Despite diplomatic progress in recent months, the United States has negotiated a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, and Qatar facilitating a declaration of principles between the Congolese government and the M23 rebels, tensions remain high in eastern DRC-where several armed groups operate.

THE Security advice has also sought to promote peace in the realization region, in particular by its adoption of Resolution 2773 In February 2025, calling for all parties to refrain from violence against civilians. However, the victims continue to increase in the east of the country.

“In northern Kivu, the situation has increased considerably since April,” said Martha Ama Akya PobeeDeputy secretary general for Africa in the departments of political affairs and consolidation of peace and peace operations told ambassadors.

The DRC is currently faced with one of the most acute humanitarian emergencies in the world, with increasing food insecurity and 5.9 million Congolese currently in internal.

Significant escalation

“” Unfortunately, the evolution of the security situation on the ground has not equaled the progress made on the Diplomatic FronT, “said Ms. Pobee.

The recent attacks by M23 armed groups and Congo River Alliance (AFC), as well as the attacks of the Allied Democratic Forces – a militia associated with the Isil terrorist group – have considerably increased civilian victims.

Meanwhile, humanitarian workers continue to risk their lives to provide limited assistance to populations in need.

In the midst of general indifference, sexual violence linked to conflicts persists, as is the forced recruitment of children.

“Critical juncture”

“” We cannot and must not accept extreme sufferings and recurring horrors which are commonplace in eastern DRC“Said Ms. Pobee.

To protect civilians, restore law and order and meet the depths of the humanitarian needs of the population, the parties must cease hostilities.

“At this critical stage for the DRC and the region, it is crucial that this council gives all its weight behind current peace efforts, containing its influence to ensure respect and respect for resolution 2773,” she told the Security Council.

Although the situation on the ground remains disastrous, a real commitment from the parties, as well as the concerted support of the international community, will contribute to laying the foundations for lasting peace, the senior official has stressed.

Officially entitled the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of the marine biological diversity of areas beyond the national jurisdictionit was adopted In June 2023 after years of negotiation, and was opened to the signing until September 20.

With only eight remaining ratifications before it can come into force, the momentum accelerates towards the implementation phase of the Treaty, which could start in 2026.

“Decisive and concerted ” urgent ‘action

By covering marine genetic resources, environmental impact assessments, management tools based on the region and the transfer of marine technology, the treaty is central to protect the ocean.

“” The need for decisive and concerted action has never been so urgent“Said the United Nations Legal Councilor Elinor Hammarskjöld, the delegates declared at the opening of the session.

From participation rules and financing to digital access and institutional accommodation, negotiators face complex compromises.

But the feeling of urgency, and the crowded rooms of the UN headquarters, suggested that the international community is close to the transformation of the text into reality.

Recalling the Ocean Conference of the UN 2025 held in Nice in June, co-organized by France and Costa Rica, Ms. Hammarskjöld said that she had reaffirmed the essential role of multilateralism in the treatment of pressures endangering marine ecosystems.

In addition, the 39 actions of the Treaty by the States of all regions undertaken at the Ocean Conference demonstrated the strong commitment of the international community to keep and use the ocean and its resources permanently.

Now, “with the real probability of the first conference of the parties to the agreement convening in 2026, we are at a critical time,” she said.

This urgency was taken up by the co-chair of the commission, Janine Coye-Felson, who said that “if the momentum is strengthened by the third conference of the United Nations Oceans, held in Nice in June this year, is supported, We can reasonably expect that the agreement can enter into force in the last part of 2025, or at the beginning of 2026 ”.

Aboriginal peoples as a rights holder

During the first debates of the session, the developing states of small islands (SIDS) put pressure for flexibility, in particular virtual participation and guaranteed representation in the COP office.

The representative of the federated states of micronesia, speaking in the name of the developing states of the Pacific, also argued the allocation of a seat to the development states of small islands.

In addition, he called for recognition of “distinct status of indigenous peoples under international law as rights holders, rather than just stakeholders”.

Financing and equity

Development states, represented by groups such as G77 and China, the African group, Caricom and Pacific Sids, have stressed that the financing of participation will not be optional, but an obligation under the treaty, and has called for a voluntary trustee to cover the full expenditure of the delegates of the least developed countries, states without linen – and SIDS – In states are the least developed.

‘Clearing house’

As the entry into force approaches, the delegates turned to operational problems. A proposed mechanism of the compensation house will serve as a central center of the treaty for the exchange of information.

“There may not be any more urgent work before us than this,” said the co-president of the Adam McCarthy commission during one of the meetings.

Given the current rate of ratification, “we may need a form of compensation mechanism in operation at the beginning of 2026,” he said, encouraging the delegates to work so that the group of informal experts is “operational” to start its work by September.

With 139 signatures and 52 ratifications already obtained, the treaty is within the reach of the 60 necessary for entry into force.

The rally will continue at the UN headquarters until August 29.

The new joint report, Climate change and thermal stress at workUnderlines the risks of assembly because climate change feeds, more extreme and more frequent.

Stressing that workers in agriculture, construction and fisheries are already suffering from the impacts of dangerous temperatures, the report stresses that vulnerable groups in developing countries – including children, the elderly and low -income communities – are faced with growing dangers.

“” Thermal stress already harms the health and livelihoods of billions of workers, especially in the most vulnerable communitiesSaid Dr. Jeremy Farrar, WHO Deputy Managing Director for Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care.

“” This new management offers practical solutions based on evidence to protect livesReduce inequalities and build more resilient workforce in a world of warming, “he added.

Based on five decades of research, the report underlines how the increase in temperatures reaches health and productivity.

Wmo confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year ever recordedto 1.55 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures, and With diurnal vertices greater than 40 ° C becoming common currency – and in certain regions, even exceeding 50 ° C.

“” Professional thermal stress has become a global societal challengewhich is no longer limited to countries located near Ecuador – as the recent heat wave in Europe points out, “said Ko Barrett, deputy secretary general of the WMO.” The protection of workers against extreme heat is Not just an imperative of health but an economic necessity. “”

Alarming results

The report details how extreme heat reshapes the world of work. He notes that workers’ productivity decreases from 2 to 3% for each degree greater than 20 ° C.

The consequences on health are large -scale, including heat strokes, dehydration, kidney dysfunctions and neurological disorders. Overall, almost half of the world’s population is now experiencing negative effects at high temperatures.

Way to go

Call on urgent professional heat action plans adapted to industries and regions, WHOs and OMM’s advice include several recommendations:

• Develop targeted professional thermal health policies depending on local weather and labor vulnerabilities.
• Prioritize protections for middle and older workers, people with chronic health problems and people with a lower physical form.
• Train health professionals, employers and workers to recognize and treat thermal stress, which is often poorly diagnosed.
• Involve workers, unions and local authorities to shape thermal health strategies.
• Promote affordable, sustainable and scalable solutions, alongside innovation and new technologies.
• Strengthen research and monitoring to ensure that measures remain effective.

Directives are based on the International Labor Organization (Ilo) Results that More than 2.4 billion workers are exposed to excessive heat worldwide, resulting in more than 22.85 million professional injuries each year.

“Critical step”

“This report represents an essential step in our collective response to the growing threat of extreme heat in the world of work,” said Joaquim Pintado Nunes, ILO head of safety and professional health and health.

“Assistant to the ILO’s mandate to promote safe and healthy work environments as a fundamental right, it offers robust advice and based on evidence to help governments, employers and workers to face the growing risks of climate change.”

A call to action

The two United Nations agencies point out that the fight against thermal stress is at the heart of the safeguarding of lives, livelihoods and economies. Advice support the UN Sustainable development objectives (ODD), urging decisive action to protect vulnerable workers, reduce poverty and promote sustainable growth.

Urgent and coordinated action is no longer optional – it is essential, indicates the report.

It brings together more than 160 countries and organizations – a testimony to Japan’s lasting commitment to global dialogue and cooperation, said Secretary General António Guterres.

“” Japan has helped shape some of the most important multilateral achievements of our time“He added, congratulating Japan for choosing peace and international cooperation after defeat at the end of the Second World War.

A tireless defender of nuclear disarmament, a generous contributor to peace, and an unshakable champion of human security, Japan has helped lead since he joined the United Nations almost 70 years ago.

Commitment to cooperation

“” The moral of the history of the United Nations is simple: humanity is the strongest when we stand like a“Said Mr. Guterres.

“Although many may not realize it, the United Nations affects our lives every day,” he said, noting that The UN provides food assistance to more than 150 million people, provides vaccines to 45% of children in the world and supports elections in around fifty countries.

From land mines to biodiversity, from women’s rights to refugees, press freedom to access drinking water, the UN supports a vast global system of conventions and treaties – while its charter is the pillar of international law.

“The reform is crucial”

But today, as the multilateral project of nations working together for a common goal is disputed, it must adapt.

Of the composition of Security advice With unjust and unjust international financial systems, the reform is crucial.

Since the leaders adopted the Pact for the future in 2024, a plan to make multilateralism more effective, Mr. Guterres also launched the initiative of the UN80 to help guarantee that the 80th anniversary of the UN is not only a moment of reflection, but a renewal catalyst.

“These are moments of danger. But these are also times of deep opportunity and obligation, “said the secretary general.

Hannah Tetteh, who also directs the United Nations Mission in Libya (Little vintage), informed the ambassadors following the elections of the municipal council last week and described a roadmap proposed in the general elections, which should have been retained in 2021.

“” The Libyan people turn to this estimated council for help, in order to ensure a solution to the crisis and to support a political process which will result in unified elections and institutions not a succession of transitional governments ”, it said.

Voting and disturbances

Almost 15 years after the fall of former president Muammar Gaddafi, Libya remains divided between two rival administrations: the internationally recognized government of national unity, located in the western capital of Tripoli, and the rival government of national stability based in Benghazi in the east.

Last Saturday, 26 municipalities successfully held elections despite significant challenges. Ms. Tetteh congratulated the electoral management body Hnec and urged all the candidates to accept the results.

She regretted that all the municipalities that were to participate could not do so, with The Eastern Government gives instructions to suspend electoral processes in 16 municipalities. In addition, the voting equipment has been removed from the region and southern centers.

The efforts to disrupt the vote also took place in certain municipalities in the WestWhere Hnec’s offices in three cities were burnt down or attacked, although the vote took front in two of them.

‘A clear signal’

“At the end of the election day, the participation rate was 71%. It is a clear signal that the Libyan people aspire to elect their representatives. In some regions, it was the first time that all elections have been performing since 2014, “she said.

However, the suspension of elections in the East and to the South “is an equally clear sign that not all of them are determined to support the democratic development of Libya and there is a Urgent need for reset In the political process, ”she added.

In February, USNIML created an advisory committee to provide recommendations to resolve unanswered problems that prevented the national elections.

A report was presented in May and the mission organized nationale consultations on results. He also conducted an online survey so that people share their opinions on the recommendations, with more than 22,500 answers.

“” The message we have clearly received was the desire to stop the cycles of repeated transition periods; preserve and strengthen the unity of the country and its institutions; as well as to renew their legitimacy through presidential and legislative elections; And put an end to what was frequently referenced as a foreign interference, ”Tetteh told council.

Roadmap in the elections

Based on the advisory committee recommendations, comments from the population and lessons learned from the failure to hold elections in 2021: “We are convinced that the political process should Focus on the guarantee of general elections and the unification of institutions through a sequenced approach“She said.

Ms. Tetteh proposed a roadmap built around three main pillars: the implementation of a “technically healthy and politically viable electoral framework” to hold the elections; Unify institutions through a new unified government and a structured dialogue to solve critical problems in order to create an environment conducive to the ballot box.

She estimated that it would take 12 to 18 months to finish the roadmap, which will end in the general elections and several “sequential stages”, in particular the improvement of HNEC capacity as well as the modification of legal and constitutional frameworks to organize complete – legislative and presidential elections.

“Following these two previous stages-which could be concluded over the next two months if there was the political will to do so-there should be an agreement on a new unified government, capable of creating an environment conducive to credible elections while effectively managing the functions of key governance,” she said.

Safety problems

Ms. Tetteh reported developments on other fronts, including the volatile security situation, with increasing militarization of all parties.

She noted that the situation in Tripoli remains very worrying, following the clashes in May. While a fragile truce is held, violations have occurred, although no escalation.

Unsmil has also documented 20 deaths in detention since March 2024, including political activist Abdel Munim Al-Maremi, who died last month in Tripoli, shortly after a liberation order was issued.

“These cases are the latest examples of a widespread and persistent model of serious violations perpetrated across the country with impunity, including against migrants and refugees, in certain cases supplied by disinformation and hate discourse,” she said.

Ms. Tetteh was also alarmed by the forced return of migrants to conflict zones, including Sudan. She noted that Sudanese Kufra refugees go beyond the number of residents, urging donors to intensify support.