# United Nations
Last month
May 2023
# Age of Consent
Debunked: No, a UN report doesn't call to decriminalise sex 'between adults and children'
The document, which wasn’t written by the UN, argues that the same age of consent should apply regardless of gender or marital status.
# factcheck
Debunked: WEF hasn’t declared ‘water is not a human right’ or ordered governments to ration it
The World Economic Forum is a regular target of misinformation.
# Afghanistan
UN chief slams Taliban over 'unprecedented' curbs on Afghan women's rights
The Taliban government has firmly rejected criticism of the curbs on women.
This year
2023
# Port-au-Prince
At least 12 suspected gang members stoned and burned alive in Haiti
The UN has warned that insecurity in the Haitian capital has reached levels similar to countries at war.
# Taliban
United Nations ready for ‘heartbreaking’ decision to pull out of Afghanistan
The head of the UN Development Programme said it will pull out in May if it cannot persuade the Taliban to let local women work for the organisation.
# Security Council
EU to guard against any Russia abuse of UN presidency, foreign policy chief says
Ukraine has branded the presidency as “a slap in the face”.
Voices
Barry Andrews: Russia at the helm of the UN Security Council from today makes a mockery of it
The Irish MEP says Russia’s assumption of the Presidency for a month makes a laughing stock of a body that stands for peace.
# Matiullah Wesa
Founder of girls' education project in Afghanistan arrested by Taliban authorities in Kabul
The Taliban government last year barred girls from attending secondary school.
# Crimes Against Humanity
UN investigation finds migrants stuck in Libya are being tortured and forced into sex slavery
Nearly all the survivors interviewed did not lodge official complaints out of fear of reprisals, arrest, and extortion.
# Ukraine War
United Nations accuses both Russian and Ukrainian forces of 'summary executions' of prisoners
The head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said her organisation had recently recorded killings by both sides.
# Biodiversity
United Nations reach landmark agreement to protect ocean life
An agreement to protect marine life in the regions outside national boundary waters, known as the high seas, had been discussed for more than 20 years.
# Geneva
Tánaiste condemns Russian nuclear threats at UN conference
Micheál Martin made the comments at the the fifty-second session of the UN Human Rights Council and the 2023 Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
# Elizabeth coppin
'I could feel the blood draining from me': Magdalene survivor criticises 'frightening' UN decision
Elizabeth Coppin said survivors of institutional abuse are being left with nowhere to turn.
# Earthquake
Key updates: Aid convoy passes into rebel-held Syria opens as quake death toll now above 40,000
Hundreds of thousands of survivors have been left homeless.
# Elizabeth coppin
'I feel deflated, so low': Magdalene laundry survivor loses case at UN Committee Against Torture
Elizabeth Coppin argued that Ireland had violated her human rights under the Convention against Torture.
Elizabeth Coppin argued that Ireland had violated her human rights under the Convention against Torture, Órla Ryan reports
The UN Committee Against Torture has ruled in favour of the Irish State - a decision criticised by human rights experts
"I felt deflated, so low, and very sad, not just for me but for all of the Magdalene women who died in vain," Coppin said
# rights of the child
UN rights committee 'seriously concerned' over children in Ireland experiencing homelessness
The UN Rights of the Child Committee published observations on Ireland today.
THE MORNING LEAD
UN refugee agency says it is 'completely unpalatable' that asylum seekers are homeless in Ireland
The head of Ireland’s UNHCR office says the State can learn to accommodate current levels of asylum seekers.
# Defence Forces
Trooper Shane Kearney no longer in critical condition after Lebanon attack
Trooper Kearney suffered a head injury in the shooting that killed fellow soldier Private Sean Rooney on 14 December.
Last year
2022
# Peacekeeping
No immediate plans for Taoiseach to visit Lebanon following deadly attack on Irish peacekeepers
Leo Varadkar said that he hoped to fit in a visit “sometime next year”.
# Lebanon
Suspect arrested in relation to killing of Irish peacekeeper Sean Rooney
Private Sean Rooney, 23, was killed and three others injured when their vehicle was attacked
# South of the Litani
South Lebanon: Proxy conflicts and economic collapse make Irish patrol area 'powder keg'
Our reporter, Niall O’Connor, who recently visited south Lebanon takes a look at life below the Litani River.
# United Nations
Russian invasion of Ukraine and veto undermines UN Security Council, Coveney says
Coveney believes Ireland has had a “sustained and positive impact” during its two-year term on the council.
THE MORNING LEAD
Irish NGO fighting cholera in Haiti amid 'power vacuum' and civil unrest
Goal is the primary international non-governmental organisation in Port-au-Prince and in surrounding communities.
# ireland's triple-lock
Motion on Ireland remaining a militarily neutral state won't be opposed by Government
Taoiseach says scrapping the triple-lock is not in the Programme for Government.
# Human Rights
UN human rights council eyes investigation of Iran's crackdown on protests
Over 360 people, including 47 children, have been killed in the crackdown according to human rights groups
# one in eight billion
World population set to reach eight billion today
The UN attributes the growth to human development, with people living longer thanks to improvements in public health and medicine.
# Takeover
Twitter starts rolling out paid subscriptions as UN calls for human rights to be respected
Musk’s takeover of Twitter has caused controversy in recent days.
# Ukraine
G7 discuss winter aid package for Ukraine as grain shipments resume
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the G7 will help Ukraine with items including generators and heaters to survive the winter.
# Climate Change
Temperatures in Europe have increased by more than twice global average, report finds
The World Meteorological Organisation report said Europe is the fastest warming continent.
# Moscow
Moscow's delegates miss UN review of human rights in Russia
The meeting had already been postponed twice from its planned date in March
# Patricia O'Brien
Irish diplomat: Global supply and 'skyrocketing' fertiliser costs a key driver of world hunger
Ambassador Patricia O’Brien has been based in the Italian capital since December, 2021.
# United Nations
US asks UN Human Rights Council to debate rights abuses in China's Xinjiang region
A UN report on Xinjiang published last month cited possible crimes against humanity against Uyghur Muslims in the region.
# New York
Ireland would have to assess whether to take in fleeing Russians, says Taoiseach
Germany has indicated its willingness to accept Russian deserters.
# United Nations
Ireland 'deeply frustrated' at Security Council’s failure to act on Russia, Palestine and climate change
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney addressed the UN Security Council in New York earlier today.
# United Nations
Zelenskyy urges 'just punishment' against Russia in address to United Nations
World leaders are gathered in New York for the 77th UN General Assembly.
# UN General Assembly
Taoiseach's flight from Dublin to New York forced to return to Ireland due to a bird strike
The Taoiseach was able to catch a later flight to New York following the incident.
# New York
Key week for Ireland's term on UN Security Council during Ukraine-dominated General Assembly
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will also arrive in New York later today.
# Humanitarian
Coveney approves €2 million funding to UN for Palestinian refugees
It brings Ireland’s total contribution to the UN Relief and Works Agency in 2022 to €8 million.
# Taliban
Exclusion of Afghan girls from high schools ‘shameful’, says UN
Teenage girls are still barred from school and women are required to cover themselves from head to toe in public, with only their eyes showing.
# london-NYC
Taoiseach to travel to NY for UN events, but will timetable allow for Biden meeting this week?
The Taoiseach will deliver Ireland’s National Statement in the UN on Thursday.
