October 7 marks a year of Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 41,800 people – 56% of which were women and children, and displacement of more than 2.1 million. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has called on world leaders to bring...

Secretary-General António Guterres is extremely concerned with the escalation of the conflict in Lebanon. He appeals for an immediate ceasefire. An all-out war must be avoided in Lebanon at all costs, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon must be respected. The Secretary-General spoke earlier this morning to Prime Minister Najib Mikati of Lebanon....

World Habitat Day:This day is recognized by the United Nations to reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter. World Cotton Day This day is observed to raise awareness about the cotton industry and its impact on the global economy

Almost one year has passed since the horrific acts of terror perpetrated by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on 7 October. I repeat my utter condemnation of these attacks, and the taking of hostages. Nothing can justify such acts. This week, I held two more in a series of meetings with the families of...

Pakistan government harassed and at times prosecuted human rights defenders, lawyers, and journalists for criticizing government officials and policies. Authorities used draconian sedition and counterterrorism laws to stifle dissent, and strictly regulated civil society groups and organizations critical of government actions or policies. Women, religious minorities, and transgender people continued to face violence, discrimination, and...

Accelerating the Global Transition to a Bio-based Economy: The Strategic Role of Policy The bioeconomy offers solutions to the most pressing challenges facing humanity, and effective policies have propelled groundbreaking technologies from the laboratory to widespread societal use. As tools evolve to more reliably harness biology for commercial applications, policy will continue to play a...

UN Takes Small Step to Fix Global Economic System‘Pact for the Future’ Calls for Concrete Measures to Move Beyond GDP Global critics of the international financial architecture say the system is broken. As Brazilian President Lula da Silva said today addressing the United Nations General Assembly, it’s become “the Marshall Plan in reverse where the...

Biodiversity education and awareness among the youth: a UNESCO MasterClass for teachers and educators.On the sidelines of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), UNESCO Campus organized this year’s last MasterClass addressing biodiversity matters among the youth in schools and in local communities. More than 400 teachers and educators from 90 countries joined the...

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday said that no sustainable development can take place till “tragedies like Gaza are perpetuated by the developed world”. His remarks regarding Israel’s onslaught on Gaza — which has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians — came at the start of his speech at the United Nations Summit of the Future...

Pakistan is facing significant human rights challenges, including attacks on freedom of expression, religion, and women’s rights. The government has been criticized for using sedition and counterterrorism laws to silence critics, including journalists and opposition leaders. Freedom of Expression Under Threat:Journalists who speak out against the government face threats, attacks, and arrests. For instance, Imran...