Nepal: UN concerned at amnesties for human rights abuses
Apr 15, 2014, at 07:03 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Monday voiced grave concern at a bill presented to the Nepalese Parliament which could lead to amnesties for serious human rights violations, saying it would weaken the foundation for a genuine peace in the country.
UN urges help for people of Central African Republic
Apr 15, 2014, at 07:00 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): More than 70,000 people are now living in horrendous conditions crammed into the Central African Republic (CAR) Bangui airport - the lucky ones under weather-beaten tarps just yards from the runway. Others are in the open.
Syria: UN urges efforts as chemical weapons deadline slips
Apr 15, 2014, at 06:52 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): Concerned that Syria has missed the Apr 13 deadline to remove most of its chemical agents, the Joint Mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations (OPCW-UN) says that it expects "an intensification of efforts" towards meeting the goal of removing all the country"s chemical weapons by the end of the month.
Iran: UN urges immediate halt to woman's execution
Apr 15, 2014, at 06:23 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): A United Nations independent expert has issued a strong call on the Government of Iran to halt Tuesday's scheduled execution of an Iranian woman said to be the victim of physical and sexual assault, seriously concerned that she did not receive a fair trial.
UN urges credible industrial policies to transform Africa
Apr 12, 2014, at 07:04 pm
New York, Apr 12 (IBNS): While Africa has recorded impressive economic growth in the past decade, more credible industrial policies and institutions are needed to advance the structural transformation of the continent, says a new report released on Friday by the United Nations and the African Union.
Brunei: UN concerned at application of death penalty
Apr 12, 2014, at 07:01 pm
New York, Apr 12 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights office on Friday voiced deep concern about the revised penal code in Brunei Darussalam which stipulates the death penalty for numerous offences, including robbery, adultery, and insult or defamation of the Prophet Mohammed, and introduces stoning to death as the specific method of execution for crimes of a sexual nature.
Aerial attacks stoke safety fears in South Sudan: UN
Apr 12, 2014, at 06:49 pm
New York, Apr 12 (IBNS): The recent sighting of unidentified planes over Yida, South Sudan, and the aerial bombing of a nearby community have raised fears about the safety of refugees and aid workers in the highly militarized area, the United Nations said on Friday, fearing these incidents might signal an increase in violence in the strife-torn country.
Amid Mediterranean crossings, UN urges safety for refugees
Apr 12, 2014, at 06:43 pm
New York, Apr 12 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Friday stressed the need to find durable solutions for those making the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean, as it reported that the Italian navy had rescued some 6,000 people who had set out from Libya in overcrowded boats over the past four days alone.
UN urges respect for Guinea-Bissau vote results
Apr 12, 2014, at 06:05 pm
New York, Apr 12 (IBNS): With preparations supported by the United Nations, voters in Guinea-Bissau head to the polls this Sunday in presidential and parliamentary elections many hope will bring stability to the tiny West African nation.
WUF: UN hails cities as vital to sustainable development
Apr 12, 2014, at 05:59 pm
New York, Apr 12 (IBNS): "A city is not just an accident, but the result of coherent vision and aims," stated Leon Crier, pioneer architect, urban planner and visionary, as he spoke to participants at a discussion on Urban Equity in development - Cities for Life organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (Habitat).
Syria: UN strongly condemns car bomb attacks in Homs
Apr 11, 2014, at 07:01 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): Speaking out strongly against Wednesday's deadly car bomb attacks on a busy shopping street in the Syrian city of Homs, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator said such brutality serves to remind us again of the contempt the parties to this conflict show for human life.
Myanmar: UN welcomes probe into attacks on aid workers
Apr 11, 2014, at 06:36 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The top United Nations official in Myanmar welcomed the Government's condemnation of the recent attacks against UN and non-governmental organization (NGO) premises in Sittwe, and its commitment to see perpetrators brought to justice through a newly established investigation commission.
South Sudan: UN reaffirms commitment to protect civilians
Apr 10, 2014, at 05:07 pm
New York, Apr 10 (IBNS): The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Wednesday that since the hostilities that erupted between the Government and opposition forces last December, an average of 75,000 civilians have found refuge from violence in UN bases across the country.
Syria: Ban condemns spiralling violence, urges end to conflict
Apr 09, 2014, at 05:11 pm
New York, Apr 9 (IBNS): Amid surging violence across Syria, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the killing of an elderly priest in Homs and the ongoing brutality against the civilian population, and urged all Syrians and their outside supporters to put a stop to this conflict, "now".
New Zealand: UN concerned by arbitrary detention of Maoris
Apr 09, 2014, at 05:01 pm
New York, Apr 9 (IBNS): A United Nations human rights panel has voiced concerns about issues related to the deprivation of liberty in New Zealand, including the "disproportionate incarceration rates" of the Maori population, despite legal safeguards against arbitrary detention.
Myanmar: UN alarmed at worsening human rights situation
Apr 08, 2014, at 07:11 pm
New York, Apr 8 (IBNS): An independent United Nations expert on Monday sounded the alarm on the deteriorating human rights situation in Myanmar's Rakhine state, adding that the evacuation of aid workers following recent attacks on the humanitarian community would have severe consequences for life-saving work in the area.
Crisis devastating economy, livelihoods in CAR: UN
Apr 08, 2014, at 06:40 pm
New York, Apr 8 (IBNS): The crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) is devastating the economy and people's ability to secure basic necessities, says a new joint United Nations assessment, which warns that as the violence continues and the rains set in, providing the type of broad action needed to halt the country's downward spiral is becoming more difficult and expensive "with every passing day."
Philippines: UN seeks debt relief to support typhoon recovery
Apr 08, 2014, at 06:33 pm
New York, Apr 8 (IBNS): Voicing concern that the Philippines' post-typhoon reconstruction and recovery efforts could be undermined by its heavy debt load, a United Nations independent human rights expert on Monday issued a strong call on international creditors to cancel the country's debt and to provide unrestricted grant aid instead of new loans.
Cambodia: UN concerned over curbs affecting human rights
Apr 08, 2014, at 06:29 pm
New York, Apr 8 (IBNS): The United Nations independent expert on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, expressed concern on Monday that the country's National Assembly held its second session last week without the opposition representatives taking up their seat, and urged the legislature to upkeep the key principles of any law-making process: transparency, accountability and participation.
Somalia: UN calls for moratorium after execution of murderer
Apr 05, 2014, at 06:03 pm
New York, Apr 5 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights office Friday voiced its concern at the "hasty" judicial process in the Somali town of Kismayo that led to the execution of man nine days after he allegedly murdered an elder, and called on authorities to impose a moratorium on the death penalty.
Chadian soldiers responsible for Bangui attack: UN
Apr 05, 2014, at 05:45 pm
New York, Apr 5 (IBNS): A preliminary investigation by the United Nations human rights office into the deadly events that took place on Mar 29 in a suburb of Bangui, the crisis-riven capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), has found that Chadian soldiers killed some 30 civilians and seriously wounded more than 300 in an indiscriminate attack on a crowded market.
Myanmar: UN concerned over aid disruption in Rakhine
Apr 03, 2014, at 06:10 pm
New York, Apr 3 (IBNS): The United Nations humanitarian wing is warning that life-saving assistance to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people in Myanmar's Rakhine state have been seriously disrupted following the recent attacks on the UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
UN seeks more peacekeepers following attacks in CAR
Apr 02, 2014, at 06:43 pm
New York, Apr 2 (IBNS): With the Central African Republic (CAR) capital of Bangui having relapsed into wider violence, the United Nations human rights office on Tuesday urged States to support the world body's appeal for thousands more peacekeepers and police.