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20250621
Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict - Press Conference | United Nations
Last year, 41,370 grave violations against children were documented and verified by the United Nations, according to the Secretary-General's annual report on children in armed conflict. Speaking to reporters today (20 Jun), Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba told reporters that the 41,370 verified incidents in 2024 – “is now the highest number of grave violations against children in armed conflict since the inception of the Children and Armed Conflict mandate almost 30 years ago.” The numbers cover the 25 country situations, and one regional monitoring arrangement included in the children and armed conflict report, she explained. “Wars and Armed conflict inflicted excruciating levels of violence on children. As conflicts rage across the globe, children around the world are being killed, maimed, starved, or raped,” Gamba said. She added, “It is as if parties to war and conflict, and we -the international community- choose to settle our disputes through military means at an enormous cost for our children, rather than choosing to negotiate peace for the benefit of all children.” The Special Representative stressed that behind the numbers of this year’s report are the shattered stories, dreams, and futures of 22,495 children, “each of them profoundly affected by war, displacement, and the collapse of protection systems that should have served as their shield. Gamba said, “Countries with the highest levels of violations in 2024 were Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, notably the Gaza Strip, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Somalia, Nigeria, and Haiti. Most grave violations showed an increase in 2024, including attacks on schools (44 percent), and rape and other forms of sexual violence (35 percent). “ The Special Representative expressed her “deep concern” at the continuous increase in verified incidents of sexual violence against children, as the numbers had already increased by 25 percent between 2022 and 2023. She said, “Data for some countries is particularly staggering. For instance, in 2024, for Haiti alone, over 550 children were victims of sexual violence, with over 70 per cent of cases involving gang rape. In Nigeria, over 400 children were subjected to sexual violence, including forced marriage. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations verified that over 350 girls were subjected to sexual violence including rape, gang rape and sexual slavery.” The Special Representative reiterated that children living amidst hostilities are being robbed of their childhood, adding that parties to conflict who, instead of recognizing the special protection afforded to children, are blatantly ignoring international law and show little to no political will. “The magnitude of the suffering of the children in Gaza defies and contravenes every human standard,” Gamba continued, stressing, “we cannot continue to stand by and watch with no action.” “There is no justification for depriving children of access to survival means such food, healthcare, and security,” calling Israel to “facilitate safe, rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief to civilians in need in the Gaza Strip.” The Special Representative added, “it is imperative that the armed groups inside Gaza prime humanitarian relief over their political aspirations, including through the immediate release of all Israeli hostages, alive or dead.” Gamba called on the international community to “recommit to the universal consensus to protect children from armed conflict, and on parties to conflict to immediately end their wars which are fought over the bodies of their own children.” “All parties to conflict must uphold the core principles of International Humanitarian Law that impose limits on the destruction and suffering caused by armed conflict: humanity, distinction, proportionality and necessity,” the Special Representative concluded. The report was published on Thursday (19 Jun) and will be presented in a meeting to the security Council next week.
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IAEA on Iran and Israel - Security Council briefing | United Nations
Statement to the Security Council by Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). --- Attacks on nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic of Iran have caused a sharp degradation in nuclear safety and security in Iran. Though they have not so far led to a radiological release affecting the public, there is a danger this could occur. The International Atomic Energy Agency has been monitoring closely the situation at Iran’s nuclear sites since Israel began its attacks a week ago. As part of its mission, the IAEA is the global nerve centre for information on nuclear and radiological safety, and we can respond to any nuclear or radiological emergency. Based on information available to the IAEA, the following is the current situation at Iran’s nuclear sites. The Natanz enrichment site contains two facilities. The first is the main Fuel Enrichment Plant. Initial attacks on the 13th of June targeted and destroyed electricity infrastructure at the facility, including an electrical sub-station, the main electric power supply building, and emergency power supply and back-up generators. On the same day, the main cascade hall appears to have been attacked using ground-penetrating munitions. The second facility at Natanz is the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. It consists of aboveground and underground cascade halls. On the 13th of June the above-ground part was functionally destroyed and the strikes on the underground cascade halls were seriously damaging. The level of radioactivity outside the Natanz site has remained unchanged and at normal levels, indicating no external radiological impact on the population or the environment. However, within the Natanz facility there is both radiological and chemical contamination. It is possible that Uranium isotopes contained in Uranium Hexafluoride, Uranyl Fluoride and Hydrogen Fluoride are dispersed inside the facility. The radiation, primarily consisting of alpha particles, poses a significant danger if inhaled or ingested. This risk can be effectively managed with appropriate protective measures, such as using respiratory devices. The main concern inside the facility is chemical toxicity. Fordow is Iran’s main enrichment location for enriching uranium to 60%. The Agency is not aware of any damage at Fordow at this time. At the Esfahan nuclear site, four buildings were damaged in last Friday’s attack: the central chemical laboratory, a uranium conversion plant, the Tehran reactor-fuel manufacturing plant, and the enriched uranium metal processing facility, which was under construction. No increase of off-site radiation levels was reported. As in Natanz, the main concern is chemical toxicity. The Khondab Heavy Water Research Reactor under construction in Arak, was hit on the 19th of June. As the reactor was not operational and did not contain any nuclear material, no radiological consequence is expected. The nearby Heavy Water Production Plant is also assessed to have been hit, and similarly no radiological consequence is expected. As stated in the IAEA’s update of the 18th of June, at the Tehran Research Center, one building, where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested, was hit. At the Karaj workshop, two buildings, where different centrifuge components were manufactured, were destroyed. There was no radiological impact, internally or externally. Let me now refer to the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. This is the nuclear site in Iran where the consequences of an attack could be most serious. It is an operating nuclear power plant and as such it hosts thousands of kilograms of nuclear material. Countries of the region have reached out directly to me to express their concerns, and I want to make it absolutely and completely clear: In case of an attack on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant a direct hit could result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment. Similarly, a hit that disabled the only two lines supplying electrical power to the plant could cause its reactor’s core to melt, which could result in a high release of radioactivity to the environment. In their worst-case, both scenarios would necessitate protective actions, such as evacuations and sheltering of the population or the need to take stable iodine, with the reach extending to distances from a few to several hundred kilometres. Radiation monitoring would need to cover distances of several hundred kilometres and food restrictions may need to be implemented. Any action against the Tehran Nuclear Research Reactor could have severe consequences, potentially for large areas of the city of Iran and its inhabitants. In such a case, protective actions would need to be taken. I will continue to provide public updates about the developments at all these sites and their possible health and environmental consequences. --- Full transcript of the statement: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1w/k1wefaw024
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Innovation Projects| Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) | United Nations
At the UN DPPA Innovation Cell, innovation goes beyond technology. We integrate design thinking, foresight, behavioral science, AI and digital tools to strengthen political analysis, dialogue, and decision-making in the field of peace and security. Celebrating World Creativity and Innovation Week in April 2025, the UN DPPA Innovation Cell presents a short film offering a glimpse into a different kind of innovation—one rooted in human-centered design, political insight, and creative problem-solving. In a world of growing complexity, the Cell brings together foresight, behavioral science, AI, and digital tools to support conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding. This video invites viewers into the Cell’s unique approach, where imagination, data, and diplomacy meet to shape more adaptive and inclusive responses to global challenges. Produced by the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UN DPPA)Innovation Cell. https://dppa.un.org/en/innovation https://futuringpeace.org/
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Iran/Israel: Alarming Risk of Expanded Conflict - Security Council Briefing | United Nations
Briefing by Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, on Threats to international peace and security. --- We meet as the scope and scale of attacks in Iran and Israel continue to widen, with grave consequences for civilians in both countries. In Iran, Israel claims to have targeted over 100 military sites and nuclear facilities, including the Kermanshah missile base, the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities, and the Khondab (former Araak) heavy water reactor. At the same time, government buildings, homes and residential neighborhoods, factories, hospitals, airports, and refineries have been struck in and around Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, Ahvaz, among other cities. The bombing on 17 June of Iran’s state-run television channel during a live broadcast marked a chilling moment. Residents of Tehran and other cities have received warnings to evacuate on more than one occasion. Iran has closed its airspace until further notice and has shut some border crossings. In Israel, residential neighborhoods and essential infrastructure have been hit throughout the country, notably in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Bat Yam, Dimona, Petah Tikva, and Eilat. Several civilian sites have been directly impacted by Iran’s airstrikes, including the Weizmann research institute in Rehovot, the Bazan petrochemical complex in Haifa, and yesterday, the Soroka Medical center in Beersheba. A state of national emergency remains in place, with severe restrictions on air travel. Several areas in the occupied West Bank have also been impacted, and checkpoints and road closures are impacting movement, particularly for Palestinians. Throughout the region, airspace remains severely constrained by these exchanges, not only within Iran and Israel, but also throughout Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and beyond. The intensifying cycle of attacks and counterattacks has resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties, including fatalities, in both Iran and Israel. According to Iran’s Ministry of Health, as of 19 June, 224 people had been killed and more than 2,500 others injured in Israeli strikes across Iran. The Health Ministry added that 90 per cent of the victims were civilians. Other estimates, based on local non-governmental organizations and human rights groups, suggest the death toll is at least double the official figure. In addition, there have been over 20 high-ranking Iranian military leaders killed, notably the Commander and Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, the IRGC Commander-in-Chief and IRGC Intelligence Chief, as well as several nuclear scientists. We have also received reports of significant displacement out of Tehran – a city of over 12 million residents – resulting in massive traffic jams. Fuel shortages are leading to long queues at petrol stations, sometimes for over five hours, further hampering movement. And still, many remain trapped in their homes in Tehran with nowhere to flee. In the absence of bomb shelters or air raid sirens in the city and widespread internet blackouts, further strikes are bound to harm more civilians. In Israel, the Office of the Prime Minister stated that, as of 19 June, Iran’s strikes have killed 24 people and injured 915 others, the vast majority civilians. The strikes have also damaged homes, leading to the displacement of Israelis. --- We are teetering on the edge of a full-blown conflict and a humanitarian crisis. International humanitarian law must be respected, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution in attack. Attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects, and indiscriminate attacks, are strictly prohibited. Medical personnel and medical facilities, including hospitals, must be respected and protected. We are witnessing in real time the impact of the conflict regionally, with missile launches by the Houthis in Yemen towards Israel, and heightened tensions involving armed groups in Iraq. With each passing day of fighting, the danger, particularly for civilians, grows. Interceptions and explosives falling short have been reported over Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria, sending debris into populated areas, sowing fear, and uncertainty. --- At the center of the ongoing conflict are concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. As the Secretary-General has consistently stated, the best way to address these concerns is through dialogue leading to a negotiated solution. Israel’s attacks on nuclear installations are alarming, as is the risk of an expanded conflict.
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20250620
Who said that? #starwars #startrek #doctorwho #geekculture
Produced by Council of Geeks
This episode features: Who said that? #starwars #startrek #doctorwho #geekculture
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This episode features: Who said that? #starwars #startrek #doctorwho #geekculture
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Peace & Security Data Hub | Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) | United Nations
Peace Security Data Hub is free public library of datasets on peace and security published by the United Nations to empower data consumers across the world. The Hub combines data created by the UN with other frequently used data sources on Peace and Security. The Peace and Security Data Hub was a direct outcome of the Secretary General’s Data Strategy, which calls for ensuring everyone, everywhere can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. The Peace and Security Data Hub is a free, public gateway to data on global peace and security, created to empower decision - makers, researchers, and citizens alike. Developed as part of the UN Secretary - General’s Data Strategy, the Hub brings together authoritative datasets from across the UN system and trusted external sources into one accessible platform. More than just a repository, it’s a step toward transparency, collaboration, and smarter action — helping everyone, everywhere discover, access, and use the data they need to better understand and respond to the world’s most pressing peace and security challenges. http://psdata.un.org Produced by the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UN DPPA), Innovation Cell. https://dppa.un.org/en/innovation https://futuringpeace.org/
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Yoga Day 2025 | United Nations
11th International Day of Yoga at the United Nations with the theme "Yoga for One Earth, One Health".
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20250619
Born into Conflict, Rising with Purpose: A Refugee’s Story of Triumph
Fleeing forced recruitment into violent gangs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, young Barthelemy Mwanza embarks on a perilous journey to Zimbabwe’s Tongogara Refugee Camp. Amid hardship and uncertainty, he finds purpose — launching a grassroots movement to empower fellow refugees through education, advocacy, and sport. Now resettled in the U.S., Barthelemy reflects on a journey not defined by loss, but by resilience, leadership, and the power of hope. AI animations created with HailuoAI – https:/ /hailuoai.com
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Lucasfilm VP accidentally shows how bad AI is
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