UN Insider

New UN Report Calls on African Countries to Rethink Export Diversification

By Jaya Ramachandran with UNCTAD Report

GENEVA (IDN) — African countries must diversify their exports to survive economic shocks from global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, says the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

In its Economic Development in Africa Report 2022, published on July 14, UNCTAD says African countries can diversify their economies through boosting exports of high-value services, expanding private businesses’ access to financial services, tapping into new financial technologies and implementing effective policies.

: Jaya Ramachandran; SUSTAINABILITY; Decent Work & Economic Growth; 16 July 2022

Image: Celeste Lucero, the WHONET-Argentina (WHONET-ARG) Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Surveillance Network's coordinator, is reading the results of susceptibility testing. Credit: WHO / Sarah Pabst

WHO Calls for Equitable and Global Access to Bacterial Medicines

By Jaya Ramachandran

GENEVA (IDN) — In the first-ever “analysis of bacterial vaccines in preclinical and clinical development: 2021”, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for “equitable and global access to the vaccines that already exist, especially among populations that need them most” because of limited resources at their disposal.

This report is part of the WHO efforts to inform sustainable investment in research and development of new medicines, diagnostic tools, and other interventions to control AMR (antimicrobial resistance).

: Jaya Ramachandran; SUSTAINABILITY; Health & Well Being; 14 July 2022

Image: Indian woman sifts grain. / Photo: World Bank (Ray Witlin)

'Asian Century' Won’t Come Until Global Governance Becomes More Inclusiv

Viewpoint by Dawei Wang, Economist, UNCTAD

This article was first issued by China Daily and republished by UNCTAD.

GENEVA (IDN) — Claims that the “Asian century” has arrived or is set to begin frequently appear in the media and public fora.

For example, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated during the 2018 Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank conference: “Now the continent finds itself at the centre of global economic activity…It has become the main growth engine of the world. In fact, we are now living through what many have termed the Asian century.”

: UN Bureau; UN INSIDER; 14 July 2022

Image: Moscow State Pedagogical University's three uniquely qualified and acclaimed educators have co-authored a unique publication “International Standards of Education: History lessons and modern times”. Source: WIKIDATA

A Unique Book on International Education and Origins of the UN and UNESCO

By Somar Wijayadasa*

NEW YORK (IDN) — The famous Russian publishing house “Etnosfera" has published an unparalleled publication,“ International Standards of Education: History lessons and modern times”.

The 200-page publication that has generated glowing reviews in diverse news media is co-authored by three uniquely qualified and acclaimed Moscow State Pedagogical University educators.

: Somar Wijayadasa; SUSTAINABILITY; Quality Education; 13 July 2022

Dark Clouds Over North Korea

Viewpoint by Herbert Wulf

This article was issued by the Toda Peace Institute and is being republished with their permission.

BONN (IDN) — In the shadow of the Ukraine war and far from international attention, three problematic developments can be observed in North Korea: COVID-19 infections are a cause for concern, the election of the South Korean president signals a hardening of the fronts and, encouraged by Russia's war in Ukraine, Kim Jong-un’s government continues to focus on the expansion of its nuclear capabilities. This gives rise to fears of nuclear proliferation in Asia.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 12 July 2022

Making Visible the Diverse Values of Nature

By Rita Joshi

BONN (IDN) — The way nature is valued in political and economic decisions is both a key driver of the global biodiversity crisis and a vital opportunity to address it, according to a four-year methodological assessment by 82 top scientists and experts from every region of the world.

: Rita Joshi; SUSTAINABILITY; Forests, desertification, land degradation & biodiversity; 12 July 2022

UN Actions Against Hate Speech

By Caroline Mwanga

NEW YORK (IDN) — “Fighting hate, discrimination, racism and inequality is at the core of United Nations principles and the Organization’s work. It is enshrined in our founding Charter, in the international human rights framework and in our collective efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” says United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

: Caroline Mwanga; SUSTAINABILITY; Quality Education; 12 July 2022

Rise in World Population Derails UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

By Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The UN’s 17 heavily-promoted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have long been undermined by the three-year-old Covid-19 pandemic and the devastation caused to the world economy by the after-effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

But now a third factor is threatening to derail the implementation of the SDGs: a projected rise in world population which is expected to reach 8 billion by November this year, according to the latest figures in a new UN report titled “World Population Prospects 2022” released July 11 by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

: Thalif Deen; UN INSIDER; 11 July 2022

Photo source: The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022

SDG Roadmap is the Way Forward in the Face of Global Crises

By Caroline Mwanga

NEW YORK (IDN) — The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022 of the United Nations says the climate crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and an increased number of conflicts around the world have placed the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in jeopardy.

The report, released on July 7, highlights the severity and magnitude of the challenges, with these cascading and intersecting crises creating spin-off impacts on food and nutrition, health, education, the environment, and peace and security, and affecting all the SDGs, the blueprint for more resilient, peaceful and equal societies.

: Caroline Mwanga; SUSTAINABILITY; Health & Well Being; 10 July 2022

Photo: Applause after adoption of the political declaration and action plan as 1MSPTPNW ended on June 23 in Vienna. Credit: United Nations Vienna.

Let’s Eliminate Nuclear Weapons, Before They Eliminate Us

By Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — When UN Secretary-General António Guterres congratulated States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) on the successful conclusion of their first meeting in Vienna, his warning was dead on target.

“Let’s eliminate these weapons before they eliminate us,” he said pointing out that nuclear weapons are a deadly reminder of countries’ inability to solve problems through dialogue and collaboration.