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Note: A new report by the International Labour Organization and the UN Children’s Fund, based on the latest global and regional estimates on child labour, has found that 138 million children are still in child labour, including 54 million in hazardous work, despite significant progress over the past two decades.

Geneva/New York, 11 June 2025 – Nearly 138 million children were engaged in child labour in 2024, including around 54 million in hazardous work likely to jeopardize their health, safety, or development, according to new estimates released today by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF.

The latest data show a total reduction of over 20 million children since 2020, reversing an alarming spike between 2016 and 2020. Despite this positive trend, the world has missed its target of eliminating child labour by 2025.

The report, titled “Child Labour: Global estimates 2024, trends and the road forward”,

released one day ahead of the World Day Against Child Labour and on International Day of Play, underscores a stark reality that while gains have been made, millions of children are still being denied their right to learn, play, and simply be children.

Read report: Child_Labour_Report_2025_Embargoed.pdf
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“The findings of our report offer hope and show that progress is possible. Children belong in school, not in labour. Parents must themselves be supported and have access to decent work so that they can afford to ensure that their children are in classrooms and not selling things in markets or in family farms to help support their family. But we must not be blindsided by the fact that we still have a long way to go before we achieve our goal of eliminating child labour,” said the ILO’s Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo.

According to the data, agriculture remains the largest sector for child labour, accounting for 61 per cent of all cases, followed by services (27 per cent), like domestic work and selling goods in markets, and industry (13 per cent), including mining and manufacturing.

Asia and the Pacific achieved the most significant reduction in prevalence since 2020, with the child labour rate dropping from 6 per cent to 3 per cent (from 49 million to 28 million children). Although the prevalence of children in child labour in Latin America and the Caribbean stayed the same over the past four years, the total number of children affected dropped from 8 million to about 7 million, the report notes.

Sub-Saharan Africa continues to carry the heaviest burden, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all children in child labour – around 87 million. While prevalence fell from 24 to 22 per cent, the total number has remained stagnant against the backdrop of population growth, ongoing and emerging conflicts, extreme poverty, and stretched social protection systems.

“The world has made significant progress in reducing the number of children forced into labour. Yet far too many children continue to toil in mines, factories or fields, often doing hazardous work to survive,” said Catherine Russell.  “We know that progress towards ending child labour is possible by applying legal safeguards, expanded social protection, investment in free, quality education, and better access to decent work for adults. Global funding cuts threaten to roll back hard-earned gains. We must recommit to ensuring that children are in classrooms and playgrounds, not at work.”

Sustained and increased funding – both global and domestic – is needed more than ever if recent gains are to be maintained, warn the agencies. Reductions in support for education, social protection on, social protection, and livelihoods can push already vulnerable families to the brink, forcing some to send their children to work. Meanwhile, shrinking investment in data collection will make it harder to see and address the issue.

Child labour compromises children’s education, limiting their rights and their future opportunities, and putting them at risk of physical and mental harm. It is also a consequence of poverty and lack of access to quality education, pushing families to send their children to work and perpetuating inter-generational cycles of deprivation.

Boys are more likely than girls to be involved in child labour at every age, but when unpaid household chores of 21 hours or more per week are included, the gender gap reverses, the report notes.

Since 2000, child labour has almost halved, from 246 million to 138 million, yet current rates remain too slow, and the world has fallen short of reaching the 2025 global elimination target. To end it within the next five years, current rates of progress would need to be 11 times faster.

To accelerate progress, UNICEF and ILO are calling for governments to: Invest in social protection for vulnerable households, including social safety nets such as universal child benefits, so families do not resort to child labour.

Strengthen child protection systems to identify, prevent, and respond to children at risk, especially those facing the worst forms of child labour.

Provide universal access to quality education, especially in rural and crisis-affected areas, so every child can learn.

Ensure decent work for adults and youth, including workers’ rights to organize and defend their interests.

Enforce laws and business accountability to end exploitation and protect children across supply chains.

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Notes to editors: Explore the data on child labour here. Explore data on children and play here.
Download multimedia content here.

For more information, please contact: Zeina Awad | ILO in Geneva|awadz@ilo.org
ILO Media Team | newsroom@ilo.org; Sara Alhattab | UNICEF in New York | + 1 9179576536 | salhattab@unicef.org   

About the ILO – The International Labour Organization (ILO) is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace. The only tripartite U.N. agency, since 1919 the ILO brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 Member States, to set labour standards, and promote social justice and decent work for all.
For more information about the ILO, you can visit www.ilo.org
Follow the ILO on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

About UNICEF – UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged children and in the toughest places to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential. For more information about UNICEF and its work, please visit: www.unicef.org. Follow UNICEF on X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

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Note: A new report from the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) finds that 2024 marked a grim new record: the highest number of state-based armed conflicts in over seven decades. The press release below reveals more of the latest global conflict trend figures.

Oslo, 11 June 2025 – The world is experiencing a surge in violence not seen since the post-World War II era. 2024 marked a grim new record: the highest number of state-based armed conflicts in over seven decades.

• A staggering 61 conflicts were recorded across 36 countries last year, according to PRIO’s Conflict Trends: A Global Overview report. Read report: Conflict Trends: A Global Overview, 1946-2024.

“This is not just a spike – it’s a structural shift. The world today is far more violent, and far more fragmented, than it was a decade ago,” warned Siri Aas Rustad, Research Director at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and lead author of the report. “Now is not the time for the United States – or any global power – to retreat from international engagement. Isolationism in the face of rising global violence would be a profound mistake with long-term human life consequences.”

The report is based on data from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program. It shows that while the number of battle-related deaths in 2024 held steady at approximately 129,000 – matching the devastating toll of 2023 – this level of violence was far above the average for the past three decades. 2024 was the fourth most deadly year since the Cold War ended in 1989.

Two major wars dominated the battlefield: Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine claimed an estimated 76,000 lives, while the war in Gaza killed 26,000. But these headline conflicts are only part of the picture. What is increasingly alarming is the multiplication of conflicts within individual countries. More than half of all conflict-affected states now face two or more separate state-based conflicts, which are internal conflicts where the government is one of the warring parties. In nine countries, there were three or more state-based conflicts. This reflects a deepening complexity in global conflict dynamics – where state fragility, transnational actors and local grievances feed into overlapping crises that are harder to contain, let alone resolve.

“Conflicts are no longer isolated. They’re layered, transnational and increasingly difficult to end,” said Rustad. “It is a mistake to assume the world can look away. Whether under President Trump or any future administration, abandoning global solidarity now would mean walking away from the very stability the U.S. helped build after 1945.”

The data also identified a rise in militant group activity as a key driver of new and sustained violence. While the Islamic State (IS) remained active in at least 12 countries, other groups like Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) expanded its footprint. JNIM operated in five West African countries in 2024.

Africa remained the most conflict-affected region last year, with 28 state-based conflicts recorded, nearly double the number from a decade earlier. Asia followed with 17, the Middle East with 10, Europe with 3 and the Americas with 2.

“Our analysis shows that the global security landscape is not improving, it’s fracturing. And without sustained international engagement, the risks to civilians, regional stability and international order will only deepen,” warned Rustad.

For more information or to arrange an interview:

• Contact Michelle Delaney, Communication Director at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) | michelle@prio.org | mobile 0047 941 65 579.
• Click here to download the whole PRIO report, Conflict Trends: A Global Overview, 1946-2024.
• The 2024 Uppsala University statistics will be published in the July issue of Journal of Peace Research.

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Note: Official representatives from 120 countries, including 50 heads of state and government, and organizations attended the opening of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France. A major objective of the five-day conference is to try make the landmark High Seas Treaty adopted in 2023 into a binding international law in order to safeguard life in the oceans. The following is a press release from the UN.

Nice, France, 9 June 2025 – The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference, co-hosted by the Governments of France and Costa Rica, opened today in Nice with strong calls to accelerate action and mobilize all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.

“I urge all countries to come forward with bold pledges,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in his opening remarks to the Conference this morning. “We live in an age of turmoil, but the resolve I see here gives me hope,” he said. “Hope that we can turn the tide.”

President Emmanuel Macron of France, also addressing the opening ceremony, said, “we need to revitalize multilateralism behind the UN Secretary General,” adding that, “the only way to meet that challenge, is to mobilize all actors, heads of state and government speaking here, but also scientists.”

President Rodrigo Chaves Robles of Costa Rica stated that “this summit must be remembered as the time when the world understood that looking after the ocean is not simply an option. Rather, it is a moral, economic, and indeed we need minimum protection.”

Bringing together world leaders, scientists, private sector representatives, civil society, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, the high-level gathering underscores the ocean’s vital role in regulating the climate, sustaining food security and livelihoods, and preserving biodiversity.

The ocean is under growing pressure from climate change and human activity, with record heat severely impacting marine life, and escalating threats from pollution, overfishing and biodiversity loss pushing marine ecosystems to the brink.

The Conference is expected to adopt an intergovernmentally negotiated political declaration, which, along with a registry of voluntary commitments from across sectors, will be referred to as the Nice Ocean Action Plan – outcomes aimed at catalyzing urgent, inclusive, and science-based action to safeguard the ocean for present and future generations.

“The time for incremental progress is over. We need billions, not millions, in investment. We need binding commitments that survive political transitions and economic pressures,” United Nations Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua, the Conference Secretary-General said at the opening.

Key issues under discussion during the five-day conference include: The Marine Biodiversity Treaty (BBNJ Agreement): Advancing ratifications of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, which was adopted in 2023 and covers nearly two-thirds of the ocean. Entry into force of the Agreement is critical for the health and resilience of the ocean and can make vital contributions to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14. A Special Treaty Event held later today, provides an opportunity for States to sign or ratify the Agreement.

Sustainable Fisheries: Ending illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing practices, while encouraging science-based, community-led approaches to rebuild fish stocks and minimize ecosystem damage.

Marine Protected Areas: Advancing progress on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework target of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030.

Decarbonizing Maritime Transport: Accelerating the transition to low- and zero-emission fuels and electrifying port infrastructure, recognizing early leadership from both national governments and the maritime industry.

Plastic Pollution: Generating renewed political will and momentum for tackling plastic pollution, with negotiations resuming in August 2025.

Financing: Unlocking new finance streams — including philanthropic capital, blended finance, and public-private partnerships — to support coastal resilience and sustainable blue economies.

Science and Governance: Underscoring evidence-based policymaking and the role of cutting-edge research, observation systems, and Indigenous knowledge in shaping effective ocean governance.

SDG Media Zone: The SDG Media Zone takes the conversation on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals out of the policy sphere and into the public discourse through a live format of interviews and panel discussions.

The SDG Media Zone at the UN Ocean Conference will bring together UN principals, scientists, industry leaders and representatives from a diverse group of stakeholders to advance solutions and initiatives that address the global challenges facing the ocean.

About the UN Ocean Conference: The third United Nations Ocean Conference, co-hosted by the Governments of France and Costa Rica, takes place during the UN Decade of Ocean Science, and follows major global agreements such as the Marine Biodiversity Treaty and the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework. UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. Li Junhua, serves as the Conference Secretary-General. The UN Legal Counsel, Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld, serves as the Special Adviser to the Presidents of the Conference on oceans and legal matters.

The Conference comes at a critical time for ocean health, aiming to address threats such as climate change, overfishing, pollution, and biodiversity loss.

The programme includes plenaries and ten Ocean Action Panels that will bring together governments, the UN system, civil society, scientists, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and the private sector. The Conference is expected to deliver the Nice Ocean Action Plan — a shared commitment to restoring and protecting the ocean.

Fifty-five Heads of State and Government, together with thousands of young people, business leaders, scientists and civil society representatives, are participating in the Conference including more than 450 side events.

Key links:

• Website:https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/ocean2025
• Programme:https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/ocean2025/programme
• Press conferences: https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/ocean2025/media
• SDG Media Zone: https://www.un.org/sdgmediazone
• Follow live: UN WebTV: https://webtv.un.org
• Registry for Voluntary Commitments: https://sdgs.un.org/partnerships/action-networks/ocean-commitments

Media Contacts – UN Department of Global Communications:Martina Donlon | donlon@un.org; Alexandra del Castello | alexandra.delcastello@un.org; Martin Samaan | samaanM@un.org

Social Media: Please follow us on the Ocean Conference and ocean issues, using the main hashtag: #SaveOurOcean.

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On Twitter: @UN,  @GlobalGoalsUN, @UNDESA, @SustDev

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Chief Economists Warn Global Growth Under Strain from Trade Policy Shocks and AI Disruption
A majority of surveyed economists see current US economic policy as having a lasting global impact, with 87% expecting it to delay strategic business decisions and heighten recession risks. The growth outlook is divided, with weak prospects in North America, resilience in Asia-Pacific and cautious optimism in Europe. Public debt concerns are mounting as defence spending rises, with 86% of chief economists expecting increased government borrowing. Artificial intelligence is expected to drive growth, but 47% anticipate net job losses. The following is a press release from the World Economic Forum.

Geneva, Switzerland, 28 May 2025 – The global economic outlook has worsened since the start of the year, as rising economic nationalism and tariff volatility fuel uncertainty and risk stalling long-term decision-making, according to a World Economic Forum report released today. Read the report here

The latest Chief Economists Outlook reveals that a strong majority (79%) of surveyed economists view the current geoeconomic developments as signs of a significant structural shift for the global economy rather than a temporary disruption.

“Policymakers and business leaders must respond to heightened uncertainty and trade tensions with greater coordination, strategic agility and investment in the growth potential of transformative technologies like artificial intelligence,” said Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. “These steps are essential for navigating today’s economic headwinds and securing long-term resilience and growth.”

Geopolitical and policy uncertainty clouds outlook
Global uncertainty is seen as exceptionally high by 82% of the chief economists. While a narrow majority (56%) expect conditions to improve over the next year, concerns persist. Nearly all the chief economists (97%) place trade policy among the areas of highest uncertainty, followed by monetary policy (49%) and fiscal policy (35%). This uncertainty is expected to weigh on key economic indicators, including trade volumes (70%), GDP growth (68%) and foreign direct investment (62%).

Most chief economists (87%) anticipate that businesses will respond to uncertainty by delaying strategic decisions, increasing recession risks. Debt sustainability is also a rising concern, cited by 74% of respondents for both advanced and developing economies. An overwhelming majority (86%) expect governments to meet rising defence spending needs through increased borrowing, potentially crowding out investment in public services and infrastructure.

Growth expectations diverge sharply by region
In early April, at the peak of uncertainty, most chief economists (77%) were anticipating weak or very weak growth through 2025 in the US, alongside high inflation (79%) and a weakening dollar (76%). By contrast, they were cautiously optimistic about Europe’s prospects for the first time in years, mainly because of expectations of fiscal expansion, notably in Germany. The outlook for China remains muted, and the chief economists were divided over whether it will reach its target of 5% GDP growth this year. Optimism remains highest for South Asia, where 33% expect strong or very strong growth this year.

AI as a growth catalyst but potential economic risk
Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to drive the next wave of economic transformation, unlocking significant growth potential but also introducing serious risks. Nearly half (46%) of chief economists expect AI to deliver a modest global real GDP boost of 0-5 percentage points over the next decade, with a further 35% projecting gains of 5-10 points. Key growth drivers include task automation (68%), accelerated innovation (62%) and worker augmentation (49%). Despite its potential, concerns persist: 47% expect net job losses over the next decade, compared to just 19% who expect gains.

Above all, respondents highlighted the misuse of AI for disinformation and societal destabilization as the top risk to the economy (53%). Other key risks include rising concentration of market power (47%) and disruption of existing business models (44%).

To fully harness AI’s potential, the chief economists emphasized the need for bold action from both governments and businesses. For governments, top priorities include investing in AI infrastructure (89%), promoting adoption across key industries (86%), facilitating AI talent mobility (80%), and investing in upskilling and redeployment (75%). For businesses, the focus is on adapting core processes to integrate AI (95%), reskilling employees (91%) and training leadership to steer AI-driven transformation (83%).

About the Chief Economists Outlook
The report builds on extensive consultations and surveys with chief economists from the public and private sectors, organized by the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the New Economy and Society. This latest survey was conducted in early April 2025. The report supports the Forum’s Future of Growth Initiative, aiming to foster dialogue and actionable pathways towards sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

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The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org).

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WHO: Agreement’s adoption follows three years of intensive negotiation launched due to gaps and inequities identified in national and global COVID-19 response. Agreement boosts global collaboration to ensure stronger, more equitable response to future pandemics. Next steps include negotiations on Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing system. Following is a press release from WHO.

Geneva, 20 May, 2025 – Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) today formally adopted by consensus the world’s first Pandemic Agreement. The landmark decision by the 78^th World Health Assembly culminates more than three years of intensive negotiations launched by governments in response to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and driven by the goal of making the world safer from – and more equitable in response to – future pandemics.

“The world is safer today thanks to the leadership, collaboration and commitment of our Member States to adopt the historic WHO Pandemic Agreement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “The Agreement is a victory for public health, science and multilateral action. It will ensure we, collectively, can better protect the world from future pandemic threats. It is also a recognition by the international community that our citizens, societies and economies must not be left vulnerable to again suffer losses like those endured during COVID-19.”  

Governments adopted the WHO Pandemic Agreement today in a plenary session of the World Health Assembly, WHO’s peak decision-making body. The adoption followed yesterday’s approval of the Agreement by vote (124 in favour, 0 objections, 11 abstentions) in Committee by Member State delegations.

“Starting during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments from all corners of the world acted with great purpose, dedication and urgency, and in doing so exercising their national sovereignty, to negotiate the historic WHO Pandemic Agreement that has been adopted today,” said Dr Teodoro Herbosa, Secretary of the Philippines Department of Health, and President of this year’s World Health Assembly, who presided over the Agreement’s adoption. “Now that the Agreement has been brought to life, we must all act with the same urgency to implement its critical elements, including systems to ensure equitable access to life-saving pandemic-related health products. As COVID was a once-in-a-lifetime emergency, the WHO Pandemic Agreement offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build on lessons learned from that crisis and ensure people worldwide are better protected if a future pandemic emerges.”

The WHO Pandemic Agreement sets out the principles, approaches and tools for better international coordination across a range of areas, in order to strengthen the global health architecture for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. This includes through the equitable and timely access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

Regarding national sovereignty, the Agreement states that: “Nothing in the WHO Pandemic Agreement shall be interpreted as providing the Secretariat of the World Health Organization, including the Director-General of the World Health Organization, any authority to direct, order, alter or otherwise prescribe the national and/or domestic law, as appropriate, or policies of any Party, or to mandate or otherwise impose any requirements that Parties take specific actions, such as ban or accept travellers, impose vaccination mandates or therapeutic or diagnostic measures or implement lockdowns.”

The resolution on the WHO Pandemic Agreement adopted by the World Health Assembly sets out steps to prepare for the accord’s implementation. It includes launching a process to draft and negotiate a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system (PABS) through an Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG). The result of this process will be considered at next year’s World Health Assembly.

Once the Assembly adopts the PABS annex, the WHO Pandemic Agreement will then be open for signature and consideration of ratification, including by national legislative bodies. After 60 ratifications, the Agreement will enter into force.

In addition, Member States also directed the IGWG to initiate steps to enable setting up of the Coordinating Financial Mechanism for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, and the Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network (GSCL) to “enhance, facilitate, and work to remove barriers and ensure equitable, timely, rapid, safe, and affordable access to pandemic-related health products for countries in need during public health emergencies of international concern, including pandemic emergencies, and for prevention of such emergencies.”

According to the Agreement, pharmaceutical manufacturers participating in the PABS system will play a key role in equitable and timely access to pandemic-related health products by making available to WHO “rapid access targeting 20% of their real time production of safe, quality and effective vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics for the pathogen causing the pandemic emergency.”  The distribution of these products to countries will be carried out on the basis of public health risk and need, with particular attention to the needs of developing countries.

The WHO Pandemic Agreement is the second international legal agreement negotiated under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution, the first being the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which was adopted in 2003 and entered into force in 2005.

WHO Media Contact: mediainquiries@who.int

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Note: Official representatives from more than 130 countries and international organizations attended a ministerial conference on UN peacekeeping in Berlin (13-14 May) and pledged military, technology and political support as peacekeeping operations are under serious strain, including fund shortage. Following is a joint press release.

Berlin, Germany, 14 May 2025 – The United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 Berlin concluded today. More than 130 Member States and international partners – over a thousand participants in total – came together to reaffirm their support for UN peacekeeping and to announce concrete pledges aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and adaptability of peace operations in the face of evolving global challenges.

Hosted by the Government of Germany, the two-day high-level meeting marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to strengthen Member State support and help shape the future of UN Peacekeeping. The Ministerial focused on the Future of Peacekeeping, reflecting the need for innovative approaches to address complex conflicts, leverage emerging technologies, and address threats such as mis- and disinformation.

“In trouble spots around the world, Blue Helmets can mean the difference between life and death. Now more than ever, the world needs the United Nations. And the United Nations needs peacekeeping that is fully equipped for today’s realities and tomorrow’s challenges,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in his opening remarks.

“We welcome Member States’ political statements of support for peacekeeping as well as their pledges of military and police capabilities, new partnerships and technological support. This meeting is also about something more fundamental: the future of peacekeeping itself,” he added.

“In an interconnected world, no nation can achieve peace and security for its citizens on its own. In the past two days, more than 130 UN member states have come together in Berlin, determined to make progress towards this goal together. We all agree that setting up strong and effective peacekeeping missions is our joint responsibility. We want to tailor future missions to the exact needs of the host countries and increase their acceptance and effectiveness. This is the way forward in a world in which peacekeeping is more important now than ever before, but where the challenges are greater than at any time in the past. The participants have lived up to this challenge by making many very significant contributions. Germany’s support for the UN and its peacekeeping missions remains unwavering. We are committed to standing up for international peace and security,” said Johann Wadephul, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Meanwhile, announcing his country’s pledged contributions worth 82 million Euros to UN Peacekeeping, Boris Pistorius, Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany, said: “I am grateful to all partners, who have come to Berlin to make significant pledges to ensure efficient global Peacekeeping Missions. Germany continues to be a steadfast supporter of UN Peacekeeping and has pledged contributions worth 82 million Euros. In addition, we will continue our support to missions and partners with training and equipment. Our goal was to focus on new and innovative pledges, ranging from renewable energy technologies to medical transport drones to the protection from improvised explosive devices. We remain committed to supporting the three UN Peacekeeping Missions that the German Armed Forces currently deploy to in South Sudan, Lebanon and Western Sahara.”

Key outcomes:

A total of 74 Member States made pledges including:

·        Pledges of military and police units – 53 Member States pledged uniformed capabilities, including 88 military and police units, as well as various critical capabilities, airlift, individual experts, staff officers and individual police officers.

·        Specialized training – 59 Member States pledged specialized trainings on critical issues such as peacekeeping-intelligence, protection of civilians, gender and the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.

·         Technological advancements and data-driven approaches – 18 Member States made pledges related to technological advancements and data-driven approaches to improve mission effectiveness.

·         Women, Peace and Security – 38 Member States made pledges to further implement the Women, Peace and Security agenda, including gender-responsive peacekeeping and women in peacekeeping.

·         Safety and Security – 16 Member States pledged capabilities and projects to enhance the safety and security of peacekeepers.

·         Conduct and accountability – Eleven Member States made pledges related to the conduct and accountability of peacekeepers and UN Peacekeeping’s fight against sexual exploitation and abuse. This response includes targeted contributions to the Trust Fund for victims.

·         Strategic Communications and information integrity – Eight Member States made pledges to support the UN’s Strategic Communications efforts and contribute resources to strengthen information integrity.

Background – Today, more than 61,000 military and police peacekeepers from 119 countries and more than seven thousand civilian personnel serve across 11 Peacekeeping Missions.

The Berlin Ministerial is part of a series of high-level meetings aimed at galvanizing political support and generating tangible commitments to improve UN Peacekeeping. It follows previous Ministerial meetings held in Accra (2023), Seoul (2021), New York (2019) Vancouver (2017) and London (2016). The 2025 Ministerial also coincides with the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the 10-year anniversary of the Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping.

More information on the meeting, including statements and the list of pledges, please visit the UN Peacekeeping website and @UNPeacekeeping digital channels. 

For media inquiries and further information, please contact:

·         Department of Peace Operations: Sophie Boudre: boudre@un.org; Hector Calderon: hector.calderon@un.org

·         Federal Republic of Germany: Anna Laura Vitzinger, German Foreign Office:  presse@diplo.de; and Sonja Momberg, German Ministry of Defence: sonjamomberg@bmvg.bund.de

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Geneva/New York, April 24, 2025 – An estimated 60 percent of the world population are now feeling economically insecure in the face of global transformations that include escalating conflicts and climate change after decades of unprecedented improvement in material well-being, the World Social Report 2025 said.

The 119-page report said a recent study on life satisfaction showed that 60 per cent of people worldwide are struggling and 12 per cent are suffering, and over 690 million people live in extreme poverty, under $2.15 a day. It said over 2.8 billion, more than a third of the world’s population, live on between $2.15 and $6.85 a day with no guarantee of economic security.

“Even a small shock can send people into extreme poverty, and any escapes from poverty are often temporary,” the report said. “The recent crises and growing threats from climate change and conflict make the universal need to strengthen resilience even more pressing.“

Read the World Social Report 2025. Thematic papers supporting the World Social Report2025 are also available on the UN DESA website: 
https://social.desa.un.org/issues/world-social-report/thematic-papers

It said almost 60 per cent of people worldwide fear of losing their jobs and not finding one and even workers with the possibility to join a secure middle class have found themselves struggling for economic stability. It said informal employment remains the most prevalent form of labor market participation in low- and middle-income countries.

“Despite early expectations that it would decline and eventually disappear with economic growth and development, the share of informal employment has remained stagnant in African countries and declined only slightly in Asian and Latin American countries since 2010.”

It said nearly one in five people worldwide is at high risk from climate-related disasters and one in seven people was exposed to conflict in 2024 as both shocking situations have exacerbated poverty and hindered efforts to alleviate it. The report cited several factors that contribute to the unprecedented social challenges, including:

Persistent inequality and exclusion – It said income inequality since 1990 has increased in most high-income countries and in some middle-income countries, including China and India. Countries where inequality has grown are home to two thirds of the world’s population. It said income in some countries of Latin America, Africa and Asia have declined over the last three decades, according to the Gini coefficient which provided a summary measure of income inequality.

 “While it is still too soon to assess the full effect of the Covid-19 pandemic and other recent crises, the data available suggest that income inequality remained stable or even declined in the first years of the pandemic in several high-income countries.”

“Despite some positive trends, income and wealth are increasingly concentrated at the top. The share of income going to the richest one per cent of the population increased or remained stable, albeit at the high level of around 60 per cent, in countries with data from 1990 to 2022. The world’s richest one per cent of people today own more wealth than 95 per cent of humanity (Oxfam International, 2024). Ongoing global transformations are affecting these trends.”

Declining trust and weakening social cohesion – The report said social cohesion plays an important role in how people and social groups cooperate with one another to undertake collective action and maintain the rule of law. On the contrary, weakened social cohesion and growing polarization can impact on global agendas. It said the World Economic Forum has identified “societal polarization as one of the top five global risks in its two-year time horizon (WEF, 2025). People increasingly perceive politics and society in terms of “us” versus “them”. Growing hostility between social groups and increasing support for extreme political positions are fanning the flames of another top global risk: misinformation and disinformation.”

“While there is no broadly agreed data framework to measure all dimensions of social cohesion across countries, the available evidence shows that trust in institutions has declined in most countries with data since the late 1990s.”

The report said over half of the world’s people currently have little or no trust in their government.

It said the spread of misinformation and disinformation, facilitated by digital technologies, “is reinforcing divisions and fueling distrust. While digital platforms hold great potential to connect and inform people, they also allow the spread of disinformation, deceit and hate speech, often at a speed too fast to effectively counter. Social media has been leveraged to obstruct dialogue, incite violence, and stoke conflicts. Often, users find themselves immersed in virtual and siloed “echo chambers” where they are exposed to news and opinions that align with and may radicalize their views.” (By J. Tuyet Nguyen)

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Note: The below press release profiles new research by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), and partners through the ProLAC initiative from across Latin America which finds families fleeing violence face movement restrictions, exploitation, and asylum barriers.
One in four families interviewed for the report said that their lives would be at risk if they returned to their place of origin.

Oslo, April 23, 2025 – People across Latin America fleeing violence face movement restrictions, exploitation, and asylum barriers, according to a new report by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), and partners through the ProLAC initiative.

One in four families interviewed for the report said that their lives would be at risk if they returned to their place of origin.

“It’s alarming that so many people across Latin America would face life-threatening risks if they were forced to return to their place of origin,” said Stine Paus, regional director of NRC in Latin America. “Displaced people whose lives have already been shattered by violence must be better supported by the international community where they are. They cannot be forgotten in these times of cuts to aid budgets.”

“We need to see better international protection for those in need. This means giving displaced people whose lives are at risk a safe place to live, where they can enjoy basic rights, live freely, and eventually overcome their vulnerable situation. Instead, various countries in the Americas continue to limit access to asylum and are deporting refugees and migrants without first assessing whether their lives would be at risk.”

The full report is available here.

Without the opportunity to enter a country using a formal route, refugees and migrants are forced to take irregular routes as they seek safety and better opportunities. These routes are often incredibly dangerous and sometimes facilitated by smugglers. Half of the families interviewed said they experienced abuses during their journey with extortion particularly prevalent in Peru, Guatemala and Mexico. Among the families reporting abuses in Mexico, 40 per cent cited being kidnapped in order to be extorted for money.

In their quest for a new beginning, refugees and migrants face discrimination and xenophobia which further complicate their attempt to find safety and integrate into society, forcing some to flee yet again. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence throughout their displacement.

“Women and girls face the brunt of abuse, and it’s crucial we address their specific needs. We need to improve access to information and our ability to respond to gender-based violence, especially for the most vulnerable groups,” said Yann Cornic, regional operations director for DRC in Latin America.

Internal displacement remains a pressing issue across Latin America. People who flee their homes in search of safer locations but remain within their countries also need protection. In the first months of 2025, intensified violence in Colombia’s El Catatumbo region led to the displacement of over 56,000 people. Countries including Guatemala, México and Ecuador are also grappling with internal displacement yet often lack the necessary frameworks to protect those affected.

“Ongoing rates of internal displacement underscores the urgent need for comprehensive data and legislation to ensure safety and support for displaced individuals within their own borders,” said Cornic.

“National governments should take immediate action to ensure the protection of displaced people. Providing safe access to asylum, protecting people from the dangers they have fled from, and ensuring their rights are respected are essential steps to help them rebuild their lives. UN agencies, civil society organisations and donors play also a key role,” said Paus.

“Addressing the challenges faced by displaced people in Latin America requires political will and coordinated efforts and commitment from both national and international decision makers. It’s time for us to come together and make a difference. We cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of displaced people in Latin America.”

Note to editors: The ProLAC report analysed data collected between 1 October 2024 and 31 January 2025 across nine countries in Latin America: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. The full report is available here.

The quantitative data includes survey results from over 20 locations within these countries, encompassing 3,611 households and representing 11,172 people in total. The qualitative data is derived from 138 key informant interviews, focus groups and direct observation reports. The data was collected by NRC, DRC, Encuentros SJM, Alianza Vencer and Corporación Colectiva Justicia Mujer. More information on the ProLAC’s members is available on the website. The interactive dashboard is available here.

25% of refugees and migrants interviewed at a destination country reported that they would face risks to their lives if they returned to their place of origin. 25% indicated that they would face widespread insecurity and violence, and 18% expressed fear of persecution. Of all those surveyed outside their country of origin, 19% reported having sought international protection.

45% of families in transit said they had suffered abuses, of which 44% were victims of extortion. In countries such as Mexico, this percentage reaches 66%, in Peru 53%, and in Guatemala 62%.  24% of households reported being victims of theft, confiscation or destruction of property.

38% of refugee and migrant families at a destination country reported they had experienced at least one incident of discrimination, discriminatory practices or xenophobia. Peru ranks first, with 65% of the surveyed population reporting this abuse. The host communities are the main perpetrators of such practices (65%).

–24% of the families reported having previously resided in a country other than their current one (and their country of origin), and 13% of them said they left that country due to discrimination.

–18% of the households affected by internal displacement, conflict and other situations of violence have experienced gender-based violence, while 11% and 12% faced it during their journey or in destination countries, respectively.

–Of the total households monitored, 19% suffered at least one forced displacement between October 2023 and January 2025.

–According to international law, States are forbidden to return refugees and asylum seekers to a place where they face serios threats to their life of freedom. The principle of non-refoulement protects people from being sent back to danger. Migrants are also covered in this principle as it applies to all individuals, regardless of their migration status. (OHCHR Principles and Guidelines for Migrants in Vulnerable Situations, 2018).

–The Americas region hosted 23 million forcibly displaced people in 2023, an increase of one million and a half from 2022, driven by displacement situations in Colombia, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Haiti, northern Central America, Mexico and Nicaragua (UNHCR).

–Since January 2025, in the Catatumbo region of Colombia, 56,000 people have been displaced by violence. This marks one of the largest mass displacements in Colombia in decades (HRW and OHCHR).

–As of 2020, there were approximately 357,000 internally displaced persons in Mexico due to criminal violence (IDMC).

–As of 2023, in Guatemala there were around 242,000 internally displaced persons due to the civil war, which ended in 1996. In 2020, 339,000 new displacements were triggered by hurricanes and other natural disasters (IDMC).

–More than 80,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Ecuador due to the

About ProLAC – The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC, with support from the European Union Humanitarian Aid, have created the ProLAC Initiative. This project offers a unified system for monitoring the protection risks faced by people forced to flee across Latin America. For more information, visit https://prolac.live/en/

Media Contacts: Jessica Wanless
Media Specialist Adviser, Global Public Communications Section, Oslo
Phone: +47 901 67 022
Norwegian Refugee Council
www.nrc.no | Facebook | Twitter

NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no,+47 905 62 329 – DRC Latin America: col.comunicaciones@drc.ngo, + 57 3142476451

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Geneva/New York, April 21, 2025 – The United Nations praised Pope Francis, who passed away aged 88, as a strong defender of peace and human dignity and an advocate for the rights of migrants and refugees. Following are remarks made by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and a statement issued by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

“I want to extend my deepest condolences to Catholics, and all those around the world, inspired by the extraordinary life and example of His Holiness Pope Francis,” said the UN chief.

“Pope Francis was a messenger of hope, humility and humanity. He was a transcendent voice for peace, human dignity and social justice. He leaves behind a legacy of faith, service and compassion for all — especially those on the margins of life or trapped by the horrors of conflict.

Pope Francis was a man of faith for all faiths — working with people of all beliefs and backgrounds to light a path forward. Through the years, we at the United Nations were greatly inspired by his commitment to the goals and ideals of our organization — a message I was honoured to convey in my meetings with him as Secretary-General.

Pope Francis also understood that protecting our common home is, at heart, a deeply moral mission and responsibility that belongs to every person. Many of us find great meaning in his final Easter message delivered just yesterday.

He appealed for us not to yield to – as he called it – the “logic of fear”. Instead, he urged the world to invest in what he referred to as the “weapons of peace” – to help the most vulnerable, to fight hunger, to advance development. Our divided and discordant world will be a much better place if we follow his example of unity and mutual understanding in our own actions.”

UNHCR Statement on the Passing of His Holiness Pope Francis – “UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is deeply saddened by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Catholics around the world and to all those mourning the loss of a compassionate and courageous moral leader.

 Pope Francis was a tireless advocate for the rights and dignity of refugees, migrants and the forcibly displaced worldwide. He stood up and spoke out continuously and relentlessly for the victims of war and for those forced to flee their homes.

He drew the world’s attention to the human tragedies unfolding at Europe’s borders and those further away – emphasising our shared responsibility in protecting the lives of those forced to flee.

Hearing from refugees firsthand in Lampedusa, Greece, Cyprus and beyond, he made a powerful call to the international community not to turn their back on those forced to flee. Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis used his unique moral authority to call on governments and the wider international community to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate refugees into society – especially at a time where their desperate plight is too often met by barriers, rejection and fear. He also engaged in favour of the environment and nature.

His unwavering solidarity with displaced people, his commitment towards global peace, his engagement for humanitarian causes and his call for dialogue to resolve conflict and build solidarity inspired action, compassion, and a deeper sense of shared humanity. He was strongly committed to peace everywhere – from the Middle East, to Colombia, to Ukraine, the Central African Republic, to Sudan, South Sudan, DRC and Myanmar, he spoke for peace, reconciliation and dignity.

On World Refugee Day last year, he called on all “to welcome, promote, accompany and integrate those who knock on our doors,” praying that “States will strive to ensure humane conditions for refugees and to facilitate integration processes.”

His passing is a loss for us all who were inspired by his principles and values and his legacy will continue to guide and strengthen our work to protect those forced to flee.” (This Statement is available here)

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• Global growth is expected to slow to 2.3% in 2025 – a recessionary trend linked to escalating trade tensions and uncertainty
• Developing economies face risks and worsening external conditions, but growing South-South trade and greater regional economic integration are opportunities
• UNCTAD calls for greater international policy coordination and strengthened regional trade (Following is a press release from the UN Trade and Development agency)

Geneva, 16 April 2025 – The world economy is on a recessionary trajectory, driven by escalating trade tensions and persistent uncertainty, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) alerts in its new report, “Trade and Development Foresights 2025 – Under pressure: Uncertainty reshapes global economic prospects”.

Global growth is projected to slow to 2.3% in 2025, placing the world economy on a recessionary path, the report says. It cites mounting threats including trade policy shocks, financial volatility and a surge in uncertainty that risk derailing the global outlook.

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UNCTAD/PRESS/PR/2025/005

Global Economy under Pressure Could Slow to 2.3%, Signals UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Global trade tensions escalate – Rising trade tensions are impacting global trade, with UNCTAD noting that recent tariff measures are disrupting supply chains and undermining predictability. “Trade policy uncertainty is at a historical high,” the report notes, “and this is already translating into delayed investment decisions and reduced hiring.”

Challenges for the Global South – The slowdown will affect all nations, but UNCTAD remains concerned about developing countries and especially the most vulnerable economies. Many low-income countries face a “perfect storm” of worsening external financial conditions, unsustainable debt and weakening domestic growth.

UNCTAD underlines the real threat to economic growth, investment, and development progress, particularly for the most vulnerable economies.

South-South trade and regional integration offer opportunities – UNCTAD points to the growth of trade among developing countries (South-South trade) as a source of resilience.

Already accounting for about one third of global trade, “the potential of South-South economic integration offers opportunities for many developing countries”, the report notes.

Policy options – UNCTAD urges dialogue and negotiation, alongside stronger regional and global policy coordination, building on existing trade and economic ties.

“Coordinated action will be essential to restore confidence and keep development on track,” the report concludes.

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About UN Trade and Development: UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is dedicated to promoting inclusive and sustainable development through trade and investment. With a diverse membership, it empowers countries to harness trade for prosperity.

Contact us: UNCTAD Communications and External Relations, Office of the Secretary General 
Marcelo Risi, +41 76 691 18 74, marcelo.risi@unctad.org
Catherine Huissoud, +41 79 502 43 11, catherine.huissoud@unctad.org
Web: unctad.org/media-centre 

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