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Amar Bendjama, Permanent Representative of Algeria to the UN, was elected on Thursday to serve as the next president of the UN\u2019s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\nAmar Bendjama, Permanent Representative of Algeria to the UN, was elected on Thursday to serve as the next president of the UN\u2019s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<\/p>\n
In a speech to Member States on Thursday, the veteran diplomat said his three priorities would be inclusivity, accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and renewing trust in multilateralism, including by prioritising \u201csubstance over procedural routine\u201d when it comes to the council\u2019s work.<\/p>\n
ECOSOC is the UN’s central platform for coordinating economic, social and environmental policy and for reviewing progress on the SDGs.<\/p>\n
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Mr. Bendjama also highlighted the fact that just 36 per cent of the goals with trend data are on track, emphasizing the need to accelerate progress towards 2030.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is time for complete and tangible results that advance our common agenda and leave no one and no country behind,\u201d Mr. Bendjama said. He will take office for a one-year term starting on 31 July.<\/p>\n
Outgoing President Lok Bahadur Thapa, Permanent Representative of Nepal, highlighted the \u201cindispensable\u201d role ECOSOC plays in addressing issues of poverty, health and education.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we stand together, when we listen to one another, when we honour the dignity of every nation and every person, we demonstrate what multilateralism can achieve,\u201d Mr. Thapa said.<\/p>\n
Mr. Thapa acknowledged the lack of progress on the Sustainable Development Goals while underscoring that the 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development\u2019s Ministerial Declaration, Sevilla Commitment and Financing for Development Forum outcome that consensus is still possible.<\/p>\n
The six candidates vying to succeed Ant\u00f3nio Guterres as UN Secretary-General next year will participate in a debate before the General Assembly on Thursday evening.<\/p>\n
As the UN faces criticisms over the effectiveness of the Security Council \u2013 alongside a self-admitted \u201cexistential liquidity crisis\u201d \u2013 the next Secretary-General will be tasked with restoring and strengthening Member States\u2019 confidence in the 81-year-old organisation.<\/p>\n
Member States nominated candidates between late 2025 and early 2026. Candidates then released their vision statements. The Security Council must unanimously agree on its preferred candidate, and the Assembly must approve its selection with a simple majority vote.<\/p>\n
Full details on the race can be <\/strong>found here<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Secretary-General position has historically rotated between the world\u2019s main regions. This year, the unwritten tradition would favor candidates from Latin America and the Caribbean.<\/p>\n The Assembly debate entitled UN Town Hall: The Next Secretary-General will take place on Thursday at 5 p.m. New York time. Candidates will answer randomly selected questions from Member States and civil society organisations.<\/p>\n The event will be broadcast live on UN Web TV.<\/p>\n Watch the debate <\/strong>here<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Tweet URL <\/p>\n The UN\u2019s human rights office (OHCHR) has condemned the reported torture and killing of dozens of surrendering Malian soldiers in the Gao region on Saturday.<\/p>\n Armed militants with the Touareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and the Jama\u2019at Nusrat Al-Islam Wal-Muslimin (JNIM) allegedly fired at the Malian soldiers after they surrendered, which would be a war crime under international law.<\/p>\n \u201cThe armed groups must stop such violations and prevent any recurrence,\u201d an OHCHR spokesperson wrote in a statement. \u201cAccountability must be achieved, and those responsible must be brought to justice within fair trials. Remedy must be provided to victims and their families.\u201d<\/p>\n On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump is considering military action against the JNIM, a powerful regional militant group affiliated with al-Qaeda.<\/p>\n Multiple armed groups have clashed with Mali\u2019s various military juntas and civilian governments since 2012, creating a humanitarian crisis with about 400,000 Malians internally displaced.<\/p>\n The UN\u2019s World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday announced seven new strategies to help policymakers improve safety around water to prevent drowning.<\/p>\n The strategies, under the acronym PROTECT, range from \u201cphysical infrastructure that promotes safe interaction with water\u201d to \u201cthreat preparedness for floods and other multi\u2011hazard emergencies.\u201d<\/p>\n Nearly 300,000 people die from drowning each year worldwide, and drowning remains among the ten leading causes of death among children aged 5 to 14 years, according to the WHO.<\/p>\n Drowning also disproportionately impacts developing countries, and climate change is accelerating risks due to extreme weather events.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery drowning is a tragedy, and most are preventable,\u201d said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.<\/p>\n The WHO launched the strategies in Ghana to recognise the country\u2019s growing political commitment to drowning prevention and its ongoing efforts to strengthen water safety.<\/p>\n An average of three people die from drowning every day in Ghana. In response, the Government launched a national lifeguarding initiative in April to train additional lifeguards.<\/p>\n \u201cDrowning prevention isn’t the job of one ministry; it belongs to everyone, and the lives it saves are the reward,\u201d Tedros said.<\/p>\nUN deplores alleged torture in Mali<\/strong><\/h2>\n
WHO works to prevent drowning<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Ghana leads the way<\/strong><\/h3>\n