According to the joint report of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) with the European Union, 74% of the bloc's countries use AI tools in medical imaging, disease detection and to assist in clinical decision-making.
The study also found that 63 percent of EU countries offer a chatbot service for patients, part of an effort by health systems to use AI safely, fairly and responsibly, the UN agency said.
Legal and ethical responsibilities
As AI technology becomes increasingly entrenched in clinical settings, WHO highlighted how important it is for healthcare professionals to have the skills and knowledge to use these technologies safely and effectively to maintain high standards of patient care.
This development comes as the EU prepares to implement the world's first legal framework specifically regulating AI. The WHO-backed report highlights the need for broader consultations with patients and the public “to strengthen trust” in AI.
However, without significant public input, the UN agency warns that AI-backed systems “may face resistance or rejection,” which could worsen the care people receive.
UN welcomes agreement on humanitarian access in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has welcomed a new agreement aimed at facilitating the flow of aid to conflict-affected regions.
Following talks in Montreux, Switzerland, the Congolese Government and the AFC/M23, both prominent armed groups operating in the east of the country, signed a protocol on humanitarian access and judicial protection.
MONUSCO described the signing as an “important step towards rapid, safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access.”
“A tremendous burden” for civilians
This is vital to ensure that lifesaving aid reaches civilians who continue to bear a “tremendous burden” due to the current violence.
MONUSCO spokesperson Ndeye Khady Lo said UN News that it was important for all combatants to “continue their commitment to the benefit of civilian populations in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
A separate memorandum was also signed to operationalize the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus, a measure aimed at strengthening monitoring on the ground. However, MONUSCO warned that for these mechanisms to remain “credible, secure and effective”, specific security conditions must be maintained.
UN experts warn of torture and deaths in Belarus penal colony
Independent UN human rights experts on Monday expressed serious concern over reports of torture, suicide attempts and deaths at the Navapolatsk correctional colony in Belarus.
Experts highlighted the case of journalist and blogger Ihar Losik, who was reportedly held in prolonged isolation and denied contact with his family or lawyer.
According to experts appointed by the Human Rights Council, Mr. Losik attempted suicide twice while in custody; However, instead of receiving medical attention, he was allegedly placed in disciplinary isolation.
“Punishing detainees for suicide attempts instead of guaranteeing them urgent psychological and medical care is deeply disturbing,” the experts said.
serious concerns
They warned that such practices, if confirmed, “could constitute torture and ill-treatment and, in certain circumstances, could involve the commission of a forced disappearance.”
The alert also details the 2023 death of an elderly detainee who was reportedly held in punitive isolation without adequate medical care. The experts emphasized that deaths in custody amid allegations of denial of care raise “the most serious concerns under international law.”
The experts calling for an urgent investigation are not UN staff and are not paid for their work. They have urged Belarusian authorities to ensure humane conditions in the future and protect prisoners from reprisals.
Children bear the heaviest burden of war in Ukraine
Now that the war has entered its fifth year, “children in Ukraine continue to bear the heaviest burden of this war,” said the top UN official advocating for children caught up in the armed conflict, Vanessa Frazier.
Concluding a five-day mission to Ukraine, where she sought to strengthen protection for children affected by war, Special Representative Frazier warned against continued attacks that kill and injure children, adding that “their most fundamental rights are being violated daily.”
Beyond killing and maiming, attacks on civilian infrastructure have also devastated schools, hospitals, water and heating systems, affecting access to essential services that children depend on for their well-being and development.
Empowerment for peace
“I have heard directly from children who speak out for their right to education, their desire for peace and to live their childhood without fear,” he said.
Through the Show that you matter campaign, which aims to get children to stand up for their rights, the UN “is also providing a platform for the voices of Ukrainian children and others affected by the conflict to be heard by global decision-makers,” Ms. Frazier said.
In Ukraine, children from around 1,800 schools have written more than 6,500 peace messages on origami doves as part of the global initiative.
