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Week in Review 24 January 2026

Catch up on this week's must-read stories "You either stand up for a rules-based order, or you pay the price of ignoring it. Yesterday, the price was Venezuela, tomorrow it may be Greenland." That was deputy UN chief Amina Mohammed this week, defending the UN and multilateralism, following on from Annalena Baerbock who presides over the General Assembly who also weighed in – as the future of the Western alliance came into question like never before. The UN pledged to continue delivering for the millions who rely on its services worldwide every day, despite the daily diplomatic assaults and shrinking aid budgets which have given way to widespread rearmament in uncertain times. The UN human rights chief said in response to the ongoing ICE raids in Minnesota and other states across the US that he was "astounded by the now routine abuse and denigration of migrants and refugees." Meanwhile, the world's more acute zones of conflict and chaos were in the UN spotlight again: Our work goes on in Gaza, Ukraine, Syria and Haiti – while from the border of the Central African Republic and Sudan, we brought you a special long-form feature in text and video, that brings to life how peacekeeping and aid work intersects to save lives. We'll start there:

At the edge of war: the Central African Republic's uneasy border with Sudan The land flattens on the approach to Birao, a cut-off town ringed by savannah in the far north of the Central African Republic, where roads dissolve into dust and motorcycles vastly outnumber cars. Less than two hours' drive from the Sudanese border, this is the edge of a fractured country still piecing itself back together, while absorbing the shockwaves of a neighbouring conflict. Read more Peace and Security UN rights chief decries US treatment of migrants, as deaths in ICE custody rise The UN's top human rights official has raised alarm over what he described as the growing dehumanisation of migrants in the United States, warning that current immigration enforcement practices are undermining due process, family unity and basic human dignity. Read more Human Rights 'Dangerous nostalgia' is a threat to multilateralism, UN deputy chief tells Danish MPs United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed urged countries to protect the UN Charter in a powerful speech to the Danish Parliament on Thursday, urging countries to "stand up for a rules-based order" – or pay the price.  Read more Peace and Security UN Assembly president defends multilateralism, UN Charter in Davos From Davos, the President of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday warned that the world has entered a "make‑or‑break" moment for multilateralism, saying the rules‑based order can survive only if states speak the truth and act when it's hard. She called for a cross‑regional alliance to push back against growing lawlessness, disinformation, and power‑based politics. Read more Peace and Security UN strongly condemns demolition of UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem The reported demolition underway early Tuesday of the headquarters of UN agency UNRWA by Israeli forces in occupied East Jerusalem - reportedly "under the watch of lawmakers and a member of the Government" - has prompted swift condemnation from the global body.  Read more Peace and Security Haiti explained: why the crisis is deepening — and what comes next Haiti is entering 2026 facing one of the most complex crises in its recent history. On Wednesday, the Caribbean island nation will be high on the international agenda as the UN Security Council holds its first meeting of the year to update ambassadors.  Read more Peace and Security Sudan war leaves children mute as risk of new atrocities looms The war that erupted in Sudan in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has killed thousands of civilians and caused devastation, mass displacement and famine. The conflict is a major preoccupation of UN human rights chief Volker Türk, who is just back from visiting the country. There, he met victims of terrible sexual violence, including escapees from the besieged city of El Fasher.  With more details about the situation in Sudan and voicing concerns that what happened in El Fasher risks being repeated in South Kordofan's Kadugli and Dilling, the High Commissioner's spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, joins UN News's Daniel Johnson. Read more UN Interviews

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