Human Rights Day - Intl residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals Briefing | United Nations

Briefing by Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, President of the IRMCT, on International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.


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Ukraine: OSCE helped register missing children — Briefing | United Nations

“Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is the largest and longest war in Europe since the Second World War,” Elina Valtonen, Finland’s foreign minister and current OSCE Chairperson-in-Office told the UN Security Council. She said Moscow is violating the UN Charter and “each of the ten Helsinki principles,” adding that assistance to Ukraine and work on accountability have been central to her tenure. “I call on all to support Ukraine in achieving a just and lasting peace – as soon as possible.” Valtonen said the way the conflict concludes will shape regional and global stability, as well as expectations regarding adherence to international law by a permanent Security Council member. She outlined steps the OSCE has taken on accountability, including support for documenting the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children. “Through the OSCE Support Program for Ukraine, we have helped register missing children and support their rehabilitation,” she said. Valtonen also underscored the importance of existing security commitments. “There is no need to re-invent the European security order,” she said.


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Afghanistan: People experience systematic infringements into their lives - Briefing | United Nations

Georgette Gagnon, UN Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, said that the de facto authorities “continue to miss or reject opportunities to engage multilaterally with the international community, risking disengagement particularly from donor countries that are frustrated with Afghanistan’s refusal to seriously address their concerns.” Addressing the Security Council, Gagnon said, “Afghans—women and men—continue to experience systematic infringements into their daily lives through the enforcement of the de facto authorities’ law on the propagation of virtue and prevention of vice.” She also said, “Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan over the presence and activities of the TTP are rising, with deadly cross-border exchanges of fire and airstrikes resulting in civilian casualties. The tensions have led to the closing of key border posts between Afghanistan and Pakistan for the past two months, with economic consequences for Afghanistan and Pakistan and people on both sides.”


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Ukraine: 2025 has been one of the deadliest years - DPPA Briefing | United Nations

Speaking at a Council meeting on Ukraine, the UN senior political affair official Kayoko Gotoh reiterated, “attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, are prohibited under international law.” Gotoh noted to the Council that the United Nations has repeatedly warned against any action that could further escalate or expand this devastating war, now well in its fourth year. Following repeated alleged violations of airspace of several European countries, she said the world body is following with concern the recent reported incidents involving shipping and port infrastructure in the Black Sea. Applying the same concern over nuclear safety, the UN political affairs official reiterated, “Any military actions endangering the safety and security of nuclear plants are unconscionable, irresponsible and must immediately cease.” She also highlighted, “We remain deeply concerned about systematic violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the areas of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation, as reported by OHCHR.” “These violations undermine the principles of international humanitarian law set to safeguard human dignity and the protection of civilians,” Gotoh added. She said, “We recall the international obligations with regards to treatment of prisoners of war, including related to access to information regarding their places of detention.”


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Joint statement on Human Rights Day - Security Council Media Stakeout | United Nations

Joint statement delivered by Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, with Representatives of over 45 member states, on Human Rights Day.


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Ukraine: “Heaven and Hell”, with Matthias Schmale | UN ‘Awake at Night’ podcast teaser

A life-long humanitarian, Matthias Schmale has borne witness to a number of seismic moments in world history. Currently United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, he is overseeing efforts to help Ukrainians prepare for a fourth winter at war. “The longer this lasts, the more the resilience will go down, the more the psychological damage will take hold [...] There are nights where I lie in bed thinking, why can't this nightmare for civilians end?” Ukrainians have endured four years of hellish conflict that continues to devastate civilian lives and infrastructure, leaving 36 percent of the population in need of aid. In this episode, Matthias Schmale looks back on a long career of humanitarian service, reflects on the deep scars of war and explains why daily life in Kyiv can be both heaven and hell.


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CERF's Race Against Time to Save Lives

As UN Secretary-General highlights, when disaster strikes, speed saves lives. From Ukraine to Bangladesh, Gaza to Sudan, CERF’s rapid funding helps deliver life-saving support within minutes or hours — often before any other aid can arrive. This year, CERF has reached some of the world’s most underfunded emergencies and helped communities prepare for climate-driven storms and floods. Fast. Flexible. Fair. This is CERF in action.


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Yemen, Central Emergency Response Fund, Sudan & other topics - Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: Secretary-General Statement/Yemen Yemen Trip Announcement Central Emergency Response Fund Security Council/Ukraine Sudan South Sudan Occupied Palestinian Territory Lebanon/Israel Sustainable Transport Youth Peace and Security International Days Financial Contribution SECRETARY-GENERAL STATEMENT/YEMEN The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the continued arbitrary detention of 59 United Nations personnel, in addition to dozens of NGO, civil society, and diplomatic mission personnel. He condemns the referral by the Houthi de facto authorities of United Nations personnel to their special criminal court. The UN personnel have been held incommunicado, some for years, without any due process, in violation of international law. United Nations personnel, including those who are nationals of Yemen, are immune from legal process in respect of all acts performed by them in their official capacity. We call on the de facto authorities to rescind the referral and work in good faith toward the immediate release of all detained personnel of the UN, NGOs and diplomatic community. The United Nations remains committed to supporting the people of Yemen and delivering principled humanitarian assistance. YEMEN Following recent developments in Hadramout and Al-Mahra in the eastern region of Yemen, the UN Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, today highlighted the need for all actors to exercise restraint and de-escalate through dialogue. This came during meetings he held in Riyadh with the Yemeni Foreign Minister Shaya Zindani, the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber, the UAE Ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al-Zaabi. He also met with representatives of the permanent five members of the Security Council in Saudi Arabia and other diplomats. He noted that the eastern region of Yemen is a vital area, both politically and economically and underscored the need to preserve the space where Yemeni parties can discuss in support of stability and in the interest of Yemeni people. Grundberg reaffirmed his continued engagement with Yemeni, regional, and international actors to support de-escalation and advance prospects for a negotiated political settlement to the conflict in Yemen. TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT Later today, the Secretary-General will be leaving New York for travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Oman. He will arrive in Riyadh on Wednesday, 10 December. There he will hold bilateral meetings with the Saudi leadership, including His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to discuss a number of pressing regional issues. From Saudi Arabia, the Secretary-General will travel to Iraq on 13 December to mark the closure of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). Mr. Guterres will express gratitude to the Mission’s staff members and to the government and people of Iraq for hosting UNAMI for 22 years. While in Baghdad, he will have bilateral meetings with the leaders of the government of Iraq, including with the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. The Secretary-General will return to Riyadh to participate in the 11th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations taking place on 14 and 15 December. The Forum, convened under the theme “Two decades of dialogue for humanity: Advancing a new era of mutual respect and understanding in a multipolar world,” marks the twentieth anniversary of the Alliance of Civilizations. Prior to leaving the region, the Secretary-General is also scheduled to visit Muscat. There he will meet the Sultan of Oman, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, on 15 December to discuss regional issues, including the situation in Yemen. Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2025-12-09


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Alina Habba RESIGNED from her unlawful position as US Attorney

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Darfur Mother's Survival: Courage Amidst Brutality

A UN official recounts a mother’s extraordinary journey to safety in Darfur — a story of survival through unimaginable violence, and of the courage that carried her as she fought to save a malnourished infant she found in the chaos. Her determination, and the solidarity of those who helped her along the way, reminds us why humanity must never look away.


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Human Rights Council explainer series - Afghanistan

Four powerful 90-second films featuring civil society representatives to highlight the value of the Council in taking action to defend the rights of women (Afghanistan), investigate abuses against minorities (Myanmar), protecting young people and on the issue of climate change. Produced in partnership with the European Union


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