Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern over the latest upsurge in violence in the Central African Republic (CAR). The further deterioration of the security situation has resulted in additional fatalities, a high number of injured and increased hardship for the population, a statement by his Spokesperson read. The Secretary-General has condemned in the strongest possible [...]
The United Nations peace mission is leaving Sierra Leone, once home to the largest peacekeeping force in the history of the organization, after 15 years of engagement. More than 17,000 "blue helmets" were deployed at the height of Sierra Leone's civil war to disarm rebel militias and return this West African nation to stability. 31 [...]
The United Nations mission in Sierra Leone has completed its work at the end of its mandate on 31 March. The UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone, (UNIPSIL) was established in 2008 to help Sierra Leone in post conflict recovery, democratic transition and peace consolidation. UNIPSIL followed the world's largest peacekeeping mission with the [...]
Senior UN relief officials have arrived in South Sudan to meet conflict-affected people and review the response and needs there. The World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) say the visit by their heads comes amid the "alarming" spread of hunger and displacement since the conflict erupted in mid-December. UN Spokesperson Stéphane [...]
Actor Sir Cedric Hardwicke stars in this documentary drama about the need of joining forces worldwide to achieve peace and prosperity. Language: English Genre: Drama 1950 Duration: 29’55″
At least 22 million unsafe abortions take place worldwide every year, according to the Wold Health Organization (WHO). Unsafe abortions occur when a pregnancy is terminated either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment that does not conform to minimal medical standards. Globally, unsafe abortions account for 13 per cent of all [...]
Aid groups should anticipate and prevent a crisis, not just react and treat it, according to a flagship report released on Monday by the UN lead humanitarian agency, OCHA. The report entitled "Saving Lives Today and Tomorrow" calls for aid groups and donors to shift away from responding to crises in a purely reactive manner. [...]
The United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered a temporary halt to Japan's whaling activities in the Antarctic largely involving fin, humpback and minke whales. In 2010, Australia had filed a suit against Japan for allegedly breaching international law regarding whaling, saying its activities cannot be justified on scientific grounds. Australia also accused [...]
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The number of people in need of emergency humanitarian assistance has doubled over the last ten years, according to the Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator. Kyung-wha Kang spoke during the launch of this year's report of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Monday. The report is entitled "Saving Lives Today and Tomorrow: [...]
The effects of climate change that are already occurring on all continents and across the oceans may be "severe, pervasive and irreversible". That's according to a new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The report warns that the world, in many cases, is ill-prepared for risks from a changing climate. It also [...]
The British government has released $13.7 million in emergency funding to help farmers affected by conflict in South Sudan restore their agriculture-based livelihoods. The money, which comes from the United Kingdom's Department for International Development, is being channelled through the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This contribution will enable FAO to help farmers [...]
The delivery of relief supplies by helicopter is becoming increasingly common in South Sudan as the United Nations strives to reach needy people in the remotest parts of the country. Thirty thousand people in Akobo, in Jonglei state, who were displaced by the ongoing conflict in South Sudan were amongst the first to receive food [...]
The United Nations is to investigate violence against women in the United Kingdom for the first time. The UN Special Rapporteur, Rashida Manjoo is due to spend two week in the country studying domestic and sexual violence. She will focus on a number of specific issues including sexual bullying and harassment, forced and early marriages [...]
The UN Secretary-General has warned against the escalation of the political crisis in Ukraine saying that "small sparks" could become what he called "large flames." Russia annexed the Ukrainian autonomous region of Crimea following a referendum vote that was widely condemned by the international community. Both the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly [...]
Violence against civilians is continuing in Syria despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for increased and unhindered humanitarian access. On Friday, the Council discussed a report of the UN Secretary-General which said that "indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks" have caused mass civilian death and injuries, as well as forced displacement. The attacks included aerial bombings, [...]
Rwanda has said that it hopes the renewed mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO, will help rid the region of armed groups. The Security Council took the decision to extend MONUSCO for one more year in a unanimous resolution adopted on Friday. Stephanie Coutrix reports: Duration: [...]
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The blocking of social media sites by the government in Turkey is restricting the fundamental rights of the Turkish people according to a UN independent expert. The government prevented access to YouTube and Twitter ahead of local elections on Sunday, although the ban on Twitter was revoked by a court order. Popular protests against the [...]
A ruling by the Kenyan Government restricting refugees into two main camps in the country has been branded as scapegoating by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Over half a million people, mainly from Somalia, are housed in the two camps, Dadaab and Kakuma. Adrian Edwards from UNHCR, said it was wrong to discriminate against refugees. [...]
2.5 billion people don't have access to adequate sanitation and just over one billion still practice open defecation—that’s according to the latest United Nations estimates. Girish Menon from Water Aid, a London-based non-governmental organization, says that to some it is hard to imagine a world where this basic service is not available. But numbers clearly [...]
Six countries in Africa are benefitting from a UN fund designed to improve food security across the continent. The Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Malawi, Niger, Mali and South Sudan have signed agreements with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and will receive $2 million each from the Africa Solidarity Trust Fund. The contributions will be [...]
The number of people who have died in Guinea and neighbouring countries has risen to 66 according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The UN agency reported a further 103 suspected and confirmed cases and warned that there could be many more. Gregory Hartl, from WHO said that the outbreak of the infection had been [...]
Children have been the worst affected by the violence and displacement in South Sudan, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has warned, 100 days into the crisis. Almost one million people have fled their homes across the country, as a result of ongoing political violence. Aid agencies say that 3.2 million people are currently in need [...]
Communities in the Central African Republic are suffering high levels of fear and trauma, according to the UN Refugee Agency, (UNHCR). An ongoing internal conflict has pitted Muslims against Christians and has led to the displacement of one million people. Over 700,000 are internally displaced in CAR and a further 300,000 have fled into Chad, [...]
South Asia faces huge challenges to end open defecation 2.5 billion people don’t have access to adequate sanitation and just over one billion still practice open defecation—that's according to the latest United Nations estimates. Girish Menon from Water Aid, a London-based non-governmental organization, says that to some it is hard to imagine a world where [...]
Helping victims gain justice and reparation remains a key element in combating sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). That's according to senior UN officials. Discussions at the Human Rights Council in Geneva underlined that sexual and gender-based violence continues to be a serious problem in the country and is often used [...]
Millions of people around the world, with no access to electricity, are struggling to lift themselves above the poverty line. Access to power sources has been identified by the United Nations as a way to boost sustainable development. In India, electricity is not available to many people living in rural areas. But one couple has [...]
A centre to promote pioneering clean technology enterprises that address climate change and create jobs has been launched in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. The World Bank–supported Ethiopia Climate Innovation Center (ECIC), is expected to help over 3.1 million Ethiopians to better cope with climate change. It's also thought it could lead to the creation [...]
The people of Afghanistan have been commended by the head of UN peacekeeping operations for improvements in preparations for elections. On 5 April, Afghans will cast their votes for a new president and their provincial council leaders. Hervé Ladsous briefed the press at the office of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Thursday. [...]
Authorities in Sudan have been urged to take robust measures to protect civilians and humanitarian workers as conflict escalates in Darfur. The appeal has come from two United Nations and African Union officials who say they are deeply concerned about the increasing violence in the troubled region. Joseph Mutaboba, the Deputy Joint African Union – [...]
Countries in Africa are grappling with developing their sources of energy while ensuring that their populations continue to have access to water. In fact, according to an expert from the UN Development Programme, (UNDP) water is a major source of energy on the African continent. This year, World Water Day, observed by the United Nations [...]
Member States of the United Nations have adopted a resolution condemning the annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea by the Russian Federation. 100 countries voted for the resolution with 11 against; 58 abstained. The text that was adopted affirms the "commitment to the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its [...]
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The UN Secretary-General has said he is alarmed by the speed at which glaciers are retreating and ice caps are melting. Ban Ki-moon has been in Greenland to observe, at first hand, the effects of climate change on the Arctic Circle. His visit comes ahead of a global summit on climate to be held at [...]
Authorities in North Korea have been urged by the UN Secretary-General to stop its ballistic missile activities. Ban Ki-moon made the appeal following reports that North Korea launched two medium-range missiles on Wednesday. Mr Ban said he is increasingly concerned about the successive reports on new launches which he said are "contrary to building trust [...]
An international inquiry to investigate atrocities committed during Sri Lanka's civil war has been given the go ahead by the UN Human Rights Council. This follows the adoption of a resolution which allows the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) to monitor progress and undertake a comprehensive investigation into violations committed by [...]
The South-East Asia Region has been certified as polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO). The region covers 11 countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste. The World Health Organization says the certification of the South East Asia region as polio free means [...]
World leaders have been urged by the UN Secretary-General to come up with concrete measures to fight climate change. Ban Ki-moon was speaking during a trip to Greenland where he went to see the impacts of climate change. He said changes in climate that he had witnessed in places like the Arctic Circle affect the [...]
Children are being given the opportunity to study for the first time in a UN camp for displaced people in South Sudan. Fighting between government forces and rebels has driven hundreds of thousands of people out of their homes and for many children that has meant the interruption of their formal education. In Malakal, the [...]
The UN General Assembly is meeting on Thursday to discuss the crisis between Ukraine and Russia. The meeting follows the annexation of the region of Crimea by Russia following a referendum conducted there on 16 March. The Assembly of 193 Member States is expected to consider a resolution on the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The [...]
Haiti is at a turning point now that political actors have managed to meet and agree on elections, according to the Head of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Sandra Honoré said these recent dialogues led to the signing of an accord to hold combined elections in 2014, which can pave the way to [...]
Sierra Leoneans have been urged to place national interests above all other interests as they rebuild their country following the civil war that ended in 2002. The call was made by Jens Anders Toyberg-Frandzen, the Executive Representative of the Secretary-General for Sierra Leone who briefed the Security Council on Wednesday on the work of the [...]
A United Nations camp for displaced people in South Sudan has been described as a "time bomb" due to the dire humanitarian situation there. Around 200,000 people who have fled their homes across the country, as a result of ongoing political violence, are living in the Malakal camp. Ninety per cent are women and children. [...]
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The Central African Republic is facing one of its "last chances" to deal with the political instability and the resulting conflict which has affected the country for over a year. The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative in the CAR, Babacar Gaye, said politicians and armed groups involved in the conflict have to act now to stop [...]
The government of Viet Nam has been urged by a group of United Nations independent human rights experts to urgently intervene to stop the eviction of residents from a small village in the centre of the country. The residents of the village on the outskirts of Da Nang city are part of the 100 or [...]
A tsunami warning exercise involving 31 countries is taking place in the Caribbean. Monitored by UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), it is designed to evaluate the response capacity of Caribbean countries and neighbouring regions in the event of a dangerous tsunami. The scenario is simulating an earthquake and tsunami modelled after an event that occurred [...]
The killing of an Iranian border guard by a militant group has been condemned by the UN Secretary-General. The victim is one of five guards who were abducted by the group on the south-eastern border in early February. In a statement issued by his spokesperson late on Tuesday, the Secretary-General expressed his solidarity with the [...]
An independent international commission of inquiry should be established to investigate alleged human rights violations committed in the final stages of the Sri Lankan civil war that ended in May 2009. United Nations Human Rights chief Navi Pillay says although the Sri Lankan government had established various mechanisms to investigate past violations, none have had the independence [...]
Equality between men and women benefits all people according to a US-based global alliance of men's groups which is committed to what it calls "transforming the gender relationship." The alliance, MenEngage, was recently at the United Nations to attend the 58th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Oswaldo Montoya, who coordinates MenEngage, [...]
The UN Secretary-General is beginning a three-day visit to Greenland during which he will assess the affects of climate change. Ban Ki-moon is visiting the town of Ilulissat, which is 250 kilometers above the Arctic Circle. He will also meet with indigenous groups to hear about the impact of climate change on their lives. The [...]
Seven students from different countries were selected to participate in a theatre workshop that focuses on creative writing and acting. The culmination of this project, directed by artist and educator Shelah Marie, is a performance at the UN's commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. [...]
![UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova [UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre]](http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/554621-ECOSOC-2013-01_07_2013-10.47.31.jpg "Geneva")
Advances in technology may threaten freedom of expression across the world, the UN's cultural organization, UNESCO has warned. It says the "increasing control" of online content by Internet companies, such as search engines and social media networks, threatens transparency in the free flow of information. Launching the report, World Trends in Freedom of Expression and [...]
Farming families in Africa have a critical role to play in the fight against hunger and malnutrition on the continent according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The organization has launched the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) as part of a global campaign to reinforce awareness and support for small scale and [...]
Helping victims gain justice and reparation remains a key element to combat sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to senior UN officials. Discussions at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva underlined how prevalent sexual and gender-based violence remains in the DRC, with sexual violence being used as a weapon [...]
South Sudan is imploding under the weight of an ongoing conflict and a worsening humanitarian crisis according to a senior official of the United Nations humanitarian office, OCHA. Speaking after a visit to the country earlier in March, the OCHA Director of Operations, John Ging, said that five million people were in need of assistance. [...]
A deadly attack on the office of the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan (IEC) in Kabul, has been condemned by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Two policemen were reportedly killed and two others injured in the attack which comes two weeks ahead of presidential and provincial council elections. UNAMA said that neither [...]
The international community should not forget about the security of the people of Gaza according to the outgoing head of the UN agency that supports Palestinian refugees. Filippo Grandi, the commissioner-general of UNRWA, said Israel and Egypt had legitimate security concerns but that the problems facing the 1.7 million Palestinians there remained. For the last [...]
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The sentencing in Egypt of 528 people to death after a mass two-day trial has been described as "unprecedented" by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR). It also said the trial was "rife with procedural irregularities" and in breach of international human rights law. The defendants, many of whom were not in court, were found [...]
![Residents of Rutshuru Territory flee their homes to seek safety in Goma. [UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti]](http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DRC-IDP-12.jpg "War against M-23 Rebels")
Armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo are not being held accountable for sexual crimes according to the UN Human Rights chief. Ms Navi Pillay said, sexual violence is used as a weapon of war, to intimidate local communities and to punish civilians for real or suspected collaboration with rival forces. She added that [...]
Around 7 million people across the world died as a result of air pollution exposure in 2012 according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The death rate which equates to one in eight of total global deaths is more than double the previous estimates. WHO says the figure confirms that air pollution is now the [...]
The imposition of the death sentence on 528 people in Egypt on Monday is not only unprecedented in recent history, but also irregular and in breach of international human rights law, according to the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR). The 528 defendants were convicted of various charges, including membership of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, incitement [...]
Fifty-nine people have died following an outbreak of the Ebola virus in the West African country of Guinea. The World Health Organization (WHO) said the deaths were reported in forested areas near the border with Sierra Leone and Liberia. WHO has sent a team to the affected areas to find out how the virus is [...]
"Victory over Slavery: Haiti and Beyond" is the theme for this year’s International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. It pays tribute to the revolt by slaves in the French colony on the Island of Hispaniola which culminated in the abolition of slavery and establishment of the Republic [...]
A film which is helping to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice has been shown as part of the commemoration for the UN’s International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, marked each year on the 25th of March. The main actor in the film "Tey (Today)", [...]
There needs to be immediate action to secure the freedom and rights of United Nations and humanitarian personnel who are unlawfully detained and arrested. That's the message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members. Mr. Ban says the world has become increasingly more dangerous for [...]
It is critical for authorities in Haiti to implement a recent agreement signed at the El Rancho Hotel to pave the way for transparent elections later this year. That's what the head of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) told the Security Council during her briefing on Monday. Ambassador Sandra Honoré said the overall [...]
Nuclear security and terrorism remains a "pressing concern" according to the UN Secretary-General. Ban Ki-moon addressed more than 50 Heads of State attending the third Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague, in the Netherlands on Monday. Secretary-General Ban reiterated his support towards efforts to engage Iran to guarantee that their use of nuclear technology is [...]
Search and rescue efforts continue to find the many missing people who were on a boat that capsized on Uganda's Lake Albert over the weekend. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, says the refugees had been in Uganda for more or less three years and felt the situation was now safe enough for them to go [...]
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The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says it's shocked and saddened by a boat tragedy in which a number of refugees died on Uganda's Lake Albert over the weekend. The agency says the boat was one of two that left Hoima district on Saturday morning carrying refugees who were returning to the Democratic Republic of the [...]
An innovative project to build an environmentally friendly school has been started by the UN agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza. The agency says the project has come about after intensive work by its engineers in cooperation with Italian design firm Mario Cucinella Architects. According to UNRWA, the concept of the 'green school' refers [...]
Despite important economic progress and agricultural successes, Africa remains the world's most food insecure continent, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The agency says the continent has relatively low levels of agricultural productivity, low rural incomes, and high rates of malnutrition. As the agency holds its 28th Regional Conference for Africa in [...]
Global warming continues to accelerate with the year 2013 now on record as the sixth warmest year, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). WMO says many of the extreme weather events of 2013 including heavier precipitation, heat waves, storm surges and coastal flooding were consistent with results of human induced climate change. Temperatures in [...]
An innovative project that helps diagnose all forms of tuberculosis earlier and faster is improving the chances of people getting treatment and being cured. The World Health Organization or WHO made the announcement ahead of World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on 24 March. The project also known as EXPAND-TB has helped triple the number of multi-drug [...]
One third of the estimated 9 million people who get sick with tuberculosis each year do not receive care, according to the World Health Organization. WHO says those who are "missed" by health systems often live in the world's poorest, most vulnerable communities or are among marginalized populations such as migrants, refugees, prisoners, indigenous populations [...]
World leaders are gathering in The Hague, in the Netherlands on Monday to discuss progress in preventing nuclear terrorism. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is due to address the opening session of the two-day Nuclear Security Summit attended by over 50 leaders. The summit is aimed at ensuring effective global cooperation to prevent terrorists getting hold [...]
The deep-rooted relationship between water and energy is being highlighted for World Water Day (WDD) observed 22 March. Water is required to produce nearly all forms of energy. And energy is needed in all stages of water extraction, treatment and distribution. Both are crucial for human well-being and sustainable development, according to the UN's flagship [...]
A team sent to South Sudan to investigate an apparent irregular transport of weapons for UN peacekeepers has completed its work. South Sudanese government officials impounded a convoy from the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) that was transporting cargo, including some weapons and ammunition in Rumbek, Lakes State. The UN sent the High Level [...]
The UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and in particular, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) are delighted with the announcement by the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, that the Air Passenger Duty (APD) will be reformed from next year. The Chancellor has announced that from April of 2015, the APD will be simplified into [...]
An $8 million project has been launched to help avoid a food crisis in the Central African Republic. The country is plagued by conflict between Christian and Muslim communities. The World Bank, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the government are coordinating the project with the World Food Programme (WFP). The World Bank [...]
The UN Secretary-General has stressed that the current crisis between Russia Ukraine over Crimea can only be resolved through peaceful diplomatic solutions. Ban Ki-moon spoke in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv where he met with Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov. Mr. Ban is in Ukraine as part of his efforts to help resolve the crisis in the [...]
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Hundreds of people gathered in New York's Times Square for a flash mob event in support of besieged civilians in Syria. The public performance, organized by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), follows a huge social media campaign that engaged over 40 million people on Twitter. Tens of thousands Palestinian refugees remain trapped [...]
People around the world are being urged to strongly condemn racism. The call has come from the UN Secretary-General in a message to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial discrimination observed on 21st March each year. The day was established after police in South Africa killed 69 people during a peaceful protest [...]
Activists from around the world have been at the United Nations in New York over the past two weeks to advocate for the inclusion of gender issues in new development goals. The new poverty targets will replace the Millennium Development Goals the deadline for which is the end of 2015. Non-governmental organisations are pushing for [...]
The International Court of Justice has been urged to assess the legal status of the prolonged Israeli occupation of Palestine. The call was made on Friday by Richard Falk, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories. He said the World Court should also look into allegations that [...]
Nearly one million South Sudanese have now been displaced by the recent violence in the country according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR. The agency says over 708,000 South Sudanese are internally displaced while another 200,000 have fled into Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Sudan. UNHCR says the condition of those arriving in neighbouring countries [...]
"Forests for Fashion-Fashion for Forests" is an initiative that is being launched on the International Day of Forests on March 21st. It seeks to demonstrate that new forest products can contribute to a greener economy while being fashionable and affordable. The message is clear: our choices, even on how we dress, can make a difference [...]
If successful, the elections in Afghanistan will help stabilize the country and instil confidence in the future, according to the UN Special Envoy to Afghanistan, Jan Kubis. On 5 April Afghans will elect a new president as well as their provincial council leaders. Current President Hamid Karzai will not be seeking re-election because of term [...]
Forests and fashion might seem a world apart but are interlinked according to senior UN forestry expert. "Forests for Fashion-Fashion for Forests" is an initiative that is being launched on the International Day of Forests on March 21st. The initiative seeks to demonstrate that new forest products can contribute to a greener economy while being [...]
Activists from around the world have been at the United Nations in New York over the past two weeks to advocate for the inclusion of gender issues in new development goals. The new poverty targets will replace the Millennium Development Goals the deadline for which is the end of 2015. Non-governmental organisations are pushing for [...]
The UN Secretary-General is visiting Ukraine on Friday as part of his diplomatic efforts to help resolve the crisis in Crimea. Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to meet with Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. On Sunday the Ukrainian autonomous region of Crimea held a referendum on secession [...]
The number of asylum application made in western industrialized states rose by a third in 2013. The UN refugee agency UNHCR said the increase was driven mainly by the growing number of Syrians leaving their country to escape war and violence. Almost 613,000 people applied for asylum in North America, Europe, East Asia and the [...]
Ukraine and Russia have been urged by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to avoid any action that might aggravate an already volatile situation. He made the appeal after holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday. The Secretary-General's visit to Russia came after the Ukrainian autonomous region of Crimea held a referendum [...]
The inter-communal hatred in the Central African Republic is at what has been described as a "terrifying level." The observation has been made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, who has spent two days of discussions with transitional government officials in the capital Bangui. The country has been plagued by violence [...]
Technology can help people be happier and feel good about their lives—that is according to Ofer Leidner, co-founder of Happify.com, a platform of scientifically designed activities and games to build lasting happiness. Mr. Ofer is at United Nations Headquarters in New York on International Day of Happiness celebrated each year on March 20th, for an [...]
Rural women in Uganda produce the bulk of the country's food yet they still don't have access to land and inputs needed for agriculture. That's the view of a Ugandan woman farmer, attending this year's session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Rose Akaki is part of the delegation of the World Farmers [...]
Europe has seen the fastest decline of rates of tuberculosis in the world, according to a new report by the World Health Organization or WHO. The report published ahead of World Tuberculosis Day on 24 March, shows that tuberculosis (TB) cases are down 5 per cent each year in the countries of the European Union [...]
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More than half of Syria's chemical weapons have been removed or destroyed, according to the joint mission of the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The organization has been tasked by the Security Council with eliminating the country's chemical weapons stockpile by the end of June this year. It follows [...]
Liberia is making progress in rebuilding after the civil war that ended in 2003 but still faces challenges, according to the top UN envoy in the country. Karin Landgren the head of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) briefed the Security Council on Thursday. She said the political and security environment in Liberia remains relatively [...]
The annexation of Crimea by Russia has been described by a Ukrainian envoy as "unlawful" and part of a "stockpile of violations of international commitments". Ukraine's Ambassador to the Untied Nations in Geneva, Yurii Klymenko spoke to reporters in Geneva following a briefing to United Nations diplomats on Thursday. Ambassador Klymenko characterized the outcome of [...]
Happiness is a deep-seated yearning shared by all members of the human family and should be available to all. That's the message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for International Day of Happiness observed on 20th March each year. The Secretary-General says the aspiration for happiness is implicit in the pledge of the United Nations Charter [...]
An image of Palestinian refugees queuing for food at a camp in Syria is expected to be displayed simultaneously on electronic billboards in New York and Tokyo on Thursday The image, which has become an icon of the ongoing Syria conflict shows refugees in the Yarmouk camp waiting for food aid delivered by the UN. [...]
The success of elections in Afghanistan will help stabilize the country and instill confidence in the future, according to the UN Special Envoy to Afghanistan, Jan Kubis. On 5 April Afghans will elect a new president as well as their provincial council leaders. Current President Hamid Karzai will not be seeking re-election because of term [...]
The UN Secretary-General is arriving in Russia on Thursday where he is due to meet President Vladimir Putin to discuss the crisis in Crimea. The Ukrainian autonomous region held a referendum on Sunday to decide to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation, a move which was branded illegal by much of the international [...]
The military progress that has been made by Somali and African Union forces against the Al Shabaab Islamic insurgents in south-central Somalia has been welcomed by the top United Nations envoy in the country. Troops from the Somali National Army and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have launched a new offensive against the [...]
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The situation of ethnic and linguistic minorities in Crimea, in particular Crimean Tatars, fuelled a heated debate at the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday. On 16 March, the autonomous region of Crimea voted to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. The majority of people living in Crimea are ethnic Russians, followed by [...]
The path towards a peaceful resolution of the crisis between Russia and Ukraine is still open. That's what has been said by the Deputy Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon before his departure for Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday. Mr. Ban's visit comes after the regional parliament in Crimea declared independence and its wish to [...]
Over 30 leading film makers, writers, artists, musicians and public figures have come together in a joint public letter to the United Nations advocating for the creation of what they are calling "local ceasefires" and "safe spaces" for all civilians in Syria. The appeal comes as food deliveries to the besieged Palestinian refugee camp of [...]
The Security Council has been urged to shape a peace-building structure that would be relevant and effective in helping countries emerging from conflict. The appeal was made by UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson on Wednesday during an open meeting on Post-conflict Peacebuilding. He cited the missions in Sierra Leone and Timor Leste as examples of [...]
Women's participation in the upcoming elections in Afghanistan is essential to ensure that the process is inclusive and credible. That's what the Secretary-General's Deputy Representative in the country, Nicholas Haysom said in the capital Kabul after meeting with representatives of civil society on Wednesday. Afghanistan is scheduled to hold Presidential and Provincial elections on 5 [...]
Minority groups are increasingly facing exclusion from national and global development agenda, violence and discrimination, according to a United Nations human rights expert. Rita Izsák, the United Nations Independent Expert on Minority Issues, says minorities constitute the poorest of the poor and majority of them cannot break free of their situations without targeted attention being [...]
Young Women around the world, especially those in the least developed countries, are being encouraged to apply for a fellowship scheme to further their scientific research. The scheme is being launched by the UN' cultural agency, UNESCO, on Wednesday with a view to promote the contribution of young women in the field of life sciences [...]
Somali farmers have for the first time been able to supply high quality food to the UN’s World Food Program (WFP) that will be used to feed their fellow countrymen. It's a major breakthrough for the farmers, especially coming from an area that faced severe famine less than three years ago. Four million people in [...]
The status quo in the Middle East is not sustainable and the situation in Gaza has come very close to the brink of another crisis according to the top United Nations political official. The fragile ceasefire in Gaza has been threatened after dozens of rockets were fired at Israel last week. Israel responded with its [...]
An announcement by the United States to transition key internet domain name oversight to the global community, has been welcomed by the United Nations. The UN has been advocating a multi-stakeholder model of internet governance for a number of years. It says such a model will help to ensure a single, open, free, secure and [...]
The criminalization of homosexuality in Uganda risks undermining the national AIDS response, according to the Secretary-General's Special Envoy on AIDS in Africa. In 2012, the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) reported there were 1.5 million people living with HIV in Uganda and 140 000 new HIV infections. Speciosa Wandira-Kazimbwe, who served as Uganda's Vice-President [...]
A list of individuals and entities allegedly responsible for crimes in the Syria Arab Republic war has just been released by a UN panel investigating human rights abuses in the country. The news was announced during an interactive dialogue on Tuesday in Geneva at the UN Human Rights Council. An estimated 100,000 lives have been [...]
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A terrorist bombing in Benghazi in Libya on Monday which targeted members of the military, killing a number and injuring others, has been strongly condemned by the UN mission in the country UNSMIL. The mission called on all Libyans to denounce the continued series of what it called "acts of violence and terror" such as [...]
A suicide attack in northern Afghanistan, which killed 15 civilians and injured nearly 50 others has been condemned by the United Nations. According to reports, a suicide attacker with an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated in the centre of Maimana, the capital of Faryab province. Local health officials have confirmed that two children were among [...]
Indigenous women in Asia should be given a key role in deciding the future path of the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals, according to a rights group in the region. Indigenous women from around the world recently gathered at the annual Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York, to advocate [...]
The number of Syrian refugees arriving in Lebanon is on the increase and the country is likely to host up 1.5 million Syrians by the end of the year. United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon Ross Mountain says Syrian refugees in the country now make up 25 per cent of the Lebanese population a [...]
Internally displaced people in remote insecure areas of South Sudan have started receiving airdrops of what the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) has called "urgently needed" food assistance. WFP launched the operation to feed people affected by conflict and to resupply isolated refugee camps where food stocks have dwindled. Chris Nikoi, WFP's Director in South [...]
Children are starving to death in besieged Syrian towns and villages according to the International Commission of Inquiry looking into human rights violations in the country. In its latest report to the UN Human Rights Council, the Commission says there is an overwhelming sense of hopelessness amongst Syrians as the international community remains paralyzed over [...]
Tightened security checks on operations carried out by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) could delay the delivery of humanitarian aid. The UNMISS Spokesperson Ariane Quintier described the move to search UN vehicles and convoys as "very worrying". The concern stems from a statement by Information Minister Michael Makuei, saying the government would not [...]
People in Melut County in South Sudan's Upper Nile State are under "severe stress" because of lack of food, water and shelter. That's according to a statement made by the UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in the country following a visit to the area. Tens of thousands of civilians are seeking shelter in Melut from neighbouring [...]
There needs to be a holistic, rights-based approach to Jordan's water and sanitation strategies, according to a United Nations independent expert. The UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque, said that Jordan is at a critical moment as it struggles with severe water shortage issues. Wrapping [...]
A UN-backed treaty body has confirmed that it has not detected an explosion or crash which could be linked to the disappearance of the Malaysian Airlines flight. Flight MH 370 went missing over a week ago with 239 people on board on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The Vienna-based Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization [...]
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North Korea has categorically rejected a report by the Commission of Inquiry (COI) on human rights in the country, dismissing it as mere "fabrication". The report published on 17 March found "systematic and widespread and grave human rights violations" occurring in the country and it also found an array of disturbing crimes against humanity. Jocelyne [...]
Terrorists should not be allowed to deprive Afghan voters of their future according to Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan. In less than three weeks' time Afghanistan is scheduled to hold Presidential and Provincial Council elections, paving the way for the country’s first-ever peaceful democratic transfer of power. Briefing the Security Council on Monday, [...]
The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon has said he is deeply disappointed and concerned by a decision by the Ukrainian region of Crimea to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. A referendum which was held in Crimea on Sunday to decide the future of the region, was described as illegal by much of the [...]
Iran has been urged by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) to increase the minimum age of criminal responsibility for young people. Currently, girls aged nine and boys aged 15 can be held criminally responsible. Iran has recently revised its Islamic Penal Code with new provisions to protect children from the death sentence, a move welcomed [...]
An overview of land cover and land use across the world has been gathered for the first time in a database released by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The Global Land Cover SHARE database provides a comprehensive overview of how much land is covered, for example, by crops, trees or land which is [...]
North Korea has rejected as mere fabrication, the report by the Independent Commission of Inquiry set up to examine human rights violations in the country. North Korea's representative in Geneva, So Se Pyong said the witnesses who testified before the commission were defectors and criminals who had escaped from the country. He accused the United [...]
People with albinism are facing a "unique" and "complicated" situation that needs special policies and laws. That's the view of a person with albinism and International Advocate Officer for a non-governmental organization called Under the Same Sun which protects the rights of people with albinism. Ikponwosa Ero who is originally from Nigeria and now lives [...]
More than 250,000 people who are living in besieged cities in Syria are being forced to choose between surrender and starvation. That's according to the Commission of Inquiry on Syria which is due to report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday. Syria has been at civil war for the past three [...]
A Pakistani graduate student says that peace in his country can be promoted through education. Ibrahim Khan, who comes from North-Western Pakistan, was at United Nations Headquarters recently to participate in an event on "Promoting peace through education". Twelve students who participated in the event organized by the Committee of Teaching about the United Nations [...]
A United Nations resolution on the illegality of Crimea's referendum was vetoed on Saturday during a Security Council meeting. Thirteen of the 15 members of the Council voted in favour of the resolution. Russia voted against it, China abstained. One veto is enough to block the resolution from being adopted. Crimea is holding a referendum [...]
Up to 26 countries around the world have blocked the import of a range of non-GMO crops because they were found to contain traces of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said shipments of supposedly non-GMO grain, cereal and other crops have been blocked, destroyed or sent back to the country [...]
Bringing the fight against HIV/AIDS to the forefront of development goals on health is one of Prasada Rao's main goals as the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for AIDS in Asia and the Pacific. In Asia and the Pacific, the number of new HIV infections has fallen by 26 per cent in the last ten years, with [...]
Refugees arriving in Eastern Cameroon after fleeing violence in the Central African Republic have been traumatized by horrific experiences according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). Many have witnessed killings and lost members of their family. Eighty per cent of the people who have recently arrived in Cameroon are also suffering from conditions such as [...]
The international community is being asked to look at what can be done to improve gender equality and women's rights ahead of the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals. The MDGs are a set of internationally agreed targets to halve world poverty and include specific targets on equality and the empowerment of women as [...]
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The UN Secretary-General has warned of a downward spiral in the Ukraine conflict if all the parties concerned continue to harden their positions and sharpen their rhetoric. In a briefing to the press, Mr. Ban Ki-moon urged the parties to avoid provocation and any hasty decisions in the coming days. He encouraged them to engage [...]
Widespread poverty and an increasingly brutal conflict in the north-east of Nigeria are just some of the daunting challenges the West African country is currently facing. That's according to a statement released by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay is on a four-day [...]
The conflict in Syria is entering its fourth year with no sign of an end to the suffering it is inflicting on Syrians within and outside the country. More than 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict which has also left over 9 million others in urgent need of humanitarian assistance within the country. [...]
The people of Syria have crossed another "blood-soaked" milestone, said the Secretary-General as he marked the country's fourth year into the conflict. Ban Ki-moon was briefing reporters following a General Assembly meeting, which was also attended by Joint Special Representative of the UN and the League of Arab States for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi. He made [...]
The UN Secretary-General has warned Burundi's authorities that the country "cannot afford" to miss an opportunity to consolidate its democratic gains. Burundi is recovering from decades of ethnic war and is scheduled to hold elections in 2015. In a statement issued by his Spokesperson, Mr. Ban Ki-moon deplored the growing restrictions on the freedom of [...]
The new Iranian government is yet to live up to its pledges to strengthen and promote the respect for human rights, according to a report tabled before the UN Human Rights Council. The report cites widespread human rights violations including discrimination, the right to life, a clamp down on the enjoyment of the freedom of [...]
The United Nations is deploying a human rights monitoring team throughout Ukraine to help establish the facts surrounding human rights violations, including in Crimea, and de-escalate tensions in the country. UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović who is currently in Ukraine says there was a need to have an objective and independent establishment [...]
The Caribbean is the first region in the world expected to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS. Edward Greene, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for AIDS in the Caribbean, highlighted this success during his last visit to UN Headquarters. However, he noted that Haiti is the region's "major hiccup", with 100 deaths due to mother-to-child [...]
Improving women’s working lives will require new strategies and concrete action, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). The agency notes that many countries have incorporated the principle of equality and non-discrimination into their national legislation —but millions of women still face barriers at the workplace. ILO’s Sandra Kuchen reflects on the progress made around [...]
Keeping displaced people comfortable, safe and healthy in temporary camps is one of the key challenges facing humanitarian agencies in South Sudan. Over 850,000 people have been displaced in the country since December following an outbreak of hostilities between the government and rebels. Extreme weather including high winds and rain leading to flooding has tested [...]
The release of Myanmar's prisoners of conscience has been one of the most significant achievements by the Government regarding human rights. Over 1,100 prisoners were freed following 15 presidential amnesties, according to the latest report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tomás Ojea Quintana conducted his ninth and [...]
Africa has made strides in keeping the rate of new HIV infections low, according to the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. Specioza Wandira Kazibwe says that there has been a reduction in mother-to child-transmission of HIV and that more than 7 million people are eligible for anti-retroviral treatment. UN Radio's Joshua Mmali [...]
People in Myanmar see an opportunity for change after years of military rule, according to the UN special envoy on human rights in the country. Presenting his final report to the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday, Mr. Tomás Ojea Quintana acknowledged however that "serious human rights issues" remained. The country is undergoing a process [...]
The international community should accept the "inadequacies" of its response to atrocities which have reportedly been carried out in North Korea, according to a UN Commission of Inquiry. The Commission's report on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), is due to be formally presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday. It [...]
The Prime Minister of Ukraine has said it is still possible to resolve the conflict in his country in a peaceful manner. Russia deployed troops in the disputed region of Crimea after its Parliament voted to join the Russian Federation. Arseniy Yatsenyuk told the Security Council on Thursday that if Ukraine could have what he [...]
Diplomatic efforts are continuing at the United Nations to ease tensions in the Ukrainian region of Crimea. Members of the Security Council are considering tabling a resolution on the upcoming referendum in Crimea, a referendum which could lead to the secession of Crimea from Ukraine to Russia. The resolution would urge respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty, [...]
A balanced approach is needed to combat the global trade in illicit drugs according to two senior United Nations officials. They spoke in the Austrian capital, Vienna where senior government officials and members of civil society have gathered to share ideas on countering the $320 billion a year global drugs trade. Among the issues being [...]
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A third round of peace talks in Geneva to stop the three-year civil war in Syria has been proposed to the UN Security Council. Over 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict which has pitted the government against rebel forces. Speaking after briefing the Council, the United Nations and Arab League special envoy for [...]
A new record for the number of international patent applications filed in 2013 has been set by the United States of America (US) and China according to a new report by the UN intellectual property agency. International trademark and industrial design filings have also achieved new record-breaking levels. For the first time, the total number [...]
Many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have taken steps towards the sound management of chemicals and waste—an improvement acknowledged by the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Achim Steiner highlighted the efforts in Los Pasos, Mexico, at a forum of Ministers of the Environment of the region. On another positive note, [...]
Shipments of grain, cereal and other crops are being blocked, destroyed or turned away in a number of countries across the world for having traces of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) released a survey on Thursday showing that 26 countries have rejected the food and feed following the testing of [...]
Few people would argue that athletics and especially sprinting is the sport that Jamaica is most famous for worldwide. The Caribbean country's track and field athletes- both men and women- have won many Olympic medals over the years It's not by accident, according to Michael Fennel, President of the Jamaica Olympic Association and member of [...]
Children are more at risk of being sexually exploited or sold than ever before according to the UN Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. In a presentation to the UN Human Rights Council, Najat Maalla M'jid, said that "millions of girls and boys worldwide are victims of sexual exploitation", [...]
Climate change, chemicals and waste management, and biodiversity conservation are top environmental priorities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Strengthening regional cooperation to address these compelling environmental challenges is the main objective of the 19th Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean, considered the most important environmental [...]
The fight against the global trade in illicit drugs is a responsibility that is shared by all people according to the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson. Countries from around the world are currently meeting in Vienna at the 57th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to look at ways to counter the $320 billion [...]
Many children around the world are reluctant to seek justice for violations committed against them for fear of harassment, stigmatization, abandonment or reprisals against them or their families, according the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR). Access to justice is particularly difficult for children in institutional care, migrant children, those living in extreme poverty or affected [...]
A campaign to generate 23 million social media tweets in support of the Syrian people has been launched by a UN-backed coalition of humanitarian agencies. The Thunderclap campaign, using the hashtag LetUsThrough, is intended to draw the world's attention to the difficulty of providing humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees in Yarmouk camp as well as [...]
Sport is a powerful social tool and can help shape the minds and attitudes of young people towards their relationships in life. That's according to Michael Fennel, President of the Jamaica Olympic Association and Member of the International Olympic Committee's Women and Sport Commission. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is expected to address the Commission [...]
There has been a lack of progress regarding an agreement signed by Sudan and South Sudan two years ago. That's what Security Council President Sylvie Lucas of Luxembourg told the press on Wednesday after closed door consultations on recent developments in the two countries. The agreement covers security, the common border and economic relations as [...]
Flights to reunite families in Western Sahara who have been separated for nearly forty years are due to resume in April the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, announced on Wednesday. The flights from Algeria and Mauritania to Western Sahara are part of the agency's confidence-building measures to support people involved in one of the world's most [...]
Families that had been separated for nearly forty years will be able to visit each other soon. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has arranged for Saharawi families to fly from Algeria and Mauritania to Western Sahara Western Sahara, a former colony of Spain, is disputed between Morocco which claims it, and the Polisario Front which [...]
A senior UN official has been denied access to the Ukrainian region of Crimea, where he had hoped to carry out an assessment of the human rights situation. Ivan Šimonović is the Assistant-Secretary-General for Human Rights. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the reasons given were the complexity of the situation on the ground as well [...]
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"Does investing in education pay off for African youth?" That's the question the International Labour Organization (ILO) tries to answer in a report analysing surveys in eight countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The report shows that having higher rates of education in this region does not translate into better chances to be employed. The situation, [...]
North Korea shows no signs that it intends to abandon its nuclear, ballistic missile and other weapons of mass destruction. That's according to a report by a panel of UN experts tasked with monitoring sanctions imposed on the country. On the contrary, the panel notes, it is persisting with its arms trade and other prohibited [...]
The killing of two Iraqi cameramen has been condemned by Irina Bokova, the Director General of the UN's Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The journalists who worked for the Al-Iraqia television network were killed last week in a suicide blast at a checkpoint in the city of Hilla. Bokova voiced concern for the safety of media workers [...]
The ongoing violence in Syria is reaching "unthinkable levels" according to the UN Secretary-General. In a statement released in New York on Wednesday, Ban Ki-moon said that Syria was now the biggest humanitarian and peace and security crisis facing the world. The civil war in the country is now entering its fourth year. Hundreds of [...]
The Iranian government has been accused of executing prisoners at a staggering rate, despite serious questions about fair trial standards. This year, at least 176 people have reportedly been hanged in Iran for drug related offences, which a group of United Nations Human Rights experts say was in violation of international legal provisions limiting the permissibility [...]
Countries from around the world are meeting in the Austrian capital, Vienna, to look at ways to counter the $320 billion a year global drug trade. The High-Level review of the 57th Session of the Commission on Narcotics Drugs is being attended by senior Government officials as well civil society organizations. Participants will examine how [...]
Smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe are getting a helping hand from the European Union to increase their crop and livestock production. The EU has given $19 million, which is being channelled through the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to help Zimbabwean farmers to commercialize their production. FAO says the programme will be implemented over a 4-year [...]
The international community is being asked to look at what can be done to improve gender equality and women's rights ahead of the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals. The MDGs are a set of internationally agreed targets to halve world poverty and include specific targets on equality and the empowerment of women as [...]
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Rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been urged by the most senior UN official in the country to surrender and join the national disarmament and demobilization process. Martin Kobler, the Head of MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in the country, called on the FDLR rebels to immediately break away from their leaders [...]
The three-year conflict in Syria has had a devastating impact on the country's children, according to the latest report issued by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday. The report, entitled "Under Siege- the devastating impact on children of three years of conflict in Syria" says the conflict has caused immense damage to 5.5 million [...]
African Union troops and Somali government forces have launched a new offensive against the Islamic militant group Al Shabaab. That's what Nicholas Kay, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative to Somalia told the Security Council on Tuesday. He is also the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in the country (UNSOA). Mr. Kay said the [...]
The number of women in national parliaments around the world has reached a record high of almost 22 per cent. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) says the level of women's representation is particularly encouraging in the Americas, Nordic countries in Europe and in Africa. The increase has been driven by a political commitment by individual countries [...]
A decision of the Maldives' Supreme Court to remove the country’s election commissioners two weeks before parliamentary polls is a cause for concern according to the Secretary-General. Ban Ki-moon called on "all political leaders to respect the democratic process' and allow for a peaceful, inclusive and credible vote. In a statement issued by his Spokesperson, [...]
The UN human rights chief has demanded an immediate halt to the attacks on unarmed civilians in South Darfur in Sudan. The statement was issued following Tuesday's attacks in the Um Gunya area. The Spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Ravina Shamdasani, says there has been a disproportionate use [...]
A senior UN official has travelled to Kharkiv in Ukraine to meet with local authorities and discuss ways to de-escalate tensions in the country. Ivan Šimonović, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, will raise with the authorities the allegations regarding human rights violations. He is also meeting with a range of civil society representatives. [...]
![Syrian refugees wait at a UNHCR distribution centre in Za'atri refugee camp in Jordan. [UNHCR/J.Tanner]](http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/syrianjordan.jpg "syrianjordan")
Jordan is to open a third refugee camp to host the ever growing number of Syrian refugees entering the country. The camp to be located in Azraq nearly 100 kilometres east of the capital Amman will be able to accommodate up to 130,000 refugees. The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR has welcomed the new camp [...]
The ongoing crisis in Syria has been described by a senior UN humanitarian official as a "madness" that needs to be stopped through political dialogue. UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Yacoub El Hillo said three years ago before the conflict began, Syria had "a very thriving and affluent civil society and middle class." He said [...]
The Asia and Pacific region needs to improve its methods of food production or face significant food security problems within the next generation according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, (FAO). The Millennium Development Goal of reducing global hunger by half by 2015 is on course to be met across the region. But there [...]
The number of children affected by the fighting in Syria has more than doubled since last year, according to a new report by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The report entitled, Under Siege: the devastating impact on children of three years of conflict in Syria, estimates that a total of 5.5 million children have had [...]
550 million people are still food insecure in the Asia-Pacific region according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, (FAO). FAO says that the region needs to improve its methods of food production or face significant food security problems within the next generation Government Ministers and high-level officials from nearly 40 countries in Asia and [...]
A total of eleven International Monitoring System stations hosted in China are now sending data to the UN's nuclear test ban organization. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) hailed this step as a "significant achievement" in enhancing the system's global coverage. CTBTO is building a verification system to [...]
The loading of Libyan oil by a North Korean flagged tanker at Sidra port, east of Tripoli is an "illegal act" according to Tarek Mitri, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). On 8 March, Libyan oil was loaded on the vessel called the Morning Glory, by armed [...]
The United Nations says a "mistake" was made when weapons were transported by road in contravention of an agreement with the Government of South Sudan. The UN is only allowed to move arms belonging to peacekeepers by air. It's thought the weapons were found inside 12 trucks that were heading to the town of Rumbek. [...]
An investigation has been launched after a shipment of weapons used by peacekeepers was found in a convoy of trucks operated by the UN Mission in South Sudan, (UNMISS). An agreement between the UN and the Government of South Sudan stipulates that arms can only be transported by air and not by road. It's thought [...]
An outbreak of inter-communal violence in Saraf Omra, in the Sudanese region of North Darfur, has led to a mass displacement of civilians and a number of casualties. The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has expressed its deep concern over the thousands of displaced civilians who have taken refuge in Mission's base over [...]
Guidelines to prevent and eradicate torture and cruel treatment have not been observed by many countries around the world according to a senior UN official Speaking at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Juan Mendez, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, criticized the "state secrets doctrine." The doctrine allows countries to admit secret evidence during [...]
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The 2015 deadline for meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) to eradicate extreme poverty and improve people's lives is around the corner. These goals include the provision of universal primary education, promoting gender equality and improving maternal health. And so as the Commission on the Status of Women begins its annual it is focusing on [...]
The Mauritanian Government's formal adoption of a new road map to combat slavery has been hailed as a "turning point" by the UN. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Slavery, Gulnara Shahinian told the Human Rights Council that the new provisions were not only symbolic, but marked a new phase in Mauritania's efforts to "eradicate [...]
The job of a human rights activists remains highly dangerous in many parts of the world, according to a senior UN official. Presenting her last report to the Human Rights Council, Margaret Sekaggya, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders said during her tenure, the space for civil society and human rights [...]
"Serious repercussions" can be expected if unrest continues in Ukraine, according to the UN Secretary-General. The turmoil in Ukraine started when thousands of people staged protests which turned violent to press for integration with the European Union. The parliament of the Ukrainian region of Crimea has also voted to secede from Ukraine and become part [...]
The warning signs of a possible genocide in the Central African Republic, including hate speech, are increasingly evident according to a senior United Nations official. Adama Dieng the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide says the international community has to act now to stop it happening. On Tuesday a commission of UN-mandated [...]
A commission tasked with investigating human rights violations in the Central African Republic is expected in the country on Tuesday to begin gathering evidence. The International Commission of Inquiry was established by the UN Security Council and mandated to investigate reports of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law and compile information, to help [...]
The challenges of implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for women and girls are set to be discussed by the Commission on the Status of Women at the UN on Monday. The two-week session will examine the achievements but also the gaps in fulfilling the MDGs. The internationally agreed blue-print for global development, set in [...]
Violence against women and girls in the Great Lakes region can be reduced by empowering young people, according to the UN Population Fund Executive Director. Babatunde Osotimehin believes giving girls an education will help them learn more about their rights. The Great Lakes region has been wracked by conflict in the past two decades. And [...]
The world can be transformed if girls are empowered according to the head of the UN Population Agency, UNFPA. The agency has teamed up with the World Bank to promote regional peace, security and sustainable development in the Great Lakes region of Africa. They are collaborating on a number of programmes which address the challenges [...]
New strategies are needed as well as concrete action to improve women's working lives, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). Many countries have incorporated in their national legislation the principle of equality and non-discrimination, the agency notes. But millions of women still face barriers at the work place, it adds. To mark International Women's [...]
The number of women who die in childbirth or pregnancy is still unacceptably high in Tanzania. That's what Anna Collins-Falk, UN Women Representative in Tanzania said in an interview for International Womens' Day. Meanwhile, early marriage and teenage pregnancy is very prevalent in the country, she adds. Her organization, UN Women, the global body in [...]
Over 600 people joined UN officials and local celebrities in a march to raise support for the End of Violence against Women. The "March in March" held on Friday was organized by the UN Women for Peace (UNWFP) and the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAoC). Kim Catttrall who played Samantha Jones, a successful PR agent [...]
The decision by the authorities in Crimea to hold a referendum on becoming part of the Russian Federation has been described by the UN Secretary-General as "worrying and serious". Lawmakers in the Ukrainian autonomous region of Crimea voted on Thursday to join Russia and to hold a referendum on 16 March to validate the decision. [...]
Children should be armed with pens and textbooks, not guns according to the United Nations which has launched a global campaign called “Children, not soldiers”. The UN says that around the world, thousands of boys and girls are recruited into government forces and armed opposition groups to serve as combatants or in support roles. The [...]
In the last two decades, life has improved for many women and girls around the world. According to the UN Population Fund, more girls are going to school and fewer women are dying in pregnancy and children birth. As the world prepares to celebrate International Women's Day on 8 March, the UN held a debate [...]
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A former militia chief in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been found guilty by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of acting as an accessory to one crime against humanity and four war crimes. Germain Katanga was found guilty of the crimes relating to murder and attacking civilian populations committed on 24 February 2003. [...]
Women should be empowered and gender equality needs to be assured if sustainable development is to succeed according to the former Finnish President Tarja Halonen. Ms Halonen made the remarks as she chaired a high-level thematic debate at the UN General Assembly on the role of women and children in the Post-2015 Agenda. The General [...]
The health of refugees in South Sudan could become "severely compromised" unless food is delivered immediately, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR. Refugees from Sudan in the Maban camps in Upper Nile State last received food in February and may only access partial food rations this month. Humanitarian access has been disrupted in South [...]
International Women's Day, observed on 8th March, this year comes on the eve of the 2015 deadline for meeting the Millennium Development Goals or MDGs. One of these eight goals, set by world leaders in 2000, is the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women. The theme for this year's observance of International Women's [...]
The United Nations is warning that the humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic is deteriorating fast and many displaced civilians could die as aid agencies are running out of funds to support the growing humanitarian needs. The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos says humanitarian access and living conditions in the camps for displaced [...]
A senior UN human rights official has arrived in Ukraine to conduct a "preliminary assessment" of the situation following developments in the country since November last year. During his eight-day visit UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović plans to meet authorities as well as civil society organisations in Kiev, Lviv, Kharkiv and Simferopol. [...]
Developing countries around the world are increasingly looking to other nations in the so-called Global South to help them build agricultural expertise. The UN's Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) says the demand for south-south cooperation is growing because it has proved successful. Many Asian nations provide technical expertise to developing countries. Laurent Thomas is Assistant [...]
Children should be in school or on the playground but not on the battlefield. That's what Leila Zerrougi, the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict told UN Radio on Thursday. Ms. Zerrougi is behind a new UN campaign to end the recruitment and use of children in government forces by 2016. Thousands of boys and [...]
All governments and organizations around the world have been urged to work with the United Nations to ensure that no children are used as soldiers by 2016. The call was made on Thursday by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a message for the launch of the United Nations global campaign known as "Children, not soldiers". [...]
Girls, women and couples who want to avoid unwanted pregnancies should get the information and services they need, said the World Health Organization (WHO) as it launched a new guidance on contraceptives. A lack of contraception puts 6 out of 10 women in low-income countries at risk of unintended pregnancy, the agency says. Making contraception [...]
More than 220 million women and girls around the world who don't want to get pregnant don't have access to contraception, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO has launched a new guidance to help countries ensure that girls and women are provided with information and services they need to avoid unwanted pregnancies. It [...]
Young people around the world know what they want and need, according to the President of the General Assembly. Ambassador John Ashe spoke at an event on "The Contributions of Women, the Young and Civil Society to the Post-2015 Development Agenda." 2015 is the deadline for meeting the Millennium Development Goals set by world leaders [...]
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Global food prices have increased by 2.6 per cent in February because of bad weather and increased demand, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. The FAO Food Price Index, based on the prices of a basket of internationally-traded food commodities, registered its sharpest increase since mid-2012. While recent hikes in wheat and corn prices [...]
The international community has been urged to urgently provide financial and material support to peacekeepers in the Central African Republic which continues to be plagued by inter-communal violence. The appeal was made by the head of UN peacekeeping operations, Hervé Ladsous as the Security Council discussed the situation in the country on Thursday. Mr. Ladsous [...]
International Women's Day, observed on 8th March, this year comes on the eve of the 2015 deadline for meeting the Millennium Development Goals or MDGs. One of these eight goals, set by world leaders in 2000, is the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women. The theme for this year's observance of International Women's [...]
Bad weather conditions in key food producing countries coupled with increased demand and security concerns pushed global food prices up sharply during the month of February according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). FAO says its food price index rose by 2.6 per cent during the month of February, the sharpest increase since [...]
The World Health Organization is undertaking a global public consultation on new proposals to limit the consumption of sugars to reduce public health problems like obesity and tooth decay. Currently, WHO recommends that sugars should make up less than 10 per cent of total energy intake per day. In its new draft guidelines, WHO says [...]
Sierra Leone has been hailed by the UN Secretary-General as a "success story" because of the great strides it has made towards peace, stability and long-term development The UN is ending its peace and political operations on 31 March to focus more on supporting the economic development of the West African nation. Daljit Dhaliwal takes [...]
Developing countries around the world are increasingly looking to other nations in the so-called Global South to help them build agricultural expertise. The UN's Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) says the demand for south-south cooperation is growing because it has proved successful. Many Asian nations provide technical expertise to developing countries. Laurent Thomas is Assistant [...]
Over the past few days, there has been an acceleration and intensification of efforts by the Syrian Arab Republic to remove or destroy its chemical arsenal. That's what Sigrid Kaag, the Special Coordinator of the Joint Mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations told the press on [...]
A senior adviser to the UN Secretary-General has been exposed to what has been described as "a very regrettable incident" in the Crimea region of Ukraine. Robert Serry was on a mission to the region on Wednesday to evaluate the situation on the ground. The Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson briefed reporters about what happened to [...]
Sierra Leone has been described by the UN Secretary-General as one of the world's successful cases of recovery after a conflict. Ban Ki-moon spoke to reporters on Wednesday in the country's capital, Freetown where he attended the official closing ceremony of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL). The Secretary-General said the event [...]
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South Sudan could collapse if urgent action is not taken to help see its people through the current crisis, according to Toby Lanzer, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the country. Fighting erupted in Africa's youngest nation mid-December between Government forces and opposition forces loyal to the former South Sudanese Vice-President, Riek Machar. Mr. Lanzer, who [...]
The international donor community is being urged to urgently help pre-position more than 140,000 tons of food in South Sudan before the rainy season starts. The appeal came from the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Toby Lanzer who says fighting in the country has continued to displace thousands of people. He expressed concern about [...]
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on countries that still have capital punishment to move swiftly to abolish it. Navi Pillay made the call on Wednesday in her address to the UN Human Rights Council. The UN human rights chief said that since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [...]
As the Syrian conflict enters its fourth year, the absolute impunity that pervades the conflict is "absolutely unacceptable", according to the Chair of a panel of UN investigators. Speaking to the press in Geneva on Wednesday, Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria, said the leadership of each party [...]
"Tourism as Key Sector for Development in Island States" was the theme of a recent conference facilitated by the UN World Tourism Organization that looked at wide-ranging issues for island destinations from competitiveness and sustainability perspectives to regional integration, air connectivity to identifying specific challenges and vulnerabilities. Caribbean States are hoping that 2014 will be [...]
Millions of people around the world go to bed hungry every night and yet millions of tons of food end up in trash cans. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim says a new report shows that globally we lose or waste one-quarter to one-third of all food produced for human consumption. World Bank's Gayle Young [...]
Hundreds of thousands of civilians are besieged in Syria and subjected to relentless shelling and bombardment, according to the latest report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic. The report says civilians are systematically denied access to humanitarian aid, food and basic necessities such as medical care, and must choose between surrender [...]
Tourists are being encouraged to join the global fight against the illicit trafficking of goods and services that they may be tempted to buy when they are travelling. A campaign by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is educating [...]
Tourists can fight the trade in illicit goods by behaving as responsible travellers, according to the UN. The World Tourism Organization (WTO) estimates that each year a billion people travel and face choices about buying illegal products. A campaign by the WTO, UNESCO and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is making the [...]
Dairy farmers in Afghanistan are forming cooperatives to not only help them earn money, but also to unite and stabilize communities they live in. The UN's International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is assisting them with the necessary funds. The agency believes that cooperatives are key to improving food security and eradicating hunger- even in [...]
UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson has stressed the need for calm in resolving the situation in Ukraine. Diplomatic efforts are continuing since Russian troops entered the Ukrainian Crimea region of the country. Mr. Jan Eliasson continued his visit to Ukraine on Tuesday where he met with the country's acting President, Prime Minister and acting Foreign [...]
After the Fukushima Daiichi Accident in 2011, the IAEA initiated a series of meetings on different aspects of preparing and dealing with nuclear incidents and emergencies. The most recent meeting held in February focused on Radiation Protection and improving public involvement. The meeting also took a unique approach of involving more young professionals from the [...]
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Countries are being urged to adopt a new approach to migration that places the rights of migrants at the forefront. The Human Rights Council in Geneva held a debate on Tuesday on the promotion and protection of their migrant rights. Stories of abuse, exploitation and discrimination of migrants are often heard on a daily basis, [...]
A document outlining the vision of a city for the 21st century was launched at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday. "The City We Need" is a consensus document of the World Urban Campaign, a global coalition of public and private sector partners and members of civil society. Its work is focusing on promoting [...]
Governments around the world have been urged to facilitate regular migration of workers in order to stop the empowerment of what has been called "smuggling mafias". The appeal was made by the UN independent expert on the Human Rights of Migrants, Francois Crépeau who spoke to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday. [...]
As violence continues in the Central African Republic, pitting Christian and Muslim communities against each other, efforts are being made to foster reconciliation. It is estimated that 1, 000 people have died, although the numbers may be even higher – and hundreds of thousands of others have been displaced by the conflict in the country. [...]
Equal representation of men and women in parliament within 20 years is possible, according to the global organization of parliamentarians. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Tuesday released its annual analysis of statistics and trends on women in parliament. IPU Secretary-General Anders Johnsson told reporters in Geneva that in 2012 there was an increase in the [...]
Over 1.8 million people have been displaced by the crises in South Sudan and the Central African Republic in what the UN refugee agency UNHCR says is one of the biggest population displacement Africa has seen in recent years. UNHCR says the refugees and internally displaced people face appalling living conditions as lack of funding [...]
There has been an escalation of violence with burning of villages and displacement of thousands of people in South Darfur, according to the African Union-UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). UNAMID says its peacekeepers have been trying to get into the areas where there have been reports of burning of villages, looting and displacement of thousands [...]
A new metric by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to measure hunger and food insecurity faster and more effectively is being tested on the ground in several countries worldwide. The five-year global project, named Voices of the Hungry, gathers information on the extent and severity of hunger from food-insecure people through an annual survey. [...]
Ugandan rebel fighters based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been asked to lay down their arms and enter UN-run camps. The call came from the top UN envoy in the DR Congo to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) which has rear bases in the DR Congo and has been attacking civilians. The [...]
The attack on Libya's parliament and the assault on its members on Sunday have been strongly condemned by the UN mission in the country. According to reports, rioters armed with knives and guns stormed the premises of the General National Congress and torched furniture. A guard was killed and six members of parliament were wounded [...]
Restoring calm in Ukraine and promoting direct talks between its authorities and Russia is now of utmost importance. That's what UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said to the press in Geneva on Monday after his opening address to the 25th session of the annual Human Rights Council. Tensions flared when Russian troops and armoured vehicles were [...]
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Authorities in Sudan are being urged to allow unhindered and immediate access to the areas affected by recent violence in Darfur. The African Union-UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) says it's deeply concerned about reports of an escalation of violence in South Darfur in the past several days. The Mission has received reports of looting, burning [...]
Leaders and people around the world have been urged to work hard to create a better life for everyone, including the poorest and most vulnerable people. The call was made by the President of the General Assembly, Ambassador John Ashe, in his address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday. There is [...]
The first part of this series offers a survey of the situation of women around the world on International Women's Year. Language: English Genre: Report 1975 Duration: 4’42″
This programme analyzes women's involvement in political struggles and decision making around the world. Language: English Genre: Report 1975 Duration: 4’32″
The United Nations is ready to offer any assistance which would lead to the peaceful resolution of the political crisis in Ukraine. Speaking in Geneva, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for the restoration of peace in Ukraine and urged Russia to refrain from any acts or rhetoric that could further escalate the situation. The [...]
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern at the lack of accountability for human rights violations being committed in Syria, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. Addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Mr Ban said the conflicts are a sad testament to what can happen when perpetrators feel free to [...]
The trade in illegal wildlife is threatening the survival of what have been called the world's most "charismatic" species. Marking the UN's World Wildlife Day, CITES, the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species, said that the trade has increased over the last few years. John Scanlon is the Secretary-General of the CITES "We [...]
More than 600 million people around the world suffer from some form of hearing loss, according to the United Nations health agency. The World Health Organization (WHO) says the highest prevalence of the problem is found in Asia Pacific, South Asia and sub-Saharan African. The agency points out that about half of all cases of [...]
Over a hundred reports covering a wide range of countries and human rights themes will be presented at a month-long session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Council's 25th Session opens on Monday with a four-day High-Level Segment during which ministers and other senior dignitaries will speak. The 47-nation Geneva-based body serves [...]
People around the world are being urged to celebrate the beauty and variety of the planet’s millions of plants and animals and to fight for the survival of some of our most charismatic species. The call comes from John Scanlon, the Secretary-General of the CITES, the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species to [...]
Countries are being asked to develop strategies to prevent and treat hearing loss. The call has come from the World Health Organization on International Ear Care Day observed 3 March. There are 360 million persons in the world with disabling hearing loss, according to the agency, that's around 5 per cent of the global population. [...]
Now is time for cool heads to prevail, the Deputy Secretary-General told members of the Security Council as they debated the crisis in Ukraine. The Council has been holding emergency consultations on Ukraine and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea since Friday. Ukraine has been witnessing violent unrest for several months and last week saw the [...]
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed serious concern over the deterioration of the situation in the Crimea region of Ukraine. That's according to his spokesperson, Martin Nesirky, who read a statement to the press on Saturday. Nesirky said Mr. Ban Ki-moon continued to closely follow the seriously and rapidly unfolding events in Ukraine. "The Secretary-General reiterates [...]
A senior advisor to the UN Secretary-General has urged for calm and restraint in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in Ukraine. Robert Serry shared this message on Saturday as he wrapped up a three-day fact finding mission to the country. Tensions have been mounting in recent days in Crimea, with media now reporting that the [...]
