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January 27, 2026 Culture and education

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced a major expansion of the Back to Learning program in Gaza, one of the world's largest education initiatives in extreme conditions. The program will reach 336,000 children deprived of access to education due to two years of war.

According to UNICEF Representative James Elder, the situation in the sector remains critical: 60 percent of school-age children are unable to attend in-person education, more than 90 percent of schools have been damaged or destroyed, and over 335,000 children under five are at risk of severe developmental delays due to the collapse of services.

Progress has come to naught

Elder emphasized that before the war, literacy rates in Gaza were high, and education was a key element of sustainability and development. Today, however, schools, universities, and libraries have been destroyed, and years of progress have been effectively reversed.

"Every child who is deprived of an opportunity to learn is a potential engineer, doctor, or teacher we lose before they can change their world," Elder said.

How the program works

Together with the Palestinian Ministry of Education, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and other partners, UNICEF is rolling out a network of multi-functional learning centers. Children will receive basic reading, writing, and math skills, psychosocial and mental health support, and access to healthcare, nutrition, and protection services.

UNICEF currently supports more than 100 such centers, but demand far exceeds capacity: there are long waiting lists everywhere, and families are setting up makeshift classrooms in tents and destroyed buildings.

"Education saves lives"

James Elder noted that education in Gaza is not a secondary concern, even amid the shortages of water, food, and shelter. Education centers provide security and access to vital information, making them part of the humanitarian response.

UNICEF also continues to supply winter clothing and blankets to Gaza and is working to restore water treatment systems and open feeding centres.

"Hope becomes reality"

Almost half of Gaza's population are children. To ensure education for 336,000 schoolchildren by the end of the year, UNICEF needs $86 million. "That's about what the world spends on coffee for an hour or two," Elder noted.

He emphasized that the "Return to Learning" program is a bridge to restoring a fully functioning education system, not a replacement: "Our task now is to restore elements of normal life to children and show them a direction for development. Hope is becoming a reality."

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January 26, 2026 Sustainable Development Goals

More than 75 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from burning fossil fuels for energy. The lack of a reliable and clean energy supply hinders development in education, healthcare, and the economy.

Thus, many developing regions still rely heavily on polluting fossil fuels for daily life, exacerbating poverty among their populations. An estimated 1.5 billion people in rural areas still use unsafe, unhealthy, and inefficient cooking methods, such as burning wood or dung. This causes an estimated 3.2 million premature deaths annually.

INInternational Clean Energy Day, which is celebrated on January 26, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on countries to accelerate the global energy transition.

Accelerate progress

The installed capacity of renewable energy sources per capita continues to grow annually and in developing countries has reached a new high of 341 watts per person, up from 155 watts in 2015.

"The world is changing, but we must accelerate“,” the UN chief said in his message, emphasizing that the task of the international community is to make it possible temperature rise of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius"as small, short and safe as possible" through a fair and orderly transition away from fossil fuels.

According to the Secretary-General, renewable energy sources are already becoming a key driver of transformation. In many regions, they are the cheapest source of new energy, and last year, for the first time globally, wind, solar, and other "green" energy sources generated more electricity than coal.

Guterres noted that clean energy not only helps combat climate change but also promotes development: it provides access to electricity for those still living without it, provides safer cooking methods, improves health and education outcomes, creates jobs, and reduces countries' vulnerability to geopolitical upheavals and price volatility in fuel markets. According to the UN, every dollar invested in renewable energy creates three times more jobs than investment in fossil fuels.

Just transition

However, Guterres emphasized that the pace of transition must be accelerated. Energy grids are failing to keep pace with the growth of renewable energy capacity, and high financial costs continue to leave many developing countries behind.

The Secretary-General called for tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030, removing administrative and financial barriers and ensuring access to clean energy for households and industry. He emphasized the importance of modernizing power grids, developing energy storage systems, and diversifying supply chains, including in the energy sector. critical minerals.

Particular attention, he said, must be paid to a just transition – protecting workers and local communities, supporting education and creating new economic opportunities.

The Secretary-General recommended that the financial sector reduce the cost of capital for developing countries, and that multilateral development banks more actively mitigate risks and attract private investment.

"Clean energy is the future that is already here," Guterres said. "Let's seize this moment and bring the renewable energy revolution to every corner of the world."

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January 26, 2026 Human rights

UN Group of Independent Experts stated that restrictions imposed by the European Union on a number of scientists, researchers and analysts negatively impact the exercise of their fundamental rights.

The EU is imposing restrictive measures on individuals who worked at Russian state universities, participated in international forums, published books, wrote analytical papers, or maintained blogs. The EU believes that these individuals' statements coincided with Russia's official position or could be perceived as reflecting it.

Independent UN experts believe that such measures are creating a climate of fear in the academic community. Scientists around the world are becoming afraid to express their opinions, refusing to participate in international projects, publish, and teach. As a result, the space for free scholarship and debate is shrinking.

Among the actions used to justify unilateral sanctions were public criticism of unilateral sanctions regimes, political analysis of the factors that led to the armed conflict against Ukraine, academic commentary on issues of contemporary international politics, and discussions of the feasibility of cooperation between the Global South and the Russian Federation.

"Persecution, intimidation, or stigmatization of individuals for their position constitutes a violation of their right to freedom of expression," the experts emphasized. "Any attempt to coerce anyone into accepting a particular point of view is unacceptable."

The statement's authors note that the sanctions have grave practical consequences. Some scientists are losing their jobs, are unable to access banking services, travel freely, or afford a decent living.

UN experts called on the European Union to comply with its international obligations and lift sanctions against scientists and analysts.

The statement was signed by five UN Special Rapporteurs. As a reminder, independent experts are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. They are not UN employees and do not receive a UN salary for their work.

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January 26, 2026 UN

On the eve International Holocaust Remembrance DayOn January 27, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for people to not only remember the tragedy of the past, but also to reflect on the challenges of the present and their responsibility for the future.

He said the events of 1945 may seem like distant history, but within living memory, millions of Jews and members of other minorities fell victim to the Nazi regime. They were stripped of their dignity, persecuted, and ultimately exterminated "with alarming conveyor belt efficiency—systematically, openly, and with impunity."

Türk emphasized that the Holocaust began not with death camps, but with indifference and silence in the face of injustice, as well as the gradual dehumanization of people. "Today, as always, we must remember this," he noted.

Increase in the number of threats and attacks

The High Commissioner expressed alarm at the increase in threats against Jews and attacks on Jewish communities in recent years. He recalled high-profile attacks in Sydney And Manchester, emphasizing that countless everyday instances of violence and abuse that don't make the news also inflict deep wounds on individuals and communities. Moreover, he noted, hatred and dehumanization are increasingly permeating the digital space.

At the same time, Türk noted that today humanity has greater capacity to counter these dangerous trends. Society has at its disposal the memory of the past, education, access to information, and a system of human rights enshrined in international law.

Common humanity

The High Commissioner called for the use of these tools to combat racism, anti-Semitism, and dehumanization. He emphasized the need for laws prohibiting discrimination in all forms and called on politicians to "unite, not divide" people through their actions. He also noted the importance of ensuring that people of all generations are aware of the Holocaust and human rights. In this context, he emphasized the need to create inclusive mechanisms for moderating digital content.

“First of all, we must defend our common humanity every day,” Türk said. He recalled examples of selflessness during the Holocaust, which testify to the power of compassion and reason.

The last witnesses of that era are passing away, but their example and inspiring stories live on, he added, citing the recently deceased Eva Schloss, who promoted tolerance and spread knowledge about the Holocaust.

"Together, we must confront ideas of exclusivity, superiority, and intolerance wherever we encounter them—at the family table, at work, on social media. Each of us can become a builder of a world free of discrimination and intolerance," the High Commissioner emphasized.

In conclusion, Türk quoted Eva Schloss's half-sister, Anne Frank: "You don't have to wait another minute to start making the world a better place."

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January 26, 2026 Refugees and migrants

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) expressed deep concern over reports of several deadly shipwrecks in the Central Mediterranean. According to preliminary reports, hundreds of people may be lost at sea or have died. Poor weather conditions have significantly complicated search and rescue operations. The IOM is updating its information.

Such tragedies once again highlight the deadly consequences of migrant smuggling and trafficking networks, the IOM said in a statement. Criminals continue to operate with impunity, deliberately sending people to sea in unseaworthy and overcrowded boats. The organization calls on the international community to intensify efforts to dismantle these criminal networks and prevent further losses.

Death from hypothermia

A search and rescue operation off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa has confirmed the deaths of three people on a boat traveling from Tunisia. Among the dead were twin girls, approximately one year old, who, according to their surviving mother, died of hypothermia shortly before disembarking. A man also died of hypothermia shortly after arrival.

Survivors reported that another boat left the same port and at the same time as their vessel, but never arrived at its destination.

IOM continues to investigate the fate of the passengers. According to the latest information received from Malta, one of the survivors rescued by a commercial vessel reported surviving the shipwreck, which left at least 50 people missing or dead.

Search for missing persons

The Italian Coast Guard is coordinating search operations to locate other boats believed missing or in distress at sea. At least 51 people have died in a shipwreck off the coast of Libya. While the IOM is still awaiting official confirmation of the incident, the scale of the estimated losses points to yet another major tragedy in the Central Mediterranean.

The most recent shipwrecks occurred during Cyclone Harry, an exceptionally powerful Mediterranean storm. Transporting migrants in unseaworthy and overcrowded boats is a criminal offense. People were deliberately sent to sea in conditions that effectively meant an almost inevitable risk of death.

The Central Mediterranean route remains the deadliest migration corridor in the world. In 2025 alone, at least 1,340 people died in the Central Mediterranean.

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January 26, 2026 UN

Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking Monday at the UN Security Council open debate on strengthening the international rule of law, said that peace, justice and effective multilateralism depend directly on states fulfilling their obligations under the UN Charter and international law.

He recalled that the principle of the rule of law underlies the entire system of international security created after the Second World War.

According to the UN chief, for 80 years International law has helped humanity avoid another world war and mitigate the consequences of numerous regional conflicts. This system, he emphasized, is binding on all states and is based on respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of countries.

Blatant violations

The Secretary-General recalled that in 2024, UN member states adopted Pact for the Future, reaffirming his commitment to international law. However, today, he warned, the situation is rapidly deteriorating.

"All over the world, the rule of law is being replaced by the law of the jungle," Guterres said.

He pointed to "flagrant violations of international law and brazen disregard for the UN Charter" – from the unlawful use of force and attacks on civilian infrastructure to the denial of vital humanitarian aid. Such actions, he said, create dangerous precedents and undermine trust between states.

"From Gaza to Ukraine, from the Sahel to Myanmar, in Venezuela and elsewhere, international law is increasingly being treated like a menu, with only the most convenient options being chosen," the UN chief noted.

Responsibility of UN Security Council members

Guterres emphasized the special role of the Security Council, calling it the only body empowered by the UN Charter to make decisions on peace and security matters binding on all states. Therefore, he noted, reforming the Security Council is essential to enhance its representativeness and effectiveness.

The Secretary General identified three key areas of action.

First, all states must fulfill the obligations they have undertaken: “The purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations are not optional.”

Secondly, he called for more active use of the mechanisms for peaceful settlement of disputes provided by the UN Charter—negotiations, mediation, and arbitration—and for strengthening cooperation with regional organizations to prevent conflicts. Peace, he added, is impossible without investment in development and the fight against poverty, inequality, and corruption.

Third, Guterres emphasized the importance of independent justice and accountability. He called on states to recognize the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice and to ensure the independent operation of the International Criminal Court.

In concluding his speech, the Secretary-General also recalled the role of UN Security Council members, who, he said, “bear a special responsibility to set an example” in the matter of compliance with the provisions of the UN Charter.

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January 26, 2026 Refugees and migrants

Attacks on United Nations facilities in the occupied Palestinian territory have reached an "unprecedented" level, said Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), commenting on the arson attack on the agency's headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem on social media.

According to Lazzarini, the UNRWA building was "broken and destroyed" by Israeli authorities and then set on fire. He called this another attempt to "downgrade the status of Palestinian refugees and erase their history."

The head of UNRWA stressed that the issue of refugee status must be resolved through a “genuine political process, not criminal actions.”

UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, was established by the UN General Assembly in 1949. Its mandate is to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees until a just and lasting solution is achieved.

The agency operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. More than 75 years after the events of 1948, tens of thousands of Palestinians continue to live in displacement, deprived of permanent housing and livelihoods.

UNRWA provides education and healthcare services to refugees, provides social support, and implements infrastructure projects. The agency's funding depends almost entirely on voluntary contributions from donor governments.

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January 26, 2026 International law

The risk of mass violence against civilians and further derailment of the peace agreement in South Sudan has sharply increased. The UN Commission on Human Rights in the country warned on Monday in response to recent inflammatory statements by senior South Sudanese military officials and reports of force mobilization in Jonglei State.

UN experts noted that public statements by commanders and others with de facto control over the armed forces, coupled with the active deployment of troops, represent a dangerous escalation at a time when the political foundations of the peace process are already seriously weakened.

International criminal liability

Under international law, military and civilian leaders who incite the commission of crimes or exercise effective control over forces may be held criminally responsible. Liability also applies to those who failed to prevent crimes or punish those responsible if they knew or should have known about the violations being committed.

"Rhetoric calling for the killing of those no longer involved in the fighting and civilians, including the elderly, with claims that 'no one should be spared' is not only shocking but also extremely dangerous," said Commission Chairperson Yasmin Sooka.

She recalled that in the past, such statements preceded mass atrocities.

"When such statements are made or tolerated by those in positions of command, it is perceived as a license to commit violence and removes any expectations of restraint," Sooka warned. "In a context where civilians have already been forced to flee, traumatized and defenseless, such calls put entire communities at serious risk."

The Cycle of Violence

The Commission emphasized that what is happening is not an isolated incident, but part of a broader political crisis associated with systematic violations of the peace agreement and a weakening of discipline within the command structures.

According to Commission expert Barney Afako, the mobilization of forces in such a situation, accompanied by ethnically charged statements, could trigger a spiral of violence that could quickly spiral out of control.

"If there is no immediate intervention at the highest level to rein in the armed forces, achieve de-escalation, and return to consensus politics, South Sudan risks rapidly sliding into a new phase of large-scale violence," Afako said. "In addition to measures at the national level, what is happening urgently requires the involvement of regional leaders at the highest level to facilitate the restoration of the transition process in South Sudan. Time is running out."

Incitement to crime

The Commission emphasized that, under international humanitarian and criminal law, command responsibility extends not only to those who give criminal orders, but also to those who incite crimes or fail to prevent them.

"The peace agreement was created precisely to prevent such a descent into violence," noted Commission member Carlos Castresana Fernández. "Public orders or statements encouraging attacks on civilians, including rhetoric portraying entire communities as legitimate targets, may give rise to individual criminal liability under international law."

The experts called on all parties to immediately cease inflammatory statements and the mobilization of forces, and on the country's leadership to take measures to de-escalate the conflict. They also emphasized that President Salva Kiir bears heightened responsibility for ensuring effective control over the forces acting on his behalf. A similar responsibility rests with the Chief of Staff of the South Sudanese Armed Forces, the Minister of Defense, and other officials exercising operational control over military operations in Jonglei State and other parts of the country.

The commission called on regional and international partners to urgently resume active engagement to preserve the peace agreement and exert pressure on South Sudan's leadership. The experts warned that without this, the country risks sliding into full-scale interethnic conflict and a new, preventable tragedy.

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January 24, 2026 Healthcare

As a founding member of the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States has made significant contributions to many of WHO's achievements, including the eradication of smallpox and the fight against diseases such as polio, HIV, Ebola, influenza, tuberculosis, and malaria.

The WHO issued this statement on Saturday, after the United States officially withdrew from the organization. The WHO noted that it regretted the US decision and emphasized that it would make both the US and the world "a less safe place."

"WHO takes note of the United States Government's allegations that it has been 'defamed, tarnished' and insulted by WHO," the organization said.

"In fact, the opposite is true. WHO has always sought to cooperate in good faith with the United States, as it does with all other Member States, with full respect for their sovereignty," the WHO added.

The United States cited WHO's miscalculations during the pandemic as one of the reasons for its withdrawal.COVID-19", including "obstructing the timely and accurate sharing of important information" and that WHO "covered up these failures."

The WHO says it acted quickly and shared information with the world in a timely manner, and advised countries.

"WHO recommended the use of masks, vaccines, and physical distancing, but at no point did it recommend mandatory mask-wearing, mandatory vaccination, or isolation. We supported sovereign governments in making decisions they believed were in the best interests of their people, but those decisions were their own," the organization emphasized.

The United States also claimed that the WHO "was pursuing a politicized, bureaucratic agenda driven by countries hostile to American interests."

"This is not true. As a specialized agency of the United Nations governed by 194 Member States, WHO has always been and remains impartial and exists to serve all countries, with respect for their sovereignty, without fear or favor," the WHO statement said.

The Organization notes that it appreciates the support of countries that continue to work within the WHO framework to find solutions to the most serious health problems.

“Last year, WHO Member States adopted the Agreement on Pandemics, which, once ratified, will become an important instrument of international law to ensure protection against future pandemics,” the WHO said.

The organization expressed hope that the United States would rejoin the WHO in the future.

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