Kyrgyz law on civil society groups must protect free expression: UN expert
May 27, 2015, at 02:03 pm
New York, May 27 (IBNS): The United Nations rights office called on Tuesday on the Government of Kyrgyzstan to ensure that the freedoms of expression and association are protected in line with international human rights standards as the country’s Parliament prepared to hear the first reading of draft law that could negatively affect the work of civil society organizations there.
UN Women partners with Spanish football team to boost gender equality
May 27, 2015, at 02:02 pm
New York, May 27 (IBNS): The United Nations entity dedicated to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women announced on Tuesday a partnership with Valencia Club de Fútbol, the first time ever that UN Women will collaborate with a professional sports team.
Lebanon: UN official in country urges end to political vacuum
May 26, 2015, at 01:40 pm
New York, May 26 (IBNS): The vacuum in the post of Lebanon's presidency has undermined the country's ability to address a range of growing security, economic and social challenges, the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Sigrid Kaag, warned on Monday.
Africa Day: Ban spotlights achievements, reflects on challenges of 2015
May 26, 2015, at 01:39 pm
New York, May 26 (IBNS): Each year, Africa Day is an opportunity to celebrate the continent's achievements and to reflect on its challenges, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday, highlighting the courage and determination it took to make remarkable progress to end the Ebola outbreak and urging leaders to commit to ending violence against women and empower them.
Ban tells refugee community world must provide 'safe avenues of migration'
May 26, 2015, at 01:38 pm
New York, May 26 (IBNS): The international community must intensify efforts to provide regular and safe avenues of migration and access to protection, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared on Monday as he wrapped up his trip to Ireland with a visit to a community of resettled refugees.
UN meteorological forum: Experts meet to discuss post-2015 action plan
May 26, 2015, at 01:36 pm
New York, May 26 (IBNS): With a welcoming 'tweet' from the International Space Station and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's renewed appeal for “bold climate action,†the United Nations-backed World Meteorological Congress opened its seventeenth session on Monday as international delegates will seek to address continuing concerns over global warming.
Somalia: UN official condemns killing of parliamentarian
May 25, 2015, at 01:59 pm
New York, May 25 (IBNS): The United Nations official in Somalia has condemned a deadly attack against two Somali Members of Parliament (MP) and reiterated the Organization's support for the country's democratic process.
Burundi: Ban condemns opposition politician's murder as tensions rise
May 25, 2015, at 01:58 pm
New York, May 25 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the killing of a Burundian politician and his bodyguard in a move that threatens to further destabilize the country amid simmering political tensions and a growing humanitarian crisis.
UN official in South Sudan urges accountability for human rights violations
May 25, 2015, at 01:56 pm
New York, May 25 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Representative for South Sudan, Ellen Margrethe Løj, has urged accountability and justice for those responsible for gross human rights violations committed as a result of South Sudan's continuing fighting.
Ireland: Ban says strong cooperation key to overcoming global challenges
May 25, 2015, at 01:53 pm
New York, May 25 (IBNS): Amid an explosion of world conflicts, humanitarian crises and human rights challenges, the international community is enduring a “time of test†which demands strong global cooperation and bold action, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday affirmed.
May 24, 2015, at 11:51 pm
Kuala Lumpur, May 24 (IBNS) A mass grave has been found close to 17 human trafficking detention camps in Malaysia's Padang Besar, country's authority said.
Ireland becomes first nation to approve same sex marriage by popular vote
May 24, 2015, at 08:09 pm
Dublin, May 24 (IBNS) Ireland became the first nation to approve same-sex marriage by a popular vote on Saturday bringing victory to the gay rights movement in the country.
-1432390559.jpg "Early trends show Ireland voters back same-sex marriage")
Early trends show Ireland voters back same-sex marriage
May 24, 2015, at 01:16 am
Dublin, May 23 (IBNS) In a significant development, early trends have indicated that people of Ireland have voted in favour of same-sex marriage, media reports said.
Modest global growth set to continue for rest of year: UN economic report
May 23, 2015, at 03:52 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): A new United Nations report released on Friday says that modest paced global economic growth continues, and predicts a gradual improvement in the situation over the second half of 2015 and into next year.
International Day: Ban says biodiversity is essential to sustainable development
May 23, 2015, at 03:50 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): Variety of life on Earth is essential for the welfare of current and future generations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday on the International Day for Biological Diversity, as he called on the international community to recommit to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss particularly as the United Nations prepares to adopt a new set of development goals.
Burundi: UN appeals for wider cholera relief efforts
May 23, 2015, at 03:49 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced encouragement at the ongoing political dialogue in Burundi following weeks of tensions and a reportedly failed coup d'état in the country's capital of Bujumbura, according to a United Nations spokesperson.
Nepal: WHO marks one month since devastating earthquake as it ramps up aid
May 23, 2015, at 03:47 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): Nearly one month after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, flattening large swathes of the country’s Kathmandu valley and affecting millions of people, the United Nations health agency is continuing its emergency response aimed at saving lives and addressing the urgent health needs of the Himalayan nation.
Hanoi: Ban lauds Viet Nam’s progress and leadership in field of development
May 23, 2015, at 03:44 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday began a two-day visit to Viet Nam and commended President Trương Tấn Sang for the “increasingly important role†his country is playing at the United Nations, including his efforts to combat climate change and in helping shape a new development agenda.
As South Sudan fighting intensifies, UN official warns of ‘persistent impunity’
May 23, 2015, at 03:43 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): The escalation of fighting in South Sudan has resulted in “alarming gross violations†of international human rights and humanitarian law as well as having exacted a terrible toll on the young nation’s civilian population, the United Nations human rights chief confirmed on Friday.
Thousands flee Syria’s besieged historic city of Palmyra, UN preparing for aid
May 23, 2015, at 03:41 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency and its partners are preparing aid for some 11,000 people fleeing the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra and surrounding villages, which have been overrun by militant forces this week.
UN condemns deadly terrorist attack on Shia mosque in Saudi Arabia
May 23, 2015, at 03:40 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations Security Council have strongly condemned the terrorist attack earlier on Friday that killed more than 20 people in a Shia mosque in the town of al-Qudaih in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
Lebanon: Funding shortage forces UN to halt allowance for Palestine refugees
May 23, 2015, at 03:39 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): A $100 monthly housing stipend per family for Palestine refugees who have fled war-torn Syria for Lebanon will be suspended because of lack of funds, prompting the UN agency assisting those refugees in the Middle East to urgently appeal to donors “to provide the bare minimum assistance†to protect Palestinians from “disastrous†risks such as detention, abuse and deportation.
Yemen: UN urges all parties to adhere to international law as civilian toll grows
May 23, 2015, at 03:38 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): As the number of civilian casualties in the Yemen conflict tops 1,000, the United Nations human rights office on Friday urged all parties – coalition forces, the Yemeni armed forces, Houthis and other non-State armed groups – to adhere strictly to their obligations under international law and do all in their power to protect civilians.
Boko Haram militants ‘must be brought to justice’: UN chief
May 23, 2015, at 03:36 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said he is deeply troubled by Boko Haram’s “continuing indiscriminate and horrific attacks†against the civilian populations of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, according to the United Nations.
Iraq: As fighting intensifies, UNWFP rushes supplies to thousands displaced
May 23, 2015, at 03:35 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): As tens of thousands of people continue to flee fierce fighting in the Ramadi district of Iraq, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is rushing food assistance there, a spokesperson confirmed in Geneva on Friday, as she appealed for $108 million to continue operations in the country until October 2015.
UN envoy continues Syria consultations, seeking to initiate political process
May 23, 2015, at 03:33 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria has said on Friday that consultations on the future of the country continued on Friday, as he shared perspectives with several interested parties, according to a UN spokesperson.
UN warns 3,500 people stranded in Southeast Asian waters
May 23, 2015, at 03:32 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): More than 200 people stranded off the Myanmar coast were brought to shore on Friday, prompting the United Nations refugee agency to welcome the landing and appeal for the rescue of 3,500 others in distress at sea, saying “the priority is to save lives by getting people safely off these boats as soon as possible.â€
UN rights expert urges Nauru to revoke measures that could 'muzzle' dissent
May 23, 2015, at 03:30 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): Voicing concern over recent amendments to the Criminal Code in Nauru which “unduly restrict†freedom of expression, a United Nations expert on the issue on Friday urged the Government to revoke such measures to fulfil its human rights obligations.
Security Council urges broader global cooperation to tackle transfer of arms
May 23, 2015, at 03:29 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution urging stronger cooperation in stemming the “illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse†of small arms and light weapons, underlining the suffering they caused to civilians.
International Day: UN urges world to seek end of obstetric fistula in our lifetime
May 23, 2015, at 03:18 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): Obstetric fistula is a devastating yet completely preventable and, in many cases, treatable injury of childbirth, affecting at least two million women and girls worldwide and leaving them isolated from communities, the United Nations spotlighted ahead of the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula.