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Evgeniya Kleshcheva, Cristina Silveiro

November 14, 2025 Culture and education

Last year, more than 37,000 items of cultural value, including archaeological artifacts, works of art, coins, and musical instruments, were seized during the international operation "Pandora IX." The operation involved Europol, Interpol, and the World Customs Organization, as well as law enforcement and customs agencies from 23 countries, including Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Moldova, Serbia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the United States, and other countries.

In particular, according to official Interpol data, Ukrainian customs seized 87 items of historical value, including icons of St. Seraphim of Sarov and ancient coins, which were being illegally exported from the country to Poland, Moldova, and Romania.

In Spain, a gang that looted archaeological sites in the province of Cáceres was uncovered: the criminals obtained thousands of Roman coins using metal detectors and sold them on social media. In Greece, three people were arrested for attempting to sell five Byzantine icons for €70,000. These and other incidents highlight the scale of the problem and the need for international cooperation to address it.

Cultural heritage is not a commodity

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), smuggling of cultural property is one of the oldest forms of criminal activity and ranks among the most profitable forms of illicit trafficking worldwide, alongside weapons and drugs. However, unlike other forms of trafficking that are subject to complete prohibition, trafficking in cultural property itself is not prohibited.

High demand for antiquities and works of art, coupled with inadequate regulation, makes this sector extremely profitable yet low-risk—especially during times of crisis. Organized criminal networks exploit this, operating through complex schemes and profiting from both legal and underground markets.

November 14 is celebrated International Day against Illicit Trafficking of Cultural PropertyThis date was established by UNESCO to commemorate the adoption in 1970 of the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import and Export of Cultural Property and the Illicit Transfer of Ownership. This day is intended to remind people that cultural heritage is not a commodity, but a part of human history that must be protected.

“Illicit trafficking, as well as theft and illegal transfer of cultural property, touches on issues such as cultural rights, cultural identity, our memory, as well as communities and their history,” explained Krista Pikkat, Director of the Division of Culture in Emergencies of UNESCO’s Culture Sector, in an interview with UN News Service.

Historical sites in areas of armed conflict and political instability are particularly vulnerable to smugglers. According to Pikkat, in such situations, authorities have new priorities, and archaeological excavations or museums are often left unsupervised. Smugglers are increasingly using online platforms and auctions to sell illegal finds, including items recovered from underwater archaeological sites.

Preserve artifacts for future generations

UNESCO recently condemned the theft of eight priceless cultural objects from the Louvre Museum on October 19, 2025. The organization's statement stated that such crimes "threaten the preservation, study, and transmission to future generations of precious historical artefacts," while fueling the international trade in stolen cultural property linked to money laundering, tax evasion, and even the financing of terrorism.

© E. Ganz

As noted in the statement, the illicit trafficking of cultural property knows no borders, and combating it requires long-term efforts and international coordination. For decades, UNESCO has been collaborating with Interpol, the World Customs Organization, the UNODC, the International Council of Museums, and other organizations to strengthen legal mechanisms, train museum professionals and customs officers in identifying stolen objects, and raise public awareness. Since 2023, more than 1,200 specialists from 80 countries have completed UNESCO courses, Krista Pikkat explained.

"We are also collaborating with partners like the IAEA to explore how nuclear technologies can be applied to provenance research. It's also exciting to see how new artificial intelligence technologies are providing us with new opportunities to combat illicit trafficking," the UNESCO representative added.

At the end of September, UNESCO officially launched the world's first Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural PropertyThe museum uses 3D modeling and virtual reality technologies, allowing users worldwide to view digital replicas of stolen artifacts. The platform includes educational materials and testimonies from affected communities, as well as a section dedicated to successful examples of cultural property recovery.

"The idea behind the museum is that one day it will be empty," Pikkat noted.

She cited an example from her own experience, explaining that, being from Estonia, she decided to see which artifacts from her country were included in the collection. Pikkat was curious to learn that Estonia had proposed including several sculptures from the altar of a small village church on the island. The artifacts, created by Lübeck masters in the 16th century, are particularly valuable, she explained, due to their history, which shows that Estonia was a member of the Hanseatic League and actively traded with Germany. The UNESCO representative emphasized that the significance of such artifacts cannot always be measured in monetary terms—their true value lies in the historical, cultural, and spiritual meaning they hold for local communities and society as a whole. The Organization warns that a society deprived of its heritage loses part of its identity and the foundation for future development.

Returning the heritage to the homeland

The international legal framework and intergovernmental cooperation are increasingly making it possible to identify and repatriate cultural treasures illegally exported abroad. For example, in May 2025, Egypt reportedly received back 25 archaeological objects, including a mummy portrait from the Fayum Mound, a gold coin dating back to the time of Ptolemy I—the Greek general and successor to Alexander the Great—and jewelry dating back approximately 2,400 years. These objects were discovered in New York and returned to Egypt thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Egyptian consulate, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, and US law enforcement agencies, according to media reports. Earlier in February, dozens of ancient objects worth over €2 million were returned from New York to Greece and Italy.

According to the latest figures from the Manhattan District Attorney's Special Antiquities Squad, which investigates the illicit trade in antiquities, since its creation in late 2017, approximately 6,100 artifacts worth more than $480 million have been seized, and nearly 5,750 of them have been returned to 31 countries.

UNESCO supports countries in their efforts to identify and return stolen property.

"We organized capacity-building activities in Central Asia. The idea was to work with countries surrounding Afghanistan to prevent the illegal export of artifacts from Afghanistan. Then we heard from the Kyrgyz Republic's National Commission for UNESCO that border guards who participated in the exercises were able to identify another artifact—not Afghan," said Krista Pikkat.

Unsplash/M. Zhufé

In addition, she said, UNESCO is working on issues related to sites lost during colonial times, primarily by promoting dialogue on the topic.

Fighting criminal networks

Recent examples demonstrate that the application of international legal instruments—in particular, the 1970 UNESCO Convention and the 1995 Unidroit Convention on the Return of Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Goods—produces results. However, this is often a complex process, requiring diplomatic efforts, legal expertise, and lengthy negotiations between countries.

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to digital solutions: electronic registries, databases, and blockchain technology, which make it possible to trace the origins of art and antiquities.

Citizens are reminded: when purchasing antiques and works of art, please request official documents of origin and avoid transactions with unknown online sellers. Suspicious items can be reported to local law enforcement agencies or directly to Interpol.

Every returned artifact is a restored link between the past and the present, a reminder that history and culture belong to us all. International Day on November 14 calls for us to remember this responsibility – and to continue the work of protecting cultural heritage, which knows no borders.

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November 13, 2025 Humanitarian aid

Funding shortages threaten the ability of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to fulfill its mandate, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said Thursday in a speech to the UN General Assembly.

According to the head of UNRWA, the agency plays an indispensable role in ensuring stability in Gaza and rebuilding the devastated sector. He emphasized that the funding cuts to UNRWA were due to a "virulent" disinformation campaign that tarnished the agency's reputation.

"Reducing or terminating UNRWA's activities would have serious consequences for the entire region," Lazzarini warned. "In Gaza, it would undermine stabilization and reconstruction efforts and jeopardize political progress."

The agency's role in the region

UNRWA has been operating since 1950, providing basic services, protection and humanitarian assistance to Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.

In 2024, the agency provided emergency food aid to approximately 1.9 million Palestinians in Gaza. It also provides in-person education to over 50,000 children.

"We have succeeded in raising generations of Palestinians who have become prosperous citizens of the world, contributing to the economic development of the community throughout the region and beyond, including Europe and North America," Lazzarini said.

Later, during a briefing for journalists in New York, he added that "if destruction and trauma continue to accompany the learning process," there is a risk that Palestinian children will be exploited, radicalized, or join armed groups in the future.

The problem of financing

The agency has come under scrutiny over Israeli allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 attacks, and the United States, traditionally the agency's largest donor, froze all its funding in 2023.

Deputy Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN, Feda Abdelhadi, described the agency as "necessary and irreplaceable."

"We call on all States to remain firm and principled in their support for UNRWA, duly recognizing its vital role," the diplomat said.

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November 13, 2025 Refugees and migrants

Millions of Ukrainians driven from their homes by the ongoing war are facing acute housing shortages. Many are forced to rely on the rental market, depleting their family savings, according to a new report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

According to the latest data collected by the IOM, more than half of the 3.7 million internally displaced people – 54 percent – live in rented accommodation, compared to just six percent of those who were able to stay.

Approximately 2.5 million people own homes that are currently inaccessible. More than half—60 percent—of these homes are officially classified as damaged and therefore unsafe to occupy.

The financial burden of rent continues to weigh heavily on displaced families. Two-thirds of IDPs renting housing (more than 1.3 million people) are using their savings to pay rent. One in four displaced Ukrainians who spend 50 percent or more of their income on rent has already completely exhausted their savings.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the average monthly income of internally displaced persons seeking rental housing – 16,000 hryvnias ($380) – is significantly lower than the approximately 30,000 hryvnias ($700) requested by tenants.

As the war continues, resolving the housing problems of internally displaced Ukrainians remains a critical task.

"IOM is committed to helping internally displaced people and their host communities build a sustainable future. This includes training in new skills, assisting with employment, and providing stable housing," said Robert Turner, IOM Chief of Mission in Ukraine.

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November 13, 2025 UN

The UN's top news today: the UN Climate Conference in Belem, the humanitarian situation in Sudan, child vaccinations in Gaza, and youth mental health in the WHO European Region.

UN Climate Conference

At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, an action plan to adapt global health systems to rising temperatures and extreme weather conditions was presented on Thursday. Brazil called it a "definitive moment to demonstrate the potential of the health sector in global action to combat climate change." The action plan, developed by the World Health Organization, the UN University, and the Organization's partners in collaboration with the Brazilian government, outlines practical steps to combat climate change: strengthening health systems to withstand climate shocks, mobilizing financial and technological resources for adaptation, and ensuring communities have a voice and promote their participation in governance.

The humanitarian situation in Sudan

The World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Thursday that more than 21 million people, or 45 percent of Sudan's population, are currently facing acute food insecurity as a result of more than two and a half years of armed conflict. Famine has been reported in the towns of El Fasher and Kadugli, which are largely cut off from humanitarian access. However, in nine other towns where WFP maintains regular access, the worst-case scenario has been averted.

Vaccinating children in Gaza

The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) are working to help 44,000 children in Gaza who have been deprived of vital health services as a result of two years of conflict. The immunization campaign will run until November 18. Providing essential medical care to such a large number of children is directly dependent on the parties maintaining a complete ceasefire. A lasting ceasefire will ensure families, health workers, and humanitarian aid workers have free and safe access to vaccination sites.

Mental health of young people in the WHO European Region

Mental health problems among children and young people are becoming increasingly common, yet the quality and availability of care do not match the scale of the problem. This is according to a new report from the World Health Organization's Regional Office for Europe. According to the report, one in seven children and adolescents in the region, which encompasses countries in Europe and Central Asia, lives with a mental health disorder. Adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable: one in four girls aged 15-19 experiences mental health problems. Suicide remains the leading cause of death among young people aged 15-29.

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November 13, 2025 Healthcare

The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) are running a comprehensive catch-up campaign in Gaza, trying to reach 44,000 children who have been deprived of vital health services, including routine immunization, nutritional support and growth monitoring, as a result of two years of conflict.

Before the conflict, Gaza had 54 immunization centers, and the region was among the world leaders in childhood vaccination coverage.

The campaign began on November 10 and will last until November 18. Providing essential medical care to such a large number of children is directly dependent on the parties maintaining a complete ceasefire. A lasting ceasefire will ensure families, medical workers, and humanitarian aid workers have free and safe access to vaccination sites.

After two years of endless violence that has claimed the lives of more than 20,000 children, we finally have the opportunity to protect those who survived.

"After two years of relentless violence that has claimed the lives of more than 20,000 children, we finally have the opportunity to protect those who survived," said Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF Special Representative for the State of Palestine. "Vaccinating, supporting, and nourishing every child is not just a humanitarian measure; it is a moral imperative. This is how we protect the future of children born into this catastrophe and begin to restore hope amid the ruins."

Over the course of the three phases of the campaign, UNICEF will deliver 11 types of vaccines, syringes, medical equipment, and nutritional supplements to the Gaza Strip. Vaccinations will be carried out in 149 health facilities and through 10 mobile units throughout the Gaza Strip.

This is how we protect the future of children born in the conditions of a real catastrophe.

UNICEF is working to rehabilitate 15 more health centers, and WHO is working on 20 more. WHO is also providing ongoing support to the local administration to ensure the functioning of health facilities, the supply of medicines, and vaccinations, rehabilitating the central laboratory in Gaza, and expanding efforts to strengthen disease surveillance.

The campaign is being carried out in close collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Health and local health partners, with financial support from the Vaccine Alliance, Gavi.

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November 13, 2025 Healthcare

Mental disorders among children and young people are becoming increasingly common, yet the quality and availability of care do not match the scale of the problem, according to a new report from the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe).

For the first time, the report brings together comprehensive data on the mental health of children and young people in the region.

Lack of psychological services

According to the report, one in seven children and adolescents in the region, which encompasses countries in Europe and Central Asia, lives with a mental health disorder. Adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable: one in four girls aged 15–19 experiences mental health problems. Suicide remains the leading cause of death among young people aged 15–29.

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According to WHO, a quarter of countries in the region lack community-based mental health services for children and adolescents. Furthermore, 20 percent of countries lack targeted policies to address the psychological needs of children, adolescents, and young people.

The quality of mental health care varies significantly across countries. On average, there is only one psychiatrist for every 76,000 children and adolescents.

Improve the quality of care

WHO calls for urgent and concerted action to close these gaps and ensure all children and young people have access to high-quality, people-centered care. The report's authors propose nine priority actions for governments and partner organizations:

Develop and implement national action plans and legislation. Introduce incentives and funding to improve the quality of services. Establish standards, protocols, and clinical guidelines. Implement continuous quality improvement measures across all systems. Redesign care models around the needs of children, young people, and their families. Involve children, families, and local communities in developing solutions. Invest in training a workforce that meets the needs of the population. Evaluate results in accordance with the priorities of children and their families. Study and disseminate effective practices.

"This report is a wake-up call for the region. Every child and young person has the right to mental health support and quality care. By taking action now, countries can build resilient systems that will foster the prosperity of future generations," said João Breda, Head of the WHO Office for Quality of Care and Patient Safety.

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November 13, 2025 Climate and environment

At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, a number of key initiatives were unveiled on Thursday, united by a common goal to protect people and the planet from the impacts of the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, and ensure a sustainable future.

Green projects for refugees

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has launched the world's first large-scale sustainable financing initiative led by internally displaced people themselves.

Refugee Fund for Environmental Protection (Refugee Environmental Protection Fund) will support projects to restore forests, introduce clean energy sources and create green jobs, linking nature restoration with support for livelihoods.

"The fund enables us to invest in nature, create safer environments, and engage people in processes that protect the land they depend on," said Siddhartha Sinha, head of UNHCR's Innovative Financing Unit.

The first projects are being implemented in Uganda and Rwanda, where they plan to restore over 6,000 hectares of degraded land, provide access to clean energy for over 15,000 people, introduce cleaner and safer cooking solutions, and create sustainable jobs in nursery management, soil conservation, and household services. These measures will help reduce carbon emissions by over 200,000 tons annually, strengthen food and water systems, and create livelihood opportunities.

The fund is already preparing to expand its work in Brazil and Bangladesh, including projects to protect Amazon forests and indigenous ecosystems.

Water and climate action

Speaking at the Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action, UNEP Director General Inger Andersen emphasizedthat water must become a central theme of climate efforts.

“Nearly three billion people suffer from water shortages, and 90 percent of natural disasters are water-related,” she said.

The Water for Climate Action initiative, supported by UNEP, the World Meteorological Programme (WMO) and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), aims to stimulate investments in nature-based solutions and integrated water resources management, with a particular focus on vulnerable regions.

Reducing food loss

In addition, UNEP and partners launched the Breakthrough on Food Loss initiative (Food Waste Breakthrough), which aims to halve global food loss by 2030, reduce methane emissions by 7 percent and reduce global hunger.

The world's population wastes over 1 billion tons of food annually, accounting for 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

"The world loses an unacceptable amount of food every year in all countries – rich and poor. Reducing food waste is key to fighting hunger and reducing methane emissions," emphasized Inger Andersen.

A new program, funded by the Global Environment Facility, will support cities and countries in developing national strategies to reduce food waste and methane emissions, adapting and scaling up proven solutions in developing countries, and strengthening international cooperation in this area.

New toolkit to combat extreme heat

The UN was also represented at COP30 Risk Management Framework and Toolkit, which are created by extreme heat.

The initiative will help countries assess and reduce the risks associated with extreme heat, which kills more than 500,000 people annually and causes approximately $1 trillion in lost productivity.

“Integrated, cross-sectoral and multi-level heat-risk management is no longer a matter of choice – it is a matter of survival,” said Kamal Kishore, head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.

In 2026, pilot projects will be conducted in Barbados, Senegal, and Cambodia, where practical mechanisms for coordination, financing, and early response will be tested.

Environmentalists

On the eve of the high-level session “Protect defenders”, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris called upon support human rights defenders who fight for people's right to a healthy environment.

According to her, environmental defenders are subject to persecution, arrest, and even murder: 167 such activists were killed in 2024. They have also been detained in 28 countries.

"These numbers are not abstractions, but real human lives lost or forever changed in the fight to protect our planet," Brands Keris said.

“We are obliged not only to thank them, but also to provide them with reliable protection,” she emphasized.

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November 12, 2025 Humanitarian aid

Around 90,000 people were forced to flee their homes after the fall of El Fasher in North Darfur, Sudan, and another 50,000 fled violence in Kordofan, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director Amy Pope told reporters on Wednesday.

"People who have fled their homes in El Fasher are reporting widespread violence, sexual abuse, and the shooting of civilians," the IOM Director-General said at a briefing at UN headquarters.

Women and children walked for days, without food or water, along roads strewn with corpses, sometimes having to hide from drones. According to Pope, these families are in dire need of support, and cuts to humanitarian aid worldwide are jeopardizing efforts to help them.

Those affected need shelter and essential supplies – people fled in the clothes they had, unable to take anything with them, trying to save their lives and the lives of their children. The IOM is ready to provide everything needed, but funding for humanitarian operations is woefully inadequate: only 8 percent of the required funds have been allocated. The IOM is forced to raise funds by turning to other UN agencies.

Another problem is humanitarian access. Access to the outskirts of El Fasher is virtually impossible, and IOM staff can mostly only assist those who have fled the city.

In addition, humanitarian workers themselves have become victims of violence – many have been injured, and several have been killed or injured.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.