UN expert on right to housing challenges governments to end homelessness
Oct 23, 2015, at 01:49 pm
New York, Oct 23 (IBNS): Saying human rights have been largely absent from discussions of urban development at a time when more than half the world’s population lives in cities, the UN independent expert on adequate housing on Thursday challenged governments to end homelessness and improve living conditions for all.
UN human rights chief urges recognition of dignity and worth of every human being
Oct 22, 2015, at 05:28 pm
New York, Oct 22 (IBNS): The turmoil and crises the international community faces clearly demonstrate the disasters that may occur when human rights are "neglected and ground down," the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, said on Tuesday in a wide-ranging address to UN Member States in New York.
'Actions by States are increasingly transnational,' UN expert warns
Oct 21, 2015, at 04:49 pm
New York, Oct 21 (IBNS): The UN Special Rapporteur on torture Juan Méndez on Tuesday urged governments across the world not to allow a vacuum of human rights protection even when they act beyond their borders, saying "torture is torture here, there and everywhere."
UN expert warns that despite Mali's progress, security situation human rights
Oct 20, 2015, at 04:51 pm
New York, Oct 20 (IBNS): Wrapping up his recent visit to Mali, a United Nations independent expert noted positive developments on the ground but stressed that the "precarious security situation" creates an environment in which violation so of the most fundamental human rights can still occur.
Iran: UN rights experts outraged at the execution of two juvenile offenders
Oct 17, 2015, at 02:14 pm
New York, Oct 17 (IBNS): United Nations human rights experts on Friday expressed their outrage and profound sadness at the execution of a juvenile offender convicted for the death of her husband, whom she had been forced to marry at the age of 16, and which follows the death of a young man last week, who’d been sentenced to death at age 17.
UN rights experts appeal to stop attacks against persons with albinism
Oct 16, 2015, at 01:16 pm
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS): The first United Nations human rights expert on albinism on Thursday issued an urgent appeal for coordinated action in southern and eastern Africa to tackle the upsurge in attacks against persons with albinism.
Syria: UN human rights advisers alarmed at rise of incitement to religious violence
Oct 14, 2015, at 01:34 pm
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS): Senior United Nations human rights officials on Tuesday expressed their alarm at the rise in violent rhetoric by influential religious leaders – including calls for "holy war" against certain faiths – in relation to the situation in Syria.
EU migration policy 'will fail' without human rights focus: UN rights chief
Oct 07, 2015, at 01:57 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): Warning that Europe's "narrow, exclusion-focused [migration] policies have clearly failed," the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Tuesday urged the European Union to make certain that upcoming policy discussions undertaken in light of the region's refugee crisis are grounded firmly on the need to protect the human rights for all migrants.
UN human rights office voices concern after Tajikistan bans Islamic political party
Oct 03, 2015, at 02:24 pm
New York, Oct 3 (IBNS): The United Nations on Friday voiced concern about an increasing risk of human rights violations connected with the recent banning of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRPT), and the arrest and detention of more than a dozen of its members since early September.
UN: President of Montenegro urges broader respect for human rights
Oct 02, 2015, at 04:38 pm
New York, Oct 2 (IBNS): Addressing the General Assembly on Thursday, President Filip Vujanoviÿ of Montenegro spoke about his country's intensification in efforts to improve human rights for all and to combat rights violations when they occur.
Ban stresses need to respect rights of death penalty victims' families
Sep 30, 2015, at 02:06 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS): As momentum continues to build towards abolishing the death penalty, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday stressed the need to ensure that the rights of victims and their families are respected as part of efforts to ensure a life of dignity for all.
UN human rights expert condemns executions of 10 people in Chad
Sep 09, 2015, at 03:06 pm
New York, Sep 9 (IBNS): An independent United Nations human rights expert has condemned the recent executions of 10 people in Chad who were suspected of being members of the terrorist group Boko Haram following a swift process that may not have met international standards.
Iraq: UN rights office hails reform package following countrywide protests
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:57 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights office has welcomed the Government of Iraq's response to mass protests against corruption and social inequality which crippled the country's capital earlier this month.
UN human rights office warns Burundi crisis ‘spiralling out of control’
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:55 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): The situation in Burundi continues to deteriorate amid ongoing killings, arrests and detentions in the latest post-election turmoil to afflict the country, the United Nations human rights office has reported.
UN experts call on Iran to release journalist Jason Rezaian as he awaits verdict
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:41 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): United Nations human rights experts on Friday urged the Iranian Government to immediately release the Washington Post’s correspondent in Tehran, Jason Rezaian, who now awaits verdict after his fourth and possible final hearing earlier this week.
UN rights experts welcome release of Syrian human rights defenders
Aug 15, 2015, at 02:35 pm
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): Welcoming recent release of three human rights defenders from Syrian Government custody, the head of a United Nations-appointed human rights panel on Friday urged the authorities to grant an independent organization regular access to those allegedly detained.
UNICEF offers support to Pakistan authorities as child abuse investigation continues
Aug 12, 2015, at 02:06 pm
New York, Aug 12 (IBNS): The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has offered its support to Pakistani authorities as they open an investigation into emerging reports of widespread abuses against children in the country’s district of Kasur, an agency official has confirmed.
Mali: UN alarmed at release of human rights abusers
Aug 12, 2015, at 02:00 pm
New York, Aug 12 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights office expressed deep concern over the reported release of detainees in Mali suspected of involvement in, or formally charged with, serious abuses, including war crimes, terrorist acts and gross human rights violations.
Burundi: UN condemns assassination attempt on leading human rights defender
Aug 05, 2015, at 01:56 pm
New York, Aug 5 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations human rights office have strongly condemned the assassination attempt on Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, a leading Burundian human rights defender who was shot and wounded by unknown assailants in the capital on Monday.
UN experts denounce televised reprisals against human rights defenders in Venezuela
Jul 24, 2015, at 03:28 pm
New York, July 24 (IBNS) In retaliation for their activities in Venezuela and cooperation with United Nations and regional human rights bodies, a group of UN and Inter-American rights experts has underscored their condemnation at attempts by Venezuela’s State-controlled television to discredit and intimidate rights activists.
Burundi: UN rights office warns about consequences of country's 'extremely tense' situation
Jul 11, 2015, at 09:16 pm
New York, July 11 (IBNS) One day after United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein alerted the Security Council about the seriousness of the electoral crisis in Burundi, his Office on Friday issued a new warning about the impact the "extremely tense situation" there could have on the stability and the development of Central Africa.
Ban condemns attack on Yarmouk, as UN delivers relief to displaced in camp
Apr 30, 2015, at 05:55 pm
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The Secretary-General has on Wednesday strongly condemned the shelling and aerial bombardment of the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, which occurred despite assurances from the Syrian Government that the camp would not be targeted while civilians remained inside.
Uruguay urges rooting new sustainable development agenda in human rights
Sep 30, 2014, at 05:51 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) The basis of a new sustainable development agenda must be poverty eradication, rooted in a strong foundation of human rights and recognition of rights, Uruguay’s Foreign Minister on Monday told the United Nations General Assembly, calling for a greater focus on equality.
Ban urges laws to ensure dignity for elderly persons
Jun 16, 2014, at 05:00 pm
New York, Jun 16 (IBNS): Warning that elderly people in all societies can be vulnerable to physical, psychological and financial abuse, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday appealed to the international community to adopt measures to address all aspects of this routinely under-acknowledged public health, social and human rights issue.
Ban welcomes successful Kosovo assembly elections
Jun 11, 2014, at 06:16 pm
New York, Jun 11 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the successful conduct of assembly elections in Kosovo and called on authorities to remain committed to strengthening democracy, the rule of law and the protection of human rights of all living there.
UN calls for human rights-backed development agenda
Jun 10, 2014, at 05:10 pm
New York, Jun 10 (IBNS): A new global new development agenda based on human rights and the rule of law is the surest pathway to balancing the needs of people and the planet, while eradicating extreme poverty and closing socio-economic gaps, senior United Nations officials said on Monday.
UN urges Morocco to expedite pending laws
May 30, 2014, at 05:39 pm
New York, May 30 (IBNS): Morocco has made great strides towards the better promotion and protection of human rights, United Nations High Commissioner Navi Pillay said at the end of her first official visit to the country, but urged officials to approve pending draft laws and more robustly implement and enforce new legislation.
UN condemns killing of pregnant Pakistani woman
May 29, 2014, at 05:12 pm
New York, May 29 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday strongly condemned the killing of a 25-year-old pregnant woman, who was stoned to death by her family as she approached a Pakistani court on Tuesday, and urged the Government to do much more to prevent such killings.
UN concerned over lack of consultation on Cambodian laws
May 28, 2014, at 05:48 pm
New York, May 28 (IBNS): The lack of consultative process on three draft laws has set a worrying precedent for future key legislation, according to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Surya P. Subedi.
UN urges restoration of rule of law following Thai coup
May 24, 2014, at 08:35 pm
New York, May 24 (IBNS): The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday urged Thailand to ensure respect for human rights and a prompt restoration of the rule of law, echoing a call made on Thursday by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon following the military coup.