Head of UNESCO deplores killing of Colombian journalist
Sep 17, 2015, at 01:59 pm
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has denounced the recent killing of Colombian journalist Flor Alba Núñez Vargas.
Europe must change course on refugee crisis response: UN agency
Sep 17, 2015, at 01:57 pm
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): Only a united European emergency response can address the current refugee and migration crisis, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stressed on Wednesday.
Simple act of playing represents grave danger for children in Syria: UNICEF
Sep 17, 2015, at 01:56 pm
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has condemned in the strongest terms mortar attacks on civilian areas of Aleppo, Syria, which reportedly killed at least 19 children on Tuesday, including six in a UNICEF-supported child friendly space.
Ban calls for immediate release of detained leaders of Burkina Faso
Sep 17, 2015, at 01:55 pm
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced his outrage at reports that President Michel Kafando of Burkina Faso, Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida and several Government ministers have been detained by soldiers from the presidential guard.
Nigeria: UN rights expert condemns attack against displaced persons' camp
Sep 17, 2015, at 01:54 pm
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): A "heinous" attack against a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Yola, north-eastern Nigeria, where some 32,000 people have found refuge, was strongly condemned on Wednesday by an independent United Nations human rights expert.
UN marks International Day by stressing vital role of civil society for true democracy
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:30 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): A strong and freely operating civil society is crucial for successful and stable democracies and must be given the space to carry out their vital functions, the United Nations emphasized on Tuesday, as it marked the International Day of Democracy.
UN agency urges Europe to develop coherent response to refugee crisis
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:29 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): While welcoming the steps taken by European leaders at their meeting in Brussels to tackle the current refugee crisis, the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday said a robust and coherent response is still urgently needed.
UNICEF advocate David Beckham issues call to end violence against children
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:26 pm
New YOrk, Sept 16 (IBNS): David Beckham, Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is championing a letter signed by 18 child survivors of violence that calls on world leaders to end the widespread abuse affecting millions of children around the world.New YOrk, Sept 16 (IBNS): David Beckham, Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is championing a letter signed by 18 child survivors of violence that calls on world leaders to end the widespread abuse affecting millions of children around the world.
Latest provocations could ignite fresh Israeli-Palestinian violence: UN envoy
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:25 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told the Security Council on Tuesday that he is gravely concerned over the violence and continuing clashes in and around the holy sites of the Old City of Jerusalem, and urged all leaders to ensure that visitors and worshippers demonstrate restraint and respect for the sanctity of the area.
No country has yet achieved equality between men and women: UN rights chief
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:23 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday that no country to date has achieved full equality between the sexes and urged the 47 members of the Human Rights Council "to do better than our societies" and make a real difference in achieving gender parity.
Millions of children in Syria deprived of education: UNICEF
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:21 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): As children around the world return to school, there are more than two million in Syria who will not be able to join them, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) cautioned on Tuesday, adding that another 400,000 are at risk of dropping out of school as a direct result of conflict, violence and displacement.
Syria: Ban names panel to probe accountability for chemical weapons use
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:20 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Virginia Gamba of Argentina to head the independent three-member panel that will lead the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) tasked with identifying those responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
Opening 70th UN General Assembly, President underscores urgent need for action
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:18 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): A major priority for the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly is to ensure that all actors move swiftly to deliver on the promises being made for sustainable development, the President of the 193-member body said on Tuesday.
UN officials condemn 'virtual silence' about escalating violence in Yemen
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:17 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): Two senior United Nations officials on Tuesday condemned "the virtual silence" about the increasing impact on civilians of the escalating conflict in Yemen, and urged leaders from all sides to refrain from manipulating religious identities for political purposes.
Killing of Somali media worker draws condemnation from UN official
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:15 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending the freedom of the press on Tuesday denounced the recent killing of a Somali news editor.
New allegation of sexual exploitation received by UN mission in Central Africa
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:14 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): A new allegation of sexual exploitation in the Central African Republic (CAR) was received on Tuesday by the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country, reportedly committed by one of its civilian staff last Saturday.
UN chief to highlight important work that lays ahead for world leaders
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:13 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): Ahead of what is expected to be one of the busiest high-level periods in recent memory at the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will brief reporters on Wednesday on a range of issues that world leaders will tackle in New York beginning next week.
Netizens slam Charlie Hebdo for publishing 'controversial' cartoon on Aylan Kurdi
Sep 15, 2015, at 11:56 pm
Paris, Sept 15 (IBNS): French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has triggered a fresh controversy by publishing cartoon on the death of Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi in its current issue, media reports said.
Central America faces major crop losses due to El Nino: UN agency
Sep 15, 2015, at 02:54 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): This year's cereal outputs in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua have been severely reduced because of the dry weather associated with the El Nino weather phenomenon, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Monday.
UN atomic energy chief highlights importance of science and technology for development
Sep 15, 2015, at 02:48 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday stressed the importance of science and technology for development, as he highlighted the links between the Sustainable Development Goals that will be adopted by United Nations Member States next week and the work of the Agency.
UN official welcomes proclamation of International Day to honour victims of genocide
Sep 15, 2015, at 02:47 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide has welcomed the resolution adopted by the General Assembly last week proclaiming 9 December as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime.
Persecution of civil society, migration crisis top concerns of UN rights chief
Sep 15, 2015, at 02:45 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): An "exhausted and angry" High Commissioner for Human Rights on Monday opened the 30th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council with a wide-ranging address in which he singled out countries by name for their role in accelerating human misery and implored decision-makers worldwide to swiftly establish an effective and principled policy to deal with the global migration crisis.
Creator of energy solutions to shine a light on childbirth wins $1 million UN grant
Sep 15, 2015, at 02:43 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): We Care Solar, which provides renewable energy at low cost with a medical device that prevents maternal and child complications during labour in areas without electricity, was announced on Monday as the winner of a $1 million grant by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
UN chief voices concern at latest escalation at Jerusalem's holy sites
Sep 15, 2015, at 02:42 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday echoed the concerns expressed by the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process about the latest escalation at the holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Cameroon host to families fleeing Nigeria, Lake Chad basin: UN relief official
Sep 15, 2015, at 02:40 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): Families on the run often surviving brutal attacks in Nigeria are now threatened with the lack of food, water and deadly epidemics in neighbouring Cameroon, where they have sought refuge, the top United Nations humanitarian official in the region said on Monday.
President talks about changing the world, as 69th UN General Assembly concludes
Sep 15, 2015, at 02:38 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): The 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly presented countries with a "historic opportunity" to change the world for the better and was guided by the overarching principles of cooperation, compromise and solidarity, its President said Monday.
Libyan parties reach consensus on main elements of political agreement: UN envoy
Sep 14, 2015, at 01:36 pm
New York, Sept 14 (IBNS): The United Nations envoy for Libya announced on Sunday that consensus has been reached by the parties on the main elements of a political agreement aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis.
UN Mid-east envoy urges respect for Jerusalem's holy sites
Sep 14, 2015, at 01:35 pm
New York, Sept 14 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process voiced concern at Sunday's provocations and violence in and around the holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem and urged respect for the sanctity of the area ahead of the upcoming Jewish and Muslim holy days.
UN calls for full, swift implementation of European proposals for refugee crisis
Sep 12, 2015, at 03:06 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Friday welcomed the European Commission's proposals unveiled last Wednesday to address the current refugee crisis in Europe, adding that given the urgency of the situation, these proposals need to be implemented fully and swiftly.
France and Bulgaria must halt forced evictions of Roma: UN rights chief
Sep 12, 2015, at 03:04 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS): Ongoing forced evictions of Roma and Travellers in a number of European States, including France and Bulgaria, are cause for serious concern, the United Nations human rights chief said on Friday.