Central African Republic: UN chief ‘deeply troubled’ by scale, nature of harm to children
Mar 08, 2016, at 02:51 pm
New York, Mar 8 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Conflict and instability in the Central African Republic (CAR) have had a devastating impact on children, according to a new United Nations report that calls on all parties involved in the conflict in the country to immediately halt grave violations against children and abide by international humanitarian and human rights law.
Ban highlights Algeria's 'great progress' while raising alarm on situation in Libya
Mar 07, 2016, at 01:54 pm
New York, Mar 7 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Visiting Algeria for the second time as United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon on Sunnday said great progress has been made in the country since terrorist attacks in 2007 devastated UN Headquarters in Algiers, while underlining “alarming†developments in Libya that could amount to war crimes.
‘We must not allow protectors to become predators’ – UN field support chief
Mar 05, 2016, at 02:17 pm
New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With 99 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse uncovered by the United Nations in 2015 – 69 of these in countries where peacekeeping operations are deployed – the Organization is Friday presenting its latest report on special measures to protect people from these crimes.
UN refugee chief presents detailed plan to solve crisis in Europe, warning time is ‘running out’
Mar 05, 2016, at 02:17 pm
New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Warning Europe is running out of time to solve the current refugee situation, the UN refugee chief Friday outlined a detailed six-point plan ahead of a key meeting of European Union leaders and Turkey in Brussels next week.
Tackling 'triple peril' facing the Sahel region is top priority for UN, Ban says in Mauritania
Mar 05, 2016, at 02:11 pm
New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With a “triple peril†of environmental degradation, poverty and insecurity facing the Sahel, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday during a visit to Mauritania that improving the situation in the region is a top priority for the United Nations.
Fiji and UN appeal for $38 million to relieve 'catastrophic loss' after Cyclone Winston
Mar 05, 2016, at 02:09 pm
New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The Government of Fiji and the United Nations on Friday launched an appeal for $38.6 million in critical emergency relief to 350,000 people in need after Cyclone Winston's fury left the island nation “a loss of catastrophic proportions.â€
Haiti must address prison overcrowding and prolonged pre-trial detention – UN report
Mar 05, 2016, at 02:00 pm
New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Haiti has made important steps towards the promotion and protection of human rights but some challenges exist regarding the judicial system, the excessive use of force by state agents and the situation of people returned or deported to Haiti by the Dominican authorities, according to a United Nations report on the human rights situation in that country.
Women's participation rate in parliaments slows, even as more gain top seats – IPU
Mar 05, 2016, at 01:57 pm
New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Despite an increase in the number of women Speakers of Parliament, the number of female parliamentarians across the world rose by only 0.5 percentage points in 2015, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Friday reported, dashing hopes that gender parity in parliament could be achieved within a generation.
'When cultural heritage is under attack, human rights are under attack' – UN expert
Mar 05, 2016, at 01:50 pm
New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The destruction of cultural heritage is a violation of human rights, a United Nations-appointed expert said on Friday, as the international criminal tribunal began a pre-trial procedure for the first-ever case in which charges were brought against the destruction of cultural and religious sites.
In Burkina Faso, UN chief praises country's hard-won gains to consolidate democracy and development
Mar 04, 2016, at 02:32 pm
New York, Mar 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Burkina Faso is making a solid comeback, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday in the country's capital, Ouagadougou, where he praised the Burkinabe Government and people for their perseverance during a series of tests in recent years, and who with UN support, are firmly on a path to consolidated democratic gains and ensure sustainable development.
DPR Korea: Ban welcomes Security Council measure tightening and expanding sanctions
Mar 03, 2016, at 01:49 pm
New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution that imposes new sanctions and tightens some of its existing measures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), due to the country's ongoing nuclear and ballistic missile-related activities that “threaten international peace and security.â€
Amid signs of hope in Syria, UNICEF chief sees 'harsh evidence' of war's toll on children
Mar 03, 2016, at 01:46 pm
New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Wrapping up his visit to Syria, the head of the United Nations children's agency has urged both the Government and armed opposition groups to facilitate access to all children in need, especially so the UN and its partners can implement a nationwide immunization programme.
Iraq: UN reports more than 400 civilians killed in February; cites 'viciousness' of attacks
Mar 02, 2016, at 02:49 pm
New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq claimed the lives of 670 people, including 410 civilians, in February 2016, the United Nations political mission in that country has reported.
War weary families in Central African Republic face dire food situation- UN
Mar 02, 2016, at 02:46 pm
New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Three years of conflict and ongoing displacements in the Central African Republic (CAR) continue to disrupt agriculture and severely constrain people's access to food, as they struggle with the effects of multiple poor harvests, disrupted markets and soaring prices for many staple foods, two United Nations agencies warned Tuesday.
War weary families in Central African Republic face dire food situation- UN
Mar 02, 2016, at 02:43 pm
New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Three years of conflict and ongoing displacements in the Central African Republic (CAR) continue to disrupt agriculture and severely constrain people's access to food, as they struggle with the effects of multiple poor harvests, disrupted markets and soaring prices for many staple foods, two United Nations agencies warned Tuesday.
Syria: UN-mediated peace talks to resume on 9 March
Mar 02, 2016, at 02:39 pm
New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura on Tuesday announced that intra-Syrian peace talks he has been mediating in Geneva will resume next Wednesday, 9 March.
2030 Agenda's promise of well-managed migration and mobility must become a reality - UN deputy chief
Mar 01, 2016, at 03:22 pm
New York, Mar 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is that well-managed migration and mobility will benefit migrants and their families as well as countries of origin and destination, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General said on Monday, urging Member States to work together to “make sure this promise becomes a reality.â€
Women and girls should be at core of disaster risk reduction, UN human rights monitors told
Mar 01, 2016, at 03:21 pm
New York, Mar 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Women and girls need to be at the core of disaster risk reduction, given that they often bear the brunt of climate change and hazards such as storms and floods, United Nations experts tasked with monitoring implementation of a landmark UN convention on ending discrimination against women heard on Monday.
UN development agenda seeks to reach 'those farthest behind,' Ban tells Human Rights Council
Mar 01, 2016, at 03:19 pm
New York, Mar 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): At the opening of the 31st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, senior UN officials emphasized the powerful link between the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the right to development, highlighting that people on the front lines of armed conflict and humanitarian need are hoping the Organization can help ease their suffering.
New UN report finds migrants play critical role in Asia-Pacific development
Mar 01, 2016, at 03:00 pm
Syria: UN agency restores full rations thanks to boost in donor funding
Mar 01, 2016, at 02:58 pm
New York, Mar 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Monday that new funding pledged during a conference in London earlier this month will enable the agency to fully reinstate its food assistance to Syrians.
UN and OSCE 'best tools' to prevent disorder, Security Council told
Mar 01, 2016, at 02:56 pm
New York, Mar 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continue to give the international community the best tools to prevent disorder and shape a future of a “rules-based international order,†the Security Council on Monday heard from the chairperson of the world's largest regional arrangement under the UN Charter.
South Sudan: UN deputy humanitarian chief calls for end to civilian suffering
Feb 27, 2016, at 02:25 pm
New York, Feb 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS)The United Nations deputy humanitarian chief on Friday called on all parties to the conflict in South Sudan to protect civilians and grant safe and unhindered humanitarian access as she wrapped up a two-day visit to the African country.
Ban urges countries along Balkan route into Western Europe to keep borders open
Feb 27, 2016, at 02:19 pm
New York, Feb 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS)Concerned with the increasing number of border restrictions along the Balkan land route, including in Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called on the countries to keep their borders open “in a spirit of responsibility sharing and solidarity.â€
UN rights expert urges Russia not to implement new extradition treaty with DRP Korea
Feb 27, 2016, at 02:15 pm
New York, Feb 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS)A United Nations rights expert on Friday urged the Government of the Russian Federation not to implement an extradition treaty signed with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) earlier this month.
UN deputy chief urges Member States to make 'responsibility to protect' a reality
Feb 27, 2016, at 01:56 pm
New York, Feb 27 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The principle of “responsibility to protect,†a call for putting into action legal commitments to protect populations from atrocity crimes, has seen mixed results since its inception in 2005, the United Nations deputy chief said today, urging the international community to make the protection of populations from such heinous acts “a living reality.â€
Humanitarian and ceasefire tracks for Syria 'moving in the right direction' – UN envoy
Feb 26, 2016, at 03:20 pm
New York, Feb 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS) – International task forces established to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access and a ceasefire in Syria “are moving in the right direction,†a United Nations mediator said on Thursday, ahead of a Friday deadline to accept a truce.
At 50, UN development programme revamps itself to tackle new sustainability goals
Feb 25, 2016, at 03:10 pm
New York, Feb 25 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with its presence in more than 170 poor and vulnerable countries, must rise to the challenge of advancing a “big, new, more complex, and transformational†sustainable development agenda, the head of the agency said on Wednesday at a ministerial meeting to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its founding.
Darfur: UN deeply concerned over thousands of newly-displaced people in region's north
Feb 25, 2016, at 02:55 pm
New York, Feb 25 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The top United Nations humanitarian official in Sudan said on Wednesday she is deeply concerned about the plight of more than 85,000 newly displaced civilians in North Darfur state who have fled their villages in recent days as a result of an escalation of conflict in the region’s Jebel Marra area.
UN peacebuilding body highlights need to address root causes of conflict for sustainable peace
Feb 24, 2016, at 03:26 pm
New York, Feb 24 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The head of the United Nations advisory body tasked with making recommendations on post-conflict recovery, reconstruction and development stressed on Tuesday that building lasting peace requires predictable, sustained and adequate efforts and financing to help stop violence and address the root causes of conflict.