This is the warning presented in a new assessment published Friday by the UN International Labor Organization (ILO), which urges governments, employers and labor organizations to place the dignity and rights of workers at the center of economic decision-making.

“This report brings together the voices, experiences and proposals of unions around the world,» said Maria Helena André, Director of the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities.

“Workers defined shared priorities to advance social justice and shape a more inclusive future of work.»

She highlighted that although economies and labor markets are changing rapidly, worker protections and governance systems have not kept pace, leading to growing insecurity and widening inequality.

Call for a human-centered economy

According to the report, technological changes, climate pressures, demographic shifts and weakening social protections are reshaping workplaces faster than policies can respond.

Without action, existing inequalities risk worsening, particularly for workers in informal, temporary or low-wage jobs.

Among his key messages:

• Decent work and labor rights are non-negotiable.
• Economic governance must put people first.
• Technological and climate transitions must be just and inclusive.
• Local realities require adapted solutions.
• Unions are transforming to stay relevant.

A global debate should open in Doha

The findings come as more than 8,000 participants – including heads of state and government, ministers, employer groups, civil society organizations and youth representatives – prepare to gather in Doha for the Second World Summit for Social Developmentopening Tuesday.

Summit will review and update commitments first made at this historic milestone 1995 Copenhagen Social Summitas inequality, insecurity and social fragmentation increase again in many parts of the world.

In a message Ahead of the Summit, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo urged governments to act with ambition and unity:

“Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to access quality jobs and shared prosperity. Let us come together again – to achieve just, inclusive and lasting progress for people everywhere.»

UN Info on the ground

UN News reports on Doha throughout the Summit, with live updates, interviews and analysis from plenary rooms, roundtables and side forums. Follow our cover here.

The ceremony marked the United Nations’ official takeover of the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) as the venue where world leaders will work to reinvigorate the global social compact.

The brief but symbolic event, held at the sprawling conference center, was attended by senior officials from Qatar and the United Nations, accompanied by a formation of UN security officers and members of the Qatari Lekhwiya Police Force, standing on either side of the two flagpoles.

Speaking at the ceremony, Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said the moment reflected a shared commitment to cooperation and collective progress.

“This moment officially marks the handover of this historic installation to the United Nations,“, he said. “The QNCC has now been transformed into a space where the global community will come together to propose solutions and renew hope.”

Ahmad Hassen Al-Hamadi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, welcomed the international community, emphasizing the country’s support as host and partner in facilitating dialogue and cooperation at the highest level.

“We are convinced that this The summit will provide a crucial opportunity to reaffirm political will and capitalize on the numerous opportunities to accelerate and stimulate transformative actions to achieve social development and social justice for all.and accelerate progress for the 2030 Agenda [for Sustainable Development].”

A crucial gathering amid global challenges

Over the coming days, more than 8,000 participants – including heads of state and government, ministers, civil society leaders, youth delegates, workers and representatives of the private sector – will take part in plenary sessions, high-level roundtables and side forums focusing on social protection, inequality, decent work and the inclusion of marginalized groups.

Ahead of the Summit last week, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that Secretary-General António Guterres will speak at the opening ceremony on Tuesday.

Mr. Guterres is expected to highlight progress made since the first Copenhagen Social Summit in 1995, while highlighting major global challenges, including widening inequality, unemployment, poverty, conflict and widespread human suffering.

In Doha, the Secretary-General is also expected to participate in a side event on education and hold bilateral meetings with senior officials.

SDG colors in the sky

Adding a striking visual touch to Sunday’s ceremony, a team of Qatari paratroopers performed an aerial display, descending above the QNCC while carrying the 17 colorful Sustainable Development Goals flags, alongside the flags of the UN and Qatar.

Adopted by all 193 UN member states in 2015, the SDGs constitute a common global plan to end poverty, reduce inequality, protect the planet and ensure dignity for all.

The descent drew applause from delegates and spectators, symbolizing the Summit themes of unity, shared responsibility and collective action, and visually reinforcing the message that social development is inseparable from the entire SDG agenda.

UN Info on the ground

As delegations continue to arrive, final preparations are being made inside the QNCC, where banners, interpretation booths and media facilities are being finalized and security and logistics teams are coordinating movements across the venue.

UN News is on the ground in Doha, providing ongoing coverage throughout the week, including live updates, interviews and analysis from the Summit. Follow our cover here.

Marking Sunday International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against JournalistsThe United Nations is calling for justice for those silenced and protection for those who continue to speak truth to power – whether in conflict zones or in online spaces where abuse spreads quickly.

“Media workers around the world face increasing perils in their pursuit of the truth, including verbal abuse, legal threats, physical attacks, imprisonment and torture. Some are even killed,” the UN said. Secretary-General António Guterres in his message marking the day.

Cold cases

“Around the world, nearly nine out of ten journalist assassinations remain unsolved.” He noted that Gaza is ‘the deadliest place for journalists in all conflicts’calling for “independent and impartial investigations”.

Mr. Guterres warned that impunity “is not only an injustice to victims and their families: it is an attack on press freedom, an invitation to more violence and a threat to democracy itself.”

He called on all governments to “investigate every case, prosecute every perpetrator and ensure that journalists can freely carry out their work everywhere”.

Targeting women online

The United Nations agency for culture and education UNESCOwhich leads global efforts to defend press freedom, is spearheading this year’s campaign focused on the growing use of digital technology to target women journalists.

Under the theme GBV: raise awareness of gender-based violence facilitated by AI against women journalists, UNESCO warns that the rise of generative artificial intelligence has amplified the reach and impact of online abuse.

“When an AI-generated deepfake of a female journalist goes viral, it’s not just her image that is attacked: her credibility, her safety, and her voice are also attacked.“, indicated the agency.

Such attacks are part of what experts call Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violencea growing form of harassment aimed at silencing, humiliating and discrediting women in the media.

Threatened and attacked

of UNESCO The cold a study found that 73 percent of female journalists have been victims of online threats, and one in four have been victims of offline attacks..

More generally, 58 percent of young women and girls globally have experienced harassment on social media platforms, highlighting the scale of the problem.

“Digital spaces must be safe for those who come together and report the news,” the Secretary-General said. “When journalists are silenced, we all lose our voices.”

The message from the UN and working journalists is clear: justice for crimes committed against them simply for doing their job must be non-negotiable, and digital spaces must be reclaimed from those who use technology as a weapon to spread fear and hatred.

Learn more about UN efforts here and the UNESCO global campaign here

“What we need now are notebooks, books and pens. We want our lives back”said a young Palestinian girl, Sham Al-Abd.

She now attends the Deir al-Balah Common Primary School, run by the United Nations Palestine Refugee Agency.UNRWA).

Despite the old furniture and a few drawings that brighten up the walls of a classroom in a school visited by our UN News correspondent, the children’s enthusiasm at the idea of ​​returning there after months spent seeking shelter from the bombs remains intact.

One of Sham’s classmates, Asil Al-Loh, spoke enthusiastically about how she felt: “We want to learn, play and study all subjects like before. Now we only study Arabic, English and mathematics.”

Attempt to return to normal

Following the ceasefire in Gaza, UNRWA is working to restore a sense of normalcy to schools that previously served as shelters.

UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini announced that the agency is expanding its “Return to Learning” program in Gaza, offering in-person and online education.

At Deir al-Balah Common Primary School, signs of the shelter becoming a school are still evident. Our correspondent saw families preparing their meals in the corridors, while tents still occupy the school grounds.

When young student Shahd al-Bahisi returned to Deir al-Balah, she said she found the area “destroyed” and that “many displaced people were still there.”

Despite this, Shahd seems determined to return to her studies.

Some classrooms lack enough chairs and their floors are covered with tarps and blankets. Yet the enthusiasm and determination shine through.

A chance at “life, dignity and education”

“To date, more than 62,000 students have benefited from temporary learning services through these core educational activities since their launch on August 1, 2024,” according to Inas Hamdam, UNRWA spokesperson.

The Deir al-Balah school is among those turned into a shelter, but UNRWA continues to open additional temporary learning spaces, Ms. Hamdam said.

She explained that this was being done alongside the provision of distance learning services to around 300,000 students in Gaza, adding that: “8,000 teachers are helping to provide these services to children in Gaza who have suffered the ravages of war.”

She stressed that children, wherever they are, “deserve a chance to live, to live with dignity and to be educated.”

Despite the ravages of war, voices and laughter once again resonate in the corridors of the Deir-al-Balah school.

The resolution “was a real game changer,” says Laura Flores, director of the Americas division at the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), in an interview with UN News.

Leading the department’s initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean, she works closely with local authorities and organizations, as well as women’s and indigenous communities to advance gender equality.

“People have finally started to recognize that women are not only affected by conflicts, but also play a key role in their resolution,” Flores said of the inclusion of women in conflict resolution. “This is about ensuring that women have a place at the table in peace negotiations and that their voices are heard in decisions that shape recovery and security. »

Record count of MPs

Last year, nearly 700 million women lived within 50 km of deadly conflict, according to the UN Secretary-General. report on women, peace and security.

Sexual violence has increased by 87 percent in the past two years, while nine out of ten peace processes excluded women negotiators.

However on the 25th^th The anniversary of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda is a reminder that progress has been made. The Americas region has the highest average of women parliamentarians in the world, with an average of 41 percent in Caribbean countries, 31.9 percent in South America and 30.8 percent in Central America, Flores said.

Countries like Mexico, Chile, and Colombia have all adopted foreign policies aimed at promoting gender equality in diplomacy, peacebuilding, and development.

Despite encouraging developments, gender-based violence in the region remains “alarming”, with at least 11 women murdered every day in Latin America.
— Laura Flores

“These policies are still new, and they will need strong support and coordination to really take root, but they are a sign of progress,” she said.

Regional assets, but still present challenges

The UN promotes the protection of women in conflict and their participation in negotiations, but it is up to countries to implement WPS measures in their policies. In Chile, the UN supported a commission initiated by the country’s president to address the root causes of the conflict affecting indigenous communities. It specifically looked at the challenges faced by indigenous Mapuche women and most of the commission’s proposals came from women.

Last year, Ms. Flores’ department contributed to the development of Colombia’s first national action plan consistent with Resolution 1325. Meanwhile, in Haiti, DPPA is working jointly with UN Women – the leading UN entity for gender equality – to support women and girls, particularly survivors of gender-based violence.

Despite encouraging developments, gender-based violence in the region remains “alarming,” with at least 11 women murdered every day in Latin America, Flores said.

Political violence and digital harassment against women leaders continues to increase, while in some countries like Haiti, inclusion in politics remains low amid high levels of sexual violence.

“The region is dynamic, but it needs protection, investment and political will to continue moving forward,” stressed Ms. Flores.

Moving forward, hand in hand

Indigenous peoples, catching up 467 million of the world’s population, are often denied the right to live in accordance with their cultural values ​​and face exclusion from political processes.

“Indigenous women are often the hardest hit by conflict, but they are also incredibly resilient and play a central role in peace efforts,” said Flores.

One of these resilient women is Otilia Lux de Cotí, an indigenous leader and the only female K’iche Mayan minister to be included in the government of Guatemala in 2000.

Ms. Lux played an important role in documenting the specific forms of violence that women and indigenous peoples suffered during the country’s civil war.

Indigenous women’s leaders have played a central role in defending democracy, particularly during the 2023 elections, when the peaceful transfer of power was under threat.
— Otilia Lux de Coti

“I am the daughter of the Guatemalan war,” Ms. Lux told us in an interview.

On 200,000 Lives were lost in the conflict which began in 1962 and lasted for around three decades. Since the signing of the peace agreement in 1996, the country has made progress in promoting women’s rights, much of which is led by women themselves.

“More recently, indigenous women leaders have played a central role in defending democracy, particularly during the 2023 elections, when the peaceful transfer of power was threatened,” Ms. Flores said.

During the 2023 electoral crisis, indigenous peoples in Guatemala took to the streets and varas, or sticks, symbol of their ancestral authorities, to defend their vote.

“The decision to act was not made overnight; it followed a long process of discussion and consultation within our communities. We call this process Yacataj in K’iche’ – a collective awakening of consciousness,” said Ms. Lux.

“This moment when our ancestral symbols were brandished was not simply a protest; it was an act of democratic participation seen through Indigenous eyes,” she added.

Just as Resolution 1325 urges countries to “ensure increased representation of women at all levels of decision-making” for conflict prevention and resolution, women like Ms. Lux promote democracy by “refusing to remain silent.”

In a statement released by his spokesperson, Secretary-General António Guterres deplored the loss of life and offered its condolences to the families of the victims.

The Secretary-General called for “a thorough and impartial investigation into all allegations of excessive use of force», urging the Tanzanian authorities to demonstrate responsibility and transparency in the management of post-election unrest.

According to the UN human rights office (OHCHR), credible reports indicate that at least ten protesters were killed as security forces used guns and tear gas against demonstrators in urban areas, including the cities of Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga and Morogoro.

Internet restrictions

The OHCHR also reported that a nationwide curfew is in effect while internet access appears to have been largely restricted since election day.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urged authorities to quickly restore internet service and allow citizens to fully enjoy their rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. Protesters were also urged to demonstrate peacefully.

“Reduced communications will only further undermine public confidence in the electoral process,” the office said.

The post-election violence comes a day after election campaigns were marred by allegations of arbitrary arrests and detentions of opposition figures, including party leader Chadema and his deputy.

The move followed reported forced disappearances of dissidents, including the country’s former ambassador to Cuba.

Free the detainees

“All those arbitrarily detained must be released immediately and unconditionally and those who are lawfully detained must be afforded due process and the right to a fair trial,” OHCHR spokesperson Seif Magango said at a press briefing Friday in Geneva.

“We urge the authorities to ensure prompt, impartial and effective investigations into all cases of election-related violence, and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice,” he added.

At a briefing at U.N. headquarters in New York – the first time the mission has presented its findings to the General Assembly – President Sara Hossain said conditions had deteriorated since Israeli airstrikes, which reportedly killed more than 1,000 people.

According to Iranian government figures, 276 civilians, including 38 children and 102 women, were among the dead and more than 5,600 people were injured. Civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities and schools, was damaged.

The government also reported that Tehran’s notorious Evin prison was struck without warning.

Around 80 people, including prisoners, family members (the attack took place during visiting hours), staff and at least one child were killed. The prison housed around 1,500 inmates at the time, including many human rights defenders and activists.

Ms Hossain also expressed concern over Iran’s response, which included missile strikes against Israel, which officials said left 31 people dead and more than 3,300 injured.

“Systemic attack against a civilian population”

The consequences of the strikes, she explained, led the Iranian government to a domestic repression that further eroded respect for the right to life.

THE Human Rights CouncilDesignated investigators documented the arrest of thousands of people, including lawyers, journalists, human rights defenders and people expressing their opinions about the conflict on social media.

This year, the number of executions has increased in Iran, reaching the highest level recorded since 2015.

Most of the death penalty cases investigated by the mission appear to violate international human rights law. A law was passed expanding the use of the death penalty for “espionage” and criminalizing the publication of content on social networks that the government considers “false information”.

“If the executions are part of a widespread and systemic attack against a civilian population, then, as a matter of principle, those responsible – including judges who impose the death penalty – could be held accountable for crimes against humanity“, said Max du Plessis, rights expert at the Fact-Finding Mission.

The recent crackdown has also affected ethnic and religious minorities, with more than 330 Kurds and large numbers of Arabs arrested, and hundreds of thousands of Afghans expelled, investigators reported.

Members of the Baha’i religious minority have been accused of being “Zionist spies” and some have been arrested during house searches and their property confiscated.

Impunity for “honor killings”

The persistence of other serious forms of violence, including cases of femicide (the intentional killing of women and girls based on their gender), have been reported in recent months.

The Mission received credible information that 60 such cases occurred between March and September 2025. “Honor killings” and other forms of gender-based violence, the mission reported, take place with impunity.

Businesses providing services to women refusing to comply with mandatory hijab laws were reportedly closed and surveillance intensified. Reports also indicate that the “morality police” have recently returned to patrol the streets.

The Fact-Finding Mission has documented an increase in cases of transnational repression, including interrogations, threats and surveillance of Iranian journalists’ families abroad. He received credible reports that more than 45 media workers in seven countries faced credible threats.

“Acts of denial of justice are not neutral,” Ms Hossain said. “Failure to address injustice prolongs the suffering of victims and undermines the State’s obligations under international human rights law to ensure accountability, truth, justice and reparations..”

“The rights to life and liberty under unprecedented threat”

In his report at the General AssemblyTHE independent human rights expert on IranMai Sato, condemned the Israeli and American strikes as an illegal use of force in violation of the United Nations Charterwhile expressing deep concern that the end of hostilities has not brought any relief to the Iranian people.

“External aggression fueled deeper internal repression,” she said. “The rights of the Iranian people to life and liberty are under unprecedented threat. Saito described the increase in executions as a deliberate policy of fear and retaliation, noting that many executions followed unfair trials or vague charges related to national security.

The Special Rapporteur – who is not a UN staff member and receives no salary for her work – also highlighted a growing pattern of transnational repression, with Iranian authorities targeting dissidents abroad through intimidation, surveillance and threats, and called on other UN member states to support at-risk Iranian civil society actors and coordinate efforts to counter transnational repression.