AI Has Potential to Rescue SDGs: UN Chief

By Deepak Arora

SHANGHAI: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to help rescue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and usher in a more durable and equitable future. Recent research estimates that AI can help accelerate nearly 80 per cent of the SDGs. Yet, he said “we face a stark reality: AI opportunities are not evenly shared. AI capacities today are concentrated in a handful of powerful companies – and even fewer countries. However, too many countries face significant challenges in accessing AI tools.”...more

UN Special Coordinator calls for release of all hostages and humanitarian ceasefire

By Deepak Arora

JERUSALEM, Sept 2: While condemning the tragic killing of six hostages in Gaza by Palestinian armed groups, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, has reiterated his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and urged all sides to reach an agreement that will bring about an immediate release of all hostages and a humanitarian ceasefire.

Tor Wennesland today returned to Gaza and witnessed firsthand the catastrophic impact of the hostilities, according to a statement released by Murad Bakri, Strategic Communications & Public Information Officer, Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO).

"The scale of destruction is immense, the humanitarian needs are colossal and soaring, and civilians continue to bear the brunt of this conflict. I unequivocally condemn the horrifying civilian death toll in Gaza," he said.

During his visit, he met with the heads of UN agencies and its dedicated staff working tirelessly in extremely challenging conditions. "Their commitment and bravery in providing critical support to those in need is truly commendable."

Tor Wennesland said he also had the opportunity to visit a Polio vaccination center. "Its reemergence represents yet another threat to the children in the Gaza Strip. I welcome the humanitarian pauses to allow for the vaccination campaigns to take place."

He said he continued to be engaged with all stakeholders towards these objectives. "A deal is crucial to saving lives, reducing regional tensions and enabling the UN, in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, to accelerate efforts to address the pressing needs of Gaza’s population."

The UN Special Coordinator said "The ongoing conflict has destroyed the lives of countless families. It must stop.”

UN Secy Gen António Guterres Expresses Concern of Israel Operations in West Bank

By Deepak Arora

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 28: UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has expressed deep concern on the latest developments in the occupied West Bank, including Israel's launch today of large-scale military operations in Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas governorates, involving the use of airstrikes, which resulted in casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. He strongly condemns the loss of lives, including of children.

In a statement, Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said the Secretary-General called for an immediate cessation of these operations.

The Secretary General also called on Israel to comply with its relevant obligations under international humanitarian law and to take measures to protect civilians and ensure their safety. He urged security forces to exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when it is strictly unavoidable to protect life.

All those injured must have access to medical care, and humanitarian workers must be able to reach everyone in need.

"These dangerous developments are fueling an already explosive situation in the occupied West Bank and further undermining the Palestinian Authority," added the statement.

The Secretary-General was also deeply concerned by the recent dangerous and provocative acts and statements by an Israeli Minister at the Holy Sites in Jerusalem. He stressed the importance of maintaining the status quo at the Sites.

Ultimately, only an end to the occupation and a return to a meaningful political process that will establish a two-state solution will bring an end to the violence. "The United Nations will continue to work with all parties towards this end, to seek a de-escalation of the current situation and promote stability in the region," added the statement.

‘Save the Pacific, Save the world’: UN Chief António Guterres

By Deepak Arora

NUKU’ALOFA (TONGA), Aug 27: UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a “global SOS” from Tonga in the Pacific, urging governments to step up climate action to “Save Our Seas” as two new reports revealed how rising sea levels are threatening the vulnerable region and beyond.

Addressing the Pacific Islands Forum Opening Ceremony, the Secretary General gave a call and said by “saving the Pacific, we save the world”.

“The decisions world leaders take in the coming years will determine the fate, first of Pacific Islanders — but also of everyone else. In other words: If we save the Pacific, we save the world,” he said.

Guterres called for world leaders to drastically slash global emissions, quickly phase out fossil fuels, and massively boost climate adaptation investments to protect people from current and future risks.

He said “the survival plan for our planet is simple: Establishing a just transition for the phase out of the fossil fuels that are responsible for 85 per cent of the emissions of greenhouse gases. All countries must produce national climate plans — nationally determined contributions — by next year, aligning with the 1.5°C upper limit of global heating.”

But, he said “humanity is treating the sea like a sewer. Plastic pollution is choking sea life. Greenhouse gases are causing ocean heating, acidification and a dramatic and accelerating rise in sea levels.”

“This is a crazy situation: rising seas are a crisis entirely of humanity’s making. A crisis that will soon swell to an almost unimaginable scale, with no lifeboat to take us back to safety,” he warned.

However, the Secretary General said “Pacific islands are showing the way to protect our climate, our planet and our ocean: By declaring a climate emergency and pushing for action, and with your Declarations on Sea Level Rise, and aspirations for a just transition to a fossil-fuel-free Pacific.”

UN General Assembly Adopts Oral Decision on Security Council Reform

By Deepak Arora

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 27: The UN General Assembly has adopted the oral decision rolling over the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council reforms to the 79th UNGA session.

Briefing news persons hare, the spokesperson said the General Assembly adopted a draft oral decision under agenda item 121 on the "Question of the equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council”.

The oral decision adopted by consensus outlines the decision of Member States over the immediate continuation of intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform in the informal plenary of the General Assembly at its next session.

The document also outlines that an Open-ended Working Group on the subject will meet during the seventy-ninth session of the General Assembly.

The GA President, Mr. Dennis Francis, chaired the meeting.

A total of 14 speakers were inscribed to deliver remarks on behalf of individual Member States and regional groups.

India aligned with the statement delivered by St Vincent and the Grenadines
on behalf of the L.69, and the statement to be delivered by Brazil on behalf
of the G4.

Indian delegate emphasised on the need to finally start text-based negotiations. "India, along with a large number of delegations, has been highlighting now for more than a decade and a half, the critical need for text-based negotiations in the IGN just as it is done for all other multilateral processes on any important issue."

India said "Given the growing global crises impacting the Council’s effectiveness, it is
increasingly untenable that the IGN on UNSC reforms is the only process in the UN where text-based negotiations continue to be stalled after such a long time.

Frequent evactuation orders worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza: OCHA

By Deepak Arora

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 26: The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said that the flurry of evacuation orders in August continue to worsen the humanitarian crisis, with new orders issued over the weekend.

The total number of evacuation orders issued in August is now 16, directly impacting approximately 258,000 people, or around 12 per cent of Gaza’s population.

Since Friday, the Israeli military has issued three new evacuation orders for over 19 neighborhoods in Northern Gaza and in Deir al Balah, with more than 8,000 people staying in these areas, many sheltering in 29 displacement sites.

In Deir Al Balah, the orders have displaced UN humanitarian staff, NGOs, and service providers, along with their families. These relocations took place at short notice and in dangerous conditions.

"Our humanitarian colleagues are particularly worried about the order issued yesterday for a part of Deir al Balah. It affected 15 premises hosting UN and NGO aid workers, four UN warehouses, Al Aqsa hospital, two clinics, three wells, one water reservoir and one desalination plant. All of these are either in or near the designated area," said OCHA.

This effectively upends a whole lifesaving humanitarian hub that was set up in Deir al Balah following its evacuation from Rafah back in May, and it severely impacts the ability to deliver essential support and services.

In a social media post, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said that nearby health facilities are now at risk of becoming non-functional. Many patients and staff have left Al Aqsa hospital, reducing healthcare capacity as hostilities intensify.

Water production in Deir al Balah has reduced by 85 per cent due to loss of access to water sources in areas designated for evacuation in August.

As reported earlier, only about 11 per cent of the Gaza strip has not been placed under evacuation orders. Most people in Gaza were now squeezed in this small, overcrowded, polluted area, where services were poor, and which was unsafe, just like the rest of the Gaza Strip.

"On polio, after the first confirmed case, our partners on the ground tell us at least 50,000 children born since the crisis erupted are highly unlikely to have received any immunizations due to the collapsed health system," said the report.

Yesterday, UNICEF confirmed that 1.2 million doses of Polio Vaccine Type 2 were brought into Gaza to immunize more than 640,000 children, together with WHO and UNRWA.

For its part, the World Food Programme (WFP) says that their operations are severely hampered by intensifying conflict, the limited number of border crossings and damaged roads.

In the last two months, WFP has managed to bring in only half of the 24,000 metric tons of food aid required for operations serving 1.1 million people in Gaza. WFP has also had to reduce the contents of food parcels.

WFP also warns that shell craters and debris is make driving slow and challenging for truck drivers even in dry weather. In two months, when rain and flooding is expected, most roads will become unusable.

WFP says that aid workers grapple daily with slow authorizations and frequent refusals when they ask for permission to move. Looting and problems of public order are also frequent, especially when convoys have to wait for hours at holding points.

General Assembly to meet on Security Council reform

By TTO Correspondent

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 26: The President of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, will preside on Tuesday (August 27), over a plenary meeting under agenda item 121 "Question of the equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council”, according to Monica Grayley, Spokesperson for General Assembly President.

Earlier this month, she said the PGA indicated in a letter to Member States after informal consultations, his intention to present a draft oral decision for adoption at the plenary meeting of the General Assembly.

Among the points to be acted upon by the General Assembly are:

The immediate continuation of intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform in informal plenary of the General Assembly at its seventy-ninth session; convening the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters related to the Security Council during the seventy-ninth session of the General Assembly, if Member States so decide.

The spokesperson said Member States would also decide whether to include in the agenda of the seventy-ninth session of the General Assembly the item entitled “Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council.”

Houthi Rebels Take Over Human Rights Offices In Yemen, Says UN

GENEVA, Aug 13: The United Nations said Tuesday their human rights offices in Sanaa had been taken over by Yemen's Houthi rebels, with the UN's rights chief demanding they leave immediately and return all seized assets.

On August 3, the Iran-backed Houthis sent a delegation to the UN Human Rights Office's premises in Sanaa and forced staff to hand over the keys. They are still in control of the premises, the Geneva-based office said.

"Entering a UN office without permission and seizing documents and property by force are wholly inconsistent with the privileges and immunities of the United Nations," UN rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement.

"This is also a serious attack on the ability of the UN to perform its mandate, including with respect to the promotion and protection of human rights, which my office is there to defend.

"Ansar Allah forces must leave the premises and return all assets and belongings immediately."

The Houthis are engaged in a long-running civil war that has triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. More than half of the population is dependent on aid in the Arabian Peninsula's poorest country.

The rebels seized control of the capital Sanaa in September 2014, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention on behalf of the government the following March.

In June this year, the Houthis detained 13 UN staff, including six employees of the Human Rights Office, plus more than 50 staff from non-governmental organisations, plus an embassy staff member.

The Houthis claimed they had arrested "an American-Israeli spy network" operating under the cover of humanitarian organisations -- allegations emphatically rejected by the UN Human Rights Office.

Two other UN Human Rights staff had already been detained since November 2021 and August 2023 respectively. They are all being held incommunicado.

"I appeal again, with a heavy heart, for their immediate and unconditional release," said Turk.

"It is crucial that the de facto authorities respect the United Nations and its independence, release all detained UN staff immediately, and create conditions in which my office and other UN agencies can continue their critical work for people of Yemen without threats or hinderance."

China, Pakistan Try To Derail India, G4 Nations' UN Security Council Bid

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 13: The lack of adequate geographic representation in the UN Security Council is responsible for its failures, and giving Africa permanent membership will be essential to make the highest decision-making body effective, R. Ravindra, Charge d'affaires of India's UN mission has said.

Speaking on behalf of the G-4, the group of India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, on Monday at an open debate of the Council on reforming itself, he said, "A primary reason for the underperformance of this critical institution remains the non-representation of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and the under-representation of Asia-Pacific in the permanent category".

"We are convinced that African representation in both permanent and non-permanent categories will be an indispensable part of UNSC reform for a more representative and effective Council," he said.

The meeting of the Council was convened by Sierra Leone, which holds the rotating presidency, to push Africa's case for reforming the Council to give the continent better representation.

Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio said, "Despite being home to over 1.3 billion people, and the 54 African countries making up 28 per cent of the total membership of the UN," Africa continues to suffer from the historic injustice of being deprived of permanent seats at the Council.

"Nearly 80 years after its creation, the Council has been stuck in time" -- 1945 when the UN was created while most of Africa was under the colonial yoke perpetuating the injustice, he said.

"Africa demands two permanent seats in the UN Security Council and two additional non-permanent seats" to the existing three, he said.

Ravindra said, "We as G-4 continue to support fully these legitimate demands and aspirations from the people of Africa" and its relationship with the continent "is anchored in trust and mutual respect and is focused on ensuring that Africa finds its rightful place in a new age of reformed multilateralism".

"It is also inconceivable that Africa which constitutes over 70 per cent of the UNSC's agenda items under discussions, does not get a permanent voice at the horse-shoe table" at the Council chamber, he said.

Ravindra said the Inter-governmental Negotiations (IGN) for Council reforms should expedite text-based negotiations so that it can proceed with the reform process in time for the 80th anniversary of the UN next year.

He said that at the summit of G-20 last year under India's leadership, Africa was given membership in the group of the major industrialised and emerging economies, which was also noted by Bio.

Bio said that Africa's claim should be treated as a "special case" and given priority in reforming the Council in time for the 80th anniversary next year.

Many speakers at the meeting also emphasised Africa's case for special expedited treatment in the reform process mired for decades by opposition by a small group of countries that call themselves Uniting for Consensus (UfC) hoping to detach the continent from the controversies involving other countries.

India, its G4 partners that work together to expand the Council, and other countries have counted on Africa's case for reform to break the stalemate.

But the calls for treating Africa as a "special case" ahead of the Summit of the Future in September and the UN's 80th anniversary next year seek to make the reform a piecemeal effort -- if it happens at all.

Marco Romiti, a Minister Counsellor in the UN Mission of Italy which heads the UfC, spoke out against adding more permanent members.

Munir Akram, the permanent representative of Pakistan, which is also a member of UfC, opposed expanding permanent membership but said that Africa can be considered a special case and be given long-term seats in the Council.

But he, too, was firm against adding permanent members.

Bio was asked outside the Council chamber at his meeting with the media how he hoped to overcome the UfC opposition.

He said Africa has a very compelling case and that is what we are pushing for.

"We don't consider the opposition," he said. "We have a genuine case and that is what we are pushing. We know that there are others … it is a total reform, but we are talking for Africa".

He said he was confident that it was only a matter of time before Africa got its due.

"The gatekeepers will find it difficult to let us in, but as you can see, there is already willingness and as you can see we are gradually inching towards the next steps in order to be able to reach our goal," he said.

Akram took a dig at India and the G4 saying, "Africa is critically different from the demand of four states for permanent membership for themselves".

China's Permanent Representative Fu Cong also threw in criticism against India and the G4, saying that there were "a few countries and interest groups who pursue their own selfish and small-circle interests when it comes to Council reform".

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the "cracks" in the Council's "foundation are becoming too large to ignore".

"They are contributing to deadlock, stalemate and stagnation around today's most pressing crises and they are feeding a broader crisis of credibility and legitimacy that is affecting multilateralism itself," he said.

"We cannot accept that the world's preeminent peace and security body lacks a permanent voice for a continent of well over a billion people -- a young and rapidly growing population -- making up 28 per cent of the membership of the United Nations," he said.

UN chief calls for permanent Africa Security Council seat

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 13: UN chief António Guterres has called for Africa to be given a permanent seat at the UN Security Council as part of reforms to correct historical injustices.

The Security Council - the five permanent members of which are China, France, Russia, the UK and the US - has long been criticised for representing the realities that prevailed at the end of World War Two when much of Africa was still under colonial rule.

“The world has changed since 1945. But the composition of the Council, despite a few changes, has not kept pace,” Guterres said.

The 10 non-permanent members of the body are allocated by region, but unlike the five permanent members, they do not have the power of veto.

The African Union has long been pushing for the continent to have two permanent representatives on the council and an additional two seats as non-permanent representatives.

The debate on Monday was convened by Sierra Leone - and its President Julius Maada Bio made the case for the continent.

“The time for half-measures and incremental progress is over. Africa must be heard, and its demands for justice and equity must be met,” he said.

The UN Security Council has significant responsibilities, including authorising peacekeeping operations, imposing international sanctions and determining how the UN should respond to conflicts around the world.

Other UN officials echoed the sentiments for reform, including Dennis Francis - the president of the UN General Assembly, as well as Guterres.

“We cannot accept that the world’s preeminent peace and security body lacks a permanent voice for a continent of well over a billion people - a young and rapidly growing population - making up 28% of the membership of the United Nations,” the UN chief said.

Africa was under-represented at the UN Security Council and international financial institutions but “over-represented in the very challenges these structures are designed to address”, he added.

Africa has often been at the centre of conflicts fuelled by greed for the continent’s resources, necessary to the global economy, Guterres said.

He also pointed out that almost half of all UN peacekeeping operations were in Africa and 40% of UN peacekeepers were African.

The UN chief added that the body had failed to adequately align African representation with the continent’s efforts and contributions.

The UN was set up after the end of World War Two to spare succeeding generations from the scourge of armed conflict.

Only four African nations - Egypt, Liberia, Ethiopia, and South Africa - were amongst the founding members.

For Mr Guterres, the need for change was not only about ethics and justice.
“It is also a strategic imperative that can increase global acceptance of the council’s decisions - benefitting Africa and the world," he said.

UN committee approves first cybercrime treaty despite widespread opposition

NEW YORK, Aug 9: The United Nations has approved its first-ever cybercrime treaty in a landmark unanimous vote, setting the stage for global cooperation against cybercriminal activities. However, the treaty has sparked controversy, with human rights groups and tech companies warning of potential risks to privacy and free speech.

In a significant move towards combating the growing threat of cybercrime, the United Nations passed its first cybercrime treaty with unanimous support. This treaty, which was initially proposed by Russia, aims to establish a global legal framework for addressing cybercrime and enhancing international cooperation on digital evidence sharing.

The treaty’s passage marks a historic moment as it creates a binding international agreement on cybercrime, an area that has seen exponential growth in both scale and complexity. The treaty is expected to be ratified by at least 40 member states before it comes into force, focusing on crimes like child exploitation, money laundering, and other severe cyber offenses.

While many nations, particularly those with less developed cyber infrastructures, have hailed the treaty as a much-needed tool to counter the threat of cybercrime, the agreement has not been without its critics. Human rights organizations and tech companies have expressed concerns that the treaty could pave the way for increased surveillance and repression. Critics argue that the treaty’s provisions could be used by repressive governments to stifle free speech and target journalists, activists, and minority groups.

One of the central points of contention is the treaty’s allowance for cross-border data requests, which could lead to governments accessing electronic evidence from other nations without sufficient safeguards. This has raised alarms about potential abuses, particularly in countries with weak legal protections for privacy and human rights.

Despite these concerns, the treaty was adopted after three years of negotiations, during which various states and interest groups sought to influence the final text. The Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime, which led the drafting process, made some amendments to address human rights concerns, but many believe these changes do not go far enough.

This UN cybercrime treaty represents a delicate balance between advancing global cybersecurity and protecting individual rights. As the treaty moves towards ratification and implementation, the international community will need to remain vigilant to ensure that it is used to combat real threats without compromising human rights.

The treaty will be presented to the UN General Assembly later this year, where it is expected to receive formal approval, paving the way for its implementation across the globe.