“Our children were murdered simply because they had a different name, had a different name and were Muslim,” said Munira Subašić, president of the Mothers’ Association of Srebrenica and Žepa, speaking to more than 100 people on a cold but sunny November afternoon in New York.

She spent 30 years championing the cause of the more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys killed in the UN-protected enclave of Srebrenica.

“We are still here”

“This flower means that we are still here and that there will be even more of us,” said Ms. Subašić.

The marble flower has 11 white petals surrounding a green center. The petals represent July 11, the UN-designated International Day of Reflection and Remembrance of the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide. White symbolizes the innocence of the victims; green recalls the shroud placed over Muslims at death, but also new growth and hope.

Despite the horrors of 1995, Ms. Subašić said survivors “raised our children without vengeance, without hatred,” calling them a new generation.

His 12-year-old grandson, Karim, who missed school in Bosnia-Herzegovina to go there today, represented the new generation. He lost his grandfather and great-uncle, along with 70 other family members in 1995.

The fight must continue

“I am proud of her,” Karim told UN News of his grandmother. “She is an inspiration. I hope she continues to fight so that no one experiences this again.”

He added that he and his friends don’t talk about what happened because they’ve all lost loved ones and it’s “so sad.”

Countering revisionist history

Speaking at the ceremony, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed said the new monument opposes the denial, distortion and revisionism of history.

“Denialism itself is an attack on humanity itself. It distorts history, dehumanizes its victims and deepens the divisions that make future atrocities possible,” she added.

The Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Chaloka Beyani, called the plea of ​​Ms. Subašić and thousands of other mothers “an act of love and remembrance for the victims” and a global commitment to prevent future genocides.

Srebrenica and Rwanda

The Srebrenica Memorial Flower is a gift from Bosnia and Herzegovina to the UN Secretariat within the framework of the Srebrenica Genocide and the UN Outreach Program.

It is close to another genocide memorial – the Kwibuka Flame in memory of the victims and survivors of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

“The monuments to the genocide committed in the heart of Europe and the heart of Africa bear witness to the truth, but also warn humanity to never allow genocide to happen again,” said Denis Bećirović, member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In recent days, the Emergency Relief Coordinator has visited various parts of the war-torn country and met with leaders, frontline responders and survivors of the crisis.

“We need more UN troops on the ground,” Mr Fletcher said. “The UN is a ship that was not built to stay in port, and this visit is part of this larger initiative to ensure that we are mobilized closer to those we serve..”

Progress of negotiations

Mr Fletcher said he had a “useful” meeting with General Burhan, head of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), focused on securing “unlimited” and “unhindered” humanitarian access.

He also met with representatives of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militias in a “difficult” discussion, during which he said “unequivocally” that the UN would expect protection of civilians and insist on accountability and safe crossings for civilians and humanitarian convoys.

“We have, I think, a fairly strong agreement from the authorities [of the military government] in Port Sudan and the RSF on full access and safe passage for our convoys to enter and civilians to exit,” Mr. Fletcher said. “Now let’s see what happens next.”

“Crime scene” in El Fasher

The UN has also made progress in sending teams to El Fasher, Darfur, on the organization’s terms, Fletcher added.

“We are not going to be exploited,” he stressed. “This is a potential crime scene, and we need to make sure we have the right people and that the help is truly neutral and impartial..”

El Fasher was captured by the RSF last month after more than 500 days of siege, leading to the displacement of some 90,000 people since the end of October.

Asked about the death toll in El Fasher, Mr Fletcher said there was no credible answer on the number of deaths so far.

There are hundreds of thousands of people in Tawila, but “a lot of people are clearly not leaving El Fasher,” he said.

“One of the things we want to do when we go there is find out why and see what the conditions are that they’re being held in there.”

British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood formally announced the measures on Monday, aimed at strengthening controls on irregular arrivals while maintaining the country’s commitment to providing refuge.

She told the House of Commons that some families whose asylum applications had failed were not being deported “even though we know their homes are perfectly safe”.

The proposals include new rules to manage the assessment of asylum applications, provisions for safe and legal resettlement pathways and mechanisms for the return of people who do not need international protection.

“Refugees are not migrants”

Commenting on the announcement, UNHCRUK Representative Vicky Tennant said: “Refugees are not migrants. These are people fleeing conflict, instability and human rights violations – circumstances no one would voluntarily choose.

“Fair and effective asylum systems are essential to quickly identify refugees and provide them with the protection they need. »

UNHCR welcomed the UK government’s dual priorities of ensuring the safety of those in need of protection while strengthening border management.

Ms Tennant stressed that this approach should be combined with well-managed migration pathways for those moving for economic reasons and effective mechanisms to return those who do not have valid claims.

Share responsibilities

The agency also encouraged the UK to continue to cooperate with its European and other partners to share responsibility for refugees, citing agreements such as the “one in, one out” system between the UK and France.

“With adequate safeguards in place, legal transfers of some asylum seekers to other countries can be part of a responsible approach,” Tennant said.

UNHCR stressed that for recognized refugees, protection goes beyond the initial grant of asylum.

“Security means a stable status that allows them to rebuild their lives, reunite with their families and seek long-term solutions,” added Ms. Tennant.

The agency stressed that short-term arrangements and strict limits on family reunification can prolong uncertainty, compromise integration and add administrative complexity.

The agency also highlighted the importance of safe and regular routes, such as the UK’s resettlement scheme and initiatives for Syrians, Ukrainians and Afghans, as alternatives to dangerous travel.

Unprecedented travel

“It is in everyone’s interest to invest in refugee integration from the start,” Ms Tennant said.

UNHCR emphasizes that in a time of unprecedented global displacement, empathy, efficiency, shared responsibility and international cooperation are essential.

The agency stands ready to work with the UK and other governments to ensure access to asylum, uphold rights and promote social cohesion.

The Security Council adopted a U.S.-backed resolution that will establish an international force to restore order in Gaza, protect civilians and pave the way for large-scale aid and reconstruction. There were 13 votes in favor, none against – while Russia and China abstained, fearing that Russia could veto the text. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz thanked the ambassadors, calling it a “historic and constructive resolution” that charts a new path for the Middle East. Follow live below, check out complete meeting coverage here, and UN News application users, follow here.

In his answer to the verdict, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) reiterated his opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances.

Last July, student protests that began against a quota system for public sector jobs in Bangladesh quickly escalated into widespread demonstrations, violently suppressed by national security forces.

After the former prime minister resigned, she fled the country for India. A UN investigation on alleged crimes, it was established that 1,400 people – including many children – may have been killed while thousands more were injured in July and August last year.

A ‘moment for the victims‘

OHCHR described the verdict as follows: “an important moment for victims of serious violations committed during the repression of protests last year.”

Since publishing its report in February 2025, OHCHR has called for perpetrators – including those in positions of command and leadership – to be held accountable in accordance with international standards and for victims to have access to effective remedies and reparations.

The report reveals that the former Bangladeshi administration attempted to systematically suppress protests through increasingly violent means in order to stay in power.

“The testimonies and evidence we have collected paint a disturbing picture of widespread state violence and targeted killings, which are among the most serious violations of human rights and which may also constitute international crimes”, UN human rights chief Volker Türk said in February.

“Accountability and justice are essential to national healing and the future of Bangladesh. »

End the death penalty

OHCHR has always called for procedures that “unquestionably” meet international standards of due process and fair trial, the agency said in its response.

As part of its work, the office advocates for the universal abolition of the death penalty and, over the years, multiple UN resolutions were adopted to protect the rights of those facing the death penalty.

The trial against Ms. Hasina and Mr. Khan took place in absentia and resulted in a death sentence, making international standards “particularly vital,” the office continued.

Mr. Türk hopes that Bangladesh will now moving forward in a global process of “truth-revelation, reparation and justice as a path to national reconciliation and healing”.

He called for calm “and for everyone to show restraint in the face of these developments.”

“The mandate of this Council is the maintenance of international peace and security, and there can be neither peace where people starve, nor security where hunger fuels conflict,” She said.

A recent UN report warned that the world’s most extreme food crises are primarily caused by armed conflict and violence, including famines in Gaza and Sudan – this is the first time such a food emergency has been declared in a single year.

Other areas of concern include Haiti, Yemen, the Sahel region of Africa and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Investing to end hunger

Ms. Mohammed highlighted that in an interconnected world, the cycle of hunger and conflict impacts other regions.

For example, the war in Ukraine disrupted grain imports, with consequences felt on several continents.

“Food itself has become a weapon,” she added. “Through deliberate starvation tactics, as we see too often, including recently in Gaza. But also by the systematic destruction of agricultural systems.”

Meanwhile, investments in military spending continue, estimated at nearly $22 trillion over the past decade, while “ending hunger by 2030 costs much less – $93 billion per year.”

At the same time, climate change is accelerating conflict-related hunger.

Humanitarian access is vital

Humanitarian action is also essential to prevent and resolve the crisis, said Joyce Msuya of the UN aid coordination office: OCHA.

“When humanitarian access is denied, hunger and malnutrition increase – often with devastating consequences for civilians,” she said.

The warring parties “must allow the rapid and unhindered passage of impartial humanitarian assistance” and ensure that aid workers are free to carry out their operations.

“One month after the ceasefire began in Gaza, the UN and its partners are seizing every opportunity to save lives,” she reported. “But access is still limited by limits at border crossings, delays in aid convoys and bureaucratic hurdles that slow the entry of vital supplies – and, in some cases, personnel. »

Rising food prices

Today, nearly 673 million people around the world still go to bed hungry, according to Máximo Torero, chief economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Food insecurity is no longer just a humanitarian challenge but a matter of global peace and security, he said.

“When families can’t afford to eat, social contracts weaken. When farmers lose their crops to droughts or floods, conflicts or wars, local markets collapse and tensions flare,” he told ambassadors.

“When international food prices rise or price volatility becomes excessive, protests erupt in cities from Port-au-Prince to Cairo, and rigorous empirical research confirms: rising global food prices and excessive volatility are directly associated with more social unrestwith stronger effects in poorer countries and in urban areas.

A high cost

The African Union (AU) Special Envoy for Food Systems highlighted the situation on the continent – ​​“the epicenter of global hunger”.

Dr. Ibrahim A. Miyaki said 20.4 percent of the population suffers from food insecurity, twice the global average. By the end of the decade, Africa will be home to more than half of the world’s hungry people.

War-torn Sudan is experiencing one of the most serious food crises, with 25.6 million people experiencing acute food insecurity, including 800,000 facing famine. Violence in eastern DRC has destroyed farms, displaced millions and left more than 25 million people hungry.

“The cost of hunger in Africa is not measured only in numbers. It is felt in shattered lives, uprooted communities and lost futures.“, he said.

“A strategic and existential threat”

The UN Deputy Secretary-General stressed that “the link between hunger and conflict constitutes a strategic and existential threat, and this Council must treat it as such.”

She stressed the need for action on four fronts.

“First, humanitarian access must be seamless, ceasefires must be respected and international humanitarian law must be respected,” Ms. Mohammed said.

She highlighted the need to build resilient food systems and promote stronger climate action, before concluding with a call for peace – “the only sustainable solution”.

“Let us choose to build a future where food is never again used as a weapon, where no child goes hungry because of war, and where food systems become engines of peace, resilience and hope rather than victims of conflict,” she said.

The proposal based on the American 20-point plan aims to restore security, guarantee humanitarian access and begin a sustained process of reconstruction and institutional reform of the enclave after two years of devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas.

A competing draft resolution submitted by Russia is also under formal consideration, but it is not yet clear whether the Council will vote on it this afternoon.

What the American text offers

The project would establish an International Stabilization Force (ISF) working with Israel and Egypt with an initial mandate of two years.

Its responsibilities would include securing Gaza’s borders, protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance, supporting the training and deployment of a reconstituted Palestinian police force, and overseeing the permanent decommissioning of weapons held by Hamas and other armed groups in the enclave.

The text also states that Israeli forces would fully withdraw once they have established security and operational control over the entire territory.

A transitional governance mechanism called the Peace Council – chaired by President Donald Trump as part of the US peace plan that underpinned the October 8 ceasefire – would be created to coordinate security, humanitarian aid and reconstruction planning.

This would guide Gaza toward a reformed Palestinian governing authority. The resolution charts a path toward Palestinian self-determination and eventual statehood, linked to responsible governance and steps toward reconstruction.

Why it matters

If adopted, the resolution would provide international legal authority for a multinational security mission, seen by potential troop-contributing countries and donors as necessary for deployment. No UN peacekeeping presence is envisaged.

This could represent a decisive transition from active conflict to stabilization and reconstruction, combining security guarantees with governance and service reforms.

The vote also tests the Council’s ability to agree on a post-conflict framework for Gaza at a critical diplomatic moment, amid persistent humanitarian needs and increased regional tensions.

Washington reportedly warned that if the Council does not act now, it could lead to further internal conflicts and the collapse of the fragile ceasefire.

Key context

The project builds on recent international proposals calling for steps toward a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the demilitarization of armed groups and reconstruction led by reformed Palestinian institutions.

Negotiations within the Council reportedly focused on the governance structure, operational command, sequencing of security tasks and the degree of involvement of the Palestinian Authority.

Some members raised concerns about external oversight and clarity on the end state of the mission.

Russian draft rival

Russia circulated an alternative resolution ordering the UN Secretary-General to develop options for a stabilization force without endorsing the Peace Council model. We do not yet know whether this text will also be voted on today.

What to watch

• Does the U.S. resolution receive at least nine affirmative votes without a veto from any of the five permanent members of the council – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States?
• Which member states can commit personnel and equipment to the new force, and on what basis?
• Israel’s position on the proposed withdrawal timetable and governance structure
• The status and future of the Russian project if only the American text were put to a vote

Humanitarian update

• Conditions remain very difficult, with many Gazans struggling to access essential goods after heavy rain and flooding affecting more than 13,000 families.
• At least 9,000 tents, 83,000 tarpaulins and 59,000 blankets have been distributedbut access limits and item restrictions slow scaling ahead of winter.
• Food delivery volumes have increased, authorizing plans to take back two food packages and flour per householdafter earlier reductions in the north due to access delays.
• Debris teams cleared 100,000 tonnesbut around 58 million tonnes remain across Gaza, of which only half is currently accessible.
• More than 5,400 tonnes of aid were collected between Thursday and Sundayincluding shelter, medical supplies and food, with the Zikim crossing now reopened after two months.