Syria opens ‘new chapter’ on human rights

More than two years of conflict in Sudan have brought mass displacement, widespread hunger, the destruction of entire cities, and an end to the rule-of-law.Despite limited access – especially to the killing fields of Darfur – UN human rights office, OHCHR, continues to document violations, support humanitarian response efforts, and amplify the voices of victims, women, youth, and those displaced.Ahead of Human Rights Day on 10 December, UN News’s Abdelmonem Makki spoke to the top OHCHR official in Sudan, Li Fung, who described a country enduring one of the world’s gravest humanitarian and human rights emergencies.

Syria is working hard to turn the page on its dismal human rights record under the former Assad regime – allowing the UN rights office (OHCHR) access to the country following years of freezing officials out.Though the country remains fragile, the resilience of its people – and the political will to change shown by transitional authorities – is helping society move on from decades of repression and 13 years of devastating conflict.The return of OHCHR to Damascus is “essential” to supporting a rights-based vision for a “new Syria”, said Mohammad Al Nsour, Chief of the Office’s Middle East and North Africa Section, speaking to UN News’s Ezzat El-Ferri. 

Thick toxic smog and air quality or AQI levels up to 35 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) limits are turning Delhi’s winters into a recurring health emergency.Balakrishna Pisupati, head of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) office in India, warns that pollution is “almost reaching the level of a disaster.”In an interview with UN News, he cites vehicle emissions, crop burning, industrial activity, construction dust and stagnant winter air as key contributors.Despite programmes and investments, progress can feel like “running on a treadmill” due to policy gaps, weak enforcement and little change in behaviour.UN News’ Anshu Sharma spoke to Mr. Pisupati on how UNEP is addressing India’s air pollution challenge, and the urgent need for coordinated action on fossil fuels and forest conservation.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) may not have the same profile as some of the better know agencies within the system, but it is punching above its weight in terms of its impact on the economies of the developing world.At UNIDO’s Global Industry Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, UN News’s Khaled Mohamed spoke to Manuel Mattiat, the agency’s Chief of Cabinet, about the crucial role his organization plays in helping industrialized countries to invest in emerging economies, raising living standards for all.

Reducing inequality in Nepal remains a major challenge, as the co untry continues to struggle to meet its Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets.Among those tackling this issue is Aishworya Shrestha, a young Nepali social worker recently named a UN Young Leader for the SDGs.Ms. Shrestha leads community-driven mental health and empowerment programmes in some of Nepal’s most remote areas and works to engage young people around the world in advancing the SDGs.The 17 Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by all UN Member States in 2015 aim to create a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable world.Each year, 17 Young Leaders are selected globally to help inspire action and accelerate progress toward these shared goals.UN News’s Charlotte Frantz spoke with Ms. Shrestha about what this recognition means to her and how she plans to leverage the role to create meaningful change.

During his visit to Barcarena in the Amazon basin – a UN-recognized Resilience Hub – the UN’s disaster risk reduction chief, Kamal Kishore, has been seeing climate resilience first hand; not just through infrastructure, but through imagination, education, and community-driven action.The top official is at COP30 in Belém and told UN News that from flood and heat-resilient schools – to empowered children shaping their own future – Barcarena demonstrates how local leadership can inspire global transformation.Speaking to Felipe de Carvalho who’s also on the ground there, he praised the local school as “a guiding light” for climate adaptation, one he hopes to see replicated “at least 100,000” times worldwide. 

On Sunday, a foot patrol of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was targeted by an Israeli army Merkava tank positioned inside Lebanese territory. Israel said it had been a case of “misidentification”.UN News’s Nancy Sarkis spoke to UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel, who said the incident is part of a “deeply worrying escalation” along the Blue Line of separation.Ms. Ardiel pointed to warning fire near civilians and new Israeli-built concrete walls that straddle the Blue Line, stressing that “any attack on peacekeepers is unacceptable.”

Last year, 37,000 stolen cultural objects – including artifacts, artworks, coins, and instruments – were seized by international police agency, Interpol, and law enforcement.The illicit trade in cultural property is one of the world’s oldest and most profitable forms of criminal activity – and it is increasingly being facilitated online. UN News’s Cristina Silveiro has been speaking to Krista Pikkat, Director for Culture and emergencies for UN agency UNESCO, about the fight against illicit trafficking in stolen heritage worldwide. 

As COP30 brings leaders and negotiators together from around the world, the spotlight is not only on policy but also on the real-life experiences of those most affected by climate change.From Ethiopia, Mekebib Tadesse, representing the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) delegation, brings a firsthand perspective on the human and humanitarian dimensions of the crisis.In an interview with Felipe Carvalho – who's in Belem for UN News – Mekebib shared insights on how climate change is upending his home country.

Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is already reshaping lives and communities around the world.Extreme weather – from unprecedented tornadoes to rising seas and creeping desertification – is forcing millions on the run, often within their own countries.At COP30 in Belém this week, Ugochi Daniels, Deputy Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), stressed the importance of local, people-centred solutions.“Early warning systems, predictable funding, and locally led adaptation are critical,” she told UN News’s Felipe de Carvalho.