Category: Russia

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Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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December 30, 2025 Peace and security

"My place is not in armed conflict." These words from a child in the Democratic Republic of Congo are addressed to world leaders. They were quoted in a New Year's message by the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Fraser.

According to her, in 2025, children in conflict zones,including the DRC, Gaza, Haiti, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan and Ukraine have been victims of horrific violations documented by the United Nations.

At the same time, 2024 has already been recognized as the most difficult year in almost 30 years of the existence of the UN mandate on children and armed conflict – it was recorded the highest number of serious violations of children's rights"We cannot allow these horrific numbers to become the new normal," Fraser stressed.

Listen and act

She called for decisive action to improve the situation of children in crisis zones in 2026.

Ahead of the 30th anniversary of the UN mandate on children and armed conflict, the Special Representative has issued a call to world leaders: "Listen and act."

"Hear their stories, listen to their voices – their words are powerful and should help us shape the future they want," she said.

On behalf of "all the children whose voices have been silenced by violence, whose stories have been erased by bombs," Fraser called on leaders to take responsibility and do the right thing. Protecting children in conflict, she emphasized, is not simply a moral or political choice, but a requirement of international law, and violations of children's rights can constitute war crimes.

Financial support for child protection efforts

The Special Representative called on States to maintain and strengthen funding for child protection programs, as monitoring, reporting, response, and justice directly depend on this support. She emphasized the importance of investing in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and long-term recovery.

Fraser also called on all parties to the conflicts to respect international humanitarian law, stop violations, and hold those responsible accountable. She said the promises made to children in Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict must be respected, including every child's right to life, development and the right to be heard – the right to childhood.

In closing, Vanessa Fraser quoted another child as saying to world leaders: “A safe child means a safe future.”

"Children have rights. Children want peace," she concluded.

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.

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December 29, 2025 Peace and security

Sexual violence against children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become a "systemic and entrenched crisis" that is rapidly worsening, according to a new report from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Cases of violence are being recorded in all provinces of the country, and their number has increased sharply since 2022.

According to data collected by protection services and organizations working to combat gender-based violence, more than 35,000 cases of sexual violence against children were recorded in the DRC in the first nine months of 2025 alone. In 2024, this number reached almost 45,000, accounting for approximately 40 percent of all documented cases of sexual violence in the country. This level is three times higher than in 2022.

UNICEF emphasizes that the true scale of the tragedy is likely much greater, as fear, stigma, lack of safety, and limited access to care prevent many victims from seeking support.

According to UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, field staff are reporting stories of mothers walking for hours with their daughters to get them to a clinic after a sexual assault. Similar stories, she noted, are happening across the country and reflect a crisis fueled by inequality, instability, and weak protection systems.

Extreme risks for children

The situation remains most dire in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, where ongoing conflicts, massive population displacement, and disrupted protection mechanisms pose extreme risks to children. Significant cases of violence are also recorded in the capital, Kinshasa, as well as in the Kasai region, where poverty, food shortages, and inadequate schooling increase girls' vulnerability to exploitation and early marriage.

Adolescent girls remain the most vulnerable group, and their share of victims of sexual violence continues to grow. Boys are also subjected to sexual violence, but such cases are significantly less frequently reported in official statistics. Children with disabilities face an even higher risk due to physical and social barriers that simultaneously increase their vulnerability and limit their access to assistance and justice.

The situation remains critical

Data verified by UN agencies show that in conflict-affected regions of the DRC, the rate of sexual violence against children was already high in 2022 and 2023, and has increased by nearly 30 percent in 2024. Preliminary data for the first half of 2025 indicate that the situation remains critical: the number of cases recorded in the first six months could exceed 80 percent of the total for the entire previous year.

The UNICEF report calls on the government, all parties to the conflict, civil society, and international partners to intensify efforts to end sexual violence, expand access to specialized services for survivors, strengthen measures to hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure sustainable funding for protection systems.

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December 29, 2025 Peace and security

Israel's decision to recognize "Somaliland" as an independent state has sparked a serious international reaction, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Peacebuilding Khaled Khiari said at a UN Security Council meeting on Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his recognition of "Somaliland" as a sovereign state on December 26. That same day, the de facto authorities of "Somaliland" welcomed the decision, calling it "historic" and declaring that it paves the way for the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the two countries and expanded cooperation.

Somalia's harsh reaction

The Federal Government of Somalia strongly condemned Israel's actions, declaring its "categorical and unequivocal" rejection of recognition. The authorities emphasized that the country's unity and territorial integrity are enshrined in the Constitution, the UN Charter, and the documents of the African Union, and that any external attempts to change the country's status are "null and void."

Somali authorities also warned that they would not allow the establishment of foreign military bases or the country's involvement in regional conflicts. On December 27, the Somali parliament condemned the recognition, calling it "illegal" and "null and void."

International reaction

Israel's decision sparked a wave of criticism from countries in the Middle East and Africa, including Egypt, Jordan, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Twenty countries in the region issued a joint statement condemning the recognition.

Regional organizations – the Arab League, the East African Community, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the European Union – have also stressed the need to respect Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The African Union Commission chairperson said on December 26 that recognizing "Somaliland" runs counter to the organization's founding principles and could set a dangerous precedent for the entire continent.

A call for dialogue

The Assistant Secretary-General recalled that the Security Council had repeatedly reaffirmed the need to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia, most recently reaffirmed in resolution 2809 (2025) of 23 December 2025.

In closing, Khiari recalled that the Security Council has repeatedly reaffirmed its support for Somalia's sovereignty and unity, including in resolution 2809 (2025). The UN Assistant Secretary-General called on the Somali authorities and "Somaliland" to resume peaceful and constructive dialogue and to refrain from steps that could lead to further escalation.

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December 29, 2025 Humanitarian aid

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported on Monday that humanitarian organizations in Gaza are operating under emergency status. Torrential rains, which have continued for several days, are causing the collapse of war-damaged buildings, flooding tents, and destroying the personal belongings of people living in already dire conditions.

Over the past 24 hours, adverse weather has claimed new lives, and public health risks are also growing. Children remain particularly vulnerable: cases of hypothermia have been reported among infants, as well as infectious diseases associated with overflowing sewer systems.

Emergency measures and assistance coordination

A special system has been established to rapidly respond to the floods, bringing together UN agencies and non-governmental organizations. Humanitarian teams are distributing tents, warm clothing, blankets, and essential relief kits throughout the Gaza Strip. UN humanitarian partners are deploying heavy equipment to pump out sewage that is inundating residential areas.

Despite the challenging conditions, other assistance programs outlined by the UN humanitarian plan continue to be implemented. From December 23 to 26, organizations responsible for water, sanitation, and hygiene distributed tens of thousands of hygiene kits, soap, and shampoo to approximately 150,000 people in need.

As of last Sunday, humanitarian organizations were able to provide food aid to more than a million people – half of the Strip’s population.

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December 29, 2025

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December 29, 2025 UN

The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: the US will allocate $2 billion for humanitarian aid, a UN mission visited El Fasher, floods in Gaza, and the Secretary-General's New Year's message.

US funding

Today in Geneva, the United Nations and the United States Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding in which the United States commits to allocate 2 billion dollars to UN-managed humanitarian funds. The agreement provides for funding for aid in 17 countries, including Ukraine, Haiti, Sudan, and Syria, as well as a contribution to the Central Emergency Response Fund. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher emphasized that this decision by the US leadership "will help save the lives of millions of people."

The situation in El Fasher

Following lengthy negotiations, UN staff were able to visit El Fasher, Sudan, on December 26 to assess the situation. This was the first such mission since the city was besieged more than 500 days ago. UN staff reported a severe shortage of essential supplies and basic services in the capital of North Darfur state. Humanitarian convoys have been unable to reach El Fasher for several months. In recent months, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee the city and surrounding areas. Humanitarian workers continue to assist and provide protection to those who have managed to flee.

Humanitarian aid in Gaza

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that in Gaza efforts continue To provide assistance to the population amid heavy rains, which are causing the collapse of damaged buildings and flooding of tents. A coordination mechanism bringing together UN agencies and non-governmental organizations is in place to quickly respond to the flood threat. Under this mechanism, residents of the Gaza Strip are receiving tents, plastic sheets, clothing, blankets, and emergency kits. The UN and partners are also mobilizing heavy equipment to pump wastewater out of residential areas.

New Year

In anticipation of the new year 2026, the UN Secretary-General issued an appeal to world leaders to "set priorities" and invest resources in development, not destruction. In his New Year's message Antonio Guterres He emphasized that humanity is at a crossroads, with chaos and uncertainty reigning, and people around the world questioning whether their leaders are listening and willing to act. According to Guterres, the scale of human suffering today is unprecedented, while global military spending has reached $2.7 trillion, an increase of almost 10 percent in a year.

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December 29, 2025 UN

As we look towards 2026, the UN Secretary-General has called on world leaders to "prioritize" and invest resources in development rather than destruction.

In his New Year's message, António Guterres emphasized that humanity is at a crossroads, with chaos and uncertainty all around, and people around the world wondering whether their leaders are listening and willing to act.

According to Guterres, the scale of human suffering today is unprecedented: more than a quarter of the world's population lives in regions engulfed by conflict, over 200 million people require humanitarian assistance, and nearly 120 million have been forced to flee their homes due to wars, crises, natural disasters, or persecution. Against this backdrop, the UN chief noted, the rapid growth of global military spending, which has reached $2.7 trillion, is particularly alarming, having increased by almost 10 percent in a year.

To create a safer world, we must first invest more in fighting poverty and less in waging wars.

If current trends continue, global military spending could more than double to $6.6 trillion by 2035. By comparison, the current level of $2.7 trillion is 13 times the sum of all international development assistance and comparable to the combined GDP of the entire African continent.

"In the new year, let us resolve to get our priorities right. To create a safer world, we must, first and foremost, invest more in fighting poverty and less in waging war. Peace must prevail," Guterres emphasized.

In September 2025, on the instructions of the UN Member States within the framework of Pact for the Future, a report was published that revealed profound imbalances in global spending and showed that even a small budget adjustment could radically change the situation in the world. The report data is provided that less than four percent of current military spending would be enough to end hunger by 2030; just over ten percent would be enough to fully vaccinate all children; and five trillion dollars could provide 12 years of quality education for every child in low- and middle-income countries.

The study also found that civilian investment creates significantly more jobs and produces fewer emissions than military spending, and that redirecting just 15 percent of the military budget could fully cover developing countries' annual climate adaptation needs.

“The world has all the resources it needs to improve people’s lives, restore the planet, and ensure a future of peace and justice,” Guterres said.

The UN chief concluded his address with a call for world leaders to "get serious": "Let's choose people and planet over pain… Our future depends on our collective commitment to action. In this new year, let's join forces. For justice. For humanity. For peace."

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.