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November 17, 2025 Culture and education

A permanent memorial, "The Flower of Srebrenica," dedicated to one of the most tragic chapters in Europe's recent history, was unveiled in the garden of the UN headquarters in New York City on the East River. The sculpture was donated to the UN earlier this year by Bosnia and Herzegovina to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide.

War in the Balkans

The war that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia claimed over 100,000 lives in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995, mostly Bosniak Muslims, and forced more than two million more to flee their homes. People were detained and placed in concentration camps, thousands of Bosnian women were systematically raped—the list of atrocities committed is endless, but Srebrenica remains the most horrific chapter of that war.

Genocide in Srebrenica

In July 1995, Bosnian Serb forces captured the city of Srebrenica, previously declared a "safe zone" by the UN, and brutally murdered approximately 8,000 men and adolescents. The UN was unable to prevent this genocide – a small and poorly armed contingent of Dutch peacekeepers proved unable to resist the Bosnian Serb forces. The largest massacre in Europe since the Holocaust occurred. Another 20,000 people were expelled from their city.

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Mothers of Srebrenica at the UN: "Unfortunately, the killings around the world continue…"

The International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia have recognized the massacre of Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica, committed by the Army of Republika Srpska, as an act of genocide.

"We also acknowledge a bitter truth that must be spoken openly," said UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, opening the ensemble. "The United Nations failed to protect the people of Srebrenica. That is why this memorial is located here, on this site, in this garden. It is symbolic that the flower of Srebrenica has taken root at UN headquarters. It is a silent, yet powerful, and constant reminder of the responsibility we bear to those we failed to protect."

Photo UN/L. Felipe

Bosnia and Herzegovina donated the memorial to the UN as part of the UN Srebrenica Genocide Awareness Programme. "The permanent memorial is an integral part of this programme, designed to encourage visitors to reflect on what happened and honor the memory of the victims," UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said at a briefing.

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November 17, 2025 Climate and environment

As the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) enters its final phase this week, the UN is reminding everyone that time is running out to achieve climate justice.

In the negotiating rooms, according to Simon Still, Executive Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), there is a “deep understanding… that climate cooperation can stand the test of a divided world.”

"There is no time to delay"

On Monday, the so-called "high-level segment" of the conference in Belém, Brazil, began, with ministers and other high-level representatives taking their seats at the negotiating table. Still urged delegations not to delay addressing the most complex issues until the last minute. He emphasized that it was absolutely unacceptable to "drag out time or block the process."

UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock also joined this call, stating that delegates cannot afford the "luxury" of "inaction" when people are "counting on them."

According to her, the transition to renewable energy sources is already irreversible, and the necessary resources exist – they just need to be directed in the right direction.

Baerbock emphasized that developing countries paid off about $1.4 trillion in external debt last year, and these resources could be effectively used to combat climate change and develop clean energy.

From negotiations to results

Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin stated that COP30 should mark the beginning of a new era – one in which the world "stops discussing goals and starts achieving them." This means moving from negotiations to action, that is, to the search for new mechanisms capable of accelerating global climate action.

Alckmin reminded delegates of the commitments made in Belém to quadruple the use of clean fuels by 2035. Twenty-five countries have now joined the initiative.

He also called for creative solutions in key areas – the bioeconomy and decarbonisation – reaffirming Brazil's commitment to "clean energy, innovation and inclusiveness".

Negotiations may continue into the night.

Brazilian officials told reporters that two sets of decisions were up for discussion: one concerning issues covered by the Paris Climate Agreement, and the other on additional topics.

Brazil has presented a draft of the first package, which is expected to be submitted for approval midweek. Much work remains, and COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago stated that the conference agenda will have to be adjusted to allow delegates to continue negotiations overnight.

Agência Brasil/Tânia Rêgo

COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago at the closing of the People's Summit.

People's Summit on the sidelines of the conference

Outside the official COP30 venue, the Angar Conference Center, participants from international social movements gathered for the People's Summit. Held from November 12 to 16, it aimed to increase pressure on the negotiators and demand that they make real decisions.

Following the summit, participants prepared their proposals and submitted them to the COP30 President. In an interview with the UN News Service, Maureen Santos, a member of the People's Summit Political Committee, noted that these proposals will form the basis for monitoring during this week's negotiations.

"I believe this conference has become an example of democracy not only for the UN but for the entire world. This is precisely what multilateralism is: when parties are truly engaged in the process, not just at the national level, and when the voices of those directly affected by the climate crisis can be heard while simultaneously proposing solutions to overcome it," she said.

Key proposals include expanding the discussion on a just transition to include not only renewable energy, but also issues of employment and working conditions, food sovereignty, land rights, and much more.

300 thousand servings of food

More than 25,000 people participated in the People's Summit. And on Saturday, more than 70,000 people took part in the Climate Justice March—the largest such event, according to Santos.

Summit participants received 300,000 free meals. To feed them, nongovernmental organizations drew on the experience gained during their efforts to help victims of the 2024 floods in Rio Grande do Sul.

Rudy Raphael, one of the organizers, explained that the venue featured 21 500-liter kettles, and a conveyor belt for packaging ready-made meals produced one serving every 26 seconds. The menu featured products from local family farmers, including traditional Amazonian ingredients such as jambu, açaí, and piraruca.

The activist emphasized that the summit became a source of hope for all who continue to fight to protect rural areas and indigenous territories.

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According to Mukhatzhanova, the global arms control architecture, which took decades to develop, is on the brink of collapse.

"The situation is very complex right now… Progress in multilateral efforts, in particular, has stalled because there's a kind of crisis of trust in a number of institutions. We're witnessing the disintegration of the arms control architecture that was built primarily through negotiations between the Soviet Union—and then Russia—and the United States," she said.

Threats to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Following the termination or withdrawal of several key agreements, only one remains in force: the agreement between the United States and Russia on limiting strategic nuclear weapons. However, New START expires in February 2026, and there is no prospect of developing a new agreement.

UN Photo/E. Schneider

Gaukhar Mukhatzhanova, Director of the International Organizations and Non-Proliferation Program at the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, speaks at a Security Council meeting on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation (archive).

“If nothing happens, we will find ourselves in a situation where nuclear states will be unable to show progress in implementing Article 6 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which obliges them to take measures to end the nuclear arms race and to strive for nuclear disarmament"," the expert emphasized, noting that this creates a tense backdrop for the next NPT Review Conference, scheduled to take place in New York in April and May 2026.

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is the only binding multilateral commitment to disarmament by nuclear-weapon states. Opened for signature in 1968, the Treaty entered into force in 1970. On May 11, 1995, the NPT was extended indefinitely. A total of 191 states have acceded to the Treaty, including five nuclear-weapon states. The NPT stipulates that its implementation be reviewed every five years.

The return of world power rivalry

The expert identified the "return of rivalry between world powers" as a key factor in the degradation of the arms control system.

“We have returned to a period of serious mistrust between the main actors, and it can be argued that the situation is worse than in Cold War times“,” Mukhatzhanova noted.

At the time the NPT was adopted, the two leading nuclear powers—the United States and the Soviet Union—recognized the need for joint efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Now, she says, such understanding is lacking, which complicates the work. If key participants are unable to negotiate directly and do not share common positions on key issues, arms control and non-proliferation, there is a risk that consensus will again not be reached at the next Review Conference.

According to Mukhatzhanova, the task facing member states is to identify areas where broad agreement can be found and to attempt to agree on a document that, while perhaps not going into great detail, will reaffirm their commitment to the fundamental goals of the NPT—preventing the use of nuclear weapons, preventing their proliferation, and moving toward disarmament.

Possible nuclear tests are a "highly alarming signal"

Commenting on the statements in the US about possible resumption of nuclear testingThe expert noted that the international community's response will depend on the details.

Photo UN/M. Kishida

Hiroshima after a nuclear bomb was dropped on the city in August 1945.

If we are talking about hydronuclear (subcritical) tests or flight tests, that is, non-explosive formats, this still creates tension in the context of the NPT and Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)"The United States previously claimed that hydronuclear tests violated the CTBT, but now they're declaring the possibility of conducting them because Russia and China are doing so. Does this represent a change in the interpretation of the CTBT? Does it mean they intend to withdraw from the treaty? This raises questions that most of us would rather not see on the agenda," Mukhatzhanova noted, emphasizing that such statements call into question previous commitments and create additional uncertainty.

At the same time, she continued, if a return to full-scale explosive tests is possible, “we are talking about a radical and extremely negative change that will open the door for other states.”

She recalled that Russia had previously stated its readiness to conduct tests in response to the actions of other countries.

New technologies: an accelerating arms race and growing risks of errors

Mukhatzhanova noted that technological advances such as hypersonic systems, autonomous platforms, and artificial intelligence could significantly change the landscape of strategic stability.

"Hypersonic missiles combine speed and maneuverability… they can better evade missile defense systems and make detection more difficult," the expert said.

Read also:

12,400 Nuclear Warheads and $2.4 Trillion in Military Spending: Why the World Needs Disarmament

The development of such systems, she said, is pushing other states to build up their own capabilities, creating a “new stage in the nuclear arms race.”

Of particular concern is integration of artificial intelligence algorithms into early warning and decision-making systems.

"The concern is that too much will be left to the machines… this could lead to unintended escalation through misinterpretation of data," Mukhatzhanova explained.

She recalled that a resolution had previously been submitted to the First Committee of the General Assembly calling for “meaningful human control” over all technologies related to nuclear systems.

Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones: An Example of Constructive Cooperation

Despite the crisis in global architecture, Mukhatzhanova singled out nuclear-free zones as “an example of positive movement forward.”

“This is an example of how states can jointly represent their security without nuclear weapons "and work to ensure it," she said. Currently, nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties cover Latin America and the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central Asia.

CTBTO

The Semipalatinsk test site in Kazakhstan, where the USSR conducted nuclear weapons tests.

In addition to regional nuclear-weapon-free zones, there are other international mechanisms and treaties aimed at preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons in certain areas. For example, the UN General Assembly has affirmed Mongolia's status as a nuclear-weapon-free country. The General Assembly is also discussing the creation of nuclear-free zone in the Middle East regionThe sixth session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction shall be held from 17 to 21 November 2025 at the headquarters of the United Nations.

There are also international treaties that limit the deployment of nuclear weapons in special areas: the Antarctic Treaty, Outer Space Treaty And Moon Agreement, which regulate the activities of states on Earth, the Moon, and other celestial bodies. Furthermore, the Seabed Treaty prohibits the deployment of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction on the ocean floor and in its subsoil.

The expert paid special attention to Central Asian zone – the youngest and one of the most advanced. This agreement includes obligations to comply with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, requires additional protocols, and emphasizes high standards of nuclear safety.

Mukhatzhanova noted that in this sense, the Central Asian region can serve as a model for future agreements: the region's states are capable of promoting higher standards within the framework of other treaties to which they are parties. According to her, Kazakhstan and now Kyrgyzstan, which have joined Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), may advocate for stricter verification standards, since the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty itself requires an Additional Protocol alongside a comprehensive safeguards agreement. She added that zone participants also commit to complying with the CTBT—regardless of whether it has entered into force—and adhering to IAEA-approved nuclear safety standards.

Thus, the expert emphasized, this is not only about creating a nuclear-weapon-free zone, but also about promoting higher standards, which could serve as an example for other nuclear treaties.

Reasons for hope

Despite serious challenges, Mukhatzhanova also sees positive trends that suggest opportunities for restoring dialogue and reducing risks.

"We've already been in a situation of high levels of threats and mistrust—and humanity has found a way out through confidence-building measures and arms control," she said. Based on this experience, the international community is in a better position to work on restoring or creating a new architecture. arms control and disarmament.

UN News Service/K. Konyrova

Painting by international anti-nuclear movement activist Karipbek Kuyukov.

Mukhatzhanova also emphasized the growing youth activity and the willingness of new generations to question the traditional understanding of nuclear deterrence.

"They're willing to question how nuclear weapons have traditionally been viewed as a guarantor of security. That gives us hope," she said.

The expert also noted the high awareness of humanitarian consequences nuclear weapons and a growing sense of responsibility among non-nuclear states.

"Even a limited use of nuclear weapons would affect countries far beyond the conflict zone… and this understanding could help move things forward," the expert concluded.

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November 17, 2025 Peace and security

On Sunday, a UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) foot patrol was attacked by an Israeli Merkava tank in Lebanese territory. The explosion occurred just five meters from the peacekeepers, who were forced to seek cover.

Mission representatives contacted the IDF and demanded a ceasefire. The patrol was able to safely leave the area half an hour after the incident, when the tank retreated to Israeli positions.

"Fortunately, no one was injured," UNIFIL said in a statement, adding that the attack was a serious violation of Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted in 2006 to broker a peace agreement between Israel and Hezbollah.

The IDF said the incident was caused by "mistaken identity" of the peacekeepers in bad weather conditions and that the army had no intention of targeting them.

However, this is the third such incident in the past three months. On September 2, Israeli drones dropped four grenades near peacekeepers clearing a path to a UN position near the Blue Line, the buffer zone between Israel and Lebanon. On October 26, UNIFIL reported that an Israeli drone dropped a grenade near a peacekeeper patrol, followed by tank fire.

Mission conclusion

The latest incident comes at a challenging time for UNIFIL, which is scheduled to leave Lebanon by the end of 2027 after nearly half a century of presence along the Blue Line. The mission, established by the Security Council in 1978 to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, currently numbers approximately 10,500 peacekeepers, remaining a key element of relative stability in the region.

The mission's mandate was expanded after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, and again after heavy fighting last fall that devastated several towns in southern Lebanon.

Since the cessation of hostilities in November 2024, UNIFIL has supported the deployment of the Lebanese National Army in areas where Lebanon is attempting to regain control.

“We once again call on the IDF to cease all aggressive actions and attacks against peacekeepers or near their positions,” UNIFIL emphasized, recalling that peacekeepers “are working to restore the stability that both Israel and Lebanon seek.”

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November 17, 2025 Peace and security

On Monday, the UN Security Council held an open debate on food security and the role of hunger as a consequence of and driver of conflict. In her address, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed emphasized that war and famine "often represent two sides of the same crisis."

She noted that armed conflict destroys farmland, markets and roads, while hunger "feeds despair, and despair feeds displacement and violence."

According to her, it is the armed conflict that causes food shortages in 14 of 16 global famine hotspots.

"In Sudan, where the war is unfolding the world's largest crisis"Food-related violence is fueling famine in Darfur and Kordofan. In Gaza, where famine was confirmed in August, the situation remains dire. In Haiti, Yemen, the Sahel, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, millions of people are trapped in a vicious cycle of hunger and conflict," Mohammed noted.

Global consequences

The First Deputy Secretary-General drew attention to the global consequences of instability: "The war in Europe disrupted grain exports, causing food crises in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Markets panicked, inflation soared, and millions of people went hungry."

"Food itself has become a weapon—through the targeted deprivation of food, as we're seeing, including in Gaza," she warned. "Agricultural systems are being destroyed, trade flows are being blocked, and the infrastructure and facilities that ensure food security are being destroyed."

Mohammed also noted that climate change is worsening the crisis: "Floods are washing away crops, droughts are turning fields to dust, and rising temperatures are destroying pastures."

She proposed four areas of action: ensuring humanitarian access and respect for international humanitarian law, building resilient food systems through long-term investments and integration with social services and markets, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, and political settlement as the only sustainable solution.

Humanitarian access and protection of civilians

UN Assistant Humanitarian Secretary Joyce Msuya, speaking on behalf of UN Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, said the most acute food crises – including famines in Gaza and Sudan – are primarily caused by armed conflict and violence. She added that in Yemen, "the destruction of infrastructure is hampering imports, ongoing conflict causes population displacement and exacerbates the economic downturn, while restrictions on humanitarian access and insecurity hinder the delivery of aid."

"Hunger puts people at higher risk of sexual exploitation, violence, and forced displacement as they struggle simply to feed themselves. Women are particularly vulnerable, often putting their families' needs above their own," the speaker emphasized.

Msuya recalled the provisions of international humanitarian law: "In armed conflicts, civilians and civilian objects must be protected. The use of starvation as a method of warfare is prohibited. It is also prohibited to attack, destroy, remove, or disable objects vital to civilian survival."

The role of early warning

In turn, Máximo Torero, Chief Economist at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), spoke about the role of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) in monitoring crises and taking timely action. The IPC "provides a reference, similar to a common currency, for analyzing food security and nutrition in emergency situations" worldwide and helps determine whether a full-scale famine is occurring or is projected in a country.

Read also:

"This is the first time that famine – caused by conflict – has been confirmed more than once in a year," the expert noted.

Torero emphasized the value of early warning: "Waiting for famine to strike before taking decisive action is acting too late. In Sudan and Gaza, the ICF provided early warnings, calling for immediate action to prevent the worst consequences."

Africa: A massive food disaster

In his speech, the African Union's Special Envoy for Food Systems, Ibrahim Mayaki, noted that "Africa has become the epicentre of global hunger, with 20.4 percent of the region's population experiencing food insecurity, twice the global level."

In Sudan, in particular, 25.6 million people – 54 percent of the population – suffer from nutritional deficiency. Democratic Republic of the Congo and in the Sahel, the situation is also extremely dire, with millions of displaced people and economic damage amounting to billions of dollars.

"Malnutrition alone costs Africa's economies over $25 billion annually. Without urgent action, millions of people will face catastrophic hunger, and entire regions risk irreversible decline," the speaker warned.

Moreover, according to Mayaki, Africa has lost 34 percent of its agricultural productivity since 1961 and accounts for 35 percent of global losses from extreme weather events. Only 40 percent of the continent's residents have access to early warning systems. Food imports in 2025 are projected to reach $110 billion, compared to $43 billion in 2019.

Mayaki also noted a reduction in humanitarian funding. For example, support for the food sector fell by 30 percent in 2023, with further cuts expected in 2024.

“The links between conflict and hunger in Africa are profound and mutually reinforcing,” the African Union Special Envoy stressed.

“Without peace, Africa will not be able to feed itself, and without food security, the world will not be sustainable,” he concluded, calling for the protection of food systems, the integration of hunger indicators into early warning and monitoring, and increased international financing in line with Africa’s strategic vision.

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November 17, 2025 Economic development

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) released a new report on Monday that documents impressive growth in the number of internet users, while also highlighting the deepening of digital divides.

According to the organization, over 240 million people connected to the global network last year, bringing the global population to approximately six billion—three-quarters of the entire global population. However, 2.2 billion remain offline, highlighting the scale of the challenge of ensuring universal and equitable digital accessibility.

Connection quality is a key factor

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin noted that modern life is impossible without digital technologies, meaning everyone should be able to use the internet. Connection quality is becoming a key factor: speed, reliability, accessibility, and skills determine whether people can benefit from digital opportunities.

The report presents the first estimates of 5G network subscriptions—approximately three billion, or a third of all mobile connections. Fifth-generation networks cover 55 percent of the world's population, but the distribution is extremely uneven: in high-income countries, 84 percent of residents have access to 5G, while in low-income countries, only four percent do. Furthermore, users in wealthy countries generate almost eight times more mobile traffic than those in poorer regions, clearly demonstrating the gap in quality.

Accessibility issues

Equally important is the issue of accessibility. Although the average price of mobile internet has generally fallen, in 60 percent of low- and middle-income countries it remains unaffordable for a significant portion of the population. Furthermore, most users possess only basic digital skills, while more complex skills—from maintaining a secure online environment to content creation—are developing more slowly.

Cosmas Lakison Zavazava, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, stressed that achieving an inclusive and secure digital environment requires targeted investments in infrastructure, training, and data collection systems.

Digital demography

The report demonstrates how closely digital development is linked to economic level, gender differences, and location. In high-income countries, 94 percent of the population uses the internet, while in low-income countries, only 23 percent does. Most people who remain offline live in poor and developing regions.

Men are more likely to be online than women (77 percent versus 71 percent), and city dwellers are significantly more likely than rural residents (85 percent versus 58 percent). Young people aged 15–24 demonstrate the highest engagement: 82 percent of them are online, compared to 72 percent of the general population.

The ITU report not only documents progress in global digitalization but also reminds us of the need to focus on overcoming barriers. Without accessible infrastructure, fair prices, and digital skills development, millions of people risk being left on the fringes of the digital world.

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Felipe de Carvalho, Belém

November 15, 2025 Climate and environment

In Belém, Brazil, where the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) is taking place, one of the main questions is being discussed: is humanity capable of mobilizing the necessary resources to implement global action to protect the planet?

At every negotiating table and in every diplomatic statement, a harsh truth is heard that is understood by everyone involved in this process: without adequate funding, the desired results will not be achieved.

A question of survival

At the Third High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Finance, COP30 participants heard from representatives of countries most affected by climate change, many of whom described access to finance as a "matter of survival."

UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said in her opening remarks that COP30 should mark the launch of up to $1.3 trillion in annual climate payments – funds that should be “transferred quickly, transparently and fairly to those who need them most.”

She emphasized that climate action and social justice are "inseparable." "Climate instability fuels hunger and poverty, poverty leads to migration and conflict, and conflicts, in turn, deepen poverty and discourage investment," the UN General Assembly President emphasized.

She said it was crucial to break this vicious circle to achieve global climate goals.

Energy from renewable sources

Marking the tenth anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement, Baerbock recalled that in 2015, many delegates were moved to tears when participants achieved a historic result – the first legally binding global climate agreement uniting more than 190 countries.

She noted that at the time, development in the renewable energy sector seemed "unrealistic." Today, however, the industry has achieved impressive results.

By 2024, global investment in clean energy will reach $2 trillion—approximately $800 billion more than in fossil fuels. Solar energy has become the cheapest source of electricity in history.

Africa's Untapped Potential

However, Baerbock warned that "enormous potential remains untapped as capital continues to fail to flow to where it is needed most," particularly Africa.

More than 600 million people on the continent still lack access to electricity, despite the fact that the continent's renewable energy potential is 50 times greater than the projected global electricity demand by 2040.

She called on developed countries to fulfill their technological and financial commitments and advance the reform of global financial institutions.

The 'Life Force' of Climate Action

Simon Still, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), also spoke at the session, highlighting the transformative role of climate finance.

He called finance "the lifeblood of climate action," capable of turning "plans into progress" and "ambition into achievement."

Still noted that the most vulnerable countries continue to face significant barriers to accessing long-promised aid.

"When funding comes in, ambitions grow"

Despite billions invested globally in clean energy, adaptation, and just transitions, Still said overall investment "remains insufficient, unpredictable, and unevenly distributed."

He called on COP30 delegates to demonstrate once again that international cooperation on climate change is effective and that today's investments can lead to "historic growth in the 21st century."

"When funding is available, ambition grows," Still emphasized. He reminded that this creates opportunities to create jobs, reduce the cost of living, improve public health, and protect vulnerable populations and the planet as a whole.

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November 15, 2025 Peace and security

Transnational organized crime has become one of the most serious threats of the 21st centuryIt kills hundreds of thousands of people, undermines state institutions, destroys ecosystems, and robs communities of a sense of security and faith in the future.

Today, criminal networks operate like well-organized corporations, and modern technology makes them even more stealthy and dangerous. The use of cryptocurrencies, anonymous companies, online platforms, and virtual assets allows them to move funds around the world in seconds.

Read also:

Stolen Past: How the International Community Combats Illegal Trafficking of Cultural Property

Illegal trafficking in arms, drugs, rare species of animals and plants, cultural property, counterfeit medicines, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, money laundering, and obstruction of justice all undermine human well-being and economic development.

A global threat requires a global response.

In 2024, the UN General Assembly proclaimed November 15 International Day for the Prevention and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized CrimeThis date is intended to highlight the need for international cooperation and draw attention to the scale of the threat.

Criminal groups have long since evolved beyond traditional mafia structures. They are now flexible networks operating across multiple jurisdictions. Victims, criminals, witnesses, and financial flows are spread across multiple countries, making international cooperation vital.

The key document for this remains UN Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeIt covers all serious crimes of a transnational nature and is today one of the most ratified international legal instruments.

The human price

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), approximately 22 percent of all intentional homicides worldwide—roughly 100,000 deaths per year—are linked to organized crime. But the damage doesn't end there.

Counterfeit medicines threaten the health of millions, illegal logging and mining destroy nature, polluted rivers and soils undermine food security, cyber fraud deprives people of their savings, and money laundering erodes trust in public institutions.

Blocking the channels of illegal income

The UNODC 2025 campaign focuses on the financial dimension of the problem. Transnational crime generates billions of dollars in illicit profits annually. These funds fuel human trafficking, drug trafficking, corruption, and armed conflict.

Modern technologies allow criminals to conceal the origin of funds, their final recipients, and their routes. Cryptocurrencies, shell companies, and complex cross-border transfer schemes make investigations increasingly challenging.

To effectively combat organized crime, the UN calls for:

Track illicit financial flows; Disrupt the financial structures of criminal groups; Strengthen international intelligence sharing and cooperation; Modernize legislation on virtual asset control; Enhance law enforcement investigative capacity; Return stolen assets to victim states and communities.

Financial investigations can identify the leaders of criminal networks, expose links between various crimes, and deprive groups of their economic base.

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November 14, 2025 UN

The UN Security Council held its annual debate on Friday to discuss its working methods, including the process for selecting the next Secretary-General in 2026.

Governments will soon begin submitting nominations for the leadership of the 80-year-old organization, whose top position traditionally rotates among geographic regions. However, the UN's highest office has so far been held exclusively by men.

The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly, the most representative body of the UN, on the recommendation of the 15 members of the Security Council.

"Significant" responsibility

“As the year draws to a close, the Security Council approaches one of its most significant responsibilities – the process of selecting the next Secretary-General,” said Danish Ambassador Christina Marcus Lassen, co-chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions.

In the coming months, the Security Council, she said, will discuss how voting and interaction with candidates will proceed and how other UN member states will be informed about this work and its results.

Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's Permanent Representative, reported that in October, during its presidency of the Security Council, his country began working on a joint letter with the General Assembly calling on UN member states to nominate their candidates.

"We expect the document to be adopted quickly to formally begin this important process," he noted. "We hope the Security Council's efforts will help facilitate the selection of the most worthy candidate for the future head of the Secretariat."

A woman as General Secretary?

The next UN Secretary-General will take office in January 2027 and will be elected for a five-year term.

Since the post had never been held by a woman, the representative of Chile advocated for an "open, inclusive, and gender-inclusive process." "After 80 years, the time has come for a woman to lead this organization—a woman who, through her leadership and vision, can infuse the multilateral system with the credibility it needs to respond to the challenges of our time," he said, recalling that "it is now the turn of the Latin American and Caribbean region to assume this position."

Procedure for holding meetings

More than 40 countries took part in the debate, which discussed the updated consolidated guidelines on the Security Council's working methods, known as Note 507, adopted last December.

How exactly the Council meets has become especially important over the past year, given the scale of the crises, noted Lorraine Sievers, co-author of the book "UN Security Council Procedure."

"Of course, the primary focus is on the statements made here and the votes on draft resolutions," she said. "But even when Council members and non-Council members demonstrate sharply divergent positions, the Security Council and the UN itself can build or lose credibility depending on how organized and professionally the Council's meetings are conducted."

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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Felipe de Carvalho, Belém

November 14, 2025 Climate and environment

Representatives of the Manduruku people of the Amazon blocked the main entrance to the "Blue Zone" – the area designated for negotiators at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. Their demands include an end to projects in territories inhabited by indigenous peoples. The conference's director-general called the protests "legitimate" and stated that the government is listening to the demonstrators.

On Friday morning, approximately 90 representatives of the Manduruku indigenous people held a peaceful protest, blocking the main entrance to the conference's "blue zone." The "blue zone" is an area open only to negotiators and other accredited participants.

Access to the forum through the main entrance was blocked for approximately an hour, and an army patrol was called in to enhance security. The Manduruku people live in the Amazon, primarily in three Brazilian states: Amazonas, Mato Grosso, and Pará.

"Legitimate" protests

According to news agencies, the demonstrators were protesting against Brazilian government projects that could affect communities living in the Tapajós and Xingu river basins. They also demanded an end to mining in indigenous areas.

Speaking to reporters, COP30 Executive Director Ana Toni said the protesters' demands were related to national policy. They were sent to meet with Minister of Indigenous Affairs Sonia Guajajara and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Marina Silva.

Ana Toni called the demonstrations "legitimate" and emphasized that the government is ready to listen to the protesters. She noted that over 900 indigenous representatives have been accredited to COP30—a significant increase from the 300 participants at last year's conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Presence and responsibility

In an interview with the UN News Service, Amanda, a young participant from the Pankararu people (Pernambuco state), said COP30 offers an opportunity to highlight the issues of indigenous peoples. However, Amanda believes more representatives of indigenous peoples could have been invited to the conference.

"We could make a much greater contribution if more indigenous representatives were involved in these discussions," she said. "The demands [made by the protesters] are certainly justified. We demand that our right to land, our right to life, be respected. We are creating this protective barrier, and we want to be heard. Being here today, representing those who were unable to come, places a responsibility on us."

The most inclusive conference

The COP-30 President noted that many indigenous leaders said the meeting in Belém was the most inclusive they had ever attended.

Chilean indigenous youth activist Emiliano Medina said indigenous representatives discussed a declaration emphasizing their commitment to combating the climate crisis.

He noted that such protests are a form of activism that allows people to make demands and point out policy shortcomings. Medina added that similar protests are taking place around the world in communities affected by climate change.

CS in Amazonia

In a conversation with journalists, Ana Toni emphasized that Brazil has a "strong democracy," which allows for various forms of protest both inside and outside the conference.

She noted that the decision to hold the conference in the Amazon was made precisely to ensure broad participation of indigenous peoples – something that would have been difficult to achieve if the event had been held in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo or Brasilia.

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.