HABERLER

The alarm comes amid a sharp escalation in fighting in the Aleppo Governorate, spreading to parts of Idleb and Hama governorates and leaving the situation volatile and unpredictable.

In a statement on Sunday, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen expressed grave concerns over the dramatic shift in frontlines, including advances by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a Security Council-designated terrorist group, and intensified government airstrikes.

“In a country torn by nearly 14 years of war and conflict, the latest developments pose severe risks to civilians and have serious implications for regional and international peace and security," he said.

He stressed the urgent need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, calling on all parties to uphold international law.

“What we see in Syria today is a mark of a collective failure to bring about what has plainly been required now for many years – a genuine political process to implement Security Council resolution 2254 (2015),” Mr. Pedersen added.

Humanitarian crisis deepens

Meanwhile, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula underscored the dire humanitarian crisis in Aleppo, where violence since November 27 has claimed civilian lives, including women and children, displaced families, and disrupted essential services.

Describing the situation as “tragic”, he urged all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and to prioritise the protection of civilians, including the safety of aid workers.

“The people of Syria must not endure more suffering, and we urge dialogue to be given an opportunity,” he said.

UN data reveals that reports of conflict-related sexual violence increased shockingly by 50 per cent last year compared to 2023, and women and girls accounted for 95 per cent of verified cases.

These numbers, however,  “represent a small fraction of the reality” as many cases go unreported, the agency warned.

Justice out of reach

“In many remote locations, humanitarian access is cut off or resources and assistance are scarce. Access to justice also remains limited, and survivors fear retaliation and social marginalization,” UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo told journalists in Geneva.

She said colleagues working in conflict situations continue to hear from survivors who have faced brutal violence, torture, sexual exploitation, sexual violence and other horrors, including as a weapon of war.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for example, women’s and girls’ bodies have become an extension of the “battle ground” amid cyclical violence and worsening insecurity, including in displacement sites. Furthermore, reports of gender-based violence increased this year, with rape constituting most violations.

“In Chad, women have reported being raped while fleeing the conflict in Sudan,” Ms. Mantoo said.

“In Afghanistan, increasing restrictions on women and girls, high rates of domestic violence at home, and the overall worsening economic situation are contributing to a mental health crisis, with UNHCR partners reporting an increase in the number of patients seeking help.”

Danger on the move

Women refugees and migrants moving on routes towards the Mediterranean continue to report that they face sexual violence and exploitation, enslavement and human trafficking. Humanitarians estimate that 90 per cent are raped.

Meanwhile, survivors of sexual violence who have fled to neighbouring countries often remain in precarious situations, owing to the additional risks of gender-based violence they may face during their displacement and delays in accessing services which may be limited. 

“In addition to conflict-related sexual violence, forcibly displaced women and girls also face high risks of intimate partner violence. In certain displacement settings, the risks for them were estimated to be 20 per cent higher than for non-displaced women and girls,” said Ms. Mantoo.

Furthermore, intersecting forms of discrimination also add to risks, including for women and girls with disabilities, those living in poverty, or who have diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and sex characteristics, she added.

Step up support

Ms. Mantoo said early and effective GBV prevention and response measures for women and girls affected by forced displacement and conflict are lifesaving and life-changing, but funding falls far short of needs.

“For instance, for six major regional refugee response plans – covering humanitarian needs for refugees from the DRC, Afghanistan, Sudan, Ukraine, South Sudan and Syria – gender-based violence programming for the entire year for all participating organizations amounting to $236 million are currently only 28 per cent funded,” she said.

UNHCR is highlighting the issue during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual global campaign that runs from 25 November to 10 December.

The agency fears that without adequate funding, millions of forcibly displaced women and girls may not be able to access critical services next year.  

“It is a moment of great importance, especially for the civilians who were paying an enormous price for the fact that this conflict is not only dragging on, but is also gaining increasingly worrying dimensions,” he said.

The Secretary-General was speaking in the Portuguese capital at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, a day after Israel and Lebanon announced the ceasefire after more than a year of hostilities between Hezbollah militants and Israeli forces.

Respect the agreement

He said it is essential that those who signed the agreement fully respect it, and that it paves the way for a political solution to the Lebanese crisis.

“At the same time, I can assure you that UNIFIL, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force, which has been in Lebanon, is now prepared to contribute to the verification of this ceasefire with full commitment," he added.

The Secretary-General stressed the importance of respect for international law for achieving peace.

He said “it is clear that at a time when we see that conflicts are multiplying and that there is a feeling of impunity, that various powers, even small and medium powers, can afford to do whatever they want without anything happening to them, jeopardizing the security of their own country and their neighbours.”

Peace in Gaza, Ukraine and beyond

Turning to other conflicts, he underlined the need for a just peace in Ukraine, with respect for the UN Charter, international law, and the territorial integrity of the country.

The UN chief reiterated his call for peace in Gaza, with an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian access to the population “who have suffered in a way that I cannot recall at any other time during my term.”

The joint press conference was held following the conclusion of the 10th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations  (UNAOC), held over three days in the seaside town of Cascais.

The UNAOC is platform for intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation. Its work is centred around the five main priority areas of youth, education, media, migration, and women as peace mediators.

The move, announced on Wednesday, follows a comprehensive investigation by the ICC into the 2016 and 2017 waves of violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine province targeting the minority Muslim Rohingya community.

“My Office has concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Senior General and Acting President Min Aung Hlaing bears criminal responsibility for the crimes against humanity of deportation and persecution of the Rohingya, committed in Myanmar, and in part in Bangladesh,” ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said in a statement.

The charges stem from alleged crimes committed between 25 August and 31 December 2017 by Myanmar’s armed forces, known as the Tatmadaw, in coordination with police forces, border guards and some non-Rohingya civilians.

Countless accounts of atrocities

In addition to driving over one million Rohingya to flee their homes and seek refuge in Bangladesh, there were countless accounts of atrocities, including systematic killings of some 10,000 Rohingya men, women, children and newborns.

There were also horrific reports of gender-based violence against women and girls, including rape and sexual violence, and more than 300 villages were burnt to the ground.

The then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, called the brutal campaign a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.”

First application, more to follow

“This is the first application for an arrest warrant against a high-level Myanmar government official that my Office is filing. More will follow,” Mr. Khan stated.

The Prosecutor’s case is built on extensive evidence, including testimonies from insider witnesses, documentary proof and scientific and visual materials, gathered with support from states, civil society, and international organizations.

Mr. Khan expressed his appreciation for the “confidence and the steadfast commitment” from the Rohingya community for their cooperation. He also noted that the support of Government of Bangladesh, and the cooperation of the UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) has been essential to advancing the investigation.

"Journalists and media workers in Afghanistan work under unclear rules on what they can and cannot report, running the risk of intimidation and arbitrary detention for perceived criticism,” said Roza Otunbayeza, head of UNAMA. 

“For any country, a free press is not a choice, but a necessity. What we’re witnessing in Afghanistan is the systematic dismantling of this necessity”.

The report titled Media Freedom in Afghanistan outlined 256 instances of arbitrary arrest and detention, combined with 130 cases of torture and ill-treatment. An additional 75 documented cases of threats and intimidation have created a climate of fear.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk emphasised the broader implications of these restrictions. 

"Journalists and media workers are not just observers – they are essential to ensuring transparency and accountability, fostering informed debate,” he said, adding that they are crucial in “helping communities access vital information about humanitarian and protection issues that directly affect their lives”.

The development follows dire assessments from UN aid teams about the cost of “relentless” Israeli attacks on Beirut’s southern suburbs since the weekend, resulting in extensive damage and significant casualties, and forcing more people to flee their homes.

“The High Commissioner reiterates his call for an immediate ceasefire to put an end to the killings and the destruction,” stressed Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). 

“Israeli military action in Lebanon has caused widescale loss of civilian life, including the killing of entire families, widespread displacement and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, raising serious concerns about respect for the principles of proportionality, distinction and necessity.”

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Secretary-General António Guterres expressed hope that the agreement “can put an end to the violence, destruction and suffering the people of both countries have been experiencing.”

“The Secretary-General urges the parties to fully respect and swiftly implement all of their commitments made under this agreement,” the statement noted.

He also urged the parties to undertake immediate steps towards the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).

“The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) both stand ready to support the implementation of this agreement, in line with their respective mandates,” the statement added.

He was speaking at an Assembly meeting convened following the use of veto by Russia at the Security Council earlier this month.

The negative vote by the permanent Council member prevented the adoption of a draft resolution that would have strengthened measures to protect civilians and increase humanitarian access across Sudan.

The country has been in freefall since the brutal power struggle erupted last April between rival militaries – the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Across the country, more than 11.8 million people have been displaced from their homes, according to data maintained by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. More than 3.1 million among them have sought shelter in neighbouring countries, sparking a regional crisis.

One woman killed every 10 minutes: The harrowing global reality of femicide

Released on the 25th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the report sheds light on the global crisis of femicide and calls for urgent action.

“The epidemic of violence against women and girls shames humanity,” said Secretary-General António Guterres in his message for the Day. “The world must heed this call. We need urgent action for justice and accountability, and support for advocacy.”

The report also coincides with the start of the annual 16 Days of Activism campaign, which runs from 25 November to 10 December. 

This year, the UNITE campaign is drawing attention to the alarming escalation of violence against women under the theme, “Every 10 minutes, a woman is killed. #NoExcuse. UNITE to End Violence against Women”. 

Standing for the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People

The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People is holding a special meeting today to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (29 November). During the event, Member States and global leaders will gather at the ECOSOC Chamber to express solidarity through messages emphasizing the unresolved question of Palestine. Watch the meeting live on UN WebTV (10 a.m. - 1 p.m. New York time). Additionally, the exhibition "Gaza, Palestine: A Crisis of Our Humanity" will be on display in the General Assembly Visitors' Lobby until 5 January 2025. 

Elimination of Violence Against Women - Press Conference | United Nations

Israel on killing of Rabbi Zvi Kogan & ICC decision - Media Stakeout | United Nations

“I always wanted to be the voice of my people”

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Will Generative AI make good jobs harder to find?

Generative AI is poised to reshape the job market, raising critical questions about its impact on youth unemployment and underemployment. Despite a global surge in college enrollment, many graduates face job markets that fail to match their qualifications, particularly in developing nations. Youth unemployment is alarmingly high, with developing countries struggling to create stable, productive jobs for their educated populations. For instance, over 70% of young workers in Sub-Saharan Africa are in insecure employment. GenAI’s potential lies in boosting productivity in high-skill service sectors, but it also risks accelerating “premature de-professionalization,” making white-collar jobs harder to secure. The World Bank urges developing nations to adopt AI swiftly to access complex, growth-driving industries. Delayed adoption risks further cycles of unemployment and stagnation for the 1.2 billion youth entering the workforce in the next decade. 

Beekeepers battle against Antimicrobial Resistance, hive by hive

Martha Adjorlolo’s beehives in Donkorkrom, Ghana, are both her livelihood and passion. Despite starting beekeeping only a year ago, she is dedicated to sustainable practices, using local methods like top bar hives and natural repellents such as lemongrass oil. Her recent training by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) emphasized the need to minimize chemical and antimicrobial use for the health of bees, food safety, and the environment. The workshop highlighted the dangers of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which occurs when microorganisms become resistant to treatments, resulting in increased illness and mortality in various species. 

Sustainable agriculture in Somalia

The Degaan Bile project demonstrates the power of collaboration and innovation in empowering Somali farmers to adapt to climate change and build a sustainable future.