On March 11, at the United Nations, Russia accused the United States and Ukraine of collaborating on developing chemical and biological weapons. Russian officials claimed to have documents proving an attempt to destroy evidence of this illegal activity. None of the coverage reveals whether the...
“Progress towards an equitable world” is Germany’s goal for its G7 presidency program, which frames the G7 states as “leading industrialised countries and value-based partners” with a particular responsibility to “shape a positive future... in the spirit of sustainable economic...
In life, we generally believe that words matter and that they are important. We also think promises and pledges expressed in words and made in public are really important. They show our intentions and commitment to people who matter to us. And that actions speak louder than words. Fiji’s...
Jair Bolsonaro gave a speech at the UN General Assembly last month. It was full of the usual misstatements and exaggerations for which the Brazilian leader has become notorious. But the most noteworthy part of the speech had nothing to do with its contents. It was Bolsonaro’s refusal to take a...
Since February, security forces have arrested at least 24 people in Cameroon for alleged same-sex conduct or gender nonconformity. In Uzbekistan, videos showing the abuse, humiliation and beatings of gay men have been circulated around social media groups. In Poland, the...
A few weeks ago, six eminent world leaders — including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Angela Merkel — called for the revitalization of multilateral cooperation. They reminded us of the UN Millennium...
In 2015, world leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly agreed to 17 goals for a better world. Known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the aim is to meet these objectives by the year 2030 in a bid to end poverty, achieve gender equality, ensure access to quality education,...
In human rights circles, there are few more important events than the annual opening of the new session of the United Nations General Assembly. Critically, the high-profile event brings together governments, UN agencies and civil society actors, fostering cross-sector collaboration and providing...
On the morning of May 12, unidentified perpetrators attacked four oil tankers off the Fujairah port in the Gulf of Oman. Two of the tankers belonged to Saudi Aramco, the national oil company of Saudi Arabia. The attacks occurred during Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s state visit to Tehran, which...
In a regional environment where the slightest miscalculated move on one side can trigger an equally miscalculated reaction from the other, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s actions on August 5 over Jammu and Kashmir are simply bizarre. Article 370 of the Indian Constitution had...
The World Bank Group’s Mahmoud Mohieldin believes innovative financing and partnerships are needed to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Countries that have invested in human capital, infrastructure and decent systems of social protection have made more progress than others in...
In this edition of The Interview, Fair Observer talks to Zurab Pololikashvili, the secretary-general of the World Tourism Organization. To travel is a universal human right. There are references to this in national constitutions and international covenants, such as Article 13 of the Universal...
In this edition of The Interview, Fair Observer talks to Sherwin Bryce-Pease, president of the United Nations Correspondents Association. At a time when the credibility and influence wielded by the fourth estate have been questioned by those in power, the mission of organizations like the...
In this edition of The Interview, Fair Observer talks to Ahmad Alhendawi, the secretary-general of the World Organization of the Scout Movement and former UN youth envoy. With 1.8 billion people between the ages of 10 and 24, youth around the world face their fair share of challenges. Whether...
A look at the history of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are considered illegal under international law. Several United Nations Security Council resolutions, as well as the International Court of Justice, have also found settlements...
