At UN event, people with Downs Syndrome ‘speak up’ to influence government policy and action

Mar 22, 2017, at 02:01 pm

New York, Mar 22 (Just Earth News): On Tuesday, the call that people with Down Syndrome be included to fully and equally participate in all aspects of society echoed widely throughout United Nations Headquarters in New York.

DPR Korea facing ‘entrenched, largely forgotten’ humanitarian crisis, senior UN official warns

Mar 22, 2017, at 02:00 pm

New York, Mar 22 (Just Earth News): Over two-thirds of the population in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) suffers from food insecurity, malnutrition, and a lack of access to basic health and sanitation services, according to a latest humanitarian report, which also appeals for $114 million to meet the urgent need of the most vulnerable.

Greener energy for a third of the world bodes well for all, says UN on International Forest Day

Mar 22, 2017, at 01:59 pm

New York, Mar 22 (Just Earth News): Cautioning the impact of human activity such as practices use of woodfuel on world’s forests, the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Tuesday called for better wood-energy conversions technologies and more sustainable management of forests so that everyone benefits.

Despite progress, world’s most marginalized still left behind – UN development report

Mar 22, 2017, at 01:58 pm

New York, Mar 22 (Just Earth News): A flagship United Nations report launched on Tuesday finds that although the average human development improved significantly since 1990, progress is uneven, with systemic discrimination against women, indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities.

‘Stand up against intolerance and eliminate discrimination,’ says UN chief Guterres

Mar 22, 2017, at 01:57 pm

New York, Mar 22 (Just Earth News): Against the backdrop of rising discrimination and violence against those perceived as different, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday urged the world to stand up against intolerance and build communities that recognize diversity not as a source of weakness, but a source of strength and richness.

Deteriorating security situation in DR Congo 'a source of major concern,' warns UN envoy

Mar 22, 2017, at 01:55 pm

New York, Mar 22 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Tuesday stressed the need for both the Government and the opposition groups there to show the same level of commitment and compromise which led to the signing on 31 December of an agreement on the electoral process, while also citing the UN peacekeeping mission's readiness to adapt to the deteriorating security situation.

Warming earth threatens to release huge amounts of carbon – UN agency

Mar 22, 2017, at 05:16 am

New York, Mar 21 (Just Earth News): Rising temperatures could release massive amounts of carbon trapped in the Earth's soil, the United Nations agricultural agency on Tuesday reported, warning that soil management could make or break climate change response efforts.

Poetry gives us hope to scale and climb 'cloudy summits of our time' – UN cultural agency

Mar 22, 2017, at 05:14 am

New York, Mar 21 (Just Earth News): Poetry gives us hope, the United Nations cultural agency on Tuesday said, lauding verse's ability to shake us from everyday life and remind us of the surrounding beauty and the resilience of the shared human spirit.

Nowruz a reminder that heritage helps make resilient, sustainable societies – UN cultural agency

Mar 22, 2017, at 05:13 am

New York, Mar 21 (Just Earth News): In a message on the occasion of Nowruz – the day that celebrates the arrival of the spring season – the head of the United Nations cultural agency urged everyone to embrace the day's values and be inspired by its universal message of peace and solidarity.

UN urges building more just, equal societies to increase people’s happiness and well-being

Mar 21, 2017, at 12:26 pm

New York, Mar 21 (Just Earth News): Speaking at an event on Monday marking the International Day of Happiness, the deputy United Nations chief called for more inclusive, equitable and balanced approaches to development that promote sustainability, poverty eradication, happiness and well-being of all peoples.

Put Libya ahead of ‘narrow interests,’ UN envoy urges as situation worsens across the country

Mar 21, 2017, at 12:25 pm

New York, Mar 21 (Just Earth News): Warning of escalating tension across the North African country due to mobilization of forces, worsening security situation in capital, Tripoli, as well as recent violence in Misrata and Benghazi, the United Nations envoy for Libya on Monday called on all parties to unite and to put the country ahead of their “own narrow interests.”

Ahead of International Day, UN rights chief urges governments to target hate speech, crimes

Mar 21, 2017, at 12:23 pm

New York, Mar 21 (Just Earth News): On the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the United Nations human rights chief on Monday reminded Governments around the world that they have a legal obligation to stop hate speech and hate crimes, and called on people everywhere to “stand up for someone’s rights.”

‘Constant surveillance’ needed to tackle resurgent outbreak of avian influenza – UN agency

Mar 18, 2017, at 01:58 pm

New York, Mar 18 (Just Earth News): The United Nations food security agency called on Friday for rapid detection and response systems to address a new and potentially lethal outbreak of avian influenza in China.

More than 14,000 asylum-seekers relocated from Greece and Italy, says UN migration agency

Mar 18, 2017, at 01:56 pm

New York, Mar 18 (Just Earth News): European Union countries have welcomed more than 14,000 asylum-seekers from Greece and Italy since October 2015, the United Nations migration agency on Friday announced, encouraging EU member states to follow through on their commitments.

Smarter use of natural resources can inject $2 trillion into global economy by 2015 – UN

Mar 18, 2017, at 05:43 am

New York, Mar 18 (Just Earth News): The United Nations has found that smarter and more efficient use of the world’s natural resources on Friday can yield an “environmental win-win’ by injecting $2 trillion into the global economy by 2050 while also offsetting the costs of ambitious climate change action.

South Sudan now world's fastest growing refugee crisis – UN refugee agency

Mar 18, 2017, at 05:42 am

New York, Mar 18 (Just Earth News): The number of South Sudanese fleeing their homes is “alarming,” the United Nations refugee agency on Friday said, announcing that 1.6 million people have either been displaced or fled to neighbouring countries in the past eight months ago.

UN Broadband Commission urges public-private partnerships to reach 'the unconnected'

Mar 18, 2017, at 05:41 am

New York, Mar 18 (Just Earth News): New public-private partnerships are essential if broadband is to reach everyone and help accelerate the achievement of global sustainable development goals, members of the United Nations broadband commission said on Friday.

Guterres grateful for US support as largest UN contributor; will work with Member States on reform

Mar 17, 2017, at 01:56 pm

New York, Mar 17 (Just Earth News): Secretary-General António Guterres is committed to reforming the United Nations and stands ready to discuss with the United States and any other Member State how best to create a more cost-effective Organization that can tackle the enormous challenges facing the international community, his spokesman said on Thursday.

Employers must address all aspects of gender-based violence in workplace – UN Women chief

Mar 17, 2017, at 01:55 pm

New York, Mar 17 (Just Earth News): Tolerating violence against women in the workplace will have a huge cost to employers, including lost productivity, legal expenses, high turnover, sick leaves and harm to corporate reputation, panellists on Thursday told a United Nations-hosted discussion, urging Governments and institutions alike to take responsibility for putting in place adequate standards and measures to prevent such practices.

Relief operations in western Mosul reaching ‘breaking point’ as civilians flee hunger, fighting – UN

Mar 17, 2017, at 01:53 pm

New York, Mar 17 (Just Earth News): The United Nations and its humanitarian partners in Iraq are scrambling to get emergency sites ready amidst a mass exodus from West Mosul, with nearly 700,000 civilians still living in the city where Iraqi forces are fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh), according to the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country.

UN appeals for nearly $170 million to aid pastoralists in northern Kenya

Mar 17, 2017, at 04:14 am

New York, Mar 16 (Just Earth News): The United Nations and its humanitarian partners on Thursday appealed for $166 million to aid Kenyan pastoralists and farmers whose livestock and crops are suffering amid what the Government declared a “national drought disaster.”

Somalia: UN-backed cholera vaccination campaign targets 450,000 people

Mar 17, 2017, at 04:13 am

New York, Mar 16 (Just Earth News): The Government of Somalia has launched an oral cholera vaccination (OCV) campaign on Thursday with the support of the United Nations health agency, targeting over 450,000 people in seven high-risk areas around the country.

Peace in Syria an imperative ‘that cannot wait,’ UN chief Guterres says as war enters seventh year

Mar 16, 2017, at 01:49 pm

New York, Mar 16 (Just Earth News): As the brutal war in Syria enters its seventh year, peace “is a moral and political imperative both for the Syrian people and for the world,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday, urging the conflict parties to fully back a fragile ceasefire and ensure aid access, as well as to support UN-facilitated talks set to pick up again late this month.

At Security Council, UN officials urge governments to implement rules on prosecuting traffickers

Mar 16, 2017, at 04:13 am

New York, Mar 15 (Just Earth News): Human trafficking thrives in countries where the rule of law is weak or non-existent, top United Nations officials on Wednesday told the Security Council, calling on Governments to make better use of the tools created under the UN flag to stop the victimization of men, women and children.

Yemen ‘one of worst hunger crises in the world,’ UN-supported study finds

Mar 16, 2017, at 04:12 am

New York, Mar 15 (Just Earth News): An estimated 17 million people in Yemen are hungry, according to analysis released on Wednesday by the United Nations and humanitarian partners, up more than 20 per cent in the past nine months.

UN launches 'Platform of Champions' calling to end global gender pay gap

Mar 15, 2017, at 01:08 pm

New York, Mar 15 (Just Earth News): With women being paid an average of 23 per cent less than men, the United Nations has launched a high-profile network to call for equal pay for work of equal value.

South Sudan: UN expert urges action to end rights abuses in a country where 'impunity is the norm'

Mar 15, 2017, at 01:06 pm

New York, Mar 15 (Just Earth News): Amid a “massive” increase in gross human rights violations, as well as an escalation in fighting in South Sudan, the head of a United Nations rights probe said on Monday that to prevent further escalation and abuses in a country where “impunity is the norm,” the international community must be bold enough to push for establishment of a court and bring prosecutions.

Europe, Central Asia 'transitioning' to new nutrition challenges, cautions UN agency

Mar 15, 2017, at 04:16 am

New York, Mar 14 (Just Earth News): Warning that new consumption patterns in Europe and Central Asian countries are leading to complex health challenges, the United Nations food security agency today called for policies tailored to the income and nutrition profile of these developed countries to prevent them from “transitioning” to new forms of food and nutrition insecurity.

Syria 'worst man-made disaster since World War II' – UN rights chief

Mar 15, 2017, at 04:15 am

New York, Mar 14 (Just Earth News): The conflict in Syria is the “worst man-made disaster the world has seen since World War II,” the United Nations human rights chief today said, calling for an end to all tortures, executions and unfair trials, and at the very least, for the names and localities of people held in detention or information about where they are buried.

UN Human Rights Council discusses situations in DPRK, Iran, Myanmar and Burundi

Mar 14, 2017, at 12:59 pm

New York, Mar 14 (Just Earth News): At respective interactive dialogues on Monday on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Myanmar, Burundi, Iran and Eretria, senior United Nations independent human rights experts called on the governments to take immediate steps to ensure human rights protection in their respective countries.