In South Sudan, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim Peter Van der Auweraert strongly condemned today the ongoing violence in Upper Nile State, which has displaced over 9,000 people. The United Nation is working with aid partners to provide food, access to water, sanitation, hygiene and healthcare facilities.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of This Crime, observed on 9 December:

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for Human Rights Day, observed on 10 December:

The International Labour Organization, the Lloyd’s Register Foundation and Gallup released a joint analysis showing that more than 1 in 5 people have experienced violence and harassment at work, whether it is physical, psychological or sexual.

In Haiti, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has increased their cholera treatment centres from 49 to 62. Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), United Nations Development Programme (United Nations Development Programme), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have launched cholera and health activities in the Port-au-Prince area focusing on women and girls impacted by gang violence there.

The ninth United Nations inter-agency cross-line convoy of 16 trucks, carrying 482 metric tons of food and other humanitarian supplies, crossed from Aleppo into Sarmada in north-west Syria. Supplies included medicines, nutrition items, water, sanitation and hygiene items, reproductive health kits, and education materials.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, observed on 5 December:

Marking the Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare, the Secretary-General said that chemical weapons have claimed countless victims across the globe. He stressed that on this Day, the international community must honour them and reaffirm its commitment to achieve a world free from this threat.

Against a background of increasing violence, shrinking civil society space and creeping annexation, speakers at a special meeting of the Palestinian Rights Committee to observe the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People stressed the need to mobilize efforts to hold Israel accountable, including through the International Court of Justice.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is in West Java, Indonesia, following the earthquake that struck Monday, and has distributed 350 customized kits to women, adolescents and people living with HIV. Deployed midwives to West Java have also established a reproductive health centre, where three babies have been born so far.