The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)’s Article 6.4 Supervisory Body adopted two key standards on 16 May 2025 for projects under the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM). These standards set out how to measure the actual emissions reduction impact of such projects.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has published its observations on the UK Government’s asylum and returns policy statement and warns that several proposed reforms could undermine refugee protection and integration, while also welcoming the UK’s commitment to non-refoulement and to maintaining safe and legal routes.

In response to countries targeting refugees who have entered or remained in a country without a visa, the UK refugee agency has produced official guidelines on interpreting the Refugee Convention. The guidelines emphasise not criminalising refugees for entering without a visa and that 'refugees are not required to have come to the current host country without crossing through, stopping or staying in any other intermediate country or countries after leaving the territory where their lives or freedom are threatened.

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has issued recommendations to the new UK government on taking measures to uphold the right to seek asylum and better protecting refugees in the UK and globally. The UNHCR focuses on five priority actions, requiring regional and international cooperation, to facilitate effective management of refugee movements.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has published its observations on the Immigration and Asylum Bill, identifying provisions that it considers should be reconsidered or clarified to ensure consistency with the Refugee Convention and international human rights law. UNHCR welcomes the government’s aim of creating a fairer and more efficient asylum system but considers that aspects of the proposed Independent Immigration Appeals Authority could weaken procedural safeguards. It calls for greater clarity on the authority’s institutional independence, review powers and use of legally qualified adjudicators and for safeguards concerning oral hearings, accelerated cases and vulnerable appellants, as well as access to early legal advice and representation.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has published observations on the proposed design and operation of the UK’s new Independent Appeals Body for asylum appeals. These observations follow the Home Secretary’s announcement and the Home Office’s call for evidence on the reform, which ran from 25 March to 6 May 2026.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has published an update to its 2022 analysis of the legality and appropriateness of the transfer of asylum seekers under the UK-Rwanda arrangement. The UNHCR maintains its position that the arrangement fails to meet required standards of legality and appropriateness and is not compatible with international refugee law. The UNHCR does not believe the UK Government's new treaty and legislation would address the Supreme Court's concerns or protect transferred people from the risk of return to a country where they would face persecution

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has published an audit report setting out findings and recommendations on the quality of asylum interviews conducted by the UK Home Office. The report concludes that shortcomings in interviewing practice, training, operational pressures and quality assurance systems are contributing to inconsistencies in asylum decision-making. It identifies several areas in which improvements to interviewing practice and decision-making processes are required.

The United Nations Information Service (UNIS) has announced that Paraguay has ratified the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation, also known as the Singapore Convention on Mediation. The Convention will come into force in Paraguay on 12 September 2025.

UNISON has released a report titled ‘Caring at a Cost’, which highlights numerous examples of exploitation of migrant care workers in the UK. Based on a survey of over 3,000 overseas health and care worker visa holders, the report uncovers illegal practices including exorbitant placement fees, substandard accommodation, and racist abuse. Some workers reported paying over £20,000 to intermediaries for job placements, while others faced below-minimum wage pay and threats of dismissal or deportation for raising concerns. UNISON is calling for the government to assume sponsorship of migrant care staff from employers and implement a fair pay agreement as part of a national care service for England. These measures aim to prevent exploitation, improve working conditions, and address the ongoing staffing crisis in the care sector.

The trade union UNISON has published a response to the proposed changes that would extend the qualifying period for migrant workers to gain indefinite leave to remain from 5 to 15 years. UNISON indicates that the changes could have a significant impact on the social care sector, which relies substantially on overseas workers. The union notes that care workers, who fill essential roles, may be discouraged or choose to leave if the new requirements are introduced. UNISON asserts that extending the qualifying period raises moral concerns and may also worsen current staffing shortages in social care. The union states that improved pay, better working conditions and enhanced job flexibility are required to maintain a stable workforce and ensure that eligible individuals continue to support vulnerable people in home care.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) held its annual private sector consultative forum (PSCF) on 4–5 April 2024 in Vienna, Austria. The event was hosted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The event was chaired by the FATF President T. Raja Kumar and attended by more than 250 representatives from the financial sector, non-financial businesses and professions, civil society, academia, FATF members and other stakeholders.