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Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: 5 fast facts

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Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: 5 fast facts

The landmark legally binding treaty entered into force on 3 May 2008, marking a major milestone in the effort to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights for all.

Ahead of the 17th Conference of States Parties (COSP17) that starts on 11 June, here are five fast facts about the Convention and how it continues to impact the lives of 1.3 billion men, women and children living with disabilities around the world:

A four-year-old boy plays in a learning centre in Bratislava, Ukraine.

1. Why the world needs the Convention

People with disabilities face discrimination and the denial of their human rights around the world. Society’s barriers are the problem, not individual impairments.

That’s why the Convention exists.

The Convention is a human rights treaty that sets out how to make a world disability inclusive.

The goal is to create an enabling environment so that people living with disabilities can enjoy real equality in society.

A nine-year-old child plays seesaw with her friends in an inclusive playground at her school in the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan.

A nine-year-old child plays seesaw with her friends in an inclusive playground at her school in the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan.

2. Protected rights

The Convention emphasises that people living with disabilities must have their dignity respected and their voices heard and should be involved in making decisions that affect their lives. That includes all rights, from freedom of speech and education to healthcare and employment.

The treaty tells countries to remove obstacles that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in all fields, from technology to politics.

It addresses those barriers, including discrimination and accessibility, and also calls for equality for women and girls. In addition, the treaty maps out ways countries around the world can remove barriers preventing people with disabilities from fully enjoying all their rights.

Despite all technical difficulties of leaving home, Dmitry Kuzuk does his own shopping and leads independent life in Moldova. (file)

Despite all technical difficulties of leaving home, Dmitry Kuzuk does his own shopping and leads independent life in Moldova. (file)

3. How the treaty is enforced

There are several ways the Convention is enforced, respected and implemented.

Individuals can bring petitions to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to report breaches of their rights.

“The mere existence of the Convention gives persons with disabilities and their organisations the ability to say to their governments ‘you have accepted these obligations’ and insist that they be met.” said Don MacKay, chair of the committee that drafted the treaty.

The 18-member Geneva-based committee can also undertake inquires of grave or systematic violations of the Convention and monitors whether rights are being properly applied, online and off in times of peace and of war and other crises.

A young boy attends a panel discussion on health and wellbeing at an event held on the occasion of World Down Syndrome Day at UN Headquarters. (file)

UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

A young boy attends a panel discussion on health and wellbeing at an event held on the occasion of World Down Syndrome Day at UN Headquarters. (file)

4. A seat at the table

A key to progress is bringing people whose rights are affected to the table.

This year, hundreds of delegates from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are coming to New York to take part in the latest Conference of State Parties, COSP17, to be held in June 2024, one of the largest global meetings on disability rights.

Since the time the treaty was negotiated, the perspectives and input of people living with disabilities are being heard at meetings at the UN and in countries around the world.

The bigger table at UN Headquarters now accommodates accessibility requirements, including wheelchair access, hearing loops usage, documentation in Braille, large print or sign language usage.

Music legend and UN Messenger of Peace Stevie Wonder addresses the General Assembly's high-level meeting on disability and development in 2013. (file)

Music legend and UN Messenger of Peace Stevie Wonder addresses the General Assembly’s high-level meeting on disability and development in 2013. (file)

5. In the spotlight

Global celebrities like the singer-songwriter and UN Messenger of Peace Stevie Wonder, who is visually impaired, have also added their voice.

“Someone being sighted doesn’t mean that they should be blind to those things in the world that we need to fix,” Mr. Wonder said, noting that there are 300 million visually impaired people around the world.

“We really are abled persons with different abilities. We have to have inclusion.”

Watch UN Video’s Stories from the UN Archive on how the music icon challenged assumptions about Braille: here.

“I think there are certain sort of stereotypes that we hear about autism, and I’ve learned very quickly through meeting people who either were parents of autistic children or meeting people with autism that those sort of stereotypes don’t really exist,” actor Dakota Fanning told UN News in a conversation about her role as Wendy, who is autistic, in the film Please Stand By.

“So, I felt that I didn’t I want to further the stereotypes and that I wanted to really portray her as I would portray any other young woman,” she said.

Nick Herd in the UN General Assembly Hall for COSP16. (file)

Nick Herd in the UN General Assembly Hall for COSP16. (file)

“I have lived with discrimination for part of my life,” said Canadian activist, actor and talk show host Nick Herd, who was born with Down syndrome.

“When I was young, and growing up, I was bullied because of my disability, but now I can use that voice, from the child that I was, to be heard, louder and louder. I can shout it on the top of a building or off a mountain, bigger than the UN so that persons with disabilities are included at the table.”

Giles Duley has dedicated his work as a photographer to document the impacts of war. He himself was severely wounded in Afghanistan and continues to fight on all fronts to heal his own wounds and those of others.

© Giles Duley/Legacy of War Foundation

Giles Duley has dedicated his work as a photographer to document the impacts of war. He himself was severely wounded in Afghanistan and continues to fight on all fronts to heal his own wounds and those of others.

“In war, those with disabilities are often represented as victims, denied equality in humanitarian support and excluded from peace processes,” said renowned photographer Giles Duley, the first UN Global Advocate for persons with disabilities in conflict and peacebuilding situations.

“It is time for change, and if we work together, we have the strength and opportunity to create that change.”

Who’s on board?

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was opened for signature in 2006. Here’s who is on board:

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, waiting to be signed by representatives of Member States in 2006. (file)

UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, waiting to be signed by representatives of Member States in 2006. (file)

  • As of today, 191 nations and UN observers have ratified the treaty, and 106 have ratified its Optional Protocol
  • Since the Convention entered into force in 2008, the UN and its agencies have worked towards amplifying its provisions
  • The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims to leave no one behind in its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • The Summit of the Future intends to realign international cooperation to be inclusive across the board
  • Check out the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy
  • The Convention and its Optional Protocol established annual meetings of treaty signatories – the “Conference of States Parties” (COSP) – to monitor implementation and discuss current themes and trends, with this year’s COSP17 focusing on jobs, tech and humanitarian emergencies at a meeting at UN Headquarters from 11 to 13 June 2024
  • Learn about the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities here
  • Follow past and present annual Conferences of States Parties (COSP) here

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World Oceans Day event highlights immediate protection measures needed

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Milos Prelevic prelevicm - unsplash

UN World Oceans Day, celebrated on Friday at UN Headquarters in New York, focused on “opening minds, igniting senses, and inspiring possibilities” to protect marine life worldwide. 

A powerful video was shown echoing the theme, awaken new depths, warning of immediate protection needs and cautioning that there is no time for an “out of sight out of mind” sense of complacency.

In a statement marking the Day – which falls officially on Saturday – UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the ocean sustains life on Earth and the problems are essentially man-made.

“Climate change is triggering rising seas and threatening the very existence of small island developing states and coastal populations”, he said.

Mr. Guterres also mentioned that ocean acidification is destroying coral reefs, with sea temperatures reaching record levels leading to extreme weather events. Overfishing and other factors are contributing to the destruction of the world’s marine ecosystems.

The President of the General Assembly, Dennis Francis, attended the event and voiced similar concerns about the current state of the ocean.

“There is so much still to learn about oceans – and, importantly, to reverse the damage being caused to our precious lifeline resource.”

Mr. Francis said that the ocean is our strongest ally against climate change and therefore “it is our joint responsibility to course correct – and recommit to sustainably manage the ocean’s precious resources – so as to ensure their availability intergenerationally.”

The Secretary-General and General Assembly President said they are expecting reflections on and actions toward ways to restore and protect our oceans as the Summit of the Future in September 2024 and next year’s UN Oceans Conference approach.

State of the Ocean Report

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released a State of the Ocean report earlier in the week pushing policymakers to think about “the ocean we need for the future we want.”

The report detailed threats to the ocean and trends that could help identify drivers of change.

It warned that the rate of ocean warming has doubled in 20 years and that coastal species are suffocating due to decreased oxygen levels in the ocean, among other things.

One of its conclusions is that “ocean literacy practice and research is a strategic ally to optimize resources, accelerate behavioural change and improve the implementation of ocean conservation programmes and sustainability practices.”

Soundcloud

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Calls to action

Speakers at UN Headquarters on Friday included marine biologist and oceanographer Sylvia Earle, who said finding ways to share the importance of protecting our ocean with the world can lead to vital action to also preserve coastal wildlife.

“Now is the time for governments, businesses, investors, scientists and communities to come together in defence of our ocean,” UN Secretary-General Guterres said.

In a similar call to action, General Assembly President Francis said we should “redouble our efforts to support and advance ocean action, build much-needed capacity in [small island developing states]and other developing countries – and promote innovative financing solutions that drive transformation and scale up resilience.”

Eco-friendly and affordable battery for low-income countries

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Eco-friendly and affordable battery for low-income countries


A battery made from zinc and lignin that can be used over 8000 times. This has been developed by researchers at Linköping University with a vision to provide a cheap and sustainable battery solution for countries where access to electricity is limited. The study has been published in the journal Energy & Environmental Materials.

Reverant Crispin and Ziyauddin Khan, researchers at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics. Image credit:

Reverant Crispin and Ziyauddin Khan, researchers at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics. Image credit: Thor Balkhed/Linköping University

“Solar panels have become relatively inexpensive, and many people in low-income countries have adopted them. However, near the equator, the sun sets at around 6 PM, leaving households and businesses without electricity. The hope is that this battery technology, even with lower performance than the expensive Li-ion batteries, will eventually offer a solution for these situations,” says Reverant Crispin, professor of organic electronics at Linköping University.

His research group at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics, together with researchers at Karlstad University and Chalmers, has developed a battery that is based on zinc and lignin, two cost-effective and environmentally friendly materials. In terms of energy density, it is comparable to lead-acid batteries but without the lead, which is toxic.

Stable battery

The battery is stable, as it can be used over 8000 cycles while maintaining about 80% of its performance. Additionally, the battery retains its charge for approximately one week, significantly longer than other similar zinc-based batteries that discharge in just a few hours.

Although zinc-based batteries are already on the market, primarily as non-rechargeable batteries, they are predicted to complement and, in some cases, replace lithium-ion batteries in the long run when the feature of rechargeability is properly introduced.

“While lithium-ion batteries are useful when handled correctly, they can be explosive, challenging to recycle, and problematic in terms of environmental and human rights issues when specific elements like cobalt are extracted. Therefore, our sustainable battery offers a promising alternative where energy density is not critical,” says Ziyauddin Khan, a researcher at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics at LiU.

Cheap and recyclable

The issue with zinc batteries has primarily been poor durability due to zinc reacting with the water in the battery’s electrolyte solution. This reaction leads to the generation of hydrogen gas and dendritic growth of the zinc, rendering the battery essentially unusable.

To stabilise the zinc, a substance called potassium polyacrylate based water-in-polymer salt electrolyte (WiPSE) is used. What the researchers at Linköping have now demonstrated is that when WiPSE is used in a battery containing zinc and lignin, stability is very high.

“Both zinc and lignin are super cheap, and the battery is easily recyclable. And if you calculate the cost per usage cycle, it becomes an extremely cheap battery compared to lithium-ion batteries,” says Ziyauddin Khan.

Scalable

Currently, the batteries developed in the lab are small. However, the researchers believe that they can create large batteries, roughly the size of a car battery, thanks to the abundance of both lignin and zinc at low cost. However, mass production would require the involvement of a company.

Reverant Crispin asserts that Sweden’s position as an innovative country enables it to assist other nations in adopting more sustainable alternatives.

“We can view it as our duty to help low-income countries avoid making the same mistakes we did. When they build their infrastructure, they need to start with green technology right away. If unsustainable technology is introduced, it will be used by billions of people, leading to a climate catastrophe,” says Reverant Crispin.

The research was primarily funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation through the Wallenberg Wood Science Centre, the Swedish Research Council, Åforsk, the Swedish government’s strategic research area on advanced functional materials (AFM) at Linköping University, and Vinnova through Fun-Mat II. The long-term collaboration with Ligna Energy AB within the SESBC center is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency.

Article: Water-in-Polymer Salt Electrolyte for Long-Life Rechargeable Aqueous Zinc-Lignin Battery, Divyaratan Kumar, Leandro R. Franco, Nicole Abdou, Rui Shu, Anna Martinelli, C. Moyses Araujo, Johannes Gladisch, Viktor Gueskine, Reverant Crispin & Ziyauddin Khan; Energy & Environmental Materials 2024, published online 7 May 2024. DOI: 10.1002/eem2.12752

Written by Anders Törneholm 

Source: Linköping University



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Top UN officials urge comprehensive approach to Syria’s protracted crisis

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Top UN officials urge comprehensive approach to Syria’s protracted crisis

Martin Griffiths, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, highlighted the worsening humanitarian crisis, noting that 16.7 million people now require humanitarian assistance, the highest number since the conflict began 13 years ago.  

He stressed that the situation is deteriorating year by year, with a particular emphasis on the ongoing protection crisis as children continue to be killed and women and girls face increasing levels of sexual and gender-based violence.

Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths briefing the Security on the humanitarian situation in Syria.

In addition, an unstable economic situation is compounding suffering and perpetuating instability. According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the cost of living has more than doubled over the past year, and there are no signs of improvement in the near future.

“More than seven million people remain displaced within Syria, with millions more living as refugees in neighbouring countries,” Mr. Griffiths said.

He underscored the need for sustained humanitarian access through both cross-border and crossline operations.

Welcoming the recent extension granted by the Syrian Government for use of the Bab al-Salam border crossing, the UN relief chief highlighted the need for more long-term commitments based on needs rather than set time periods

Security concerns

Geir O. Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, described the political impasse as deeply entrenched, with no clear political path to implement UN Security Council resolution 2254, which outlined a roadmap for Syria’s political transition.  

He warned of the risks of prolonged division and despair, which threaten not only Syrians but the broader international community.

“A dizzying array of local and international actors and listed terrorist groups remain engaged in conflict, inside and over Syrian territory, across multiple theatres,” Mr. Pedersen said.

He detailed ongoing clashes across the north of the country and security tensions within areas of control, complicated by the fallout of the war in Gaza, including Israeli airstrikes inside Syria and rocket and drone attacks from Syrian territory towards the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan and Israel.

Special Envoy Geir Pedersen briefing the Security Council on the political and security dynamics.

“If these dynamics simply continue, we will inevitably see even more civilian suffering. And we could also see major escalations and further instability radiating across the region,” he warned, also reiterating the need for a ceasefire in Gaza.

“Regional de-escalation efforts starting with a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza is absolutely essential,” he stressed.

Piecemeal approach will not work

Mr. Pedersen further emphasised the need for a comprehensive political solution involving the Syrian Government, opposition, civil society and key international actors such as Iran, Russia, Türkiye, the United States, Arab and European nations and the Security Council.

“No actor on its own can solve the crisis, and none of the existing diplomatic groupings can either. Constructive international diplomacy with the contribution of all is the only way forwards,” he stressed.

At the same time, Constitutional Committee meetings must be resumed and concrete confidence-building measures undertaken to stabilise the situation.

“Many understand that the situation in Syria is dangerous, that the current piecemeal approach will not suffice to stem the tide and that a strategy of containment and alleviation will not stabilise the dangerous and unpredictable situation in Syria, just as it hasn’t elsewhere in the region,” he said.

A wide view of the UN Security Council chamber as members meet to discuss the situation in Syria.

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Amid Gaza war, children now work so families can survive: ILO

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Amid Gaza war, children now work so families can survive: ILO

Details of that development and the “unprecedented devastation” to the Palestinian jobs market and the wider economy beyond Gaza and the West Bank are outlined in a new report from the ILO.

Ahead of its publication, the UN agency’s Director-General Gilbert Houngbo told the 112th International Labour Conference in Geneva on Thursday that the labour market in Gaza had “literally collapsed” since “horrific” Hamas-led terror attacks against Israel last October, that sparked Israel’s “relentless war”. 

“Today Gaza is in ruins. Livelihoods are shattered and work is scarce. Labour rights have been decimated,” he said. “This has been the hardest year for Palestinian workers since 1967. Never before has the situation been this bleak.”

Hard data 

According to data crunched by the ILO and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, unemployment in the Gaza Strip has reached 79.1 per cent. 

Although not directly impacted by the war, the occupied West Bank has also been severely impacted by the crisis, with almost one in three unemployed.

“These figures bring the average rate of unemployment to 50.8 per cent across the two areas of the OPT,” said the authors of The situation of Workers in the Occupied Arab Territories, before noting the true figure was likely even higher as it did not include individuals who had left the labour force altogether because of a lack of opportunities.

Unsurprisingly, overall economic output in Gaza has contracted by 83.5 per cent and by 22.7 in the West Bank over the past eight months, while the entire OPT economy has shrunk by nearly 33 per cent.

Health relief breakthrough

In related developments in Gaza on Friday, the UN health agency announced despite “significant constraints”, one fully-laden truck and a partially stacked trailer carrying medical relief had reached Gaza via the southern crossing of Kerem Shalom.

“The supplies will be distributed to health facilities to support the treatment of up to 44,000 people,” the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a post on X. 

The assistance comprises treatments for noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension and cardiac conditions, type 2 diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases but much more relief is needed urgently via the still-closed Rafah crossing, the UN health agency insisted.

In a separate update, the WHO reported that 464 attacks on healthcare in the Gaza Strip have been documented since 7 October.

“Attacks have resulted in 727 fatalities, 933 injuries, affected 101 health facilities and 113 ambulances,” the World Health Organization (WHO) said in another post on X. 

“Two-fifths (37 per cent) of attacks were in Gaza City, nearly a quarter (23 per cent) in north Gaza, and over a quarter (28 per cent) in Khan Younis. WHO calls for the respect of international law and active protection of civilians and health care,” the UN agency insisted.

Rafah

In Rafah, fewer than 100,000 people now remain across the southern governorate, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, reported late Thursday.

This follows the forced evacuation “of about a million people – who were again on the run” and moving toward Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, OCHA said, adding that the ongoing hostilities had massively disrupted the delivery of lifesaving relief.

The halt to fuel deliveries via Rafah crossing from Egypt had multiple negative ramifications, the UN aid office explained, as it affected “trucks, hospitals, sewage systems, desalination operations and bakeries”.

“As things stand, aid convoys still need to navigate active hostilities, barely passable roads, unexploded ordnance, and recurrent delays,” OCHA said.

 

Israel-Lebanon border clashes a grave concern: Guterres

The continuing exchange of fire between Israeli forces and militants in southern Lebanon along the UN-patrolled Blue Line frontier are a source of grave concern, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday.

In a statement issued in the evening from his Spokesperson’s Office in New York, the UN chief called for an urgent ceasefire.

He remains gravely concerned that the exchanges of fire have not only ravaged communities close to the Blue Line but have also impacted deeper into the territories of both Lebanon and Israel, with the use of increasingly destructive weapons”, the statement continued.

“These exchanges of fire could trigger a broader conflict with devastating consequences for the region.”

 

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Weekly Election Highlights

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Weekly Election Highlights

Europe is voting!

European elections have officially started! Several countries offer the possibility for early voting – in Estonia, you can vote online since Monday 3. It was Election Day in the Netherlands on Thursday 6. Today on 7 June, the Irish and the Czech are heading to the polls with the rest of Europe following suit over the weekend.

In total, around 360 million Europeans are called to the polls to elect the 720 members of the next European Parliament.

2 million 16 and 17 year olds will be eligible to vote for the first time – the voting age is set at 16 in Belgium, Germany, Malta and Austria and at 17 in Greece. In all remaining countries, you must be 18 to vote.

Information on how and when to vote is available on the elections website.

Estimates (from 20.15-20.30 CEST) and provisional results (from 23.15-23.30 CEST) of the elections will be updated in real time on the European elections results website.

Covering the European Elections live

Media can use footage of the Elections taking place in all the EU Member States from EbS or the Multimedia Centre. Footage of a Dutch polling station set in a windmill is available here. EU citizens have already voted on the island of Svartsö in Sweden, or on a ferry in Kemiönsaari (Finland). EU citizens from fourteen countries also had the opportunity to vote by mail, like the Greek. Footage of the elections will be uploaded throughout the weekend – including recordings of lead candidates and group leaders casting their vote.

Election days and night in Brussels

The European Parliament in Brussels has been completely transformed to accommodate over 1000 media representatives coming from over 90 countries. The Hemicycle is turned into one giant press room. 700 working spaces are foreseen for journalists, 125 stand-up positions have been prepared, among which 66 in the hemicycle on three levels covering 420m2 and 185 broadband lines for transmission are foreseen.

Practical details for journalists and a rundown of elections days and night are available here.

Good to know

  • EU countries’ Ombudsmen and the chairs of national petitions committees have issued a joint statement calling for all eligible citizens to go to vote, emphasising the need for strong civic engagement to bolster democratic institutions.

Lab-Grown vs Mined: An Analysis of the Diamond Debate

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Lab-Grown vs Mined: An Analysis of the Diamond Debate


Image credit: Unsplash, free license

In the sparkling world of diamonds, a riveting debate unfolds: Should you choose the timeless allure of mined diamonds or the modern marvels of lab-grown gems? This decision goes beyond mere aesthetics, encompassing factors such as ethics, sustainability, and innovation. 

As you stand at this crossroads of tradition and technology, let’s delve into an analysis of both choices. Join us as we navigate the nuances that could guide your next luminous investment.

What is a Mined Diamond?

Mined diamonds are the naturally occurring treasures that have been forming beneath the Earth’s surface for billions of years. These gems come to light through an extensive and careful deep mining process, where they’re extracted from deep within the Earth’s upper mantle. 

The allure of mined diamonds lies in their rarity and the romantic notion of timelessness, often connected with nature’s own way of crafting such wonders. However, concerns over ethical sourcing and environmental impact have made consumers consider their other options.

What is a Lab-Grown Diamond? 

When you’re in the market for jewelry, you might have come across unique lab-created diamond rings. These sparklers are fascinating. Created in controlled laboratory environments, lab-grown diamonds are made by replicating the natural growing process of earth-mined diamonds. 

The result? You get a stone identical in chemical, physical, and optical properties to those mined from deep within the Earth. The beauty of these diamonds isn’t just skin-deep. They’re also known for being a more sustainable and ethical choice compared to traditional mining practices.

What are the Benefits of Mined Diamonds?

Mined diamonds are what are often referred to as “real” diamonds because they’re mined from the Earth. Let’s look at why someone would choose a mined diamond for their jewelry.

Traditional

These natural gems have adorned crowns, engagement rings, and statement pieces for generations. They carry an old-world charm that’s deeply rooted in our history, symbolizing a timeless connection to the Earth’s treasures and the human stories interwoven with them.

Rarity

Each diamond’s unique journey from deep below the surface bestows it with irreplaceable characteristics and idiosyncrasies. This scarcity fuels a sense of wonder and exclusivity, making the possession of a mined diamond feel like holding a piece of eternal, natural art.

More Job Creation

The process of extracting diamonds from the Earth is labor-intensive, creating substantial employment opportunities in mining regions. Through every stage, from extraction to final sale, your choice of a mined diamond sustains jobs for workers (but typically in poor conditions). 

Potential Investment Value

Investing in mined diamonds might align with your interests due to their enduring market desirability. Over the years, these tangible assets can hold or increase in value, but it’s important to note that only rare diamonds will sell for more or for what you bought them for.

Better Resale Value

When you buy a mined diamond, you’re investing in a piece that could offer better resale value. These natural stones have a longer history in the market, which tends to make them more coveted by collectors and investors alike. Lab-grown diamonds never resell for much.

It should be noted that the benefits of mined diamonds are also the drawbacks of lab-grown diamonds and vice versa. Lab-grown diamonds aren’t rare or traditional, don’t lead to as much job growth, and aren’t as resellable as mined diamonds. With that said, there are many positives to buying lab-grown diamonds, which we’ll look more into in the next section.

What are the Benefits of Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds are basically identical to mined diamonds. The only major difference is how they’re made. Here’s why consumers may purchase a lab-grown diamond from a jeweler.

Sustainability

By replicating the Earth’s natural process above ground, these diamonds offer you an eco-friendly option with a reduced environmental footprint. Choosing them reflects a commitment to preserving natural resources and reducing the impact of mining on ecosystems.

Ethical Concerns

By selecting these gems, you sidestep issues associated with mining, such as labor practices and conflict funding. This choice shows that you’re standing up for human rights and ethical accountability in the jewelry industry, resonating with a broader ethos of social responsibility.

Transparency

Embracing lab-grown diamonds may resonate with your quest for transparency in your purchases. These stones come with clear supply chains, allowing you to trace their origin and production methods confidently. This transparency assures you of the brand’s ethical integrity.

Innovation

Lab-grown diamonds are a testament to human ingenuity, representing the cutting-edge technological progress in gemstone creation. By choosing these marvels, you’re not just buying a piece of jewelry. You’re embracing innovation and the forward march of science.

Price Tag

Choosing a lab-grown diamond can be much easier on your wallet. They typically come at a lower price compared to their mined counterparts, often saving you about 20-40%. In the end, you capitalize on the brilliance and clarity of a mined diamond without the steep price.

Once again, it should be noted that the benefits of lab-grown diamonds are also the drawbacks of mined diamonds and vice versa. Mined diamonds aren’t sustainable, often pose ethical concerns, and are more expensive and less innovative than lab-grown diamonds. With that said, there are many positives to buying mined diamonds, as was previously discussed.

In Conclusion… 

As you ponder the glistening paths of the diamond debate, remember that your choice reflects more than a style preference. It’s an expression of your values and vision for the future. Whether you’re drawn to the enduring legacy of mined diamonds or inclined toward the ethical elegance of lab-grown alternatives, each stone carries its own narrative and significance. 



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Civil society, business, and culture encourage citizens to vote in EU elections | News

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Civil society, business, and culture encourage citizens to vote in EU elections | News

Leading lights from across Europe’s business, cultural and non-profit communities have joined in the campaign to raise awareness about the importance of the elections, and to encourage citizens across the Union to vote.

More than 500 pan-European umbrella organisations and many others at national level have promoted the #UseYourVote campaign through their networks, with their own campaigns or on their social media channels. Save The Children’s “I Count, I Vote” campaign includes a LinkedIn video and visual assets to encourage voting. The European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) launched their “TALE – TAke the Lead in the EU Elections” campaign, to encourage electoral participation.

The European Council on Refugees and Exiles launched the #EUisU + Vote EP 24 campaign, featuring a song and motivational videos of citizens encouraging people to vote. Democracy International’s “eurVote eurFuture” project in ten countries is an effort to increase awareness about the European Parliament elections through events, informative leaflets, “I’m voting” stickers, and how-to-vote videos aimed at first-time voters. Inclusion Europe put forward a campaign for the voting rights of people with intellectual disabilities, sharing content on Instagram encouraging participation.

In the context of the European Parliament’s together.eu community, a diverse host of election-related activities have been organised by young volunteers across the EU, like dancing gatherings, tree planting, spring cleaning, pub quizzes, seminars, lectures, music festivals and other kind of events.

In Germany a basketball tournament was organised for more than 100 participants. In Spain, youth activist Pol Villaverde created Palumba, a pan-European mobile app to help people find out which party or candidate to vote for. In Portugal, community activists organised surfing events for people with disabilities and creative partnerships with local sports clubs. In Ireland, Daniel Long, a young farmer, joined other volunteers to run a number of election events in rural Ireland and at universities.

European success stories like music streaming platform Spotify and Swedish food manufacturer Oatly are encouraging their customers to vote and informing them about the elections on their platforms. As part of their #AllHandsForDemocracy campaign, Universal Music Group is giving concert-goers an election-related stamp on their hand to remind them to vote.

A total of 898 cinemas across the Union have pledged to show the EU’s #UseYourVote campaign video before screenings, and film festivals in France, Bulgaria, Germany, and The Netherlands encouraged festivalgoers and film industry professionals to use their vote by displaying banners and e-posters, sending newsletters, and posting on their social media channels.

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World News in Brief: Hunger grows in Haiti, Gaza aid blocked, World Potato Day

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World News in Brief: Hunger grows in Haiti, Gaza aid blocked, World Potato Day

The World Food Programme (WFP) distributed more than 74,000 hot meals to over 15,000 displaced people in the besieged capital, Port-au-Prince, Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, told journalists at UN Headquarters on Thursday, providing an update on the gang-ravaged Caribbean nation.

In addition, about 2,400 children received mental health and psychosocial support from child protection experts, he said.

At the same time, humanitarian agencies provided information sessions to more than 4,000 people sheltering in displacement sites on such critical issues as gender-based violence, protection and sexual abuse.

Nearly 1.6 million people are facing acute food insecurity levels in Haiti, according to UN agencies.

The UN Spokesperson also reported that civilians in displacement sites in Port-au-Prince had received about 13 million litres of water from UN agencies, partners and Haiti’s civil protection department since the beginning of March.

In the Artibonite region, Mr. Dujarric said WFP has provided cash assistance to over 13,000 people as part of its emergency activities and another 6,000 people in this region received food.

Following the recent tornado in the Bassin Bleu commune, which damaged more than 300 houses, WFP will also provide food for nearly 3,800 residents, he said.

Violence and blocked borders impede aid access in Gaza

In Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Thursday that increased violence and blocked borders continued to restrict aid access in the enclave where hundreds of thousands of people are in need.

Humanitarians are experiencing “movement restrictions” to border areas which are causing delays in planned missions to collect resources from the Kerem Shalom crossing, the UN Spokesperson said.

“We need Israeli authorities to swiftly facilitate access to the crossing so that aid workers can safely reach the crossing to pick up supplies,” he said. “We also need safe and unimpeded passage to distribute that assistance to scale to people in need, wherever they may need it in Gaza.”

‘Catastrophic levels of hunger’

The UN and its humanitarian partners are doing all they can to aid civilians in Gaza, he said, adding that WFP is calling for blocked borders in Gaza to be opened since this impacts their ability to reach people in need.

“Constrained access to southern parts of Gaza risks causing the same catastrophic levels of hunger that has been seen in the north, and in central and southern Gaza, hunger levels are deteriorating fast,” Mr. Dujarric said.

He said WFP reported that some commercial supplies have reached the enclave, but the high cost means many civilians cannot afford the goods.

‘Israel must stop its campaign against UNRWA’

The UN relief agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, which serves more than 5.9 million Palestinians in the region, said conditions are dire, and in the last two days alone, more than 32,000 people have fled the escalating fighting in Rafah.

In a guest essay published on Thursday in The New York Times, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini referred to unproven allegations Israel had made earlier this year against the UN agency and efforts to restrict its work in war-torn Gaza.

“As I write this, our agency has verified that at least 192 UNRWA employees have been killed in Gaza,” he said in the essay. “More than 170 UNRWA premises have been damaged or destroyed. UNRWA-run schools have been demolished; some 450 displaced people have been killed while sheltered inside UNRWA schools and other structures.”

He also said that since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October, Israeli security forces have “rounded up UNRWA personnel in Gaza, who have alleged torture and mistreatment while in detention” in the Strip and in Israel.

“Israeli officials are not only threatening the work of our staff and mission, they are also delegitimising UNRWA,” he wrote. “Israel must stop its campaign against UNRWA.”

First ever International Day of Potato

It’s the world’s first ever International Day of Potato, and the theme is Harvesting diversity, feeding hope, with a focus on the ancient vegetable’s contribution to the lives of producers and consumers as well as the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The General Assembly designated 30 May to pay tribute to the potato, an 8,000-year-old crop originating in the Andes mountains in South America that is now a staple food consumed by about two thirds of the world’s population.

Climate-friendly and resistant to drought, cold and barren land with wide adaptability, the potato contributes to the food security, nutrition, livelihoods and employment of people in rural and urban areas the world over.

Key crop around the world

Indeed, 159 countries cultivate potatoes, and there are 5,000 varieties worldwide. Nearly 50 per cent of current crops produced are used as the household staple food or vegetable.

Potatoes are a key crop across diverse farming systems globally, ranging from smallholders producing diverse heirloom varieties by hand in the Andes to vast commercial, mechanised farms in different continents.

Building on the International Year of the Potato, marked in 2008, today’s observance also recognises the roles of small-scale family farmers, a significant proportion of whom are women, in safeguarding the wide spectrum of the crop’s diversity, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

By 2030, the total production of potatoes is expected to rise by 112 per cent of current harvests, reaching 750 million tonnes, of which more than half is predicted to be produced in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

As communities around the world mark the day, both the cultural and culinary dimensions of the crop’s cultivation and consumption are also being celebrated, from pierogis to dum aloo.

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UN chief condemns escalating violence and civilian attacks in Myanmar

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United Nations News
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UN chief condemns escalating violence and civilian attacks in Myanmar

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the Secretary-General “strongly condemns” recent attacks by the Myanmar military in Rakhine State and Sagaing Region that have reportedly claimed the lives of many civilians.

“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the widening regional ramifications of the deteriorating situation in Myanmar and reiterates his appeal for a unified approach,” Mr. Dujarric said.

Conflict in Myanmar

Myanmar’s Rakhine State has seen a spike in violence between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army that has left tens of thousands homeless.

Many of the attacks reportedly targeted the minority Muslim Rohingya community, who have been based in Rakhine for generations but denied full citizenship. Hundreds of thousands were forced to flee into Bangladesh from there in 2017 following persecution by government forces.

Targeting ethnic Rakhine in Western Myanmar, and the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya, underlines the need for protection of all communities.

During the attacks, some members of this community experienced beheadings and burning of their homes. Recent data from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) revealed that about 226,000 people from this community have been uprooted due to the violence who are in need of resettlement.

Even further, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) had previously reported cases of “shooting at unarmed fleeing villagers” and disappearances in Myanmar.

The country is now recognised as a hunger hotspot where “acute food insecurity is likely to deteriorate further in coming months.”

Being held accountable

Mr. Dujarric, said that recent incidents “targeting ethnic Rakhine in Western Myanmar, and the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya, underlines the need for protection of all communities.”

He said that aerial bombings and human rights violations are constantly reported in many parts of Myanmar and “those responsible must be held to account.”

Further, he said the Secretary-General “calls on all parties to the conflict to exercise maximum restraint, prioritise protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law and prevent further incitement of communal tension and violence.”

Mr. Dujarric said that the Secretary-General is urging member states and stakeholders to support his newly appointed Special Envoy, Julie Bishop as she works on fostering sustainable peace through close cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and neighbouring countries.

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