UN official explains why new global development agenda is good news for women
Mar 09, 2016, at 02:25 pm
New York, Mar 9 (IBNS): From economic exclusion to violence targeting women and girls, the head of the United Nations entity tasked with promoting gender equality believes such challenges make it all the more critical to push ahead with the new global development agenda, which contains many targets specifically recognizing women's equality and empowerment.
Science and technology can help save lives: UN official
Jan 28, 2016, at 01:51 pm
New York, Jan 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The first-ever United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) gathering of scientists to discuss disaster risk management kicked off on Wednesday in Geneva, Switzerland, seeking to map out a scientific and technological approach to the issue while addressing the importance of partnership.
Terrorism remains major threat in West Africa despite electoral progress: UN official
Jan 15, 2016, at 03:04 pm
New York, Jan 15 ( Just Earth News/IBNS) While peaceful and credible elections were held in several countries in West Africa in the past six months, violent extremism continues to pose a serious threat throughout the area, the top United Nations official for the region warned on Thursday.
Yemen's war-weary children face 'new year of pain and suffering' – UNICEF official
Jan 13, 2016, at 02:42 pm
New York, Jan 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The ongoing deadly violence in Yemen has left nearly 10 million children facing threats of malnutrition and disease, lack of education, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative to the country warned today, calling for unhindered humanitarian access to all those in need and an end to the conflict.
In Saudi Arabia, senior UN officials discuss regional tensions and needs
Jan 06, 2016, at 02:05 pm
New York, Jan 6 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Two senior United Nations officials arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss the effects of regional tensions on the Syrian crisis as well as ways to ensure stability and security for neighbouring countries.
Lebanon: UN officials urge restraint by all parties on exchange of fire with Israel
Jan 05, 2016, at 02:25 pm
New York, Jan 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon and the commander of the UN peacekeeping force there have urged both sides to exercise utmost restraint to prevent any escalation after that two Israeli army vehicles were attacked south of the Blue Line and Israeli forces returned artillery fire.
Japanese-Korean accord on comfort women must be speedily implemented: UN official
Jan 01, 2016, at 03:18 pm
New York, Jan 1 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Commending the Governments of Japan and the Republic of Korea on their landmark agreement to resolve the longstanding issue of 'comfort women,' a senior United Nations human rights official on Thursday called for its speedy implementation to heal the still raw wound.
Unusual weather worldwide calls for urgent preventive action: UN official
Dec 30, 2015, at 02:21 pm
New York, Dec 30 (Just Earth news/IBNS): Extreme tornadoes in the United States over Christmas, abnormal snowfalls in Mexico, and heavy flooding in South America and the United Kingdom show that governments must take more preventive action to reduce human and economic losses from weather-related disasters, a senior United Nations official warned on Tuesday.
Ukraine could again slip into cycle of calm giving way to savage fighting: UN official
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): A senior United Nations human rights official warned on Friday that the fighting in Ukraine, which has recently decreased, could erupt again with a massive civilian toll in a conflict that has already left over 9,000 people dead and nearly 21,000 injured over the past two years.
COP21: Efforts advance on reaching climate change agreement, says UN official
Dec 10, 2015, at 03:09 pm
New York, Dec 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS): A new stage in the development of a final agreement on climate change to limit global temperature rise to below two degrees Celsius or less has been reached on Wednesday, according to the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General on Climate Change.
West Africa cannot recover from Ebola epidemic on its own: UN health official
Nov 28, 2015, at 02:01 pm
New York, Nov 28 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Following the flare-up of Ebola in Liberia 77 days after the outbreak was declared over, the region's top coordinator of the United Nations response to the epidemic said the three West African countries most affected by the deadly disease cannot recover from its ravages on their own.
Africa’s Sahel region can become hotbed for terrorist recruitment: UN official
Nov 26, 2015, at 01:41 pm
New York, Nov 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Without international aid to improve education and jobs, the Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa will become fertile ground for recruiting terrorists among its tens of millions of disadvantaged people, the top United Nations official for the region warned the Security Council on Wednesday.
COP21 must be turning point to a low-emission, climate-resilient future: UN official
Nov 21, 2015, at 02:31 pm
New York, Nov 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations climate change conference, widely known asCOP21 must be the turning point towards a low-emission, climate-resilient future, the top UN official dealing with climate issues said on Friday just days before the start of the international gathering in Paris, France.
Central Africa: UN official strongly condemns attacks on sites for internally displaced
Nov 18, 2015, at 04:05 pm
New York, Nov 18 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The top UN relief official in the Central African Republic (CAR) has condemned repeated and deadly attacks that took place last week on sites for internally displaced people (IDPs) in the towns of Batangafo and Bambari.
Somalia: UN official calls for global support to improve human rights situation
Nov 18, 2015, at 03:59 pm
New York, Nov 18 (Just Earth News/IBNS): While noting significant improvement in several sectors in long-troubled Somalia, a senior United Nations official on Tuesday warned that the country's progress is "at risk" without increased support from international partners to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights.
Israeli punitive demolitions of Palestinian homes violates international law: UN official
Nov 17, 2015, at 01:38 pm
New York, Nov 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS): While recognizing Israel's "serious security challenges," a senior United Nations official on Monday called its punitive demolition of the homes of alleged attackers "inherently unjust" and against international law, noting that 20 Palestinians, eight of them children, were made homeless in the past three days.
Top UN relief official in Libya welcomes release of aid workers held captive for months
Nov 13, 2015, at 03:33 pm
New York, Nov 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Two Libyan humanitarian workers affiliated with aid agencies were released on 7 November after being held captive for five months, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the country, Ali Al-Za’tari, said today, welcoming their release.
Political polarization in Iraq threatens reconciliation efforts: UN official
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:38 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi faces "immense challenges" to his efforts to bring reconciliation and broaden the political process in his strife-torn nation, confronting obstacles from all sides, the top United Nations official in the country warned the Security Council on Wednesday
Political polarization in Iraq threatens reconciliation efforts: UN official
Nov 12, 2015, at 02:37 pm
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi faces "immense challenges" to his efforts to bring reconciliation and broaden the political process in his strife-torn nation, confronting obstacles from all sides, the top United Nations official in the country warned the Security Council on Wednesday
Trafficking in cultural property source of enormous illicit profits: UN official
Nov 06, 2015, at 01:43 pm
New York, Nov 6 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Trafficking in cultural property has increasingly come to the attention of the international community and represents a source of enormous illicit profits, an official from UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) stressed on Thursday at a special event in St. Petersburg, Russia.
No room for death penalty in 21st century, says UN official
Nov 05, 2015, at 02:52 pm
New York, Nov 5 (IBNS): Ahead of the launch of a new book by the United Nations on the global trend away from the death penalty, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights said on Wednesday that there has been a decline in the number of countries upholding capital punishment in the last 40 years.
Given global tensions, Alliance of Civilizations needed more than ever: UN officials
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:14 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): United Nations officials on Thursday stressed the ever-growing importance of the Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), especially in light of the rising xenophobia, intolerance and extremism being witnessed in various parts of the world.
World drug problem violates human rights in five key areas: UN official
Sep 29, 2015, at 03:07 pm
New York, Sept 29 (IBNS): The global drug problem violates human rights in five key areas – the right to health, the rights relating to criminal justice and discrimination, the rights of the child and the rights of indigenous peoples, a senior United Nations official said on Monday.
International push needed to end child rights violations in Yemen - UN official
Sep 22, 2015, at 02:25 pm
New York, Sept 22 (IBNS) Describing the current situation in Yemen as "beyond tragic" for all affected by the hostilities, a senior United Nations official said it is "ever more important" for both the Security Council and the international community to promote political dialogue aimed at ending violations against children.
It’s about more than mines: UN official
Apr 02, 2015, at 01:49 pm
New York, Apr 2 (IBNS): As the world marks the tenth anniversary of the passing of the global mine ban treaty and commemorates International Mine Awareness Day, the head of the United Nations’ office dealing with the threat they pose stressed on Wednesday the importance of looking beyond the effects of just anti-personnel mines.