J. Gordon-Levitt, UN’s first Global Advocate for Human-centric Digital Governance | United Nations

The United Nations is pleased to welcome actor and filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the UN’s first Global Advocate for Human-centric Digital Governance. In this role, Mr. Gordon-Levitt will collaborate with the UN to help shape a digital future that is inclusive, innovative and human-centred. He will bring his creativity, perspective and influence to the UN Internet Governance Forum, amplifying the UN’s commitment to human rights and accountability in the digital age. From online safety to access and opportunity, his advocacy will help ensure that the human impact of technology on everyday life is never overlooked.


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Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the #UN’s first Global Advocate for Human-centric Digital Governance

The United Nations is pleased to welcome actor and filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the UN’s first Global Advocate for Human-centric Digital Governance. In this role, Mr. Gordon-Levitt will collaborate with the UN to help shape a digital future that is inclusive, innovative and human-centred. He will bring his creativity, perspective and influence to the UN Internet Governance Forum, amplifying the UN’s commitment to human rights and accountability in the digital age. From online safety to access and opportunity, his advocacy will help ensure that the human impact of technology on everyday life is never overlooked.


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Islamophobia: Call to eradicate anti-Muslim hatred and bigotry - UN Chief | United Nations

At an event commemorating the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, the Secretary-General urged a renewed commitment to “the equality, human rights, and dignity of every person, everywhere,” calling for actions to eradicate the rising tide of anti-Muslim hatred and bigotry. The International Day to Combat Islamophobia is observed annually on March 15. Speaking at the event in New York, Guterres cautioned a rising tide of anti-Muslim bigotry and hate. He said the bias can be overt: institutional discrimination, socio economic marginalization, sweeping immigration restrictions, and unwarranted surveillance and profiling. And the bias can also be subtle, in opportunities quietly denied, assumptions left unchallenged +, questions weighted down by suspicion. The UN chief said, “these realities are driven – and dangerously amplified – by anti‑Muslim rhetoric, misinformation, and outright hate,” adding “when discriminatory narratives are echoed by those in positions of authority, prejudice becomes normalized. When stereotypes are left unchallenged, they harden into policy. And when fear is allowed to guide decision-making, injustice follows.” “Online and offline, toxic narratives portray entire communities through the lens of hostility and blame,” Guterres highlighted, adding that the consequences are painfully real: “Harassment and intimidation. Vandalism and threats. Attacks on individuals and on mosques.” He continued, “this is an assault on Muslims – and it is an assault on the values that underpin peaceful, inclusive societies everywhere.” The Secretary-General reiterated, “governments have a clear responsibility. Laws and policies must safeguard equality, not entrench prejudice. Security measures must protect people and respect human rights, not stigmatize entire communities. Technology companies have a responsibility. Online spaces should bring people together, not drive them apart. They must do far more to identify, prevent, and address hate speech and harassment. “ “And all of us have a responsibility,” he added, “we must speak out – clearly and consistently – against bigotry, xenophobia, and discrimination wherever they appear.” “Silence in the face of hatred only allows it to spread. Real change requires sustained political will, inclusive leadership, and a commitment to listen to all voices across diverse communities,” the UN chief said. Guterres also said, “as Ramadan draws to a close, Muslims around the world reaffirm values that also form the foundation of the UN Charter: empathy for the vulnerable, generosity toward neighbors, and responsibility toward the wider community.” He continued, “these universal principles must guide our global response to hatred and division.” On this International Day to Combat Islamophobia, the Secretary-General said, “let us recommit to the equality, human rights, and dignity of every person, everywhere. Let us reject the narratives of fear and exclusion. And let us work together to eradicate the rising tide of anti-Muslim hatred and bigotry, and build a world rooted in respect, inclusion, justice, and peace.”


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Haiti: Human Rights Crisis - Press Conference | United Nations

“I am alarmed by the ongoing human rights crisis that creates massive suffering for the Haitian people,” a UN human rights independent expert said after a ten-day visit to Haiti. Briefing reporters in New York today (16 Mar), William O'Neill, a UN human rights independent expert on Haiti, said gang violence has forced at least 1.4 million people from their homes, describing it as an unprecedented level of internal displacement. He said some territory had been recovered from gang control and that police were more visible and motivated. Political leadership, he added, appeared more unified. But he said those gains were offset by conditions on the ground that remained dire. “In camps and makeshift settlements people struggle every day simply to survive,” O'Neill said. “Sexual violence is rife in these sites.” He said displaced families frequently lack access to healthcare, clean water, sanitation, food, schools and adequate shelter. O'Neill said thousands more remain trapped in gang-held areas or near shifting front lines. Young people in those communities face compounding dangers, he said, threatened by gangs and at the same time suspected by security forces and others in the population simply because of where they live. “This places them in an impossible situation,” he said, “caught between violence and suspicion.” On youth recruitment, O'Neill said Haiti urgently needs rehabilitation and reintegration programs for children associated with gangs. He said he was encouraged by the prime minister's commitment to programs targeting young gang members but called for broader action. “Haiti must also invest urgently in violence reduction and prevention, particularly for young people,” he said, adding that many children and adolescents “have been recruited or coerced by gangs that are growing up in communities where violence has become part of daily life.” O'Neill also said he visited prisons in Cap-Haïtien and Port-au-Prince and described conditions there as unacceptable. Adults and children, as well as women and men, were held together in overcrowded, unsanitary facilities. “The conditions I observed were inhuman and degrading,” he said, calling the situation a reflection of "deeper structural failures within the justice and detention systems.” He said he remains “deeply concerned about corruption, impunity and the weakness of accountability mechanisms” across the country. Independent experts are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on specific country situations or thematic issues. They serve in an unpaid, personal capacity and their findings and views do not represent the UN or its member states.


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Trump & Iran #lastweektonight

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This episode features: Trump & Iran #lastweektonight

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Israel on the Middle East - Security Council Stakeout | United Nations

Remarks by Ambassador Danny Danon, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, on the situation in the Middle East.


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J.D. Vance: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

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This episode features: J.D. Vance: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

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S13 E05: Iran & J.D. Vance: 3/15/26: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

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This episode features: S13 E05: Iran & J.D. Vance: 3/15/26: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

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Unprecedented hunger: Twin famines in Gaza and Sudan - SDG Media Zone | United Nations

For the first time famine has been confirmed in two different parts of the world at the same time - the first ever famine in the Middle East, in Gaza, and in Sudan, where famine has persisted for over a year amid the largest hunger and displacement crisis on the planet. In this session panelists will discuss how experts determine when a famine is taking place, and what urgent actions are now needed from world leaders to save lives in Gaza and Sudan. Speakers: Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commission-General Carl Skau, WFP Deputy Executive Director Edem Wosornu, OCHA Director Operations and Advocacy Moderator: Ian Philips, Director, News and Media Division, UN Department of Global Communications SDG Media Zone website: https://www.un.org/en/sdgmediazone


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World Meditation Day 2025: Healing the World from Within | United Nations

A special event hosted by the UN Goals Lounge in collaboration with the Chaka Khan Foundation marking a shared commitment to global well-being and mental health. The Foundation uplifts overlooked communities through wellness, education and creative expression. Together, the UN and the Chaka Khan Foundation will honor the power of stillness and its connection to global well-being and will feature music, guided meditation and inspiring reflections from cultural and spiritual leaders. In a time of global challenges—from armed conflicts and climate crises to rapid technological change—meditation offers a powerful pathway to cultivate peace, unity, and compassion. The United Nations World Meditation Day serves as a timely reminder of the importance of nurturing human consciousness to address these pressing issues and foster harmony within ourselves and our communities. By cultivating inner peace, individuals contribute to building a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable world for current and future generations. To raise awareness about meditation and its benefits, the General Assembly proclaimed 21 December as World Meditation Day, recalling the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Additionally, the General Assembly acknowledged the link between yoga and meditation as complementary approaches to health and well-being. Speakers: Chaka Khan: Award-winning artist and co-founder Chaka Khan Foundation Gayle King [Moderator]: Award-winning journalist and co-host of CBS Mornings Melissa Fleming: United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Michael Beckwith: Founder and spiritual director of the Agape International Spiritual Center Annemarie Hou: Executive Director, UN Office for Partnerships Performers: Michael Beckwith: Founder and spiritual director of the Agape International Spiritual Center Sara Auster: Sound Therapist Call to action/announcement: Join the UN in making stillness a statement Meditate Share Inspire Let’s build a healthier world—from the inside out. What can be mobilized from session? Global Awareness & Engagement: Inspire individuals and communities worldwide to embrace meditation as a tool for well-being, aligned with SDG 3. Partnership & Collaboration: Activate networks across wellness, music, and social impact sectors to support ongoing healing initiatives.


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UN chief launches humanitarian appeal from war-torn #lebanon

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is in Beirut on a solidarity visit, stressing that words must be matched by action. Amid escalating conflict in the Middle East Mr. Guterres launched a Flash Humanitarian Appeal for US$308.3 million to provide crucial humanitarian aid to support the people of Lebanon. This emergency funding will cover essential needs like food and clean water for the next three months, highlighting the urgent situation in the middle east.


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