Known as COSP19, this year’s Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities runs from 9 to 11 June under the theme Celebrating and consolidating achievements and shaping the next phase of implementation in a changing world, with roundtable discussions, elections, decisions on best ways forward and first-hand accounts of challenges, innovative solutions and success stories from around the world.UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls for the vital next step towards a world where all of us are respected and included during the opening session held in the iconic General Assembly Hall.“While progress is real, it is unacceptably slow,” the UN chief said.Actions hinge on the convention, CRPD, a legally-binding agreement between Member State signatories to uphold, promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006 and now ratified by 192 countries.Twenty years later, much has been accomplished, including that over 90 percent of countries have laws guaranteeing the rights of persons with disabilities, but much more must be done in light of the latest UN Disability and Development Report findings that show almost all of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators for persons with disabilities are off track. ‘Luckily, it is possible to redesign the world’Pointing to a world facing crises, from climate change and conflict to a global surge in the cost of living, Mr. Guterres said, “too often, living with a disability means living in a world designed by and for others. Luckily, it is possible to redesign the world.”Striving to lead by example, the UN’s Disability Inclusion Strategy aims to ensure change, led by the insights of people with disabilities.“Together, let’s realise the rights of every person with disabilities and build a fair and vibrant future for all.”Civil society voices heardCommunities from around the world have already amplified their voices on Monday, holding a multi-session Civil Society Forum under the auspices of COSP19 to tackle pressing issues, from building resilient societies to enhancing accessible civic engagement, leadership and advocacy in political and public life.Ukrainian contextFor Ukraine, the rights of people with disabilities and their participation in decision-making have become particularly acute due to the full-scale war of Russia against Ukraine. The number of people with disabilities is increasing both among military veterans and civilians. At the same time, many people face barriers in accessing healthcare, rehabilitation, education, and employment, especially in regions affected by hostilities.Issues of infrastructure accessibility, as well as access to shelters and transportation, also remain critically important. In these conditions, the focus is not only on recovery, but on rebuilding the country in a way that takes into account the needs of all people. Check out UN News’ first live blog takeover by activist, actor and talk show host Nick Herd, who was our guest editor, sharing his story and journey throughout the opening day of the 17th session, here.The conference recording can be found at the link.

Ukraine does not need a clearance plan alone. It needs an outcome-led land strategy supported by mine action evidence, with human security as the central purpose. Technical tasking and planning decisions should be driven by outcomes: reduced risk, protection from harm, restored power, viable farming, safe return, access to water, cultural use, economic production, environmental recovery and stabilisation.Full clearance will sometimes be essential. In other cases, partial land release, access corridors, land-use control, compensation, substitute land, repurposing or long-term residual-risk management may be more appropriate.The French Zone “Rouge” demonstrates that states can protect people through classification, land-use control, exclusion, prioritised clearance and permanent response capacity rather than attempting to remove every explosive item from every hectare. Ukraine now needs that same realism adapted to active conflict conditions and recovery priorities.The aim is not a threat-eradication pipeline, but defensible land-use decisions that reduce vulnerability and ensure an acceptable residual-risk end state.  A Landscape of Unprecedented ContaminationUkraine faces a contamination challenge of historic scale, with land suspected to contain mines, unexploded ordnance and other explosive hazards. But suspected land is not the same as confirmed contamination, and not all land requires full clearance.The distinction between suspected, confirmed, and truly hazardous areas is essential to avoid inefficient recovery and misallocated resources.The Zone “Rouge” Precedent: When States Choose Classification Over ClearanceAfter the First World War, France created the Zone “Rouge” for land too devastated for normal use. Areas were classified by damage and future function, with some excluded, some reforested, and others gradually returned to civilian life.France did not treat all contaminated land equally.The significance of the “Zone Rouge” was not simply that France identified dangerous land. It was that the state accepted different land needed different futures. Some areas were returned to civilian use after treatment; some were reforested or kept as memorial landscapes; some remained restricted because normal use was not realistic. France continued to manage residual explosive risk through public warning, reporting and specialist response rather than pretending every hazard could be removed from every hectare.Ukraine now faces similar conditions in parts of its territory: trench systems, mine belts, artillery saturation and destroyed settlements. While the context differs, the static and attritional nature of parts of the war makes the precedent highly relevant.The policy question is not only clearance capacity, but how land is classified, sequenced and used: what is cleared, what is controlled, what is repurposed and what is compensated.Mine action must shift from outputs to outcomes: protection, access, services, livelihoods, and recovery.Ukraine as the Next Mine Action TransformationMine action has evolved from military clearance to humanitarian action, then to standards-based systems and responses to modern explosive threats. Ukraine may represent the next transition.AI, drones, robotics, digital mapping and precision GPS are now operational tools. Ukraine has the scale and urgency to integrate them at system level.Drones map terrain in minutes. AI identifies contamination patterns. Sensors and robotics reduce exposure. Combined, they enable faster prioritisation and safer decisions.Ukraine is not inventing these tools but combining them in ways that may redefine global mine action.Mine Action as the Foundation of RecoveryMine action is often measured in hectares cleared or items destroyed, but its real purpose is enabling recovery: agriculture, infrastructure, education, investment and return.Without clearance, reconstruction slows. Without reconstruction, recovery stalls.Ukraine’s contamination also has global implications. As a major agricultural producer, disruptions affect global food supply and prices, with consequences far beyond Europe.Mine action in Ukraine is therefore both recovery policy and global stability policy.Financing for Impact, Not Just ActivityMine action is expensive, but impact depends on allocation. Some land may cost more to clear than its economic value.This does not negate clearance, but requires evidence-based, outcome-driven decisions.New financing models combining public funding, guarantees and development finance can help scale impact beyond traditional grants.Success should be measured not only in outputs, but in outcomes: safe return, restored services, reduced exposure and social recovery.The Zone “Rouge” Principle: Not All Land Is EqualThe Zone Rouge lesson is that not all contaminated land must return to its previous use. Some land is excluded, controlled or repurposed.The key is classification based on risk, evidence and intended use.Ukraine needs differentiated management: full clearance in some areas, controlled use in others, and compensation or exclusion where appropriate.Residual risk is part of long-term safety management, not programme failure.Defining Outcomes, Not Just Clearing LandMine action should enable:Safe return of populationsInfrastructure recoveryAgricultural and industrial productionAccess to essential servicesEnvironmental rehabilitationSocial normalisationDifferent outcomes require different levels of clearance. Some require full clearance; others require targeted intervention, access corridors or partial release.A Dynamic Classification Model for UkraineA practical system can support this approach:Red zones: long-term controlled or excluded areas where use is unrealistic.Orange zones: managed-risk areas allowing conditional or partial use.Green zones: no evidence of contamination after assessment.White zones: no reason for suspicion.Blue overlays: critical infrastructure and public-use corridors requiring priority clearance.This is not a map of abandonment, but a system for honest risk classification and land-use decisions.Evidence, Survey and Smarter PrioritisationEffective mine action requires separating suspected land from confirmed contamination and from land requiring no intervention.Survey systems must enable cancellation, reduction, clearance or control based on evidence.AI, satellites and drones support prioritisation but must be validated by field evidence and professional judgement.Choosing the Right Method for the Right RiskDifferent tools provide different confidence levels:Remote sensing and AI enable large-scale screening. Drone imagery supports terrain assessment. Non-technical survey captures community evidence. Technical survey refines hazard areas. Manual clearance provides maximum certainty but at highest cost.Methods should be selected based on required confidence for intended land use, not default technical pathways.Farmland: A Differentiated RealityFarmland includes gardens, access routes, orchards, machinery paths and remote plots. These must not be treated as a single category.Full clearance may be justified in some cases. In others, compensation, land swaps, fencing, marking or repurposing may deliver better outcomes.Public value and human security must guide decisions, not only economic return.Infrastructure First: Faster Recovery Through Targeted ClearanceInfrastructure often delivers higher immediate value than large agricultural areas.Targeted clearance can restore electricity, water systems, schools, clinics, transport routes and emergency access faster than full-area clearance.Partial clearance can therefore accelerate recovery for more people.Reducing Vulnerability, Not Only Removing ThreatsRisk is shaped by both hazard and vulnerability. People are exposed through daily activities such as farming, transport, firewood collection or return movements.Reducing vulnerability can be as important as removing threats. Where exposure cannot be reduced, exclusion and long-term control may be necessary, supported by compensation and alternatives. Incentives, Governance and Evidence-Based DecisionsMine action systems must avoid incentives that reward hectares cleared rather than risk reduced.Operators should be able to challenge weak tasks. Donors should support evidence-based prioritisation. Data systems must support, not replace, professional judgement.Strengthening governance and aligning incentives with actual risk reduction is essential to ensure resources are directed where they generate the greatest protection and recovery impact. 
 

Approximately a thousand patients visit the outpatient clinic daily, and up to 16,000 people are hospitalized annually. The vast majority arrive in emergency states that demand immediate intervention.Human and material resources are limited here. “Doctors are working themselves ragged and seeing significantly more patients than the standard allows for,” says Oleksandr Fomenko, the hospital's medical director. According to him, the staffing shortage at the Voznesensk hospital mirrors the one across the region: the staff is filled to about 60% capacity. Young specialists are reluctant to work far from big cities. Experienced personnel are also scarce.In partnership with the Danish healthcare company Novo Nordisk, which is committed to improving access to quality care, UNOPS procured and delivered endoscopic and laparoscopic equipment for the hospital's surgical department. The arrival of modern technology was not only a welcome upgrade but also a chance to turn the staffing situation around.  For patients, the new equipment means less invasive surgeries, faster recovery, and a lower risk of complications. And for young doctors, it’s an opportunity for professional development, even in a small town.  “Minimally invasive surgery is the global standard. The whole world is moving to these methods because they involve minimal incisions and faster patient recovery,” explains Ivan Leskiv, head of the surgical department. Along with one other surgeon, he performs here nearly the entire range of urgent and scheduled operations, from appendectomies and gallbladder removals to complex gynecological procedures. The doctors say the new laparoscopic system has completely transformed the quality of their work. “Our previous laparoscopy tower was so obsolete that comparing it to the new one is like comparing a black-and-white TV to a modern 4K HD screen,” Ivan Leskiv laughs. “The new system offers an entirely different level of image visualization. Plus, it has new automatic functions, like heating and carbon dioxide delivery, which stop the camera from fogging up and save us time on cleaning it. The instruments the surgeon holds haven't changed much, but the coagulation methods to stop bleeding are far more advanced. It’s a whole system: a video camera, equipment for liquid delivery and aspiration, a gas insufflator to create space in the abdominal cavity, and a powerful illuminator. It’s impossible to work without the whole setup if you insert the camera but don't inflate the cavity with gas or don't have light, we simply can't see anything”. Vlad, 24, came to Voznesensk for his internship after graduating from the Odesa Medical University. He says he’s known since childhood that he wanted to be a surgeon. “Right now, my main goal is to soak up as much experience as possible from my senior colleagues. I’m already assisting with operations regularly”, he says. Initially, he didn’t see working in a provincial hospital like the best career move, but the hospital is transforming rapidly. All the right conditions for a young specialist's comprehensive development are emerging here: modern medical equipment, instruments, and experienced mentors ready to share their knowledge.“Raising and guiding new doctors is our professional responsibility,” Ivan Leskiv says confidently.  Within the first few weeks of the new equipment being installed, the surgical team in Voznesensk had already performed over a dozen laparoscopic operations. “It's a small city, and word spreads instantly,” says Ivan Leskiv. “Before, people here would head to Mykolaiv or Pivdennoukrainsk because we didn't have the specialists or equipment, but now they're coming to us”.The fact that patients are choosing the local hospital signals to young medical professionals that a future outside major cities is possible. More broadly, it shows how investing in modern technology and people can improve access to care at the local level.About the Project:This joint project, implemented by UNOPS with financial support from the Government of Denmark and Novo Nordisk, aims to strengthen healthcare facilities in the Mykolaiv region and help them expand the range of medical services. The project consists of two components: with financial support from the Government of Denmark, UNOPS is carrying out repair work in five hospitals in Mykolaiv, and with funding from Novo Nordisk, UNOPS is procuring and delivering priority medical equipment to more than 15 healthcare facilities around the region.

The commemoration of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers came hours after another blue helmet serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) died from injuries sustained in a mortar attack, as hostilities continue between Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants. The day began with UN Secretary-General António Guterres laying a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial on the Secretariat grounds in New York before presiding over a solemn ceremony in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) attended by senior officials, the diplomatic community, and bereaved family members and colleagues.  Service and sacrifice“Unfortunately, as events of this very week remind us, peacekeepers continue to face peril in the cause of peace – and we pay the highest tribute to their service and sacrifice,” he said. The Secretary-General posthumously bestowed the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal on 68 peacekeepers from 33 nations, including 59 who paid the ultimate price last year. Their photos were displayed on a screen and their names read out as country representatives accepted the boxed medals. “They represent the best of humanity – people prepared to risk everything to keep others safe,” he said. Bravery awards Two peacekeepers were rewarded for their bravery, receiving the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage named after a Senegalese military officer killed in Rwanda in 1994. Sergeant Matias Reyes of Uruguay saved lives serving under the UN flag in the restive eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in January 2025. The Ebola outbreak there prevented him from travelling to New York.The other recipient, Sergii Prykhodko of Ukraine - a private contractor with a helicopter crew at the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) - sacrificed his life during a dangerous mission to evacuate besieged soldiers in March 2025. “This medal honours his bravery, but it also reminds us of the true cost of peace – the sacrifices made by those who serve far from home for the sake of people they may never meet,” his widow Tetiana Prykhodko told the gathering. Courage amid dangerMore than 50,000 peacekeepers are currently deployed across the globe where their mandated tasks include protecting civilians, supporting elections, delivering humanitarian assistance and clearing landmines. “The courage we recognize this morning is not abstract,” said the head of UN Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix. “It is lived every day by peacekeepers serving in some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult environments.” The peacekeeper killed in southern Lebanon on Thursday, Sergeant Milovan Jovanović of Serbia, was the seventh UNIFIL blue helmet cut down since hostilities escalated in March. Mr. Lacroix said this was his first peacekeeping deployment, having arrived in the country in January, and he would have turned 37 on Saturday. Complex environments, multiple challengesHe highlighted how peacekeepers are working in increasingly complex environments marked by rising geopolitical tensions, fragmented conflicts, disinformation, rapidly evolving technologies and growing pressure on multilateral cooperation. At the same time, peacekeeping operations face serious financial constraints resulting from delayed and incomplete payment of mandatory contributions. The consequences include forced reductions in patrols and air operations, delayed infrastructure projects, and limited support to local communities. Meanwhile, expectations continue to grow. Invest in peace “And yet, peacekeepers continue to deliver,” he said. Mr. Lacroix stressed the importance of continued investment in peace, including “ensuring that peacekeepers have the political backing, resources, training and capabilities required to carry out the mandates entrusted to them by Member States.” Women, peace and advocacyDuring the ceremony, the UN also celebrated two trailblazing women peacekeepers. Major Abhilasha Barak of India, deployed with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), received the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. Inspector Stephanie Königs of Germany, who served at the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), received the 2025 Woman Police Officer of the Year Award. Friday’s events fell under the annual observation of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers on 29 May – the day when the first field mission, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in the Middle East (UNTSO), was established in 1948.   Since then, more than two million women and men have served in 71 peacekeeping missions on four continents. Source: UN news