First-ever World Braille Day underscores importance of written language for human rights
Jan 04, 2019, at 09:16 am
New York, Jan 4 (IBNS): To raise awareness of the importance of Braille for approximately 1.3 billion people living with some form of distance or near vision impairment, on Friday the United Nations is observing the first official World Braille Day.
Deadly Mali attack to be investigated by UN rights experts
Jan 04, 2019, at 09:07 am
New York, Jan 4 (IBNS): An attack on a village in central Mali earlier this week in which at least 37 civilians died, is to be investigated with the help of United Nations human rights experts, the UN stabilization mission in the country (MINUSMA), announced on Thursday.
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.
Powering up health care in Sub-Saharan Africa
Jan 03, 2019, at 09:07 am
New York, Jan 3 (IBNS): Solar power is helping make universal healthcare a reality in places where unreliable power supplies regularly affect access to vital services, and can out people’s lives at risk, thanks to support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Attack on UN compound in Somalia may be 'violation of international humanitarian law'
Jan 03, 2019, at 09:04 am
New York, Jan 3 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned Tuesday’s attacks against the UN compound in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, saying that intentionally attacking UN personnel may constitute "a violation of international humanitarian law.”
UN diplomacy: political conflicts to watch in 2019
Jan 01, 2019, at 09:32 am
New York, Jan 1 (IBNS): As the world – and the United Nations – continues to grapple with political crises, we look at the political landscape with Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo. We begin by asking her what it’s like to be the top UN political officer.
‘Stealing’ food from hungry Yemenis ‘must stop immediately’, says UN agency
Jan 01, 2019, at 09:11 am
New York, Jan 1 (IBNS): After uncovering evidence that humanitarian food supplies are being diverted in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital, Sana’a, and other parts of the country, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has demanded an immediate end to the practice.
‘Continue working together’ UN chief urges DR Congo, as country heads to polls
Dec 29, 2018, at 08:35 am
New York, Dec 29 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on all those playing an active political role in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to “continue working together” to ensure free and fair elections, as the country heads to polls this Sunday.
Guinea-Bissau needs ‘genuinely free and fair elections’ to break cycle of instability
Dec 28, 2018, at 08:40 am
New York, Dec 28 (IBNS): Unless political actors in Guinea-Bissau demonstrate renewed good faith to hold “genuinely free and fair elections,” the country is set to face a continuous cycle of instability, the United Nations Security Council warned on Thursday.
UN calls for ‘peaceful, credible and inclusive’ election in Bangladesh
Dec 28, 2018, at 08:33 am
New York, Dec 28 (IBNS): In the run-up to Sunday’s general elections in Bangladesh, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called for “an environment free of violence, intimidation and coercion” to allow a “peaceful, credible and inclusive poll.”
Libya: Attack on foreign ministry, an attack on all Libyans, stresses UN envoy
Dec 27, 2018, at 09:09 am
New York, Dec 27 (IBNS): The United Nations peace mission in Libya has “strongly” condemned a terrorist attack on the country’s foreign ministry in the capital, Tripoli.
UN ceasefire monitoring chief tours Yemeni port of Hudaydah
Dec 25, 2018, at 09:04 am
New York, Dec 25 (IBNS): The head of the UN team which is monitoring and helping implement a ground-breaking ceasefire across Yemen’s crucial port city of Hudaydah, had his first face-to-face meeting with authorities there on Monday.
UN rights expert urges full investigation into death of migrant girl, held in US
Dec 25, 2018, at 08:52 am
New York, Dec 25 (IBNS): A United Nations rights expert has called for a thorough investigation into the death of a Guatemalan migrant child, while she was in the custody of United States immigration authorities.
UN ready to support tsunami-hit parts of Indonesia – Secretary-General Guterres
Dec 24, 2018, at 08:56 am
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed “deep sadness” at the loss of life, injuries and damages caused by the tsunami that struck the Indonesian coast late Saturday, local time.
Warring parties in Yemen must ‘fully respect’ Hudaydah ceasefire – UN Security Council
Dec 22, 2018, at 08:10 am
New York, Dec 22 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Friday endorsed the agreement reached between the Government of Yemen and leaders of the opposition Houthi movement, at the recent UN-backed talks in Sweden, and authorized the deployment of an advance team to facilitate the monitoring and implementation of the Stockholm Agreement.
Bamboo-boring beetles wreak havoc in Rohingya refugee camps, UN agency races to respond
Dec 22, 2018, at 08:05 am
New York,Dec 22 (IBNS): Beset by millions of bamboo-chomping beetles, almost every shelter in the vast Rohingya refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, in Bangladesh, needs replacing. With just over four months to go until the beginning of the monsoon season, the race is on for IOM, the United Nations migration agency which is managing the camp, to provide families living in the worst-affected temporary dwellings, with new and more durable bamboo.
Nicaragua: UN rights chief ‘alarmed’ by imminent expulsion of key human rights groups
Dec 22, 2018, at 08:02 am
New York, Dec 22 (IBNS): After the Nicaraguan Government announced that it has asked two key human rights institutions to leave the country, the UN human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, said on Friday that she was “extremely alarmed” by a decision that means, in effect, there will be “no functioning independent human rights bodies left in Nicaragua”.
Dozens of migrants dead and missing, adds to mounting toll off Spanish coast
Dec 22, 2018, at 07:59 am
New York, Dec 22 (IBNS): A group of migrant boats stranded at sea, was rescued off the Spanish coast on Thursday, and at least 25 people are believed to be dead or missing, including a pregnant woman, the UN Refugee Agency, UNCHR, has reported.
Instability in Africa’s Sahel, spreading outwards, Security Council told
Dec 21, 2018, at 09:30 am
New York, Dec 21 (IBNS): Efforts to address the multiple challenges facing Africa’s Sahel region should be driven by local, regional and national leadership, with the support of international partners as required, the United Nations Special Adviser for the region said on Thursday.
Remain united for Syrians, UN envoy de Mistura urges Security Council
Dec 21, 2018, at 09:10 am
New York, Dec 21 (IBNS): Addressing the problems plaguing Syria and bring years of brutal fighting to an end, requires further “genuine effort” on the part of influential countries, to talk to each other and work constructively, the veteran United Nations Special Envoy for Syria has said.
Dec 21, 2018, at 09:06 am
New York, Dec 21 (IBNS): Migrants and refugees are being subjected to "unimaginable horrors" from the moment they enter Libya, throughout their stay in the country and – if they make it that far – during their attempts to cross the Mediterranean, according to a report released on Thursday, by the United Nations political mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the UN human rights office (OHCHR).
UN-led Yemen ceasefire monitoring team gets ready to begin operations
Dec 20, 2018, at 10:04 am
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): A UN-led team tasked with overseeing the ceasefire which came into effect on Tuesday around a number of critical Yemeni ports, has begun planning operations with a conference call to discuss the general outlines of its work, including agreement of a code of conduct, the UN Spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Confirmed ‘Blue Line’ tunnels ‘do not appear’ to surface in Israel – UN peacekeeping chief
Dec 20, 2018, at 09:56 am
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has confirmed the existence of at least two tunnels crossing the “Blue Line” – the border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel – but they “do not appear thus far” to have exit points leading to the surface on Israeli territory, the United Nations top peacekeeping official told the Security Council on Wednesday.
‘Chance for peace’ in South Sudan finally within reach, declares UN Peacekeeping chief
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:18 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): The security situation in South Sudan has significantly improved since the recently signed peace deal between the opposing parties in the country’s civil war, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, head of UN Peacekeeping (DPKO), told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Human rights champions from across the world receive top UN prize
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:09 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): The “clear and profound” guidelines enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “have made it the world’s most widely translated document”, the UN Secretary-General told the General Assembly on Tuesday at an event to commemorate the Declaration’s 70th Anniversary, marked 10 December.
UN rights chief welcomes new text to protect rights of peasants and other rural workers
Dec 19, 2018, at 09:07 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS): As the most basic rights of rural people continue to be trampled on in many parts of the world, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, welcomed Monday the adoption on Monday by the UN General Assembly of a new declaration to help safeguard them.
Migrants: ‘A powerful driver’ of economic growth, ‘dynamism and understanding’
Dec 19, 2018, at 08:52 am
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS):Human migration is “a powerful driver of economic growth, dynamism and understanding,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, in his message commemorating International Migrants Day, marked on 18 December.
Moves to create a Kosovo army have ‘deteriorated relations’ with Serbia: UN peacekeeping chief
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:48 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): The decision by Kosovo’s parliament to form a national army was described by the UN Peacekeeping chief on Monday as having “further deteriorated relations between Belgrade and Pristina,” which, he said, have been strained for some time.
Prospect of negotiated peace in Afghanistan ‘never been more real’ – UN mission chief
Dec 18, 2018, at 09:46 am
New York, Dec 18 (IBNS): A negotiated end to the 17-year conflict in Afghanistan “has never been more real…than it is now”, the head of the United Nations peace mission in the country has said, highlighting a series of important milestones achieved over recent months.