She returns, again and again, to one image: that of a ten -year -old girl – standing on the verge of adolescence, her uncertain future and her rights still in doubt.

“Will she be able to stay in school, finish her studies and make her way around the world?” Dr. Kanem wonders. “Or will she derail by things like children’s marriage, female genital mutilations or abject poverty?”

This seismic question and this girl – not a particular child, but an emblem of millions in the world whose future is in danger – have become the touchstone of the mandate of almost eight years of Dr. Kanem as Executive Director of the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, officially known as United Nations populations (UNFPA).

Since its beginnings, working on fronts in East Africa, to supervise an agency of $ 1.7 billion with operations in more than 150 countries, Dr. Kanem has passed the UNFPA through world quarters, political winds and ideological repression.

Above all, she led a fierce revolution in the lives of millions of women and girls.

This month, she withdrew from her post before the scheduled date. “It is time to transmit the stick,” the 70-year-old told his staff-a workforce of 5,000 people-in a video address earlier this year. “I promised to do everything in my ability to continue to position the UNFPA to continue doing great things.”

Roots and ascent

Born in Panama and trained as a doctor, Dr. Kanem joined UNFPA in 2014 after a career in philanthropy. Her decision to serve “the noble objective of the United Nations” first led him to East Africa and Tanzania, where it was struck by the quiet heroism of the field staff. “It is really at the level of the country where we prove our value,” she said UN News.

But the work was not easy. In 2017, when she took the reins of the agency, Dr. Kanem inherited an organization struggling with decreasing visibility, unstable funding and a persistent decline in conservative points of view. However, the UNFPA grew up – not only in the budget, but in stature.

“When I came, the story was:” We are a small organization, besieged, nobody understands what we are doing, “she said. “Now I think it’s clearer.”

This clarity came, in part, from what Dr. Kanem calls “opinion leadership”.

Whether they are difficult false ideas about fertility or to confront sex -based violence activated by technology, it has pushed the UNFPA at the fronts of global discourse. “We exist on a market of ideas,” she said. “And we must tell the truth in a sufficiently convincing way so that we can collect the allies that this movement requires. »»

Under its leadership, the agency formed hundreds of thousands of midwives, distributed billions of contraceptives and widened humanitarian operations to reach women and girls in the most fragile contexts-from Rohingyas camps to Bangladesh bazaar in Ukraine and Cholera of the war.

The presence of UNFPA in crisis areas was not only logistical, but symbolic. In Sudan, Syria and Gaza, a simple tent filled with menstrual stamps, a cover and a bar of soap could serve as a sanctuary. “This represents the respite that a woman needs in times of crisis,” she said. “You know, we call our” dignity kits “kits for this reason.”

Move the conversation

Beyond the provision of services, Dr. Kanem raised the role of UNFPA as a leader of opinion in a polarized world. She directed the agency to difficult public conversations – on pregnancy among adolescent girls, climate anxiety, fertility rates and online harassment – with an unshakable insistence on rights.

“The 10-year-old girl exists,” she said. “What her parents and religious leaders and his community think that he is vital for her to be well prepared, so that she knows what to do when she is questioned by coercive practices.”

This leadership has extended to data. Under Dr. Kanem, the UNFPA has invested massively in the support of the National census And Construction dashboards To help legislators shape reproductive health policy with real -time information.

This year Global population Report, the agency’s annual dive in demographic trends, cropped conventional accounts around the so-called “collapse population”-noting that many women and men delay children who do not leave ideology, but because they cannot afford to raise them.

Dr. Kanem praised the altruism of young people who say they choose not to have children for fear of worsening the climate crisis. But that’s not what the data shows.

“The world’s replacement fertility rate does not endanger the planet,” she said. “The facts really say: you can have as many children as you can afford it. »»

A compass based on duties to turbulent times

Dr. Kanem’s mandate coincided with increasing attacks against reproductive rights, the rise of nationalism and the growing skepticism of multilateral institutions. It has faced years of American financing discounts – including under the current administration – even if the demand for services from UNFPA increased.

“The UNFPA has more money than we have ever had,” she noted. “But it will never be enough to stop the flow of need. »»

The resources alone will not guarantee the future of the agency – credibility and persistence are just as vital. “The multilateral system itself is questioned at a time when it is more than ever necessary,” she warned. “We have to prove every day every day. And when we make mistakes, we have to get up and rectify them and find partners who will be allies. ”

One of these partners was the private sector. In 2023, the UNFPA joined technological companies to launch A link on development in Kenya, offering mobile sexual health services to prevent pregnancy in adolescents and new HIV infections among adolescent girls.

Change mentalities

The UNFPA has long worked to put an end to harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (MGF) and children’s marriage. Under Dr. Kanem, this work has become as much a question of transition from mentalities as changing laws.

“Yes, absolutely,” she said when asked if the progress was real. “It was very important to see religious leaders and traditional leaders against certain practices … and to work with school systems so that girls themselves understand the risks and can make better decisions concerning their options.”

THE Corona Virus“> The Cavid-19 pandemic,” she admitted, “was a backhand. With closed schools, some communities have increased the number of MGF weddings and ceremonies. But in many countries – including populated Indonesia – UNFPA has seen the practice decrease, partly thanks to young defenders from their own communities.

New generation, next chapter

For the future, Dr. Kanem did not linger in uncertainty. She spoke instead of the possibility. “We have transformed, we have modernized,” she said. “There is just an unlimited possibility for UNFPA. »»

Her own future understands what she calls a “mini-sabbatical”-more time for music, her family and, finally, herself. But she will not remain silent for a long time. “I know that my passion for the problems of women and girls will not go back,” she said. “It was a work of love.”

His farewell thinking? A last return to the girl at the center of all this.

“When this 10-year-old girl succeeds, everyone succeeds,” she said. “It’s a better world.”

Catherine Russell said she was dismayed by the reported murder of 15 Palestinians, including nine children and four women, waiting for nutritional supplements provided by Project Hope, a Unicef partner organization.

The incident occurred in Deir al-Balah. 30 other people were injured, including 19 children. The reports indicate that this results from a strike from Israel.

“Mothers looking for a life buoy”

“The murder of families trying to access vital aid is unacceptable,” she said in a declaration.

“” They were mothers looking for a lifeline for their children after months of hunger and despair. “”

They understood Donia, whose one -year son, Mohammed, was killed. She reported that the boy had given her his first words a few hours earlier.

“Donia is now in a hospital bed, seriously injured by the explosion, hugging Mohammed’s tiny shoe,” said Russell. “” No parent should face such a tragedy. “”

A “cruel reality”

For the head of UNICEF, “it is cruel reality confronted with many in Gaza today after months of insufficient assistance authorized in the territory, and the parties to the conflict that did not comply with fundamental responsibilities to protect civilians.”

She explained that “The lack of help means that children face famine while the risk of famine develops“, Warning that” the number of children in malnutrition will continue to increase until help and services that save lives are taken up on a large scale. »»

“International law is clear: all parties to the conflict have the obligation to protect civilians and guarantee the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid,” she said.

“We call on Israel to urgently examine its commitment rules to ensure full compliance with international humanitarian law, in particular the protection of civilians, including children, and to conduct an in -depth and independent investigation into this incident and all the allegations of violations.”

Not condemns murders

The UN has once again condemned the murder of civilians in Gaza, spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said journalists in New York.

In addition, the United Nations Humanitarian Affairs Office Ochha “Emphasizes that the parties are bound by international humanitarian law to prevent excessive death and wounds of civilians in the middle of the war,” he added.

OCHA reported that another strike would have struck the office of a humanitarian partner in Gaza City on Thursday. Three employees were killed.

Flowing fuel

Mr. Dujarric has also updated journalists on the disastrous situation of fuel in Gaza, which has an impact both the population and the humanitarian workers.

A United Nations team managed to integrate around 75,000 liters of Israel in the besieged enclave on Wednesday, marking the first layout of this type in 130 days.

However, he warned that the fuel is still exhausted and that the services stop if higher volumes do not immediately enter.

Risk water services

“” We and our humanitarian partners need hundreds of thousands of liters of fuel every day to maintain essential rescue and survival operationsThis means that the amount seized yesterday is not enough to cover even a day of energy needs, “he said.

An aid partner indicated that fuel shortages could soon cut the drinking water supply to around 44,000 children, he added, which would further increase the risk of cholera, diarrhea, dysentery and other water diseases.

Meanwhile, the UN partners providing education services said that between October 2023 and June, 626 temporary learning areas were created in Gaza, with 240,000 students registered, or about half of the girls.

However, Only 299 spaces are currently operational Due to current travel orders, financing gaps and other challenges.

Humanitarian workers are also hungry

The humanitarian partners of Gaza-who include the first stakeholders, health workers and humanitarian workers-“continue to provide food and other people in intolerable conditions, and they are themselves confronted with hunger,” said Dujarric.

“A number of our own colleagues are also faced with hunger. They also face water shortage and threats to their personal safety, like everyone in Gaza, “he added.

The spokesman reiterated the long-standing message from the UN according to which “this catastrophic situation must end”. He stressed that “a cease-fire is not only urgent, it has been expected for a long time”, while calling for unconditional and immediate release of all hostages.

West Bank operations

Mr. Dujarric also discussed the situation in the West Bank, where the humanitarian workers report and continue to warn the intensification of Israeli operations in the northern areas.

“” These operations cause mass destruction, resulting in other humanitarian needs And to alleviate the hopes of thousands of displaced families that they may go home, “he said.

“Meanwhile, attacks, harassment and intimidation of Israeli settlers against the Palestinians have become a daily reality. »»

He cited an attack on settlers on July 3 which led to the displacement of the community of eastern Bedouins of Mu’arrajat in central West Bank.

“It is the Ninth community to be fully moved In the regions of Ramallah and Jericho since January 2023 following the recurring attacks of the Israeli settlers. »»

They call on the decision to be reversed, warning that this could undermine the broader human rights system.

The sanctions were announced Wednesday by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio under presidential decree.

Mr. Rubio allegedly alleged that Ms. Albanese had “directly engaged with the International Criminal Court (CIC) In the efforts to investigate, stop, hold or prosecute nationals of the United States or Israel, without the consent of these two countries “, which he described as” raw violation “of national sovereignty.

The United States and Israel are not parties to the status of Rome, the international treaty that established the ICC.

Call to inversion

In a statement published Thursday, the High Commissioner of the United Nations Human Rights Volker Türk called for the “rapid reversal” of sanctions against Human Rights Council-special container named “in response to the work she has undertaken under the mandate” that she is responsible.

“” Even in the face of fierce disagreement, the member states of the United Nations should engage substantially and in constructively, rather than using punitive measures“He said.

The head of the Rights of the United Nations also called at the end of attacks and threats against holders of mandates appointed by the Council, as well as key institutions such as the ICC.

“” The solution is no less, but more, the debate and dialogue on the very real concerns of human rights they answer“Exhorted Mr. Türk.

Cooperation, not reprisals

Jürg Lauber, president of the United Nations Human Rights Council, also expressed his regret in the United States punitive decision.

In a statementHe stressed that special rapporteurs “are an essential instrument” to fulfill the mandate of the Council and urged all the nations to “cooperate fully” with them.

“” I call all the member states of the UN … to refrain from any act of intimidation or reprisals against them“He said.

Independent special rapporteurs

Special rapporteurs are appointed under what is called the Special procedures of the Human Rights Council.

They are independent experts appointed to monitor and report on human rights issues around the world. These experts are used in their personal quality, are not UN staff and do not receive any financial remuneration for their work.

They regularly fall under the Geneva -based council as well as the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

In addition to the mandate on occupied Palestinian territory, mandates exist to monitor human rights in countries like Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Afghanistan. In all 46 ThemeAnd 14 mandates from different countries.

In a statement Late Wednesday (local time), the United Nations support mission in Libya (Little vintage) expressed a deep concern concerning the continuous relationships of mobilization of the armed group in densely populated areas, urging all parties to refrain from the use of force and inflammatory rhetoric.

“” The mission strongly urges all parties to avoid any actions or political rhetoric which could trigger an escalation or lead to renewed clashes“He said.

Unsmil stressed that the protection of civil life and goods under international law remains a binding obligation for all political and security actors.

“” Officials of attacks on civilians will be held responsible“Said the mission.

Continue dialogue, not violence

The mission reiterated its support for the implementation of the security agreements developed by the truce and security and military arrangements committees, stressing that “Forces recently deployed in Tripoli must withdraw without delay.“”

He also pointed out that dialogue – and not violence – remains the only viable path to reach the lasting peace and stability in Tripoli and Libya.

The appeal comes in the midst of military movement reports in the capital and renewed clashes between armed groups, reflecting the persistent volatility that tormented Libya since the fall of former chief Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Political Impasse

The country remains divided between rival administrations to the east and west, unity efforts have stopped several times.

An undeveloped cease-fire signed in 2020 raised hopes for national elections, but progress has been hampered by a political dead end and sporadic epidemics of violence-in particular Tripoli.

In May, Clashes have broken out in several capital districtswho would have triggered the murder of an eminent militia leader. The fighting, which involved heavy weapons in densely populated areas, forced hundreds of families to flee and have tended the already fragile infrastructure of the city.