G77 Ministerial Meeting to Stress South-South Cooperation

When the 40th annual ministerial meeting of the Group of 77 takes place on September 23, one of the underlying themes will be the importance of South-South cooperation in the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Chatterjee, new Resident Coordinator, to lead 25 UN agencies in East Africa

Siddharth Chatterjee, the Representative of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in Kenya, has been appointed UN Resident Coordinator, where he will lead and coordinate 25 UN agencies in East Africa. At the same time, he will also serve as the Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

Q&A: Representing Developing Countries at the United Nations in New York

IPS spoke with the Virachai Plasai, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United Nations and Chair of the Group of 77 about what it’s like to represent 134 developing countries, including China, at UN meetings in New York. Plasai spoke about some of the group’s priorities for 2016, including the selection of the ninth UN Secretary-General, the 2030 Development Agenda, including the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and the implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

UN Trade and Development Conference a “Big Win” for Multilateralism

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) concluded its five-day meeting in Nairobi on a positive note—the launch of a new e-trade initiative and a multi-donor trust fund on trade and productive capacity.

African Leaders Driving Push for Industrialisation: UN Official

Industrialisation in Africa is being driven by African leaders who realise that industries as diverse as horticulture and leather production can help add value to the primary resources they currently export.

Beyond Rhetoric: UN Member States Start Work on Global Goals

UN member states “are going beyond rhetoric and earnestly working to achieve real progress” towards the Sustainable Goals, the members of the Group of 77 and China said in a ministerial statement delivered here on 18 July.

Water Security Critical for World Fastest-Growing Economy

Lack of water management and limited access to data risk hindering Myanmar’s economic growth, making water security a top priority of the new government.

Haider Rizvi: a Rebel Who Battled Many Causes

Haider Rizvi, who spent nearly 20 years as a reporter for IPS covering the United Nations, died October 29 in Lahore, Pakistan, his home country.

Africa Week Focuses on Challenges Facing the Continent

The United Nations will be commemorating Africa Week (October 12-16), beginning Monday when strategic international partners will gather in New York to support an ambitious plan aimed at a brighter future for the African continent.

U.N. Rejects Bribery as “Business-as-Usual” in World Body

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was shocked and deeply troubled to learn of the allegations against Ambassador John Ashe of Antigua and Barbuda, a former President of the General Assembly.

G77 Ministers Call for UN Agency for South-South Cooperation

The 134-member Group of 77, the largest single coalition of developing countries at the United Nations, has reaffirmed the overarching objective of eradicating poverty, “which remains the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.”

Religious Leaders, Legislators in Nuclear Abolition Call

Leaders of major religious faiths and interfaith networks, joined forces with parliamentarians and mayors, to call on world leaders to “commit to nuclear abolition and to replace nuclear deterrence with shared security approaches to conflicts.”

Press Freedom in Europe in Peril, Says CPJ

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), in a new study released here, says press freedom in Europe is in peril and the European Union has a moral imperative to defend this right and hold its member states accountable.

Five Environmental Leaders Receive Champions of Earth Award

Five “inspirational environmental leaders” have received the UN’s highest environmental accolade, the “Champions of the Earth Award”, at a ceremony Sunday marking the close of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) summit.

A $25 Billion Pledge to End Preventable Deaths by 2030

As the summit meeting on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) came to a close, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced over $25 billion in initial commitments, spanning five years, to help end preventable deaths of women, children and adolescents, and ensure their health and well-being.

“Protecting Cultural Heritage – an Imperative for Humanity”

Jordan and Italy are leading efforts to protect cultural heritage worldwide – and specifically in war-ravaged Middle East.

Flashflood Forecast System Launched in Bangladesh

A flash flood forecast system launched in Dhaka last week is expected to help about three million farmers in Bangladesh.

Human Rights Aren’t Wrong in Tough Times

In its annual report released Thursday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said governments make a big mistake when they ignore human rights to counter serious security challenges.

Five Journalists Killed As Gunmen Ambush Convoy in South Sudan

Reporting in war zones continued to prove hazardous once again as five journalists were killed on Sunday when unidentified gunmen ambushed an official convoy in South Sudan's Western Bahr al Ghazal state, according to news reports.

U.N. Emergency Fund Doles Out $100 Million for Aid Operations

The U.N. Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has earmarked about $100 million to boost life-saving relief work in Syria and 11 other countries where humanitarian needs are high but financial support is low.

2014 Worst on Record for Rhino Poaching in South Africa

Last year was the worst on record for rhino poaching in South Africa, with a total of 1,215 rhinos poached in 2014, an average of more than three animals per day or 100 per month.