“While major aftershocks have passed or mainly passed, Women in affected areas face a long -term disaster without more urgent assistanceSaid Susan Ferguson, United Nations Special representative in Afghanistan.

A saving woman supported by the United Nations agency described “Balage” along the mountains, “dodging the rocks that fall every time there was a replica”Ferguson told journalists in Geneva. “Another woman who joined these teams, once again with our support,” said that there was no other channel for women to share their needs and their concerns because they are linked to talking to men. »»

Run away with nothing

In addition to two weeks since an earthquake of shallow shameless magnitude hit eastern AfghanistanRescuers have fought extremely difficult grounds – often on foot – to reach the most remote communities in the province of Kunar.

At least 2,200 people were killed while houses built on steep hills collapsed on each other when the earthquake occurred around midnight on August 31.

After meeting surviving women living in a basic tent in the Chawkay district in the central province of Kunar, Ms. Ferguson said it was clear that they would soon need a stronger shelter, while temperatures were starting to drop.

“” These women had fled their village in the middle of the night when the earthquake struck, walking for hours to find a temporary shelter“She said.

“They told me that they had lost their loved ones, many still buried in the rubble. They lost their house; They have lost their livelihoods and their source of income. As a woman said to me, “Now we have nothing. »»

Prohibition of workers

The humanitarian response to the disaster was hampered by Taliban leaders Prohibit staff members and Afghan entrepreneurs from entering the UN compounds in the capitalKabul, in force since September 7.

“The ban has an impact on us because our female staff are not allowed to come to the office to work,” said the representative of UN women.

“However, women and women staff in humanitarian response are still able to operate in the sites affected by the earthquake. And this is really essential and was actually recognized as essential. ”

Women and girls represented more than half of people killed and injured during the disaster. They also represent 60% of missing people, while many survivors live in tents or outdoors, as evidenced by the United Nations evaluation teams.

Cultural abyss

Providing health care to tragedy survivors remains a priority – as is the sufficient research of women to do this work, in accordance with culturally accepted practices. “What I have heard of health workers and certain women was that there was a particular area in the area affected by the earthquake where there were cultural norms which meant that The women themselves did not want men to touch them and that men did not want to touch women either while they were trying to save them“Said Ms. Ferguson.

The destruction of basic infrastructure has increased the threat of violence against women and girls when they are forced to walk further in search of a bathroom or bringing water, exposing them to the risk of violence and terrestrial mines.

“In daily life, in this cultural context, these women are already faced with a difficult battle every day to survive and support their families,” said Ferguson. “Now, in disturbance and chaos after the earthquake, these women will exponentially find more difficult to feed their children and find a safe place to stay.”

Satellite images have revealed that more than 649,000 tonnes of debris – equivalent to 40,500 trucks – must still be erased. According to the United Nations Development Program (Predict) who analyzed the data at least 23,000 people may have been forced from their home.

Representatives of each Member State of the UN, there are 193, and other organizations can pronounce speeches during the general debate of the organization in the size of the general assembly room, because a series of high -level meetings takes place on key issues that are faced with humanity.

With the weight of global war crises and climate change to gender inequality and ethical dilemmas of artificial intelligence, this high -level week is more than a simple tradition – it is a vital moment for humanity to reflect, renovate and reinvent its collective future.

The events mark the beginning of the 80th session of the General Assembly, the main deliberative organization of the UN, known familiarly under the name of Unga80, which, as its name suggests, marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations establishment.

Here is what to look for during Unga80.

General debate; speech, speech and more speeches

The general debate, which begins on September 23, concerns a lot of the centerpiece of the session of the General Assembly. World leaders go to the podium in front of the golden background to the meeting room to develop their priorities to a global audience.

The theoretical and voluntary delay for each discourse makes it possible to allow the effective planning of 193+ speakers over a period of seven days is 15 minutes, but it is rarely respected.

Traditionally, Brazil speaks first by the United States as a host country.

The new President of the General AssemblyAnnalena Baerbock, only the fifth woman in the history of 80 years from the UN to hold the positionwill chair the debate of which theme East: Better together: 80 years and over for peace, development and human rights.

When does my country speak?

Learn more about the general debate

The two -state solution: “further than ever”

The two -state solution a proposed executive to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestine which would establish two states for two peoples is “further than ever” according to the UN Secretary General Speaking in July 2025.

The two -state solution is prior to the current conflict in Gaza which started in October 2023 after Fatal terrorist attacks in southern Israel by Hamas.

With more than 65,000 people would have been killed In Gaza and hostages taken in Israel remaining captivity in the territory, the UN member states will continue negotiations on the two -state solution at an international conference at the UN headquarters on Monday, September 22.

The conference is a continuation of the meetings held by the United Nations General Assembly in July 2025, which Israel and the United States did not attend.

Follow UN News coverage here

Standing 30 years of the Beijing Declaration: empowering women and girls

The 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Beijing Action are considered the most progressive plan, ever condemned to gender equality and to advance the rights of women and girls around the world.

Three decades of this historic declaration, despite certain progress, United NationsThe United Nations specialized agency focusing on gender issues, said there is a “growing reaction against women’s rights”.

On September 22, world leaders will discuss theBeijing + 30 action agendawhich aims to achieve the following for all women and girls: a digital revolution, a freedom of poverty, zero violence, a complete and equal decision -making power, a word to say in the questions of peace and security as well as climate justice.

Find out more in the snapshot of gender equality 2025

Climate: Take the heat

While the world has difficulty maintaining the temperature below the pre-industrial levels agreed at the international level, a summit will take place on Wednesday September 24 to take stock of the disturbing rhythm and scale of the climate crisis around the world.

World leaders will present their new national climate action plans (known as contributions or NDC determined at the national level) – commitments to the country which describe measures to combat climate change.

This is our time of opportunity
– Secretary General Guterres

The summit will also bring together government, affairs and civil society leaders, to present ideas to stimulate action through attenuation, adaptation, finance and integrity of information.

“This is our time of opportunity,,»Said a Secretary General António Guterres.

The summit takes place before a key conference for United Nations climate change, known as COP30which will start in Brazil in November.

Learn more about the UN and climate change here

Artificial intelligence: Defining railings

Artificial intelligence or AI quickly transformed the world, including everything, from autonomous cars to analysis of medical images, from stock management for companies to financial negotiation algorithms and virtual assistants to linguistic translation in real time.

However, the advantages of AI are unevenly distributed and many countries have trouble accessing the tools that could transform their societies by supporting development and improving the lives of ordinary people.

Its rapid expansion inevitably leads to a multitude of risks and challenges, including threats to information accuracy and human rights, for example surveillance.

Currently, there is no organization recognized to govern AI worldwide, so world leaders meet in New York on September 25 to discuss an inclusive and responsible AI governance framework.

“” Without adequate railings, AI could further exacerbate inequalities and digital divisions and affect the most vulnerable disproportionately. We must seize this historical opportunity … for the benefit of all humanity,“Said Mr. Guterres.

Learn more here on the UN and AI

The report, Changing paradigms: United to deliverDescribe the possible adjustments in the way in which the UN is structured, how its entities collaborate and how it works. This is the third major production of the initiative, following previous reports on efficiency measures And on examining the implementation of the mandate. Emitted just before the high -level week of the General Assembly, the document is intended to shed light on the deliberations of the Member States.

“This is work in progress,” explains Mr. Guterres in the preface. “We are impatient to work with Member States – as owners of the process – to carry out our common ambition: a United Nations system which is more coherent, more efficient and better equipped to serve” us peoples “.”

Main areas of interest

The proposals address the three UN labor pillars – Peace and Security, Sustainable Development and Human Rights – as well as humanitarian action, the means of strengthening collaboration between pillar and catalysts on the scale of the system. It requires fewer silos, less duplication and more effective collaboration, noting that the United Nations system, built over 80 years, must adapt to the much more complex challenges of today.

• In Peace and securityThe report proposes to consolidate the offices and leadership layers, establishing centers of excellence for peacebuilding and for women, peace and security, and the preparation of peace operations thinner and more integrated.
• A New humanitarian compact is proposed to rationalize planning, integrate global supply chains, extend common back-office services and strengthen humanitarian diplomacy, in order to serve more than 100 million people faster and effectively.
• On sustainable developmentThe Secretary General recommends evaluating the potential agencies of agencies, to pool expertise through new joint knowledge centers and to reconfigure regional and country level operations for more impact.
• In human rightsThe report proposes to create a United Nations Human Rights Defense Group, led by the High Commissioner, to coordinate action on a system level and reduce duplication.
• Among system facilitatorsThe report highlights the creation of a United Nations data system, a technological accelerator platform, unified back office services, rationalized training and research and reforms to strengthen group and basic funding.

Following steps

Several proposals in the report reside in the authority of the Secretary General and can be put forward without delay. Most, however, rest with the Member States. Mr. Guterres was invited by the President of the General Assembly To inform the report of October 15, 2025.

The negative vote was expressed while the council of 15 members held its 10,000th meeting on the context of the distribution of the famine in the besieged enclave and an Israeli offensive in progress to take total control of Gaza City.

The resolution also demanded the release of all hostages held by Hamas and for Israel to raise all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid and ensure that it is securely distributed to the population – in particular by the United Nations agencies and partners.

“No surprise”: American representative

The United States is one of the five permanent members of the Council who have the right of veto.

Speaking before the vote, the representative Morgan Ortagus said that Washington’s opposition to the resolution “would not surprise” because it will not condemn Hamas or recognize the right of Israel to defend itself.

The text “also wrongly legitimately legitimate the false stories benefiting in Hamas, which unfortunately found a currency in this council,” she said.

“This resolution also refuses to recognize and seeks to return to a failed system that allowed Hamas to enrich and strengthen themselves at the expense of civilians in need.”

“Clear message” sent

The project was advanced by the 10 non -permanent members of the Council: Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Somalia.

“Even if this resolution was not adopted today during this 10,000 council meeting, 14 members of this council sent a clear message,” said Danish ambassador Christina Markus Lassen.

“We want to see an immediate and lasting cease-fire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and the urgent lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid. We will continue to work for this for many council meetings that she could take. ”

The Gaza War broke out on October 7, 2023 after Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages, with 48 still in captivity.

THE Security advice Meeting for the first time on the crisis the next day, behind closed doors. Since then, the United States has opposed its veto Four other resolutions Calling for a ceasefire, more recently in June.

More than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of hostilities, according to the Gaza health authorities.

A historic opportunity

South Korea holds the presidency of the Security Council in rotation for the month of September.

At the start of the meeting, the Sangjin Kim representative noted that the number of 10,000 was both “important and significant, like the challenges that remain before us on the agenda of this council”.

He said that “137 Member States worked on the Council, often in concert”, during this period.

“Keep this in mind as we continue to strive to fulfill the vital mandate of the Security Council.”

Maintain peace and security

The Security Council is one of the six main UN bodies, alongside the General Assembly, the Secretariat, the Economic and social council (Ecosoc), the council of supervision and International Court of Justice (Icj).

The Council has the main responsibility of the interview of international peace and security and takes measures through resolutions and decisions. He also establishes peacekeeping missions and can adopt sanctions.

The five permanent members-China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States-have the right of veto at any resolution and all exercised this power at a given time.

Permanent members obtained the right of veto because of their key role in the creation of the UN 80 years ago, Russia taking the seat held by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1990.

The 10 non -permanent members are elected by the General Assembly, which includes the 193 member states of the United Nations and serve two years.