United Nations News
Track how the United Nations influences global issues such as climate, human rights, and peacekeeping, with reporting and commentary.
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opinion
What’s Behind New UN Sanctions on North Korea
After nearly two months of debate, the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a new resolution (2270) to punish North Korea for its most recent violations of previous U.N. resolutions. The document augments earlier U.N. measures against Pyongyang, reflecting growing international concern and resolve to confront the regime’s defiance and expanding nuclear and missile capabilities. The… -
opinion
How UN Conferences Have Created a False Climate Narrative
Last week in Paris, I had the pleasure of speaking at an event hosted by the Heartland Institute, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) and Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT). The conference, entitled “A Day of Examining the Data” brought climatologists to talk about the state of climate science and economists to talk about the… -
opinion
7 Disputes Being Debated This Week at the UN Climate Conference in Paris
Week one of the U.N. climate conference in Paris (COP21) concluded with the adoption of a draft “outcome.” This was the must-have first step if the U.N. is to have a chance of adopting a full treaty this week. The draft is riddled with unresolved and divisive issues. For instance, it contains multiple versions of… -
opinion
Happy Birthday, United Nations! 70 Years Is Enough.
Did it escape your attention that last month was the 70th birthday of the United Nations? Did you miss the opportunity to celebrate by following Elyx on an “exciting 70-day (virtual) trip around the world to shine light on the U.N.’s work”? What? You’re not familiar with Elyx, the United Nations’ first “digital ambassador”? Allow me to… -
opinion
When It Comes to Prosperity and Poverty, the UN Still Doesn’t Get It
The announcement last week that Angus Deaton of Princeton University won the 2015 Nobel Prize in economics offers an opportunity to celebrate the gains the world has made, and to reflect on how we can do better. Unfortunately, the United Nations has not taken that opportunity. Deaton’s research focuses on the use of data from… -
opinion
Palestinian President’s UN Speech Falls Flat
After weeks of hinting that he would “drop a bombshell” at the United Nations, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday threatened to stop abiding by the 1993 Oslo Accords, which have set the framework for Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations for more than two decades. In his speech to the U.N. General Assembly, Abbas complained that… -
opinion
Obama Puts Positive Spin on Disastrous Foreign Policy in UN Speech
President Obama’s seventh speech to the United Nations was well-received on Monday. This is hardly surprising, as his policies have been a broad embrace of priorities and tactics that have long been championed by the majority of the world’s governments. As stated by Peter Wittig, Germany’s ambassador to the United States and formerly Germany’s permanent… -
opinion
What’s Wrong With the UN’s New 169 Goals
The United Nations is quite proud of its Millennium Development Goals—the criteria it uses to measure the success of economic development programs. In a 2013 report, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon “modestly” stated that “Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have been the most successful global anti-poverty push in history.” Of course, this is vastly overstated. In… -
opinion
5 Reasons Lawmakers Should Ignore the UN Vote and Reject Iran Deal
The United Nations Security Council unanimously voted Monday morning to support the Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. President Obama did so despite strong opposition from Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif.,… -
opinion
Obama Doubles Down on Using UN to Undermine Congress
News reports confirmed this week that President Obama intends to submit the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, to the United Nations Security Council before allowing Congress a chance to scrutinize the deal. The reaction from Congress was justified outrage. Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs… -
opinion
Iran Deal to Be Sent to UN Security Council Before Congress: A Deliberate Insult by the President
According to news reports, the Obama administration is currently circulating a draft United Nations Security Council resolution to implement the commitments agreed to under the Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The expectation among other Security Council member states is that the U.S. will seek a vote on the resolution… -
opinion
How to Improve the UN
Seventy years ago, the five victors of World War II and 46 other signatory nations ratified the United Nations Charter, thus making the U.N. an official international body. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is using the anniversary to celebrate its accomplishments. He says, “The year 2015 is a once-in-a generation opportunity.” It is indeed. The year… -
news
United Nations Report: Iranian Violations of Sanctions Are Going Unreported
Countries monitoring the Iranian nuclear program are failing to report Iran for violating sanctions imposed against it, according to a United Nations report. The report also suggests that violations of the United Nations Security Council’s sanctions by the Iranian regime are going unreported because it would reflect poorly on Tehran as they negotiate a nuclear… -
opinion
Challenges, and Successes, for United States at UN Small Arms Meeting
Today, the second meeting of government experts for the U.N. “Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons” wraps up in New York. In theory, the PoA, as it is known, is about controlling international arms smuggling. In practice, a lot of nations want to make it about gun control. So far, the U.S…. -
opinion
Kim Jong-Un Continues Reign of Purges, Executing Defense Minister
Kim Jong-un continued his reign of purges, having Minister of Defense Hyon Yong-chol executed for treason and showing disrespect to the North Korean leader by falling asleep at a military event. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service reported that Hyon was executed at the end of April by a firing squad using anti-aircraft artillery as hundreds… -
opinion
Why the 169 Targets UN Is Pursuing Won’t Lead to Progress in Reducing Poverty
Regardless of the name, the United Nations’ proposed list of Sustainable Development Goals actually reads more like a wish list cobbled together by a committee that could not say no. The Sustainable Development Goals, which are the heirs to the Millennium Development Goals, consist of a whopping 169 proposed targets under 17 categories. As The Economist… -
opinion
GOP, Democrats Unite in Opposing UN Arms Treaty
Since the Obama administration announced in October 2009 that it would seek to negotiate an Arms Trade Treaty through the United Nations, Congress has regularly cautioned the White House that such a treaty is not in the interests of the United States. After Secretary of State John Kerry signed the agreement in September 2013, Congress… -
opinion
Is Obama Sidestepping Congress and Going to UN on Iran Deal?
The letter to Iran signed by 47 Republican senators has provoked a lot of commentary—and some welcome clarification on the White House’s negotiations with Iran. The letter argued that any deal President Obama makes with Iran isn’t binding past his second term. “[W]e will consider any agreement regarding your nuclear-weapons program that is not approved… -
opinion
US Should Hold the Line on Palestinian Pursuit of UN Membership
Here we go again. This week, Palestinian Authority chief negotiator Saeb Erekat has threatened that his government will apply for membership to 522 international organizations and statutes if the United States vetoes a U.N. Security Council resolution, presented last month by Jordan on behalf of Palestine and the Arab Group, establishing a “a timetable to… -
opinion
Why the US Needs to Keep Venezuela Out of the UN Security Council
Today marks the 238th day opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez has spent locked away in a Venezuelan military prison. Arrested for leading peaceful antigovernment demonstrations, Leopoldo is currently standing trial and could face up to 10 years in prison. Much like the recent demonstrations seen in Ukraine, the Venezuelan government’s response has been deadly and undemocratic….