Poverty, inequality and exclusion fuelling terrorism, warns UN chief

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/06/1137892

Advancing rule of law key to building peaceful, prosperous societies – Ban

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the urgent need to strengthen the rule of law worldwide, noting that it can assist in tackling some of the key global challenges the international community is currently facing.

Addressing the start of a one-day interactive debate of the General Assembly devoted to the subject, Mr. Ban said that one need look no further than the news headlines to appreciate the importance of today’s discussion.

“Across the Arab world, people long denied basic rights and freedoms demand justice, dignity and rule of law,” he said. “In Africa, Asia and Europe, we hear the call for good governance… transparency and protections against corruption… effective, trustworthy legal systems… accountability for crimes and violations of civil rights…

“The principle they champion is universal … a bedrock belief in the supremacy of a government of laws, not of men.”

He stressed that the rule of law represents “our best hope for building peaceful, prosperous societies,” while noting that too often, in too many places, “we see the façade of rule of law, without steps to make it fully real.”

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=38072&Cr=rule+of+law&Cr1=

UN marks World Philosophy Day with call for greater use of reason and dialogue

The United Nations marked World Philosophy Day today with a call for greater efforts to guard against the politics of polarization and the rejection of stereotypes, ignorance and hatred.

“Let us instead fortify our societies through reason and dialogue – the lifeblood of philosophical debate,” said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a video message for an event marking the Day at the Paris headquarters of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). “And let us recognize the critical role that the age-old tradition of philosophy can play in our modern, interconnected world.”

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=36792&Cr=cultur&Cr1=diversity

UN human rights chief urges States to end discrimination against migrants

he top United Nations human rights official has urged States to end the criminalization of irregular migrants and to reduce barriers to human mobility by expanding channels for legal migration, deploring the discrimination, abuse and exploitation many migrants are subjected to.

“Although States have legitimate interests in securing their borders and exercising immigration controls, such concerns do not trump the obligations of the State to respect the internationally guaranteed rights of all persons,” Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said yesterday in a speech to the 4th Global Forum on Migration and Development.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=36731&Cr=&Cr1=

Trust placed in UN World Court vital for promoting rule of law, says top judge

The President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) today voiced appreciation for the trust countries place in the principal judicial organ of the United Nations for settling a wide variety of legal disputes, saying this highlights the importance given to the rule of law.

“The increased recourse by States to the International Court of Justice for the judicial settlement of their disputes testifies to the growing consciousness among political leaders of these States of the importance of the rule of law in the international community,” he said as he presented the Court’s annual report, covering the period from 1 August 2009 to 31 July 2010.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=36594&Cr=icj&Cr1=

Iraq: leaked files point to serious breaches of human rights law – UN rights chief

Leaked classified United States documents on the war in Iraq point to serious breaches of international human rights law, including summary executions of a large number of civilians, as well as torture and ill-treatment of detainees, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said today.

The files, according to a statement by Navi Pillay’s office, indicate that the US knew about the widespread use of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Iraqi forces, but proceeded with transferring thousands who had been detained by US forces into Iraqi custody between early 2009 and July 2010.

They also allegedly include information on many undisclosed instances in which US forces killed civilians at checkpoints and during operations.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=36570&Cr=iraq&Cr1=human+rights

UN Goodwill Ambassador Nicolas Cage urges action against organized crime

Nicolas Cage, renowned actor, filmmaker and Goodwill Ambassador for Global Justice for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), today spoke of the anguish of victims, especially the young, of organized crimes around the world, urging States to join a UN pact designed to fight the scourge.

“It’s often the most innocent people, the ones who don’t have suspicion or cynicism within them, who are led astray to make mistakes by predators who abuse them for their personal gain and for money,” Mr. Cage told a UN conference in Vienna, Austria.

“If a young child is forced to become a soldier or a drug mule or a prostitute, is that child a criminal – or a victim? If a teenaged boy sees no future for himself other than joining a gang, a drug mafia, or a band of pirates, isn’t he also one of crimes casualties?” Mr. Cage asked delegates attending the conference on progress towards the adoption of the UN Convention against Transitional Organized Crime.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=36524&Cr=organized+crime&Cr1

Militia leader may be tried on crimes against humanity, court rules

An international court cleared the way Tuesday to try a former politician and militia leader for crimes against humanity and war crimes including murder, rape and pillaging.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, knocked down an appeal by Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, ruling that the court may admit his case to trial.

Bemba's defense challenged his case's admissibility on the grounds that the Central African Republic (CAR) -- the country the alleged crimes occurred in -- investigated the case and made a "decision not to prosecute." The ICC decided that the CAR's action does not prohibit the case from being tried, according to a news release issued by the court Tuesday.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/10/19/icc.militia.leader.trial/

Deputy UN chief emphasizes importance of rule of law for just and peaceful world

The strengthening of the rule of law among Member States is key to realizing the United Nations ideal of a just, secure and peaceful world, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said today, stressing that respect of the law is also crucial for poverty reduction initiatives to succeed.

The rule of law is “linked to peacebuilding and peacekeeping, accountability for gross violations of human rights, and combating organized crime and terrorism. It is also integrally tied to global governance,” Ms. Migiro said in a speech to a meeting of the General Assembly’s Sixth Committee, which deals with legal issues.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=36421&Cr=rule+of+law&Cr1=