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Adhering to prohibitions on mines only at peace will not work: the head of the rights of the United Nations

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Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine have taken or consider measures to withdraw from the Convention on the Prohibition of Use, Storage, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personcts and their Destruction-also known as the Ottawa Convention, after the Canadian City where the process was launched.

“These weapons are likely to cause serious and long -term and long -term damage to civilians, including children,” said Volker Türk, the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, in a statement. “Like the other international humanitarian treaties, the Ottawa Convention was mainly designed to govern the conduct of the parties to armed conflicts.”

“Adhering them to peacetime to withdraw from them in wartime or for newly invoked national security considerations seriously undermines the framework of international humanitarian law.”

A threat to civilians

Anti-personnel mines are one of the two main types of mines and target people-as opposed to anti-vehicle mines. However, because these two mines are triggered automatically, they lead to a large number of civil dead, especially children.

Their fatal risks persist long after the end of hostilities, contaminating agricultural land, playgrounds and houses, and constituting a constant threat to without distrust civilians.

Accessive in 1997, the Ottawa Convention prohibits signatories from using, storing, producing or transferring anti-personal mines due to the threat that these weapons constitute civilians, especially children.

During the two and a half decades since its adoption, the Ottawa Convention has 166 states parties, led to a marked reduction in the use of anti-personal mines.

Reversing trends

However, in recent years, these positive trends have started to reverse with the number of civilians killed and injured by mines increasing by 22% in 2024 – 85% of the victims were civilians and half of them were children.

Despite progress, some 100 million people in 60 countries still live under the threat of terrestrial mines.

In Ukraine, for example, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) estimates that more than 20% of the country’s land is contaminated – amounting to 139,000 square kilometers.

Likewise, terrestrial mines are still a significant threat to Cambodia, decades after the end of the conflict and the years of deactivation efforts.

Maintain international law

Mr. Türk urged all parties to the Ottawa Convention to maintain their international legal obligations concerning anti-personal and non-signs to join the Convention.

“With so many civilians suffering from the use of anti-personal mines, I call all states to abstain from leaving any international humanitarian law and immediately suspending any withdrawal process that could be in progress.”

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Adhering to bans on mines only in peace time will not work: UN rights chief

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Adhering to bans on mines only in peace time will not work: UN rights chief

Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine have taken or are considering steps to withdraw from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction – known also as the Ottawa Convention, after the Canadian city where the process was launched.

“These weapons risk causing persistent and long-term, serious harm to civilians, including children,” Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement. “Like other international humanitarian law treaties, the Ottawa Convention was principally designed to govern the conduct of parties to armed conflicts.”

“Adhering to them in times of peace only to withdraw from them in times of war or for newly invoked national security considerations seriously undermines the framework of international humanitarian law.”

A threat to civilians

Anti-personnel mines are one of the two main types of mines and target people – as opposed to anti-vehicle mines. However, because both of these mines are triggered automatically, they result in huge numbers of civilian deaths, especially children.

Their deadly risks linger long after hostilities end, contaminating farmland, playgrounds, and homes, and posing a constant threat to unsuspecting civilians.

Agreed in 1997, the Ottawa Convention prohibits signatories from using, stockpiling, producing or transferring anti-personnel mines due to the threat that these weapons pose to civilians, especially children.  

In the two-and-a-half decades since it was passed, the Ottawa Convention has 166 States parties, has led to the a marked reduction in the use of anti-personnel mines.  

Trends reversing

However, in recent years, these positive trends have begun to reverse with the number of civilians killed and injured by mines increasing by 22 per cent in 2024 – 85 per cent of the casualties were civilians and half of them were children.  

Despite progress, some 100 million people across 60 countries still live under the threat of landmines.

In Ukraine, for instance, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) estimates that more than 20 per cent of the country’s land is contaminated – amounting to 139,000 square kilometres.

Similarly, landmines remain still a significant threat in Cambodia, decades after the end of the conflict and years of de-mining efforts.

Uphold international law

Mr. Türk urged all parties to the Ottawa Convention to uphold their international legal obligations regarding anti-personnel mines and on non-signatories to join the Convention.  

“With so many civilians suffering from the use of anti-personnel mines, I call on all States to refrain from leaving any international humanitarian law treaty, and to immediately suspend any withdrawal process that may be underway.”  

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Interview: Seville “a critical test” of multilateralism

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The promises were made at the opening of the Financing For Development Conference (FFD4), currently underway in the Spanish city of Seville, when the delegates agreed Seville engagement.

During the conference, the UN News spoke to Li junhuaThe United Nations Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs and Secretary General of the International Summit.

Li Junhua: The adoption of the Seville agreement was an exceptional moment during an event which experienced around sixty heads of state and government and saw 130 major initiatives announced within the framework of the Sevilla platform for actionwhich aims to implement the result document and the financing of the turbochang for sustainable development.

A record number of business leaders from various sectors has actively participated and contributed positively to the entire process and the results of the conference. They all undertook to support the implementation of the new roadmap.

UN News: What advantages do you think that vulnerable communities in developing countries can impatiently wait, as a direct consequence of decisions made here in Seville?

Li Junhua, Under-Secretary General of the United Nations for economic and social affairs.

Li Junhua: Seville’s commitment firmly recognizes that the eradication of poverty is essential for the realization of sustainable development. This is the most essential point for all developing countries. It offers a set of shares for a large -scale investment thrust for the Sustainable development objectives (SDD) in the long term. This includes strengthening investments in vital fields such as social protection systems, agrifood systems and inclusive, affordable and quality health systems.

In addition, it aims to strengthen the global response to crises that most affect vulnerable communities. For example, he calls for the implementation of the decision concerning the agreed climate financing of the United Nations Climate Conference in Baku, as well as the fund to respond to loss and damage.

For me, significant stages and commitments have been made to support countries in special situations in order to fill the significant infrastructure gap in the critical sectors. The most vulnerable populations can benefit significantly by obtaining essential services and employment opportunities generated by, for example, energy, transport, ICT [information and communication technology]development of water and sanitation infrastructures.

Finally and above all, there is a strong determination to extend access to financial products and services in society, especially for women, young people, disabled people, displaced people, migrants and other people in vulnerable situations. These are very tangible results for vulnerable communities.

News from the UN: How is this conference a real multilateralism test, at a time when it is more than ever to pressure than ever, and with a deeply uncertain global economic perspective?

Li Junhua: This conference is a critical test of our ability to solve problems together.

We know that, at the base, the sustainable development crisis is a crisis of financing and financing. We have to take up these challenges to bring the SDGs back on the right track, but it is far from easy. Commitments to development financing have a direct impact on national budgets and the reform of international financial architecture will inevitably move the dynamics of power between states.

The fact that the Member States have adopted the Seville agreement by consensus sends a powerful signal that multilateralism can still deliver. Of course, the real challenge now lies in the translation of these commitments into actions. I would therefore say that in the end, the success depends on the collective efforts of all the Member States and all stakeholders.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Children’s lives ‘turned upside down’ by wars across Middle East, North Africa, warns UNICEF

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Children’s lives ‘turned upside down’ by wars across Middle East, North Africa, warns UNICEF

Alarmingly, 110 million children in the region live in countries affected by war, with homes, schools and health facilities damaged or destroyed in fighting.

“A child’s life is being turned upside down the equivalent of every five seconds due to the conflicts in the region,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, on Tuesday.

UNICEF estimates indicate that 45 million children across the region will require humanitarian assistance in 2025, a 41 per cent increase since 2020.  

Funding shortfalls  

However, funding gaps are affecting vital programmes across the region.

For instance, as of May, Syria faced a 78 per cent funding gap and the State of Palestine a 68 per cent gap for their 2025 appeals. UNICEF’s regional programmes are also under increasing financial strain.

The outlook for 2026 also remains bleak, UNICEF said, noting that its funding for Middle East and North Africa is projected to decline by 20 to 25 per cent, potentially resulting in shortfalls of up to $370 million.

Conflicts must stop  

This would jeopardize lifesaving programmes across the region, including treatment for severe malnutrition, safe water production in conflict zones and vaccinations against deadly diseases.

“As the plight of children in the region worsens, the resources to respond are becoming sparser,” said Mr. Beigbeder.

“Conflicts must stop. International advocacy to resolve these crises must intensify. And support for vulnerable children must increase, not decline.” 

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Debt drowning: the new forum in Seville offers borrowers a chance to rebalance the books

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THE Borrower forum is praised as an important step in efforts to reform the architecture of international debt, supported by the UN and emerge as a key element of Seville agreement Result document.

“It is not only the conversation-it is execution,” said Egyptian Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat. “” The borrower forum is a real plan, motivated by the countries, to create a shared voice and strategy to deal with the debt challenges. “”

Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary General of United Nations Trade and Development (Trecta), said that developing countries are often confronted with creditors as a united block while negotiating alone. “The voice is not only the ability to speak – it is the power to shape the results. Today, 3.4 billion people live in countries that pay more in debt service than on health or education. ”

The forum – one of the 11 recommendations of the group of experts from the United Nations Secretary General on Debt – will allow countries to share experiences, receive technical and legal advice, promote loans and responsible borrowing standards and strengthen the collective negotiation force.

Its launch deals with long -standing calls from the world South for more inclusive decision -making in a debt system dominated by the interests of creditors.

‘Silent but urgent’

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Zambia, Mumbo Haimbe, told journalists that the initiative Promote “long -term partnerships, mutual respect and shared responsibility” And expressed the will of his country to organize a first meeting.

The Spanish Minister of Finance, Carlos Cuerpo, described the current debt crisis as “silent but urgent” and Called the forum a “moment of Seville” to correspond to the Paris credit club, created almost 70 years ago.

UN special envoy on financing the 2030 agenda Mahmoud Mohieldin said the forum was a direct response to a system that has maintained debtor countries for too long. “” This is the voice, equity – and preventing the next debt crisis before it begins. “”

The launch comes at a time from the distress of increasing debt in the developing world.

The agreement – known in Spanish as the Seville compromiso – Adopted by consensus at the conference, includes a group of commitments on the reform of sovereign debt.

In addition to the care of initiatives led by borrowers, he calls for better transparency of the debt, better coordination between creditors and the exploration of a multilateral legal framework for the restructuring of debt.

It also approves of the sustainability strategies of debt led by the country, suspension clauses of debt for vulnerable climatic nations and greater support for debt swaps for nature and debt for climate – although with stronger guarantees and impact evidence.

Frustration on the “missed opportunity” to fight against the debt crisis

On Wednesday, civil society groups brutally criticized the result adopted in Seville, calling this a missed opportunity to offer a significant reform of a global debt system which paralyzes many developing nations.

Speaking during a press briefing within the conference, Jason Braganza of the Forum and the African Development Network (Afrodad) said that the final result document adopted on the first day – the Seville agreement – was far from what was necessary.

“” This document did not start with a lot of ambition and still managed to be watered down“, He said.” Almost half of African countries face a debt crisis. Instead of investing in health, education and clean water, they pay creditors. »»

Mr. Braganza praised the management of the African group and the alliance of small island states, which fought for a UN framework convention on sovereign debt.

‘False solutions’

Although this ambition was not fully carried out, He welcomed a little breakthrough In the form of a new intergovernmental process which could lay the foundations for a future reform.

Civil society leaders have also warned of the dangers of the so-called “climate debt exchanges”, Mr. Braganza calling them “false solutions” which do not provide a real tax space for developing countries.

Tove Ryding of the European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad) echoes these concerns, saying: “We are told that there is no money to fight poverty or climate change – but there are. The problem is economic injustice. And the result of this conference reflects business as usual. “”

She underlined the progress made on a new United Nations tax convention as proof that the determined countries can lead to real changes, adding: “If only we had a dollar of tax for each time that we were told that this day would never come. »»

The agreement is bearing fruit for public health

To help fill the gaps in access to public services and policies, and to combat health care reductions that could cost thousands of lives, Spain launched the global health action initiative aimed at revitalizing the entire global health ecosystem.

The initiative, which will channel 315 million euros in the global health system between 2025 and 2027, is supported by main multilateral health organizations and more than 10 countries.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

EU Climate Law: new way to reach 2040 targets

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EU Climate Law: new way to reach 2040 targets

The Commission has proposed an amendment to the EU’s Climate Law that would see a 2040 EU climate target of a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions, compared to 1990 levels. The proposal also sets out a more pragmatic and flexible way to reach the 2040 target. Source link

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EU Climate Law: new way to reach 2040 targets

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EU Climate Law: new way to reach 2040 targets

The Commission has proposed an amendment to the EU’s Climate Law that would see a 2040 EU climate target of a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions, compared to 1990 levels. The proposal also sets out a more pragmatic and flexible way to reach the 2040 target.

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EU plan will make Europe a global leader in life sciences

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EU Climate Law: new way to reach 2040 targets

The European Commission has launched a new plan to make Europe a global leader in life sciences by 2030. The plan will accelerate innovation, facilitate market access, and build public trust in new technologies, ensuring Europe becomes the most attractive place in the world for life sciences.

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EIOPA opens public consultation on revised Guidelines on Supervisory Review Process

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EIOPA opens public consultation on revised Guidelines on Supervisory Review Process

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) launched today a public consultation on its draft revised Guidelines on the Supervisory Review Process, used by supervisors to regularly assess insurers’ and groups’ exposure to risks and the effectiveness of the controls they have in place. The primary objective of the revision is to update the Guidelines by clarifying existing instructions as necessary in light of the Solvency II review and by bringing emerging risks within their scope. 

The proposed amendments to the Guidelines pursue two key goals: first, to align the existing provisions with the latest regulatory developments and new supervisory best practices; and second, to incorporate new processes to address risks and trends that have emerged since the Guidelines were first adopted. In recommending changes, EIOPA paid due attention to the objectives of regulatory simplification and burden reduction, resulting in targeted and limited changes to the existing rules.

To reflect the outcome of the Solvency II review and in order to ensure more effective supervision and financial stability in Europe’s insurance sector, the draft Guidelines include new sections in areas such as business model analysis, joint on-site inspections, early intervention measures, pre-emptive recovery planning, and the supervision of conduct of business. In response to the growing importance of emerging risks, EIOPA also introduced guidance to ensure that supervisory authorities incorporate sustainability risks, IT and cyber risks, and Supervisory Technology (SupTech) into their supervisory review processes.

These Guidelines are of primary relevance to national supervisory authorities but are expected to indirectly benefit insurers and reinsurers by enhancing the consistency, predictability, and transparency of supervisory engagement. In line with its commitment to regulatory simplification, EIOPA has deliberately limited the amendments to those that are strictly necessary to support the implementation of Solvency II and to promote supervisory convergence across the European Union.

Consultation process

EIOPA invites stakeholders to provide their feedback on the Consultation Paper by responding to the questions via the online survey no later than 24 September 2025. All responses will be published on EIOPA’s website unless otherwise requested.

Go to the Consultation

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Iran crisis: UN stays and delivers

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MIDDLE EAST CRISIS: Live updates for 16 June

“In the early morning hours of 13 June, a number of attacks took place in Tehran, and other parts of Iran,” said Stefan Priesner, UN Resident Coordinator in Iran.

“Then over the next 12 days there were multiple attacks by either side…we know that there have been at least 627 people killed and almost 5,000 injured in Iran.

Underlining that the UN remained in Iran through the duration of the conflict, Mr. Priesner noted that discussions are ongoing with the Government on “how to adapt existing UN programmes to meet the country’s post-conflict needs”, he told journalists in Geneva via Zoom.

Tehran insight

Speaking from the Iranian capital, the UN official confirmed reports that Tehran had seen a population movement as several million residents left the city seeking safety from the missile strikes. He mentioned the solidarity that Iranians had shown towards each other, with families in the north and the countryside hosting those coming from Tehran.

Looking ahead, Mr. Priesner said: “we know that the health sector has very specific needs given the damage.” 

Stefan Priesner, UN Resident Coordinator in Iran.

The UN’s development and humanitarian presence in Iran spans 18 agencies with approximately 50 international staff and 500 national staff.

Last year’s budget amounted to around $75 million with two-thirds dedicated to the country’s roughly 3.5 million refugees or people in a refugee like situations.

Iran has been hosting one of the largest – and most protracted – refugee situations in the world for over four decades with inclusive policies for example in the fields of access to health and education, and UN has supported these efforts over the years.

The remainder of this budget is allocated for development projects including climate adaptation and mitigation work. Mr. Priesner said there was need for significant additional funding to support the most vulnerable groups in Iran including children, the elderly, female-headed households and persons with disabilities.

The UN official confirmed reports that increasing numbers of Afghan refugees have been heading back to their country across the Iranian border either voluntarily or through deportation.

According to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, 36,100 Afghans returned on 26 June alone. The number of daily returns has continued to increase since 13 June, it said.

Every day, and sometimes every few hours, buses arrive and stop at the Afghanistan-Iran border, carrying exhausted and desperate Afghan refugee families with all their belongings,” said Arafat Jamal, UNHCR Representative in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan returnees’ plight

“Many are returning to a country they barely know, forced out of Iran after decades of living there. The recent Israel-Iran war accelerated their return, pushing numbers to a record high, while deep funding cuts have made humanitarian aid operations increasingly challenging.”

Having just returned from the Islam Qala border area, UNHCR Representative Arafat Jamal told UN News that the flow of people into Afghanistan has surged since the conflict, rising from around 5,000 daily crossings to a recent peak of nearly 30,000.

The UNHCR official warned that Afghan returnees are arriving in an impoverished country that is unprepared to support them. Women and girls who had access to education and jobs in Iran now return to a country where “extreme gender injustice” makes such opportunities impossible, he said.

Arafat Jamal, UNHCR Representative in Afghanistan, on returns from Iran.

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