Victims of enforced disappearances are deprived of their liberty, kept in secret detention and seldom released. Often their fate remains unknown; they are frequently tortured and in constant fear of being killed. Even if they are eventually set free, the physical and psychological scars stay with them for the rest of their lives. The victims’ families and loved ones also suffer immense anguish.

            This year marks the 70th anniversary of the dawn of the nuclear age. Seven decades ago, the Trinity Test unleashed the power of more than 20,000 tons of TNT
and precipitated over 2,000 additional nuclear tests.

Winning posters to be shown at Expo 2015 in Milan

A worldwide drive to wipe out hunger is showing signs of progress, but many people living in hunger and extreme poverty need help now. This is the concept behind the 2015 edition of FAO’s World Food Day poster contest, which has “social protection” as its theme. 

By Adama Dieng, UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, and Jennifer Welsh, UN Special Advisor on the Responsibility to Protect

25 August 2015 (UN News Centre) – Chris Gunness has served as the Spokesperson and Director of Advocacy and Communications for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for almost a decade.

On World Humanitarian Day, we honour the selfless dedication and sacrifice of workers and volunteers from around the world who devote themselves – often at great personal risk – to assisting the world’s most vulnerable people.

This year, more than 100 million women, men and children need life-saving humanitarian assistance.  The amount of people affected by conflict has reached levels not seen since the Second World War, while the number of those affected by natural and human-induced disasters remains profound. 

Seeing the Forest for the Trees—Making the Most of Synergies to Achieve SDGs in a Constrained Environment

By Mahmoud Mohieldin and Paula Caballero

The proposed 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) are the result of extensive negotiations undertaken by United Nations Member States in order to agree on the world we want by 2030. The 17 goals span a number of economic, social and environmental dimensions.

DUSHANBE / GENEVA (12 August 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Léo Heller, urged the Government of Tajikistan to seize the opportunity of the ongoing water sector reform “to reach out to the millions of people currently without access to safe drinking water and sanitation in the country.” 

Emerging threats, violent extremism, shifting political conditions, economic turmoil and social transformations are combining to heighten the challenges facing the world’s young people. No one knows better than them the issues at stake or the best way to respond. That is why I am calling on young people to speak out – and I am urging leaders to listen.