Articles by Helen Chang

Today is the Austrian National Holiday. The Armed Forces presented a selection of their emergency vehicles. Normal citizens have the chance of examining tanks such as the “Leopard II” main battle tank and the “Ulan” infantry tank. The “Husar” multi-purpose vehicle is also in display. This vehicle is used for transport, patrol, command and reconnaissance. Helicopters and fighter planes are landed at Heldenplatz, plus a full-size model of Eurofighter. Approximately 1,000 new Bundeswehr soldiers, including 20 women, marched in at 10:15 a.m. A Eurofighter flew overhead shortly afterwards. And the swearing-in ceremony began at 11 a.m. in the presence of…

I have been closely following dramatic events in Israel and Gaza. I will never forget the images of the supercharged cycle of violence and horror.  I am in continuous contact with leaders in the region with an immediate focus on several key priorities. We must avoid spillover of the conflict.  I am concerned about the recent exchange of fire along the Blue Line and recent reported attacks from Southern Lebanon. I appeal to all parties – and those who have an influence over those parties — to avoid any further escalation and spillover.   I call for the immediate release of all Israeli hostages held in…

The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) just concluded its 70th session, with more than 150 scientists from 30 State Members of the Committee and 11 international organizations, which was held at the Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria from 19-23 June 2023. The Chair, Jing Chen (Canada) highlighted the significant progress made by the Committee since the 69th session, including the ongoing scientific work on second primary cancer after radiotherapy; public exposure to ionizing radiation; epidemiological studies of radiation and cancer; diseases of the circulatory system from radiation exposure and the launch of the new…

To mark the 30th anniversary of the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights, the Austrian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights invite you to a series of events in Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier on 5 and 6 June. This series is open to visitors free of charge and without registration. In cooperation with the United Nations in Vienna, the open-air “Human Rights Fair” provides a space for interested visitors to find out about the human rights engagement of (inter)national organisations based in Vienna: How can crime and human trafficking be effectively tackled? How…

On 27 January 2023, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres sent a message for the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust Today, we honor the memory of the victims of the Holocaust. We remember the six million Jewish children, women, and men, as well as the Roma and Sinti, the people with disabilities, and countless others who perished. We reflect on the millions of individual lives cut short; the millions of futures stolen away. As we mourn the loss of so many and so much, we also recognize that the Holocaust was not inevitable. No…