Category: Development

“The sexual abuse and rape of older persons is a subject rarely discussed, but nevertheless is a reality,” said Ms. Kornfeld-Matte, in a statement issued on Thursday, calling on everyone to “be more attentive and report suspected cases of abuse of older people”.  “Invisible” and “still taboo”, she noted that, “with the ageing of our societies, this problem is expected to grow dramatically” and… Read More

Each 13 June, the world is reminded that people with albinism deserve to have their rights to life and security protected. Persons with albinism routinely face ongoing hurdles and challenges to their human rights, ranging from stigma and discrimination, to barriers in health and education. Albinism is a rare, non-contagious, genetically inherited condition present at birth. It is found in both sexes,… Read More

One-in-five suffers mental health condition in conflict zones, new UN figures reveal More than one-in-five people living in conflict-affected areas suffers from a mental illness, according to a new report based on UN figures, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to call for increased, sustained investment in mental health services in those zones. Around 22 per cent of those affected,… Read More

Tens of millions of children living through conflict, disaster and other emergencies in dozens of countries urgently need protection, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday, in an appeal for $3.9 billion to support its humanitarian work around the world. Read More

More than one million sexually transmitted infections occur every day: WHO The global scale of sexually transmitted infections (STI) should be a “wake-up call” to governments, UN health experts said on Thursday, citing data showing that one in 25 people today have “at least one” curable STI, which occur at a rate of more than one million a day worldwide.… Read More

“These deaths are entirely preventable,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Unsafe food – contaminated by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances – also causes nearly one-in-ten people, or some 600 million, to fall ill globally each year. “World Food Safety Day is a unique opportunity to raise awareness about the dangers of unsafe food with governments, producers, handlers and consumers”, he… Read More

Highlighting the “concerning lack of progress” by countries in stopping the spread of these and other STIs, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that if left untreated, they can have a profound impact on the health of teens, adults and unborn children. “This is a wake-up call for a concerted effort to ensure everyone, everywhere can access the services they… Read More

Taking to two wheels fosters “sustainable consumption and production”, and has a “positive impact on climate”, according to the UN. Moreover, biking enhances access to education, health care and sport; and the synergy between the bicycle and the cyclist raises a more intimate and immediate awareness of the local environment. According to the UN Environment Programme, even though the benefits… Read More

In a new report highlighting how few of the world’s poorest pregnant women have a doctor, nurse of midwife at their side when they need them most, the UN Children’s Fund said that more than 800 women die every day from complications, while many more mothers live with “debilitating” outcomes. At least 7,000 stillbirths also occur every day – half… Read More

The update to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) has reclassified gender identity disorder, or identifying as transgender, in terms of sexuality, not a “mental disorder”. It is time for the world to recognize and celebrate the rich diversity of human nature – UN experts Classified now as “gender incongruence”, Lale Say, the Coordinator of WHO’s Department of Reproductive Health and… Read More