"GIRLS"

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “As we look to priorities for this year, a rights-rooted approach is central to achieving our ultimate priority: a safer, more peaceful, more sustainable world.” UNIFEED

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said, humanitarian agencies will continue to work in Afghanistan, “unless and until there is a blanket opposition to the role of women.” UNIFEED

Commenting on guidelines expected to be issued by Taliban authorities to allow women to work in humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, the United Nations top humanitarian official said “Let’s see if these guidelines do come through. Let's see if they are beneficial. Let's see what space there is for the essential and central role of women in our humanitarian operations.” UNIFEED

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told reporters, “We cannot leave and abandon the women of Afghanistan. It's not when it gets hard that we drop off. It's when it gets hard that they see more of us and that we're there in solidarity with them.” UNIFEED / UNAMA

UNESCO is dedicating this year's International Day of Education to girls and women in Afghanistan who have been deprived of their right to education. UNIFEED

The ongoing war in Ukraine has disrupted education for more than five million children, UNICEF warned, calling for increased international support to ensure children do not fall further behind. The impact of 11 months of conflict only compounds the two years of lost learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and more than 8 years of war for children in eastern Ukraine. UNICEF

War leaving invisible scars for Ukrainians, Under-Secretary-General tells Security Council, noting one fourth of population will develop mental-health condition.

The top UN political affairs official told the Security Council that “there is no sign of an end to the fighting” in Ukraine and “the logic that prevails is a military one, with very little, if any, room for dialogue right now.” UNIFEED

Several members of the Security Council expressed “grave concern regarding the critical situation” of women and girls in Afghanistan, urging the Taliban to “immediately reverse all oppressive measures against women and girls, adhere to their commitments set out in Security Council resolution 2593, and respect the rights of women and girls.” UNIFEED

United Nations agencies are calling for urgent action to protect the most vulnerable children in the 15 countries hardest hit by an unprecedented food and nutrition crisis. WHO