The Charter of the United Nations affirms “faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women...”

Times have changed, societies have evolved, and attitudes have shifted since the Charter was signed in 1945. Thankfully, many old prejudices have begun to disappear. Yet equality still remains distant for many. And particularly pervasive is discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (‘LGBT’) people.

New York, 3 May 2013

Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is a cornerstone of good governance, sustainable development, and lasting peace and security.

Yet every day around the world, journalists and media workers are under attack. They face intimidation, threats and violence from governments, corporations, criminals or other forces that wish to silence or censor.

New York, 25 April 2013

Since world leaders adopted the Millennium Development Goals in 2000, a broad partnership of governments, United Nations entities, philanthropies and businesses has combined to protect hundreds of millions of people from malaria. Increased international funding, matched by growing political commitment in endemic countries, triggered a massive increase in preventive interventions and expanded access to diagnostic testing and life-saving medicines, averting more than a million deaths.

The MDG target of halting and reversing the incidence of malaria is now in sight, and 50 countries are on track to reduce their malaria burden by at least 75 per cent by 2015. However, major challenges remain. Malaria continues to inflict a major toll on least developed countries – primarily in Africa – and millions of people still lack access to life-saving interventions.