Category: Глобальная политика

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October 20, 2025 Sustainable Development Goals

The World Tourism Organization has announced this year's list of the best tourism villages. It includes 52 rural settlements from around the world recognized as global leaders in sustainable tourism and community development. Among them are Kolochava and Synevyrska Polyana in Ukraine, and Khinalig in Azerbaijan.

UN agency Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili noted that tourism has the potential to become "a powerful tool for achieving shared prosperity, inclusive growth, and territorial cohesion in rural areas."

Total in the global network rural tourist destinations, which promotes sustainable development, now includes 319 villages worldwide.

Caucasian Antiquity: Azerbaijani Khinalig

At an altitude of over 2,000 meters in the Caucasus Mountains lies Khinalig, one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world, with a history dating back approximately 5,000 years. The village is home to a semi-nomadic people whose culture and way of life are shaped by seasonal migrations between summer and winter pastures and who preserve the ancient method of vertically moving livestock over long distances. The organically developed network, including ancient routes, temporary pastures and campsites, mausoleums, and mosques, demonstrates a resilient eco-social system adapted to extreme environmental conditions.

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The Heart of the Carpathians: Ukrainian Villages Preserving Nature and Traditions

Kolochava, located in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains within the Synevyr National Park, is a living open-air museum where history, culture, and nature blend harmoniously. Its history reflects the diverse heritage of the region, which over the centuries was influenced by several states—from Austria-Hungary and Czechoslovakia to Romania and Hungary. This is reflected in the richness of cultural traditions, languages, and crafts that survive to this day. The village is renowned for its ten museums, craft traditions, and culinary heritage. Ancient crafts—from weaving and wood carving to cheesemaking—are being revived here. Local residents are actively developing ecotourism, hosting festivals and environmental events, creating 3D tours, inviting travelers to discover the Carpathians in a sustainable way.

© Wiki Commons/Moahim

Neighboring Synevyrska Polyana, mentioned as early as 1465, is known as the "Pearl of the Carpathians." Also located in the Synevyr National Park, the village is surrounded by primeval beech forests and famous for its eponymous lake, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Ukraine. The local community develops ecotourism and spa services, offers ethnographic programs, craft workshops, and traditional cuisine tastings, creating jobs and supporting local producers. Through the SynevyrECO initiative, local artisans and farmers unite to promote eco-friendly products and sustainable tourism, creating new jobs and strengthening the region's economy.

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October 20, 2025 Women

The world today faces the highest number of active armed conflicts since 1946, resulting in enormous suffering for women and girls.

More and more women are living near conflict zones.

According to the UN Secretary-General's 2025 report on women, peace, and security, 676 million women live within 50 kilometers of conflict zones. This is the highest figure since the 1990s. The death toll among women and children has quadrupled compared to the previous two-year period. "Women and girls are being killed at record levels, excluded from peace negotiations, and left unprotected, while conflicts escalate," said Sima Bacchus, Executive Director of UN Women.

In Ukraine, women and girls account for 31 percent of all civilian casualties, according to the report. Domestic violence in the country has increased by 36 percent since 2022, and 42 percent of women are now at risk of developing depression.

The report estimates that 640,000 Ukrainian women and girls have been affected by cuts in psychosocial support, HIV/AIDS services, and women's economic empowerment programs supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

“To counter this trend, the government, together with Germany and UN Women, has created an alliance bringing together 15 governments, major international financial institutions, civil society, and the private sector to improve financing for gender equality measures in Ukraine’s recovery process,” the report states.

It also says there has been an 87 percent increase in conflict-related sexual violence worldwide in two years.

The report was published on the 25th anniversary of the adoption UN Security Council Resolution 1325, in which the international community committed to ensuring greater participation of women in conflict resolution and peace processes, and to providing women and girls with the necessary protection in conflict situations.

Progress may be undone

As the report notes, more than two decades of progress in this area could be undone. For example, Georgia recently saw a significant increase in the number of women in municipal leadership positions—to 30 percent, compared to 13.4 percent in 2021. However, in April 2024, the Georgian parliament abolished mandatory electoral gender quotas, which could reverse this trend.

"Women don't need new promises – they need power, protection and equal participation," says Sima Bacchus.

Despite abundant evidence that women's participation in negotiation processes makes the world more stable, they remain almost entirely excluded from decision-making. Although more and more countries are developing national action plans to implement Resolution 1325, this rarely leads to real change.

In 2024, nine out of 10 peace processes did not feature a single female negotiator. Women accounted for only 7 percent of negotiators and 14 percent of mediators worldwide.

Investments in war

The report also points out that while global military spending exceeded $2.7 trillion in 2024, women's organizations in conflict zones received only 0.4 percent of that aid. Many are on the verge of closure due to a lack of funding.

According to Bacchus, these are not “dry numbers,” but a sign that the international community is deliberately investing in war rather than peace, while continuing to exclude women from decision-making.

The report also emphasizes the need for a "gender revolution" in data. Without gender-sensitive data, the global community knows little about the reality of women in conflict zones.

UN Women calls for concrete results – ensuring conflict resolution through inclusive political processes, increasing women's participation in leading security and recovery reforms, and strengthening accountability for violations against women.

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October 20, 2025 UN

The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: the ceasefire in Gaza has been implemented, the Houthis have released UN staff from their compound in Yemen's capital, proposals to reinstate the death penalty in Kyrgyzstan, and World Statistics Day.

The situation in Gaza

The UN welcomes the parties' reaffirmed commitment to the ceasefire in Gaza and commends the mediators' efforts in this regard, the UN press service stated today. At the same time, the UN is deeply concerned about all ongoing violence in the enclave, including reports of shelling and attacks yesterday. The UN calls on all parties to fully implement their commitments, ensure the protection of civilians, and refrain from any actions that could lead to a resumption of hostilities or jeopardize humanitarian operations.

UN staff in Yemen

All 15 UN international staff members can now move freely The UN compound in Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, is being used to maintain contact with UN agencies and their families. Five local staff members detained since October 18 at the same compound have been released, the UN Country Team in Yemen announced on Monday. Ansar Allah security personnel have left the UN compound in Sana'a. In recent years, the Houthis have repeatedly infiltrated UN offices in Yemen, detaining staff and confiscating property.

The death penalty in Kyrgyzstan

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on the Kyrgyz authorities to immediately stop efforts to bring back the death penalty, warning that such a regressive step would constitute a serious violation of international law. Kyrgyzstan legally abolished the death penalty in 2010 after ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Türk called on the country's authorities to focus their efforts on ensuring effective protection of the law and adequate access to justice and reparations for victims of violence.

Statistics Day

Today – World Statistics Day, which is celebrated every five years on October 20. On this occasion, the UN Secretary-General stated that during crises such as the pandemicCOVID-19, statistical systems have proven their vital role, providing data that guides life-saving decisions and supports recovery efforts. The International Labour Organization also emphasized that reliable and transparent data are not just a technical tool, but the foundation of democracy and social justice.

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October 20, 2025 Women

Nearly 70,000 women in Afghanistan listen to Radio Femme, an online radio station run entirely by women. It disseminates knowledge and raises awareness about the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan's provinces.

With Afghan women barred from attending schools and universities, Radio Femme offers alternative forms of education. Eight teachers teach subjects such as mathematics and science.

This state of affairs continued until September 30, when the Taliban, without explanation, shut down the internet and mobile communications throughout the country, effectively forcing Radio Femme off the air.

The radio station's suspension is just one of many examples of how important the internet is for Afghan women. The lack of online radio broadcasting, coupled with the aftermath of the earthquake in the east of the country, the ongoing drought in the north, and the return of millions of refugees expelled from neighboring countries, is making life increasingly difficult for women and girls in Afghanistan.

"The current crisis is compounded by an existing one," said Arafat Jamal, a spokesman for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. "Such intervention is completely unjustified, and its consequences will directly impact the lives of the Afghan people."

In an interview with UN Women, an Afghan woman named Sama said the internet is vital for her work, starting a small business, and selling goods.

"Thanks to my online store, I've become famous," says Sama. "I'm making money, solving my financial problems, and becoming independent."

After the internet shutdown, Sama, like many other women, lost her only source of income overnight: “This deprives many of their last opportunity to study, earn money, and socialize.”

Internet access in Afghanistan has now been partially restored, but the outage demonstrated how valuable and fragile this channel of information exchange is. UN Women emphasizes that the importance of the digital space cannot be assessed from a purely technical perspective; the education, mental health, and livelihoods of Afghan women are at stake.

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October 20, 2025 Economic development

Preserving the existing international trading system remains a key challenge if the world is to avoid a devastating tariff war, Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan told the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on Monday.

Addressing UNCTAD's 195 member states in Geneva, she stressed that 72 per cent of global trade still takes place within the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"We have so far avoided the chain reaction of tariff escalation that once brought the global economy to its knees—in the 1930s," Greenspan said. "And this happened not by chance, but because of you—because you kept negotiating even when it seemed pointless… and built bridges even when they were crumbling."

A difficult choice

The UNCTAD chief's comments come amid ongoing global economic uncertainty and new announcements of tariffs on US trading partners.

According to Greenspan, rising tariffs, record debt payments and growing mistrust between countries are holding back development.

"The debt and development crises continue to force countries to face impossible choices," she noted. Countries are forced to decide whether to stop paying their debts or undermine their own development.

Tariffs and uncertainty

Earlier, at the UN General Assembly, Greenspan reported that the average level of tariffs imposed by major economies, including the United States, rose this year from 2.8 percent to more than 20 percent.

"Uncertainty is the highest possible tariff," she emphasized. "It discourages investors, slows growth, and makes trade as a path to development much more difficult."

Public debt crisis

Speaking in Geneva, UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock warned that developing country debt reached $31 trillion last year.

"Instead of investing in the future of their people – building schools or developing health care systems – many governments are forced to spend precious resources on debt servicing," she said.

Baerbock also noted that trust in the international system is eroding. Despite the global economy being valued at over $100 trillion annually, "half the world's population has seen almost no growth in their income," she added.

Investments are declining

UNCTAD Director Rebecca Greenspan warned that global investment flows have been declining for the second year in a row. Meanwhile, she noted, the current investment system still favors projects in developed countries over developing ones: "As a result, one dollar costs Zambia three times more than it does Zurich."

Greenspan added that freight costs have become too volatile, and that for landlocked countries and small island states, transport costs are three times higher than the global average.

Although artificial intelligence has the potential to increase global GDP by trillions of dollars, less than one-third of developing countries have strategies to capitalize on it, she noted. According to the UN, 2.6 billion people still lack internet access, most of them women in developing countries.

Read also:

INTERVIEW | UN Conference on Trade and Development chief: "In the digital world, landlocked countries have no geographic limitations"

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October 20, 2025 International law

All 15 international UN staff members are now free to move around the UN compound in Sana'a, Yemen's capital, and maintain contact with UN agencies and their families. Five local staff members detained since October 18 within the same UN compound have been released.

Representatives of the UN country team in Yemen reported this on Monday.

"Ansar Allah security personnel have left the UN compound in Sana'a," the statement said.

In recent years, the Houthis have repeatedly infiltrated UN offices in Yemen, detaining staff and confiscating property. As of early October, the total number of detained UN personnel numbered in the dozens. Some have remained in custody since 2021. A number of UN staff members have been released.

Previously, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a statement expressing concern over public accusations made by the Houthis against UN personnel in Yemen. He categorically rejected all accusations, which, he said, "threaten the safety of UN personnel and humanitarian workers and undermine life-saving operations."

He reminded all parties to the conflict of their obligations to ensure the continued protection of humanitarian operations and personnel in accordance with international law.

"The Secretary-General reiterates his call for the immediate and unconditional release of all UN staff, non-governmental and civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions who continue to be arbitrarily detained by the de facto Houthi authorities," the statement issued by the UN chief's spokesman said.

Guterres also recalled that, in accordance with their obligations under international law, the Houthis must leave UN premises and return seized assets and equipment.

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October 20, 2025 Climate and environment

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Emergency Congress opened in Geneva on Monday, and it could change the course of the fight against climate disasters.

The Congress, which is part of the "Early Warning for All" initiative launched by the UN in 2022, brought together representatives from 193 countries. Forum participants aim to ensure that every person on the planet is protected from natural disasters by the end of 2027.

Science in action

"Seventy-five years ago, WMO was born from the recognition that weather, water, and climate know no borders. Today, we continue to build a global system based on solidarity, science, and trust," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo, emphasizing that sustainable development, food security, and infrastructure protection are impossible without effective weather and climate services.

In addition to the WMO, dozens of partners are participating in the "Early Warning for All" initiative, ranging from humanitarian organizations to meteorological equipment manufacturers and IT companies. The initiative covers the entire cycle: from observing atmospheric phenomena and generating forecasts to disseminating warnings and preparing for natural disaster response.

There is progress, but there are more and more challenges

In 2024, 108 countries reported having early warning systems—twice as many as in 2015. In countries with underdeveloped systems, the mortality rate from natural disasters is six times higher.

Artificial intelligence and technological innovation can help developing countries overcome technological barriers, but the digital divide remains a serious problem.

Not just statistics

A report documenting the successes and gaps in the global monitoring system was presented at the Congress. It provides examples of countries that have made significant progress thanks to WMO support and cooperation among developing countries.

"Success is measured not by reports, but by lives saved," wrote Celeste Saulo in the report's foreword. "Global solidarity, based on science and partnership, has the power to change the world. By 2027, we must do everything we can to ensure that no one is left unprotected."

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October 20, 2025 International law

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk today called on the Kyrgyz authorities to immediately cease efforts to reinstate the death penalty, warning that such a regressive step would constitute a serious violation of international law.

Kyrgyzstan abolished the death penalty in 1998 and then legally banned it permanently in 2010 after ratifying Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)This treaty obliges states parties to take all necessary measures to abolish the death penalty.

However, following the rape and murder of a girl in late September, Kyrgyz authorities proposed amending the Constitution to allow for the death penalty for the rape of a child, as well as for the rape and murder of a child or adult. They also propose withdrawing from the Protocol. These proposals are expected to be put to a referendum in the coming weeks and, if approved, submitted to the country's parliament.

"The rights enshrined in the Covenant and the Second Optional Protocol, once granted, belong to individuals living within the territory of a State party and cannot be taken away, regardless of the justification offered," the High Commissioner emphasized. He added that no justice system is flawless, and if the death penalty is reintroduced, it will eventually lead to the deaths of innocent people at the hands of the state.

The UN Human Rights Committee, which monitors compliance ICCPR, made it clear that, since the Covenant and the Second Optional Protocol contain no provisions for denunciation, the abolition of the death penalty is legally irreversible for states that have accepted these treaties. This also means that states are prohibited from reintroducing it. Furthermore, a state that has ratified the Protocol without reservations is not permitted to apply the death penalty even for the most serious crimes.

"For many years, Kyrgyzstan has been part of a growing—and very encouraging—global consensus on the universal abolition of the death penalty. Current legislative initiatives run counter to the spirit of the country's commitments, including its recent support for the Human Rights Council resolution calling on states to ratify the Second Optional Protocol," Türk noted.

Around 170 countries have abolished the death penalty or introduced a moratorium on its use in law or practice.

"The crimes cited by the authorities as grounds for reinstating the death penalty are undoubtedly horrific, and they must be properly punished. However, there is no evidence that the death penalty plays a significant role in deterring serious crime," Türk stated.

He called on the Kyrgyz authorities to abandon proposals to reinstate the death penalty and instead focus their efforts on ensuring effective protection of the law and adequate access to justice and reparations. "The response must be a victim-centered and adequately resourced approach to combating violence, including sexual violence," the High Commissioner stated.

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October 19, 2025 Peace and security

At the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Ukraine, maintenance work to restore external power began yesterday. As a reminder, Europe's largest nuclear power plant has been without external power for almost a month, raising serious concerns about nuclear safety at the facility.

This was announced by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. After weeks of difficult negotiations, the Russian Federation and Ukraine agreed to an IAEA proposal to establish temporary ceasefire zones around two specific areas on both sides of the front line so that IAEA specialists can repair two power lines damaged during the fighting.

On Saturday morning, after demining was completed, repair work began on two cables of the 330-kilovolt Ferrosplavna-1 line, which was disconnected from Zaporizhzhya NPP on May 7. Later this weekend, after the necessary demining work is completed on the other side, repairs are planned to begin on the damaged section of the 750-kilovolt Dneprovskaya line, which was disconnected on September 23. It was this outage that led to the complete blackout at the plant.

IAEA teams will monitor and report on repairs at both sites, located several kilometers from the plant. Six reactors at Zaporizhzhya NPP have been shut down since 2022, but they still require electricity to operate the pumps that cool the nuclear fuel.

There's finally light at the end of the tunnel. Both sides have been constructively engaging with us to make this possible.

"The start of repair work is a significant step forward in our persistent efforts to restore off-site power to Europe's largest nuclear power plant, which has been forced to rely on emergency diesel generators in recent weeks. This is clearly an unsustainable situation," Grossi said.

He said it would take some time before the plant was reconnected to the grid, as repairs would take about a week. "There's finally light at the end of the tunnel. Both sides engaged constructively with us to make this possible. There's a shared understanding that the current situation is not beneficial to anyone. The process was complex, as the power lines are located in an active combat zone, and we first needed to ensure the necessary safety conditions were in place before proceeding with repairs," the IAEA chief noted.

Until external power is restored, the plant receives electricity from seven emergency diesel generators, which support key nuclear safety and security systems. An additional 13 generators are in standby mode.

The current power outage is the tenth since the conflict began and the longest. "Reliance on emergency diesel generators is the last line of defense for nuclear power plants. What was once unthinkable has now become all too common. As long as this devastating conflict continues, nuclear safety and security remain seriously compromised. Today, we have a rare opportunity to deliver good news, but we are still far from a safe situation," Grossi emphasized.

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October 17, 2025 Peace and security

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution extending sanctions against Haiti for another year, amid ongoing terror by armed gangs.

The sanctions regime was established in 2022 and includes a travel ban, asset freeze, and arms embargo. The resolution, co-sponsored by Panama and the United States, also extends the mandate of the group of experts supporting the sanctions committee. The document was adopted several weeks after the Security Council transformed the Multinational Security Assistance Mission to Haiti into an Anti-Gang Force.

"These measures will restore security in Haiti and bring the gangs to their knees," a U.S. official told the council on Friday.

Resolution 2794 (2025) expresses deep concern about the “extremely high levels of gang violence and other criminal activities”, such as kidnappings for ransom, murders, human trafficking and sexual violence, and the continued impunity.

Speaking at the meeting, a Haiti official said the sanctions regime could be "an effective instrument of deterrence and justice if it is properly applied and respected by all Member States."

He said efforts to suppress the violence had so far produced mixed results, as gangs continued to receive weapons and ammunition from abroad.

Read also:

EXPLAIN | Why, despite the embargo, are half a million illegal firearms circulating in Haiti?

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