New UN websites & publications
TOPIC OF THE MONTH: Artificial Intelligence
English, French & Spanish: https://www.un.org/independent-international-scientific-panel-ai/en/preliminary-report
This report presents a preliminary independent scientific assessment of the capabilities and the emerging opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence (AI), providing a shared evidence base to help Member States navigate a rapidly changing technology. The report is authored by the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, a body established by the General Assembly in its resolution 79/325 in 2025. The Panel serves as the first global scientific body on AI, operating under a strictly scientific, non-political mandate to document international scientific consensus and disagreements while remaining policy-relevant but not policy-prescriptive. The report is the first of its kind and will be updated progressively throughout the year, with thematic briefs addressing developments as they arise. It reflects the best available evidence at the time of publication, in a field moving so rapidly that any snapshot requires a commitment to revision.
https://unu.edu/publication/ai-systems-digital-public-goods
The United Nations University Institute in Macau (UNU Macau), in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (UN ODET), has released this new research report. It examines what it would take for artificial intelligence systems to qualify credibly as Digital Public Goods (DPGs): open digital solutions that support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), respect privacy and applicable laws, and are designed to do no harm.
https://publications.iom.int/books/biometrics-and-artificial-intelligence-identity-management-assessment-normative-and-legal-frameworks
This publication provides a comprehensive assessment of the normative, legal and ethical frameworks governing the use of biometrics and artificial intelligence in identity management systems. As these technologies increasingly underpin how individuals are recognized, registered and granted access to services, the document examines both their potential to enhance security, efficiency and inclusion, and the complex risks they pose in relation to privacy, discrimination and accountability. Drawing on international human rights law, data protection standards and emerging regulatory approaches, the publication offers evidence-based analysis and practical recommendations to support rights-based, transparent and accountable identity systems.
https://www.undp.org/publications/promise-practice-ai-electoral-administration-0
Artificial intelligence (AI) offers significant potential to strengthen electoral administration by enhancing inclusion, integrity and efficiency, contributing to global progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. While electoral authorities have long used AI-driven tools—such as pattern detection, ballot reading and biometric systems—rapid technological advances and growing public scrutiny have brought renewed attention to AI’s role in elections.
As opportunities expand, so do risks: poorly implemented or untrusted AI can threaten human rights, undermine political participation and erode public confidence in electoral processes. Meeting this challenge requires a holistic approach that integrates electoral expertise with technological competence to achieve safe, secure and trustworthy innovation. The Global Digital Compact provides principles and actions to guide election management bodies in adopting AI responsibly, with emphasis on data governance, transparency, accountability and public trust.
Building political and societal consensus around AI use is essential, especially when applications affect rights or involve high autonomy. Broad engagement among electoral authorities, state institutions, civil society, the private sector and the public is critical to ensuring safeguards for privacy, non-discrimination and vote secrecy. Ultimately, AI in elections must be deployed in alignment with human rights, with inclusion prioritized and data governance recognized as foundational.
https://www.undp.org/publications/reading-ai-readiness-backwards-country-insights-ai-adoption-and-implementation
Drawing on 26 UNDP Artificial Intelligence Landscape Assessments (AILA) completed between 2024 and 2026, with 10 more underway, this report examines what AI readiness means once adoption is already underway. The countries analysed reflect the set of national AILA engagements completed at the time of writing, undertaken in response to government demand and UNDP country-level programming priorities across diverse regional, institutional, and digital maturity contexts. They are not presented as a statistically representative sample, and the report does not rank countries, aggregate readiness scores, or provide a country-by-country review. Instead, the report uses this evidence base to identify recurring patterns in how AI adoption is moving through public systems, markets, institutions, and wider ecosystems.
This report argues that AI readiness needs to be understood differently once adoption is already underway. Once AI enters public systems through procurement processes, vendor platforms, infrastructure choices, sector programmes, digital public systems, and broader ecosystems, readiness is no longer only about preparation. It becomes a diagnostic tool: a way to identify which conditions become binding, where risks and dependencies are emerging, and what capabilities countries require to steer adoption towards public value and sustainable development.
https://www.undp.org/publications/small-states-big-signals-what-adoption-practice-reveals-about-trust-safety-and-ai-performance-globally
This report draws on workshops, stakeholder sessions, and in-country engagements with eleven countries and territories conducted through UNDP’s AI Trust & Safety Re-imagination Programme. It does not rank countries or propose a universal regulatory model. It surfaces what is already happening: the decisions being made, the risks materializing, and the governance approaches that are working under real institutional constraints.
The central finding is straightforward. Many of the most consequential AI governance decisions are not being made in policy frameworks. They are being made in procurement offices, vendor contracts, software update cycles, and the informal decisions of civil servants and institutional teams navigating AI use without clear guidance, approval processes, or accountability pathways. Getting governance right means embedding it in these operational settings, not treating it as a separate layer above them.
https://www.unicef.org/innocenti/media/13266/file/UNICEF-Innocenti-AI-Brief-2026.pdf
Despite the rapid uptake of AI systems by children, there remain significant evidence gaps: How many children use AI in each country and for what? What are different children concerned about when it comes to AI? And what factors influence the answers to these questions?
This brief helps address these gaps by sharing new AI-related evidence from children and their parents or caregivers in a diverse range of countries.
This brief draws on data from the second phase of the Disrupting Harm project, a research project led by UNICEF’s Office of Strategy and Evidence – Innocenti, ECPAT International and INTERPOL, with funding from Safe Online. The countries included in this brief are Armenia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Jordan, Mexico, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Pakistan and Serbia.
Further information:
- UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Artificial Intelligence – Selected Online Resources
https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-artificial-intelligence/
UN in General
2026 UN Card
https://www.un.org/en/delegate/share-10-ways-un-makes-difference-2026-un-card
To mark UN Charter Day on Friday, 26 June, the Department of Global Communications has released the 2026 edition of The UN Card.
The card succinctly shows how the work of the United Nations and its agencies affects the lives of people around the globe.
The cards are available in the six official languages.
The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026
https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2026
Since their adoption in 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have delivered results at scale – bringing access to water, electricity and health care to billions. However, progress remains uneven and insufficient. Without a decisive push to rapidly scale up what works, the promise of the SDGs risks slipping out of reach, according to The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026, released on 7 July 2026.
The United Nations Pulse
https://www.un.org/en/live/daily-pulse
Looking for a quick, engaging way to stay connected to what’s happening across the United Nations? The United Nations Pulse blog is your go-to destination.
Updated daily from Monday to Friday, The UN Pulse gives you a front-row look at the UN in action. Drawn from the latest across the UN System, it brings you closer to the people, policies and priorities shaping our world. It’s a simple way to keep up with what’s going on in the UN family without needing to search multiple websites.
Run by the Web Services Section of the Department of Global Communications, the blog curates content from across the UN system into one easy-to-access space. Scrollable and sharable, it offers short, engaging posts that capture the essence of original articles, making it easy to stay informed in just a few minutes. If you want to dive deeper, each post includes links to the full stories.
From humanitarian response and peacekeeping to sustainable development and innovation, The UN Pulse highlights the valuable work being carried out across the system – all in one place.
In short, it’s the UN system at your fingertips.
UNESCO Open Science Platform
https://open-science.unesco.org/
UNESCO has launched the UNESCO Open Science Platform during the UN Open Source Week 2026, from 22 to 26 June 2026 in New York. Developed in partnership with the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC), the platform is released as free and open-source software and is built on open technologies, including a customized implementation of CERN’s InvenioRDM, an open source framework for building large-scale digital academic repositories and platforms, as a core component. With an initial focus on research produced or supported by UNESCO’s Natural Sciences Family, the platform aims to promote UNESCO-related knowledge and support the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science.
Economic Growth and Sustainable Development
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/2025-report-flexible-funding-flexibility-drives-resistance
Flexible funding refers to voluntary contributions that are not tied to specific projects, activities or deliverables. It includes two types of funding: unearmarked contributions, provided for use at the full discretion of IOM to support its mandate, core functions and strategic priorities without restrictions, and softly earmarked contributions, which are designated for a specific country, region or thematic area, but with fewer conditions on how the funds must be used. Together, these flexible resources empower IOM to allocate funding where it is most needed, based on emerging priorities, underfunded areas and institutional strategy. As the United Nations migration agency, IOM is increasingly called upon to respond to complex and evolving mobility challenges. Flexible funding – especially when provided on a multi-year basis – enables IOM to go beyond short-term responses, respond to needs as they arise, and invest in innovative programming. It allows the Organization to leverage the latest technologies and deliver policy-driven, future-oriented solutions in line with the expectations of Member States and the needs of people on the move.
https://unece.org/transport/publications/climate-change-impacts-towards-climate-resilient-transport-systems
From 2020 to 2025, the UNECE Group of Experts on Assessment of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation for Inland Transport studied how evolving climate conditions will affect transport systems across the region. Their findings underscore the urgent need to adapt infrastructure—such as roads, railways, ports, airports, and terminals—to withstand increasingly frequent and severe weather events.
By 2050, many areas will face significantly higher risks due to rising temperatures, flooding, droughts, sea level rise, glacier melt, and permafrost thaw. Without proactive adaptation, these changes could cause widespread damage and disruption, threatening the movement of people, goods, and emergency aid.
To address these challenges, the Group emphasized a structured adaptation process: assessing current vulnerabilities, projecting future impacts, designing resilience measures, and monitoring progress. To support this, they developed practical tools including climate projection maps, a criticality assessment guide, a stress test framework, and a methodology for adaptation pathways.
This report serves as a comprehensive resource, offering insights into future climate scenarios, relevant policy and legal frameworks, impact assessment methods, and case studies of real-world adaptation actions. It also outlines priorities for future work, such as standardized incident reporting, evaluation of adaptation strategies, nature-based solutions, and assessing climate impacts on commercial contracts.
Policy Brief in English, Key Messages in English, French & Spanish: https://unece.org/population/policy-briefs
Public narratives that frame ageing as decline, burden or crisis risk distorting reality, reinforcing ageism and weakening support for effective policy responses, according to this UNECE Policy Brief on Ageing.
How societies talk about ageing shapes how they prepare for it, and the brief highlights the need for balanced, evidence-based and age-inclusive narratives that reflect the opportunities and diversity of longer lives. The brief presents concrete policy actions taken in the UNECE region to develop and communicate positive, realistic, and evidence based narratives and provides practical recommendations to support countries in building societies where people of all ages are valued, visible, and able to participate fully.
Report in English, Executive Summary in English, French & Spanish: https://data.unicef.org/resources/childrens-climate-risk-report-2026
Nearly half of the world’s children – or 1.1 billion – are now exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards, threatening their health, education, and survival, according to this new UNICEF report launched on 16 June 2026. Almost every child in the world faces at least one climate hazard, while more than 4 million could face as many as six overlapping threats, the report warns.
The Children’s Climate Risk Report 2026 uses the latest available data to map children’s exposure to the eight most frequent climate threats, including coastal floods, droughts, extreme heat, fires, heatwaves, riverine floods, sand and dust storms, and tropical storms. For the first time, the report reveals exactly where – and how intense – multiple and overlapping climate threats are affecting children and the essential social services they rely on, and how governments can take concrete actions to respond.
https://unhabitat.org/from-event-to-legacy-mega-events-as-catalysts-for-sustainable-urban-development
Can mega-events create lasting urban value beyond the global spotlight? This white paper explores how mega events like World Expos, Olympic Games, and FIFA World Cups can become catalysts for sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities through legacy-driven planning, adaptive design, and community-centered urban transformation.
Global AIDS brief – United to end AIDS
https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/20260612_global_aids_brief.pdf
This new report released on 12 June 2026 by UNAIDS shows that external funding cuts, a strong push back on human rights and under investment and under prioritization of HIV prevention and community services are threatening to reverse years of gains in the AIDS response.
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000398511
The ocean shapes all life on Earth: our climate, our food, our livelihoods, our future. Yet how much do we really know about it? During a side event at the 59th Session of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, the Executive Summary of the 3rd edition of the Global Ocean Science Report (GOSR) has been released: the most complete picture of ocean science ever assembled.
GOSR is a flagship assessment that tracks global capacity in ocean science, investment in that capacity, and the collaborations and outputs that support ocean understanding, innovation and the blue economy, guiding Member States as they decide what is needed for a sustainable ocean.
English: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000398455
French: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000398449
Spanish: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000398462
For most of today’s children and young people, life unfolds seamlessly across online and offline spaces. Their learning, friendships, and access to information are increasingly shaped by digital environments that are ever-present in their daily lives.
This reality is also shaping public debate worldwide. In several countries, calls to restrict or ban social media use for younger users have gained momentum, as concerns grow about safety, well-being, and exposure to harmful content. While such measures aim to protect children, they also highlight a broader challenge: ensuring that young people are not only shielded from risk, but also empowered to navigate digital spaces safely, critically, and confidently.
Developed by UNESCO in partnership with the French Media and Information Literacy Centre (CLEMI / Réseau Canopé), the guide is a flagship initiative designed to support parents, families, and caregivers worldwide, by equipping them with the Media and Information Literacy (MIL) skills needed to guide children’s digital engagement.
Report: https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289062930
Executive Summary: https://www.who.int/europe/publications/m/item/heat-health-action-plans–guidance–second-edition–executive-summary
WHO/Europe presented its new Heat–Health Action Plans Guidance on 11 June 2026 in Berlin on the occasion of the nationwide Heat Action Day. Every year around the world, extreme heat leads to a rise in heat-related illnesses and health complaints, and even premature deaths. Cardiovascular diseases in particular occur more frequently or worsen under the influence of heat. Urbanization and the growing proportion of population groups at increased risk, such as older people and those with preexisting health conditions, make prolonged heatwaves a growing threat to public health. The guidelines serve as a scientific framework for government bodies worldwide to effectively organize heat protection measures.
HIV Financial Dashboard
https://hivfinancial.unaids.org/hivfinancialdashboards.html
UNAIDS, in collaboration with Avenir Health, has launched this new online tool to support countries to estimate the financial resources required to achieve the objectives set in their national AIDS plans.
At a time of increasing pressure on global HIV financing, the tool provides countries with a practical, data-driven platform to inform strategic planning, funding applications, and to foster dialogue on domestic resource mobilization.
The Resource Needs estimation Tool enables users to estimate the financial resources required to reach coverage targets across key HIV programmes, including HIV prevention, testing, treatment, co-morbidities, health systems strengthening, and programme management. Covering 30 expenditure categories, the model draws on a database for 118 low- and middle-income countries, incorporating population data, current coverage levels, and unit costs.
https://www.fightfoodcrises.net/hunger-hotspots
The latest Hunger Hotspots 2026 report – jointly issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) – warns that acute food insecurity could deepen across 13 countries and territories over the outlook period of June to November 2026.
The report identifies the Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Palestine, Nigeria and Somalia as being at at the highest concern level, necessitating the most urgent attention, where populations already face or risk entering Catastrophe (IPC/CH Phase 5) conditions. Three contexts are classified as very high concern – Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti. Myanmar, Mali, Lebanon and Madagascar are classified as hotspots.
Four hunger hotspots faced a risk of Famine at some point in 2026 or are expected to remain at risk during the outlook period: Sudan, South Sudan, the Gaza Strip, and Somalia.
Just Transition Policy Gateway (ILO)
https://justtransitionpolicygateway.ilo.org/
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched the Just Transition Policy Gateway, the first global platform dedicated to supporting the implementation of just transition policies. The Gateway provides policymakers and social partners with practical examples, lessons learned and policy tools to help advance decent work and social inclusion in the ecological transition.
https://www.unfpa.org/publications/lives-choices-and-futures-demographic-futures-survey
Around the world, demographic change is prompting urgent debate about fertility, family life and the future. Lives, Choices and Futures, UNFPA’s report on the findings of the 2025-2026 Demographic Futures Survey brings together one of the most geographically diverse bodies of evidence on how young adults’ hopes and decisions about relationships, parenthood and the future take place in an uncertain world.
Through the voices of over 108,000 Internet-connected people aged 18 to 39 across 73 countries, this report shows that many young people continue to value partnership and parenthood, but the conditions to realize these aspirations often feel out of reach.
https://www.undp.org/publications/military-escalation-middle-east-cushioning-global-shock
Developing countries’ efforts to tackle the ongoing effects of conflict in the Middle East carry a high price that leaves little room for critical investments in education, health and other development priorities, according to this new report by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) released on 29 June 2026.
The report reveals that low- and middle-income countries have partially protected their populations from soaring oil prices through fossil fuel subsidies, price caps, tax rebates and demand-management measures.
Fossil fuel subsidies, which had been on a downward trend globally, are on track to reach US$1.1 trillion in 2026 – US$ 410 billion more than in 2025, assuming the current average oil price settles at US$88.6 per barrel.
This projection climbs to as much as US$1.43 trillion in a ‘severe’ scenario where oil prices climb to an average of US$110 per barrel.
The UNDP report warns that while fossil fuel subsidies provide temporary relief, they ultimately undermine climate and development goals, locking countries into high-carbon pathways and limiting future investment.
https://data.unicef.org/resources/the-power-of-play/
This publication brings together internationally comparable data from close to 100 countries. It offers a clearer picture of how young children experience play in the home environment, including who they play with, what materials they have access to, and which children are most likely to be left behind.
The evidence points to a global play gap that must be better understood, measured and addressed. Play is often seen as optional, but for young children, it is central to learning, development, care and connection.
Closing the play gap means supporting families and caregivers with the time, information, encouragement, safe spaces and simple materials they need to make play part of daily life.
https://doi.org/10.58338/IIJN9259
From rising sea levels to declining biodiversity, the environment is at the heart of today’s most urgent global challenges. Journalists play a vital role in helping societies understand these complex issues, hold power to account, and inspire informed action. Reporting the Environment equips journalists with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to cover environmental topics across all beats — from politics and business to culture and local communities. Produced by UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) in cooperation with the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), the manual explores the functions, methods, and evolving role of environmental journalism.
https://sdgs.un.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/2026_policy_briefs_in_support_of_the_high-level_062526.pdf
This document is part of a series of policy briefs compiled by the multistakeholder SDG7 Technical Advisory Group (SDG7 TAG) in support of the review of SDG7 at the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) 2026. Convened by UN DESA, the SDG7 TAG is composed of over 40 experts from governments, UN organizations, international organizations and other stakeholders. The HLPF is the central United Nations platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the global level.
This work is a joint product of various SDG7 Technical Advisory Group members. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the United Nations or the organizations represented in the SDG7 Technical Advisory Group.
English & French: https://library.wmo.int/idurl/4/69867
Extreme weather and climate-related events affected at least 13 million people and led to over 3 000 reported fatalities in Africa in 2025, with knock-on effects across all sectors of the economy and society, according to this new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The State of the Climate in Africa 2025 provides a consolidated regional assessment, with authoritative information on key climate indicators, impacts and risks to support decision-making. It includes input from dozens of experts, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, climate centres and United Nations partners.
https://library.wmo.int/idurl/4/69873
Dangerous heat, devastating rainfall and flooding, and severe drought affected millions of people across Asia in 2025, exacting a heavy human and economic toll, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). It highlights the urgency and effectiveness of life-saving early warning services to limit the disruption and damage from increasingly extreme weather.
The WMO State of the Climate in Asia 2025 reports that ocean heat, which has increased since the 1990s, reached a new record. Marine heatwaves affected almost the entire ocean area of Asia, with over 10 million km2 impacted during July–September – more than the size of People’s Republic of China or the United States of America. Continued ocean warming and acidification pose increasing risks to marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
https://library.wmo.int/idurl/4/69896
The vast ocean expanse in the South-West Pacific is becoming hotter and more acidic, harming local economies and marine ecosystems, whilst rising sea levels threaten vulnerable coastal communities and low-lying island nations, according to this new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The State of the Climate in the South-West Pacific 2025 report documents how the region had its second warmest year on record (behind 2024), with extreme weather causing widespread disruption, economic damage, and loss of life. The deadliest single event was Cyclone Senyar, the first known system to reach tropical cyclone intensity in the Strait of Malacca, which impacted more than 10 million people in Indonesia and Malaysia and killed more than 1 200.
Interactive Story: https://www.fao.org/interactive/state-of-fisheries-aquaculture/en/
Report in English: https://doi.org/10.4060/cd8357en
In Brief in English, French & Spanish: https://doi.org/10.4060/cd9841en
At $184 billion, trade in aquatic animal products continues to hit record highs and now rivals terrestrial meat trade in value. Ensuring sustainable and equitable growth of marine and inland ecosystems, however, remains a key challenge, according to the latest State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA 2026) report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The report – launched on 16 June 2026 at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya – presents updated global fisheries and aquaculture statistics. It highlights how FAO, with Members, communities, institutions, industry and partners, is translating its Blue Transformation vision into measurable results.
SOFIA 2026 estimates global fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record 235 million tonnes in 2024, of which 195 million tonnes aquatic animals, confirming the sector’s expanding role in feeding the world.
A Theory of “Political Will” for Reforms (World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 11403)
https://hdl.handle.net/10986/44967
Do politicians pursue reforms when they know that status-quo policies are inefficient? Prior literature has answered this question as dependent upon reelection incentives to pander to uninformed voters. This paper shows that reform failure can arise from political selection, or the intrinsic characteristics of those who pursue leadership positions and careers in politics, even when voters would like governments to pursue efficient policies.
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000398398
Violence in sport is increasingly recognized as a global challenge. Yet many of the people most affected by abuse, violence and unsafe sporting environments remain largely absent from the policy discussions intended to protect them.
On 15 June 2026, during the Ordinary Session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS), UNESCO and the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) launched this new report.
The publication presents findings and recommendations emerging from a two-phase consultation process involving survivors, whistleblowers, advocates, bystanders and others impacted by violence in sport. The report forms part of UNESCO’s broader efforts to advance Safe Sport through its Fit for Life Sport Alliance and the development of the Global Policy Standards for Inclusive, Equitable and Safe Sport and Physical Education.
https://trackingsdg7.esmap.org/
At a time when energy security and affordability have risen to the top of the development agenda, 655 million people globally still lack access to electricity, and two billion use polluting fuels and technologies for cooking putting their health and well-being at risk. Sub-Saharan Africa bears a disproportionate share of these gaps, with over 560 million living without electricity and 970 million lacking access to clean cooking.
The latest edition of Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report, featuring new 2023 and 2024 data, shows while most regions are nearing universal access, progress in Sub-Saharan Africa has slowed significantly, and the pace of electrification must triple to achieve universal access by 2030. Despite these challenges, the report highlights encouraging progress in several areas of sustainable energy. Renewable energy continued its strong expansion, accounting for over 30 per cent of global electricity consumption; while renewable energy-generating capacity reached a global record of 544 watts (enough to power a refrigerator) per person. International public financial flows supporting clean energy in developing countries increased slightly to US$ 24.6 billion; and improvements in global energy efficiency continued to reach 3.76 megajoules per US dollar, although this remains an insufficient pace to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 targets.
UN DESA Policy Brief No. 189: Playing for the goals: advancing inclusion through the United Nations Football for the Goals Initiative
https://desapublications.un.org/policy-briefs/un-desa-policy-brief-no-189-playing-goals-advancing-inclusion-through-united-nations
Evidence from the Football for the Goals 2024 annual reporting shows that, with supportive policies and sustained investment, football can be a cost-effective tool for advancing the 2030 Agenda, particularly by improving health, education, skills, and social inclusion for the communities and population groups most often left behind in society.
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000398492
A new global evidence review commissioned by UNESCO in partnership with IFPIM and DW Akademie, demonstrates that free and independent media has a profound and positive impact on societies globally.
The report shares data that underscores benefits to societies, including economic growth, strengthened national security, and greater resilience against disinformation and crises.
Launched on 22 June 2026 during the Global Media Forum in Bonn, Germany, it is published at a moment when the conditions for independent journalism are more precarious than at any point in recent history: public funding for media is declining, social media platforms and AI threaten media revenue streams, and drastic cuts to international aid and media development budgets have taken a severe toll. As a consequence, audiences worldwide are facing shrinking access to trusted sources of independent journalism and the reliable information they provide. The findings provide a strong evidence base for renewed public and international investment in independent journalism as a public good.
https://unctad.org/publication/world-investment-report-2026-international-investment-turbulent-era
Global foreign direct investment rose 6% to $1.6 trillion in 2025, ending two years of decline, but the recovery remains narrow, fragile and uneven, according to the World Investment Report 2026 by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released on 7 July 2026.
Inflows to developed economies rose 11%, while developing economies recorded only 2% growth, reaching $901 billion. The figures point to a rebound that is not translating evenly into development opportunities. The issue is not only how much capital is moving, but where it is going, what it is building and whether it is expanding productive capacity, creating jobs, strengthening skills and supporting technology transfer.
International Peace and Security
Children and armed conflict: Report of the Secretary-General (A/80/723-S/2026/357, 16 June 2026)
English, French & Spanish: https://docs.un.org/A/80/723
A record 24,174 children suffered grave violations of their rights in armed conflict in 2025 – an eight percent rise on the previous year – according to the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s annual report on children and armed conflict.
For the first time in history, government forces were identified as the primary perpetrators of these violations. For the fourth consecutive year, governments were primarily responsible for the killing and maiming of children, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access. In 2025, the killing of children surged by 34% and maiming by 10%, violence carried out primarily by the very governments that signed up to protect them.
The findings represent a stark shift from when the UN began this reporting process when attention focused largely on non-state armed groups. Today, it is increasingly governments – with their airpower, drones, and precision weapons – that are responsible for the most serious harms across 23 countries monitored. These weapons are too often deployed in ways that kill and maim civilians, including children, on a massive scale, in clear violation of obligations under international humanitarian law.
https://unicri.org/Publication-Evidence-technology-facilitated-gender-based-violence-fragile-and-conflict-settings-Jun-2026
The report examines how digital technologies are reshaping patterns of gender-based violence against women working across the peace and security sectors in contexts affected by conflict and instability. Drawing on a global desk review, expert interviews, and case studies from Ukraine and Sudan, the report highlights how online abuse — ranging from harassment and disinformation to surveillance and image-based violence — is increasingly used to target women engaged in peacebuilding, security, journalism, and public life.
The research shows that digital abuse has profound implications for women working across peace and security sectors. It not only causes direct harm to individuals, but also undermines women’s participation, leadership, and visibility in peace and security processes. In fragile and conflict-affected settings, weak institutions, political polarization, and insecurity create conditions in which digital tools are strategically used to intimidate, monitor, discredit, and silence women.
https://dppa.un.org/en/document-library/united-nations-special-political-missions-1945-2025-an-overview
The first United Nations special political mission (SPM) was established on 14 May 1948, when the General Assembly adopted resolution 186 (S-2) creating the United Nations Mediator for the Truce in Palestine. Since then, the Organization has deployed 167 special political missions across the world. The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) prepared this new publication on the history of UN special political missions. It provides, for the first time, a comprehensive public record of the history of these missions. Examining their evolution as multilateral instruments for peace and security provides insights that can inform present and future missions.
Human Rights
English & French: https://www.undp.org/publications/addressing-violence-against-women-politics-institutional-responses-and-good-practices-parliaments
The publication is designed as a practical resource for parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, and development practitioners supporting parliamentary strengthening efforts. Rather than prescribing a single model, it offers a structured menu of policy and institutional options that can be adapted to different mandates, capacities, and political realities. By documenting what has worked, where gaps persist, and how reforms have been implemented in practice, the resource aims to support context appropriate, politically feasible, and sustainable responses to VAWP, contributing to more inclusive, resilient, and gender responsive democratic institutions worldwide.
https://ukraine.ohchr.org/en/Attacks-against-Ukraine-s-energy-infrastructure-and-update-on-the-human-rights-situation-in-Ukraine-1-December-2025-31-May-2026
Systematic and repeated attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the 2025–2026 winter caused widespread disruption to essential services and compounded the impact of an increasingly deadly phase of the war on civilians, according to this report issued by the UN Human Rights Office on 29 June 2026.
The report on the human rights situation in Ukraine from 1 December 2025 to 31 May 2026 also documents increased civilian casualties, continuing violations against prisoners of war, and ongoing restrictions on fundamental rights in territory occupied by the Russian Federation.
“The essence of childhood has been destroyed”: Israel’s deliberate targeting of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 7 October 2023: Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel (A/HRC/62/CRP.2, 18 June 2026)
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session62/a-hrc-62-crp-2.pdf
Israeli authorities and security forces have deliberately targeted Palestinian children resulting in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Gaza Strip and war crimes in the West Bank, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel said in this new report on 23 June 2026.
The Commission, which concluded last year that Israel had committed genocide against the Palestinian group in the Gaza Strip, found that the intense scale and systematic nature of the Israeli military operations have continued – resulting in unprecedented death, injury and trauma of Palestinian children.
The Commission reiterates that the deliberate targeting of children is one of the key elements establishing genocidal intent of the Israeli authorities and security forces to destroy the Palestinian group, in whole or in part, in Gaza.
English, French & Spanish: https://globalalliance.un.org/
At a time when human rights are facing mounting challenges, from shrinking civic space and growing inequalities to the rapid transformation of societies through technology, the launch of the Global Alliance for Human Rights is a call to place human rights back at the centre of decision-making, leadership and everyday’s action.
The Alliance brings together governments, local authorities, civil society, the private sector, academia and communities around a shared commitment: to imagine, dialogue and act together towards the 80th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Human Rights Count 2026: Data insights for action
https://innovation.ohchr.org/rightscount/
Over the past year, attacks against human rights defenders reached record levels. Civilian deaths in conflict declined, but remain high after years of escalation. Discrimination remained deeply entrenched across societies. Progress in strengthening independent human rights institutions slowed, but the longer term positive trend persists.
Behind these trends are millions of lives shaped by violence, exclusion, inequality, and shrinking civic space.
Human Rights Count 2026 brings together the latest globally comparable evidence from the four Sustainable Development Goal indicators compiled by UN Human Rights, to reveal where progress is advancing, where it is stalling, and where warning signs are intensifying.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/tools-and-resources/navigating-pushback-against-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-business
In this brief, UN Human Rights examines recent trends and debates relating to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the corporate world, through a business and human rights perspective. The brief recalls that, when conducted consistently with international human rights standards, DEI measures can contribute meaningfully to the fight against systemic, historical and structural discrimination and inequality, and broader societal goals. They can also help companies improve their business performance, rebuild brand integrity and cultivate long-term public confidence.
OHCHR Report on the Devastating Human Rights Impacts of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Sudan
https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/country-reports/ohchr-report-devastating-human-rights-impacts-conflict-related-sexual
This UN Human Rights report issued on 23 June 2026lays bare the brutality and magnitude of conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023, and its profound, long-term impacts on victims, families and communities.
The report finds that sexual violence has accompanied the geographic spread of the conflict, as well as displacement journeys. It has been used consistently as a tactic to terrorise and traumatise the civilian population.
Humanitarian Affairs
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/inter-agency-report-global-enso-analysis-cell-el-nino-status-and-humanitarian-outlook
El Niño conditions are very likely from mid-2026. Most forecasts indicate at least a moderate-strength event; a strong event is increasingly possible. El Niño events can produce more predictable seasonal weather patterns, and forecasting now is also stronger than during previous events — creating a real window to act before the crisis peaks. That window is closing.
Critically, this El Niño does not arrive in isolation: it comes amid record global temperatures, severe humanitarian funding constraints, the economic shock of the Middle East conflict, pre-existing acute food insecurity across multiple regions, and an Ebola outbreak in DRC affecting neighbouring countries also at risk from El Niño. This combination makes the coming cycle particularly highrisk.
There are three opportunities for action: protect harvests, water supply, key resources and infrastructure now, prioritizing children and the most vulnerable social and livelihood groups; mitigate consequences before a failed season becomes a crisis; and ensure humanitarian systems are ready to scale when communities need them most.
https://www.unhcr.org/global-trends
https://www.unhcr.org/media/global-trends-2025-report
Barham Salih, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, launched the agency’s flagship Global Trends Report on 11 June 2026, which reveals global forced displacement has decreased for the first time in a decade while remaining unacceptably high.
In 2025, 5.4 million people escaped violence and persecution by fleeing to other countries. But the report showed that returns are also gathering pace; 14.7 million displaced people returned to their areas or countries of origin in 2025 (4.4 million refugees and 10.3 million internally displaced people), with a sharp increase in Afghanistan, Sudan and Syria. Refugee returns were the second highest since records began 60 years ago, though many occurred under pressure and to precarious conditions at home.
Overall, the data showed that global refugee numbers declined in 2025 by 3 per cent to 41.6 million. In a positive development, nearly 46,000 stateless people acquired citizenship across 24 countries last year.
https://dtm.iom.int/reports/europe-migrants-travelling-europe-land-and-sea-2025-journeys-vulnerabilities-and-needs
This report draws on Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Flow Monitoring activities in Europe and the Western Balkans and on Flow Monitoring Surveys (FMS) collected in 2025 in Greece, Italy, Spain (3,201), and on surveys at flow monitoring points deployed in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo (9,215). Main findings are complemented with information and data from IOM field staff and enumerators, as well as from dedicated focus group discussions with migrants and practitioners in those countries. The report also compares the main findings for 2025 with those of previous rounds of FMS in the region and analyses against the more comprehensive picture of mixed migration movements in the region in the past ten years.
Justice and International Law
https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/122994
This report considers the criminalisation and constraint of humanitarian actors supporting refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in the context of maritime mixed movements. It considers the concept of criminalisation in a broader manner, including where direct criminal law measures are applied alongside administrative measures and other means to constrain humanitarian action. The combination of these measures has increasingly reduced the operating environment for humanitarian action at sea, with detrimental consequences on the human rights of seaborne asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants.
https://publications.iom.int/books/gaps-and-needs-improving-access-legal-identity-and-facilitating-safe-and-dignified-return
This publication explores the challenges faced by migrants who lack proof of legal identity and the implications this has for safe, dignified and sustainable return. Drawing on case studies from Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali and Nigeria, it analyses legal, policy and operational gaps that limit access to civil registration and identification systems. The report highlights practical barriers encountered across different stages of the migration process and among different groups, while identifying promising approaches, including flexible verification procedures, strengthened institutional coordination and ongoing digitalization efforts.
Nuclear, Chemical and Conventional Weapons Disarmament
https://doi.org/10.37559/CWP/26/WAM/07
This report reviews official State data and information provided under the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the Firearms Protocol and the Programme of Action on Small Arms (PoA) to assess the utility of UN reporting mechanisms for monitoring small arms and light weapons (SALW) flows and identifying risks, gaps and effective practices to counter the illicit SALW trade and reduce its negative impacts. It recommends that the United Nations system and interested stakeholders: (1) Address the data deficit on SALW flows and transfer controls; (2) Facilitate the sharing of useful information; (3) Promote the use of information to prevent conflict, armed violence and human suffering.
Steps Towards a Voluntary Trust Fund for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (UNIDIR)
https://doi.org/10.37559/WMD/26/NDV/01
This report examines practical pathways to operationalising a voluntary trust fund to support the implementation of Articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, addressing the humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapon testing and use through victim assistance and environmental remediation. These provisions are among the most innovative aspects of the treaty and reflect a broader tradition in humanitarian disarmament.
Drug Control, Crime Prevention and Counter-terrorism
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/world-drug-report-2026.html
A global reference on drug markets, trends and policy developments, the World Drug Report offers a wealth of data and analysis and, in 2026, comprises several elements tailored to different audiences. The web-based Drug market patterns and trends contains the latest analysis of global, regional and subregional estimates of and trends in drug demand and supply in a user-friendly, interactive format supported by graphs, infographics and maps. Highlights provides a series of short topical analyses of key developments and issues that characterize the current world drug problem, while Special points of interest offers a framework for the main takeaways that can be drawn from those developments.
As well as providing a comprehensive overview of global drug trends and key issues, the World Drug Report 2026 features, in its thematic chapter, a focused analysis of the Impact of drug use on safety and security.
The World Drug Report 2026 is aimed not only at fostering greater international cooperation to counter the impact of the world drug problem on health, governance and security, but also at assisting Member States in anticipating and addressing threats posed by drug markets and mitigating their consequences.
Newsletter Archive: https://unric.org/en/unric-info-point-library-newsletter-archive