Aug 16, 2018, at 09:03 am
New York, Aug 16 (IBNS): A Ukrainian film-maker whose outspoken criticism of Russia’s continued annexation of Crimea has landed him in jail, prompted United Nations human rights experts to call on Russian authorities for his immediate and unconditional release on Wednesday.
Aug 16, 2018, at 08:56 am
New York, Aug 16 (IBNS): The court decision to award nearly $290 million to a terminally-ill man from the United States who claimed his cancer was caused by a herbicide in a commercial weed killer, has been welcomed by two United Nations human rights experts as a “significant recognition” of the responsibilities that chemical companies have to consumers.
INTERVIEW: ‘Defend the people, not the States’, says outgoing UN human rights chief
Aug 16, 2018, at 08:46 am
New York, Aug 16 (IBNS): For four years, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has been taking governments across the world to task, exposing human rights violations and robustly advocating for the rights of victims.
Caspian Sea deal an invaluable step towards easing regional tensions, says UN Chief
Aug 15, 2018, at 09:50 am
New York, Aug 15 (IBNS): António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, has welcomed the historic signing of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, which took place on Sunday, marked by a ceremony which brought together the leaders of the five countries bordering its coastline.
Aug 14, 2018, at 08:58 am
New York, Aug 14 (IBNS): In a report released on Monday, the United Nations urged Somalia to take steps to ensure future elections are not marred by the human rights violations and abuses committed during the 2016-2017 electoral process.
UN chief welcomes DR Congo President’s promise to stand down
Aug 11, 2018, at 08:33 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General has commended the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila’s decision on Thursday, not to stand in elections scheduled to take place on 23 December.
UN underscores the need to celebrate indigenous peoples, not confine them
Aug 11, 2018, at 07:59 am
New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): Celebrating some 370 million indigenous people across 90 countries; marches, ceremonies and a host of other initiatives took place across the world, as the United Nations marked on Thursday the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
UN underscores the need to celebrate indigenous peoples, not confine them
Aug 10, 2018, at 09:16 am
New York, Aug 10 (IBNS): Celebrating some 370 million indigenous people across 90 countries; marches, ceremonies and a host of other initiatives took place across the world, as the United Nations marked on Thursday the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
UN urges protection of indigenous peoples’ rights during migration
Aug 09, 2018, at 09:45 am
New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): Marking the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, UN Secretary-General António Guterres put a spotlight on the factors pushing indigenous people to migrate “within their countries and across international borders” despite their “profound spiritual connection to their lands and resources”.
Former Chilean President Bachelet put forward by UN chief as next High Commissioner for Human Rights
Aug 09, 2018, at 09:42 am
New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): She has twice been President of Chile, and on Wednesday, ground-breaking politician and women’s rights champion, Michelle Bachelet was nominated by the United Nations chief António Guterres for the key post of High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Aug 09, 2018, at 09:38 am
New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): Despite a myriad of “long-neglected social, economic and development needs”, the Head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Wednesday said progress had been made towards recovery and stability in the battle-scarred country, and called for Iraqi political leaders to continue to “work for national reconciliation” through “inclusive” solutions.
In Tokyo, UN chief expresses full support for US-Japan dialogue with North Korea
Aug 09, 2018, at 09:36 am
New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): At a joint press conference in Tokyo on Wednesday with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the ongoing talks between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), as well as Japan’s renewed initiative of dialogue with the country.
Aug 09, 2018, at 09:33 am
New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): To avert hospital closures and raw sewage overflowing onto the streets of Gaza, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator on Wednesday called on Israeli authorities to allow UN-purchased emergency fuel back across the border of the Palestinian enclave.
Aug 09, 2018, at 09:30 am
New York, Aug 9 (IBNS): It’s essential that Nagasaki’s devastation should “not be forgotten” now or in the future, if the threat of nuclear war is to be lifted, said the Director of the Japanese city’s Atomic Bomb Museum, ahead of a visit there on Thursday by the UN Secretary-General.
UN chief calls for ‘increased commitment’ to resolution on 10th anniversary of Georgia conflict
Aug 08, 2018, at 08:38 am
New York, Aug 8 (IBNS): Ten years after conflict involving Georgia, Russia and the South Ossetia region broke out, United Nations chief, António Guterres said on Tuesday that “increased commitment” is needed by “relevant actors” to advance the on-going reconciliation and peace process.
Rights experts call for greater protection of indigenous people during migration
Aug 08, 2018, at 08:22 am
New York, Aug 8 (IBNS): Governments are being urged to ensure that the rights of indigenous peoples are recognized, whether they are living on their traditional lands or forced to move elsewhere.
Aug 07, 2018, at 08:58 am
New York, Aug 7 (IBNS): If Bilal Bashir, a Palestinian fisherman and lifeguard living on the coast of the Gaza Strip, does not get work over the summer months, he risks being sent to debtors’ prison.
UN to convene Yemen talks early next month in Geneva, envoy tells Security Council
Aug 03, 2018, at 08:21 am
New York, Aug 3 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen announced on Thursday that after two years of stalled talks on resolving the crisis in the country, he plans to invite the warring parties to Geneva on 6 September for a round of peace consultations.
UN-backed meeting of African States targets terrorism, violent extremism
Aug 03, 2018, at 08:07 am
New York, Aug 3 (IBNS): Regional security topped the agenda of a United Nations-backed joint summit on Central and West Africa searching, among other things, for a practical approach to fighting terrorism.
Haiti: UN agricultural development fund supports hurricane-affected farmers with $11 million
Aug 03, 2018, at 08:03 am
New York, Aug 3 (IBNS): With many rural areas in Haiti still recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) announced on Thursday that it is investing $10.8 million help restore agricultural productivity in some the worst affected areas of the island nation.
Aug 02, 2018, at 09:23 am
New York, Aug 2 (IBNS): The UN Statistics Division and the World Bank launched a new guide on Wednesday to help nations worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries, better manage data that contains geographical information – known officially as geospatial data.
‘Exercise restraint,’ UN urges Zimbabwe after post-election violence
Aug 02, 2018, at 09:15 am
New York, Aug 2 (IBNS): After reported attacks on demonstrators protesting election results in Zimbabwe that have left three dead, the United Nations called on the country’s leaders on Wednesday to reject any form of violence.
Aug 02, 2018, at 09:12 am
New York, Aug 2 (IBNS): The death of a local United Nations staff member in a suicide attack on Wednesday in the city of Jalalabad, has highlighted the tragic and relentless effects of terrorist attacks targeting civilians across Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: IOM employee killed in Jalalabad attack
Aug 01, 2018, at 05:17 pm
Kabul, Aug 1 (IBNS): The United Nations on Wednesday confirmed that an International Organisation for Migration (IOM) employee was killed in the terrorist attack on the Department of Refugees and Returnees in Jalalabad on Tuesday.
UN calls on Saudi Arabia to release jailed human rights defenders, including women activists
Aug 01, 2018, at 09:32 am
New York, Aug 1 (IBNS): Concerned over the continuing arrests and “apparently arbitrary detentions” of human rights defenders – including campaigners who lobbied for an end to the ban on women driving – the United Nations human rights office (OHCHR) on Tuesday called on Saudi Arabia to “unconditionally” release all those being held.
Aug 01, 2018, at 09:29 am
New York, Aug 1 (IBNS): The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued a strongly-worded statement on Tuesday, denouncing last week’s brutal killings and raids by members of the terrorist group ISIL, in Sweida, south-west Syria.
Aug 01, 2018, at 09:05 am
New York, Aug 1 (IBNS): As thousands flee mounting political tensions, violence and serious human rights violations in Nicaragua, the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, has called for international solidarity and more support for the countries hosting those who are joining the exodus.
UN receives 70 new allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in three months
Jul 31, 2018, at 09:14 am
New York, July 31 (IBNS): The United Nations received 70 new allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse across all its entities and implementing partners, between the beginning of April to the end of June this year, UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, announced on Monday, with 18 cases involving peacekeeping operations, and 25 from “agencies, funds and programmes.”
Jul 31, 2018, at 09:11 am
New York, July 31 (IBNS): Delivering life-saving assistance to millions of women, children and men in Syria, local aid workers need to be safer and better protected, said the top United Nations humanitarian official in the country on Monday.
Jul 31, 2018, at 09:06 am
New York, July 31 (IBNS): Marking World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the United Nations sheds light on the plight of millions of children, women and men – especially migrants – who, every year, fall prey to traffickers across the world.