United Nations Chief Antonio Guterres urged the governments to protect women during the coronavirus lockdown as the threat looms largest in their own homes. He conveyed this in a video message calling violence against women “horrifying” and advised the government to make redress and prevention of domestic violence. Guterres also called for setting up emergency warning systems in pharmacies and groceries for women to seek support without alerting their abusers.
Priyanka Chopra has been branded a hypocrite over a tweet she posted in February amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The incident, which was widely shared online, took place during a cosmetics event in US when audience member Ayesha Malik accused Chopra, who was appointed a United Nations goodwill ambassador in 2016, of “encouraging nuclear war against Pakistan”.
Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi was has been unanimously elected as one of the four vice presidents of the Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc), the economic arm of the UN. Ambassador Lodhi, who was elected by acclamation after her candidature was endorsed by the 54-member body, will assume the Asia Pacific seat in the Ecosoc bureau.
The International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) of United Nations has announced that it will be restoring Islamabad’s status as a family station for international staff, effectively allowing UN personnel to travel with their families to Pakistan. The decision is based on recommendation by Under-Secretary-General of UN Department of Safety and Security who evaluated security situation in Islamabad.