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Dear Reader, Below we list the latest news and articles from our website related to international affairs and issues such as sustainable development. Read these stories and more, plus information about forthcoming events, by following the links below. You might also like the Coventry Climate Action Network website which we also maintain. Please check it out at https://covcan.uk/ Philip Brown Secretary, UNA Coventry Branch
philip@unacov.uk |
Recent ArticlesSee our website for more of our recent news articles. |
MAP website says: It is approaching six months since Israel launched its military bombardment and total closure of Gaza. This is long past time for the UK Government to step up pressure on Israel to reopen land crossings for aid and aid workers, and to ensure an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Only then can humanitarian organisations like MAP begin to …
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On 26 March 2024 United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, told the U.N.’s Human Rights Council in Geneva that she believes “the threshold indicating the commission of the crime of genocide against Palestinians as a group in Gaza has been met.” Listen to her report on the video below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4MhFkhkzvo
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In an interview with BBC International Editor, Jeremy Bowen, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said there is a plausible case that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza. If intent were proven, that would amount to a war crime. The short report above was broadcast on BBC World Service Newsroom on …
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Israel has accused the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) of being involved in the October 7th attacks. “October 7th was a gamechanger. Because the involvement, direct involvement, of those 13 UNRWA employees in the October 7th attacks on Israel changed everything,” said Nina Ben-Ami, Head of Bureau, International Organizations and UN Division, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On …
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On 29 February 2024, the UN rights chief Volker Türk told the Human Rights Council that, after almost five months of constant Israeli bombardment and mass displacement in Gaza which has left more than 30,000 dead, the prospect of an Israeli ground assault on Rafah would take the nightmare being inflicted on people in Gaza to a new dimension. https://youtu.be/sTXlBr75neA
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Yachad is a British Jewish organisation whose primary mission is to empower British Jews to support a political resolution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict. Their focus is advocating for a resolution to the conflict, as they believe that only through a political resolution will Israel thrive and prosper – alongside a viable and independent Palestinian state. Yachad believes that the …
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On 5 March, nine UN experts issued a statement declaring that Israel has been intentionally starving Gaza and that widespread famine in the besieged, brutalized enclave is imminent. They condemned the violence unleashed by Israeli forces, which killed at least 112 people gathered to collect flour in Gaza last week, as a “massacre” amid conditions of inevitable starvation and destruction …
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Justice for Palestinians (JfP) supports the struggle of all Palestinians - from within Israel, Palestine and elsewhere. They organise events and talks by distinguished speakers, hold vigils, run protests and generally raise awareness of the plight of the Palestinians. Their Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/JfPLSpa/. Their YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnad24YK18BsxfxzAjYLOtA.
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On 26 February 2024, UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the Opening of the 55th Human Rights Council in Geneva. The video below shows his speech which summarises the current divisions and conflicts and explains what he believes needs to be done and what he is planning for the UN to do reduce human rights violations and end conflicts. The full …
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The Global Humanitarian Overview is an annual assessment of global humanitarian needs and how to respond to them. It provides an analysis of the drivers of needs and an overview of the resources required to support people targeted for assistance. It also provides an account of the humanitarian system’s collective achievements. In 2024, nearly 300 million people around the world …
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The following is an extract of an article first published in PassBlue.com by Mona Ali Khalil, an internationally recognized public international lawyer with 25 years of UN and other experience, including as a former senior legal officer in the UN and in the IAEA, with expertise in peacekeeping, peace enforcement, disarmament and counterterrorism. Image by UNRWA/INSTAGRAM. Starvation and forced displacement …
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On 23 February, the day before the U.N. Security Council met to mark the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told the General Assembly "At Ukraine's request, we intend to organize by the summer a high-level conference on peace in Ukraine. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to invite all nations ... …
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On 3 March 2024, former prime minister of Israel Ehud Olmert spoke to Fareed Zakaria on the CNN TV channel about why he thinks current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition presents a "very serious danger to the moral foundations of the state of Israel." He said that the coalition has led both Netanyahu and Israel in a terrible direction, …
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You can now join UNA-UK as a member for £10 per year and stand with us in support of a strong, credible and effective UN. Over the last 18 months, UNA-UK has been engaged in an extensive process of reviewing our engagement structures - how our members, supporters, and network of UNA Groups interact with us as an organisation and contribute to the …
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Forthcoming EventsIf you have an idea for an event you want us to organise, please contact events@unacov.uk |
5 April is the deadline to apply for the Young Champions of the Earth Prize. This is a forward-looking competition run by the UN Environment Programme designed to breathe life into the ambitions of brilliant young environmentalists. We look for ground-breaking changemakers, who see opportunity where others see crisis. Each winner will receive: Mentorship, capacity building workshops and access to …
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The preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of humankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of …
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7 April 2024 marks the twentieth anniversary of the start of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The United Nations General Assembly has designated 7 April as the International Day of Reflection and encouraged UN member states, international organizations and civil society organizations to observe the International Day, including special observances and activities in memory of the victims of the genocide …
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24 April is International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace. Multilateralism is often defined in opposition to bilateralism and unilateralism. Strictly speaking, it indicates a form of cooperation between at least three States. In practice it involves adherence to a common political project based on the respect of a shared system of norms and values. In particular, multilateralism is …
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3 June 2024 is the deadline for entries to the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) Essay Award for Young Economists. The aim of the award is to promote high-quality research on trade policy and international trade cooperation and to reinforce the relationship between the WTO and the academic community. The annual WTO Essay Award provides a prize of 5,000 Swiss Francs …
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Each year the International Day of Peace (IDP) is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. Never has our world needed peace more. The theme for 2024 and other details will appear at https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-peace
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The world is not on track to meet the goals we have already set for ourselves. Nor are we effectively rising to new challenges or opportunities. The United Nations Summit of the Future, to be held from 22 to 23 September 2024, will bring world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present …
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