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“ A moral failure ”: the Security Council intends to speak of serious violations against the children caught at war

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“From this day, our house has become a travel bag and our path became that of travel … My childhood was filled with fear and anxiety and people with which I was private,” she said, speaking by videoconference of Syria.

Sila, now 17, described her experiences during the Syrian civil war at a UN meeting Security advice held Wednesday to discuss the secretary general’s conclusions Last report on Children and armed conflict.

Sila (on screen), representative of civil society, Briefes the meeting of the Security Council on children and armed conflicts.

The report documented a 25% increase in serious violations against children in 2024, the greatest number ever recorded during its 20 years of history.

“” The report of this year of the secretary general confirms once again what too many children already know – that the world did not protect them from war horrors“Said Sheema Sen Gupta, Director of Child Protection at the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).

Seema Sen Gupta, Director of Child Protection and Migration to UNICEF, Briefes The Security Council.

“Each violation against children in each country around the world represents a moral failure.”

The actual scale of damage

The report presented to the Security Council is published each year to document the serious violations against the children affected by the war. It is fully based on the data compiled and verified by the UN, which means that real numbers are probably much higher than those reported.

In 2024, the report documented A record of 41,370 violations of serious – including death and mutilation, rape, removal and targeting infrastructure such as schools supporting children.

“Each child struck by these attacks has a story, a stolen life, a interrupted dream, a future obscured by insane violence and prolonged conflicts”, ” said Virginia Gamba, the special representative of the Secretary General for children and armed conflicts, whose office has produced the report.

Virginia Gamba, the special representative of the Secretary General for children and armed conflicts, informs the Security Council.

While many of these violations have occurred during the conflict – especially since the urban war is increasing – serious violations can persist even after the end of a conflict.

They persist in unplodced ordinances which still dot the soil.

“Each unploded shell remains in a field, a school courtyard or an alley is A death sentence waiting to be triggered“Said Ms. Sen Gupta.

They persist in the spaces that remain destroyed, preventing children from accessing health care and education.

And they persist in the trauma and injuries that never completely leave a child.

Scars that never heal

Children who survive serious violations do not escape unscathed – if they suffered from violence, wounds will remain with them a lifetime. And even if they were not injured, the trauma remains.

“The physical and psychological scars carried by the survivors last a lifetimeAffecting families, communities and the very fabric of societies, “said Ms. Gamba.

This is why UNICEF and its partners worked to provide reinstatement programs and psychosocial support to children victims of serious violations.

Sila said that the trauma of her childhood is still with her and pushed her to become children’s defender in conflicts.

“From this moment, nothing felt normal in my life. I developed a phobia of all sound that looks like an airplane, darkness and even silence, “she said.

‘It cannot be the new normal’

Ms. Gamba called for “an unshakable conviction and an urgent action” of the international community in order to overthrow the disturbing trends that the report details.

“” We cannot afford to return to the dark ages where children were invisible and victims of armed conflict speech… Please do not allow them to retreat in the shadow of despair, ”she said.

Current humanitarian aid financing reductions lead to the work of United Nations agencies and partners to document and respond to serious violations against children.

In light of this, the call of Ms. Sen Gupta to the Security Council was simple: “Fund this program”.

She said that the international community cannot allow this to become “a new standard” and reminded members of the Security Council that children are not and should never be “collateral damage”.

Despite the devastation that the report detailed, there were “glimmer of hope” according to Ms. Sen Gupta. For example, the Syrian national army has signed an action plan that will prevent the recruitment, death and mutilation of children.

Sila also spoke of hope – she hopes hers is the latest generation to undergo these serious violations.

“I come from a generation that has survived. Physically, “she said. “Our body has survived, but our hearts always live in fear. Please help us replace the word movement by return, the word rubble by the house, the word war by life. ”

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

‘A moral failure’: Security Council hears about grave violations against children caught in war

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‘A moral failure’: Security Council hears about grave violations against children caught in war

“From that day on, our home became a travel bag and our path became that of displacement … My childhood was filled with fear and anxiety and people I was deprived of,” she said, speaking via videoconference from Syria.  

Sila, now 17, described her experiences during the Syrian Civil War to a meeting of the UN Security Council held on Wednesday to discuss the findings of the Secretary-General’s latest report on Children and Armed Conflict.

Sila (on screen), Civil Society Representative, briefs the Security Council meeting on children and armed conflict.

The report documented a 25 per cent increase in grave violations against children in 2024, the largest number ever recorded in its 20-year history. 

This year’s report from the Secretary-General once again confirms what too many children already know — that the world is failing to protect them from the horrors of war,” said Sheema Sen Gupta, director of child protection at the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Seema Sen Gupta, director of child protection and migration at UNICEF, briefs the Security Council. 

“Each violation against children in every country around the globe represents a moral failure.”

The real scale of the harm

The report presented to the Security Council is published annually to document grave violations against children affected by war. It relies entirely on data compiled and verified by the UN, meaning that the real numbers are likely much higher than reported.  

In 2024, the report documented a record 41,370 grave violations — including killing and maiming, rape, abduction and the targeting of infrastructure such as schools which supports children.  

“Each child struck by these attacks carries a story, a stolen life, a dream interrupted, a future obscured by senseless violence and protracted conflict,” said Virginia Gamba, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, whose office produced the report.  

Virginia Gamba, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, briefs the Security Council. 

While many of these violations occurred during times of conflict — especially as urban warfare is on the rise — grave violations can persist even after a conflict ends. 

They persist in the unexploded ordinances which still pepper the ground.  

“Every unexploded shell left in a field, schoolyard, or alley is a death sentence waiting to be triggered,” said Ms. Sen Gupta.  

They persist in the spaces which remain destroyed, impeding children from accessing healthcare and education.  

And they persist in the trauma and injuries which never fully leave a child.  

Scars that never heal

Children who survive the grave violations do not escape unscathed — if they suffered violence, the injuries will stay with them for a lifetime. And even if they were not injured, the trauma remains.

“The physical and psychological scars borne by survivors last a lifetime, affecting families, communities and the very fabric of societies,” said Ms. Gamba.  

This is why UNICEF and its partners have worked to provide reintegration programmes and psychosocial support for children who are victims of grave violations.

Sila said that the trauma of her childhood is still with her, and has pushed her to become an advocate for children in conflicts.  

“From that moment on, nothing has felt normal in my life. I’ve developed a phobia of any sound that resembles a plane, of the dark, and even of silence,” she said.  

‘This cannot be the new normal’

Ms. Gamba called for “unwavering condemnation and urgent action” from the international community in order to reverse the worrying trends which the report details.  

We cannot afford to return to the dark ages where children were invisible and voiceless victims of armed conflict… Please do not allow them to slip back into the shadows of despair,” she said. 

Current funding cuts to humanitarian aid are impeding the work of UN agencies and partners to document and respond to grave violations against children.

In light of this, Ms. Sen Gupta’s call for the Security Council was simple: “Fund this agenda.”

She said that the international community cannot allow this to become “a new normal,” and reminded the members of the Security Council that children are not and should never be “collateral damage.”

Despite the devastation which the report detailed, there were “glimmers of hope” according to Ms. Sen Gupta. For example, the Syrian National Army signed an action plan which will prevent the recruitment, killing and maiming of children.  

Sila also spoke of hope — she hopes that hers is the last generation to suffer these grave violations.  

“I am from a generation that survived. Physically,” she said. “Our bodies survived but our hearts are still living in fear. Please help us replace the word displacement with return, the word rubble with home, the word war with life.” 

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‘Fuel for Gaza is a matter of life and death,’ UN warns

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‘Fuel for Gaza is a matter of life and death,’ UN warns

“Israeli authorities continue to restrict the delivery of fuel into and throughout the Gaza Strip, effectively choking off life-saving services for deprived and starving people,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said during his regular press briefing in New York.

Conditions in the enclave remain bleak, as Israeli operations continue to have a devastating impact on civilians, with reports of the killing and injury of scores of people, many of whom were just seeking aid.

Pregnant women and babies at risk

Due to the fuel situation, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) warned that 80 per cent of critical care units, including those used for childbirth, risk shutting down – at a time when 130 women are giving birth every day. 

As UNFPA stressed, fuel for Gaza is a matter of life and death,” said Mr. Dujarric.

He added that community kitchens were able to prepare more than 200,000 meals every day this week. 

However, this represents an 80 per cent reduction compared with the more than one million meals distributed daily at the end of April, calling it “basically a trickle offered to people on the brink of famine.”

In the absence of fuel, cooking gas and electricity, people have resorted to burning plastic waste. 

“When they do so in makeshift tents, you can imagine what happens with the poor ventilation and the tremendous risks that that poses,” he told journalists. 

© UNICEF/Mohammed Nateel

A young boy in Gaza with severe weight loss and malnutrition eats a nutritional supplement.

Allow in more aid

Furthermore, the UN relief coordination office, OCHA, also reminds that to meaningfully address the massive deprivation in Gaza, the Israeli authorities must allow in higher volumes of supplies and more varied types of food, as well as cooking gas, fuel and shelter items.

Mr. Dujarric stressed that to facilitate the orderly distribution of aid, supplies must be channelled daily through multiple crossings and land routes simultaneously. This would ensure people that the flow of essential support is steady, sufficient and reliable.  

He said the UN and partners attempted to coordinate 15 humanitarian movements inside Gaza on Tuesday but only three were fully facilitated by the Israeli authorities, while seven were denied outright.

Four missions were initially approved but then halted on the ground, although one was ultimately accomplished on Wednesday and another was cancelled by the organizers.   

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enhancing market access and space safety

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enhancing market access and space safety

 

The European Commission has proposed ambitious new measures to make Europe’s space sector cleaner, safer and more competitive.

Europe’s space rules are currently fragmented, holding back innovation, reducing the European market share and creating extra costs. An EU harmonised framework would ensure safety, resilience, and environmental responsibility, while helping companies grow and scale up across borders.

The EU Space Act aims to cut red tape, protect space assets, and create a fair, predictable playing field for businesses. It is based on 3 pillars:

  • Safety: new rules for tracking space objects and limiting new debris, preserving Europe’s secure and uninterrupted access to space
  • Resilience: tailored cybersecurity requirements to strengthen the protection of European space infrastructure and ensure business continuity
  • Sustainability: operators will need to assess and reduce the environmental impact of their space activities, while benefiting from support for innovation in emerging technologies, like in-space servicing to extend satellite life and reduce debris.

The new rules would apply to both EU and non-EU operators offering services in Europe. Support will be offered to mitigate potential costs for the industry. 

Alongside the EU Space Act, the Commission has also presented a Vision for the European Space Economy to tackle the evolving global space economy and the challenges posed by international competition and geopolitical tensions. The legislative proposal will be negotiated in the European Parliament and the Council, as part of the ordinary legislative procedure. 

The space economy and the EU Space Act are a key priority for the Commission, as outlined in the Draghi and Letta reports, and more recently in the Competitiveness Compass and the Commission work programme for 2025. 

For more information:

Press release: EU Space Act

Factsheet: EU Space Act 

Factsheet: Vision for the European Space Economy  

EU competitiveness

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EU Space Act: enhancing market access and space safety

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EU Space Act: enhancing market access and space safety

 

The European Commission has proposed ambitious new measures to make Europe’s space sector cleaner, safer and more competitive.

Europe’s space rules are currently fragmented, holding back innovation, reducing the European market share and creating extra costs. An EU harmonised framework would ensure safety, resilience, and environmental responsibility, while helping companies grow and scale up across borders.

The EU Space Act aims to cut red tape, protect space assets, and create a fair, predictable playing field for businesses. It is based on 3 pillars:

  • Safety: new rules for tracking space objects and limiting new debris, preserving Europe’s secure and uninterrupted access to space
  • Resilience: tailored cybersecurity requirements to strengthen the protection of European space infrastructure and ensure business continuity
  • Sustainability: operators will need to assess and reduce the environmental impact of their space activities, while benefiting from support for innovation in emerging technologies, like in-space servicing to extend satellite life and reduce debris.

The new rules would apply to both EU and non-EU operators offering services in Europe. Support will be offered to mitigate potential costs for the industry. 

Alongside the EU Space Act, the Commission has also presented a Vision for the European Space Economy to tackle the evolving global space economy and the challenges posed by international competition and geopolitical tensions. The legislative proposal will be negotiated in the European Parliament and the Council, as part of the ordinary legislative procedure. 

The space economy and the EU Space Act are a key priority for the Commission, as outlined in the Draghi and Letta reports, and more recently in the Competitiveness Compass and the Commission work programme for 2025. 

For more information:

Press release: EU Space Act

Factsheet: EU Space Act 

Factsheet: Vision for the European Space Economy  

EU competitiveness

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Public consultation on the Innovation Fund

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Public consultation on the Innovation Fund

The Innovation Fund was established by the Emissions Trading System (ETS) Directive to support innovation in low or zero-carbon products, processes and technologies in the sectors covered by the Directive. The Fund obtains its resources from ETS allowance revenues.

This initiative will evaluate the operations of the Innovation Fund by 2025, as required by Article 24(1) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/856.

The Commission would like to hear your views.

This call for evidence is open for feedback. Your input will be taken into account as we further develop and fine-tune this initiative. Feedback received will be published on this site and therefore must adhere to the feedback rules.

The Commission uses Call for evidence to define the scope of:

  • a politically sensitive and/or important new law or policy
  • an evaluation of an existing law or policy
  • a fitness check of a bundle of related existing laws and/or policies

Have your say

Deadline to contribute: 8 July 2025.

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Council backs new monitoring framework to boost the sustainable management of forests

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Council backs new monitoring framework to boost the sustainable management of forests

Council agrees its position on a regulation establishing a high-quality forest monitoring framework aimed at improving the sustainable management of forests. Source link

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$ 1 to the education of a girl = $ 3 for the global economy: this is how development works

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Each dollar invested in girls’ education reports an average yield of $ 2.80, translating into billions of additional GDP. Likewise, each dollar spent on water and sanitation saves $ 4.30 in health costs.

Simple mathematics, not miracles

These are not miracles – these are measurable results. Mathematics do not recognize sex or infrastructure; It simply reflects the truth in number. And these figures make a convincing case: helping countries with the least resources benefit everyone, including those who have the most.

Even a single dollar, strategically invested, can make a profound difference.

For example, the allowance of only $ 1 per person per year to combat non -transmitted diseases could prevent nearly seven million deaths by 2030. Likewise, each dollar spent on disaster risk reduction can save up to $ 15 in recovery costs.

However, despite such convincing evidence, development aid is often poorly understood – considered by some as a simple charity and by others as a profit vehicle.

Equity, no charity

The latest United Nations Development Program Report on Afghan Entrepreneurs defies skeptics.

This underlines that these women do not seek charity – they require an equitable chance of succeeding. Winning their own income gives them an independence measure, which in turn strengthens the communities in which they live.

Against all expectations, they generate income, create jobs and build more enriching and more enriching lives.

Expand access to public and private financing, guarantee loans, offer preferential conditions on international markets and strengthen support networks can fuel business growth and promote a more prosperous future – whether in Afghanistan Or EcuadorOr anywhere between the two.

FFD4 faces solid -contrary winds

These examples – from education and health to entrepreneurship and resilience to disasters – paint a clear story and data: intelligent investments in development pay dividends for everyone.

This message should be at the center of next time Fourth United Nations Conference on Development Financing which will be held in the Spanish city of Seville, from June 30 to July 3. But the summit, known by its clumsy acronym FFD4, faces opposite winds.

Even if the merchanting countries at the UN headquarters in New York agreed a week ago on a radical result document – which should be adopted at the end of the conference and intended to guide the future of global development aid – some nations are retreating.

In particular, the United States has announced that it would not send delegation at all in Seville.

And even if there are notable exceptions, including Spain, which has increased its budgetary development funding allowances by 12%, the upcoming uncertain landscape has led the UN secretary general Antono Guterres to be deplored that “global collaboration is actively questioned”.

This interrogation is reflected in the annual deficit of $ 4 billions of development in development, as well as in abandoning previous commitments and the delivery of aid by donors to what the Secretary General called “a historic speed and scale”.

In addition, the Sustainable development objectivesSigned by all world leaders only 10 years ago, are far from the track.

What is at stake in Seville?

Success in Seville “will demand that other countries Fill the vacuum cleaner in world leadership And demonstrate a credible commitment to multilateral cooperation, which is essential to our survival, “said Jayati Ghosh, professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

The significant steps must include deep reforms of the international financial system. As it stands, it does not meet the needs of developing countries while firmly protecting the interests of richer nations.

Consider this: developing countries face interest rates at least twice as high as those paid by developed nations. And today, the average rates billed by private creditors at these countries have reached their highest levels in 15 years.

What help gives, debt removes

Developing countries spent a record of $ 1.4 billion in external debt service in 2023, the highest in 20 years.

At the same time, in 2024, more than 1.1 billion people live in developing countries where the external debt service represents more than 20% of government revenues, and almost 2.2 billion live in developing countries where the percentage is greater than 10%.

Payment of interest on this debt hinders development by preventing investments in health and education infrastructure services, to name only two examples.

The restructuring of the debt is therefore essential, because a large part of the hope of development is lost in the context and taking aid and debt.

Promote investments in what works

Eradicating hunger, advancing gender equality, protecting the environment, facing climate change and saving our oceans are not radical ideas.

Despite the affirmations of certain highly ideological points of view according to which the sustainable development objectives represent an extremist program, they are, in fact, a shared reference base – an urgent set of priorities that humanity requires and that the leaders of 193 countries were committed in 2015.

Despite the noise made by those who oppose development and multilateralism, they are a minority, explains the Spanish Secretary of State for International Cooperation.

Ana Granados Galindo considers Seville as “a world solidarity lighthouse”.

Meanwhile, while the world is preparing for FFD4, mathematics, statistics and Afghan women continue to work on their “development magic” of common sense.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

‘Still reeling’: Myanmar quakes worsen humanitarian crisis in fractured country

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‘Still reeling’: Myanmar quakes worsen humanitarian crisis in fractured country

The 28 March quake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, struck central regions with deadly force, killing some 3,800 people and injuring over 5,000, according to UN estimates.

The disaster devastated infrastructure and homes across Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway, displacing tens of thousands more in a country already grappling with over 3.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) since the 2021 military coup.

Communities are still reeling from the earthquakes – the strongest the country has experienced in a century,” said Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), speaking to journalists at the UN Headquarters in New York via video from Beijing after a three-day visit to Myanmar.

The devastation caused by the quakes compounded the existing challenges of conflict, displacement and severe humanitarian needs.

Needs outpace resources

UNOPS, which maintains the largest UN presence in Myanmar with nearly 500 staff, mobilized $25 million within weeks of the disaster and has reached half a million people with lifesaving support.

“My colleagues worked swiftly with partners to deliver emergency shelters, clean water, and deploy infrastructure specialists for rapid assessments,” Mr. da Silva said.

However, he warned that far greater international support is needed to meet the scale of needs.

The World Bank estimates total damages at nearly $11 billion, with full reconstruction expected to cost two to three times more. Over 2.5 million tonnes of debris must also be cleared to enable recovery.

Mr. da Silva emphasized that reconstruction must be people-centred, inclusive, and linked to peacebuilding efforts.

“We echo calls from across the UN for an end to violence,” he said. “Recovery and reconstruction should support Myanmar’s journey to peace and reconciliation. Protection of civilians must be a priority.

Women and girls face disproportionate risks

The humanitarian fallout has hit women and girls particularly hard – many of whom were among those killed or injured – and now face growing protection risks.

According to the UN reproductive health agency, UNFPA, more than 4.6 million women of reproductive age – including over 220,000 currently pregnant – are at heightened risk.

Damage to health facilities, worsened by monsoon flooding and insecurity, has disrupted access to emergency obstetric care and menstrual hygiene. Gender-based violence meanwhile, is rising sharply in overcrowded, poorly lit shelters.

UNOPS Executive Director Jorge Moreira da Silva meets with a woman and her newborn child at a health clinic.

Health system under pressure

The risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and vector-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria is also rising.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) while no major outbreaks had been reported as of 31 May, cases of acute watery diarrhoea and skin infections are ticking up.

Monsoon rains have worsened conditions in temporary shelters, where overcrowding and poor sanitation raise serious health concerns. Mental health remains fragile, with 67 per cent of respondents in a recent survey reporting emotional distress linked to the quake and ongoing conflict.

WHO and its partners have delivered more than 300,000 vaccine doses – including tetanus and rabies – but access remains limited, and health services underfunded.

Protracted crisis

More than 3.25 million people remain displaced within Myanmar since the military coup of February 2021, with at least another 176,000 seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, according to refugee agency, UNHCR.

This excludes the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees from earlier waves of violence.

Myanmar also remains one of the world’s deadliest countries for landmines and explosive remnants of war.

In the first nine months of 2024 alone, 889 casualties were reported – raising fears the toll could surpass the record 1,052 deaths and injuries documented in 2023.

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Council backs new monitoring framework to boost the sustainable management of forests

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Council backs new monitoring framework to boost the sustainable management of forests

Council agrees its position on a regulation establishing a high-quality forest monitoring framework aimed at improving the sustainable management of forests.

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