UN forum spotlights challenges of indigenous peoples
May 20, 2014, at 05:12 pm
New York, May 20 (IBNS): Non-recognition and marginalization of indigenous populations of Asia, home to two-thirds of the world's 370 million indigenous peoples, and a growing concern of rising violence against indigenous women and girls surfaced at the mid-way point of the annual UN gathering of indigenous peoples around the world.
UN concerned over latest fighting in northern CAR
May 17, 2014, at 05:12 pm
New York, May 17 (IBNS): As fighting worsens in northern Central African Republic, United Nations humanitarian agencies and partners are working to protect displaced people and children, and to support conflict-hit farmers, it was announced on Friday.
Myanmar: UN concerned about access to thousands displaced
May 17, 2014, at 05:05 pm
New York, May 17 (IBNS): With increased fighting in parts of Myanmar that is preventing access to civilians, the United Nations and humanitarian partners on Friday said they were seriously concerned by the displacement of thousands of people over the past weeks and called for an end to the fighting.
Afghanistan: UN welcomes release of presidential election results
May 16, 2014, at 05:47 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has welcomed Thursday's announcement of the final results of the recent presidential election and stressed the importance of cooperation between the electoral institutions and candidates ahead of the run-off scheduled for next month.
UN urges protection for Albinos after Tanzania killing
May 16, 2014, at 05:45 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): The barbaric murder of a woman with albinism in Tanzania has prompted the United Nations human rights chief to call for greater protection for this "exceptionally vulnerable" community.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's politics hurting citizens: UNSC
May 16, 2014, at 05:43 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): Ahead of the 'hotly contested' elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a senior United Nations official on Thursday warned the UN Security Council (UNSC) that the country is politically heading in the wrong direction and that politicians might try to raise inter-ethnic tensions to divert attention from real problems.
Nigeria: UN to support efforts to release abducted schoolgirls
May 16, 2014, at 05:40 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): The United Nations is committed to supporting Nigeria's efforts to ensure the release of the schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram militants, the world body's newly-appointed envoy to the country said on Thursday, as he announced that the UN has initiated preparation of a "support package" that will include assistance for affected families and the girls after their release.
UN urges governments to buy local food in public projects
May 16, 2014, at 05:36 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): Public procurement can contribute to making food systems more fair and sustainable, and help realize the human right to adequate food, according to a United Nations independent expert.
Egypt: UN urges reform to legal system following death sentences
May 16, 2014, at 05:34 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): In the wake of the second wave of mass death sentences handed down in Egypt last month, a group of African and United Nations human rights experts on Thursday called on authorities to bring the country's legal system into compliance with international and regional standards.
UN concerned over drought impact on crops in Syria
May 16, 2014, at 05:29 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): Drought and ongoing conflict are not only adding pressure to Syria's already dire food security situation, but also increasing the need for imports and driving up prices, according to the latest outlook issued by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).
UN urges support for Yemenis in need of assistance
May 16, 2014, at 05:25 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): Nearly 15 million people in Yemen - over half the population - are in need of some form of humanitarian aid this year, the top United Nations relief official in the country said on Thursday, urging the international community to provide the critical funds necessary for the response.
Syria: UN seeks expanded aid access to Palestinian refugees
May 16, 2014, at 05:21 pm
New York, May 16 (IBNS): A senior United Nations official has highlighted the extreme hardship faced by Palestinian refugees in Syria as a result of the ongoing armed conflict, and stressed the need to improve conditions to enable the delivery of critically-needed humanitarian assistance.
South Sudan: UN welcomes deal to resolve conflict in Pibor
May 15, 2014, at 06:23 pm
New York, May 15 (IBNS): The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has welcomed the signing of an agreement between the Government and the South Sudan Democratic Movement/Army (Cobra Faction) on the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Greater Pibor County, Jonglei state.
Syria: UN-Arab League envoy Brahimi quits
May 14, 2014, at 06:36 pm
New York, May 14 (IBNS): Amidst an international community "hopelessly divided" over how to end more than three years of bloodshed in Syria, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday announced that he has regretfully accepted the resignation of Lakhdar Brahimi, the Joint United Nations-League of Arab States Special Representative on the crisis.
Iraq: UN concerned over ongoing fighting in Fallujah
May 13, 2014, at 05:22 pm
New York, May 13 (IBNS): The top United Nations envoy in Iraq says he remains concerned at reports of increased armed activities in Fallujah, in Anbar province, and its impact on civilians.
UN seeks involvement of indigenous peoples in development agenda
May 13, 2014, at 05:19 pm
New York, May 13 (IBNS): Indigenous peoples must be a part of the ongoing process to define a global development agenda beyond 2015, United Nations officials said on Monday, calling for explicit assertion of their collective rights as well as the promotion of traditional knowledge to tackle issues such as climate change, as the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues opened its 2014 session.
Libya: UN condemns attacks on security personnel, civilians
May 13, 2014, at 05:08 pm
New York, May 13 (IBNS): The United Nations mission in Libya on Monday voiced deep concern about ongoing violence across the country and condemned attacks on security personnel and civilians.
Venezuela: UN concerned at renewed violence, use of force
May 10, 2014, at 05:31 pm
New York, May 10 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights office on Friday voiced concern at renewed violence in Venezuela, and at the reported excessive use of force by the authorities in response to protests.
South Sudan: UN urges political rivals to end dispute
May 10, 2014, at 05:29 pm
New York, May 10 (IBNS): Warning that the litany of grave atrocities committed in South Sudan and catalogued in a new United Nations report bears the grim hallmarks of genocide, the Organization's human rights chief on Friday called on the sparring political leaders there to take immediate steps to stop the killing, "before the fire they have ignited [brings] the entire country down in flames."
UN appeals for urgent funding in Somalia
May 10, 2014, at 05:13 pm
New York, May 10 (IBNS): Poor rains, high food prices and ongoing conflict have intersected to push Somalia once gain to the brink of crisis, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in the country said on Friday, warning that without immediate action, the fragile food security situation could worsen in the coming months, especially if funding shortages force essential projects to shut down.
UN urges Azerbaijan to drop charges against rights defenders
May 10, 2014, at 05:08 pm
New York, May 10 (IBNS): Three human rights defenders facing 12 years in prison for charges brought against them in the aftermath of Azerbaijan's 2013 presidential elections have drawn the serious concern of United Nations independent experts.
South Sudan: UN reports gross rights abuses in conflict
May 09, 2014, at 05:30 pm
New York, May 9 (IBNS): Gross human rights abuses have been committed by both sides in the brutal conflict that erupted in South Sudan at the end of last year, including rapes, mass killings and torture, and, according to a new United Nations report released on Thursday, civilians were not only caught up in the violence, they were directly targeted, often along ethnic lines.
Syria: UN urges complete removal of chemical weapons
May 09, 2014, at 05:27 pm
New York, May 9 (IBNS): The head of the Joint Mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations (OPCW-UN) on Thursday called for safe and unfettered access to the remaining eight per cent of Syria's chemical weapons material that needs to be removed and destroyed.
UN wraps up Pakistan visit with calls to support for insecurity
May 09, 2014, at 05:24 pm
New York, May 9 (IBNS): Wrapping up a mission to Pakistan that included time in the country's tribal region, where the protracted suffering of the displaced is "heart-wrenching," a senior United Nations humanitarian official on Thursday stressed the need for more support to millions of people affected by insecurity, natural disasters and chronic malnutrition in the country.
DR Congo: UN disappointed over mass rape verdict
May 09, 2014, at 05:21 pm
New York, May 9 (IBNS): The United Nations envoy on sexual violence in conflict on Thursday voiced her disappointment that only two people were convicted of rape during the recent trial of 39 soldiers and officers charged with committing crimes in and around the town of Minova in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) two years ago.
Philippines: UN works with communities to rebuild lives
May 08, 2014, at 05:26 pm
New York, May 8 (IBNS): Six months after Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines, while signs of recovery are starting to emerge, progress remains fragile, the United Nations on Wednesday said urging continued international support for the 14 million people affected.
Kenya: UN seeks equitable approach to solve IDP situation
May 08, 2014, at 05:22 pm
New York, May 8 (IBNS): The United Nations independent expert tasked by the Human Rights Council to look into conditions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) on Wednesday ended his visit to Kenya with a call for a more rigorous and equitable approach to solving the IDP situation in that East African country.
Ban appoints officials to key development posts
May 08, 2014, at 05:17 pm
New York, May 8 (IBNS): United Nations' development efforts got a boost on Wednesday with the appointment of key positions in the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and at the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
Ukraine: UN urges greater effort to resolve crisis
May 07, 2014, at 05:18 pm
New York, May 7 (IBNS): Increasing violence in eastern and southern Ukraine is resulting in more and more death and destruction, the top United Nations human rights official said on Tuesday, calling on all sides in the conflict to make a greater effort to find a peaceful resolution, particularly ahead of the 25 May presidential election.
Afghanistan: UN urges support for vulnerable communities
May 07, 2014, at 05:00 pm
New York, May 7 (IBNS): In the wake of last week's massive landslide in north-eastern Afghanistan, a senior United Nations relief official on Tuesday voiced deep concern about the impact of conflict and natural disasters in the country, and urged the world to step up support to vulnerable communities.