In UN news:

• The UN General Assembly passed a resolution by a large majority on October 12, calling on countries not to recognise the four regions of Ukraine which Russia has claimed, following so-called referendums held late last month, and demanding that Moscow reverse course on its "attempted illegal annexation". The resolution was supported by 143 countries, while 35 states - including China and India - abstained. Russia and four other countries rejected the vote, namely Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Nicaragua. The resolution “defending the principles” of the UN Charter, notes that the regions of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia are temporarily occupied by Russia as a result of aggression, violating Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence. The General Assembly automatically took up the resolution for debate, triggered by Russia’s use of the veto in the Security Council over it’s attempted annexation. More information here.

• The United Nations Human Rights Committee has found that the Australian government violated the rights of people living on four islands in the Torres Strait by failing to protect them from the effects of climate change. The committee has ordered Australia to pay for the harm caused, making their claim the first successful one of this kind.

• An unrelenting series of crises has trapped vulnerable Haitians in a cycle of growing desperation, without access to food, fuel, markets, jobs and public services, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned on October 14. Hunger has reached a catastrophic level - the highest level 5, on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification index, or IPC) - in the capital’s Cité Soleil neighbourhood. According to the latest IPC analysis, a record 4.7 million people are currently facing acute hunger (IPC 3 and above), including 1.8 million people in Emergency phase (IPC 4) and, for the first time ever in Haiti, 19,000 people are in Catastrophe phase, phase 5. Read more here. For a broader assessment of the situation in Haiti, see our latest MiA think-piece The Crisis in Haiti: Can a Nexus Approach Help towards a Solution? by Mourad Wahba.

• The UN Secretary-General issued a statement on Saturday expressing grave concern over the escalation of fighting in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, where Government troops and separatist forces have been locked in conflict since November 2020. The latest surge in violence began in August, after a fragile five-month humanitarian truce, which has halted aid deliveries into the northern Ethiopian region, where around five million civilians are in need of aid. Aid distribution continues to be hampered by a lack of fuel and a communications shutdown across Tigray. More information here.

Amid controversy over the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, concerns about high inflation and economic uncertainty, and rising threats to the stability of the electoral process and American democracy, the stakes for this year’s midterm elections could not be higher. Now, a new and extensive national survey of more than 2,500 Americans illuminates Americans’ attitudes about racial justice and religious pluralism, trust in public institutions such as schools and libraries, reproductive rights, gender identity and LGBTQ+ issues, and structural reforms to our political parties, processes, and courts. The survey also highlights what values and issues are driving voters’ concerns this November. 

On October 27, Governance Studies at Brookings and the Public Religion Research Institute will host the release of its 13th annual American Values Survey. A panel of experts will discuss the survey results and what they reveal about American’s attitudes as they relate to the midterm elections and beyond. The survey also highlights long-term trends in partisan and religious affiliation, abortion attitudes, immigration reform, and support for QAnon, among other issues. 

We are cordially inviting you to join us for a film screening of “Microplastic Madness’ and panel discussion brought to you by the Columbia Climate School, Barnard Sustainability, and Cafeteria Culture.

The film ‘Microplastic Madness’ is an optimistic take on the local and global plastic pollution crisis as told through a refreshing urban youth point of view, with an inspiring take action message. The film follows a group of 5th graders, who spent 2 years investigating plastic pollution by taking on the roles of community scientists, leaders, and advocates.

This special event between the Columbia Climate School, Barnard Sustainability, and Cafeteria Culture, the creators behind the film, will start with a screening, followed by a dynamic discussion with a diverse panel of scientists, educators, and students, including:

This position is located in the Digital Campaigns Unit within Communications Campaigns Service (CCS), Strategic Communications Division (SCD), Department of Global Communications (DGC) of the United Nations in New York. DGC's Communications Campaigns Service develops and implements communications strategies and global campaigns on the organization’s key priority issues.

Located in United Nations Headquarters in New York, this internship is offered for a period of three months and up to but not exceeding six months starting in September 2022. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35 hours) under the supervision and support of the Digital Campaigns Lead (Digital Campaigns Unit) within the Communications Campaigns Service.

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This Internship is located in the United Nations Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children (SRSG-VAC). The Internship is for a period of six month. An internship may be terminated by either party, with a notice period of at least two weeks

The internship is UNPAID and full-time.

Interns are required to work five days per week (35 hours) under the supervision of a staff member to which they are assigned. The work hours during internship shall be determined based on individual discussion between the intern and the supervisor(s) taking into consideration the minimum requirements of the Organization, the existing study/work commitments and the time difference between the hosting office and the location of the intern.

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The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) is seeking for qualified interns for a maximum internship of 6 months, depending on the needs of UNODA and the willingness of applicant.

UNODA advises and assists the Secretary-General in the discharge of his responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations and the implements mandates given by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other organs of the United Nations system, in the area of disarmament and related security.

The internship is unpaid and full-time opportunity. Interns will be assigned to a primary supervisor and must adhere to the established official working hours five days per week with one hour for lunch break.

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The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) is seeking  motivated interns to support the work of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General. The interns can take up assignments with any team in the Office, including the Strategic Planning and Monitoring Unit; the Political, Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Human Rights Unit; the Rule of Law Unit; the Sustainable Development Unit; the Policy Advisor’s Office; or other units.

Interns report to full-time professional staff and focus on one of the three tracks set out under Responsibilities.

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