Latest news with #UnitedNationsHeadquarters
Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Pakistan signs UN agreement on Law of Sea
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar has signed the 'Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement)' at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The signing of the agreement reflects Pakistan's continued commitment to multilateral cooperation and to the protection and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in a statement said Pakistan played a leading role during the BBNJ negotiations, serving as chair of the group of 77 and China during the two main sessions in 2022. Dar signs convention on establishment of International Organization for Mediation in China Representing the collective voice of developing countries Pakistan consistently advocated for fair benefit-sharing, capacity-building, and technology transfer, in line with the principle of the common heritage of humankind, it said. As per the United Nations, the BBNJ Agreement was adopted on June 19, 2023, by the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction convened under the auspices of the UN. The BBNJ Agreement becomes the third implementing agreement to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Under the overall objective of the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, for the present and in the long-term, through effective implementation of the relevant provisions of the convention and further international cooperation and coordination, the agreement addresses four main issues: Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas Environmental impact assessments Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology The agreement also addresses a number of 'cross-cutting issues', establishes a funding mechanism and sets up institutional arrangements, including a conference of the parties and various subsidiary bodies, a Clearing-House Mechanism and a secretariat.
Business Recorder
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Dar tells UN SG: Pakistan committed to principles of UN Charter
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, met with the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, at the United Nations Headquarters, Monday. During the meeting, the DPM/FM reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering and resolute commitment to multilateralism and the central role of the UN in addressing the most pressing global challenges. The DPM/FM reassured the Secretary General of Pakistan's focus on strengthening the UN's role in conflict resolution, in promoting sustainable development, and in upholding the fundamental rights of all peoples around the world. The Secretary General appreciated Pakistan's presence and initiatives at the UNSC. The DPM/FM underscored that Pakistan is fully committed to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, especially the need to advance peace through dialogue and diplomacy. He further stated that the high-level debate on multilateralism and peaceful settlement of disputes and the meeting on UN-OIC cooperation, under Pakistan's Presidency of the UN Security Council for the current month, reflects on Pakistan's commitment to multilateralism and the promotion of peace. The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister emphasised issues of critical national and regional importance to Pakistan, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and externally sponsored terrorism in Pakistan. He stressed the imperative of a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the resolutions of the Security Council. The DPM/FM lauded the Secretary-General's leadership and sincere efforts for de-escalation of recent tensions between Pakistan and India. The DPM/FM reiterated Pakistan's unwavering support for Palestinian statehood, an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and firm opposition to Israel's annexation plans in the West Bank. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
United News of India
3 days ago
- Business
- United News of India
Manipur technocrat discusses AI in UN
Imphal, July 19 (UNI) Manipur marked a proud milestone with its representation at the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit held at the United Nations Headquarters in Vienna, Austria. State information official today said the summit brought together representatives from over 100 countries, discussing critical issues including digital sovereignty, ethical AI, and the role of AI in empowering developing countries and the Global South. Among the global participants was Joyremba, Managing Director of a private company who played a significant role not only as a delegate but also as a member of the speaker selection committee. Over a period of three months, he took part in more than eight rounds of interviews, helping evaluate over 160 speaker applications from around the world. His involvement directly contributed to shaping the diverse and impactful lineup of voices featured at the summit. In his remarks during the summit, Joyremba highlighted the pressing challenges faced by smaller regions like Manipur in adopting AI-driven transformation. These include the lack of adequate computing infrastructure, gaps in consistent and reliable data, frequent disruptions due to conflict situations, and a shortage of high-end skilled professionals in fields like AI, machine learning, and data science. He emphasized the need for global cooperation, inclusive investment, and policy support to ensure these gaps are addressed meaningfully. 'It was an honour to represent not just Manipur but also the aspirations of many similar regions that are rich in potential but often overlooked in global conversations on technology,' Joyremba stated. 'AI should not just be powerful — it must be inclusive, accessible, and ethical.' The summit emphasized the need for stronger regional representation in global tech policy frameworks, particularly from developing regions. Joyremba's presence at such a high-level platform reflects the growing contribution of professionals from Manipur and the North East in international technology and governance conversations. UNI NS RN
The Star
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Liberia's Boakai apologises to war victims, honours slain presidents
FILE PHOTO: President of Liberia Joseph Boakai addresses the "Summit of the Future" in the General Assembly Hall at United Nations Headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 22, 2024. REUTERS/David Dee Delgado/File Photo MONROVIA (Reuters) -Liberian President Joseph Boakai has launched what his office describes as an unprecedented reconciliation campaign, overseeing memorial services for two assassinated presidents and issuing the government's first apology to war victims. The high-profile ceremonies come more than two decades after the end of civil conflicts that resulted in some 200,000 deaths and saw widespread atrocities including massacres, rape and the use of child soldiers. They also coincide with calls by human rights groups for domestic war crimes prosecutions which have yet to start despite an executive order to establish a war crimes court last year. Boakai's apology came on Saturday at an event in the capital Monrovia, where he pledged to make July 5 an annual day of remembrance. "To every victim of our civil conflict, to every family broken, to every dream shattered, we say: 'We are sorry'," he said. In the lead-up to that event, Boakai attended a service honouring President Samuel Doe, who took power in a coup in 1980 and died at the hands of fighters loyal to warlord Prince Johnson in 1990, less than a year after fighting broke out in Liberia. Johnson, who died last year, went on to become a senator and political kingmaker, highlighting what critics describe as entrenched impunity. Boakai also recently spoke at a reburial service for President William Tolbert, who was executed in the 1980 coup. That putsch also saw the public executions of 13 members of Tolbert's cabinet on a beach in Monrovia. "It still hurts," said Charlotte Stewart, whose father, former budget director Frank J. Stewart, was among the 13 senior officials killed. "I really do believe that it will bring some closure." CALL FOR TRIALS Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2009 issued a final report recommending war-related prosecutions at an extraordinary criminal court, but none have taken place on Liberian soil. Last year Boakai signed an executive order to establish a war crimes court, and in April he renewed the order as it had been due to expire. Alain Werner, director of the Geneva-based group Civitas Maxima that has successfully pushed for the prosecution of several Liberians in foreign courts, said Boakai should do more to make the local court operational. "It is great he is apologizing. Others before him did not do that and it is important for the victims and survivors," Werner said. "But he should also ensure the office for the war crimes court gets the money it needs to function as soon as possible for the work to start in earnest, finally." Yvette Chesson Wureh, daughter of former Justice Minister Joseph Chesson who was killed in the 1980 coup, called on Liberia to confront its history. "Justice was denied. And with it, the principles of fairness and humanity that should define us as a people." (Reporting by Carielle DoeWriting by Robbie Corey-BouletEditing by Gareth Jones)
IOL News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
UN at a Crossroads: Birth Pangs of a New World Order
A viewer looks at the 'UN Charter' exhibition ahead of the 80th anniversary of its signing at the United Nations Headquarters on June 20, 2025 in New York. Marco Cordeiro Pires On June 26, the United Nations Charter celebrated its 80th anniversary. The current international order is based on its principles, which stand out in its preamble: the prevention of war, equal rights of peoples and nations, justice, social progress and a better life for all. All multilateral institutions subsumed under its creation since 1945, such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the UN Refugee Agency, etc. But unfortunately, we are seeing the principles of the UN Charter being disrespected in various parts of the world, precisely by the powers that considered themselves the creators and pillars of this order. Today, we live in a very complex international context marked by instability, regional wars, nuclear threats, attacks on the sovereignty of sovereign countries, and the exacerbation of unilateralism. The current global order is undergoing a profound stress test, which is producing challenges and many opportunities. Western powers claim to be the creators and defenders of the rules that govern the coexistence between nations. This stance is reflected in the preponderance of Western logic, which seeks to impose its political, economic and ideological models on the rest of the world as if they were universal. The history of European imperialism and colonialism in the 19th and 20th centuries contains an enormous list of atrocities committed in the name of a "civilising "and "evangelising" mission. In addition to military, political and economic domination, Western nations have developed an extensive theoretical and ideological apparatus, especially about international relations. In this field, there is a large concentration of Anglo-American voices, while few voices have been heard from countries of the Global South, as if non-Western peoples cannot have their perspectives on the essence of international politics. In undergraduate courses worldwide, international relations manuals naturalise the Western view as if it were the only truly valid analytical perspective. Realistic theorists of international relations, such as Samuel Huntington, with his theses on modernization and the clash of civilizations; Francis Fukuyama, who argued that the Western liberal model would be the end of history; and Graham Allison, who deals with the inevitability of a clash between the great powers in "Thucydides Trap", receive an amplified audience by arguing that the international order is a zero-sum game and that the security and well-being of a nation can only be sustained at the expense of the interests of other countries. In essence, realism brings with it the values of individualism and the idea that human beings are merely rational maximisers of petty interests. From there, realist political scientists extrapolate experience at the individual level to the behaviour of nation-states, postulating hegemony as the only acceptable condition for a great power. There are other Western theories of international relations, such as liberalism, which postulates the universalisation of its notion of democracy and human rights, which has often served as a pretext for interventions and regime changes around the world. Even the constructivist theory, which appears to be more progressive by incorporating non-state agents such as nongovernmental organisations, social movements, trade union federations and churches, etc, into the decision-making process, is used as an instrument of destabilisation via so-called colour revolutions, which are instruments of hybrid wars. At this point, it is worth highlighting that the three Anglo-American theories are used to maintain the status quo in the international order, in which the hegemony of the United States prevails. In this context, the ideas of Amitav Acharya are conducive to reflecting on the role of countries in the Global South in this process, as they can contribute new concepts about the relationship between civilisations, nations and people that do not mean hegemonism, supremacism, unilateralism or zero-sum logic. To this end, we could incorporate into the debate on the creation of a new international institutional framework concepts and philosophies from outside the Western world, such as the African concept of Ubuntu, which assumes that human beings are part of a broader and more meaningful relational community. According to this philosophy, people must be open and available to others, support those close to them, not feel threatened when others are capable and good, join forces to achieve better results, and understand that the differences between people are what generate growth. Likewise, we could mention the Taoist principle of Yin and Yang, in which opposites complement each other, the Confucian moral authority, and the umbilical relationship between man and nature expressed in the Inca concept of Pachamama. In conclusion, humanity should be viewed as a large garden, not a vast eucalyptus plantation. Civilisations, cultures and ethnic groups are flowers that contribute to the beauty of this garden. Humanity is facing a challenging crisis. It is necessary to strive for the birth of a new world order that guarantees all people enjoy the realisation of all the promises made 80 years ago when the UN was created. Peace, security and prosperity will be the collective fruits. * The author is a professor of international political economy at São Paulo State University in Brazil. This article was originally published at ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.
