Modern slavery traps almost 50 million people around the world
New estimates show 49.6 million people, or nearly 1-in-150 worldwide, trapped in modern slavery - up 23% in five years.
U.N. General Assembly (UNGA)
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Austria's Türk wins approval to lead top U.N. human rights body
U.N. career diplomat Volker Türk of Austria won approval to replace former U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet.
Talks fail to clinch global ocean treaty
Diplomats suspended talks after they could not agree on a proposed treaty to protect marine species and minerals in high seas covering 43% of Earth.
U.N. declares healthy environment a human right
A second vote in the United Nations solidifies international recognition that everyone's access to a clean and healthy environment is a fundamental right.
Ocean summit ends declaring a 'global emergency'
More than 150 nations committed to put science at the heart of renewed efforts to tackle the multiple human-caused crises threatening the ocean.
World's nuclear arsenal predicted to grow
Nuclear arsenals among nine nations are expected to grow over the next decade in a reversal of a post-Cold War decline, a Swedish think tank reports.
Voting rights in international organizations
Proportion of voting rights in international organizations, with only small changes over time to reflect agreement on suspension and negotiated changes.
Proportion of developing countries in organizations
Share of members of international organizations defined as developing countries.
U.N. votes in 5 new Security Council members
Five nations won seats on the U.N. Security Council for the next two years, putting them in a position to influence global policies on peace and security.
New talks set for U.N. high seas treaty proposal
Proponents of a U.N. global high seas treaty for protecting biodiversity are set to resume talks in August with the goal of approving it as soon as possible.
Human Rights Council sharpens focus in Ukraine
International investigators were directed to focus their efforts on possible war crimes by Russian soldiers near Ukraine's capital and other regions.
Nations agree to new scrutiny of U.N. vetos
Prompted by its own paralysis over Syria and Ukraine, the U.N. moved to prevent abuse of power by Russia and other permanent Security Council members.
U.N. suspends Russia from rights body
The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council, pointing to evidence of grave war crimes in Ukraine.
Nations rally behind Ukraine at UNGA
By an overwhelming majority, the U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution that blamed Russia for Ukraine's severe humanitarian crisis.
Top U.N. court orders Russia out of Ukraine
The ICJ ordered Russia to halt its invasion of Ukraine in a legally binding decision that is mainly symbolic because there is no direct means of enforcing it.
Nations to draft plastic waste treaty
Delegates from 175 nations to the U.N. Environment Assembly voted unanimously to devise a treaty that tries to cleanse the world of plastic pollution.