Missing migrants: 8000 dead or missing by 2025
The International Organization for Migration presented shocking data: in 2025, nearly 8000 migrants died or disappeared on migration routes around the world. The deadliest route remains the Central Mediterranean, but Rohingya deaths also increased in the Bay of Bengal.
“Behind these numbers are families searching for answers, families living with uncertainty, pain, and, in many cases, never knowing what happened to their loved ones. IOM estimates that since 2014 at least 340.000 family members have been directly affected by migrant deaths,” said Maria Moita, Director of IOM’s Humanitarian Response and Recovery Department.
The agency warned that the decrease in arrivals at certain points does not mean migration is safer. The risks have simply become less visible . The IOM urged governments to renew their commitment to preventing these tragedies.
Sudan: Four million returnees face destroyed cities and a lack of basic services
In Sudan, nearly four million people have voluntarily returned to their places of origin, especially to Khartoum, according to Sung Ah Lee, IOM Deputy Director General, speaking from the Sudanese capital. But the return, far from being the end of their ordeal, is often the beginning of another struggle for survival.
“Returning home should mark the beginning of recovery, but in Sudan today it is often the start of another struggle for survival . Yesterday I was in Khartoum and saw large numbers of people returning to areas where homes and critical infrastructure, including water, health, and electricity, have been severely damaged,” Lee said.
Agriculture, key to the country's economy and food supply, is especially threatened. The IOM warns that without urgent investment to restore essential services and rebuild infrastructure, the returns will not be sustainable.
A committee reaffirms the protection of girls against prostitution
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women ( CEDAW ) reaffirmed its unequivocal position that States must protect girls from all forms of exploitation, abuse and harmful practices, particularly prostitution and sexual exploitation.
“The Committee firmly reiterates its unequivocal position on the protection of girls’ rights. States parties have a clear obligation to protect girls from all forms of exploitation, abuse, and harmful practices. The Committee reaffirms that its categorical insistence on the protection of victims and survivors of exploitation, particularly girls, remains central to its mandate,” the body stated.
The Committee stressed that all forms of exploitation of prostitution are incompatible with the human rights of women and girls. It clarified that references to “sex work” in its observations on country reports reflect specific national contexts where this activity is legally recognized, but should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the sex industry.
Four candidates are vying to succeed Guterres as Secretary-General
In New York, the four candidates to succeed António Guterres as UN Secretary-General are participating this week in televised interactive dialogues before the General Assembly . The candidates are Michelle Bachelet (Chile), former High Commissioner for Human Rights ; Rafael Grossi (Argentina), Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Rebeca Grynspan (Costa Rica), Executive Secretary of UN Trade and Development; and Macky Sall (Senegal), former President of Senegal.
The election of the Secretary-General has far-reaching consequences that resonate far beyond the UN building.
“In short, this is one of the most difficult jobs in the world, but also one of the most important. The next Secretary-General will not only shape the future of this institution, but, in his role as the principal defender of the UN Charter, will also shape the rules-based international order,” declared Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly, shortly before these dialogues began.