‘Regional security and integration’ in Central Africa under threat, Security Council warned
Jun 05, 2019, at 09:30 am
New York, June 5 (IBNS): Recurrent and often deadly clashes between pastoralists and farmers in several countries in Central Africa continue to cause “serious concern”, threatening “regional security and integration”, a senior UN official warned the Security Council on Tuesday.
May 29, 2019, at 08:52 am
New York, May 29 (IBNS): After eight years of deadly air strikes and terrorist attacks that have left hundreds of thousands of Syrians dead and millions of others injured, United Nations Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Ursula Mueller asked the Security Council on Tuesday, the hard-hitting question: “Can’t this Council take any concrete action when attacks on schools and hospitals have become a war tactic that no longer sparks outrage”?
May 24, 2019, at 04:39 pm
New York, May 24 (IBNS): Marking 20 years since the UN Security Council added the protection of civilians to its agenda, Secretary-General António Guterres told the chamber on Thursday that while safeguards were stronger, “compliance has deteriorated”.
May 23, 2019, at 07:17 am
New York, May 23 (IBNS): The head of the UN relief and works agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) warned on Wednesday that despite weathering a “truly existential crisis” over funding last year, money to continue operations this year in the Gaza Strip will only last until mid-June.
Apr 26, 2019, at 09:04 am
New York, Apr 26 (IBNS): The UN’s political affairs chief has urged all parties to the peace plan protocol for eastern Ukraine known as the Minsk Agreements, to avoid “any unilateral steps” that could undermine efforts to demilitarize the eastern conflict zone.
Apr 24, 2019, at 09:55 am
New York, Apr 24 (IBNS): Over the course of the past decade, there has been “a paradigm shift” in understanding the devastating impact of sexual violence in conflict on international peace and security, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council during a high-level debate on Tuesday.
UN Security Council condemns Taliban offensive as a blow against ‘sustainable peace’
Apr 17, 2019, at 09:16 am
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council has condemned the announcement by Taliban militants in Afghanistan of its spring offensive, saying it will result in more “unnecessary suffering and destruction for the Afghan people”.
Women must be at ‘centre of peacekeeping decision-making’, UN chief tells Security Council
Apr 12, 2019, at 09:00 am
New York, Apr 12 (IBNS): Women’s rights, voices and participation must be at “the centre of peacekeeping decision-making”, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Thursday, describing them as “central to sustainable solutions” to challenges facing the Organization worldwide.
Landmark terror finance resolution adopted by Security Council
Mar 29, 2019, at 08:48 am
New York, Mar 29 (IBNS): The UN is hailing a new Security Council resolution adopted on Thursday as a landmark step in suppressing the funding of terror groups worldwide.
Libya stands at a ‘critical juncture’, UN mission head tells Security Council
Mar 21, 2019, at 11:21 am
New York, Mar 21 (IBNS): Predicting that the “days ahead will prove foundational to the years ahead for Libyans and the region”, the top United Nations official in the country told the Security Council on Wednesday, that it was no exaggeration to describe the oil-rich nation as having reached “a crucial juncture”.
In South Sudan, mothers teaching daughters ‘safer’ ways to survive rape
Mar 13, 2019, at 09:21 am
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): Sexual attacks in South Sudan are so common that mothers now teach their daughters how to survive the ordeal of being raped, in such a way as to minimize the violence. That’s according to Yasmin Sooka, chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights, who was speaking on Tuesday in front of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, during its latest session.
Security Council condemns ‘heinous and cowardly’ attack in Iran
Feb 15, 2019, at 09:20 am
New York, Feb 15 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council has condemned “in the strongest terms” Wednesday’s “heinous and cowardly” terrorist attack in south-east Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan Province.
Jan 27, 2019, at 06:19 pm
New York, Jan 27 (IBNS): The top UN political official told the Security Council on Saturday that dialogue and cooperation were vital to ending the crisis in Venezuela, but during a contentious debate, Council members disagreed over the appropriate response to mass protests in the South American country and competing claims to the presidency.
Jan 24, 2019, at 08:50 am
New York, Jan 24 (IBNS): Two years after the signing of the historic peace agreement in Colombia and following a recent escalation of violence, the newly-appointed representative of the United Nations in the country, told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that its people have established a “broad consensus” against further conflict, before highlighting key steps to stabilize the nation.
DR Congo: Days ahead ‘critical’ to ‘historic election process’ Security Council hears
Jan 12, 2019, at 08:36 am
New York, Jan 12 (IBNS): With millions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) demonstrating “their commitment to the political process”, the days ahead are “critical” to what has been an “historic election process”, the top UN official in the country told the Security Council on Friday.
Security Council condemns attacks on Afghan security forces which killed at least 27
Jan 04, 2019, at 08:57 am
New York, Jan 4 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council has condemned “in the strongest terms” a series of coordinated attacks aimed at security checkpoints in northern Afghanistan which took place on Monday night, killing at least 27 and wounding dozens of others
Jan 04, 2019, at 08:54 am
New York, Jan 4 (IBNS): Somali Government efforts to build a lasting peace through political reform and transformation have progressed along a “positive trajectory” but everyone involved in the process needs to “pull in the same direction”, the UN Special Representative in the country told the Security Council on Thursday.
Dec 20, 2018, at 10:02 am
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): As the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) prepare to vote in next week’s long-awaited presidential election, UN Security Council members on Tuesday expressed their conviction that the 23 December vote should be viewed as an “historic opportunity” for the country.
Dec 19, 2018, at 08:58 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): Recent violence and rising tensions in the West Bank are fuelling a climate of hatred and fear, “driving both Israelis and Palestinians further away” from a resolution to the conflict, the United Nations envoy for the Middle East Peace Process has said.
Rising insecurity in Central Africa Republic threatens wider region, Security Council told
Dec 14, 2018, at 09:00 am
New York, Dec 14 (IBNS): Rising violence in the Central African Republic threatens to spill across the border into neighbouring countries, creating further instability, a senior United Nations official warned on Thursday, urging continued and coordinated regional efforts to bolster peace and security.
Haiti: ‘Laden with challenges’ but also hope, Mission chief tells Security Council
Dec 13, 2018, at 09:22 am
New York, Dec 13 (IBNS): Haiti is “laden with challenges, but also hope”, the head of the UN Mission in the country told the Security Council on Wednesday, against the backdrop of on-going political unrest in the Caribbean country.
UN should be ‘exemplary’ in defending judicial independence, top Judge tells Security Council
Dec 12, 2018, at 10:21 am
New York, Dec 12 (IBNS): The United Nations should be a role model when it comes to repelling attempts to weaken the rule of law and undermine independent judiciaries around the world, a senior UN judge told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Security Council urged to help spare Syrians from ‘devastation’
Nov 30, 2018, at 08:17 am
New York, Nov 30 (IBNS): An escalation in fighting across northern Syria illustrates the “fragility” of the situation in the war-torn region, a senior UN humanitarian official said on Thursday, urging sustained international efforts to protect millions trapped there, from “devastation.”
Eritrea sanctions lifted amid growing rapprochement with Ethiopia: Security Council
Nov 15, 2018, at 09:14 am
New York, Nov 15 (IBNS): A range of international sanctions imposed against Eritrea nearly a decade ago, were unanimously lifted by the Security Council on Wednesday, four months after the signing of an historic peace agreement with Ethiopia in July.
Multilateralism more vital than ever, as World War centenary looms: Security Council
Nov 10, 2018, at 08:32 am
New York, Nov 10 (IBNS): With the centenary of the end of the First World War just days away, the Security Council reaffirmed the crucial importance of multilateralism – or international cooperation and collective problem-solving – and highlighted the key role played by the United Nations since its creation 73 years ago.
Nov 08, 2018, at 08:44 am
New York, Nov 8 (IBNS): During a Tuesday briefing to the Security Council, Tuesday Reitano, Deputy Director of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, described the problem as a “global and accelerating phenomenon, and a threat to international peace and security,” that, in conflict areas alone, is generating around $31.5 billion in illicit profits.
Security Council extends mandate of UN peace mission in Western Sahara by six months
Nov 01, 2018, at 12:24 pm
New York, Nov 1 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council, on Wednesday, extended the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), until 30 April next year.
Oct 12, 2018, at 09:30 am
New York, Oct 12 (IBNS): December elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remain on course, but still face “major challenges”, including violence from armed groups in the country’s east, the top United Nations official in the country said on Thursday.
Sep 28, 2018, at 08:27 am
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): If the leadership of North Korea follows a diplomatic path to end its nuclear weapons programme, then a “much brighter future lies ahead” for its people, the US Secretary of State told the Security Council on Thursday.
Restore hope that peace will come to the Middle East, UN negotiator urges Security Council
Sep 21, 2018, at 08:44 am
New York, Sept 21 (IBNS): Negative humanitarian, security and political developments in Gaza outweigh any positive news concerning the search for peace in the Middle East, the United Nations negotiator for the process has said, urging the international community to help restore hope that a solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict can be found.