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Millions remain invisible – but Asia-Pacific leaders pledge change by 2030

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Millions remain invisible – but Asia-Pacific leaders pledge change by 2030

Now, governments have committed to close that gap by 2030.

At the conclusion of the Third Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific, leaders adopted a renewed declaration to strengthen national civil registration systems – the foundational mechanisms that register births, deaths and other vital events.

The move extends the regional “CRVS Decade” initiative, first launched in 2014, into a new phase aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially target 16.9 on ensuring legal identity for all.

These numbers are more than statistics, they represent lives without legal recognition and families left without support,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), which convened the forum.

“This week has been a powerful call to action. We have seen inspiring examples of countries reaching the most marginalized, embracing digital innovation and strengthening legal and institutional frameworks.”

More than statistics

Civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems are essential to establishing legal identity, accessing services, and ensuring inclusion in public policy.

A birth certificate can mean access to healthcare, education and social protection.

A death certificate enables families to claim inheritance, pensions and other rights.

Without these critical documents, individuals – especially women, children and rural populations – risk exclusion, vulnerability, and injustice.

Uneven progress

According to a recent ESCAP report, the region has made remarkable gains since 2012 – the number of unregistered children under five has fallen by over 60 per cent, from 135 million to 51 million.

As of 2024, 29 countries now register more than 90 per cent of births within a year, and 30 do the same for deaths. The number of countries publishing civil registration-based vital statistics nearly doubled in that period.

However, progress remains uneven – about 14 million children in the region reach their first birthday without having their birth registered. And 6.9 million deaths go unrecorded annually, particularly those that occur outside health facilities or in remote areas.

Many countries still face gaps in certifying and coding causes of death, hampering disease surveillance and public health responses, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ESCAP Photo/Panumas Sanguanwong

A participant at the Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) in Bangkok takes part in a demonstration at the Thai digital ID and verification exhibition booth.

Get everyone in the picture

The new Ministerial Declaration calls for universal and responsive CRVS systems that are inclusive, digitally enabled and resilient.

It emphasizes gender equity in registration, legal protections for personal data, and continuity of services during emergencies.

Governments also pledged to increase training, expand community outreach and improve cause-of-death reporting – including through verbal autopsies and improving certification systems.

Everyone counts. Data saves lives,” Ms. Alisjahbana said, “legal identity is a right, not a privilege. No one should be left behind – simply because they were never counted in the first place.”

Let us finish what we started. Let us get everyone in the picture and ensure every life truly counts.

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Short -range drone attacks deepen the Ukrainian front crisis

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According to the mission of rights, while the majority (89%) of civilian victims were documented in the territory under Ukrainian control following attacks by the Russian armed forces, the others took place in the territory occupied by the Russian authorities, including in attacks which have struck public transport and clearly marked ambulances.

Although individually less destructive than artillery or missiles, “the scale and the growing frequency of short -range drone attacks have made it one of the deadliest weapons in Ukraine,” said Danielle Bell, HRMMU head.

Not in accordance with the laws of war

Forcing residents to considerably restrict their movements, limiting access to essential goods and affecting livelihoods, the large number of short -range drone attacks exacerbated an already disastrous humanitarian situation.

Most short -range drones have on -board cameras that offer operators a real -time view of potential targets.

However, the high number of civilian victims resulting from drone attacks suggests that these weapons have been deployed to violate international humanitarian law, in particular the principles of distinction and precaution, HRMMU noted.

In some cases, drone operators seem to have intentionally attacked civilians or civilian objects, including medical transport and staff, which would be equivalent to war crimes, he added.

“It is clear that these weapons are not used in accordance with the laws of war,” said Bell.

Call for responsibility

The information verified by the mission has shown that the number of civilian victims of short -range drones increased regularly at the end of 2023 and at the beginning of 2024, before pivoting in July 2024 and reaching a record number in April 2025.

The victims continued in May and June, as during a strike on a minibus in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, on June 23, in which the 65 -year -old driver was killed.

On May 22, a 58 -year -old woman, a local volunteer, was killed in a front -line village in the Kharkiv region when a drone abandoned an ammunition on the balcony of a two -story residential building, according to the HRMMU.

“Each of these attacks must be studied,” said Bell.

“Managers target civilians and humanitarian staff must be held to account.”

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Guterres calls for an immediate Gaza ceasefire while the humanitarian crisis reaches “horrible proportions”

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Addressing journalists from the UN headquarters before leaving in Spain for the International Conference on Development Financing, the Secretary General said that if the Israeli-Iranian conflict had dominated recent titles, the fate of civilians in Gaza has remained urgent and disastrous.

“” Families have been moved over and over again -and are now limited to less than a fifth of the Gaza lands, “he said.

“” Even these narrowing areas are threatened. The bombs fall – on tents, on families, on those who did not stay to run.“”

Food search should never be a death sentence

Mr. Guterres described the situation as the most serious since the start of the war, citing acute shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter.

“” Food search should never be a death sentence“He said, emphasizing the danger facing the Palestinians who are just trying to survive.

He called on several occasions for three urgent steps: an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and complete and unhindered humanitarian access.

On Friday, he put pressure on these requests again, stressing that Haid workers are hungry, hospitals ration vital supplies and that civilians are trapped in dangerous areas.

The rise in high urgent aid

“What is necessary now is a push-the net must become an ocean,” he said.

The UN chief stressed that Israel, as an occupying power, is legally forced to facilitate humanitarian aid.

“For those in power, I say: allow our operations to the international demand for humanitarian law.

Earlier this week, a small convoy of medical supplies from the UN entered Gaza for the first time in months, noted Mr. Guterres, adding that this only pointed out the overwhelming scale of need.

He also warned that any assistance delivery method must ensure civil security, stressing that “operations that place desperate people in or near militarized areas are intrinsically dangerous”.

“” We have the solution – a detailed plan based on the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence“He said.

“” It worked during the last cease-fire. He must therefore be allowed to operate again.“”

Critical two -states solution

Mr. Guterres concluded with a broader political call:

“” The only lasting way to restore hope is to pave the way for the two -state solution. Diplomacy and human dignity for all must prevail.“”

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Gaza: Health system crumbles amid growing desperation over food, fuel

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UN reiterates call for urgent de-escalation amid Iran-Israel conflict, worsening Gaza crisis

“Definitely, people get shot,” said Gaza-based medic Dr. Luca Pigozzi, WHO Emergency Medical Team Coordinator. “They are victim of blast injuries as well and bodily injuries.”

The WHO official’s comments follow reports of another mass casualty incident on Thursday, this time involving a strike on a market in the central city of Deir al Balah.

More than 20 people were killed and approximately 70 others were injured, said the UN aid wing, OCHA, with victims rushed to Al Aqsa Hospital, Nasser Medical Complex and two other health facilities.

Hundreds killed seeking food

In addition to the latest deadly incident, at least 410 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military while trying to fetch aid from controversial non-UN aid hubs supported by Israel and the United States, the UN human rights office, OHCHRsaid on Tuesday.

Providing high-quality medical care is very difficult in the war-torn occupied enclave today, “particularly because we are speaking about a high volume of patients every time”, Dr Pigozzi insisted.

Health needs are widespread and dramatic, with almost 50 per cent of medical stocks completely depleted.

WHO’s first medical shipment into Gaza on Wednesday was its first since 2 March, when Israel imposed a full blockade on the Strip.

In total, nine trucks carrying essential medical supplies entered the enclave with 2,000 units of blood and 1,500 units of plasma; all transited through the Kerem Shalom crossing. It is “only a drop in the ocean” of what is required, Dr Pigozzi said.

Aid obstacles remain

Speaking to journalists from Jerusalem, WHO’s Dr Rik Peeperkorn highlighted renewed difficulties in securing agreement from the Israeli authorities to allow more UN and partner agencies’ supply trucks into Gaza.

“That’s really unfortunate and should not happen, because you don’t want to see those desperate people, and specifically desperate young men, risking their lives to get some food either,” he said, amid reports of a chaotic rush for supplies at non-UN distribution points and of starving Gazans taking goods directly off lorries.

Before the Israeli blockade, the UN and its humanitarian partners demonstrated that their aid delivery system reached those most in need, insisted Dr Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory. Today that is not the case because of repeated refusals by Israeli authorities to allow supplies into Gaza.

“Open the routes and make sure that we can get our supplies in,” he said. “The market needs to be flooded with food and non-food items and water, et cetera, et cetera, and including essential medicines in a most cost-effective manner.”

Denied entry

Since March, aid teams have encountered a 44 per cent denial rate, meaning that for every 10 staff requesting entry, “four to five of them are denied per rotation”, WHO’s Dr Pigozzi said.

Echoing that message, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier insisted that people are starving, sick and dying across Gaza every day.

“They have been killed on the way trying to get medical help, they have been killed inside hospitals. Now, additionally, they are being killed on the way to get food items which are scarcely being provided,” he said.

“We have food and medical help minutes away across the border, sitting there and waiting for weeks and months by now. Just open the door.”

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Gaza: The health system collapses in the midst of despair of food for food, fuel

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“Certainly, people are shot,” said the doctor of Gaza, Dr. Luca Pigozzi, WHO Emergency medical team coordinator. “They are also victims of explosion injuries and bodily injuries.”

The comments of the WHO official follow the reports of another mass mass incident Thursday, this time involving a strike on a market in the central city of Deir Al Balah.

More than 20 people were killed and around 70 others were injured, said the United Nations wing, OchhaThe victims rushed to Al Aqsa hospital, the Nasser medical complex and two other health establishments.

Hundreds killed in search of food

In addition to the last murderous incident, at least 410 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army while trying to recover the aid of controversial aid centers supported by Israel and the United States, the United Nations Human Rights Office, Ohchr,, said Tuesday.

The provision of high -quality medical care is very difficult in the enclave occupied in war today, “especially because we are talking about a high volume of patients each time,” insisted Dr Pigozzi.

Health needs are widespread and dramatic, with almost 50% of medical actions completely exhausted.

Wednesday, which is the first medical shipment to Gaza was its first since March 2, when Israel imposed a complete blockade on the band.

In total, nine trucks carrying essential medical supplies entered the enclave with 2,000 units of blood and 1,500 plasma units; All passed through the Kerem Shalom crossing. It is “only a drop in the ocean” of what is necessary, said Dr. Pigozzi.

Help obstacles remain

Addressing Jerusalem journalists, including Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, stressed the difficulties renewed in obtaining an agreement from the Israeli authorities to allow more UN supply trucks and partner agencies in Gaza.

“It is really unhappy and should not happen, because you do not want to see these desperate people, and in particular desperate young men, risking their lives to obtain food either,” he said, in the middle of chaotic rush reports for supplies to distribution points not one and hungry gasans by taking goods directly from Lorries.

Before the Israeli blockade, the UN and its humanitarian partners have shown that their aid delivery system had reached those who needed it most, insisted Dr. Peeperkorn, representative of the occupied Palestinian territory. Today, this is not the case due to the repeated refusals of the Israeli authorities to authorize supplies in Gaza.

“Open the routes and make sure we can get our supplies,” he said. “The market must be flooded with food and non -food and water, and this, and this, and including essential drugs in the most profitable way.”

Refused entry

Since March, aid teams have encountered a denial rate of 44%, which means that for 10 employees requesting entry, “four to five of them are refused by rotation,” said Dr. Pigozzi.

Echoing this message, which spokesman Christian Lindmeier insisted that people are hungry, sick and die through Gaza every day.

“They were killed on the way while trying to obtain medical help, they were killed in hospitals. Now, moreover, they are killed on the way to obtaining foods that are barely provided, “he said.

“We have food and medical help a few minutes on the other side of the border, sitting there and waiting for weeks and months now. Open the door. “

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Gaza: Health system crumbles amid growing desperation over food, fuel

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Gaza: Health system crumbles amid growing desperation over food, fuel

“Definitely, people get shot,” said Gaza-based medic Dr. Luca Pigozzi, WHO Emergency Medical Team Coordinator. “They are victim of blast injuries as well and bodily injuries.”

The WHO official’s comments follow reports of another mass casualty incident on Thursday, this time involving a strike on a market in the central city of Deir al Balah.

More than 20 people were killed and approximately 70 others were injured, said the UN aid wing, OCHA, with victims rushed to Al Aqsa Hospital, Nasser Medical Complex and two other health facilities.

Hundreds killed seeking food

In addition to the latest deadly incident, at least 410 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military while trying to fetch aid from controversial non-UN aid hubs supported by Israel and the United States, the UN human rights office, OHCHRsaid on Tuesday.

Providing high-quality medical care is very difficult in the war-torn occupied enclave today, “particularly because we are speaking about a high volume of patients every time”, Dr Pigozzi insisted.

Health needs are widespread and dramatic, with almost 50 per cent of medical stocks completely depleted.

WHO’s first medical shipment into Gaza on Wednesday was its first since 2 March, when Israel imposed a full blockade on the Strip.

In total, nine trucks carrying essential medical supplies entered the enclave with 2,000 units of blood and 1,500 units of plasma; all transited through the Kerem Shalom crossing. It is “only a drop in the ocean” of what is required, Dr Pigozzi said.

Aid obstacles remain

Speaking to journalists from Jerusalem, WHO’s Dr Rik Peeperkorn highlighted renewed difficulties in securing agreement from the Israeli authorities to allow more UN and partner agencies’ supply trucks into Gaza.

“That’s really unfortunate and should not happen, because you don’t want to see those desperate people, and specifically desperate young men, risking their lives to get some food either,” he said, amid reports of a chaotic rush for supplies at non-UN distribution points and of starving Gazans taking goods directly off lorries.

Before the Israeli blockade, the UN and its humanitarian partners demonstrated that their aid delivery system reached those most in need, insisted Dr Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory. Today that is not the case because of repeated refusals by Israeli authorities to allow supplies into Gaza.

“Open the routes and make sure that we can get our supplies in,” he said. “The market needs to be flooded with food and non-food items and water, et cetera, et cetera, and including essential medicines in a most cost-effective manner.”

Denied entry

Since March, aid teams have encountered a 44 per cent denial rate, meaning that for every 10 staff requesting entry, “four to five of them are denied per rotation”, WHO’s Dr Pigozzi said.

Echoing that message, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier insisted that people are starving, sick and dying across Gaza every day.

“They have been killed on the way trying to get medical help, they have been killed inside hospitals. Now, additionally, they are being killed on the way to get food items which are scarcely being provided,” he said.

“We have food and medical help minutes away across the border, sitting there and waiting for weeks and months by now. Just open the door.”

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European Accessibility Act enters into force

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European Accessibility Act enters into force

From 28 June, the emergency number 112, banks, public transport and other services must be accessible to all European citizens, especially the 100 million people with disabilities living in the EU. For example, ATMs must include accessible interfaces and online banking operations must be accessible.

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European Accessibility Act enters into force

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European Accessibility Act enters into force

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EU leaders discuss how to strengthen the EU’s position on the global stage

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EU leaders discuss how to strengthen the EU’s position on the global stage

At the European Council meeting on June 26 and 27, leaders focused on how to ramp up EU defence readiness and boost competitiveness. They also discussed ongoing efforts towards achieving peace in Ukraine and welcomed the cessation of hostilities in Iran.

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EU leaders discuss how to strengthen the EU’s position on the global stage

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EU leaders discuss how to strengthen the EU’s position on the global stage

At the European Council meeting on June 26 and 27, leaders focused on how to ramp up EU defence readiness and boost competitiveness. They also discussed ongoing efforts towards achieving peace in Ukraine and welcomed the cessation of hostilities in Iran. Source link

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