By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The UN human rights chief Volker Türk expressed his outrage on July 9 at Russia’s latest airstrikes on Ukrainian cities which killed dozens and hit the country’s biggest children’s hospital in the capital Kyiv, the UN News reported. Mr. Türk said these “relentless” attacks were deepening the humanitarian crisis in the country, tearing apart infrastructure, and creating a host of socioeconomic challenges. Between March and May, 436 civilians were killed and 1,760 injured, High Commissioner Türk said. “These high civilian casualties are largely the result of the ground
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Police chiefs and government leaders convened at UN Headquarters on June 27 for the opening session of UNCOPS 2024, the UN News reported. The summit, themed Advancing our Common Security: UN Policing for a New Era, began with a video highlighting the UN Police’s (UNPOL) mission to promote security, protect human rights, and support Member States. UNPOL’s true mission is to “enhance international peace and security by supporting Member States in conflict, post-conflict and other crisis situations”, all while standing at the forefront of preventing and addressing intern
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The UN Secretary-General on June 21 voiced profound concern over escalating violence and “bellicose rhetoric” between Israel and Hezbollah militants across the frontier with Lebanon, warning that one false move could trigger a catastrophe for the whole region and beyond, the UN News reported. The situation along the Blue Line, the demarcation between Israeli and Lebanese armed forces, has been deteriorating since Israel launched its offensive in the Gaza Strip following the brutal 7 October attack by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups against communities in the
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Senior UN officials have condemned Israeli air strikes on May 26 that hit a camp for displaced people in Rafah, southern Gaza, reportedly claiming over 35 Palestinian lives, including women and children, the UN News reported. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, voiced his horror at further loss of civilian lives in the war-ravaged enclave. “The images from the camp are horrific and point to no apparent change in the methods and means of warfare used by Israel that have already led to so many civilian deaths,” he said in a news release on May 26. On 26
By UN Journal Kayla Lee The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged Russia to end its crackdown on journalists in a statement issued on May 7 shortly after President Vladmir Putin began a fifth term in office., the UN News reported. Volker Türk said he was concerned by the increasing number of journalists charged, convicted and jailed for their independent reporting, in what appears to be an intensification of a crackdown on dissenting voices. He described the continuous attacks on free speech and the criminalization of independent journalism in Russia as “very troubling”. “The
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young A senior UN official on April 2 urged the Security Council to work to avert further escalation in the Middle East following the deadly airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Syria’s capital, Damascus. Briefing ambassadors a day after the attack, Assistant-Secretary-General Khaled Khiari stressed the need for restraint, the UN News reported. “We appeal to the Council today, as we do every month, to continue to actively engage all concerned parties to prevent further escalation and the worsening of tensions that undermine regional peace and security,” he said. UN Secre
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The UN Security Council on Monday passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and "the urgent need to expand the flow" of aid into Gaza, the UN News reported. There were 14 votes in favour with the United States abstaining. This was the Council’s first explicit call for an immediate ceasefire since Israel began a military offensive in the Gaza Strip following last October’s brutal attack by Hamas and other Palestinian groups against settlements in southern Israel, in which over 1,20
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The UN Secretary-General António Guterres on March 9 highlighted the urgent need for a negotiated political solution in Syria, emphasizing the protection of civilians and the dire humanitarian situation, the UN News reported. March marks the thirteenth anniversary of the conflict in Syria, with systematic atrocities and untold suffering of civilians. According to UN estimates, 16.7 million people, equivalent to 70 per cent of the total population, will require humanitarian assistance in 2024. Roughly half the pre-war population remains displaced inside or outside Syri
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Global governance in its present form is entrenching divisions and fuelling discontent, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told world leaders attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Feb. 16, the UN News reported. “Our world is facing existential challenges, but the global community is more fragmented and divided than at any time during the past 75 years,” he said, highlighting the need for “a global order that works for everyone”. Mr. Guterres said if countries fulfilled their obligations under the UN Charter, every person on Earth would live in peac
UNJournal Jon Lee | The UN expert working to eliminate rape during wartime has been invited to Israel by the Government to gather information on sexual violence reportedly committed in the context of the 7 October Hamas attacks and their aftermath, the UN News reported on Jan. 25. Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, will also visit the occupied West Bank, where she will meet with the Palestinian Authority, civil society organizations, recently released detainees and other relevant actors. The visit is set to start on Jan. 29 and wi
UNJournal Jon Lee | The following is the remarks of UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the meeting of the Global Counter-Terrorism Compact on Jan. 24, 2024. –Ed. Excellencies, Dear Colleagues, Dear Friends, Thank you for coming together here at the United Nations Headquarters. Now this building, and our organization, represent humanity’s highest ideals. Peace, dialogue, development, human rights and collaboration. Terrorism represents the polar opposite of these ideals. No one is immune from this global threat. Today’s meeting focuses on a clear and present danger to a continent — but al
UNJournal Jon Lee | Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) announced on Dec. 7 that Prof. Kim Jin-ah of the LD Department of the university has been appointed as a member of the UN Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters under the umbrella of UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The UN Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, established by agreement of the UN General Assembly in 1978, consists of 15 ambassadors and civilian experts. Prof. Kim is the third South Korean and first civilian to be appointed to the member of the UN Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters. Beginning her term in Jan
UNJournal Jon Lee | The UN Security Council on Jan. 3 held its first open meeting on the continuing attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, which are becoming an increasing threat to global trade and the stability of the entire region as the intense fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza continues, the UN News reported. At the meeting, UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari said, “No cause or grievance could justify continuing Houthi attacks against freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. All incidents originating in Houthi controlled areas must stop.” He encouraged “al
UNJournal Jon Lee | The following is the full-text of the New Year message delivered by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Dec. 28, 2023. -- Ed. 2023 has been a year of enormous suffering, violence, and climate chaos. Humanity is in pain. Our planet is in peril. 2023 is the hottest year on record. People are getting crushed by growing poverty and hunger. Wars are growing in number and ferocity. And trust is in short supply. But pointing fingers and pointing guns lead nowhere. Humanity is strongest when we stand together. 2024 must be a year for rebuilding trust and restoring hope. We mus
UNJournal Jon Lee | The International Youth Fellowship (IYF), a non-governmental organization (NGO), announced on Jan. 3 that it will push for mind education for youth character development in Uganda, East Africa. IYF founder Rev. Park Ok-soo met with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Kiruhura, Uganda, on Jan. 1 (local time) to exchange views on the introduction of mind education. Rev. Park introduced mind education from around the world and explained his plans to establish a mind education center, introduce mind education to public education in Uganda, and provide training for government o