Systematic rape and sexual violence are being used as weapons of war in Darfur, the International Criminal Court (ICC) warned on Thursday, as part of a widening investigation into what its Deputy Prosecutor said are escalating atrocities against civilians in the conflict-ridden region.

UN agencies on Thursday warned of devastating recent attacks across Ukraine due to Russian strikes, record civilian casualties recorded last month – and growing deprivation facing children under fire across the country.

The head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has voiced deep dismay over the “unconscionable” killing of children during an aid distribution in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday.

Devastating funding cuts from international donors are hitting countries hardest affected by HIV — but many are showing remarkable resilience and determination to keep progress alive.

When Natalia Kanem reflects on her eight-year tenure at the helm of the UN reproductive health agency, she doesn’t begin with global statistics, boardroom breakthroughs, or even memories of her visits to refugee camps.

There are three Great Pyramids at Giza in Egypt - but imagine if there were 307 of the mighty edifices. And then imagine that they had dissolved into over two billion tons of sand and dust particles.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Thursday raised alarm over Greece’s decision to suspend the submission of asylum applications from people arriving by sea from North Africa, warning it risks breaching international law and undermining the country’s longstanding commitment to protecting those fleeing conflict and persecution.

Top UN human rights officials have voiced serious concern over the imposition of sanctions by the United States targeting Francesca Albanese, a UN-appointed independent expert on the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

WASHINGTON DC, July 10 (IPS) - Seychelles—a nation of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean—today enjoys a comparatively high degree of economic stability. Inflation is below 2 percent, real GDP has largely recovered from the pandemic, public debt is on course to reach the government’s target of less than 50 percent of GDP before 2030, and per capita income is the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa.

UNITED NATIONS, July 9 (IPS) - On July 2, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the “3 by 35” initiative in an effort to boost public health and limit global consumption of harmful substances. By urging international governments to implement taxes on tobacco, sugary drinks, and alcohol, WHO seeks to reduce worldwide cases of noncommunicable disease amid heightened strains on global health systems and a shrinking supply of funding.