For humanitarians, the Geneva Conventions at 70 are a call to duty
To mark the anniversary, diplomats planned to discuss the strengths and weakness of international humanitarian law.
John Heilprin
Award-winning U.N.-accredited journalist, with 30+ years on four continents, almost half of it for AP in Washington, New York and Geneva.
Twitter
Geneva
WFP to quadruple food aid in 4 countries hammered by drought
The U.N. food agency plans to offer food assistance to 700,000 people in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Youth climate movement decides strategy at Swiss-hosted summit
Their demands call for supporting developing nations, paying for cleaner technologies, and pressuring wealthy nations.
Climate report urges change in human diet to improve land use
The IPCC shows how overconsumption and ill treatment of animals, forests and plants is making global warming worse.
Pakistan maneuvers against India at U.N. venues over contested regions
The moves are a furious reaction to India revoking the protected status Jammu and Kashmir held for six decades.
U.N. experts conclude U.S. racism is a complicit factor in mass shootings
A U.N. working group called on U.S. leaders to recommit to human rights, including equal protection under the law.
Experts say Myanmar's foreign arms trade fuels human rights abuses
A U.N. fact-finding mission urged the international community to sever ties with Myanmar’s military.
Landmark U.S.-Russia arms treaty expires despite its past success
Experts said the demise of the INF Treaty will make the job of advocating for nuclear arms control far more difficult.
Europe's first legally binding treaty on violence against women turns 5
The treaty, which took effect in 2014, builds on efforts to protect women and girls from violence since the 1990s. Some nations say they oppose it based on sovereignty concerns.
Trump fills long-vacant U.N. envoy post with wealthy political ally
U.S. senators confirmed Kelly Craft as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, multilateralism's biggest stage.
FIFA mulls exit from Zürich headquarters as it tries to reform
Difficulties in hiring non-European staff and overcoming perceptions of corporate secrecy weigh on the sports body.
IAAF defends rules on intersex athletes after Swiss court ruling
The new rules prevent Caster Semenya from defending her world title in the 800 meters at the world championships in Qatar in September — unless she submits to them.
Women and children account for most human trafficking victims
U.N. leaders used the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons to call for increased prevention against a web of factors.
Iran and Europe are in a push to keep the nuclear deal afloat
Iran's biggest European trading partners are Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, and Greece.
European Investment Bank may ban funding for fossil fuel energy
The aim is to help fulfill the Paris Agreement’s goal of preventing average global temperatures from rising more than 2° Celsius above pre-industrial levels, or 1.5° if possible.
Norwegian diplomat to lead U.N.'s top economic and social forum
Mona Juul, Norway U.N. ambassador, won election as president of the 54-nation U.N. Economic and Social Council.