UN urges adoption of treaty against forced labour
May 24, 2014, at 08:31 pm
New York, May 24 (IBNS): Independent United Nations human rights experts dealing with the issues of slavery, migrants and trafficking on Friday called on governments to adopt a legally binding international protocol to respond to the scourge of forced labour.
Boko Haram put on UN terror sanctions list
May 24, 2014, at 08:26 pm
New York, May 24 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council has added Boko Haram, the Nigerian militant group that has claimed responsibility for the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in mid-April, to its list of Al-Qaida associates subject to financial sanctions and an arms embargo.
UN condemns killing of Palestinian teenagers in West Bank
May 24, 2014, at 08:24 pm
New York, May 24 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief has voiced her "very serious concerns" about a recent incident involving the killing of two Palestinian teenagers in the occupied West Bank.
Central African children fleeing to Cameroon: UN
May 24, 2014, at 08:21 pm
New York, May 24 (IBNS): Nearly 30 children - the youngest a baby - died in the past month fleeing violence in the Central African Republic (CAR), the United Nations refugee agency on Friday confirmed, renewing its appeal for USD 22 million in urgently-needed funds to help the growing number of people taking "a journey of starvation and death" in search of safety in Cameroon.
Ban condemns attack on electoral rally in Syria
May 24, 2014, at 08:17 pm
New York, May 24 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday condemned a deadly mortar attack on an electoral rally in southern Syria and reiterated his call for an end to violence in the country.
Mali: UN heads north to push for ceasefire
May 24, 2014, at 08:15 pm
New York, May 24 (IBNS): Deadly clashes between Tuareg rebels and Government forces in northern Mali have sent a "small but growing" number of terrified civilians fleeing southward and into neighbouring countries, the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday, while senior UN and African Union officials are in Kidal to push for a ceasefire.
Landslides, disease poses threats in Balkans: UN
May 24, 2014, at 08:10 pm
New York, May 24 (IBNS): United Nations humanitarian agencies on Friday raised concerns about landslides and possible water-borne diseases from the worst flooding in Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina in more than a century, which may have disturbed minefields from the Bosnian war.
South Sudan: UN meets rebel leader to discuss peace efforts
May 24, 2014, at 08:06 pm
New York, May 24 (IBNS): The top United Nations official in South Sudan has met with rebel leader David Yau Yau to discuss peace efforts in Greater Pibor County, Jonglei state, which was once the epicentre of instability in the country.
May 24, 2014, at 02:59 am
Bangkok, May 23 (IBNS): In a significant development, the military rulers in Thailand have detained country's ex-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Friday , media reports said.
Tennessee man indicted for cross burning
May 23, 2014, at 05:15 pm
Memphis, May 23 (IBNS) A federal grand jury in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday returned a three-count indictment against Timothy Flanagan, 33, formerly of Giles County, Tennessee, currently residing in Hudson, Florida, charging him with federal offenses for his role in a cross-burning in front of an interracial family’s home in Minor Hill, Tennessee, the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee announced.
Russia, China blocks UNSC referral of Syria to ICC
May 23, 2014, at 04:35 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): Despite repeated appeals by senior United Nations officials for accountability for crimes being committed in Syria, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was unable on Thursday to adopt a resolution that would have referred the situation in the war-torn nation to the International Criminal Court (ICC), due to vetoes by permanent members Russia and China.
Somalia nearing danger zone in critical areas: UN
May 23, 2014, at 04:32 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): While Somalia has made political, economic and security progress in the last 12 months, the country is approaching a "danger zone" in a number of areas, the top United Nations official warned on Thursday.
Ban calls for return to civilian order in Thailand
May 23, 2014, at 04:30 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): Appealing for "a prompt return to civilian order" in Thailand, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed serious concern about the military takeover in the country on Thursday and urged all parties to respect human rights and refrain from violence.
Ban seeks justice for perpetrators of Chinese market attack
May 23, 2014, at 04:27 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned Thursday's attack on civilians at an open-air market in Xinjiang, China, and said he hoped that those responsible will be brought to justice.
UN spotlights power of sports to advance shared values
May 23, 2014, at 04:23 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): High-level officials, prominent athletes and youth teamed up at the United Nations in New York on Thursday to spotlight the values that the world of sports can advance, including, diversity, inclusion, peacebuilding and development.
UN Women launches campaign to promote gender equality
May 23, 2014, at 04:19 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): The United Nations entity tasked with promoting gender equality on Thursday launched a major campaign kicking off a year-long, worldwide commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the landmark Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.
World conference to dominate 2014 session on indigenous issues
May 23, 2014, at 04:16 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): Calls for the full, equal and effective participation by the world's 370 million indigenous peoples in the upcoming, first-ever World Conference devoted to the realization of their rights gained momentum during a two-week annual forum at United Nations Headquarters.
Ukraine: Ban appeals for calm ahead of elections
May 23, 2014, at 04:05 pm
New York, May 23 (IBNS): As violence continues to roil eastern Ukraine, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated on Thursday his appeals to all parties ahead of Sunday's scheduled presidential elections to redouble their efforts to help create the conditions that will allow voters across the crisis-torn country to safely cast their ballots.
Cooperation key to healing Asia's rifts: Ban
May 22, 2014, at 05:41 pm
New York, May 22 (IBNS): While hailing Asia's dynamism, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday cautioned leaders gathered in Shanghai that despite best efforts, the wider Asian theatre is the scene of some of the "most worrying tensions in the world on Wednesday," and urged healing the region's rifts, including the Syrian crisis, the spread of deadly weapons, and local territorial disputes, through cooperation and common interests.
Syria: UN denounces hardship wrought on Aleppo's residents
May 22, 2014, at 05:36 pm
New York, May 22 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday condemned the "flagrant disregard" for international human rights and humanitarian law - both by the Syrian Government and by some armed groups - that has led to tremendous suffering for civilians in Aleppo.
Role of cooperation critical for sustainable development: UN
May 22, 2014, at 05:34 pm
New York, May 22 (IBNS): United Nations officials on Wednesday highlighted the importance of both traditional and new forms of cooperation, as well as building broad partnerships, to shaping a future development agenda that is both sustainable and leads to prosperity for millions around the world.
Mali: Ban urges immediate end to fighting in Kidal
May 22, 2014, at 05:28 pm
New York, May 22 (IBNS): UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday voiced his deep concern at the rapidly deteriorating situation in the northern Malian town of Kidal, where the United Nations says renewed violence threatens to once again destabilize the country.
UN launches guide on attacks against schools, hospitals
May 22, 2014, at 05:22 pm
New York, May 22 (IBNS): Every child has a right to education and health, the United Nations on Wednesday said launching a guidance note to assist the people monitoring, reporting and working to prevent attacks against schools and hospitals.
UN cites worsening human rights situation in Ukraine
May 22, 2014, at 05:19 pm
New York, May 22 (IBNS): The southern and eastern regions of crisis-racked Ukraine are now awash in weapons and the scene of numerous cases of illegal detentions and abductions, a senior United Nations human rights official warned on Wednesday, noting that he had discussed with the parties some rights-based and humanitarian de-escalation measures.
UN strongly condemns double bombings in Nigeria
May 22, 2014, at 05:17 pm
New York, May 22 (IBNS): The United Nations envoy for West Africa has strongly condemned the double bombings that targeted a market in the Nigerian city of Jos and resulted in the deaths of over 100 people and the wounding of scores more.
UN atomic watchdog to further address nuclear concerns
May 22, 2014, at 05:15 pm
New York, May 22 (IBNS): The United Nations and Iran have agreed on additional practical measures aimed at allaying concerns about the country's nuclear programme, which its officials have stated is for peaceful purposes but some other countries contend is driven by military ambitions.
South Sudan: UN calls for protection of aid workers
May 22, 2014, at 05:11 pm
New York, May 22 (IBNS): The United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan on Wednesday demanded unhindered freedom of movement for aid workers after alleged members of South Sudan's security forces assaulted and illegally detained two UN staff.
UN urges Iran to halt execution of two Ahwazi Arabs
May 22, 2014, at 05:09 pm
New York, May 22 (IBNS): UN human rights experts on Wednesday appealed to Iranian authorities to halt the scheduled execution of two members of Iran's Ahwazi Arab minority after their death sentences were reportedly upheld by the Iranian Supreme Court.
Pakistan air strikes kill 60 terrorists
May 22, 2014, at 04:42 am
Peshawar, May 21 (IBNS); At least 60 terrorists were killed as Pakistan Air Force warplanes bombarded terrorist’s hideouts in North Waziristan Agency on Wednesday.
UN Women chief visits girls' school in Nigeria
May 21, 2014, at 05:58 pm
New York, May 21 (IBNS): Reaffirming the United Nations unwavering support for girls' education in Nigeria, the Organization's top women's rights official has just wrapped up a "solidarity mission" during which she visited an all-girls college near Abuja similar to the school in the country's restive northeast, where militants kidnapped more than 200 students in mid-April.