Week in Review

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Weekly Wrap 18 September 2020 Kseniya Halubovich Belarus crisis under the spotlight at Human Rights Council The Belarus Government should end "violent crackdowns" and "increasing repression" against protesters who are still contesting the result of last month's Presidential elections, UN deputy rights chief Nada Al Nashif told the Human Rights Council on Friday. Human Rights UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe Sustainable Development goals are 'the future' Malala tells major UN event, urging countries to get on track The Global Goals represent the future for millions of girls who want education, women who fight for equality, and youth fighting for clean air, UN Messenger of Peace Malala Yousafzai said on Friday, at a side event of the General Assembly, challenging Member States, "when are you planning to do the work"?  SDGs UNICEF/Alessio Romenzi New wave of famine could sweep the globe, overwhelming nations already weakened by years of conflict, warn UN officials The global hunger crisis caused by conflict – and now compounded by COVID-19 – is moving into a dangerous phase, the head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Thursday, stressing that without resources, a wave of famine could sweep the globe, overwhelming nations already weakened by years of instability.  Humanitarian Aid © UNICEF/Alessio Romenzi Protect lives, mitigate future shocks and recover better: UN-wide COVID-19 response  Over the course of 2020 thus far, the coronavirus has taken hundreds of thousands of lives, infected millions of people, and wreaked socio-economic, humanitarian and human rights havoc, the United Nations said in a new report released on Wednesday. Health © UNICEF/Khalil Ashawi UN rights chief calls for Turkey to probe violations in northern Syria The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has urged Turkey to launch an immediate independent investigation into violations and abuses committed in parts of north, northwest and northeast Syria, which are under the control of its forces and affiliated armed groups.  Human Rights UN-HABITAT Leveraging youth to shape a better future, UN announces 17 Young Leaders for SDGs The United Nations, on Friday, recognized 17 young advocates for sustainable development, who are leading efforts to combat some of the world's most pressing challenges and inspiring the younger generation for a better future for all.  SDGs © UNICEF/Mahmoud Fahdl 'Tens of millions of Yemenis' devastated by unabated war and COVID-19  More than five years of war have "devastated the lives of tens of millions of Yemenis", with experts estimating that up to one million may have been affected by COVID-19, the UN chief told the General Assembly on Thursday.  Peace and Security UN News/Ben Dotsei Malor EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Shortsighted and 'stupid mistake' not to support affordable COVID vaccine for all, says Guterres The march of COVID-19 which has "put us on our knees", should be a lesson in humility for world leaders, and a lack of solidarity on the part of some richer nations towards developing countries, means we will all pay a heavy price, the UN chief has told UN News, in an exclusive interview ahead of the new General Assembly session.  Health UN Photo/Mark Garten Bolster fragile world to emerge stronger, UN chief urges, marking Peace Day A Japanese principle that finds beauty in broken things, should serve as guidance for today's fractured world as we navigate out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday during the annual ceremony at UN Headquarters to mark the International Day of Peace on 21 September.   Peace and Security WFP/Hugh Rutherford FROM THE FIELD: Love in the time of COVID A young couple who hail from very different backgrounds, has demonstrated that even during a global pandemic, true love always finds a way. Health UN Photo/Mark Garten INTERVIEW: The top diplomat shepherding the General Assembly through its 75th year The Turkish diplomat elected to be the president of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, is taking on the role as the Organization grapples with an unprecedented pandemic, and questions surrounding the future direction it should take. UN Affairs Photo: UN/Jean-Marc Ferré Human rights violations continue in Burundi under new Government: UN report UN-appointed investigators have issued fresh warnings about ongoing rights violations and impunity in Burundi, since the death of former President Pierre Nkurunziza, who ran for a third term in 2015, in a move deemed by opposition to be unconstitutional. Human Rights © UNICEF/Fazel COVID pushes millions more children deeper into poverty, new study finds The coronavirus pandemic has pushed an additional 150 million children into multidimensional poverty – deprived of education, health, housing, nutrition, sanitation or water – a new UN study has found.  Health University of Oxford/John Cairns UN chief: COVID-19 vaccine must be affordable and available to all   The continuing COVID-19 pandemic continues to top a long list of global concerns, the UN chief told journalists on Wednesday, noting that "the grimmest of milestones" is upon us.  Peace and Security ©UNICEF/Arcos Venezuela abuses amounted to crimes against humanity: UN-appointed panel Grave rights violations against anti-government protesters in Venezuela, "amounted to crimes against humanity", UN-appointed rights investigators said in their first report on abuses inside the Latin American nation. Human Rights UNICEF/Seyha Lychheang More research needed into COVID-19 effects on children, says WHO head More research is needed into factors that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 disease among children and adolescents, the head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) has said, adding that while children may have largely been spared many of the most severe effects, they have suffered in other ways.  Health UN Photo/Evan Schneider New General Assembly underscores 'necessity of multilateralism' The 75th session of the UN General Assembly opened on Tuesday with a moment of silence against the unprecedented backdrop of the COVID pandemic, as the new president told delegates that the coronavirus had driven home the value of multilateralism "to address our collective challenges".  UN Affairs © UNICEF/Omar Albam Syria: Bombshell report reveals 'no clean hands' as horrific rights violations continue  Despite a reduction in largescale hostilities since a ceasefire in March, the UN Syrian Commission of Inquiry reported on Monday that armed actors continue to subject civilians to horrific and increasingly targeted abuse. Human Rights San Francisco Fire Department Climate change: Record northern heat, fuels concerns over US wildfire destruction The northern hemisphere experienced its warmest August ever, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Tuesday, amid searing conditions that have contributed to devastating wildfires on the west coast of the United States. Climate Change UNICEF/DE WET New UN report highlights link between gender, climate and security Even as countries buckle under the devastating social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, they must consider the links between gender inequality and crisis, particularly in communities affected by climate change and conflict. 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. 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