UN special adviser stresses urgency of de-escalating tensions sparked by protests in Bahrain
Jun 23, 2016, at 04:40 am
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News):Noting the new protests and increased tensions in Bahrain triggered by the revocation of the citizenship of a prominent Shia religious leader, a senior United Nations human rights advisor called on the Government to ensure that the right to freedom of peaceful assembly is fully respected and that any response to the protests is in accordance with the country’s obligations under international human rights law.
UN report finds Caribbean region must boost efforts to prepare for increased drought
Jun 23, 2016, at 04:32 am
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News): Climate change is expected to increase the intensity and frequency of droughts in the Caribbean, so countries in the region must enhance their capabilities to deal with this and other extreme weather-related challenges to ensure food security and hunger eradication, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said in a new report.
Disarming armed groups, civilian protection crucial for Central African Republic – UN expert
Jun 23, 2016, at 04:30 am
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News):Concluding her seventh visit in the country, Marie-Thérèse Keita Bocoum, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic (CAR), expressed concern about the threats from armed groups and large-scale banditry to the protection of civilians, natural resources and to the crisis recovery process.
UNESCO chief condemns killing of journalist in Texas
Jun 23, 2016, at 04:29 am
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom on Wednesday called for an investigation into the killing of Jacinto Hernández Torres, also known as Jay Torres, a Spanish-language journalist in Texas.
NATO Secretary General condemns North Korea’s ballistic missile launch
Jun 22, 2016, at 07:54 pm
Brussels, Jun 22 (IBNS): NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday condemned the missile launch by North Korea, according to reports.
South Korea, US military accuse North Korea of firing two missiles; leaves Japan wary
Jun 22, 2016, at 05:33 pm
Seoul, Jun 22 (IBNS): The South Korean and US military jointly accused North Korea of firing two missiles from its eastern coasts on Wednesday morning, reports said.
Ban condemns terrorist attack against Jordanian guard post at Syrian border
Jun 22, 2016, at 02:24 pm
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News):Condemning on Tuesday's terrorist attack against a Jordanian border guard post at the north-eastern border with Syria, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon offered his condolences to the families of the victims and reiterates his solidarity with the Government and people of Jordan.
-1466565778.jpg "South Sudan: Special investigation into Malakal violence completed, says UN")
South Sudan: Special investigation into Malakal violence completed, says UN
Jun 22, 2016, at 02:23 pm
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News):A United Nations independent high-level board of inquiry has completed a special in-depth investigation into how the UN responded this past February to deadly violence in a protection of civilians site in the town of Malakal, in northern South Sudan.
Jun 22, 2016, at 02:22 pm
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News): Addressing an event commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson on Tuesday stressed the importance of prevention and early response efforts, as well as the need to shift shame and stigma from victims to perpetrators.
Jun 22, 2016, at 02:20 pm
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News):While Governments around the world have been working decidedly and collectively to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and nuclear weapons, the international community must intensify efforts in that regard in order to keep up with and effectively address global challenges, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday.
UN humanitarian wing and partners respond to unprecedented suffering in 2015
Jun 22, 2016, at 02:17 pm
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News):The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has released its 2015 annual report, articulating its response to the humanitarian challenges and human suffering, in all corners of the world that have overstretched the UN relief arm.
Niger: UNICEF reports more than 240,000 uprooted from homes in Diffa region
Jun 22, 2016, at 02:16 pm
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News):More than 240,000 people, or a third of the population, in Niger’s Diffa region have been uprooted from their homes since 3 June attacks by Boko Haram insurgents, the single largest displacement since 2013, a senior United Nations official said on Tuesday.
‘Credibility of international community at risk’ as Syria war grinds on – senior UN officials
Jun 22, 2016, at 02:15 pm
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News):With the conflict in Syria now well into its fifth year, and the country dealing with a grinding crisis that has brought death, displacement and regional instability, the international community must not lose momentum in attaining a comprehensive and concrete political solution, senior United Nations officials emphasized on Tuesday.
Jun 22, 2016, at 02:14 pm
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News):The United Nations–supported Yemeni peace talks under way in Kuwait have progressed “slowly, yet constructively,†over the last two months, with agreement still to be reached on the sequencing of the various steps proposed, including the timing of establishing a national unity government, the UN envoy for the country said on Tuesday.
ICC sentences former Congolese vice-president Bemba to 18 years in prison for war crimes
Jun 22, 2016, at 02:13 pm
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News):The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday sentenced the former Congolese Vice-President, Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, to 18 years of imprisonment for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Central African Republic between October 2002 and March 2003.
Jun 22, 2016, at 02:11 pm
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News):A senior United Nations expert on human rights in Belarus warned on Tuesday that several generations have grown up in the country “with no experience of what the words ‘pluralism,’ ‘labour rights,’ ‘free enterprise,’ ‘free artistic creation’ or ‘free media’ mean in reality.â€
UN agencies warn of alleged rights violations, funding shortfall in embattled Fallujah
Jun 22, 2016, at 04:38 am
New York, June 21 (Just Earth News):Amid ongoing fighting in the embattled Iraqi city of Fallujah, the United Nations human rights office on Tuesday warned of continuing allegations of serious rights violations, as the Organization’s refugee agency reported a funding crunch to meet the immediate needs of the thousands of civilians who continue to flee the area.
Bahrain: UN rights office concerned at crackdown on human rights and political opposition groups
Jun 22, 2016, at 04:37 am
New York, June 21 (Just Earth News):Concerned at the intensification of a crackdown on free expression and association, and the right to a nationality in Bahrain, the United Nations human rights office on Tuesday urged the Government to ensure those rights are protected in line with the country’s obligations under international law and that civil society activists do not face undue pressure, intimidation or reprisals for their work.
More than half of Yemen’s population now food insecure – UN
Jun 22, 2016, at 04:34 am
New York, June 21 (Just Earth News):Vast swathes of war-torn Yemen,19 out of 22 governorates are facing severe food insecurity, and the situation within affected areas is likely to deteriorate if conflict persists, according to a new assessment by the United Nations and partners.
On International Yoga Day, Ban spotlights importance of healthy living in realizing Global Goals
Jun 22, 2016, at 04:33 am
New York, June 21 (Just Earth News):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged everyone to embrace healthier choices and lifestyles and to commit to unity with other human beings, regardless of ethnicity, faith, age, gender identity or sexual orientation.
US senate rejects gun control measures after Orlando shooting
Jun 21, 2016, at 08:16 pm
Washington, June 21 (IBNS) The US Senate has rejected proposals to restrict guns after last week's mass shooting in an Orlando nightclub,media reports said.
Thailand: Ban reaffirms UN’s readiness to support country’s return to democracy
Jun 21, 2016, at 01:09 pm
New York, June 21 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has reaffirmed the UN’s readiness to support Thailand as the country prepares to vote on a final draft Constitution.
UN expert sees very little change in efforts to protect right to life, end impunity in Mexico
Jun 21, 2016, at 01:08 pm
New York, June 21 (Just Earth News): A United Nations human rights expert on Monday said that in Mexico, very little has changed regarding the protection of the right to life his 2013 fact-finding mission to the country.
Central African Republic: UN humanitarian coordinator ‘outraged’ at attacks on aid vehicles
Jun 21, 2016, at 01:06 pm
New York, June 21 (Just Earth News): The interim United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in the Central African Republic (CAR), Dr. Michel Yao strongly condemned an armed attack on a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) convoy transporting medicines and fuel from the capital, Bangui, to the south-eastern city of Bangassou on 17 June.
UN strongly condemns series of attacks in Afghanistan
Jun 21, 2016, at 01:05 pm
New York, June 21 (Just Earth News):The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Monday expressed grave concern about a series of deadly attacks across Afghanistan, reiterating its call for anti-Government elements, including the Taliban, to immediately cease all attacks in civilian-populated areas and stop targeting civilians, including diplomatic facilities and personnel.
Ban underlines progress towards strengthening responses to global health crises
Jun 21, 2016, at 01:04 pm
New York, June 21 (Just Earth News):With the continued increase in the number and gravity of health emergencies globally, the international community must continue to work towards charting a path for how nations and communities can proactively prepare for and respond to such challenges in the future, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon emphasized on Monday.
Ban underlines progress towards strengthening responses to global health crises
Jun 21, 2016, at 01:03 pm
New York, June 21 (Just Earth News):With the continued increase in the number and gravity of health emergencies globally, the international community must continue to work towards charting a path for how nations and communities can proactively prepare for and respond to such challenges in the future, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon emphasized on Monday.
-1466474476.jpg "On first anniversary of Mali peace accord, Ban welcomes President's commitment to peace")
On first anniversary of Mali peace accord, Ban welcomes President's commitment to peace
Jun 21, 2016, at 01:01 pm
New York, June 21 (Just Earth News):On the occasion of the first anniversary of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the renewed commitment to peace expressed by the country's President, Ibrahim Boubakar Keïta, and his Government.
‘Unprecedented’ 65 million people displaced by war and persecution in 2015 – UN
Jun 21, 2016, at 04:52 am
New York, June 20 (Just Earth News):The number of people displaced from their homes due to conflict and persecution last year exceeded 60 million for the first time in the United Nations’ history, a tally greater than the combined populations of the United Kingdom, or of Canada, Australia and New Zealand, says a new report released on World Refugee Day today.
Myanmar must address ‘serious’ human rights violations against minorities – UN rights chief
Jun 21, 2016, at 04:51 am
New York, June 20 (Just Earth News): Issuing a new report on the situation of minorities in Myanmar, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has urged the Government to take concrete steps to end the “systemic discrimination†and ongoing human rights violations against minority communities, particularly the Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state.