New UN websites & publications
UN in General
The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023: Special Edition
English: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2023/
additional languages forthcoming
The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023: Special Edition provides a powerful call to action, presenting a candid assessment of the SDGs based on the latest data and estimates. While highlighting the existing gaps and urging the world to redouble its efforts, the report also emphasizes the immense potential for success through strong political will and the utilization of available technologies, resources, and knowledge. Together, the global community can reignite progress towards achieving the SDGs and create a brighter future for all. According to the report, the impacts of the climate crisis, the war in Ukraine, a weak global economy, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have revealed weaknesses and hindered progress towards the Goals. The report further warns that while lack of progress is universal, it is the world’s poorest and most vulnerable who are experiencing the worst effects of these unprecedented global challenges. It also points out areas that need urgent action to rescue the SDGs and deliver meaningful progress for people and the planet by 2030.
Our Common Agenda: Policy Brief 8: Information Integrity on Digital Platforms
English: https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/our-common-agenda-policy-brief-information-integrity-en.pdf
French: https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/our-common-agenda-policy-brief-information-integrity-fr.pdf
Spanish: https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/our-common-agenda-policy-brief-information-integrity-es.pdf
A/77/CRP.1/ADD.7 in English, French & Spanish: https://undocs.org/A/77/CRP.1/ADD.7
“Summary: … The present policy brief is focused on how threats to information integrity are having an impact on progress on global, national and local issues. In Our Common Agenda, I called for empirically backed consensus around facts, science and knowledge. To that end, the present brief outlines potential principles for a code of conduct that will help to guide Member States, the digital platforms and other stakeholders in their efforts to make the digital space more inclusive and safe for all, while vigorously defending the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to access information. The code of conduct for information integrity on digital platforms is being developed in the context of preparations for the Summit of the Future. My hope is that it will provide a gold standard for guiding action to strengthen information integrity. …”
Previously issued policy briefs are available here:
English – https://www.un.org/en/common-agenda/policy-briefs
French – https://www.un.org/fr/common-agenda/policy-briefs
Spanish – https://www.un.org/es/common-agenda/policy-briefs
German – https://www.un.org/Depts/german/de/oca.html
Countering and Addressing Online Hate Speech: A Guide for policy makers and practitioners
https://bit.ly/3PNC7w7
The UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect has launched on 5 July 2023 a new policy paper on countering and addressing hate speech online. The policy paper was developed jointly by the UN Office with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Human Rights, Big Data and Technology Project at the University of Essex. The policy paper builds upon earlier initiatives, including The UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, which seeks to enhance the UN’s response to the global spread and impact of hate speech. The Strategy makes a firm commitment to step up coordinated action to tackle hate speech, both at global and national levels, including the use of new technologies and engaging with social media to address online hate speech and promote positive narratives.
Economic Growth and Sustainable Development
2023 Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI): Breaking down gender biases; Shifting social norms towards gender equality (UNDP)
https://hdr.undp.org/content/2023-gender-social-norms-index-gsni
The latest Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) report has revealed no improvement in biases against women in a decade, with almost 9 out of 10 men and women worldwide still holding such biases today. Half of people worldwide still believe men make better political leaders than women, and more than 40 percent believe men make better business executives than women. A staggering 25 percent of people believe it is justified for a man to beat his wife, according to the new GSNI report launched on 12 June 2023 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), reflecting the latest data from the World Values Survey. The report argues that these biases drive hurdles faced by women, manifested in a dismantling of women’s rights in many parts of the world with movements against gender equality gaining traction and, in some countries, a surge of human rights violations. Biases are also reflected in the severe underrepresentation of women in leadership. On average, the share of women as heads of state or heads of government has remained around 10 percent since 1995 and in the labour market women occupy less than a third of managerial positions. The report also sheds light on a broken link between women’s progress in education and economic empowerment. Women are more skilled and educated than ever before, yet even in the 59 countries where women are now more educated than men, the average gender income gap remains a staggering 39 percent in favour of men.
Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals 2023
https://datatopics.worldbank.org/sdgatlas/
The Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals 2023 presents interactive storytelling and data visualizations about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. It highlights trends for selected targets within each goal and introduces concepts about how some SDGs are measured. The Atlas draws from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators database, as well as from a wide variety of relevant data sources, including international organizations, scientists, and other researchers worldwide.
Children & UNCCD: The Land and WorkBook
https://www.unccd.int/news-stories/special-feature/future-our-planet-all-children-world
UNCCD – UN Convention to Combat Desertification: “We are very pleased to offer this beautiful booklet about land and the environment to children around the world. This small book full of pictures and brief explanations about the importance of caring for our lands, is engaging and allows for interactivity of the children. It comes with a beautifully designed workbook which encourages the children to paint, colour, draw, write brief stories, solve puzzles and so much more. It also provides users the possibilities to connect with other children from around the world. These two educational tools are beautiful and entertaining, while offering children the chance to show their talents and creativity. They make learning about land exciting, enjoyable and wonderous! This booklet and workbook are absolutely FREE OF COST! Schools, teachers, parents, guardians all, are encouraged to download and make use of these fantastic tools, to teach our children about the importance of land to our very survival.”
Compilation of main messages for the 2023 Voluntary National Reviews: Note by the Secretariat (E/HLPF/2023/5, 5 May 2023)
English, French & Spanish: https://undocs.org/E/HLPF/2023/5
The Secretariat transmits herewith the main messages of voluntary national reviews of 36 Member States (including Belgium, France, Iceland, Ireland, Portugal) and the European Union, in connection with the 2023 high-level political forum on sustainable development, in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 67/290, 70/1 and 70/299.
Falling Short: Addressing the climate finance gap for children
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/falling-short-addressing-climate-finance-gap-children-enar
Children are being failed by climate funding commitments, despite bearing the brunt of the climate crisis, according to a new report from members of the Children’s Environmental Rights Initiative (CERI) coalition; Plan International, Save the Children, and UNICEF. Just 2.4 percent of key global climate funds can be classified as supporting child-responsive activities, the report finds. According to UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Index, more than a billion children are at extremely high risk of the impacts of the climate crisis.
From Evidence to Action: Twenty Years of IOM Child Trafficking Data to Inform Policy and Programming
https://publications.iom.int/books/evidence-action-twenty-years-iom-child-trafficking-data-inform-policy-and-programming
More than half of child trafficking victims are trafficked within their own country according to new report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University (FXB). The report further reveals that in cases of international trafficking children are mostly trafficked to neighbouring, wealthier countries. Despite significant efforts, the number of children who continue to fall victim to traffickers remains high, largely due to inequitable social, economic, environmental, and political factors that foster exploitative and discriminatory practices. Close to half of the child victims of trafficking were being trafficked for forced labour (mainly boys), in a wide range of industries, such as domestic work, begging and agriculture. Sexual exploitation, including through prostitution, pornography, and sexual servitude, is also prominent, affecting 20 per cent of trafficked children, predominantly girls. According to the report, child victims trafficked for sexual exploitation were commonly trafficked internationally, while those trafficked for forced labour were more likely to be trafficked domestically. Involvement of family and friends in their recruitment, is a prominent trend with more than half of child victims experiencing this.
The Hidden Wealth of Nations: Groundwater in Times of Climate Change (World Bank)
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water/publication/the-hidden-wealth-of-nations-groundwater-in-times-of-climate-change
Groundwater is our most important freshwater resource, but the lack of systematic analysis of its economic importance has evaded attention from policymakers and the general public–threatening the resource. The report offers new data and evidence that advances understanding of the value of groundwater, the costs of mismanagement, and the opportunities to leverage its potential. Its findings also reflect on the policy issues policymakers confront when attempting to align the private and social costs of groundwater use. A central message of this report is that groundwater needs to be politically prioritized and should be carefully managed through integrated cross-sectoral action to benefit society, the economy, and the environment.
Occupational safety and health in the future of forestry work (FAO / UNECE)
https://unece.org/info/publications/pub/380802
A systemic change is needed to provide a safe and healthy working environment for the estimated 33 million people working in the forest sector worldwide, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNECE. Occupational safety and health in the future of forestry work explains that global ‘megatrends’ are transforming working conditions in the sector, bringing with them new challenges but also creating opportunities that must be seized to better protect forest workers. While forests provide employment, food, income, shelter and ecosystem services for millions, they are among the most dangerous places to work. Globalization, demographic shifts, technological developments and climate change are generating even more risks for many forest workers, according to the report.
Policies to protect children from the harmful impact of food marketing: WHO guideline
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240075412
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new guideline on policies to protect children from the harmful impact of food marketing. The guideline recommends countries implement comprehensive mandatory policies to protect children of all ages from the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages that are high in saturated fatty acids, trans-fatty acids, free sugars and/or salt (HFSS). More than 10 years after Member States endorsed WHO’s recommendations on the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children in 2010, children continue to be exposed to powerful marketing of HFSS foods and non-alcoholic beverages, consumption of which is associated with negative health effects. The updated recommendation is based on the findings of reviews of recent evidence, including how exposure to and the power of food marketing affects children’s health, eating behaviours, and food-related attitudes and beliefs. In short, food marketing remains a threat to public health and continues to negatively affect children’s food choices, intended choices and their dietary intake. It also negatively influences the development of children’s norms about food consumption.
Progress on household drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2022: Special focus on gender
https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/progress-on-household-drinking-water–sanitation-and-hygiene-2000-2022—special-focus-on-gender
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development called for ‘ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’ under SDG6, and established ambitious new indicators for WASH services under targets 6.1 and 6.2. The SDG global target for sanitation and hygiene (6.2) includes an explicit reference to ‘paying special attention to the needs of women and girls’, but there remains a lack of commonly agreed indicators for national and global monitoring of gender in WASH. The 2023 WHO/UNICEF JMP report on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene has a special focus on gender, and provides the first in-depth analysis of gender inequalities in WASH services. The report presents new sex-disaggregated data on the burden of water collection, as well as perceptions of safety outside the household after dark among men and women without private sanitation facilities. Emerging indicators on menstrual health are highlighted, including national data from 53 countries. And while not sex-disaggregated, a number of WASH indicators should be considered as gender-sensitive, including accessibility of drinking water sources, use of private sanitation facilities, and access to handwashing facilities with soap and water in the home.
Rethinking our Food Systems: A Guide for Multi-stakeholder Collaboration
https://www.undp.org/publications/rethinking-our-food-systems-guide-multi-stakeholder-collaboration
UNEP, FAO, and UNDP have come together to consolidate learnings and tools, gathered from within and beyond the three UN agencies in order to provide a practical guide for multi-stakeholder collaboration. This guide is intended for institutions and facilitators responsible for leading multi-stakeholder initiatives that are inclusive of government and essential non-governmental actors committed to contributing to the sustainable transformation of food systems.
Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Waste and Electricity Services in Health Care Facilities: 2023 Global Progress Report (WHO / UNICEF)
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240075085
Worldwide, millions of lives could be saved and billions in economic losses prevented through one simple, affordable intervention: water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in health care facilities. Safe WASH services enable life-saving infection prevention and control practices, curb the spread of antimicrobial resistance, and help in delivering quality primary health care services to all. Yet, actions taken in countries are insufficient, according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) released on 13 June 2023. The report highlights that an estimated 8 million people die annually in 137 low- and middle-income countries from poor-quality health care, resulting in US$6 trillion in economic losses from poor health and premature mortality. WASH, waste and electricity services are major contributors to high quality health care. Interventions such as improving availability of hand hygiene and drinking water stations, regular cleaning, functioning toilets and regular on-site water supply can greatly help in improving health services, staff performance and in respecting the dignity of health care facility users.
WHO/UNICEF How to build an infodemic insights report in 6 steps
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240075658
Within a noisy information environment that affects people’s perceptions, attitudes and health decisions, there is often a gap between health guidance recommendations and the population’s behaviour. In these cases, infodemic insights can help to inform an emergency response or the response of a health programme. This manual provides a quick overview of the steps required to develop an infodemic insights report that can be used during an emergency response or for routine health programming (where so-called low-level infodemics may be more common). The steps are: 1. Choose the question that infodemic management insights could help to answer; 2. Identify and select the data sources and develop an analysis plan for each data source; 3. Conduct an integrated analysis across those data sources; 4. Develop strategies and recommendations; 5. Develop an infodemic insights report; 6. Disseminate the infodemic insights report and track the actions taken. Each chapter of the manual is dedicated to explaining one step of this process, and is accompanied by printable and electronically-fillable templates and worksheets, and reference handouts on analyzing particular health contexts.
Women as Agents of Change for Greening Agriculture and Reducing Gender Inequality (UNDP Development Futures Series)
https://www.undp.org/publications/women-agents-change-greening-agriculture-and-reducing-gender-inequality
The policy brief highlights the essentiality of women in agriculture and their potential role in shifting to sustainable agriculture, increasing food security and increasing agricultural productivity when they have access and ability to adopt innovative agriculture techniques such as climate-smart agriculture practices (CSA). This policy brief identifies key actions that can remove barriers or women in agriculture, including collection of gender disaggregated data for gender-sensitive planning, research analysis, advocacy for equitable access to productive assets, capacity building and awareness raising, and cross-sector collaborations to enable gender-equitable access to infrastructure, financial capital, productive assets and other services.
World Drug Report 2023 (UNODC)
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/world-drug-report-2023.html
Continued record illicit drug supply and increasingly agile trafficking networks are compounding intersecting global crises and challenging health services and law enforcement responses, according to the World Drug Report 2023 launched by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on 26 June 2023. New data put the global estimate of people who inject drugs in 2021 at 13.2 million, 18 per cent higher than previously estimated. Globally, over 296 million people used drugs in 2021, an increase of 23 per cent over the previous decade. The number of people who suffer from drug use disorders, meanwhile, has skyrocketed to 39.5 million, a 45 per cent increase over 10 years. The Report features a special chapter on drug trafficking and crimes that affect the environment in the Amazon Basin, as well as sections on clinical trials involving psychedelics and medical use of cannabis; drug use in humanitarian settings; innovations in drug treatment and other services; and drugs and conflict. The World Drug Report 2023 also highlights how social and economic inequalities drive – and are driven by – drug challenges; the environmental devastation and human rights abuses caused by illicit drug economies; and the rising dominance of synthetic drugs.
For the first time since its conception, this year the World Drug Report consists of two products, a web-based element and a set of booklets. The latest global, regional and subregional estimates of and trends in drug demand and supply are presented in a user-friendly, interactive online segment. While Special points of interest include key takeaways and policy implications, booklet 1 takes the form of an executive summary based on analysis of the key findings of the online segment and the thematic booklet 2 and the conclusions that can be drawn from them. In addition to providing an in-depth analysis of key developments and emerging trends in selected drug markets, including in countries currently experiencing conflict, booklet 2 focuses on a number of other contemporary issues related to drugs.
World Investment Report 2023: Investing in sustainable energy for all (UNCTAD)
Report in English, Executive Summary in English, French & Spanish:
https://unctad.org/publication/world-investment-report-2023
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) called on 5 July 2023 for urgent support to developing countries to enable them to attract significantly more investment for their transition to clean energy. UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2023 shows that much of the growth in international investment in renewable energy, which has nearly tripled since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, has been concentrated in developed countries. Developing countries need renewable energy investments of about $1.7 trillion annually but attracted foreign direct investment in clean energy worth only $544 billion in 2022, according to the report. Total funding needs for the energy transition in developing countries are much larger and include investment in power grids, transmission lines, storage and energy efficiency.
WTO Report on G20 Trade Measures (mid-October 2022 to mid-May 2023)
https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/trdev_04jul23_e.htm
G20 economies introduced substantially more trade-facilitating than trade-restrictive measures on goods between mid-October 2022 and mid-May 2023. However, several export restrictions on food, feed and fertilizers remained in place, compromising the predictable flow of food through international markets and contributing to price volatility at a time when food affordability remains a major global concern. The WTO Trade Monitoring Report on G20 trade measures, issued on 4 July, shows that the war in Ukraine, COVID-19 after-effects, extreme weather and high food and energy prices continue to cause uncertainty in global trade.
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Promising Practices for Gender Equality: A catalogue of practical solutions learned from the COVID-19 global response (UN Women / UNDP)
https://www.undp.org/publications/promising-practices-gender-equality
This catalogue provides a directory of 37 promising policy measures that can support countries to better respond to future crises, and to build more gender-equitable societies and economies. These measures are the most promising practices distilled among the 5,000 policy measures adopted by governments in response to the pandemic and monitored by the UNDP-UN Women COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker.
International Peace and Security
Children and armed conflict: Report of the Secretary-General (A/77/895-S/2023/363, 5 June 2023)
English, French & Spanish: https://undocs.org/A/77/895
As protracted and new armed conflicts have continued to rage in 2022, the number of children affected by hostilities has remained shockingly high at almost 19,000 children in the 24 situations and one regional monitoring arrangement on the Children and Armed Conflict Agenda, according to this new report. Blatant and systematic disregard for international humanitarian law and international human rights law continues to severely impact the protection of children. The UN Secretary-General Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict revealed the grim reality faced by these children who were recruited or used, killed, or maimed, raped or victims of sexual violence, or abducted. Their schools and hospitals were damaged or destroyed, and access to aid for children has been repeatedly denied. However, this is sadly only the verifiable tip of the iceberg. The real number is certainly considerably higher, and this realization hints at a much larger and profoundly distressing human tragedy. In 2022, the number of verified grave violations affecting children in the situation of the CAAC agenda, including those lately added namely Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Ukraine reached 27,180. While non-State armed groups were responsible for 52% of the grave violations overall, Government forces were the main perpetrator particularly in the killing and maiming of children, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access.
Concept note for the Security Council high-level briefing on the topic “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations (League of Arab States)”
English, French & Spanish: https://undocs.org/S/2023/407
As President of the Security Council for the month of June 2023, the United Arab Emirates convened a high-level briefing on the topic “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations (League of Arab States)”, on 8 June 2023. In order to guide the discussions on the topic, the United Arab Emirates has prepared this concept note.
Concept note for the ministerial-level open debate of the Security Council on the theme “Threats to international peace and security: climate change, peace and security”
English, French & Spanish: https://undocs.org/S/2023/408
The United Arab Emirates, in its capacity as President of the Security Council for the month of June 2023, convened a ministerial-level open debate on the theme “Threats to international peace and security: climate change, peace and security”, on 13 June 2023. In order to guide the discussions on this topic, the United Arab Emirates has prepared this concept note.
Concept note for the Security Council briefing on the theme “Maintenance of international peace and security: the values of human fraternity in promoting and sustaining peace”
English, French & Spanish: https://undocs.org/S/2023/417
The United Arab Emirates, in its capacity as president of the Security Council for the month of June 2023, held a ministerial-level briefing, in connection with the item entitled “Maintenance of international peace and security”, on the theme “The values of human fraternity in promoting and sustaining peace”. This concept note was prepared for the meeting.
Concept note for the Security Council open debate on the theme “Conflict-related sexual violence: promoting implementation of Security Council resolutions on conflict-related sexual violence”
English, French & Spanish: https://undocs.org/S/2023/476
In its capacity as President of the Security Council for July 2023, the United Kingdom organized an open debate on the theme “Conflict-related sexual violence: promoting implementation of Security Council resolutions on conflict-related sexual violence”, on 14 July 2023. In order to guide the discussions on this topic, the United Kingdom has prepared this concept note.
Human Rights
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol: Handbook for Parliamentarians (revised edition) (OHCHR / IPU)
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/publications/OHCHR-IPU-CEDAW-Handbook-revised-edition.pdf
More than four decades after its adoption, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women remains an essential and ambitious guide for achieving gender equality across the board – from the family and the classroom to executive boards and political leadership roles. Despite considerable progress since the Convention came into force, no country can yet claim to have fully achieved gender equality. This revised edition of The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol: Handbook for Parliamentarians is a joint collaboration undertaken by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Twenty years after the publication of the first edition, this updated edition seeks to provide parliamentarians with detailed and practical guidance, relying on the important recommendations and good practices developed by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in translating the Convention into concrete action that addresses all forms of discrimination and gender-based violence against women and girls. It also builds on the indispensable contribution of parliaments in advancing gender equality as a fundamental element of sustainable development and peace, as well as on the perspectives of civil society and government as key allies to this work. The handbook aims to highlight the importance of women’s rights and gender equality in overcoming global challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, to armed conflict and displacement, and the rise of authoritarianism. It also reinforces the significance of the Convention as a solid foundation for building a more resilient world and more inclusive societies.
Detention of civilians in the context of the armed attack by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, 24 February 2022 – 23 May 2023 (OHCHR)
https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/detention-civilians-context-armed-attack-russian-federation-against
This report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) examines the detention of civilians in the context of the armed attack by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The report covers the period from 24 February 2022 to 23 May 2023 and is based on the findings of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). It examines compliance by the parties to the conflict with international human rights law (IHRL) and international humanitarian law (IHL), as applicable in international armed conflict. The report raises concerns regarding arbitrary detention and other violations of international law. It concludes with recommendations which aim to strengthen protection of the rights to liberty and security of persons and ensure effective remedies for victims.
Protecting women human rights defenders in migration contexts (UN Women Policy Brief)
https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2023/06/policy-brief-protecting-women-human-rights-defenders-in-migration-contexts
Around the world, women, girls, and gender-diverse people play a crucial role in promoting and protecting the rights of people on the move. They do so in numerous ways, such as by rescuing those in distress at land and sea and accompanying migrants on dangerous journeys. Some provide shelter, transport, healthcare, education, legal aid, and integration support to people at different stages of migration. Others document human rights violations and advocate for laws, policies, and practices that protect the rights of migrants, refugees, and stateless persons. However, migrant women human rights defenders face significant risks as they do so, such as stigmatization, criminalization, surveillance, physical attacks, and sexual and gender-based violence from both state and non-state actors. Women human rights defenders who are migrants themselves, especially those in an irregular situation, often face higher risks due to their migration status, such as arrest, detention, deportation, and refoulement. They may also be subject to torture or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment; some have been killed or forcibly disappeared. It is critical for states to respect, protect, and fulfil the rights of migrant women human rights defenders. This policy brief outlines measures that states can take to create an enabling environment for the defence of human rights and to secure the rights of women, girls, and gender-diverse people at all stages and in all types of migration, so that they can defend their own rights and the rights of others.
The relations between climate change and child labour in agriculture (FAO)
https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cc6244en
Climate change-related events undermine children’s educational attainment, exposing them to child labour, hazardous work and forced migration. This nexus is particularly relevant for agriculture and its subsectors: indeed, they absorb about 26 percent of the economic impacts of climate change-related disasters and host 70 percent of all child labour. This study aims to identify the extent to which climate change-related events and impacts affect child labour in agriculture by exploring the underlying connection between the two challenges as the initial step towards integrating a child labour lens within the international community’s work on climate change. It showcases the multi-dimensional relationship through a mixed-methods approach in four countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Nepal and Peru. The qualitative and quantitative findings propose a set of policy implications that are in line with the concept that one-size-fits-all policy prescriptions are unlikely to work, as they must be tailored to different communities based on their characteristics.
Situation of women and girls in Afghanistan – Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan and the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls (A/HRC/53/21, 15 June 2023, Advance edited version)
https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ahrc5321-situation-women-and-girls-afghanistan-report-special-rapporteur
In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan and the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls describe the widespread and systematic discrimination to which women and girls in Afghanistan are subjected, particularly since the fall of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on 15 August 2021. They also highlight the resilience and strength of Afghan women in the face of such repressive conditions.
Toolkit: ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Unhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT)
English: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/Toolkit-OPCAT_Ratification.pdf
French: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2023-07/Toolkit-OPCAT_Ratification-FR.pdf
This toolkit presents the benefits of ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Unhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), answers questions on its content and application, and provides a simplified version of the provisions of the Optional Protocol.
Toolkit: ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
English: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/En-CRPD-Ratification-Toolkit.pdf
French: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2023-07/FRE-CRPD-Ratification-Toolkit.pdf
This toolkit presents the benefits of ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (OP-CRPD), answers questions on its content and application, and provides a simplified version of the provisions of the Optional Protocol.
Toolkit: ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
English: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/En-OP-CRPD-Ratification-Toolkit.pdf
French: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/Fr-OP-CRPD-Ratification-Toolkit.pdf
Spanish: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/Sp-OP-CRPD-Ratification-Toolkit.pdf
This toolkit presents the benefits of ratifying Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (OP-CRPD), answers questions on its content and application, and provides a simplified version of the provisions of the Optional Protocol.
Humanitarian Affairs
2022 Middle East and North Africa overview of missing migrants data (IOM)
https://missingmigrants.iom.int/sitreps/missing-migrants-project-annual-regional-overview-2022-mena
Nearly 3,800 people died on migration routes within and from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region last year (January-December 2022), the highest number since 2017 when 4,255 deaths were recorded according to newly released data from the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Missing Migrants Project (MMP). The 3,789 deaths recorded in 2022 was 11 per cent higher than the previous year. The MENA region accounted for more than half of the total 6,877 deaths recorded worldwide by the MMP, according to the new report. On North African land routes, particularly during the perilous Sahara Desert crossing, 203 deaths were recorded, while an additional 825 deaths occurred on Middle Eastern land routes. Libya registered the highest number of deaths on land routes in North Africa, with 117 fatalities, followed by Algeria (54), Morocco (13), Tunisia (10), and Egypt (9).
Ensuring safe and regular migration for women and girls in the context of climate change (UN Women Policy Brief)
https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2023/06/policy-brief-ensuring-safe-and-regular-migration-for-women-and-girls-in-the-context-of-climate-change
Climate change is a global emergency that puts the achievement of gender equality at great risk. As climate change intensifies around the world, many women and girls, especially those in situations of vulnerability, migrate in search of safety, livelihoods, and employment opportunities. Gender considerations shape the decision to migrate and the migration experience. Greater collection and analysis of data is needed to ensure migration policies are responsive to the needs of women and girls migrating in the context of climate change. Existing international frameworks and mechanisms to manage safe and regular migration in relation to climate change are limited, and those that do exist have not fully mainstreamed gender equality considerations. This policy brief explores the linkages among gender, migration, and climate change, and provides recommendations to policymakers and practitioners to ensure safe and regular migration for women and girls in the context of climate change.
Global Trends in Forced Displacement 2022 (UNHCR)
https://www.unhcr.org/global-trends-report-2022
The full-scale war in Ukraine, alongside conflict elsewhere and climate-driven upheaval meant more people than ever remained uprooted from their homes last year, heightening the urgency for immediate, collective action to alleviate the causes and impact of displacement, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, said on 14 June 2023. UNHCR’s flagship annual report, found that by the end of 2022, the number of people displaced by war, persecution, violence and human rights abuses stood at a record 108.4 million, up 19.1 million on a year earlier, which was the biggest ever increase. The upward trajectory in global forced displacement showed no sign of slowing in 2023 as the eruption of conflict in Sudan triggered new outflows, pushing the global total to an estimated 110 million by May.
OECD-UNHCR: Safe Pathways for Refugees III
https://globalcompactrefugees.org/about-gcr/resources/reports/oecd-unhcr-safe-pathways-refugees-iii
A new report released on 3 July 2023 shows that more than 2 million people displaced by conflict and crises received entry permits granted by 37 OECD countries and Brazil between 2010 and 2021. These permits have offered a vital lifeline for refugees, allowing them to reunite with their families, pursue education and work opportunities and be nominated for sponsorship support. The latest edition of the joint study by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), highlights the progress made in granting entry permits to refugees from seven selected countries; Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Venezuela. The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated travel restrictions and border closures inevitably led to a decline in visa issuance in 2020. However, the report shows that the overall number rebounded in 2021, with 160,000 permits granted, surpassing the number in 2011, a decade earlier, by more than 50 per cent.
ReliefWeb Response (RW Response)
https://response.reliefweb.int/
This is a specialised digital service of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This service is part of OCHA’s commitment to the humanitarian community to ensure that relevant information in a humanitarian emergency is available to facilitate situational understanding and decision-making. It is the next generation of the Humanitarian Response platform.
United Nations Strategic Framework For Afghanistan 2023 – 2025
https://afghanistan.un.org/en/238795-united-nations-strategic-framework-afghanistan
Executive Summary: … The United Nations Strategic Framework for Afghanistan articulates the UN’s approach to addressing basic human needs in Afghanistan. Anchored in the principle of leaving no one behind, the UN Strategic Framework prioritizes the needs and rights of those most vulnerable and marginalized, including women and girls, children and youth, internally displaced persons, returnees, refugees, ethnic and religious minorities, geographically isolated communities, sexual and gender minorities, the Kuchi community, persons with disabilities, human rights defenders, people who use drugs, and people living with and affected by HIV. This Strategic Framework is an offer of assistance to the people of Afghanistan. Whether the UN can implement this framework depends in part on external factors, most notably on actions by the de facto authorities and on donor support. The UN expects to be deeply engaged in maintaining and expanding the access and operational space necessary for implementation.
Justice and International Law
Responsible AI Innovation in Law Enforcement: AI Toolkit (INTERPOL / UNICRI)
https://unicri.it/sites/default/files/2023-06/README%20File.pdf
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world, and policing is no exception to this: law enforcement agencies in many parts of the world are already developing, acquiring and using different types of AI systems, tools, and technologies to support an increasingly broad range of activities. Whether for image, text and speech analysis or risk assessment, AI is already essential for many agencies, and it is on its way to becoming one of the fundamental operating tools of policing. The Toolkit for Responsible AI Innovation in Law Enforcement is a tailor-made set of resources for the global law enforcement community, developed by INTERPOL and UNICRI with the financial support of the European Union. Its objective is to support law enforcement agencies to navigate the complex task of institutionalizing responsible AI innovation and integrating AI systems into their work. It has been designed in full recognition of both the opportunities and the challenges that AI presents for the law enforcement community, and it is intended to offer support to agencies interested in or already committed to responsible AI innovation. More specifically, this AI Toolkit provides law enforcement agencies with a theoretical foundation on responsible AI innovation based on human rights law, ethics and policing principles, as well as several practical tools to support them with putting responsible AI innovation theory into practice at each and every stage of their AI journey. This AI Toolkit is comprised of seven individual standalone resources. Together, these resources provide agencies with the necessary knowledge and understanding to be able to benefit from the positive potential of these systems while navigating the possible challenges and risks, whatever the agency’s level of experience with AI. The resources have all been designed to be informative, practical and actionable, providing guidance and best practices to move forward along the path of responsible AI innovation.
Newsletter Archive: https://unric.org/en/unric-info-point-library-newsletter-archive