United Nations – Secretary General, Security Council, General Assembly  [to 28 November 2015]
http://www.un.org/en/unpress/
Selected Press Releases/Meetings Coverage

.
25 November 2015
SC/12136
Root Causes of Increasing Instability Must Be Addressed to Prevent Further Deterioration in Sahel, Special Envoy Tells Security Council
Citing accelerating terrorist attacks, spikes in displacement and increasingly grave humanitarian challenges, the top United Nations official for the Sahel told the Security Council today that the international community must address the root causes of such threats to prevent further deterioration in the region.

.
25 November 2015
SC/12138
Security Council Presidential Statement Expresses Outrage that Civilians Continue to Account for Vast Majority of Casualties in Armed Conflict Situations
The Security Council today expressed its intention to continue addressing the protection of civilians, both in country-specific considerations and as a thematic agenda item, outraged that they accounted for the vast majority of casualties in conflict situations, suffering forced displacement and destruction of property, among other impacts.

UN OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights [to 28 November 2015]
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/media.aspx?IsMediaPage=true
Selected Press Releases/Announcements

.
Modern slavery may be hidden in supply chains, but it can be rooted out – UN rights expert
11/27/2015
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery – Wednesday 2 December 2015
GENEVA (27 November 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, Urmila Bhoola, today called on States, businesses and civil society across the world to step up actions to eradicate modern slavery and other human rights violations from business supply chains.

Speaking ahead of the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, on Wednesday 2 December, Ms. Bhoola urged the international community to utilize social dialogue and create multi-stakeholder platforms as part of increased efforts to end these human rights violations.

“Slavery is often hidden, but we do know that contemporary forms of slavery such as forced labour and debt bondage are present in supply chains in numerous industries and sectors, including agriculture, garments and textiles manufacture, food processing and packaging. Modern slavery is particularly difficult to detect beyond the first tier of complicated supply chains of transnational businesses.

However, these forms of slavery can be rooted out through a multi-stakeholder and multi-faceted approach ensuring that all business operations and relationships are based on human rights, that those responsible for supply chain-related human rights violations are held accountable and that the victims are guaranteed the right to effective judicial and non-judicial remedy and appropriate and timely assistance aimed at empowering them.

My latest report* to the UN Human Rights Council focuses on the duty of States, the responsibility of businesses and the role of other stakeholders in preventing, mitigating and redressing contemporary forms of slavery in supply chains:

*Special Rapporteur’s report on the elimination of contemporary forms of slavery from supply chains (A/HRC/30/35): http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Slavery/SRSlavery/Pages/AnnualReports.aspx

SRSG/CAAC Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict [to 28 November 2015]
https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/virtual-library/press-release-archive/

.
27 Nov 2015
DR Congo: Statement by Leila Zerrougui on the Publication of Report on Recruitment of Girls by Armed Groups
The report “Invisible Survivors: Girls in Armed Groups in Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2009 to 2015”, published this week by the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) on the recruitment of girls by armed groups in the country highlights the violence girls are confronted with as well as the difficulty of providing them with adequate assistance.

UN OCHA [to 28 November 2015]
http://www.unocha.org/media-resources/press-releases
[We generally do not include OCHA Flash Updates on humanitarian crises in this digest]

.
27 Nov 2015
Somalia: Somalia: Flash Update 5 Humanitarian Impact of Heavy Rains | 27 November 2015

.
27 Nov 2015
Central African Republic: Central African Republic: Humanitarian Coordinator calls for more international support to humanitarian crisis as he welcomes Pope Francis’ visit to displacement sites

.
27 Nov 2015
Nigeria: Multi-faceted support urgent in north-east Nigeria to address complex crisis in Lake Chad basin

.
24 Nov 2015
Yemen: Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien – Statement on Yemen [EN/AR]
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Yemen
I am deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian situation for people living in the central Yemeni city of Taizz. Since September fighting has intensified there, and some 200,000 vulnerable civilians are living under a virtual state of siege, in dire need of drinking water, food, medical treatment, and other life-saving assistance and protection. Civilian neighbourhoods, medical facilities and other premises…

UNICEF [to 28 November 2015]
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_78364.html
Selected press releases

.
UNICEF Advocate Ishmael Beah witnesses impact of conflict on children in South Sudan
JUBA, South Sudan/NAIROBI, Kenya/GENEVA/NEW YORK, 27 November 2015 – Continued violence and the impact of brutal fighting has taken an increasingly heavy toll on the lives of children in South Sudan, Ishmael Beah said today, as the UNICEF Advocate for Children Affected by War wrapped up a one week visit to the country.

.
More than 1 million children in urgent need of assistance after three years of fighting in Central African Republic
BANGUI, Central Africa Republic, 27 November 2015 – An estimated 1.2 million children are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance nearly three years after conflict erupted in the Central African Republic.

.
Adolescent deaths from AIDS tripled since 2000 – UNICEF
JOHANNESBURG/NEW YORK, 27 November 2015 – The number of adolescent deaths from AIDS has tripled over the last 15 years, according to new data released today by UNICEF.

.
Child brides in Africa could more than double to 310 million by 2050 – UNICEF
NEW YORK/LUSAKA, Zambia, 26 November 2015 – If current levels persist, the total number of child brides in Africa will rise from 125 million to 310 million by 2050, according to a UNICEF report released at the African Union Girls Summit in Lusaka, Zambia, today.

.
Children will bear the brunt of climate change: UNICEF
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 24 November 2015 – More than half a billion children live in areas with extremely high flood occurrence and 160 million in high drought severity zones, leaving them highly exposed to the impacts of climate change, UNICEF said in a report released ahead of the 21st United Nations climate change conference, known as COP21.

UNHCR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [to 28 November 2015]
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/search?page=&comid=4a0950336&cid=49aea93a7d&scid=49aea93a40

.
Fast Retailing and UNHCR Announce New Agreement
25 November 2015

IKEA stores around the world to raise funds to brighten lives for refugees
23 November 2015

IOM / International Organization for Migration [to 28 November 2015]
http://www.iom.int/press-room/press-releases
Selected Press Releases

.
Mediterranean Migrants: Latest Developments
11/27/15
Greece – IOM estimates that over 110,000 migrants and refugees have now arrived in Greece by sea since the beginning of November.

Germany Offers Protection to Refugees Stranded in Egypt
11/27/15
Egypt – This week IOM moved the last of nearly 600 refugees – half of them Syrian – from Egypt to Germany as part of the country’s Humanitarian Admissions Programme (HAP).

Egypt Passes New Anti-Human Smuggling Law
11/27/15
Egypt – The Egyptian Cabinet has approved a new anti-human smuggling law that is in line with international standards.

Mediterranean Migrants: Latest Developments
11/24/15
Greece – IOM staff in Greece report a drastic decrease in the number of migrants and refugees crossing into Greece over the weekend.

UN Women [to 28 November 2015]
http://www.unwomen.org/news/stories
Selected Press Releases

.
Girls speak out at the First African Girls’ Summit on Ending Child Marriage
Date: 27 November 2015
UN Women is participating and actively contributing to the First African Girls’ Summit on Ending Child Marriage, being held in Lusaka, Zambia, from 24–27 November 2015.

.
Press release: Spotlighting prevention, “Orange the World” kicks off global efforts to end violence against women and girls
Date: 24 November 2015
From parades to soccer matches, school debates, and the lighting up of hundreds of iconic monuments, starting tomorrow a United Nations call to “Orange the World” will galvanize global action calling for an end to violence against women and girls, which affects one in three worldwide.

.
Nearly 40 Chinese companies sign on to the Women’s Empowerment Principles
Date: 24 November 2015
Thirty eight companies from China signed the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) CEO Statement of Support. The Women’s Empowerment Principles, developed by UN Women in collaboration with the UN Global Compact, outline seven steps for companies to improve women’s empowerment at work and in the marketplace

.
Press release: Progress for women in news media grinds to a halt
Date: 23 November 2015
After 20 years, research in 114 countries reveals continued severe disparity between representation of women and men in the news media.

WHO & Regionals [to 28 November 2015]

.
Iraq cholera vaccination campaign
24 November 2015 — An oral cholera vaccine campaign in Iraq helps to control and contain the outbreak. This photo story follows the vaccination teams that are disseminating the vaccine and educational material on how to prevent the disease. The campaign has reached over 232 000 people during the first round. In the last 3 weeks the number of cases has continued to decline with only a few cases being reported from the affected areas.

.
New recommendations show how to treat all people living with HIV and decrease new infections
Harare, 27 November 2015 –The world is poised to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 – provided it can accelerate the pace of progress achieved globally over the past 15 years, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report…

Treatment for all people living with HIV
Recent findings from clinical trials have confirmed that the early and expanded use of antiretroviral treatment saves lives by keeping people living with HIV healthier and by reducing the risk that they will transmit the virus to partners.

In September, that confirmation led WHO to recommend that all people living with HIV start ART as soon as possible after diagnosis.

At ICASA, WHO is presenting a set of recommendations to enable countries to expand treatment to all — rapidly and efficiently. These recommendations include using innovative testing strategies to help more people learn they are HIV positive; moving testing and treatment services closer to where people live; starting treatment faster among people who are at advanced stages of HIV infection when they are diagnosed; and reducing the frequency of clinic visits recommended for people who are stable on ART…

.
Eliminate violence against women
25 November 2015 — WHO releases a new tool for medical and legal professionals to ensure that proper evidence is collected in cases of sexual violence to help bring justice for victims. The goal is to end impunity for perpetrators of sexual violence and help eliminate violence against women. Globally 1 in 3 women has been a victim of physical/sexual partner violence in her lifetime.
New toolkit to strengthen the medico-legal response to sexual violence

.
Global Alert and Response (GAR) – Disease Outbreak News (DONs)
:: 27 November 2015 Zika virus infection – Guatemala
:: 27 November 2015 Zika virus infection – El Salvador
:: 27 November 2015 Microcephaly – Brazil
:: 26 November 2015 Cholera – Iraq
:: 26 November 2015 Cholera – United Republic of Tanzania
:: 26 November 2015 Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus – Lao People’s Democratic Republic

.
:: WHO Regional Offices
WHO African Region AFRO
:: New recommendations show how to treat all people living with HIV and decrease new infections
:: Youngest victims of the health crisis in Central African Republic – 26 November 2015
:: Health Ministers Endorse a Research Strategy for the African Region – 25 November 2015

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
:: Lila Downs and PAHO launch campaign to prevent postpartum hemorrhage deaths in the Americas (11/24/2015)
:: First meeting of the Program to Strengthen Cooperation for Health Development in the Americas, in Brazil (11/24/2015)

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
No new digest content identified.

WHO European Region EURO
:: New HIV guidelines will help Europe meet the ambitious global goal 27-11-2015
:: Highest number of new HIV cases in Europe ever 26-11-2015
:: “Europe is Europe because of migration”: highlights from day 2 of the high-level conference on refugee and migrant health 24-11-2015
:: “We cannot turn away our eyes”: highlights from day 1 of the high-level conference on refugee and migrant health 24-11-2015
:: European health decision-makers meet for high-level discussion on refugee and migrant health 23-11-2015

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
No new digest content identified.

WHO Western Pacific Region
:: The Royal Government of Cambodia launches the first dedicated, nationally representative study on the prevalence of intimate partner violence
PHNOM PENH, 24 November 2015 – One in five women in Cambodia has experienced sexual and/or physical intimate partner violence, according to the National Survey on Women’s Health and Life Experiences launched by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the National Institute of Statistics. The study documents significant physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health consequences, including injuries and pain, suicide and miscarriage. The study shows that 90% of women who reported being injured by their intimate partner had been hurt severely enough to need health care. However, 47% never sought health care.

UNAIDS [to 28 November 2015]
http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/

.
UNAIDS calls on countries to put the health and rights of women and girls at the centre of efforts to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030
25 November 2015

.
Countries adopt UNAIDS Fast-Track Strategy to double number of people on life-saving HIV treatment by 2020
24 November 2015

UNDP United Nations Development Programme [to 28 November 2015]
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter.html
Selected Press Releases

.
Breakthrough brings cost of HIV treatment to under $100 per patient per year
Nov 27, 2015
UNDP has achieved significant reductions in the price of HIV medicines that it procures, bringing down the cost of the most common treatment to an unprecedented US$100 per patient per year in Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Mali, South Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Through these price reductions UNDP is saving US$ 25 million that are being used to put an additional 250,000 people on life-saving HIV treatment.

.
Helen Clark: Speech on “Youth as Partners for Change in the Implementation of Agenda 2030”
Nov 24, 2015
Keio University, Tokyo, Japan 24 November 2015

.
UNDP Africa launches initiative to help prevent and respond to violent extremism
Nov 23, 2015
UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa today launched an initiative to support African countries to prevent and respond to the growth of violent extremism through a development lens.

UNEP United Nations Environment Programme [to 28 November 2015]
http://www.unep.org/newscentre/?doctypeID=1
Selected Press Releases

.
Portfolio Decarbonization Coalition Overseeing Decarbonization of $230bn Assets under Management, Far above Target
UK, Dutch and French Investment Firms Join Coalition Ahead of COP21, with More to Follow
London/Geneva, 27 November 2015 – The Portfolio Decarbonization Coalition (PDC), which aims to support greenhouse gas emissions cuts by engaging institutional investors committed to decarbonizing their portfolios, is now overseeing the decarbonization of $230 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM), dramatically surpassing its target of $100 bn.

Hermes Investment Management in the UK, MN in the Netherlands, BNP Paribas Investment Partners, Humanis, and Caisse des Dépôts (CDC) in France today joined the coalition, bringing the number of members to 23, managing total assets of $2.2 trillion.

Announcements of new members are planned for COP 21, where 190 nations will convene in Paris with the aim of negotiating a universal agreement on climate. The new members will significantly increase the total commitments to decarbonization.

The increasing membership of the PDC is a clear signal that a growing number of leading investors are committed to reducing the carbon risks and impacts of their portfolios, and playing a key role in tackling climate change.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said, “The success of the PDC is a clear signal that more and more leading investors are recognizing the inherent risk that climate change poses to their portfolios. By aligning their portfolios with the low-carbon economy, they are playing a key role in the climate action the world wants to see. Exceeding the $100 billion target is a significant milestone, and I hope the leadership of the coalition members inspires other investors to join this great effort.”

UNISDR UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction [to 28 November 2015]
http://www.unisdr.org/archive
Selected Press Releases

.
Americas hit hard by El Niño
27 Nov 2015
The Americas are paying a high price as one of the worst El Niños on record continues to strengthen. The World Meteorological Organization this week singled out “considerable concern” about the impact of El Niño on the Amazon basin in the context of long-term climate change.

.
20-year review shows 90% of disasters are weather-related; US, China, India, Philippines and Indonesia record the most
23 Nov 2015
A new report issued today by the UN, “The Human Cost of Weather Related Disasters”, shows that over the last twenty years, 90% of major disasters have been caused by 6,457 recorded floods, storms, heatwaves, droughts and other weather-related events.

UNESCO [to 28 November 2015]
http://en.unesco.org/news
Selected Press Releases

.
New report shows cultural and creative industries account for 29.5 million jobs worldwide
27 November 2015

.
Protect Heritage Now for Resilience and Peace
26 November 2015
The protection of culture and heritage is a humanitarian and security imperative that also paves the path towards resilience, reconciliation and peace, said UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, addressing the International Symposium on “Cultural Heritage at Risk, the Role of Museums in War and Conflict”, held at the Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm, Sweden, on 26 November.

.
UNESCO and UNIFIL: Exploring the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict
24 November 2015
Throughout our long human history, wars and conflicts have always constituted serious threats to cultural heritage. Since ancient times, and going into world wars I and II, looting and destruction of cultural heritage were part of ongoing battles.

As witnessed in countries living an armed conflict in the region, cultural heritage is particularly at risk, owing to its inherent vulnerability and tremendous symbolic value. Intentional targeting and destruction of heritage sites, illicit trafficking of artefacts, and illegal excavation are causing major losses that can deprive a community of its memory, the physical testimony to its past, but also of a precious resource for social and economic wellbeing.

With these new enormous challenges, it has become necessary to develop and improve the mechanisms and tools for the protection of cultural property, especially in the case of disputes. As the leading organization in this area, UNESCO has sounded the alarm, calling for greater cooperation to take concrete steps to protect the cultural history and unique cultural heritage in this region through awareness, and recalling the obligation to commit by international conventions and treaties, in particular the Hague Convention (1954), which established the rules for the protection of cultural goods during armed conflict. This Convention is the first international treaty designed to protect the cultural heritage in the context of war, and has highlighted the concept of common heritage and led to the creation of the International Committee of the Blue Shield (ICBS), headed currently by Director-General, Mr. Julien Anfernz of the International Council of Museums (ICOM)…

.
Three UN agencies join forces to boost education of adolescent girls and young women
23 November 2015
The heads of UNESCO, UNFPA and UN Women sealed a partnership to empower adolescent girls and young women through education, by signing a joint programme agreement at the headquarters of the United Nations Population Fund in New York.

The agreement was signed today by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin and UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka represented by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Yannick Glemarec.

“Taking the 2030 Agenda forward calls for working in synergy to better tackle the cross-cutting obstacles that are preventing young girls and women from fulfilling their potential,” said Ms. Bokova. “This partnership is a model that brings together our respective strengths to break the cycle of exclusion and vulnerability, to ensure that girls benefit from a full cycle of quality education, in line with the promise of Sustainable Development Goal 4.”

UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [to 28 November 2015]
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press/allpress.html?ref=fp

.
27/11/2015 –
Unprecedented funding agreement between UNODC and Qatar leaves lasting legacy for Doha Declaration
Vienna 27 November 2015 – A multi-million-dollar funding agreement between Qatar and UNODC was signed in Vienna. The agreement, totalling more than US$49 million and slated to run over four years, is to deliver projects related to justice, prisoners, youth and justice education…

Viewed as a lasting legacy to the 13th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, held in Doha in April of this year, the agreement is intended to help countries achieve a positive and sustainable impact on criminal justice and the rule of law in all regions of the world.

“This generous funding will be used to continue to advance the Doha Declaration and to ensure that UNODC builds projects and programmes that support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals”…

.
26/11/2015 –
Drug money and opiate trafficking on the Balkan route, focus of new UNODC report
Vienna, 26 November 2015 – A new report launched today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows that the total value of illicit heroin and opium trafficked from Afghanistan to Western Europe through the Balkans amounts to some $28 billion every year. Sixty-five per cent of this total ($18 billion) is generated in Western and Central Europe. The four largest European markets for heroin – France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy – account for nearly half of the gross profits, as the major heroin benefits are made by traffickers on the retail markets.

The report, entitled Drug Money: the illicit proceeds of opiates trafficked on the Balkan route, shows that the total value generated by Afghan heroin and opium trafficked in Europe and through the Balkan route is one third bigger than the entire GDP of Afghanistan itself, which, in 2014, amounted to some $21 billion. Other findings indicate that the negative economic impact of heroin and opium are actually greater in Europe and the Balkan route countries than in Afghanistan itself…

UN-HABITAT United Nations Human Settlements Programme [to 28 November 2015]
http://unhabitat.org/media-centre/news/
[Selected Announcements]

.
UN-Habitat and ISOCARP launch a magazine focused on West Bank and Palestine
Ramallah, 25 November 2015—UN-Habitat and the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) have joined forces with local and national partners to elaborate a series of spatial visions for the heartland of the West Bank region…
Posted November 25, 2015

FAO Food & Agriculture Organization [to 28 November 2015]
http://www.fao.org/news/archive/news-by-date/2015/en/
[Selected Announcements]

.
Netherlands donates $7 million to improve water management in Near East and Africa
The Netherlands and FAO are expanding their collaboration in the area of water management with a $7 million donation by the Government of the Netherlands to support the use of remote sensing technology in helping water-scarce countries in the Near East and Africa monitor and improve the way they use water for crop production.
27-11-2015

Surge in climate change-related disasters poses growing threat to food security
Focusing specifically on the impact of climate-related disasters in developing countries, some 25 percent of the negative economic impacts were borne by the crop, livestock, fisheries and forestry sectors alone.
26-11-2015

World mayors’ meeting to be hosted by FAO in 2016
The Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, promulgated earlier this year at the 2015 World Expo, offers a unique international platform to make city food systems more equitable and sustainable, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva and the Italian city’s Mayor, Giuliano Pisapia, have said.
26-11-2015

Growing need to revamp national laws governing pesticides
Some thirty years to the day after FAO first launched its International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides, the UN food agency is calling on countries to make sure that national regulatory frameworks governing the management of pesticides are kept up to date.
25-11-2015

Making genetic diversity part of climate change adaptation
In the run-up to the Paris Climate Change Summit, FAO has released new Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Integration of Genetic Diversity into National Climate Change Adaptation Planning, designed assist countries in better conserving and sustainably using genetic resources in times of climate change.
24-11-2015

IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development [to 28 November 2015]
http://www.ifad.org/media/press/index.htm

.
26 November 2015
The impact of what happens in a small African village can now be felt around the world, IFAD President tells meeting of Pope’s encyclical on the environment

ILO International Labour Organization [to 28 November 2015]
http://www.ilo.org/global/lang–en/index.htm

.
Sustainable development
10 action points towards a greener economy
26 November 2015
Just before the opening of the Paris climate conference that is expected to set new ambitious targets to move to a low-carbon economy, ILO Green Jobs Programme Coordinator Kees van der Ree outlines ten steps that can facilitate a transition to a green economy.

ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization [to 28 November 2015]
http://www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pages/pressrelease.aspx

.
ICAO and UNFCCC Join Forces to Bring CDM Coverage to Aviation in Advance of Important 2015 Paris Climate Conference
27/11/15

Concluding Communique: ICAO World Aviation Forum
25/11/15

ICAO Council Declaration on International Aviation and Climate Change
24/11/15