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November 20, 2025 Women

Digital technology can be a tool for empowerment. But today, for millions of women and girls, online spaces have become a source of fear.

According to UN Women, artificial intelligence, online anonymity and weak accountability mechanisms are fueling a surge in online violenceGlobally, 1.8 billion women and girls live without legal protection from online harassment and other forms of technology-enabled violence. Against this backdrop, the annual 16 Days of Activism campaign kicks off on November 25. against gender-based violence".

"What happens online doesn't stay online."

Less than 40 percent of countries worldwide have passed laws that explicitly regulate online harassment and cyberbullying, leaving many perpetrators unpunished and victims without access to justice.

The internet continues to be both a source of opportunity and a risk for women. Journalists, activists, and public figures face the spread of gender-motivated disinformation, deepfake attacks, and coordinated intimidation campaigns aimed at ousting them from the public sphere.

One in four female journalists reports online death threats.

“What starts online doesn’t stay online. Digital violence spills over into real life, creating fear, silencing [women], and in the worst cases, leading to physical violence and femicide" said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bacchus.

She stressed that laws must evolve along with technology: “It is unacceptable that weak legal mechanisms continue to leave millions of women and girls without protection while perpetrators act with impunity.”

New wave of digital attacks

The development of AI has dramatically expanded the scale of digital violence. It is becoming more personal and increasingly difficult to detect. According to one global survey, 38 percent of women have experienced online violence, and 85 percent have witnessed it.

Deepfakes, photorealistic images and videos generated by neural networks, pose a particular threat. Up to 95 percent of all deepfakes are pornographic, created without the consent of the person they depict, and 99 percent of the victims are women.

Many deepfake creation tools are developed by all-male teams and often do not even include images of male subjects, highlighting the gendered nature of the abuse.

Activist Laura Bates warns that the impact of such attacks cannot be underestimated. "The 'online/offline' divide is an illusion," she noted. The spread of deepfakes, for example, can lead to job losses, child custody restrictions, and girls dropping out of school due to bullying.

Legislation is developing too slowly

In some countries, new legal norms are emerging.

As of 2025, 117 countries report taking steps to combat digital violence, but progress remains fragmented and lags behind technological developments. Experts emphasize the need for global cooperation and tailored approaches to AI regulation.

UN Women emphasizes that measures should include:

attracting more women to the development of technologies; creating safe digital platforms; promptly removing harmful content; taking into account the principles of responsibility and safety in the creation of AI products; investing in digital literacy; programs to change cultural norms, including working with toxic online communities such as the "manosphere."

Read also:

What is the manosphere and why should we care?

At the same time, feminist movements, which are the quickest to respond to cases of digital violence, are faced with reduction of civic space and funding.

“Technology can be a force for equality – but only if we design it that way,” emphasized Sima Bacchus.

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November 20, 2025 Economic development

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi addressed the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna, presenting an overview of the agency's activities – from inspections in Iran and support for Ukrainian nuclear power plants to global initiatives in health, food security, and the climate agenda.

The situation in Iran

IAEA inspectors have resumed inspections at a number of Iranian nuclear facilities undamaged by the Israeli and US strikes in June. However, according to Grossi, restoring a full inspection regime requires broader engagement with Tehran.

"I am convinced that the only solution [to the Iranian nuclear issue] remains diplomatic. This requires engagement and understanding of the situation on our part and full compliance with Iran's obligations," he emphasized, referring to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the comprehensive safeguards agreement with Iran.

Grossi also said the IAEA is working to ensure inspectors have access to the country's stockpiles of low- and highly enriched uranium.

Support for Ukraine

The IAEA maintains a permanent presence at five Ukrainian nuclear power plants. Grossi called the current situation "extremely dangerous and fragile," noting that the agency's mediation allowed the power lines supplying the Zaporizhzhia NPP to be restored after a month-long outage.

Since the beginning of the conflict, the Agency has conducted 217 missions to Ukrainian nuclear facilities involving 176 experts, and made 174 deliveries of equipment worth €20.5 million to ensure the safety and security of Ukrainian nuclear power plants.

Flagship initiatives

Grossi also presented the achievements of the IAEA's technical cooperation with various organizations. This concerns programs that utilize nuclear technologies. For example, the initiative Atoms4Foodhelps countries strengthen food security.

Read also:

The FAO-IAEA partnership turns 60

Almost a hundred countries have already joined the project. Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All, in which the agency is collaborating with St. Jude Hospital to develop curricula in pediatric oncology and the use of artificial intelligence.

The ZODIAC program, together with the VETLAB network, supported Senegalese scientists who sequenced the complete genome of the Rift Valley fever virus for the first time, which has significant implications for the health systems of Senegal, Mauritania, and The Gambia.

Climate and energy of the future

The IAEA is actively participating in the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, hosting over a dozen events at the Atoms4Climate pavilion. Discussions focused on soil and water protection, fusion energy, and "blue carbon" ecosystems.

"The days of debating whether nuclear energy is necessary or not are over. Everyone now agrees that nuclear energy is important," Grossi said.

The head of the IAEA spoke about his visit to China for a conference on fusion energy and to ITER, the largest international platform for fusion research. In December, Vienna will host the first IAEA Symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear Energy, bringing together governments, regulators, and representatives of the private sector.

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November 20, 2025

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November 19, 2025 Culture and education

Ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution reiterating the importance of the Olympic Truce and reminding everyone that even in times of conflict, sport enables humanity to find common ground.

The tradition of the "Olympic Truce" dates back to the 9th century BC, when, in accordance with the prophecy of the Delphic oracle, the strife and wars that resulted in the destruction of the city of Peloponnese in Ancient Greece were stopped, and competitions between athletes from warring tribes were held.

Over the years, other Greek tribes also joined the Peloponnesian Treaty to host the Olympic Games. The original purpose of ending war during the Olympics was to allow all athletes to reach the competition site and participate. The UN General Assembly revived this ancient Greek tradition of the "ekecheiria" ("Olympic Truce") in 1993.

Sports and Peace

As General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock noted on Wednesday, "even in times of division, humanity can find common ground and hope in sport." Baerbock recalled her years as a trampoline athlete dreaming of the Olympic Games—and the sense of unity that sport can create, even influencing relationships between competitors.

UN Photo/E. Schneider

The experience of past decades shows how effective this metaphor can be.

In the 1990s, the Open Fun Football Schools project brought together over 150,000 children from various ethnic groups in the Balkans, using play as a way to rebuild trust after conflict. Similar programs in Colombia and Cyprus helped people gradually rebuild mutual trust.

Women on Ice

Gender equality took center stage in the General Assembly President's speech. She recalled how the Canadian women's hockey team, which won gold at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, responded to the question "Do you play like a girl?" with, "Yes, fast and strong, like girls."

This message, she emphasized, helps combat stereotypes that continue to limit the rights of women and girls, not only in sports. The Milan-Cortina 2026 Games are expected to be the most gender-balanced Winter Games in history, with women making up approximately 47 percent of the participants.

Sports spirit

Italy has committed to ensuring the Games promote inclusion and accessibility – both on the ice and beyond. This will be supported by hundreds of projects planned for the Games.

The Italian delegation also recalled examples of sporting solidarity, in particular the act of bobsledder Eugenio Monti, who lent his competitors a vital piece of equipment at the 1964 Innsbruck Games. This cost him the victory, but earned him the respect of his colleagues.

"Sport and the Olympic Games can be a beacon of hope, an alternative to rivalry and division," Italian officials said.

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November 19, 2025 Healthcare

Over the past decade, 1.2 billion people have gained access to safe sanitation. However, 3.4 billion people—almost half the world's population—still lack access and cannot use toilets.

The UN is reminding us of this on the occasion of World Toilet Day, November 19. It was decided to celebrate it annually precisely because this, for most of us, everyday part of life remains inaccessible to almost half of humanity. The day aims to draw the international community's attention to this problem.

According to the Organization, 354 million people still practice open defecation, which literally involves defecating in the open—in fields, bushes, or forests—without access to soap and water. Open defecation is prevalent primarily among rural residents in Central, South, and East Asia, as well as in sub-Saharan Africa.

It is fraught with various diseases. Due to the lack of safe water supply, sanitation, and hygiene, approximately 1,000 children under the age of 5 die every day.

Open defecation poses the greatest risks to women and girls. Forced exposure to unsafe, open spaces makes them vulnerable to violence.

In addition, the UN reminds that the lack of toilets and sanitation leads to environmental pollution and exacerbates the problem of global warming.

"Untreated human waste pollutes ecosystems and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions," the UN chief said in his message on World Toilet Day. Antonio Guterres.

He called for access to "future-ready toilets."

"Let's make safe sanitation a reality for everyone," the Secretary-General said.

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November 19, 2025 UN

The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: more than 20 people were killed as a result of airstrikes in Ukraine, a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria, a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and one in three women worldwide has experienced partner violence or sexual assault.

Strikes against Ukraine

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemns the attacks carried out by the Russian Federation across several regions of Ukraine last nightThis was stated by the UN chief's spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric. At least twenty-five people, including children, were reportedly killed in the attack, and dozens were wounded. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated that he was particularly shocked by the number of civilian casualties in Ternopil in western Ukraine, located hundreds of kilometers from the front line. Meanwhile, UN Under-Secretary for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo is visiting Kyiv. She said she was shocked by the attacks that took place last night.

UN Security Council on Syria

Lisa Doughten, a representative of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, speaking at the UN Security Council meeting on behalf of UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, reported that more than 16 million people across the country require humanitarian support. The UN and partners are assisting 3.4 million people monthly – a 24 percent increase compared to last year. Efforts to vaccinate children, expand nutrition programs, and conduct the first national needs assessment are ongoing. However, funds to provide adequate assistance are insufficient: the current humanitarian operations plan is only 26 percent funded.

The situation in Gaza

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, despite the efforts of UN agencies and their partners. Humanitarian agencies continue to provide support to those affected by the heavy rains that battered the enclave last week. According to the latest data, more than 18,600 households have been affected, with thousands of people losing their homes and property. These figures are expected to rise as further assessments of the situation are conducted.

Violence against women

Almost every third woman in the world at least once in her life experienced partner violence or sexual violenceThis figure has remained virtually unchanged since 2000. Violence against women remains one of the most serious human rights issues, according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners. The number of women who have experienced partner violence or sexual violence reaches 840 million. In the past 12 months alone, 316 million women—11 percent of all women over 15—experienced physical or sexual violence by a partner.

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November 19, 2025 Climate and environment

Participants at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) taking place in Belém, Brazil, have moved closer to agreeing on a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels. Ministers from Colombia, Germany, Kenya, the Marshall Islands, Sierra Leone, the United Kingdom, and several other countries expressed strong support for Brazil's proposal to raise this issue during the current round of climate negotiations.

The coalition called on delegations to strengthen language in the draft text on the transition away from fossil fuels. Their ultimate goal is to accelerate action and keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

"Fossil fuels are destroying dreams," youth activist Marcel Oliveira said at the conference, calling the move away from hydrocarbons "the most important step toward climate justice in this generation."

Protecting the future

Speaking to UN News, Marcele Oliveira stressed that children and young people must be at the centre of every discussion at COP30.

"We now have a ruling from the International Court of Justice that states' inaction on climate change constitutes an environmental crime. We need to systematically pressure countries to adopt more ambitious climate action," she said. "We must abandon fossil fuels, invest in forest protection, and support those who protect them. Recognizing the role of collective action by young people at the local level is crucial."

© RKIK/J. Jumares

Youth activist Marcel Oliveira.

The Decisive Battle

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres He met with youth delegates in Belém. During the discussion, he acknowledged that past generations failed to contain the climate crisis—the latest scientific forecasts confirm that global temperatures will exceed the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold. The Secretary-General called on young people to form a united front in the "decisive battle" to make the transition beyond the established threshold as short as possible.

Guterres emphasized that the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is vital and requires confronting powerful lobby groups that "put profits above the well-being of the international community and the planet." In this regard, he added, the pressure from young people is difficult to overestimate.

"We just want to be kids!"

Sixteen-year-old João Victor da Silva from Brazil, at a meeting with the Secretary-General, said that today's young people did not intend to become activists; they simply wanted to remain ordinary children and teenagers, but, in his words, "adults, unfortunately, do not make the right decisions."

Niguel Maduro of Aruba said the beaches on his island where he once learned to swim are gradually disappearing. Negotiations, he warned, are progressing too slowly for his country, which is facing rising temperatures and sea levels.

The Secretary-General agreed that greater participation by young people—especially indigenous youth—will lead to better results. He supported calls for more direct, less bureaucratic funding for indigenous peoples and promised to create the conditions to make this possible.

© RKIK/K. Worth

Protests are a hallmark of the KS-30

Indigenous leader Thai Surui called the meeting with youth "one of the most encouraging moments of COP30." However, she warned that the Amazon is dangerously close to a "point of no return" that could lead to desertification of the rainforest.

"Protests are a hallmark of this conference," she said. "Some may not like them, but Brazil is a democratic country. Protests will help political leaders ultimately make pro-life decisions."

The activist noted that corporate lobbying is currently stronger than the pressure of all delegations combined, and certainly more powerful than the voices of indigenous peoples. Nevertheless, she sees growing recognition of the role of indigenous communities as stewards of nature.

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November 19, 2025 Healthcare

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is rapidly expanding, but basic legal mechanisms to protect patients and healthcare workers are still lacking.

This is highlighted by a new report from the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe). In European countries, AI technologies are already helping doctors identify diseases, reduce administrative burdens, and communicate with patients.

AI is changing the way we deliver healthcare, interpret data, and allocate resources. "But without clear policies, data protection, legal frameworks, and investment in AI literacy, we risk deepening inequalities rather than reducing them," said Hans Kluge, Director of WHO/Europe.

Transforming Healthcare Systems

The report is the first comprehensive assessment of how AI technologies are being implemented and regulated in the healthcare systems of countries in the region. Representatives from 50 of the 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia that are members of WHO/Europe participated in the survey.

While nearly all countries recognize the potential of AI—from diagnostics to surveillance and personalized healthcare—only four countries have a dedicated national strategy, and seven more are in the process of developing one.

Some countries are taking proactive steps. For example, in Estonia, electronic health records, insurance data, and demographic registries have been integrated into a single platform, enabling the use of AI tools.

Finland is investing in training medical professionals to use AI, while Spain is launching pilot projects to use AI for early disease detection in primary care.

Problems and limitations

Meanwhile, regulatory measures in most countries have not kept pace with technological progress. Forty-three countries in the region, or 86 percent, cite legal uncertainty as the main barrier to AI use. Another 39 countries, or 78 percent, cite financial constraints.

Less than 10 percent of countries have liability standards for the use of AI in healthcare – a critical element that determines who is responsible if errors or harm occur.

“Despite these challenges, there is broad consensus on policy measures that could facilitate the adoption of AI,” the report says.

Almost all countries believe that clear rules of liability for producers, operators, and users of AI systems are key. Similarly, to build trust, countries recognize the need for guidelines that ensure the transparency, verifiability, and explainability of AI decisions.

Acting in the interests of people

WHO has called on countries to develop AI strategies that align with public health goals.

Experts recommend that countries invest in staff training, strengthen legal and ethical frameworks, engage local communities in decision-making processes, and improve cross-border data management.

“AI has the potential to revolutionise healthcare, but its potential will only be realised if decision-makers put people, and especially patients, at their heart,” said Hans Kluge.

“The choices we make today will determine whether AI will help patients and healthcare workers – or leave them behind,” he added.

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