Week in Review

The world must act now to stem the violence and instability in Haiti, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday, appealing for simultaneous action on the humanitarian, security, and political fronts. 

Meet Ameca, Grace, and Sophia, some of more than 50 robots attending the UN-driven AI for Good Global Summit, which opened on Thursday in Geneva.

The UN chief advocated for climate crisis solutions, debt relief mechanisms, and urgent assistance to Haiti, addressing world leaders on Monday at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Summit in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

The development of artificial intelligence, or AI, “for the good of all” requires guardrails grounded in human rights, transparency, and accountability, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday.

Joan Baez needs no introduction. The legendary artist and peace icon has been inspiring generations of activists for decades to stand up against war, poverty and injustice.

While at the UN in Geneva, she sat down with UN News’s Daniel Johnson to talk about her earliest encounter with the UN and which of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) resonates the most with her. She pointed to the climate crisis as today’s most pressing struggle, warning that “if we don’t get it, it’s going to get us”.

The performer famous for her era-defining rendition of the protest song “We Shall Overcome” also spoke about why in the face of conflict and despair, she continues to choose action and “do her part”.

The UN’s top humanitarian officials on Wednesday voiced shock and condemnation over increasing reports of gender-based violence in Sudan as the military power struggle there continues.

Last year, 27,180 grave violations were committed against children caught up in war – the highest number ever verified by the UN, the Security Council heard on Wednesday. 

A green future will remain out of reach if the world doesn’t help developing countries close a $2 trillion gap in investment towards an energy transition, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned on Wednesday.

When the Taliban surged back into power in August 2021, Afghanistan was virtually cut off from the rest of the world, and decisions by the de facto authorities to further restrict human rights have only deepened the country’s isolation.

A police trainer in Thailand has told UN News about her “inspiration, passion, and strength” for teaching police cadets how to tackle the illicit trafficking of drugs and other contraband through her country and onwards through Southeast Asia.

Against a backdrop of growing misinformation, political polarization, and a breakdown in trust between citizens and those who govern them, the UN is promoting the direct participation of citizens in decisions that affect them and their communities to rebuild trust in democracy.

A new strategy is expected to set global shipping on an ambitious path towards phasing out greenhouse gas emissions, top UN officials said at the opening of the latest session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in London on Monday.