Jordan opened a new refugee camp on Wednesday as part of its continued provision of shelter to thousands of Syrians fleeing violence in their country. The Azraq camp, located in the desert 100 kilometres east of the capital, Amman, will be run by Jordanian authorities supported by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and its humanitarian [...]
The Security Council has the duty to not only recognize the reality on the ground in Syria but to act, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator told the press following a Security Council meeting on Wednesday. Ms Valerie Amos deplored that public pressure and private diplomacy has yielded little progress while violence has intensified in the [...]
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The "deadly mix of recrimination, hate speech and revenge killings" in South Sudan that has developed relentlessly over the past four and half months seems to be reaching boiling point." This warning has come from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay who is visiting the new African nation together with Adama Dieng, [...]
Resistance to antibiotic drugs is a serious threat across the world and has the potential to affect people of all ages and in any country. The warning appears in the World Health Organization's very first report on antimicrobial resistance or drug resistance. Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses or fungi. Dr Keiji Fukuda, [...]
A new camp for refugees escaping a civil war in Syria has officially opened in Jordan, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) confirmed on Wednesday. Camp Azraq, which will be run by Jordanian authorities with the support of UNHCR, will help relieve pressure on the Za'atri camp, located some 80 kilometres to the north-west. With around [...]
Famine can be avoided if civilians in South Sudan can return to their land to plant crops, according to United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay. The displacement of close to a million civilians due to ongoing conflict in the country is threatening to disrupt the planting season which will lead to a shortage of [...]
The President of South Sudan and the leader of rebel forces both recognise the need to solve an ongoing conflict in the country through political dialogue, according to the UN human rights chief, Navi Pillay. Thousands of people have been killed and a million have fled their homes as government troops continue to battle opposition [...]
Jazz has a diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe, according to the United Nations' cultural organization (UNESCO). Every year on 30 April, International Jazz Day brings together communities, artists, historians and jazz enthusiasts to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots. The musical genre is recognized for promoting peace, [...]
Roads are a "critical component" of the future global poverty reduction agenda according to UNOPS, a UN agency which supports the implementation of aid and development projects across the world. Member States of the United Nations are currently defining a new set of sustainable development goals which will replace the Millennium Development Goals, the deadline [...]
National elections in Iraq mark an important milestone in the country's democratic transition and can contribute to greater peace and stability, according to a statement released by the Secretary-General. Iraqis are casting their ballots on Wednesday for the Council of Representatives or legislature, in what will be the country's third national election under the 2005 [...]
In the past four days alone, "alarming" developments such as kidnappings, occupation of public buildings and assassination attempts have occurred in Ukraine, according to the UN's top political envoy. Jeffrey Feltman told members of the Security Council late on Tuesday that that "time was of the essence" and that a diplomatic and political solution to [...]
A fact-finding mission led by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is going to Syria to investigate the alleged use of chlorine in the war-torn country. The OPCW Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu made the announcement on Tuesday. In recent weeks, there have been unverified reports of toxic chlorine gas attacks taking place in [...]
A massive airlift has been launched from the city of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to South Sudan carrying urgently needed aid for people fleeing the conflict, according to the UN refugee agency. UNHCR's first chartered Airbus300 aircraft landed around noon on Tuesday, carrying 32 metric tons of supplies including sleeping mats, blankets, [...]
The General Assembly hall was abuzz with jazz for the first International Jazz Day celebrated on 30 April 2012. A musical extravaganza of musicians from around the world gathered, celebrated and performed the universal power of jazz — Stevie Wonder, Sheila E, Jimmy Heath, Angelique Kidjo, Wynton Marsalis, Lang Lang, Hugh Masakela and many more. [...]
The human body can tell stories without words, according to a choreographer who uses dance to educate about the Holocaust. "Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project" is a full-length contemporary ballet that recounts the journey of a Holocaust survivor. Stephen Mills created the project in 2005 as a way to engage a community and create dialogue [...]
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The suspension of US- brokered negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians poses a great risk to the prospects of a two-state solution. That's what Robert Serry, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told the Security Council on Tuesday. The United Nations supports the establishment of an independent State of Palestine based [...]
Authorities in the Maldives have overturned a 60 year moratorium on the use of capital punishment in the country, a move which has been criticised by the UN human rights office. The new regulation allows for people charged with "intentional murder" to be sentenced to death. The age of criminal responsibility in the Maldives is [...]
A grenade attack on a humanitarian convoy in the Central African Republic, that left two people dead and seven injured, has been condemned by the United Nations. Claire Bourgeois, the Senior Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, says that she is appalled by yesterday’s attack and has urged all armed groups to put an immediate end [...]
Relief agencies are rushing in basic supplies to victims of floods which hit northern Afghanistan last week. More than 100 people are reported to have died in the floods which destroyed thousands of houses and left some people trapped on the rooftops of their homes. United Nations agencies are working with the Afghan Red Crescent [...]
For the second time in two months, a court in Egypt on Monday issued death sentences to 683 individuals after what the UN human rights office called "hasty" trials. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay expressed her shock and outrage over the sentences that she said "clearly breached international human rights law". [...]
The use of chemical weapons in Syria was a deplorable offense against humanity, according to the UN Secretary-General. On the annual Day of Remembrance for Victims of Chemical Warfare observed 29 April, Mr. Ban Ki-moon paid tribute to the victims of these weapons. He deplored that the horrific use of chemical weapons in Syria in [...]
The sentencing of hundreds of people to death in Egypt face following a mass trial has been strongly condemned by the United Nations. On Monday a judge in the Criminal Court in Al-Minya sentenced 683 people to death in a trial that has been criticized for not meeting international standards for justice. The defendants, among [...]
Emergency aid is getting through to the large majority of people affected by flash floods in Northern Afghanistan last week, which killed at least 132 people. The Afghan army has evacuated some 14,000 people from the worst affected areas to open desert areas. It's estimated that 39,000 have been affected in some way by the [...]
A Bollywood-style music video which presses for the recognition of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT) is being launched in India by the UN human rights office. It's part of the global Free and Equal campaign to raise awareness of homophobic violence and discrimination. Daniel Dickinson reports. Duration: 2’41″
The regulation and management of chemicals in the workplace is a "huge challenge" for the global community, according to the UN's International Labour Organization (ILO). According to World Health Organization figures there are at least 400,00 deaths a year around the world annually which are attributable to the poor management of chemicals at work. Although [...]
Agriculture is one of the most dangerous jobs with regards to exposure to dangerous chemicals like pesticides, according to a technical officer with the International Labour Organization or ILO. "Safety and health in the use of chemicals at work" is the theme for the 2014 World Day for Safety and Health at Work. High doses [...]
The Central African Republic continues to face challenges in protecting civilians as the conflict continues between Christian and Muslim communities. Thousands of people are believed to have been killed and hundreds of thousands of others forced to flee their home since the violence started in December 2012. African Union forces and French troops, known as [...]
South Sudanese civilians seeking shelter from violence have been extracted from Unity State's capital Bentiu by United Nations peacekeepers, according to a UN Spokesperson. The UN Mission in South Sudan, known as UNMISS, also reported fighting between government and opposition forces in Mayom. The latest reports said Mayom is currently under SPLA control, although fighting [...]
Sport is a universal language that unites us and gives us hope, according to the winner of this year's Boston Marathon. Meb Keflezighi is an Eritrean-born American long distance runner who has won many international races, including an Olympic silver medal in 2004 and the New York City marathon in 2009. He was at United [...]
Public confidence in governments can be strengthened by a professional and accountable security sector . That's what the UN Secretary-General told members of the Security Council on Monday during an open debate on security sector reform (SSR). Simply put, the purpose of security sector reform (SSR) is to make people's lives safer, Ban Ki-moon said. [...]
Syria has disposed of more than 92 per cent of its declared stockpile of chemical weapons material, according to the head of the Joint Mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations (OPCW). The weapons were either removed from its territory or destroyed in-house. Sigrid Kaag hailed it as [...]
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Ordinary civilians in South Sudan are like the grass that suffers when two elephants fight in Africa. That's what UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, said as she expressed alarm at the ongoing conflict in the country which she says remains grave and could result in revenge killings. Ms. Pillay accompanied by the [...]
People from the outside think the situation in South Sudan is very grave and there are fears of revenge killings. That's what Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights told government officials during her visit to Juba in the wake of recent mass killings in South Sudan's Unity and Jonglei state capitals. Accompanying [...]
The use of poison gas in Syria is an alarming reminder of the continuing threat of chemical weapons and weapons of mass destruction, according to the UN Secretary-General. A report by UN investigators found that on 21 August last year, chemical weapons were used in the Ghouta area of Damascus. There were numerous casualties, including [...]
![Kismayo, 20 January 2014 - Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, and the Vice Deputy Speaker of Somalia Federal Parliament, Jaylani Nur Ikar follow the proceedings of the launch of the Interim Jubba Administration ceremony at the Jubba Statehouse. [UN Photo/David Mutua]](http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/kay.jpg "kay")
The government of Somalia needs continued international support as it works to rebuild federal state institutions and hold its first truly national elections in 2016. That message has come from Ambassador Nicholas Kay, the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) who was at the UN to brief the Security Council on the [...]
Sport can act as a "clarion call to international understanding" and can promote peace. That's according to the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Jan Eliasson. Speaking ahead of a debate on Monday at the UN on the role of sport in promoting peace and development, he said sport engenders fundamental principles. "Sports relate to [...]
The international community has been urged by the top UN envoy to Somalia to maintain its focus on the country as it works towards holding its first national elections in 2016. Ambassador Nicholas Kay, the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) was at UN headquarters in New York to brief the Security [...]
Grassroots women and policy makers are gathering in Nairobi, Kenya on Monday to discuss coping with the challenges of climate change. The Workshop to Build Resilience to Combat Climate Change and Disasters is supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). Lucy Wanjiru Njagi, Programme Specialist for Environment, Gender and Climate Change at UNDP spoke to [...]
A campaign to eradicate the tsetse fly in the West African country, Senegal, could produce results within the near future, according to two UN agencies. Tsetse can carry parasites that cause sleeping sickness in humans and a wasting disease in livestock. The diseases are transmitted when a fly bites a host. Both can be fatal [...]
The Mekong River is an important resource for millions of people in Asia as it runs through China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. This poses a challenge for the countries to ensure that all the people in the region benefit from its rich and diverse ecosystems. The issue is even more important as some countries [...]
Countries around the world are being urged to use an international database of stolen travel documents as a way to counter terrorism. INTERPOL, the international police organization which manages the database, says that around 400 million individuals travel around the world on documents that are stolen or reported lost. It's warning that they may be [...]
Women in South Sudan are recognizing the sacrifices made by government soldiers by donating food and other supplies to the men who they describe as "wounded heroes." A group of women from Agar Community in Lakes State made the donation to over 1300 soldiers being treated at a hospital in Juba, saying they want to [...]
Whatever time of the day, somewhere in the world there will be a UN staff member or peacekeeper hard at work……but the UN family also does get the opportunity to play. The annual United Nations Inter-Agency Games is the organization's very-own Olympic Games, although participants from across the world are competing not under their national [...]
The World Food Programme (WFP) says that it's determined to continue providing food assistance in South Sudan despite an attack on a UN convoy of barges on Thursday. The convoy was delivering urgently needed food and fuel supplies to the base of the United Nations Mission in Malakal in Upper Nile State. South Sudan continues [...]
The anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster that happened in Ukraine 28 years ago offers an opportunity to stand in solidarity with millions of people who still live in the affected areas. That's what UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message on the occasion of the anniversary of the disaster that happened [...]
Two senior United Nations officials are going to South Sudan this weekend following mass killings in the towns of Bentiu and Bor and the use of radio to disseminate hate speech. Hundreds of civilians have been killed in the ongoing conflict between government forces and rebels loyal to former Vice-President Riek Machar. The UN Spokesperson [...]
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Member States of the United Nations have been urged to work together to prevent human rights abuses, including sexual violence. The call came from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who spoke in the Security Council on Friday during an open debate on sexual violence in conflict. He said the Council has clearly and consistently stated that [...]
Around 400 million individuals travel around the world on documents that may be stolen or reported lost. That's what a senor official of the international police organization, INTERPOL told reporters in New York on Friday during a briefing by the UN's Counter-terrorism Committee. Ronald Noble, the Secretary-General of INTERPOL warned that stolen and lost travel [...]
Nearly 30,000 children in the Central African Republic are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in the coming months as the rainy season in the country continues. The UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, says it expects many of those children to die. Meanwhile, UN humanitarian agencies are appealing for more money to fight malnutrition. Nicki [...]
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has decided to open a preliminary examination of allegations of crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine. Although Ukraine is not part of the UN-backed ICC, the new government has declared its acceptance of the Court's jurisdiction over the crimes it says were committed between November and February. [...]
Girls can help to shape the future of the planet if they're more involved in information and communications technology…well that's according to the 12-year old host of an online webshow. Sylvia Todd, hosts Sylvia’s Super-Awesome Maker Show, which she describes as all about "how to make cool stuff." On Thursday the United Nations is marking [...]
The movie industry deserves to be protected by intellectual property laws according to the Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). On World Intellectual Property Day observed on 26 April each year, the organization is highlighting the importance of protecting the global film industry, an industry that employs hundreds of thousands of people. The day is [...]
The control of the global market for bananas has shifted from multinational companies to supermarkets and large retail chains, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The shift has come about partly because of cheaper transport costs. Growers, who are largely in developing countries, are also benefitting from changes in consumer demand. They're [...]
A senior UN official has spoken of her shock of meeting the victims of sexual violence as young as six months old. The comments by Zainab Hawa Bangura, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict came ahead of the Security Council's open debate on "Women and peace and security". In a resolution [...]
Five billion dollars a year is needed to eradicate deaths from malaria according to the UN-supported Roll Back Malaria campaign. Approximately half of the world’s population live in malaria-affected areas. In Africa a child under five dies every minute from the disease. On World Malaria Day celebrated on the 25th of April each year, Isabelle [...]
Everyone loves a good story which is why film industries are flourishing across the world, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization or WIPO. On World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, observed on April 26 every year, the agency is using the world's passion for movies to highlight the role of IP in encouraging innovation and [...]
The influence of multinational companies in the banana trade has decreased dramatically, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The organization says that the market share of the three largest banana traders, Chiquita, Dole and Del Monte has dropped from almost two-thirds in the 1980s to slightly over one third in 2013. Ekaterina [...]
The Best-selling author, Khaled Hosseini has called for more global support for Syrian refugees living in Iraq. Mr Hosseini, who is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), is also a former refugee from Afghanistan. He visited two camps in northern Iraq which are home to around 20,000 Syrians. Like millions of their [...]
"Significant progress" has been made in the last three weeks in the elimination of chemical weapons in Syria, according to a United Nations spokesperson. The joint mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations confirmed delivery on Thursday of a further shipment of chemical weapons material in Syria. UN [...]
A year after Bangladesh's deadliest industrial accident also known as the "Rana Plaza disaster", safety conditions for workers have improved. On April 24, 2013, the Rana Plaza, an eight story garment factory, collapsed in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, killing more than 1,100 people- the majority of them women. During the past year, the International [...]
An attack on Thursday on a four-barge convoy carrying supplies for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has been strongly condemned by the UN. UNMISS says the convoy was delivering urgently needed food and fuel supplies to its Upper Nile Base in Malakal when it came under small arms attack from the northern bank [...]
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Countries around the world have been urged to ratify an international treaty aimed at abolishing what has been described as the "cruel" death penalty. The call came from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who spoke at a discussion entitled "Moving away from the death penalty-Discrimination against marginalized groups." Speaking at the UN, he said the right [...]
A negotiated peace agreement to resolve the conflict in the troubled Darfur region of Sudan, is needed to protect civilians according to the force commander of UN peacekeepers there. More than 200,000 people have been displaced by fighting in the south of Darfur since the beginning of the year. UN officials have repeatedly called on [...]
A peace agreement between warring parties in Darfur will make it easier for the United Nations to protect civilians in the Sudanese region, according to the UN's force commander there. The security situation in Darfur has deteriorated over the past year marked by ongoing clashes between the Sudanese Government and rebels, as well as an [...]
The warring parties in South Sudan have been told that "serious consequences" could follow unless they end the fighting which has engulfed the country since last December. Thousands of people have been killed and a million have fled their homes as government troops continue to battle opposition rebels who support the former vice-president Riek Machar. [...]
Countries around the world are being encouraged to use mobile or Internet technologies to inform people about immunization programmes. The call comes at the beginning of the annually observed Immunization Week, the slogan for which this year is "Immunization for a health future." During the campaign the World Health Organization (WHO) expects millions of people [...]
On World Immunization Week, people are being asked to learn more about vaccines, check their immunization status and get a shot if needed. In the last week of April every year, the event takes place to remind families and communities how effective vaccines can be and to encourage people to get immunized against deadly and [...]
The anniversary of the collapse of garment factory in Bangladesh a year ago in which more than 1,100 people died and about 2,500 were injured is being marked on Thursday. The Deputy Director-General of International Labour Organization (ILO) is attending the commemoration of the disaster at the Rana Plaza in Dhaka. Gilbert Houngbo said that [...]
The importance of stable and peaceful societies for the realization of the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda is being debated by the UN General Assembly on Thursday. Diplomats and senior UN officials are participating in the two-day meeting which has been convened by the President of the General Assembly John Ashe. His spokesperson Afaf Konja says [...]
Women and girls around the world are being encouraged by the UN's telecommunications agency to develop careers in information and communication technologies. "Girls in ICT Day", which is observed on the fourth Thursday of April each year, was established by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in 2010 to inspire girls to consider a future in [...]
Girls can help to shape the future of the planet if they're more involved in information and communications technology…well that's according to the 12-year old host of an online webshow. Sylvia Todd, hosts Sylvia’s Super-Awesome Maker Show, which she describes as all about "how to make cool stuff." On Thursday the United Nations is marking [...]
Mobile technology is facilitating literacy in developing countries, according to a report by the United Nations cultural agency (UNESCO). The report, "Reading in the Mobile Era" was published on the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day, which is observed on 23 April each year. It found that people read books on small screen devices [...]
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has said it was not responsible for the human rights abuses that took place in a town in the country last week. According to the South Sudanese government, four hundred people were killed in Bentiu after rebels loyal to former vice-president Riek Machar took control. The conflict [...]
Government and opposition forces in Syria have been urged to stop fighting and to allow unconditional humanitarian access to all the people in need in the war-torn country. The appeal has been made by the heads of five major UN humanitarian agencies in a joint statement issued on Wednesday. They recalled that a similar appeal [...]
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The UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has rejected an accusation that it is partly responsible for human rights abuses that took place in the town of Bentiu. The town was taken over last week by rebels who are trying to bring down the government. A senior South Sudanese government official has claimed that civilians [...]
The detonation of an explosive device (IED) which injured a United Nations peacekeeper in the Malian town of Kidal has been strongly condemned by the top UN envoy in the country. Mali is recovering from a crisis which started with a military coup d'état in early 2012. Fighting between Government forces and Tuareg rebels followed [...]
People in the developing world are using their mobile devices to read full length books and stories, according to a new report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The report, Reading in the Mobile Era, found that printed material is a scarce resource that is very difficult to distribute in remote [...]
The authorities in Côte d'Ivoire have been urged to undertake broad consultations on reforming the country's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). The call was made by the UN Independent Expert on human rights in Côte d'Ivoire Doudou Diène as the West African country prepares for next year's presidential elections. It follows the recent adoption by the [...]
Radiation Oncology is a medical method used for treating cancer. It uses ionizing radiation to kill cancer cells. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) provides its Member States with the assistance needed to build the infrastructure and train personnel to implement the treatment. Steve Thatchet spoke to Eduardo Rosenblatt, the Section Head of IAEA's applied [...]
![Pollockshields Wreck, Bermudas. [UNESCO/E. Trainito]](http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Pollockshields-Wreck.jpg "Pollockshields-Wreck")
Shipwrecks and other types of underwater cultural heritage offer "huge potential" for small island states according to a senior government archaeologist from the Caribbean. Experts from around the world have been gathering in New York to discuss how heritage sites could help in the development of small island economies. Archaeologist, Reg Murphy, is the Secretary [...]
Senior government officials, parliamentarians and development experts are meeting in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, on Wednesday to discuss the importance of population issues to development. The three-day meeting is reviewing successes and challenges in achieving the Programme of Action adopted at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994. At [...]
The role of books and copyright in the preservation and sharing of knowledge is being highlighted on World Book and Copyright Day. The Day, observed on 23 April each year, was proclaimed by the UN cultural agency (UNESCO) in 1995 to promote reading and increase people's understanding of copyright laws. The day marks the anniversary [...]
Harmony with nature, when it comes to farming, is organic farming. That's according to Jim Gerritsen, who runs a family farm in Maine, a state in the New England region of the north-eastern United States. He has been farming organically for 40 years and raises different organic seeds, primarily potato. Mr Gerritsen was invited to [...]
The UN has said there is evidence of executions which have taken place in the South Sudanese town of Bentiu. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed in the town since last week after rebels took control. The conflict in South Sudan began in December last year when forces loyal to the deposed vice president [...]
The murder of two members of parliament and a media worker in Somalia has been condemned by the United Nations top envoy in the country. Abdiaziz Isaaq Mursal was shot dead by unknown gunmen in the country's capital Mogadishu early on Tuesday. The murder follows the killing on Monday of another member of parliament and [...]
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Experts from around the world are meeting in the Hague, in the Netherlands to look at ways of improving the health of oceans. The Global Oceans Action Summit for Food Security and Blue Growth aims to focus attention and increased investment into addressing the three key threats to ocean health: overfishing, habitat destruction and pollution. [...]
The importance of human beings living in harmony with each other and with nature has been underlined by the President of the UN General Assembly. Ambassador John Ashe spoke at the Fourth Interactive Dialogue of the General Assembly on Harmony with Nature held on International Mother Earth Day observed on 22 April each year. He [...]
The protection of one million internally displaced persons, or IDPs, in South Sudan is further eroding amid persistent violence and deliberate ethnically targeted attacks, according to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Chaloka Beyani. Hundreds of people were left dead and many more were wounded during last week's [...]
Evidence of atrocities, including executions, committed in the South Sudanese town of Bentiu have been described as "heart wrenching" by a UN official. Toby Lanzer, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator went to the town to assess the situation after opposition forces took it over last week. About 22,000 civilians there are now sheltering in a base [...]
The livelihoods of people who depend on fisheries are being threatened by climate change, according to a senior official from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Árni Mathiesen, the Assistant Director-General of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department at FAO, is attending a major global meeting on oceans which opened in The Hague, in the [...]
Children in South Sudan are being traumatised on many different levels, according to the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF. The agency says that not only are nearly a quarter of a million children at risk of suffering from severe acute malnutrition by the end of the year but they are also being separated from their [...]
![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")
Authorities in the Philippines have been urged by the head of the UN's cultural organization (UNESCO) to investigate the recent killing of a journalist in the Philippines. Rubylita Garcia, a reporter for the Remate newspaper in Bacoor City and host of a radio talk show was reportedly shot dead by two gunmen in her home [...]
The global economy is "turning the corner" but recovery is still too slow and too fragile according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The future of the world economy was one of the key themes discussed at the IMF's recently concluded annual Spring Meetings. The meetings bring together thousands of government officials, experts, civil society [...]
Vaccines are being guarded in refrigerators against future natural disasters in the Philippines, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The move follows the destruction wreaked by Typhoon Haiyan, which tore through the Philippines in November 2013. Health clinics were destroyed, the cold chain disrupted and temperature-sensitive vaccines ruined. One of UNICEF's first interventions [...]
People across the world are being urged to speak out on behalf of Mother Earth so that she can continue to care for life as she has done for more than one thousand of years. The appeal comes from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his message for International Mother Earth Day observed on 22 April [...]
Senior government officials from around the world are gathering in The Hague, the Netherlands on Tuesday for a summit on the role of oceans in global food security, livelihoods and economic growth. The four-day Global Oceans Action Summit for Food Security and Blue Growth is being convened by the Dutch government in close collaboration with [...]
Approximately half a million people have been displaced by conflict in the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to humanitarian organizations. Government forces have been fighting with armed groups in the mineral-rich province since the beginning of the year. UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric has more. "Humanitarian organizations reported that some 100,000 [...]
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Hundreds of civilians have been killed in South Sudan's Unity State capital, Bentiu, because of their ethnic origins, according to the UN mission in the country, UNMISS. The mission says that hate messages calling for violence are also being used to promote what it has called "vengeful sexual violence." The killings began on April 15th [...]
Two staff members of the UN children's agency (UNICEF), who had been missing for three days in the Pakistani city of Karachi, have been reunited with their families. According to UNICEF, the two local employees went missing on Thursday evening and were thought to have been kidnapped. UN spokesperson Vittorio Cammarota said when UNICEF could [...]
The participation of Afghan women in the national political process is critical to Afghanistan's development according to the top United Nations envoy in the country. Speaking after meeting with women parliamentarians in Kabul on Monday, Ján Kubiš, offered his congratulations on the participation of women as voters, electoral workers, observers and candidates. He said through [...]
The civil war in Sierra Leone which raged from 1991 to 2002 was known for the brutality of the rebels who cut off people's limbs and forced thousands of others to flee to neighbouring countries. One of the refugees from the war is Reuben Koroma, composer and lead singer for Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. [...]
The Best-selling author, Khaled Hosseini has called for more global support for Syrian refugees living in Iraq. Mr Hosseini, who is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), is also is a former refugee from Afghanistan. He visited two camps in northern Iraq which are home to around 20,000 Syrians. Like millions of [...]
A shelter for victims of domestic violence in Kosovo is trying to connect women with sustainable employment so they can restart their lives. The Liria shelter, in the town of Gjilan, looks after survivors whose circumstances are often tragic. Violence against women in Kosovo is a widespread problem, with forty-eight per cent of women saying [...]
Mothers and young girls in South Sudan are facing what has been described as an "unimaginable" situation. The country continues to suffer from an internal conflict which has pitted government forces against rebels. The UN says that close to one million people have been forced to flee their homes. Mabingue Ngom, a senior director at [...]
The situation of mothers and young girls in South Sudan has been described as "unimaginable" by the UN Population Fund, UNFPA. The agency says it needs an additional $14 million to provide emergency maternal assistance to pregnant mothers in the country. The Director of the UNFPA programme division in New York, Mabingue Ngom said the [...]
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An attack on a United Nations base in South Sudan has been condemned by the country's government. The UN Mission (UNMISS) said a mob of armed civilians forced entry into the UN camp in Bor in Jonglei State on Thursday morning and opened fire on the internally displaced people sheltering there. Dozens of people were [...]
An inclusive reconciliation process between rival communities in the Central African Republic is underway according to an independent UN human rights expert. Fighting between mainly Muslim and Christian communities has fuelled a conflict which began at the end of 2012. Thousands of people are believed to have been killed, and over two million are in [...]
Rival communities in the Central African Republic are finding ways to work towards reconciliation according to a UN human rights expert. Thousands of people are believed to have been killed, and over two million need humanitarian aid as a result of the ongoing conflict between Christians and Muslims that began in December 2012. Speaking at [...]
A medal for peacekeepers who have demonstrated acts of bravery while serving with United Nations missions is being considered by the Security Council. The proposal was made by Jordan’s ambassador to the UN, Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein, after watching a documentary on a Senegalese peacekeeper, Captain Mbaye Diagne. Captain Diagne is said to have [...]
An exhibition depicting the "dark period" of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the country's remarkable journey to heal and rebuild has opened at the UN. "Kwibuka20: Memory, Unity & Renewal in Rwanda after the Genocide" is part of a series of remembrance activities at the United Nations that commemorate the 20th anniversary of the genocide [...]
As countries around the world continue to push towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals or MDGs, there are a few states which are still struggling to meet the poverty targets. One of those is Papua New Guinea, a Pacific Ocean archipelago with a population of seven million people. Around 40 per cent are living below [...]
Displaced people in South Sudan are suffering from negative emotions, including fears and concerns, as well as uncertainty and confusion about the future. That's according to a new report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) which assesses the psychosocial needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) seeking protection in the UN peacekeeping compound in Bor. [...]
Women in South Sudan are calling on the Government and armed opposition groups to stop fighting and make peace. The country has been beset by conflict since last December leading to the displacement of a million people. In times of conflict, it is generally women who suffer most. In South Sudan, they are joining a [...]
Scientists at the UN are looking at ways of suppressing insect populations around the world as a way to prevent a wide range of diseases, such as malaria and dengue. Mosquito born-diseases result in the deaths of a million people every year. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is currently developing a procedure called Sterile [...]
A new treaty allowing children to file a complaint directly to the UN about alleged violations of their rights was signed into law on Monday by ten countries. A panel discussion was held at the UN Secretariat in New York to celebrate the event. Ms. Elda Moreno, Special Assistant to the Office of the Special [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Kenyan police are starting to release Somali refugees from detention, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). More than one thousand refugees and asylum seekers were rounded up in Nairobi during counter-terrorism operations targeting undocumented foreigners since the beginning of April. UNHCR confirmed that they are starting to return to refugee camps after having been [...]
The rights of survivors of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes need to be met and reparation has to be made. That's the theme for Thursday's annual high level meeting organized by the "Group of Friends of the International Criminal Court (ICC)". Delegates from Member States, the UN and civil society are meeting for [...]
A deadly and unprovoked attack on a United Nations base in South Sudan has injured dozens of civilians, according to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country, UNMISS. The number of casualties has yet to be confirmed. UNMISS said it strongly condemns Thursday's attack by a mob of armed civilians on its base in [...]
Climate smart agriculture is helping villagers in southern Tanzania cope with climate change, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This approach developed by FAO, integrates sustainable practices into current farming systems, like innovative soil farming practices to fight dry conditions. Jocelyne Sambira has more. Duration: 2’57″
A number of civilians were killed in an attack by an armed mob at a base of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in the town of Bor on Thursday. UNMISS strongly condemned the attack by the assailants who went to the base under the guise of peaceful demonstrators intending to present a petition [...]
A memorial service has been held for two men who were killed in Somalia whilst working for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Clément Gorrissen, aged 28, and 57 year old Simon Davis, were killed in an attack by an unidentified gunman in Puntland, Somalia on April 7th this year. They had just [...]
The besieged Syrian city of Homs is once again the theatre of death and destruction, a situation which has been described by the Joint Special Representative for Syria as "alarming". Lakhdar Brahimi on Thursday said he deeply regretted that discussions between the Syrian authorities and a Negotiating Committee representing civilians and fighters had been brutally [...]
More than seven million seedlings have been planted in the water catchment along the eastern slopes of Mount Kenya. Trees hold rainwater in the soil and keep it flowing to small farmers, who can grow more high-value crops like snow peas for export. The pilot project has been supported by the UN International Fund for [...]
A set of global guidelines that protect the rights of poor and vulnerable people to land, livelihoods and food security has garnered the support of two giant beverage corporations. PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have officially endorsed the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure initiated by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The guidelines [...]
As countries around the world continue to push towards reaching the Millennium Development goals or MDGs, there are a few states which are still struggling to meet the poverty targets. One of those is Papua New Guinea, a Pacific Ocean archipelago with a population of seven million. Around 40 per cent are living below the [...]
Papua, Indonesia's easternmost province is one of the most remote and least developed corners on the planet. It's a hot spot for separatist fighters and a place where tribal culture is strong, including the domination of women by men. As a result, attempts to develop this part of the world have faltered… or at least [...]
The youth in Rwanda must learn to forgive and live together, a genocide survivor said during a memorial ceremony at the UN commemorating the event. Kizito Kalima is the co-founder of the Amahoro Project for Forgiveness and Reconciliation, a grassroots movement that advocates for peace and forgiveness through reconciliation. In 1994, Hutu extremists slaughtered hundreds [...]
Ongoing unrest in the eastern Ukraine "risks destabilising" the rest of the country according to a senior UN human rights official. Government buildings were stormed by pro-Russian militants last Saturday, a move which led to Ukraine accusing Russia of waging war in the east of the country. The unrest follows a referendum in March in [...]
Reducing the risks of disasters should be based on evidence and experience and should ultimately lead to a more resilient world for future generations. That's according to the United Nations Secretary-General who attended a Disaster Risk Reduction briefing in New York on Wednesday. Disaster Risk Reduction aims to reduce the damage caused by natural hazards [...]
A Brazilian football player is appealing to fans around the world to end the discrimination of people with HIV and AIDS. David Luiz, a Brazil international and player for the English club, Chelsea, was making the appeal on behalf of the United Nations agency that focuses on AIDS, UNAIDS after being named Goodwill Ambassador for [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
The slaughter of approximately 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda in 1994 was remembered in the Security Council on Wednesday. The Rwanda genocide raised questions about the capacity of the United Nations to protect people in a conflict as the killings, mainly with machetes, clubs or knives, continued for 100 days. The United Nations [...]
The UN Secretary-General is calling for the immediate release of around 100 school girls who were reportedly abducted in Nigeria on Monday. Mr Ban condemned what he called a shocking mass abduction in Chibok, in Borno State of eastern Nigeria. The girls, between the ages of 12 and 17, were taken from their school hostel. [...]
Women in South Sudan are helping break gender stereotypes in the work place by operating a car wash facility at a UN base in Juba. The South Sudan Women empowerment Network (SSWEN) was awarded the contract by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The contract not only helps to provide much-needed jobs in the [...]
Genocide can be prevented with information and mobilization, as well as with courage and political will, according to the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations. Jan Eliasson spoke at a Security Council briefing which on Wednesday focused on lessons learned from the failure of the international community to prevent the Rwandan genocide in 1994. [...]
More than one million women in the United Kingdom (UK) reported being domestically abused last year, a concern highlighted by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women. Rashida Manjoo, who has just finished a visit to the UK, said a more comprehensive and targeted response to address acts of violence against women and [...]
One hundred and thirty orphans in South Sudan who were evacuated from their native Malakal, are settling down in a new home in the capital of the country, Juba. Malakal has been a flash-point in the ongoing conflict in South Sudan which has pitted government forces against rebels. The orphans are being looked after by [...]
Candle lighting and a minute of silence is being held at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday for the 20th commemoration of the Rwandan Genocide. In 1994, Hutu extremists slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus in a period of 100 days. Participants in the memorial ceremony include UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [...]
The international community must be committed to supporting future development goals through a renewed global partnership. That's according to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who is in Mexico at the first meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation. World leaders and civil society have gathered in Mexico City to work on the partnership, which [...]
The Hollywood actor Michael Douglas, has said that fear has motivated him to continue to campaign on disarmament issues. Mr Douglas was at the United Nations to support the launch of a book on disarmament, aimed at young people. He's been a UN Messenger of Peace for over a decade. "Action for Disarmament: 10 Things [...]
Hollywood actor and UN Messenger of Peace, Michael Douglas, told a group of young people on Tuesday that they can play an important role in fighting weapons proliferation. Mr Douglas was at UN Headquarters to support the launch of a book on disarmament, which shows young people what steps they can personally take to get [...]
Settlers in Israel should not take over a building in Hebron, according to a United Nations Special Rapporteur. Richard Falk, who deals with human rights issues in the Palestinian territories, warned it would probably lead to more movement restrictions for Palestinians, and more harassment of Palestinian residents by settlers. Al-Rajabi House, a four-story building capable [...]
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Refugees from South Sudan continue to arrive in the remote Ethiopian Gambella region at a rate of up to 1,000 people per day, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The agency says many of the refugees are from the Upper Nile where fighting broke out in December last year between forces loyal to President [...]
Airlifts of tents and the construction of new camps are currently underway to help South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). More than 95,000 South Sudanese refugees are now in Ethiopia since the conflict erupted last December, and up to one thousand are still arriving every day. UNHCR said refugees [...]
Young people around the world are being encouraged to a to play what's been described as a "critical" role in raising awareness about the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction. A book called "Action for Disarmament: 10 Things You Can Do!" was launched at the United Nations on Tuesday in the presence of Hollywood [...]
The execution of an Iranian woman has reportedly been postponed following the intervention of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran. Reyhaneh Jabbari was due to be executed on Tuesday for the alleged murder of a former employee of the Iranian Intelligence Ministry. Ms Jabbari allegedly stabbed the intelligence officer [...]
Charges of genocide against a former Bosnian Serb army chief will not be dropped by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Ratko Mladić, the former Commander of the Bosnian Serb Army, stands accused of genocide and a multitude of other crimes committed during the Bosnian War from May 1992 to late 1995. [...]
A UN report on human rights in Ukraine says misinformation, propaganda and incitement to hatred must be urgently addressed in order to de-escalate tensions in the country. Based on two missions by the UN Office for Human Rights (OHCHR) in March, it says the tension in Eastern Ukraine, where a large ethnic minority lives, is [...]
Iran has been urged by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the country, to halt immediately the execution of a woman that is due to take place on Tuesday. Reyhaneh Jabbari, an interior designer by profession, was sentenced to death for the alleged murder of Morteza Abdolali Sarbandi, a former [...]
The UN Chief is due to make an appeal to countries to work together, reduce poverty, and meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is on Tuesday in Mexico attending the first meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation. The Global Partnership helps nations, businesses and organisations work better [...]
A new treaty allowing children to file a complaint directly to the UN about alleged violations of their rights was signed into law on Monday by ten countries. A panel discussion hosted by nine of the ten countries was held at the UN Secretariat in New York to celebrate the event. Ms. Elda Moreno, Special [...]
The "indiscriminate" killing of more than 70 people in a bomb blast at a bus station in Nigeria has been condemned by the UN Secretary-General. The explosion at a crowded bus station on the outskirts of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, happened on Monday morning during the rush hour. In a statement Mr Ban said he was [...]
Any country whatever its economic performance can provide Universal Health Coverage (UHC), according to health policy experts. Ministers and health representatives gathered at the United Nations on Monday to discuss the importance and feasibility of ensuring that everyone has access to affordable primary health services. Global support for UHC has been gathering momentum since 2012, [...]
World trade is expected to grow by a modest 4.7 per cent in 2014 and only slightly faster in 2015, according to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Economists on Monday said that for the past two years, growth has averaged only 2.2 per cent, which remains below the 20-year average of 5.3 per cent, following [...]
The counting of votes is taking place in Guinea Bissau following Sunday's general elections. The people in the West African country came out in big numbers to elect a president and members of parliament. It follows years of coups and failed attempts to establish constitutional rule in the country since it gained independence from Portugal [...]
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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is continuing to call for restraint and direct and constructive dialogue between Kiev and Moscow, according to his Spokesperson. Ban Ki-moon spoke by phone on Monday to Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchynov. Mr. Turchynov had previously invited the United Nations to join his army’s "anti-terrorist operation" against pro-Russian militants, who on Saturday [...]
The counting of votes has begun in Guinea-Bissau following what have been described as "watershed" general elections on Sunday. The West African country has been plagued by political instability since it gained independence from Portugal in 1974. The last coup was in April 2012 and elections were promised within a year but did not take [...]
A destructive banana disease that has spread from Asia to Africa and theMiddle Eastposes a major risk to livelihoods and banana markets, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned. Banana is the 8th most important food crop in the world and the 4th most important among the world's least-developed countries. Fusarium wilt Tropical Race [...]
Sixty-five per cent of Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons has now been removed from the country, according to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, (OPCW). The organization has been tasked by the UN Security Council with eliminating the country’s chemical weapons by the end of June this year. The removal followed allegations that [...]
Detainees arriving at detention facilities across Syria are routinely tortured in what has come to be known as a "reception party", according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Navi Pillay condemned this rampant use of torture by Government forces and some armed opposition groups, who have been at war for more than three [...]
People who have been detained in Syria by Government forces and some armed opposition groups are routinely tortured according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Syria is in its third year of an internal conflict which has led to the deaths of over 100,000 people and the displacement of millions more. Navi Pillay [...]
Up to 40,000 Russian troops are amassed on the border of Ukraine according to the British Ambassador to the United Nations. The accusation follows the storming of Ukrainian government buildings in the east of the country by pro-Russian militants. Last month the Ukrainian region of Crimea voted in a referendum to join the Russian Federation, [...]
Children can now complain directly to the United Nations about alleged violations of their rights, according to UN human rights experts. A new treaty is entering into force on 14 April allowing children to submit complaints to the Committee on the Rights of the Child about specific violations. However, children can only complain if their [...]
Russia has been accused of "waging war against Ukraine" following the storming of government buildings in the east of the country by pro-Russian militants. Unrest is continuing in Ukraine after a referendum in March in which the region of Crimea voted to secede from the country and join the Russian Federation. On Saturday, militants took [...]
Governments should cut military spending and invest more in human development, according to a United Nations expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order. On the occasion of the Global Day of Action on Military Spending, marked on 14 April, Alfred de Zayas said every democracy must determine what the real priorities [...]
Ukraine has accused Russia of "waging war" after pro-Russian militants took control of government buildings in the east of the country. It follows a period of unrest which began when the region of Crimea voted to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was called late [...]
Senior government officials from Europe are gathering in Paris on Monday for a three-day meeting on the health and environmental impacts of transport. The meeting is being held under the auspices of the Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme, (THE PEP) which is run by the UN Economic Commission for Europe and the World Health [...]
Monitoring the success of development programmes, be they improving food production for farmers in Indonesia or ensuring clean water and sanitation for slum dwellers in India, requires strong evaluation methods according to ESCAP, the regional arm of the UN in Asia and the Pacific. Senior officials from across the ESCAP region recently gathered in Bangkok [...]
A joint call for action to help people in South Sudan has been made by the United Nations, the European Union and the United States. Launching the appeal in Washington, the UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos said the ongoing conflict in the country has led to the destruction of cities, the collapse of the economy [...]
The values in "The Little Prince" novella by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry are closely linked with the primary purposes of the United Nations, according to astrophysicist Trinh Xuan Thuan. A special "Little Prince Day" was recently organized by the United Nations at the New York Public Library. Experts from child protection, education, humanitarian, and environmental sectors, [...]
An innovative approach to mining data from mobile phones and the internet has been developed in Indonesia as a tool to better understand and address development issues. The United Nations’ Pulse Lab Jakarta, located in Indonesia’s capital, is using so-called “digital smoke signals.” These signals are created when people are impacted by slow-onset crises and [...]
Women in Brunei Darussalam are facing the threat of being stoned to death under the revised penal code due to come into force on 22 April, according to the United Nations human rights office. The code stipulates the death penalty for numerous offences, including, adultery, sodomy and extramarital sexual relations for Muslims. People in the [...]
What a person does as an individual has an impact on urban resilience, according to the UN Special Envoy for Disaster Risk Reduction. Urban resilience is the capacity of an urban area or city to prepare, respond to or recover from a natural or man-made disaster. It's not only solutions at the global level that [...]
Political tension is increasing in Burundi ahead of next year's general election, according to the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. Adama Dieng wrapped up a two-day visit to the Central African country on Thursday night during which he assessed the current political situation. Mr. Dieng held consultations with a wide range of [...]
Despite its economic growth, Africa is not using its commodities to create jobs, according to a senior United Nations official. Carlos Lopes, the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa spoke at the launch of the 2014 Economic Report on Africa which is focusing on industrialization. He said efforts to embark on industrialization [...]
Industrialization is crucial for Africa to grow, according to the United Nations Special Advisor on Africa who is presenting the 2014 Economic Report on Africa at UN Headquarters on Friday. Maged Abdelaziz feels strongly that Africa isn't maximizing its potential because not all industries in a particular country are developing concurrently. He says it's shameful [...]
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Humanitarian agencies say the crisis is worsening in South Sudan where fighting between rebels and the government has displaced hundreds of thousands of people. The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross say as the rainy season approaches millions face the risk of starvation. The lack of security is also affecting thousands [...]
Brutal violence and indiscriminate attacks against civilians in Syria are no longer shocking, according to the United Nations humanitarian chief. Valerie Amos was reacting to two car bombs that exploded in the central Syrian city of Homs on Wednesday which killed over 20 people and wounded more than 100 others, including women and children. According [...]
Christian militias in the Central African Republic, known as the anti-Balaka, are preventing civilians from fleeing the conflict to Cameroon, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The agency says the militias are blocking main roads and attacking Muslims, most of whom are women and children. Those who have arrived in Cameroon have told UNHCR [...]
Over the past four days some 6 000 people sea have been rescued at sea by the Italian Navy according to the UN Refugee Agency. Since the beginning of the year around 18,000 people have arrived on Italy's southern shores – a tenfold rise over the same period last year. Claire Doole reports from Geneva. [...]
Political commitment and technical expertise are needed to create cities in which people can live as equal citizens, according to the UN's human settlements chief. Speaking at the World Urban Forum which ends on Friday in the Colombian city of Medellin, Joan Clos, the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, said that urban planning should be democratic [...]
The seventh session of the World Urban Forum ends today in the city of Medellin, Colombia, where nearly 15,000 participants from around the globe have been gathering to chart the way for better cities, whose development takes into account the needs of everyone . The Colombian city of Medellin, which has recently undergone remarkable transformation, [...]
The world cannot afford to squander one third of total agricultural production through food loss and waste, according to a group of agricultural ministers from Europe and Central Asia. These delegates were in Bucharest, Romania as part of a Regional Conference of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). FAO has been examining food losses [...]
The international community is being asked to commit to supporting the world's poorest countries to improve their water and sanitation services. Ministers from 50 nations are attending a "High-Level Meeting on Sanitation and Water for All" in Washington DC on Friday where they are expected to make financial and political commitments to make those improvements. [...]
Guinea-Bissau is preparing to go to the polls on Sunday for what have been described by a senior UN official as the West African country's "most important" elections. The presidential and parliamentary polls, which have been postponed several times, are seen as a crucial step on the path to restoring constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau as [...]
With one touch of a button, a free mobile application or app is helping cities save energy. The Muhanna Foundation, a non-profit based in Beirut, designed the app a year ago, to help citizens report a street lamp that remains lit during the day. The application can be downloaded on any Smartphone. The Chairman of [...]
Countries around the world are being urged to help the poorest people gain equal access to drinking water, sanitation and adequate hygiene. Experts and government officials are meeting in Washington DC where they are expected to make financial and political commitments to improve water and sanitation services for the most marginalised populations. The meeting is [...]
A Lebanon-based non-profit organisation is encouraging city dwellers to push for more environmentally friendly cities. The Muhanna Foundation promotes education and civic activism and has produced a mobile telephone application, called Waffir, which enables the reporting of mal-functioning streetlamps. The Chairman of the Foundation, Ibrahim Muhanna, presented his vision to the 7th Session of the [...]
Leaders around the world have been urged to reverse what has been described as the "unacceptable trend" of decreasing international aid budgets for basic education. The appeal was made by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at a symposium organized by the World Bank in Washington DC. The Secretary-General said domestic spending is by far the most [...]
There is still a long way to go in the fight against impunity for sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) although some progress has been made, according to the Secretary-General's Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Ms. Zainab Hawa Bangura warned that those who commit sexual violence, wherever they are, whoever [...]
The 7th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF7) entered its fourth day on Thursday, with participants discussing the role that privately owned companies or businesses can play in the achievement of sustainable and equitable cities through provision of basic urban services. During the discussions, participants acknowledged that challenges of urbanisation have existed for many [...]
Road accidents, which kill over 3,000 people everyday, continue to take a toll on low and middle income countries. That's what Christophe Lorry Boulanger of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies told the UN General Assembly during its meeting on the global road safety crisis on Thursday. Mr. Boulanger said although real progress [...]
The Security Council has unanimously approved the deployment of a 12,000 strong UN peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic (CAR). Under the name MINUSCA, the protection of civilians will be the mission's priority. The newly established force will replace the African Union (AU)-led peacekeeping operation. Jocelyne Sambira has the story. Duration: 2’46″
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Concern has been raised at the UN by the United States about what have been described as "worrying developments in Burundi." Ambassador Samantha Power, who has just returned from the country, was asked about reports of a leaked UN cable detailing how the government is arming its youth wing. She spoke about what she called [...]
Social development should be part of the solution to reducing the global homicide rate, according to a senior UN official. A report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says that more than 430,000 people were murdered around the world in 2012 Almost half of those murders took place in Africa and the [...]
The decision to create a UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic has been described as a "key turning point" in the ongoing internal conflict in the country. Thousands of people have died and over 2 million are in need of humanitarian aid as a result of the crisis which began in 2012. In [...]
People in Sudan are facing the threat of a worsening hunger and malnutrition crisis, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), warned on Thursday. The agency says currently, about 3.3 million people don't have enough food a number that is likely to rise to four million in the coming months. It blames a poor harvest [...]
More than 430,000 people were murdered around the world in 2012 according to a new report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The "Global Study on Homicide", released in London on Thursday, reveals that almost half of the homicides are in Africa and the Americas. The report says that the global average [...]
The establishment of a United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic has been welcomed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to establish the MINUSCA mission which will help restore stability to the country. Violence between the Christian and Muslim communities has led to the deaths of [...]
The world cannot afford to squander one third of total agricultural production through food loss and waste, according to a group of agricultural ministers from across Europe and Central Asia. The delegates are attending a round-table session in Bucharest, Romania as part of the biennial Regional Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of [...]
Law enforcement agencies in Kenya are being urged by the UN refugee agency to uphold the rights of refugees and asylum seekers following a crackdown on illegal immigrants. The police sweeps were focused in Nairobi's Eastleigh neighbourhood where recent terrorist attacks took place. It's also where the majority of Somali refugees and asylum seekers live. [...]
Ending the use of rape as a weapon of war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the headlines again as senior UN officials hold a meeting at UN headquarters in New York to review the progress made. Some estimates suggest that up to 200,000 women have been raped in the country. There [...]
As more people get infected with the deadly Ebola virus in Guinea, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is stepping up its response in the capital, Conakry, and across the rest of the country. Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever or Ebola HF is a fatal disease that is spread by contact with bodily fluids of infected people or [...]
Law matters as a tool for achieving equity, according to the legal Vice-President of the World Bank, Anne-Marie Leroy. Speaking at the 7th session of the World Urban Forum in the Colombian city of Medellín, she said that law shapes our cities, the land use, the institutions and the finance. She said that law is [...]
There is still a long way to go in the fight against impunity for sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) although some progress has been made, according to the Secretary-General's Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Ms. Zainab Hawa Bangura warned that those who commit sexual violence, wherever they are, whoever [...]
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Wednesday managed to rescue 13 people who were being deported from Kenya. According to reports, Kenyan security officers have detained hundreds of undocumented immigrants, mainly Somalis, who are being held at Kasarani Stadium for screening. The detention is part of an ongoing security operation following a spate of recent [...]
Rape and sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remain very serious concerns, according to a United Nations report released on Wednesday. The report says thousands have been victims of rape and sexual violence, in particular in the eastern part of the D.R. Congo over the past four years. UN High Commissioner for [...]
Starring actor Edward G. Robinson, this programme describes how the path to universal peace and prosperity is “the new frontier” for mankind and tasks for the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Language: English Genre: Drama 1956 Duration: 28’35″
A drama portraying the creation of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the UN body in charge of rules of airspace, aircraft registration and safety. Language: English Genre: Drama 1954 Duration: 30’21″
An operation to deliver humanitarian assistance to a besieged neighbourhood of the Syrian city of Aleppo has been described as "rare and risky" by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). The agency said that the last time it was able to deliver aid to the inhabitants of Boustan al Qaser was in June last year. UNHCR [...]
The important role of partnerships of various sectors of society to promote sustainable development was stressed by the President of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. Ambassador John Ashe spoke at the first ever joint thematic debate of the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council on the role of partnerships for [...]
New guidelines on how to screen, care for and treat people with Hepatitis C have been issued by the World Health Organization. The publication of the recommendations comes after more effective and safer oral hepatitis medicines become available on the market. Hepatitis C is most commonly transmitted through exposure to contaminated blood or infected injection [...]
The private sector is going to play an important role in the future development of Africa and the rest of the world, according to one of the continent's leading businessmen. Tony Elumelu, the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, an investment company operating businesses across Africa, made the comments at a debate held at the United Nations [...]
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Authorities in Lithuania have been urged to lift a lifelong ban from holding political office on a former president accused of abuse of power. The Lithuanian parliament removed Rolandas Paksas from office in April 2004 after the constitutional court found that he had unlawfully arranged Lithuanian citizenship for a Russian-born businessman. In the same year [...]
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its first ever guidelines for the screening, care and treatment of hepatitis C which results in liver damage. The agency says the chronic infection affects approximately 130 million people and results in up to 500,000 deaths a year. It is hoped the guidelines will enable standardized treatment across [...]
A strong and expanding economy, does not necessarily lead to improved standards of living in cities according to the Nobel prize-winning economist, Joseph Stiglitz. Speaking at the 7th session of the World Urban Forum in the Colombian city of Medellín, he said that Gross Domestic Product or GDP, which measures the market value of goods [...]
The joint African Union-United Nations mission in Darfur (UNAMID) is revising its strategic focus, according to its head and Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the region. The mission was established in 2007 to protect civilians and promote a political process following the outbreak of conflict in the region between government forces and armed groups [...]
Early warning mechanisms are key to ensuring that genocide will not occur again in the Great Lakes region. That's according to Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, the first Executive Secretary of the International Conference on the Great Lakes region, a UN-backed inter-governmental organisation set up following the Rwanda genocide. The 20th anniversary of the genocide in which [...]
The first ever joint thematic debate on the role of partnerships for the implementation of the post 2015 development agenda is being held in New York on Wednesday. The meeting involves the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), two of the main organs of the United Nations. The UN says that [...]
The Amir of Kuwait has been thanked by the head of the World Food Programme for his support for humanitarian causes, particularly the Syria crisis. Ertharin Cousin, the Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), said she could not "stress too highly what an immense service the Amir has done, not least by [...]
People in conflict-torn Central African Republic are in need of police protection, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Navi Pillay spoke to reporters on Tuesday after briefing the Security Council about human rights issues in conflict areas around the world. She said African-led international force in the country (MISCA) and French forces [...]
To make a city "smart," it's not enough for it to be wired or high-tech and high-speed, according to urban development expert Tim Campbell. It also has to be a city that can learn, innovate and operate in a "cloud of trust", he adds. The renowned author moderated an event entitled "A Global Conversation on [...]
The 7th session of the World Urban Forum opened on Monday night in the Colombian city of Medellín, with a call for action to create a new urban model for the 21st century, in order to achieve more sustainable, inclusive, productive and more equitable cities. In a recorded video message, the UN Secretary General, Ban [...]
Millions of Syrians could face a major drought in the North West of the country if more rain does not fall in the next month. The World Food Programme is warning that 6.5 million Syrians could need emergency rations, up from the current figure of 4.2 million. Claire Doole reports from Geneva. Duration: 2’19″
Cities in developing countries can learn from success stories in other parts of the world, according to Minister Suleiman Sumba from Kakamega County in Kenya. Minister Sumba is currently at the World Urban Forum (WUF), in Colombia to discuss how cities can be a critical component in addressing inequality. The Forum is convened every two [...]
The brutal conflict in Syria is driving the country to its destruction, as troubling reports of atrocities continue. The warning has come from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who also condemned the killing of an elderly priest. Mr. Ban demanded that the warring parties and their supporters in Syria ensure that civilians are protected regardless of [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is expecting to see the outbreak of cases of the deadly virus Ebola continue in West Africa over the next few months. The UN agency currently has 60 of its own and partner staff on the ground to manage and control the outbreak. From Geneva Claire Doole reports. World Health [...]
The candidates and their supporters in Afghanistan's presidential elections held on Saturday have been urged to respect the work of the country's two electoral institutions. The appeal was made on Tuesday by the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Ján Kubiš as vote counting is underway. Mr. Kubiš met with the chairpersons [...]
Drought threatens to worsen an already fragile food situation in north-western Syria, according to a report by the UN World Food Programme (WFP). The agency, which provided food to a record 4 million people last month, fears that if rainfall does not increase, drought could put the lives of millions of people at risk. According [...]
Women and children fleeing conflict in South Sudan are dying on their way to refugee camps in Ethiopia, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). About 80,000 people have crossed into Ethiopia from the eastern parts of South Sudan since the beginning of the conflict in December 2013. The OIM has assisted the majority [...]
The UN General Assembly's Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People is being briefed on Tuesday on the situation in East Jerusalem where thousands of Palestinians have been without running water for over a month. The Committee, which was established in 1975, is composed of several member states and regional [...]
Young people are being asked what type of cities they would like to inhabit in the future. The question was posed at a youth assembly at the seventh session of the World Urban Forum which is being held this week in the city of Medellín, Colombia. Around 15,000 participants from around the world have gathered [...]
The international community has been urged to make progress in pushing the disarmament agenda in a world that has been described as "over armed and peace under-funded." The appeal was made by UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson as the UN Disarmament Commission began its three-week session in New York on Monday. Mr. Eliasson said the [...]
More than 30 years ago Medellín, Colombia's second largest city, was better known for being the "murder capital of the world" and home to the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar. Today, it's a transformed city and is hosting the 7th World Urban Forum where experts and innovators in urban development are discussing how to plan, [...]
UN Member States have been urged to adapt and respond to new population and development challenges. The appeal was made by the President of the General Assembly, Ambassador John Ashe, as the Commission on Population and Development began its 47th session in New York on Monday. In his statement, he noted that much has changed [...]
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The killing of two United Nations workers in Somalia on Monday has been condemned by senior UN officials. According to reports, the two consultants, working for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) were shot inside Galkayo Airport in Puntland after they got off a plane. The two experts, nationals of the United Kingdom [...]
An investigation has been launched following the shooting and subsequent death of a Syrian refugee at a camp in Jordan. The death followed a riot by several thousand refugees after a family was discovered being smuggled out of the Za'atri camp. Za'atri which is located in the north of the country, currently houses over 100,000 [...]
A contribution of $100 million by Kuwait to UN refugee operations in Syria represents "a difference between life and death" for Syrians both inside and outside the country. That's what the head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), Antonio Guterres, said in Geneva on Monday as he welcomed the donation by the State of Kuwait. [...]
The number of people in the Central African Republic who are not getting enough food has doubled over the past year to 1.6 million. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said in a joint report that food insecurity has worsened due to the widespread conflict that has affected [...]
The ongoing conflict in the Central African Republic has created food insecurity for 1.6 million people according to United Nations food and agriculture agencies. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have warned that the country needs a long-term expensive humanitarian operation. A report by the two agencies finds [...]
The ability of the people of Rwanda to unite and show that reconciliation is possible even after what has been described as "a monumental tragedy" is an inspiration to the world. That's what UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in his message to mark the 20th anniversary of the Rwanda genocide on 7 April. Starting on [...]
Rwandans around the world are preparing to mark the 20th anniversary of the genocide in their country in which around 800,000 people were killed. The massacres in 1994 were carried out by militia and Government forces over a period of just 100 days. The United Nations is remembering the genocide through "Kwibuka 20," a series [...]
On World Health Day, the UN is highlighting the "serious and increasing threat" of vector-borne diseases and the need for people to shield themselves from them. These diseases come from mosquito, tick and flea bites that infect people with viruses, parasites and bacteria, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Every year, more than one [...]
Mosquitoes, flies, ticks and bugs may be a threat to your health at home and when travelling—that's the message of this year's World Health Day, on the 7th of April. The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners are spotlighting vector-borne diseases. Vectors are organisms that transmit pathogens and parasites from one infected person to [...]
A woman who survived the Rwandan genocide of 1994 has urged people to demonstrate "unity and love" at a meeting at the United Nations. Around 800,000 people perished in Rwanda over a period of 100 days in one of the worst cases of mass killings in modern times Immaculée Ilibagiza participated in the launch at [...]
Sport is a universal language that unites groups and nations across divides. That was Ban Ki-moon's message on Sunday, as the world celebrated its first-ever International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. Sport empowers youth, promotes good health and deepens UN values such as equality, mutual respect and fair play, he said. The Secretary-General [...]
The Central African Republic (CAR) is at risk of partition, destabilizing an already fragile region, the Secretary-General warned on Saturday. Mr. Ban Ki-moon made the remarks in the capital city of Bangui, after concluding his first visit to CAR since the crisis erupted in December 2012. The UN chief’s visit comes amid a recent escalation [...]
Afghanistan has witnessed a large voter turnout during the country's landmark elections held on Saturday. Braving the heavy rains, challenges and security threats, people still came out to cast their ballots, the UN's top envoy in the country, Ján Kubiš told journalists at a polling centre in Kabul, the nation's capital. The UN Assistance Mission [...]
It's a true historic moment for Afghanistan, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in the country said as the nation held Presidential and Provincial Council elections on Saturday. Braving bad weather, threats and intimidation, Afghans showed their resolve by coming out to vote, said Ján Kubiš who is also the head of the UN Mission in Afghanistan [...]
This year marks 20 years since Hutu extremists in Rwanda slaughtered approximately 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus within a period of 100 days. The 1994 Rwanda genocide shocked the world and tested the United Nations capacity to intervene to protect vulnerable people in a conflict. There have been a series of events known as "Kwibuka [...]
Sudan's political issues can only be resolved through a dialogue with all parties to the conflict. That's what the head of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) told UN Radio on Friday. Mohamed Ibn Chambas was in New York where he briefed the Security Council on the situation in Darfur. Mr. Chambas [...]
The Secretary General has commended the Czech government for its constructive role globally in supporting the peaceful settlement of disputes. This it has done through helping countries in transition and advocating for human rights protection, Mr. Ban Ki-moon said. He made his remarks in the capital city Prague in a press event with the country's [...]
A "hasty" judicial process in the Somali town of Kismayo that led to the execution of a man for the alleged murder of an elder has raised the concern of the United Nations human rights office. Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said the man was sentenced [...]
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The development of what has been described as "hate language" in the Central African Republic is dangerous because it is usually a precursor to genocide. This warning has come from the head of a team of experts that is investigating allegations of violations of international humanitarian law in the Central African Republic. Violence continues between [...]
Senior UN officials have strongly condemned an attack against two international journalists in Afghanistan on Friday, which left one dead and the other wounded. The Associated Press journalists, Anja Niedringhaus and Kathy Gannon, were shot in the Tani district of Khost province in eastern Afghanistan where they were covering the upcoming elections. The Director-General of [...]
An international team investigating allegations of violations of international humanitarian law in the Central African Republic is continuing its work despite the ongoing violence in the country. Thousands of people are believed to have been killed and tens of thousands of others have fled their homes as violence continues between Christians and Muslims. The Chairperson [...]
Women's participation is crucial at all stages of mine action from surveying mined areas to deciding where to begin clearance, according to the United Nations. On International Mine Action Day, observed 4 April, the UN is promoting the efforts made by women to make mine action more efficient and effective. The UN Mine Action Service [...]
As Afghans prepare for Presidential and Provincial Council elections, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is highlighting the importance of domestic observers and the prevention of fraud. More than 10,000 domestic observers and 250,000 candidate and party agents have already received accreditation to monitor the elections on the 5th of April. Stephanie Coutrix [...]
After decades of civil war in Sudan, South Sudan gained independence in July 2011, and became the world's newest country. But legacies of the conflict live on. One young woman is challenging traditional roles by driving an armoured vehicle that is built to crush landmines, and in the process is clearing the remnants of her [...]
After decades of civil war in Sudan, South Sudan gained independence in July 2011, and became the world's newest country. But legacies of the conflict live on. One young woman is challenging traditional roles by driving an armoured vehicle that is built to crush landmines, and in the process is clearing the remnants of her [...]
Declining donor support for mine clearance activities in Cambodia could seriously hamper the country's chances of becoming mine-free. The country has been clearing landmines for nearly two decades now. Cambodia is affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war left by 30 years of conflict that ended in the 1990s. The full extent of the [...]
Creating cities which are liveable and prosperous for all people is the goal of an international meeting which begins in Medellin, Colombia on Saturday. The bi-annual World Urban Forum (WUF) convened by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) examines the most pressing issues facing the planet due to rapid urbanization. Delegates from across the [...]
The rapid urbanization of the world needs to take place in what has been described by a senior UN official as a "proper manner" if future development is to be sustainable. Experts from around the world are gathering at a conference in Medellin, Colombia to assess the relationship between cities and the Post-2015 Development Agenda. [...]
The Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution to give the African Union-UN Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) the best chance of protecting civilians of the regions. That's what UK's Ambassador to the UN, Mark Lyall Grant, told reporters on Thursday after a Security Council meeting. Ambassador Grant said the resolution would improve UNAMID's "effectiveness" [...]
The Secretary-General has urged Afghan candidates and voters to show patience and respect for electoral institutions and processes during Saturday's historic polls. In a statement read by his Spokesperson, Ban Ki-moon also appealed to the people of Afghanistan to abide by the poll results. The country is holding presidential and provincial council elections on 5 [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
As Afghans prepare for Presidential and Provincial Council elections, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is highlighting the importance of domestic observers and the prevention of fraud. More than 10,000 domestic observers and 250,000 candidate and party agents have already received accreditation to monitor the elections on the 5th of April. Stephanie Coutrix [...]
More than three million peoples' lives have been saved by large-scale malaria interventions over a 12 year period, the Secretary-General told a group of leaders from Africa and Europe on Thursday. Ninety per cent of them are children, he underscored. Mr. Ban Ki-moon made his remarks in Brussels where he attended an event hosted by [...]
West Papua is more than 3000 kilometres from the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. It’s not only difficult to reach, but for decades it’s been plagued by conflict, so it’s been a challenge to create economic opportunities here. But thanks to a government project supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) fishermen in the country [...]
The number of refugees fleeing from Syria into neighbouring Lebanon has surpassed one million today, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). The agency describes this development as a "tragic milestone", adding that the situation is made worse by rapidly depleting resources and a host community stretched to breaking point. It says refugees from Syria [...]
Food prices increased sharply in March according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The FAO Food Price Index, which is based on the price of a basket of internationally-traded food commodities, rose by almost 5 points or the equivalent of 2.3 per cent. The agency says this is the highest level since May [...]
The United Nations is in a "race against time" to deliver aid to 3.7 million people who are at severe risk of starvation in South Sudan. That's what Toby Lanzer, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in the country told reporters in Geneva on Thursday. According to the UN lead humanitarian agency, OCHA, an estimated 78 [...]
The carrying out of terrorist acts by people acting alone or working in small cells has been described by the United Nations as an "emerging phenomenon." The Boston bombings by the Tsarnaev brothers and the murder of 77 people by Anders Breivik in Norway are two of the most high-profile examples of recent years of [...]
A simple and innovative tool to analyze and measure rural development has been unveiled in Rome on Thursday by the United Nations' specialized agency for rural development, IFAD. The Multidimensional Poverty Assessment Tool (MPAT) is the result of a collaborative and international initiative started in 2008 and led by IFAD. Using household and village surveys, [...]
Ludwig von Beethoven would not exist if his mother, a women violently abused by her husband, had decided to terminate her pregnancy. That's the main message of director Jason Jones' new short film Crescendo, screened in March at the UN. Mr. Jones, an anti-abortion activist, highlighted that Crescendo is not an ideologically driven film, but [...]
The Palestinian Authority has exercised its legal right in requesting to join a number of UN institutions. That's what Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations told the press on Wednesday after he hand-delivered letters of accession to the Secretary-General's Chef de Cabinet, Susan Malcorra. Earlier, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abass signed [...]
The top United Nations official in Afghanistan has urged women in the country to build on the momentum behind a petition calling for peace. Ján Kubiš made the call ahead of the 5 April elections which have been marred by a string of violent attacks by the Taliban against election facilities. The petition has garnered [...]
Six people have lost their lives in Chile following an 8.2 –magnitude earthquake that struck off its northern coast. That's according to Mr. Ricardo Mena, the head of the Latin American and Caribbean Office of UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. The Chilean government, which declared a State of Emergency in the north of the [...]
The UN Secretary-General has called on all States that have not yet signed and ratified the Arms Trade Treaty to do so without delay. Mr. Ban Ki-moon made the appeal on Wednesday as the General Assembly marked the first anniversary of the adoption of the Treaty. Fifty signatures are needed for the Treaty to enter [...]
The Arms Trade Treaty was adopted in the General Assembly on the 2nd of April 2013 by a vote of 154 in favour, 3 against, and 23 abstentions. The three countries against the adoption were Syria, Iran, and North Korea. The Arms Trade Treaty regulates the global trade of conventional arms, from handguns to battle [...]
Women have a critical role to play in ensuring food security in the post-2015 agenda, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). FAO cites the fight against hunger as critical part of the Sustainable Development Goals that will follow the Millennium Development Goals after 2015. Derrick Mbatha sat down with Anna Rappazzo, [...]
Reinforcements are needed "right away" in the Central African Republic (CAR), the Secretary-General told participants at the fourth European Union-Africa Summit in Brussels on Wednesday. The Summit brings together African and European Union (EU) leaders, as well as leaders of EU and African Union Institutions. The debates focus on peace, security, trade, migration and climate [...]
