Week in Review

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Weekly Wrap 4 September 2020 © UNICEF/Montico UNICEF to lead global procurement, supply of COVID vaccines UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) will be leading procurement and supply of COVID-19 vaccinations to ensure that all countries have safe, fast and equitable access to initial doses when they are available, the agency has announced. Health UNAMA/Fardin Waezi Afghanistan: Near-record violence risks derailing imminent talks between Government and Taliban The UN's top official in Afghanistan has warned that with the formal launch of direct peace negotiations imminent, near-record violence in the country is creating an atmosphere of mistrust that risks derailing long-sought talks between the Government and the Taliban.  Peace and Security OPCW Alleged poisoning of Russian opposition leader a 'grave concern', says chemical weapons watchdog The allegation that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned by a Cold War-era nerve agent is "a matter of grave concern", the head of the UN-backed Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said on Thursday.  Peace and Security © UNICEF/UNI340770 Beat back 'catastrophic effects' of COVID-19 on refugee education, urges UNHCR While children in every country have struggled with the impact of COVID-19 on their education, refugee children have been particularly disadvantaged, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has said, amid fears many may not be able to resume their studies due to school closures, high fees or lack of access to technology to learn remotely.  Migrants and Refugees UNDP Eritrea/Elizabeth Mwaniki Make COVID recovery 'a true turning point' for people and planet, Guterres urges, calling for concerted action by G20 UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on governments to incorporate "meaningful" climate action in all aspects of recovery from the global pandemic.  Climate Change ICC UN dismayed over US sanctions on top International Criminal Court officials The UN Secretary-General on Wednesday noted "with concern" the imposition by the United States of sanctions against the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and another senior official, in the latest of a series of unilateral policy moves against the body. Law and Crime Prevention © UNICEF/Giovanni Diffidenti Security Council support 'in action' for Libya, crucial for its future, declares UN mission chief The top UN official in Libya urged the Security Council on Wednesday to press for an immediate de-escalation of tensions and a return to negotiations, following the call from rival political leaders for a ceasefire on 21 August. Peace and Security UN Women/Fahad Kaizer Women bear the brunt, as COVID erodes progress on eradicating extreme poverty The coronavirus pandemic and its fallout will likely push 47 million more women into poverty, reversing decades of progress to eradicate extreme poverty, new data released on Wednesday by the UN has revealed.  Women Kseniya Halubovich Belarus must stop torturing protesters and prevent enforced disappearances Independent UN human rights experts on Tuesday called on Belarus to stop torturing detainees and bring to justice police officers who have reportedly humiliated and beaten protestors in their custody, as mass demonstrations over the disputed 9 August presidential election continue for a fourth week.  Peace and Security UNAMA/Fardin Waezi Attacks on journalists are attacks on all civil society: UN rights chief UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet has urged all countries to do more to protect journalists, especially during the COVID-19 crisis, as their work helps save lives. Human Rights © UNICEF/Hani Alansi 'No hope' of reaching climate, development goals, without youth optimism and know-how Without harnessing the energy, tech savvy and optimism of young people, the world has no hope of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or the Paris Agreement on climate change, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday. SDGs UNRWA/Khalil Adwan Deal to reduce recent Gaza tensions will aid fight against COVID-19 The top UN official in the Middle East has hailed an agreement to reduce the latest tensions in and around Gaza amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.  Peace and Security FAO From farm to fork: How food systems can power climate action Taking specific steps to transform national food supply systems can help countries achieve climate goals and limit global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius, a new joint UN report on climate action has found.  Climate Change UNAMID/Albert Gonzalez Farran Sudan: Darfur deal welcomed by UN chief as 'historic achievement' A peace agreement between Sudanese authorities and key armed movements from Darfur could provide a path to national unity, the head of the joint UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) said on Monday. Secretary-General António Guterres later described it as an "historic achievement" towards lasting peace. Peace and Security UN Photo/Evan Schneider Kickstarting economies without COVID-19 plan, 'a recipe for disaster': Tedros Eight months into the COVID-19 pandemic, countries want to "get their economies going again", the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday, advising on the measures that governments, communities and individuals should take, to do so safely. Health ILO Generations of progress for women and girls could be lost to COVID pandemic, UN chief warns Highlighting the disproportionate and devastating socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on women and girls globally, The UN chief António Guterres called on Monday for a major push to prevent "years, even generations" worth of progress on women's empowerment, from being lost to the pandemic.  Women UN Guatemala/Hector Delgado 'Wisdom' of Guatemala's indigenous people needed for sustainable development: A UN Resident Coordinator blog The wisdom and knowledge of indigenous people in Guatemala is central to the realization of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs, targets agreed by countries around the world to end poverty, maintain peace and preserve the health of the planet. In this blog, the UN Resident Coordinator in Guatemala Rebeca Arias Flores explains how sustainable development is not new, but simply a new name that draws on ancient wisdom that is renewed with each generation of indigenous people.  SDGs UN Photo/Evan Schneider UN envoy welcomes 'commonalities' shared by Syrians in Geneva talks Syrian opponents meeting in Geneva as part of efforts to find a peaceful end to nearly a decade of conflict in their country have found common ground on which to pursue further discussions, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said on Saturday. Peace and Security Coronavirus Portal & News Updates Readers can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. For daily news updates from UN News, click here. unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences