UN labour agency partners with retailer H&M on social sustainability
Sep 16, 2014, at 02:16 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS) The United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) on Monday announced a unique partnership with retail giant H&M to promote sustainable global supply chains in the garment industry.
UN urges young people to engage in democracy – and for politicians to engage youth
Sep 16, 2014, at 02:15 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS) The United Nations on Monday marked the annual International Day of Democracy with calls on young people to lead a major push for inclusive democracy around the world.
Libya closer to brink of protracted conflict and strife, UN envoy warns
Sep 16, 2014, at 02:07 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS) Three years after the fall of their former regime, the Libyan people find themselves nowhere closer to realizing their hopes and aspirations for a better future, the top UN official in Libya said on Monday, noting the urgency to take advantage of a "small window of opportunity."
Nuclear programmes of DPR Korea, Iran remain 'serious concern' – UN official
Sep 16, 2014, at 02:04 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): The nuclear programmes of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Iran remain matters of serious concern, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said on Monday, as he called on both countries to cooperate fully to clear up outstanding issues.
UN rights office hails ratification of disability convention by 150 States as 'major milestone'
Sep 16, 2014, at 01:57 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS) Guyana became the latest country to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is widely regarded as the first international human rights treaty of the twenty-first century and one of the fastest to be ratified.
Malta ship sinking claims 500 lives: IOM
Sep 16, 2014, at 05:59 am
Geneva, Sept 15 (IBNS): About 500 people are feared dead after their ship was rammed by another boat near Malta coast last week, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Monday.
UN humanitarian chief urges sustained funding to assist millions of Iraqis in need
Sep 15, 2014, at 03:53 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS) Sustained funding and support will be vital if the United Nations and its partners are to continue assisting the millions of Iraqis affected by the ongoing crisis in the country, particularly as winter approaches, the world body's top humanitarian official said on Sunday.
Ban strongly condemns latest attack on UN peacekeepers in Mali
Sep 15, 2014, at 03:51 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday strongly condemned an attack on a military vehicle of the United Nations mission in Mali that resulted in the death of a Chadian peacekeeper and left four other troops wounded.
Security Council deplores 'heinous' murder of British aid worker by Islamic militants
Sep 15, 2014, at 03:49 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS) Members of the United Nations Security Council on Sunday strongly condemned the "heinous and cowardly" murder of David Haines, a British humanitarian aid worker, by the armed group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
ISIS releases video showing beheading of British hostage
Sep 14, 2014, at 04:59 pm
Baghdad, Sept 14 (IBNS): Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has released a video message targeting the British government and "Allies of America" where they show the beheading of British aid worker David Haines.
Ban appoints new UN envoy for West Africa
Sep 13, 2014, at 03:12 pm
New York, Sept 13 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Mohammed Ibn Chambas as his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA).
On International Day, UN urges efforts to support South-South cooperation
Sep 13, 2014, at 03:11 pm
New York, Sept 13 (IBNS) Cooperation between and among developing countries offers a path to balancing growth and equity, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday, marking the United Nations Day of South-South cooperation with a call to encourage – and learn from – emerging partners in the global South to promote prosperity for all.
Colombian women's network receives annual UN refugee award
Sep 13, 2014, at 03:09 pm
New York, Sept 13 (IBNS) A Colombian women's rights group, whose members put their lives on the line to assist survivors of forced displacement and sexual abuse, is this year's winner of a prestigious award presented by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
UN-organized tsunami exercise shows Indian Ocean region now 'better prepared'
Sep 13, 2014, at 03:08 pm
New York, Sept 13 (IBNS) A decade after the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster, which killed nearly 250,000 people and left an arc of devastation across 12 countries, a warning system devised by the United Nations to assess communications flows and readiness procedures throughout the region is functioning "effectively," the world body has announced after a two-day simulation exercise.
UN rights official cites 'clear need' for vigilance on issue of privacy in digital age
Sep 13, 2014, at 03:07 pm
New York, Sept 13 (IBNS) Stating that the digital age has opened the door to emancipation for millions and has been perhaps the greatest liberation movement the world has ever known, a senior United Nations human rights official warned on Friday that digital platforms have sparked troubling concerns about the right to privacy, especially their vulnerability to surveillance, interception and data collection.
Ukraine: UN agency launches emergency food aid operation in country's east
Sep 13, 2014, at 03:06 pm
New York, Sept 13 (IBNS) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is rolling out its first operation in Ukraine, providing food assistance to vulnerable people affected by the conflict with distributions in transit centres and public shelters in Donetsk and Luhansk in the country's east.
Australia raises terror alert level
Sep 12, 2014, at 04:39 pm
Canberra, Sept 12 (IBNS): Australia on Friday increased the terrorism threat level in the country from medium to high.
New UN envoy for Syria meets President, senior ministers in Damascus
Sep 12, 2014, at 04:02 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS) On his first visit to Syria since being appointed United Nations Special Envoy for that country, Staffan de Mistura met with President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Thursday .
Haiti: UN envoy calls for democratic consolidation to avoid ‘institutional vacuum’
Sep 12, 2014, at 03:56 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS) Amid continuing mistrust and disagreement over the electoral process in Haiti, a senior United Nations official on Thursday voiced deep concern over the political stalemate in the country.
Myanmar: UN officials urge greater humanitarian, development support for Rakhine
Sep 12, 2014, at 03:50 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS) Two senior United Nations officials have called for increased humanitarian assistance and development efforts to meet the needs of all communities in Myanmar’s Rakhine state following a visit there this week.
Senior UN officials urge Member States to craft 'bold, pragmatic' post-2015 agenda
Sep 12, 2014, at 03:49 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS) With an "intense and important year ahead," United Nations Member States must work to build a framework that will sustain and finish what was accomplished with the landmark Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the fight against poverty, hunger and disease, while rising to challenges old and new – not least climate change.
UNICEF: Progress for children rights in south Asia, but inequalities exist
Sep 12, 2014, at 03:21 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS) Despite rapid economic growth and huge progress in realizing the rights of children, young people in South Asia are paying a heavy price, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Thursday , noting that "everybody in South Asia has an obligation – and the potential – to do more to realize the rights of every single child in the region."
UN: detained Fijian peacekeepers in Golan released in good condition
Sep 12, 2014, at 03:15 pm
New York, Sept 12 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed on Thursday the release of the 45 United Nations peacekeepers that had been forcibly taken on 28 August 2014 in the Golan and detained by armed elements.
Iraq: UNESCO chief warns start of new school year in jeopardy for thousands of children
Sep 11, 2014, at 02:52 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS)The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Wednesday called for urgent international action and mobilization to support Iraq's children and young people to get back to school.
Libya: UN envoy calls for end to fighting, beginning of political process
Sep 11, 2014, at 02:52 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS) The violence in Libya must stop, the United Nations envoy to that country on Wednesday reiterated, calling for "meaningful, effective" dialogue to end what is among the worst fighting the country has seen since leader Muammar al-Qadhafi was ousted in 2011.
UN rights expert welcomes new Assembly resolution on debt structuring
Sep 11, 2014, at 02:48 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS) A new United Nations General Assembly resolution on debt restructuring that will set up a multilateral legal framework for debtor countries to emerge from debt safely was welcomed on Wednesday by the UN rights expert on the issue as a way forward to "fill the current legal voice and reduce uncertainty."
New UN reports calls for major changes in global economic governance, management
Sep 11, 2014, at 02:42 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS)Six years after the start of the global economic and financial crisis, the world economy has still not found a sustainable growth path, argues a new United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report released on Wednesday.
UN officials call for renewed global commitment to ending nuclear tests
Sep 11, 2014, at 02:37 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS)United Nations officials on Wednesday called for renewed commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons and nuclear tests, noting that nearly 2,000 such tests have taken place since 1945.
Disarmament for development is a 'win-win' for States, people – UN rights expert
Sep 11, 2014, at 02:34 pm
New York, Sept 11 (IBNS) An independent United Nations human rights expert on Wednesday called for a meaningful reduction of military spending with funds reoriented towards development, and greater transparency in how Governments prioritize budgets.
Tasmania anti-protest bill contravenes Australia's human rights obligations – UN experts
Sep 10, 2014, at 03:06 pm
New York, Sept 10 (IBNS): A group of independent United Nations experts have urged lawmakers in Tasmania to refrain from adopting legislation against protests that disrupt businesses, saying the proposed bill would contravene Australia’s human rights obligations.