement. As a follow-up, this Action Agenda is the Secretary-General’s vision to better resolve, prevent and address internal displacement crises.
see also: ‘We All’ have duty to end displacement, Secretary-General says in Video Message for launch of Action Agenda, urges action by states, civil society (SG/SM/21351, 24 June 2022): https://www.un.org/press/en/2022/sgsm21351.doc.htm
Taking forward the UN Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement: Joint Statement by the Principals of DCO, IOM, OCHA, UNDP and UNHCR (24 June 2022): https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2022/6/62b5c0a816/
HLPF – new website
https://hlpf.un.org/
HLFP 2022, Under the auspices of ECOSOC
https://hlpf.un.org/2022
The meeting of the HLPF in 2022 will be held from Tuesday, 5 July, to Thursday, 7 July, and from Monday, 11 July, to Friday, 15 July 2022, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. This includes the three-day ministerial segment of the forum from Wednesday, 13 July, to Friday, 15 July 2022. The high-level segment of the Council will conclude with a final day on Monday, 18 July 2022. The theme for the 2022 HLPF is “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. As the world is struggling to recover from COVID-19 amidst continuing crises, the HLPF will reflect on how recovery policies can reverse the negative impacts of the pandemic on the SDGs and move countries on to a path to realize the vision of the 2030 Agenda. The HLPF will also review in-depth Sustainable Development Goals 4 on quality education, 5 on gender equality, 14 on life below water, 15 on life on land, and 17 on partnerships for the Goals. It will take into account the different impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic across all Sustainable Development Goals and the integrated, indivisible and interlinked nature of the Goals.
Least Developed Countries (LDC) Portal
https://www.un.org/ldcportal/
The portal has recently been restructured and expanded. It contains information about international support measures for LDCs, a library of reports and other publications on LDCs, general information about the LDC category, pages on countries that are approaching graduation or have recently graduated, and links to organizations supporting LDCs, among other types of content. To learn more about the international support measures for LDCs, check out these shortcuts: Trade, Financial and technical cooperation, Support for the participation of LDCs in international forums, Support for graduation, Countries approaching graduation and recently graduated, LDC Library, Organizations, Events on LDCs, News on LDCs, The portal is managed by the Economic Analysis and Policy Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Culture in times of COVID-19: resilience, recovery and revival
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381524.locale=en
UNESCO and the Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi launched on 27 June 2022 the co-publication Culture in Times of COVID-19: Resilience, Recovery and Revival, giving a global overview of the impact of the pandemic on the culture sector since March 2020, and outlining directions for its revival. Examining the impact of COVID-19 across all cultural domains, the report highlights that culture was one of the most seriously impacted sectors globally, with more than 10 million jobs lost in 2020 alone and a 20-40% drop in revenues across the sector. The sector also saw a decline of 25% of its Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2020. However, while most of the sector suffered a sharp decline, online publishing and audiovisual platforms experienced growth due to increased reliance on digital content during the pandemic. The publication also identifies major global trends reshaping the culture sector and proposes new integrated policy directions and strategies to support the sector’s revival and sustainability.
Financing the recovery: a formative evaluation of UNDP’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and SDG financing
http://web.undp.org/evaluation/evaluations/thematic/recovery-finance.shtml
“This formative evaluation looks at how UNDP can support SDG financing to help Governments realize their commitments, while recognizing that many of the UNDP SDG financing tools are still in their early stages, and that the pandemic is not yet over. We reviewed the existing UNDP mechanisms for supporting SDG financing, as well as its broad toolkit. The evaluation used the current financing architecture and global opportunities as a lens through which to examine whether the UNDP approaches met the needs of countries as they emerge from the pandemic.”
Government responses to COVID-19: Lessons on gender equality for a world in turmoil (UN Women / UNDP)
https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2022/06/government-responses-to-covid-19-lessons-on-gender-equality-for-a-world-in-turmoil
The overlapping impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerating climate disasters, and geopolitical conflict are a threat to gender equality and women’s rights across the globe. This report from UN Women and UNDP shows what governments can do now to prevent further rollbacks and recover lost ground, while enhancing resilience and preparedness for future shocks. Drawing on a unique global dataset of close to 5,000 measures adopted by 226 countries and territories in response to COVID-19, the report finds that, overall, government responses paid insufficient attention to gender dynamics. At the same time, instances of innovation and learning hold important lessons for gender-responsive policymaking in times of crisis.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the realization of the equal enjoyment of the right to education by every girl: Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/HRC/50/50, 11 May 2022)
English, French & Spanish: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/50/50
Summary: The present report was prepared pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 47/5. In the report, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights highlights the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the enjoyment of the right to education by girls and identifies main challenges and obstacles they face. In addition, she provides an overview of States’ efforts to overcome those challenges and obstacles and of the support by United Nations human rights mechanisms in this regard. The High Commissioner concludes with a number of recommendations for the protection and promotion of girls’ enjoyment of the right to education in COVID-19 responses and recoveries.
Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on trade and development: Lessons learned (UNCTAD)
https://unctad.org/webflyer/impact-covid-19-pandemic-trade-and-development-lessons-learned
“Introduction: … This report aims at documenting and assessing shifts that the COVID-19 crisis has triggered in economies, societies and cooperation in relation to core areas of UNCTAD work, that is, the integrated treatment of trade and development and interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment and sustainable development. In the report, the lessons learned from this crisis are provided, as are policy recommendations on what is needed to promote a resilient, inclusive and sustainable recovery. The aim is to provide lessons learned with a fresh look and without judgement, as an input for dealing better with future challenges. For this purpose, in the report, data will be provided on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and answers will be given to selected key questions that have been central in policy discussions on the recovery. As such, the report can help developing countries to place their specific challenges in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis more prominently on the agenda of the international community, which are now being compounded and overshadowed by the effects of the recent crises. The reference period used in the report is from January 2020 to February/March 2022, that is, the time frame from the outbreak of COVID-19 to the time when many countries removed measures. … ”
Rethinking risks in times of COVID-19 (UNU-EHS / UNDRR)
https://unupublications.org/ehs/carico/
In an increasingly interconnected world, shocks are felt across sectors, borders and scales, revealing the systemic nature of risks. This holds true for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, for the effects of climate change, and also from the effects of newly emerging crises, such as the war in Ukraine. It is therefore critical that we analyse these events to derive lessons for risk management, so as to better prepare for future events. A new report by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), dives into the systemic nature of risks revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It presents cross-cutting findings from five case studies in different countries (Ecuador, India, Togo, Bangladesh and Indonesia), touching on different social and environmental issues. Moreover, lessons learned on the prevention and management of risks are highlighted.
Economic Growth and Sustainable Development
5th Global Report on Adult Learning and Education – Citizenship education: Empowering adults for change (UNESCO-UIL)
Report: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381666
Summary: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381669
The main challenge for adult learning and education across the globe is to reach those who need it most. That is the key message of UNESCO’s Fifth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE 5), published on 15 June 2022 at the Seventh International Conference on Adult Education in Marrakech, Morocco. UNESCO’s report shows that while there is progress, notably in the participation of women, those who need adult education the most — disadvantaged and vulnerable groups such as Indigenous learners, rural populations, migrants, older citizens, people with disabilities or prisoners — are deprived of access to learning opportunities. Published by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, the Global Report on Adult Learning and Education monitors the extent to which UNESCO Member States put their international commitments regarding adult learning and education into practice. The reports combine survey data, policy analysis and case studies to provide policy-makers and practitioners with sound recommendations and examples of good practice. Five reports have been published since 2009.
Africa SDGs Progress Dashboard
https://ecastats.uneca.org/unsdgsafrica/SDGs/SDG-progress
The African Centre for Statistics of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa is pleased to announce the launch of the Africa SDGs Progress Dashboard. The tool is developed to assist evidence-based policy making in Africa on the Global Sustainable Development Goals and the continental Agenda 2063, “The Africa We Want”. It provides evidence on how much progress has been made on each of the Sustainable Development Goals, Targets, and Indicators and how likely they are to be achieved by 2030 based on the current pace of progress. The results are provided at continental, subregional and country level. The tool is a joint work between the five United Nations Regional Commissions (ECA, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, ESCWA).
Arab Human Development Report 2022: Expanding Opportunities for an Inclusive and Resilient Recovery in the Post-Covid Era (UNDP)
https://arab-hdr.org/report/arab-human-development-report-2022-expanding-opportunities-for-an-inclusive-and-resilient-recovery-in-the-post-covid-era/
As they pursue pathways to recover from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, Arab States should strengthen capacities and build effective and trustworthy institutional structures that can support a new social contract and enable societies to cope with future shocks and disasters—according to the Arab Human Development Report (AHDR) 2022 that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched on 29 June 2022. Produced by UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS), it is the seventh in the AHDR series, marking 20 years of keen analysis of development challenges and opportunities across the Arab States region since the launch of the seminal AHDR in 2002. The report reviews impacts of the pandemic on human development across the region, as well as actions taken by Arab States to contain the outbreak and mitigate its most adverse impacts on people and the economy. The AHDR 2022 argues that getting human development back on track in the post-pandemic era will require greater efforts to make governance systems more accountable and re¬sponsive, economies more diversified and competi¬tive, and societies more cohesive and inclusive—in order to ensure a resilient recovery for all.
CONNECT e-newsletter (UNU-IAS)
https://ias.unu.edu/en/connect
New monthly updates on sustainability issues like governance, biodiversity, water, and education. CONNECT features the latest research, news, courses, vacancies, and other opportunities from United Nations University, Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)
Financing Education Recovery: A Piece of Cake? (UNICEF Policy Brief)
https://www.unicef.org/reports/financing-education-recovery-piece-cake
Can education financing be a piece of cake? Prepared by the UNICEF Education Priority Technical Team for Education Financing, this policy brief uses a cake analogy to re-examine the three principles of education financing with a focus on priorities and issues that have arisen during the pandemic response: Big cake – represents adequacy, Tasty cake – represents efficiency, and Fairly-cut cake – represents equity. The report also discusses the role of international agencies as ‘yeast’ in financing education recovery and transformation.
Global Climate Context of the Ukraine War (WFP)
https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000140462/download/
“Summary: The invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces has far reaching consequences for food security across areas of the globe geographically very far from the conflict location, given that both countries are major producers of key agricultural commodities. On the climate front, unusual features are coming into play that can interact in many ways with the consequences of the Ukraine War, lingering pandemic effects and protracted conflict situations and either lead or aggravate major humanitarian crisis. … This report covers the recent impacts of the first La Niña and provides an outlook for the likely impacts of the current one and scenarios for a third one. After a global overview, details are provided in detail for each WFP region, highlighting countries where the situation is of greatest concern.”
Global Economic Prospects – June 2022 (World Bank)
https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/global-economic-prospects
Compounding the damage from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has magnified the slowdown in the global economy, which is entering what could become a protracted period of feeble growth and elevated inflation, according to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report. This raises the risk of stagflation, with potentially harmful consequences for middle- and low-income economies alike. Global growth is expected to slump from 5.7 percent in 2021 to 2.9 percent in 2022— significantly lower than 4.1 percent that was anticipated in January. It is expected to hover around that pace over 2023-24, as the war in Ukraine disrupts activity, investment, and trade in the near term, pent-up demand fades, and fiscal and monetary policy accommodation is withdrawn. As a result of the damage from the pandemic and the war, the level of per capita income in developing economies this year will be nearly 5 percent below its pre-pandemic trend.
How do the cultural contexts of waste practices affect health and well-being? (WHO/Europe)
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/354695
In the face of a growing sense of urgency to address global climate goals, there is a need for approaches that move beyond technical innovations to better integrate a wide range of factors, including cultural contexts. A report published on 1 June 2022 by WHO/Europe attempts to systematically engage with the role of behaviour and cultural contexts in waste management practices, and how these impact health and well-being. The report looks at the roles of culture in the generation and management of municipal solid waste (as opposed to industrial waste or sewage) and how this influences the conditions for health and well-being. With the rise of consumerism, waste has come to symbolize the absence of meaning. Building on insights from the health humanities and social sciences, the report emphasizes the importance of recasting waste management as meaningful practice at the individual, community and national level. Using case stories and good practice examples from WHO Member States, the report shows how strategies of reducing, reusing and recycling are often deeply rooted cultural practices, and how these can be mobilized using grassroots action – if governments create the conditions for it. The report is based on a scoping review of 193 articles and is published as part of the Health Evidence Network synthesis report series.
Investing in carbon neutrality: Utopia or the new green wave? (FAO / EBRD)
https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cc0011en
A new report from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), provides a comprehensive look at decarbonizing agrifood systems, which is necessary and achievable. The report draws on insights from a wide range of stakeholders and sets out five areas for action to move the decarbonization agenda forward. The latest United Nations climate report reminds us that the clock is ticking to reduce emissions, curb global warming and address the climate crisis before it is too late. The world’s agrifood systems must do their part. Agrifood system emissions account for 21 percent to 37 percent of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions depending on estimates. At the same time, climate change adversely affects agrifood system actors in different ways, from smallholder farmers to large food manufacturers. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and supply chain disruptions already impact food production, undermining global efforts to end hunger. As a result, the number of people facing hunger could reach one billion by 2050.
ITU DataHub
http://datahub.itu.int/
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has launched a new data platform featuring some 200 statistical indicators on digital connectivity, trust, markets, governance, sustainability, and affordability. The ITU DataHub offers an intuitive, mobile-friendly interface complete with country and regional profiles and data tables, allowing users to quickly find, view, compare, and download statistics on all aspects of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Intended to support evidence-based policy- and decision-making, the new platform will help ITU Member States, industry players and other stakeholders identify gaps, priorities, and opportunities in the accelerating global digital transformation. It will also help to assess the effectiveness of past and ongoing policy interventions to close the digital gap, with 2.9 billion people worldwide still offline.
Making the right to social security a reality for domestic workers: A global review of policy trends, statistics and extension strategies (ILO)
https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—asia/—ro-bangkok/documents/publication/wcms_848280.pdf
Only six per cent of domestic workers worldwide have access to comprehensive social protection, according to a new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO). This leaves more than 94 per cent lacking access to the full range of protections, covering medical care, sickness, unemployment, old age, employment injury, family, maternity, invalidity and survivors’ benefits. According to the report, about half of all domestic workers have no coverage at all, with the remaining half legally covered by at least one benefit. The extension of effective coverage has lagged significantly behind that of legal coverage. Only one-in-five domestic workers are actually covered in practice because the vast majority are employed informally. Despite their vital contribution to society, supporting households with their most personal and care needs, most of the world’s 75,6 million domestic workers face multiple barriers to enjoying legal coverage and effective access to social security, the report explains. They are often excluded from national social security legislation.
Maritime trade disrupted: The war in Ukraine and its effects on maritime trade logistics (UNCTAD)
https://unctad.org/webflyer/maritime-trade-disrupted-war-ukraine-and-its-effects-maritime-trade-logistics
The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) says the war in the Ukraine is stifling trade and logistics of the country and the Black Sea region, increasing global vessel demand and the cost of shipping around the world. In this report published on 28 June 2022, UNCTAD says Ukraine’s trading partners now have to turn to other countries for the commodities they import. It attributes the shipping and transport hurdles in the Black Sea region to disruptions in regional logistics, the halting of port operations in Ukraine, the destruction of important infrastructure, trade restrictions, increased insurance costs and higher fuel prices.
Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals: Report of the Secretary-General (E/2022/55, 29 April 2022)
English, French & Spanish: https://undocs.org/E/2022/55
“Summary: In accordance with General Assembly resolution 70/1, the present report provides a global overview of the current situation of the Sustainable Development Goals using inputs from more than 50 international and regional organizations. The data contained herein are derived from indicators in the global indicator framework developed by the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goal Indicators, which was adopted by the Assembly on 6 July 2017 (see Assembly resolution 71/313).”
The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets 2022: The geography of food and agricultural trade; Policy approaches for sustainable development (FAO)
Report and In Brief: https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cc0471en
Digital report: https://www.fao.org/3/cc0471en/online/cc0471en.html
The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets 2022 (SOCO 2022) discusses how trade policies, based on both multilateral and regional approaches, can address today’s challenges for sustainable development. Trade policies in food and agriculture should aim to safeguard global food security, address the trade-offs between economic and environmental objectives, and strengthen the resilience of the global agrifood system to shocks, such as conflicts, pandemics and extreme weather. The report discusses the geography of trade, analysing food and agricultural trade and its patterns across countries and regions, its drivers and the trade policy environment. Comparative advantage, trade policies and trade costs shape the patterns of trade in food and agriculture. When comparative advantage plays out in the global market, trade benefits all countries. Lowering tariff barriers and reducing trade costs can promote trade and economic growth. Both multilateral and regional trade agreements can facilitate the process of making trade an avenue for growth but the gains of trade are distributed unevenly. When global environmental impacts, such as climate change, are considered, a multilateral approach to trade can help expand the reach of mitigation measures.
The State of Global Learning Poverty: 2022 Update
https://bit.ly/3yxyPnU
In the midst of the worst shock to education and learning in a century, global learning poverty is at crisis levels. This new report stresses that COVID-19-related school closures and other disruptions have sharply increased learning poverty, a measure of children unable to read and understand a simple passage by age 10. “The State of Global Learning Poverty: 2022 Update”, a new joint publication of the World Bank, UNICEF, FCDO, USAID, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and in partnership with UNESCO, stresses that even before the pandemic, there was already a learning crisis. New data presented in the report confirms that learning poverty was very high just before the pandemic hit. Since then, COVID-19 has sharply increased learning poverty, with COVID-driven school disruptions exacerbating the severe pre-pandemic learning crisis. The new RAPID framework provides a menu of options for countries to use to recover and accelerate learning.
Syria Economic Monitor, Spring 2022: Lost Generation of Syrians (World Bank)
https://bit.ly/3R2xwnV
The Syria Economic Monitor is a new semi-annual economic publication of the World Bank. It aims to provide an update on key economic developments, outlook, risks, and policies in Syria and situate them in the conflict context. It also presents findings from the World Bank’s recent analytical work in Syria. The Syria Economic Monitor is part of a more general effort at the World Bank to better understand economic and social dynamics in fragile, conflict, and violence (FCV) settings.
Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF)
http://alliancehydromet.org/soff/
A new finance mechanism to strengthen weather and climate observations, improve early warnings to save lives, protect livelihoods and underpin climate adaptation for long-term resilience has opened its doors for business. The Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) is a key building block for a new initiative spearheaded by United Nations Secretary-General General António Guterres to ensure that early warning services reach everyone in the next five years. SOFF seeks to address the long-standing problem of missing weather and climate observations from Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States. In support of the Paris Agreement, it will strengthen the international response to climate change by filling the data gaps that limit our understanding of the climate. These gaps affect our capacity to predict and adapt to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and heatwaves.
UN DESA Policy Brief No. 136: Promoting non-discrimination in public administration: some entry points
https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/publication/un-desa-policy-brief-no-136-promoting-non-discrimination-in-public-administration-some-entry-points/
The promotion of non-discrimination needs to be formally mainstreamed throughout public administration. This brief examines a limited selection: citizens’ charters, public procurement, positive duties, institutional culture, artificial intelligence, workforce diversity, schools of public administration, and public audits.
UN DESA Policy Brief No. 135: Cryptoassets and so-called “stablecoins”: Where do we go from here?
https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/publication/un-desa-policy-brief-no-135-cryptoassets-and-so-called-stablecoins-where-do-we-go-from-here/
While they have been touted for their potential to increase the efficiency of financial transactions and to support financial inclusion, their high volatility and largely unregulated and quasi-anonymous nature has raised concerns over investor protection and financial integrity, and increasingly also financial stability and international spillovers.
UN DESA Policy Brief No. 134: The Great Finance Divide
https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/publication/un-desa-policy-brief-no-134-the-great-finance-divide/
Developing countries will need reliable access to affordable financing, and also need to manage and use these resources well to translate financing into SDG progress, enhanced productivity and fiscal capacity to service debt.
UN Ocean Conference – Database for registered commitments
https://sdgs.un.org/partnerships/action-networks/ocean-commitments
In its resolution 73/292, the General Assembly called for new voluntary commitments to be made in support of SDG 14, in connection with the UN Ocean Conference. DESA has created this online searchable database to collect and shine the spotlight on such commitments. More than 1,700 initiatives covering all targets of SDG 14 have been registered since the 2017 UN Ocean Conference by a range of different actors.
Understanding the digital media ecosystem: how the evolution of the digital marketing ecosystem impacts tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food marketing (World Bank)
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/355277
Digital and online ecosystems have for a long time been a playground for unregulated promotional campaigns of unhealthy products, from fast food to alcohol to tobacco. The newly published WHO report “Understanding the digital media ecosystem” explores how countries of the WHO European Region can protect people’s health by better controlling unethical digital advertising techniques, aimed mostly at children and adolescents. There is clear evidence that promotion of unhealthy products increases the risk of many noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. Moreover, online marketing of fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages is related to childhood obesity that can lead to severe NCDs later in life. Producers of unhealthy food, alcohol and tobacco use ever-changing digital ecosystems to unethically market their products to children, who have the right to be protected from misinformation and manipulation. New marketing techniques aimed at children and adolescents are being actively used on social media platforms, in video games and in other types of digital media. These techniques are particularly effective because they are aimed at building an emotional connection with the audience. But as the WHO report has indicated, today’s global digital advertisement ecosystem presents a new window of opportunity to change this 600-billion-dollar market.
War in Ukraine Drives Global Food Crisis (WFP)
https://www.wfp.org/publications/war-ukraine-drives-global-food-crisis
A global food crisis fuelled by conflict, climate shocks and the COVID-19 pandemic is growing because of the ripple effects of the war in Ukraine driving rising prices of food, fuel and fertilizer. Millions of people across the world are at risk of being driven into starvation unless action is taken now to respond together and at scale. Due to the unprecedented overlap of crises, WFP’s annual operational requirements are at an all-time high of US$22.2 billion, with confirmed contributions so far at US$4.8 billion (22 percent). WFP is calling for coordinated action to address this crisis.
Where Is the Value in the Chain? Pathways out of Plastic Pollution (World Bank)
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/37285
Plastics have been a development driver for decades but have turned into a development problem due to their omnipresence in the environment. Marine litter and plastic pollution have attracted much attention and commitments from governments and the private sector alike in the past few years. Policies to curb plastic pollution have had limited success in many developing countries because of various markets and policy failures. This report aims to support policymakers in their efforts to address plastic pollution. By examining the economic and financial implications of plastic management, the report provides key recommendations on how to create a comprehensive approach to addressing plastic pollution and to help policymakers make informed decisions for plastic pollution management. Overall, the report concludes that the effectiveness of policies to address plastics pollution can be substantially improved through careful design, implementation and evaluation. The report is structured in five chapters: Chapter 1 presents the drivers of plastic pollution and market failures that led to it; Chapter 2 presents the key building blocks of the policy process; Chapter 3 focuses on the process of setting targets and how the Estimator contributes to it; Chapter 4 deep dives on choosing policy instruments, and how the PPS can support policymakers in this choice; and Chapter 5 brings together results and lessons from this work.
World Cities Report 2022: Envisaging the Future of Cities (UN-Habitat)
https://unhabitat.org/wcr/
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 created a temporary crisis of confidence in the future of cities. However, a broad consensus is that urbanization remains a powerful twenty-first century mega-trend; and that well-planned towns and cities remain central to the sustainable development trajectory. There is a sense of optimism that the crisis may provide us with the opportunity to build back differently, more inclusively, greener and safer. The report seeks to provide greater clarity and insights into the future of cities based on existing trends, challenges and opportunities, as well as disruptive conditions, including the valuable lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, and suggests ways that cities can be better prepared to address a wide range of shocks and transition to sustainable urban futures. The Report proposes a state of informed preparedness that provides us with the opportunity to anticipate change, correct the course of action and become more knowledgeable of the different scenarios or possibilities that the future of cities offers. The Report identifies three possible scenarios of urban futures: high damage, pessimistic and optimistic. Avoiding the high damage scenario and manifesting an optimistic urban future requires collaborative, well-coordinated and effective multilateral interventions. The response to the current urban crisis can lead to a collective reprioritization of cities across the world towards shared prosperity and inclusion.
World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all (WHO)
Report in English, Executive Summary in English, French & Spanish: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240049338
The World Health Organization on 17 June 2022 released its largest review of world mental health since the turn of the century. The detailed work provides a blueprint for governments, academics, health professionals, civil society and others with an ambition to support the world in transforming mental health. In 2019, nearly a billion people – including 14% of the world’s adolescents – were living with a mental disorder. Suicide accounted for more than 1 in 100 deaths and 58% of suicides occurred before age 50. Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability, causing one in six years lived with disability. People with severe mental health conditions die on average 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population, mostly due to preventable physical diseases. Childhood sexual abuse and bullying victimization are major causes of depression. Social and economic inequalities, public health emergencies, war, and the climate crisis are among the global, structural threats to mental health. Depression and anxiety went up by more than 25% in the first year of the pandemic alone.
WHO scorecards on health and environment
https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/monitoring
These new cards for more than 60 countries provide an illustrated snapshot of where countries stand on managing six major environmental threats to health: air pollution, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), climate change, exposure to chemicals, radiation, and occupational health. Comparing to a healthy baseline in each category, the scorecards highlight the extent of the most urgent problems in that country in each area; the health impacts of falling short of those targets, and the policies that are, or should be, in place to tackle issues. Their ultimate aim is to help countries and national policy makers identify priorities and areas in great need of attention and resources. The scorecards have been developed as part of a larger package of materials to strengthen concrete action on health and environment, including the extensive Compendium of WHO and other UN guidance on Health and Environment which provides concrete measure that can be implemented in various areas.
WTO contribution to the 2022 UN High-Level Political Forum
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&type=30022&nr=3344&menu=3170
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has highlighted the role of trade in helping countries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in a report submitted to the UN’s High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development to be held in July. The report also examines the WTO’s contribution to improving livelihoods, achieving sustainable development and making trade work for people, priorities on which Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has placed renewed emphasis. The WTO report contains an analysis of the trade performance of developing countries. It also discusses the impact of the conflict in Ukraine and looks into trade topics related to the SDGs.
International Peace and Security
25 Years of Children and Armed Conflict: Taking Action to Protect Children in War (UNICEF)
English, French & Spanish: https://www.unicef.org/reports/25-years-children-armed-conflict
The report presents key steps that the international community has taken to protect children in situations of armed conflict, with a specific focus on the Security Council-mandated Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) to document grave violations against children and to foster accountability by identifying perpetrators. Based on 16 years of data from the Secretary-General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict, this report illustrates the impact that armed conflicts have had on children, by presenting trends of grave violations across the world and over time. The report examines how information on the documented patterns of grave violations is being used to respond to children’s needs and how engagement with parties to conflict – State and non-State actors alike – enables ending and preventing grave violations. The report also provides country-specific examples showing how direct engagement translated into the adoption of concrete measures, including national legislation and policies. Finally, the report presents key recommendations aimed at intensifying the actions of the international and the humanitarian communities and strengthening the programmatic response to better target and address the needs and vulnerabilities of all children living in situations of armed conflict.
Concept note for the Security Council high-level open debate on the theme “Keeping the promises: the role of regional organizations in implementing the women and peace and security agenda in the face of political turmoil and seizures of power by force”
English, French & Spanish: https://undocs.org/S/2022/457
The Security Council will hold on 15 June 2022 a high-level open debate on the theme “Keeping the promises: the role of regional organizations in implementing the women and peace and security agenda in the face of political turmoil and seizures of power by force”, in connection with the item entitled “Women and peace and security”. In order to guide the discussions on this topic, Albania, the Security Council President for June 2022, has prepared this concept note.
Concept note for the Arria-formula meeting on the theme “Twentieth anniversary of the entry into force of the Rome Statute: reflections on the relationship between the International Criminal Court and the Security Council”
English, French & Spanish: https://undocs.org/S/2022/494
Ireland organized an Arria-formula meeting of the Security Council on 24 June 2022, on the theme “Twentieth anniversary of the entry into force of the Rome Statute: reflections on the relationship between the International Criminal Court and the Security Council”. In order to guide the discussions on this topic, Ireland has prepared a concept note.
Exploring the Use of Technology for Remote Ceasefire Monitoring and Verification (UNIDIR)
https://unidir.org/publication/exploring-use-technology-remote-ceasefire-monitoring-and-verification
Ceasefires play an important role in the prevention of further conflict and armed violence. Monitoring and verifying that the terms of a ceasefire agreement are respected plays a key role in ensuring an end to violence. Traditionally, ceasefire monitoring and verification has been human-led. In some circumstances, it can however be difficult deploy observers on the ground. While technology cannot replace humans in all aspects of the monitoring and verification of ceasefires, especially within dialogue and de-escalation efforts, technology can nonetheless support and complement human-led activities. This report explains what technological solutions are available to help monitor and verify ceasefires, outlining the respective technological advantages and limitations of each solution. The report also provides a series of guiding considerations around the use of technology, highlighting recommended issues to reflect upon before using technology to aid with ceasefire monitoring and verification
The People-Centered Approach to Security (UNDP)
https://www.undp.org/publications/people-centered-approach-security
This contributing paper intends to start a wider dialogue within the UN and beyond about how to better operationalize people-centered security (PCS) in the field. It will explore the challenges of implementing a PCS approach in line with the SDG-16 and explain subsidiary concepts that have grown out of PCS thinking. The paper will outline the obstacles to the realization of PCS programming and present thoughts on how to overcome them.
Human Rights
Child Labour and Responsible Business Conduct: A Guidance Note for Action (UNICEF)
https://www.unicef.org/media/122616/file/Guidance-Note-Child-Labour-and-Responsible-Business-Conduct-June-22_1.pdf.pdf
This report provides guidance to businesses, policy makers and other stakeholders towards meeting SDG Target 8.7 on eradicating child labour by 2025. It improves on existing literature by emphasising responsible business practices that address root causes and wider children’s rights deprivations. The report outlines how the private sector can respond to child labour more effectively and sustainably. It includes deep dives analyzing business policies and practices in three key sectors: cobalt, cocoa, and cotton. Based on this analysis, the report offers guidance on grounding child labour strategies in child rights-based approaches, focusing on prevention and integration across core business practices and strategies. It also explores emerging mandatory human rights due diligence legislation and the criteria such laws should include to effectively protect children from adverse business impacts, including child labour.
Civilian Deaths in the Syrian Arab Republic: Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/HRC/50/68, 28 June 2022)
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2022-06/A_HRC_50_68_AdvanceUneditedVersion.docx
The UN Human Rights Office published on 28 June 2022 a report that, following rigorous assessment and statistical analysis of available data on civilian casualties, estimates that 306,887 civilians were killed between 1 March 2011 and 31 March 2021 in Syria due to the conflict. This is the highest estimate yet of conflict-related civilian deaths in Syria. The report, mandated by the UN Human Rights Council, referred to 143,350 civilian deaths that have been individually documented by various sources with detailed information, including at least their full name, date and location of death. In addition, statistical estimation techniques of imputation and multiple systems estimation were used to connect the dots where there were missing elements of information. Using these techniques, a further 163,537 civilian deaths were estimated to have occurred, bringing the total estimated civilian death toll to 306,887.
Ending Internet shutdowns: a path forward; Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association (A/HRC/47/24/Add.2, 15 June 2022)
English, French & Spanish: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/47/24/Add.2
The dramatic real-life effects of Internet shutdowns on people’s lives and human rights have been vastly underestimated, the UN Human Rights Office warns in a new report. It urges States not to impose Internet shutdowns. The report aims to shed much-needed light on the phenomenon of Internet shutdowns, looking at when and why they are imposed and examining how they undermine a range of human rights, first and foremost the right to freedom of expression. Shutdowns can mean a complete block on Internet connectivity but governments also increasingly resort to banning access to major communication platforms and throttling bandwidth and limiting mobile services to 2G transfer speeds, making it hard, for example, to share and watch videos or live picture broadcasts. The report notes that the #KeepItOn coalition, which monitors shutdowns episodes across the world, documented 931 shutdowns between 2016 and 2021 in 74 countries, with some countries blocking communications repeatedly and over long periods of time.
Istanbul Protocol: Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OHCHR)
https://www.ohchr.org/en/publications/policy-and-methodological-publications/istanbul-protocol-manual-effective-0
On 29 June 2022, a revised version of a major human rights document — the Istanbul Protocol — is being launched in Geneva. Since 1999, the Istanbul Protocol has set out international standards for investigating and documenting acts of torture and ill-treatment, providing essential guidance for medical, law enforcement, prosecution, judicial and other relevant professionals. The revision of the Istanbul Protocol — the Manual on Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment to give it its full title — is the result of six-year process involving 180 experts from 51 countries. The project was led by four civil society organizations — Physicians for Human Rights, the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey and the Redress Trust — and members from four core UN anti-torture bodies: the Committee against Torture; the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture; the Special Rapporteur on Torture; and the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. The revised version offers additional guidance for health professionals in documenting torture and ill-treatment in different contexts and a step-by-step guide for States on how to effectively implement the Protocol. More generally, the revised version reflects on the most recent jurisprudence on torture prevention, accountability and redress, as well as lessons learned from using the Protocol over the past 20 years
Losing a generation: how the military junta is devastating: Myanmar’s children and undermining Myanmar’s future – Conference room paper of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar (A/HRC/50/CRP.1)
https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc50crp1-conference-room-paper-special-rapporteur-losing-generation
The Myanmar military junta has brutally attacked and killed children and systematically abused their human rights, a UN expert said in a report released on 14 June 2022 that calls for immediate coordinated action to protect the rights of children and safeguard Myanmar’s future. “The junta’s relentless attacks on children underscore the generals’ depravity and willingness to inflict immense suffering on innocent victims in its attempt to subjugate the people of Myanmar,” said Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. “The international community’s approach to the coup and the junta’s atrocities has failed. States must take immediate coordinated action to address an escalating political, economic and humanitarian crisis that is putting Myanmar’s children at risk of becoming a lost generation.” The Special Rapporteur said it was clear from the evidence that the children of Myanmar were not only being caught in the crossfire of escalating attacks, but that they were often the targets of the violence.
Minding the Corporate Gap: How Human Rights Defenders and Companies Can Work Together to Tackle Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Intersex Persons (OHCHR)
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2022-05/Minding-Corporate-Gap.pdf
This publication seeks to assist human rights defenders in approaching, engaging and enlisting the backing of business for measures that promote greater equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons. It also offers companies, especially human resource management professionals and those promoting diversity and inclusion within companies, with an overview of areas for potential collaboration with LGBTI civil society, as well as practical examples of such collaboration in different parts of the world.
Protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests during crisis situations – Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule (A/HRC/50/42, 16 May 2022)
English, French & Spanish: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/50/42
“Summary: The present report is prepared by the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 44/20 of 17 July 2020. The Special Rapporteur has examined key global trends that seriously impede the protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests in crisis situations. They include stigmatization, abuse of emergency measures, militarization and use of unlawful force to stifle peaceful protests, compounded by endemic impunity for serious violations. The Special Rapporteur reaffirms the importance peaceful protest has for democratic, just and peaceful society and as a means to ensure people’s voices are heard and taken into account. Based on numerous global consultations and submissions by States, law enforcement and non-State actors, the Special Rapporteur offers practical recommendations to enhance facilitation and protection of human rights during peaceful protests in crisis.”
The situation of human rights in Ukraine in the context of the armed attack by the Russian Federation, 24 February to 15 May 2022
https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/situation-human-rights-ukraine-context-armed-attack-russian-federation
“Executive Summary: This report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) covers violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law that have occurred in the course of the ongoing armed attack by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. It covers the period from 24 February 2022 until 15 May 2022 and is based on the work of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.1 2. In the morning of 24 February, the Russian Federation launched an armed attack against Ukraine.2 The armed attack and associated hostilities have led to a grave deterioration in the human rights situation across the country.”
Syria’s Missing and Disappeared: Is There a Way Forward? Recommendations for a Mechanism with an International Mandate
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2022-06/PolicyPaperSyriasMissingAndDisappeared_17June2022_EN.pdf
“Introduction: More than a decade into the Syrian conflict, millions of Syrians are looking for their missing loved ones and seeking information on their fate and whereabouts. In December 2021, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 76/228, in which it requested the Secretary-General to produce a study on how to bolster efforts, including through existing measures and mechanisms, to clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing people, identify human remains and provide support to their families. The General Assembly specifically requested that the study be based on the recommendations of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic (hereinafter the Commission). In this paper, the Commission sets out some of its views on ways to address this issue, in line with its prior recommendations and the wishes of family members, victims, and survivors of the Syrian conflict.”
Tackling abuse of older people: five priorities for the United Nations decade of healthy ageing (2021–2030) (WHO)
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/356151
In the context of the annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners published Tackling abuse of older people: five priorities for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030. The new resource outlines key priorities to prevent and respond to abuse of older people and, hence, contribute to improving their health, well-being and dignity. Every year 1 in 6 people aged 60 years and older experience some form of abuse, with 2 in 3 staff in institutions such as nursing homes and other long-term care facilities admitting to committing abuse in the past year. Like many forms of violence, abuse of older people has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. With rapidly population ageing in many countries, this growing trend is expected to continue.
Humanitarian Affairs
Building Resilient Migration Systems in the Mediterranean Region: Lessons from COVID-19 (World Bank)
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/37534
For thousands of years, migration has been a source of social and economic well-being for people living on different shores of the Mediterranean Sea. People move for many reasons: to escape war and famine in their home countries, or to seek higher earnings that are frequently sent back to their relatives in the form of remittances. This complex web of movement across the Mediterranean was disrupted by COVID-19 as countries sought to contain the virus through new restrictions on mobility. This new World Bank publication examines what happened to migration during the pandemic. It found that despite the disruptions, the flow of migrants continued, even if people sought riskier routes. The report highlights how countries adapted, introducing new health protocols, fast-tracking migration procedures and expanding basic services. The report underscores problems with the migration system that existed long before the pandemic and offers policy recommendations to improve the system so that future shocks are less disruptive. These migration reforms could also help countries to better address labour shortages while sustaining household incomes and keeping migrant and native populations safe. Economic disparities, conflict, climate change and many other challenges result in people crossing national borders and this trend will continue. That’s why it is important to build a more resilient migration system and plan for a more sustainable future.
Early warning, alert and response to acute public health events in refugee-hosting countries (WHO/Europe / ECDC)
https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/WHO-EURO-2022-5506-45271-64773
The scale of the refugee crisis brought about by the Ukraine war has shone a spotlight on the plight of refugees and the responses by neighbouring countries to support them. However, many existing national public health surveillance systems, no matter how strong, are often not well-equipped to provide an early warning, alert and response (EWAR) function in the context of refugee crises. To help countries with this, WHO/Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have published this new report, which acts as an EWAR advocacy and quick assessment tool, of particular use for public health responders in refugee-hosting countries.
Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2021
Report in English, French & Spanish: https://www.unhcr.org/unhcr-global-trends-2021-media-page.html
The number of people forced to flee their homes has increased every year over the past decade and stands at the highest level since records began, a trend that can be only reversed by a new, concerted push towards peacemaking, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, said on 16 June 2022. By the end of 2021, those displaced by war, violence, persecution, and human rights abuses stood at 89.3 million, up 8 per cent on a year earlier and well over double the figure of 10 years ago, according to UNHCR’s annual Global Trends report. Since then, the Russian invasion of Ukraine – causing the fastest and one of the largest forced displacement crises since World War II – and other emergencies, from Africa to Afghanistan and beyond, pushed the figure over the dramatic milestone of 100 million. Last year was notable for the number of conflicts that escalated and new ones that flared; 23 countries, with a combined population of 850 million, faced medium- or high-intensity conflicts, according to the World Bank. Meanwhile, food scarcity, inflation and the climate crisis are adding to people’s hardship, stretching the humanitarian response just as the funding outlook in many situations appears bleak. The number of refugees rose in 2021 to 27.1 million. Arrivals climbed in Uganda, Chad and Sudan among others. Most refugees were, once again, hosted by neighbouring countries with few resources. The number of asylum seekers reached 4.6 million, up 11 per cent.
The price the world’s forcibly displaced could pay (UNHCR)
https://reporting.unhcr.org/document/2632
“Introduction: The Ukraine war is a conflict with enormous regional and global repercussions, including for the scale, reach and effectiveness of UNHCR’s work around the world. The staggering scale of that emergency has increased UNHCR’s 2022 budget by more than $1 billion, to $10.534 billion. While UNHCR has received around $1 billion to support its Ukraine response – more than half coming from the private sector – it has become clear over the past weeks that total government contributions to UNHCR will reach about the same level as last year, despite the massive additional needs as a result of the war in Ukraine. The consequence is that the rest of the world’s forcibly displaced people are paying the price. Put simply, because overall costs have risen, UNHCR needs extra funding simply to maintain current levels of assistance for those it serves. The repercussions of the Ukraine crisis will result in more people being forcibly displaced and, thanks to food shortages and price rises, increase vulnerability among those already at risk. These are exceptional circumstances that require an exceptional call for support.”
Skills and labour market transitions for refugees and host communities
https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/93862
This study is a joint collaboration of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Labour Organization (ILO), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Finn Church Aid (FCA) to identify good practices related to access to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes for refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs), as well as their host communities, and their transition to the labour market. The study reviews TVET systems and programmes implemented by national ministries, private sector actors, development agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across five countries – Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda – prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has created additional challenges for the livelihoods and inclusion of forcibly displaced people around the world.
Situation Report on International Migration 2021: Building forward better for migrants and refugees in the Arab region (ESCWA / IOM / UNHCR)
https://www.unescwa.org/publications/situation-report-international-migration-2021
The Arab region continues to be a prominent region of origin, transit and destination for international migration and forced displacement. In 2020, Arab countries hosted around 41.4 million migrants and refugees, and were the origin of an estimated 32.8 million. The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the negative impact of pre-existing structural barriers on migrants and refugees. It has highlighted the need to accelerate collective work in line with global frameworks, namely the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, and the Global Compact on Refugees. The present report highlights promising practices Arab countries have adopted to empower migrants and refugees in response to the pandemic. While recognizing their resilience and positive contributions to their countries of origin and destination, the report underscores the distinct vulnerabilities of migrants and refugees. Building forward better requires systematic changes to protect basic human rights and empower migrants and refugees. The report offers concrete and actionable recommendations to that end. It urges countries to capitalize on the potential of migrants and refugees to promote sustainable development, and calls on policymakers to protect and fulfil their rights.
Justice and International Law
Beyond the Pandemic – The Justice Emergency (UNDP)
https://www.undp.org/publications/beyond-pandemic-%E2%80%93-justice-emergency
This background paper reflects on some emerging trends, opportunities and challenges for responding to and overcoming today’s pandemic of injustice. Its primary aim is to stimulate and facilitate strategic conversations about UNDP’s current and future work to promote justice and the rule of law. The paper raises issues and ideas that are highly pertinent for development practitioners working across the fields of democratic governance, conflict prevention, security and human rights and others. As such the paper seeks to raise questions and present ideas that can encourage reflection, spur debate and inform positive collective action towards a more just and peaceful future.
E-Justice: Digital Transformation to Close the Justice Gap (UNDP)
https://www.undp.org/publications/e-justice-digital-transformation-close-justice-gap
This paper examines the opportunities and risks of e-justice from a development lens providing concrete parameters for responsible digitalization in the legal sector and illustrates the trends that have emerged from the digitalization of the justice sector in recent years. To explore this, the author has conducted extensive consultations across the UNDP network at country, regional and global levels and based her findings on innovative case studies. As a complement to this paper, a set of tools have been designed to help practitioners quickly understand e-justice initiatives and bring a human rights-based framework to the design, implementation and monitoring of e-justice as a part of UNDP’s digitalization efforts.
Environmental Justice: Securing Our Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment (UNDP)
https://www.undp.org/publications/environmental-justice-securing-our-right-clean-healthy-and-sustainable-environment
This paper forms the basis for a new UNDP strategy for engaging in environmental justice (including climate justice) as an integrated and collaborative effort that brings together the rule of law, human rights, governance and nature, climate and energy workstreams. The paper presents insights and key findings from an extensive consultation process that aimed at identifying entry points and suggestions for interventions in this area, as well as a three-pronged approach for UNDP’s environmental justice work: i) establishing legal frameworks at national and international levels, applying innovative and human rights-based approaches (HRBA) for respecting, protecting and fulfilling environmental rights, notably the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and other human rights affected by the planetary crises; ii) strengthening people-centered and effective institutions, especially those related to justice and human rights, to ensure they are accessible to all populations within their purview, and are equipped to monitor, enforce and implement environmental law, as well as promote the environmental rights of current and future generations; and iii) increasing access to justice and legal empowerment in environmental and climate change matters, so that people can be active players in combatting the planetary crises by enforcing, claiming and defending their environmental rights, and directly contribute to policy change.
ICC at 20: Five things you should know about the International Criminal Court
English: https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/06/1121282
French: https://news.un.org/fr/story/2022/06/1122342
Trying the gravest crimes, involving victims, ensuring fair trials, complementing national tribunals: in its first 20 years of existence, the International Criminal Court has made notable progress in its crucial mission.
UN Audiovisual Library of International Law – new lectures
- Relevance and Usefulness of International Humanitarian Law: The Laws of War Today / by Helen Durham, Director of International Law and Policy at the International Committee of the Red Cross: https://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Durham_LAC.html
- Mini-series on International Environmental Law / by Edith Brown Weiss, University Professor, Georgetown Law Georgetown University Law Center: https://legal.un.org/avl/MiniSeries/Weiss_MS.html
- Guide to Provisional Application of Treaties / by Juan Manuel Gómez Robledo, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations, Member of the International Law Commission: https://legal.un.org/avl/ls/Gomez-Robledo_LT.html
Drug Control, Crime Prevention and Counter-terrorism
Combating Waste Trafficking: A Guide to Good Legislative Practices (UNODC)
https://sherloc.unodc.org/cld/uploads/pdf/Combating_Waste_Trafficking_-_Guide_on_Good_Legislative_Practices_-_EN.pdf
UNODC is developing a series of legislative guides, intended to support states in enacting or strengthening domestic legislation on various forms of crimes that affect the environment. The guides focus on implementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) to prevent and combat these crimes, providing national lawmakers with concrete model provisions, national examples and legislative guidance. The legislative guide on combating waste trafficking, funded by France, was released on 10 June 2022. This year is set to see the publication of two additional guides currently under development, one focusing on illegal mining and trafficking in metals and minerals also funded by France, the other on crimes in the fisheries sector, with funding from Norway and developed in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In 2018, UNODC published a first guide on drafting legislation to combat wildlife crime, funded by the United States and the European Union. In developing these tools, UNODC has held expert group meetings with a wide range of experts to ensure the guides are relevant and applicable to all jurisdictions and in any regional context. Partners have ranged from international and regional organizations, government ministries and law enforcement agencies, research institutes and civil society from around the world.
Exploitation and Abuse: The Scale and Scope of Human Trafficking in South Eastern Europe (UNODC)
https://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/Exploitation_and_Abuse.pdf
Migrants on their way from Asia to Europe are being forced to work in the construction, agriculture, and hospitality sectors by human traffickers who abuse their irregular status and fear of deportation. Children, often exploited by their own family members, are compelled to commit crimes that include pickpocketing, robbery, and drug dealing, while others are sexually exploited online as traffickers take advantage of the increased use of the internet and social media platforms. These are some of the issues explored in a new report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on the scale and scope of human trafficking in South Eastern Europe (SEE). Over 450 anti-trafficking experts from 22 countries contributed to the report examining the root causes of trafficking, the profile of the victims and the perpetrators, and the recruitment methods of the traffickers. The report, which consolidates the findings of five regional expert meetings, also highlights successful actions that some countries are undertaking to prevent trafficking and prosecute the criminals involved. The SEE region – which includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia – is a source, transit, and destination region for victims of human trafficking.
World Drug Report 2022 (UNODC)
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/data-and-analysis/world-drug-report-2022.html
Cannabis legalization in parts of the world appears to have accelerated daily use and related health impacts, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s World Drug Report 2022. Released on 27 June 2022, the report also details record rises in the manufacturing of cocaine, the expansion of synthetic drugs to new markets, and continued gaps in the availability of drug treatments, especially for women. According to the report, around 284 million people aged 15-64 used drugs worldwide in 2020, a 26 per cent increase over the previous decade. Young people are using more drugs, with use levels today in many countries higher than with the previous generation. In Africa and Latin America, people under 35 represent the majority of people being treated for drug use disorders. Globally, the report estimates that 11.2 million people worldwide were injecting drugs. Around half of this number were living with hepatitis C, 1.4 million were living with HIV, and 1.2 million were living with both.
Newsletter Archive: https://unric.org/en/unric-info-point-library-newsletter-archive