News by region: Americas

Venezuela: Economic woes worsening malnutrition among children, warns UNICEF

26 January – Amid growing food insecurity and rising malnutrition among children on the back of a protracted economic crisis in Venezuela, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Friday called on all actors for rapid and coordinated assistance efforts to reach those most in need.

Progress against hunger, poverty hinges on empowering indigenous women – UN agriculture chief

15 January – Empowering indigenous women – who have higher malnutrition rates than any other social group and typically earn far less than men – is key to successfully fighting hunger and extreme poverty, the United Nations agriculture chief has said.

In Colombia, UN chief meets with ex-combatants, expressing hope for future and peace process

14 January – On the second day of an official visit to Colombia, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday expressed hopes for the future and for the peace process in the South American country.

In Bogotá, UN Secretary-General Guterres expresses full support for peace process in Colombia

13 January – In an official visit to Colombia, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday met with the country's President in the capital, Bogotá, where the UN chief said it is the duty of all the citizens of the world to support the peace process there.

UN regional forum for Latin America and Caribbean marks 70th anniversary

10 January – The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) celebrated its 70th anniversary on Wednesday with a high-level seminar at its headquarters in Santiago, Chile, reaffirming its commitment to working for the dignity and well-being of all the region's inhabitants.

Colombia: Reintegrating 14,000 ex-combatants remains a challenge, Security Council told

10 January – Colombia's peace efforts remain challenged by the task of reintegrating 14,000 former rebel combatants, the top United Nations official in the country said Wednesday as he also reported to the Security Council that the UN will 'closely follow' reports of a just-broken ceasefire between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Colombian Government.

Haiti: New UN mission to take innovative approach to strengthening rule of law

3 January – The head of the new United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti, known as MINUJUSTH, has said the operation will carry out its work in an innovative in the island nation - complete with an unusually tight timeframe and a bench-marking exit strategy.

Peru: Pardon of former President Fujimori a ‘slap in the face’ for victims, say UN rights experts

28 December – Condemning the pardoning of former President of Peru, Alberto Fujimori, a group of United Nations independent human rights experts have said that the move undermines the work of the judiciary and the international community to achieve