UN
Developing countries face impossible trade-off on debt: UN
Spiralling debt in low and middle-income countries has compromised their chances of sustainable development, the UN trade facilitation agency has said.
Rebeca Grynspan, the head of UNCTAD, said between 70 and 85 percent of the debt that emerging and low-income countries are responsible for is in a foreign currency.
This has left them highly vulnerable to the kind of large currency shocks that hit public spending – precisely at a time when populations need financial support from their governments.
Speaking at the 13th UNCTAD Debt Management Conference in Geneva recently, Rebeca said so far this year, at least 88 countries have seen their currencies depreciate against the powerful US dollar, which is still the reserve currency of choice for many in times of global economic stress.
And in 31 of these countries, their currencies have dropped by more than 10 percent.
This has had a hugely negative impact on many African nations, where the UNCTAD chief noted that currency depreciations have increased the cost of debt repayments by the equivalent of public health spending in the continent.
Read more: UN reminds Bangladesh of commitments to free expression, peaceful assembly
A wave of global crises has led many developing countries to take on more debt to help citizens cope with the fallout.
Government debt levels as a share of GDP increased in over 100 developing countries between 2019 and 2021, said UNCTAD. Excluding China, this increase is estimated at $2 trillion.
"This has not happened because of the bad behaviour of one country. This has happened because of systemic shocks that have hit many countries at the same time," Rebeca said.
With interest rates rising sharply, the debt crisis is putting enormous strain on public finances, especially in developing countries that need to invest in education, health care, their economies and adapting to climate change.
As debt burdens rise, developing country governments end up in a vicious circle, unable to invest in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and grow their economies, making it even harder to pay their debts.
If a country defaults, the terms of debt restructuring are usually set by groups of creditors competing to get the best terms, rather than giving priority to economic and developmental concerns, or how sustainable it is to keep up with payments.
"To resolve these issues equitably, this needs to be done in a manner that maintains the debtor countries' ability to grow and meet its current and future debt obligations, while also fulfilling its commitments to the SDGs," Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said in a statement delivered by the country's permanent representative in Geneva Ambassador Gothami Silva.
Read more: ‘Friendship to all, malice towards none’: Bangabandhu's historic quote incorporated in UN resolution
UNCTAD said if the median increase in rated sovereign debts since 2019 were fully reflected in interest payments, then governments would pay an additional $1.1 trillion on the global debt stock in 2023, estimates show.
This amount is almost four times the estimated annual investment of $250 billion required for climate adaptation and mitigation in developing countries, according to a report from the UN agency.
Bangladesh must guarantee right to peaceful assembly: UN special rapporteur Clément
UN's special rapporteur on peaceful assembly Clément Voule has said he is following events in Bangladesh closely, after concerning reports of "attacks and lethal force against peaceful protests since July 2022, causing deaths."
Bangladesh must guarantee the right to peaceful assembly and refrain from using excessive force against protesters, he tweeted.
Read: Nayapaltan clash: 445 BNP activists including Rizvi, Annie sent to jail, 2 get bail
He said he previously raised concerns with the Bangladesh government in a communication in 2021, following similar reports of "lethal use of force by law enforcement in the context of peaceful assemblies."
Clément has been special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association since April 2018.
Read: Nayapaltan clash: Over 3000 BNP activists, others sued
In October 2010, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 15/21 establishing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association for an initial period of three years.
The Council extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur a first time in September 2013 (resolution 24/5) and a second time in June 2016 (resolution 32/32). The mandate was last renewed in July 2019 (resolution 41/12) for a period of three years.
UN reminds Bangladesh of commitments to free expression, peaceful assembly
UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis Wednesday said they remind Bangladesh of its commitments, as a UN member state, to "free expression, media freedom, and peaceful assembly" among others written in the Declaration as the country is coming closer to its national election next year.
"We reaffirm the UN's full support to Bangladesh in upholding its commitments," she said in a media statement celebrating Human Rights Day 2022 which falls on December 10.
Gwyn Lewis said: "Ours is a shared humanity rooted in universal values. A threat to the rights of one person is a threat to the whole of society."
"Celebrating Human Rights Day is an opportunity to reflect on what they have in common with each other and what that binds them together."
Read more: Gwyn Lewis of Ireland appointed UNRC in Bangladesh
International Human Rights Day is the day on which the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, entitling everyone, regardless of race, colour, sex, religion, political or other views to inalienable rights.
"This year we have seen the consequences of crises driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, the devastating Ukraine war and climate change that have disproportionately impacted the most vulnerable across the world, impeding their access to basic services, to be protected and their right to live in peace," said Gwyn Lewis.
Read more: Climate-impacted countries like Bangladesh need financial, tech support: UN Resident Coordinator
Remembering the Declaration that says that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights," the UN in solidarity with all Bangladeshis, recommits itself to upholding the core values of dignity, equality and liberty, including thought and conscience.
More than one in five people face violence, harassment at work: UN
More than one in five people employed – almost 23 per cent – have experienced violence and harassment at work, whether physical, psychological or sexual, according to a new analysis by the International Labour Organization (ILO), Lloyd's Register Foundation (LRF) and Gallup.
"The Experiences of Violence and Harassment at Work: A global first survey" assesses the extent of the problem and looks at the factors that may prevent people from talking about what they have gone through, including shame, guilt or a lack of trust in institutions, or because such unacceptable behaviours are seen as "normal."
"Violence and harassment at work is difficult to measure. The report found that only half of victims worldwide had disclosed their experiences to another person, and often only after they had suffered repeated incidents," the ILO said.
"The most common reasons given for non-disclosure were waste of time and fear for their reputation. Women were more likely to share their experiences than men (60.7 percent compared to 50.1 percent)."
Globally, 17.9 percent of employed men and women said they had experienced psychological violence and harassment in their working life, and 8.5 percent had faced physical violence and harassment, with more men than women experiencing this.
Of respondents, 6.3 percent reported facing sexual violence and harassment, with women being particularly exposed, the ILO said.
Young people, migrant workers, and salaried women and men have been the most exposed to violence, according to the UN labour agency.
Young women were twice as likely as young men to have faced sexual violence and harassment, while migrant women were almost twice as likely as non-migrants to report sexual violence and harassment.
More than three out of five victims said they had experienced violence and harassment multiple times, and for the majority, the most recent incident took place within the past five years.
Read more: Sexual harassment, misconduct went on unchecked at Al Jazeera, staff allege: BBC investigation
"It's painful to learn that people face violence and harassment not just once but multiple times in their working lives," Manuela Tomei, ILO assistant director-general for governance, rights and dialogue, said.
"Psychological violence and harassment is the most prevalent across countries, and women are particularly exposed to sexual violence and harassment. The report tells us about the enormity of the task ahead to end violence and harassment in the world of work. I hope it will expedite action on the ground and towards the ratification and implementation of ILO Convention 190."
The ILO's Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (or 190) and Recommendation (No. 206) are the first international labour standards to provide a common framework to prevent, remedy and eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work, including gender-based violence and harassment.
The Convention includes the specific recognition, for the first time in international law, of the right of everyone to a world of work, free from violence and harassment, and outlines the obligations of signatories towards this end.
Read more: 63.51% women in Bangladesh face online harassment: Study
CERF allocates $9 million to Rohingya response in Bangladesh
The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has released an allocation of US$ 9 million to help over 943,000 Rohingyas staying in camps in Cox’s Bazar district and in the island of Bhasan Char, and over 17,800 members of the host community in Ukhiya and Teknaf.
This funding, allocated to six UN agencies – the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the UN Women will help provide life-saving services to refugees and contribute to an enabling environment respectful of their rights and well-being.
Under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, the UN agencies through national and local partners will focus on four prioritized sectors – food security, non-food items, protection, and water, sanitation and hygiene.
This funding allocation will help maintain services and life-saving support to ensure equal access for refugees, who are highly dependent on humanitarian assistance.
Read: UN adopts resolution on human rights of Rohingya, other minorities in Myanmar
Commenting on the allocation of the funds, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis on Thursday said the UN in Bangladesh welcomes the decision of the Emergency Relief Coordinator to allocate these funds to the currently underfunded Rohingya response to support refugees and the host community in their daily struggle for survival.
“In consultation with the government of Bangladesh and local NGOs, the money allocated from the CERF will help protect refugees, tackle gender-based violence, and contribute to an environment respectful of refugee rights and well-being,” she said.
The UNHCR will allocate the funding to its national and local partners to provide monthly Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders and refills to enhance food security, provide assistance to refugees, and help refugee volunteers to deliver life-saving community-led messaging.
Read: Bangladesh seeks OIC’s help to continue Rohingya genocide case
IOM will also focus on LPG distribution, as well as community mobilization, training, and monitoring.
UNICEF will provide water, sanitation and hygiene services through local partners including national NGOs and the Department of Public Health Engineering. In addition, UNICEF will support the social service workforce to provide psychosocial support and life skills training to children, adolescents, and caregivers.
WFP will provide lifesaving food assistance and support to increase and sustain dietary diversity.
Through local partners, UNFPA will provide integrated services that prevent and respond to gender-based violence while also addressing sexual and reproductive health needs, including psycho-social support and referral services.
UN Women will provide life skills training and livelihood support and strengthen capacities of women's groups to provide multisectoral gender-based violence services.
1971 genocide: Need to work together to get recognition from UN, says DU VC
Professor Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman, Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University (DU) on Sunday said that the path to getting UN recognition of the genocide committed in Bangladesh in 1971 is not smooth.
"So, we have to work together to meet our demand," he said, while addressing a coordination meeting organised by Amra Ekattor, an organization based on the ideology of the Liberation War on the occasion of the preparation of International Genocide Remembrance Day on 9th December.
Therefore, the new generation should also be included in the realisation of this demand along with various organizations based on the liberation war. All must stand on a common platform and work together, he added.
"No recognition has come easy. We have to keep fighting so international bodies like the UN can recognise the genocide of 1971," he added.
Read: Experts urge government to turn DSE into public university
He emphasized on increasing international communication at public and private levels including discussion, research, and publication on genocide issues. He also assured that Dhaka University will work as a leading party in realizing this demand.
Bangabandhu professor Muntasir Mamun, the trustee of the 1971 Genocide-Torture Archive and Museum, said that recognition must first be obtained from the friendly countries of the liberation war to speed up the efforts to obtain UN recognition of the genocide,
"To speed up the efforts to obtain UN recognition of the genocide, recognition must first be got from the friendly countries of the liberation war, said Muntasir Mamun.
The general secretary of Bangabandhu Parishad, Prof. AB M Farooq, suggested various things including making documentaries on genocide in English for publicity in the international level.
Considering its horror in 1971, three international organizations ' Lemkin Institute', 'Genocide Watch' and 'International Coalition for Sites of Conscience' have already recognised it as genocide.
Since 2017, March 25 is observed as National Genocide Day in Bangladesh.
Climate Change: UN, Bangladesh to strengthen cooperation
Bangladesh and the United Nations (UN) on Sunday discussed ways to further strengthen the national efforts of adaptation to and mitigation of the adverse effects of climate change, specially in the context of the recently concluded COP27 in Egypt.
UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and discussed the issues of mutual interest.
The UNRC briefed the State Minister about her recent visit to Khagrachari and Rangamati districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, including on various projects the UN has undertaken there for socio-economic development.
Read more: UNICEF wants investment in world's first child-focused climate risk financing solution
She also sought Bangladesh's cooperation and support in making the upcoming 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) to be held in Doha, Qatar in March 2023.
They also discussed the humanitarian response for the Rohingyas, including on launching the Joint Response Plan (JRP) next year.
UN climate talks drag into extra time with scant progress
Negotiators say they have struck a potential breakthrough deal on the thorniest issue of United Nations climate talks in Egypt: the creation of a fund for compensating poor nations that are victims of extreme weather worsened by rich countries’ carbon pollution.
Several cabinet ministers from across the globe told The Associated Press that agreement was reached on a fund for what negotiators call loss and damage. It’s a big win for poorer nations which have long called for cash — sometimes viewed as reparations — because they are often the victims of climate disasters despite having contributed little to the pollution that heats up the globe.
“This is how a 30-year-old journey of ours has finally, we hope, found fruition today,” said Pakistan Climate Minister Sherry Rehman, who often took the lead for the world’s poorest nations. One-third of her nation was submerged this summer by a devastating flood and she and other officials used the motto: “What went on in Pakistan will not stay in Pakistan.”
If an agreement is accepted it still needs to be approved in a unanimous decision later Saturday. But other parts of a deal, outlined in a package of proposals put out earlier in the day by the Egyptian chairs of the talks, are still being hammered out as negotiators head into what they hope is their final session.
There was strong concern among both developed and developing countries about proposals on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, known as mitigation. Officials said the language put forward by Egypt backtracked on some of the commitments made in Glasgow aimed at keeping alive the target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times. The world has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit) since the mid 19th century.
Some of the Egyptian language on mitigation seemingly reverted to the 2015 Paris agreement, which was before scientists knew how crucial the 1.5 degree threshold was and heavily mentioned a weaker 2-degree Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) goal, which is why scientists and Europeans are afraid of backtracking, said climate scientist Maarten van Aalst of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre.
Ireland’s Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan said: “We need to get a deal on 1.5 degrees. We need strong wording on mitigation and that’s what we’re going to push.”
Still, the attention centered around the compensation fund, which has also been called a justice issue.
Read more: COP27: Bangladesh among first recipients of Global Shield financial support
“There is an agreement on loss and damage,” Maldives Environment Minister Aminath Shauna told the AP early Saturday afternoon after a meeting with other delegations. “That means for countries like ours we will have the mosaic of solutions that we have been advocating for.”
New Zealand Climate Minister James Shaw said both the poor countries that would get the money and the rich ones that would give it are on board with the proposed deal.
It's a reflection of what can be done when the poorest nations remain unified, said Alex Scott, a climate diplomacy expert at the think tank E3G.
“I think this is huge to have governments coming together to actually work out at least the first step of ... how to deal with the issue of loss and damage," Scott said. But like all climate financials, it is one thing to create a fund, it's another to get money flowing in and out, she said. The developed world still has not kept its 2009 pledge to spend $100 billion a year in other climate aid — designed to help poor nations develop green energy and adapt to future warming.
“The draft decision on loss and damage finance offers hope to the vulnerable people that they will get help to recover from climate disasters and rebuild their lives," said Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International.
The Chinese lead negotiator would not comment on a possible deal. The U.S. negotiations office, where special envoy John Kerry is sick with COVID-19, also declined to comment. China and the U.S. are the two biggest carbon polluters. European negotiators said they were ready to back the deal but declined to say so publicly until the entire package was approved.
The Egyptian presidency, which had been under criticism by all sides, proposed a new loss and damage deal Saturday afternoon and within a couple hours an agreement was struck but Norway's climate and environment minister Espen Barth Eide said it was not so much the Egyptians but countries working together.
According to the latest draft, the fund would initially draw on contributions from developed countries and other private and public sources such as international financial institutions. While major emerging economies such as China would not initially be required to contribute, that option remains on the table and will be negotiated over the coming years. This is a key demand by the European Union and the United States, who argue that China and other large polluters currently classified as developing countries have the financial clout and responsibility to pay their way.
The planned fund would be largely aimed at the most vulnerable nations, though there would be room for middle-income countries that are severely battered by climate disasters to get aid.
An overarching decision that sums up the outcomes of the climate talks doesn't include India’s call to phase down oil and natural gas, in addition to last year’s agreement to wean the world from “unabated” coal.
Read more: COP27: Bangladesh to reiterate call to materialize $100bn pledged for developing countries
Several rich and developing nations called Saturday for a last-minute push to step up emissions cuts, warning that the outcome barely builds on what was agreed in Glasgow last year.
It also doesn’t require developing countries such as China and India to submit any new targets before 2030. Experts say these are needed to achieve the more ambitious 1.5 degrees Celsius goal that would prevent some of the more extreme effects of climate change.
Throughout the climate summit, the American, Chinese, Indian and Saudi Arabian delegations have kept a low public profile, while European, African, Pakistan and small island nations have been more vocal.
Many of the more than 40,000 attendees have left town, and workers started packing up the vast pavilions in the sprawling conference zone.
U.N. climate meetings have evolved over the years to resemble trade fairs, with many countries and industry groups setting up booths and displays for meetings and panel discussions.
At many stands, chairs were stacked neatly ready for removal, and monitors had been taken away, leaving cables dangling from walls. Pamphlets and booklets were strewn across tables and floors. Snack bars, which the Egyptian organizers said would remain open through the weekend, were emptied out.
At the youth pavilion, a gathering spot for young activists, a pile of handwritten postcards from children to negotiators was left on a table.
“Dear COP27 negotiators,” read one card. “Keep fighting for a good planet.”
‘Most elderly Bangladeshis I met said they feel like burden’: UN expert
Bangladesh must take concrete action to combat entrenched and pervasive ageism and follow through on its planned measures to ensure human rights protection of elderly persons, a UN expert said.
“I remain hopeful that Bangladesh will provide the appropriate political will and budgeting to strengthen the protection of older persons in the country,” Claudia Mahler, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights for older persons, told reporters in Dhaka on Thursday.
Concluding an 11-day visit here, the UN expert welcomed the existence of a dedicated National Policy on Older Persons, as a first commendable step.
“However, the lack of a time-bonding action plan to further its implementation remains problematic,” Mahler said.
More than nine years after its adoption, most of the priorities remain unattended.
Acknowledging the government’s ongoing challenges related to climate change and a growing economic and financial crisis, she called on the government to recognise older persons’ experiences, skills and contributions to their families and society at large.
“Such recognition would enhance support and protection to a growing proportion of the population that remains invisible,” Mahler said in a statement.
“Most of the older persons I met expressed often feeling like a burden to their family and the society, due the rampant structural ageism.”
Read more: Bangladesh faces a challenge in ensuring welfare of its aging population
While Bangladeshi society has a tradition of respecting and providing care for older relatives, their specific needs are easily ignored, she said.
“Older persons especially face structural ageist assumptions in the labour market, preventing those living in poverty to sustain themselves and their kin,” the expert said.
UN adopts resolution on human rights of Rohingya, other minorities in Myanmar
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a resolution "on the situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar" without a vote.
"We would like to see the increased role of the regional countries and the regional organisations in resolving the Rohingya crisis with enhanced urgency, before it turns into a regional security crisis," according to the statement of Bangladesh at the adoption of 3rd committee resolution on the situation of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
In August 2017, the world witnessed the beginning of history's largest and fastest exodus, with hundreds and thousands of Rohingya fleeing their homes in Myanmar.
Over 750,000 Rohingya – including more than 400,000 children – entered Bangladesh seeking shelter and protection in a few weeks' time through a border that stretches only 41 kilometres.
Within a blink of an eye, Cox's Bazar which used to be a forest roamed by elephants became home to the world's largest refugee camp.
With the caseload from previous exoduses, currently, 1.2 million Rohingya minorities live in the camps in Bangladesh.
The situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate. Not a single Rohingya was able to return in the last five years.
The Rohingyas left in Myanmar are also faced with continued persecution and threats of displacement, Bangladesh said.
The country welcomed the adoption of the resolution by the 3rd committee, which is seen as a manifestation of a collective commitment to do right by the Rohingya.
Read more: Myanmar situation doesn't allow full-scale Rohingya repatriation now: Japan
Bangladesh also welcomed the resolution's continued focus on the need to address the root causes of the Rohingya crisis, including in the context of current developments in Myanmar.
The country expressed strong support to the mandates of the special envoy of the secretary general, special rapporteur on the human rights situation of Myanmar, and the Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar, and remained committed to providing full cooperation to them.
Pending their return, the Rohingyas living in the camps deserve the solidarity of the international community. The humanitarian response plan needs to be adequately funded.
"Equally important is to ensure enhanced coherence in the work of the peace, development and humanitarian actors in Myanmar to ensure long-term impacts for the minorities at risk including the prospective returnees. Pursuing the ongoing accountability tracks is also important as a confidence-building measure," Bangladesh said.
"We believe this resolution will give us the much-needed impetus to reinforce our collective efforts to achieve durable solutions for the Rohingyas," it added.
Read more: Bangladesh seeks OIC’s help to continue Rohingya genocide case