Jul 30, 2018, at 09:12 am
New York, July 30 (IBNS): Ahead of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on Monday, the UN human rights expert on the issue has emphasized that both victims and potential victims’ rights must be upheld – especially women and children – and appealed for all States to prevent and combat the global scourge.
Make Sunday ‘an important celebration of democracy’ UN chief urges voters in Mali
Jul 29, 2018, at 04:49 pm
New York, July 29 (IBNS): On the eve of Mali’s crucial presidential election, the United Nations Secretary-General said that despite clear security challenges, voters in the arid African nation of around 18 million, needed to ensure that the key poll was first and foremost “an important celebration of democracy”.
Mali: Any dispute over key Sunday vote must be resolved peacefully, says UN envoy
Jul 28, 2018, at 08:25 am
New York, July 28 (IBNS): With key presidential elections in Mali just two days away, the top United Nations official there on Friday stressed that candidates must accept the results and ensure that the democratic process in Mali is “irreversible”.
Jul 28, 2018, at 08:13 am
New York, July 28 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General has congratulated the people of Pakistan for “exercising their constitutional right to vote” on Wednesday, thereby reaffirming “their commitment to a democratic Pakistan.”
Cambodia: Before crucial vote on Sunday, UN chief calls for ‘pluralistic political process’
Jul 28, 2018, at 07:56 am
New York, July 28 (IBNS): As Cambodians prepare to vote in general elections on Sunday, the United Nations Secretary-General issued a statement on Friday calling for “an inclusive and pluralistic political process” saying that it “remains essential for safeguarding the progress made by Cambodia in consolidating peace.”
New ECOSOC president to revive ‘deliberative function’ of forum
Jul 27, 2018, at 09:21 am
New York, July 27 (IBNS): The newly-elected President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Ronda King, of the Caribbean island nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, said on Thursday that she intended to make the year ahead “a defining” one for the body that leads the UN’s ambitious drive for sustainable economic, social and environmental development.
Guterres sounds alarm over worst cashflow crunch in years
Jul 27, 2018, at 09:18 am
New York, July 27 (IBNS): The United Nations is at risk of running out of cash, the UN chief has warned, urging Member States to pay their mandatory contributions on time and in full, so that the world body can continue to deliver on its key mandates.
Jul 27, 2018, at 09:15 am
New York, July 27 (IBNS): Amid a long series of challenges, the implementation of the peace process in Colombia is moving forward and has achieved important milestones in recent months, according to a new report by the United Nations Secretary-General presented to the Security Council on Thursday.
‘Stigma and discrimination still persists’ against people living with HIV – UN labour agency
Jul 27, 2018, at 08:57 am
New York, July 27 (IBNS): Although progress in treating people living with HIV has enabled them to work, they continue to face career discrimination, says a new study launched on Thursday by the United Nations labour agency.
DR Congo: UN envoy calls for ‘a level playing field’ in key upcoming elections
Jul 27, 2018, at 08:53 am
New York, July 27 (IBNS): Major progress has been made on preparations for the upcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but “conditions for a level playing field are not yet in place”, said the most senior United Nations official based in the country.
UN human rights experts urge Egypt to release jailed poet who penned hit protest song
Jul 27, 2018, at 08:50 am
New York, July 27 (IBNS): Galal El Behairy has been held in detention since February after penning a song critical of Egypt’s policies, prompting United Nations human rights experts on Thursday to urge the government to release him immediately.
UN chief strongly condemns terrorist attacks in south-west Syria
Jul 27, 2018, at 08:47 am
New York, July 27 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, has strongly condemned multiple suicide bombings on Wednesday in the government-held town of Sweida, in Syria’s south-west, which killed and injured scores of civilians.
Pakistan: UN chief condemns suicide attack that killed dozens near polling station
Jul 26, 2018, at 09:38 am
New York, July 26 (IBNS): The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, on Wednesday condemned the killing of dozens of people near a polling station in the western city of Quetta due to a suicide attack, as voters headed to the polls in Pakistan’s general elections.
Cameroon violence needs urgent investigation, says UN rights chief Zeid
Jul 26, 2018, at 09:00 am
new York, July 26 (IBNS): Persistent reports of grave human rights abuses in Cameroon — including a widely shared video showing the alleged execution of a woman, child and baby — must be investigated by the authorities urgently, UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said on Wednesday.
Jul 25, 2018, at 09:03 am
New York, July 25 (IBNS): Intense diplomatic efforts by the United Nations and Egypt have helped avoid another Israeli-Palestinian war in Gaza that appeared just “minutes away” over the past weekend, a senior UN official said on Tuesday.
UN rights office appeals for peaceful Zimbabwe elections amid reports of intimidation
Jul 25, 2018, at 08:57 am
New York, July 25 (IBNS): Zimbabwe’s upcoming presidential elections must be peaceful and credible, the UN Human Rights Office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday, amid increasing reports of voter intimidation and coercion linked to the ruling ZANU-PF party.
UN experts urge India to align new anti-trafficking bill with human rights law
Jul 24, 2018, at 08:51 am
New York, July 24 (IBNS): India must revise its planned new legislation to tackle trafficking in persons so that the measures proposed are in line with international human rights law, said two independent UN human rights experts on Monday.
Afghanistan: UN mission condemns deadly attack near Kabul airport
Jul 24, 2018, at 08:44 am
New York, July 24 (IBNS): The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has condemned Sunday’s terrorist attack outside Kabul’s airport that reportedly killed and injured scores of civilians.
Jul 22, 2018, at 04:23 pm
New York, July 21 (IBNS): Voicing deep concern over the latest flare-up of violence around Gaza, the United Nations chief on Saturday urged all sides to “step back from the brink of another devastating conflict”.
Colombia: New Congress marks rebel group’s transition ‘from weapons to politics’, says UN
Jul 22, 2018, at 04:07 pm
New York, July 22 (IBNS): Celebrating the holding of the first session of a new Congress in Colombia, the United Nations has said that the inclusion of former rebels in the legislative body marked their transition “from weapons to politics”.
E-Governance: A powerful tool to combat, mitigate and sustainably manage disaster risks
Jul 21, 2018, at 07:33 am
New York, July 21 (IBNS): E-governance plays a critical role in building inclusive, resilient societies both before and in response to disasters, according to a United Nations report issued this week.
UN agriculture agency digs in to help forests and farms build resilience to climate change
Jul 21, 2018, at 07:30 am
New York, July 21 (IBNS): Millions of small-scale farmers will be better equipped to withstand the negative impacts of climate change while at the same time improving livelihoods, thanks to a new global push by the United Nations agriculture agency announced during World Forest Week.
Refugee health services on track despite record level of displacement, says UN agency
Jul 21, 2018, at 07:27 am
New York, July 21 (IBNS):Despite record numbers of people fleeing conflict and natural disasters globally, vital health services have been largely able to cope, the United Nations refugee agency has said; although communicable diseases, anaemia and stunting remain areas of concern.
Multilateral trade challenged by ‘increasingly unilateral trade measures,’ UN forum hears
Jul 20, 2018, at 09:31 am
New York, July 20 (IBNS): Despite the improved economic growth, risks to the economic outlook are rising, the United Nations economic and social affairs chief said on Thursday, warning against “increasingly unilateral trade measures” that are challenging the multilateral trading system.
UN chief welcomes new push by El Salvador’s political parties to begin fresh dialogue
Jul 20, 2018, at 09:28 am
New York, July 20 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the decision announced on Wednesday by El Salvador’s political parties to set up a new “negotiating framework”.
UN-African Union partnership ‘not a choice but a necessity’, Security Council hears
Jul 19, 2018, at 08:51 am
New York, July 19 (IBNS): A stronger partnership between the United Nations and the African Union is “not a choice but a necessity” in tackling today’s complex peace and security challenges in Africa, a senior UN official said on Wednesday.
UN experts urge Ukraine to stop ‘systematic persecution’ of Roma minority
Jul 19, 2018, at 08:18 am
New York, July 19 (IBNS): Ukraine must take immediate action to stop what amounts to a “systematic persecution” of the country’s Roma minority, who have been targeted in a series of violent attacks allegedly perpetrated by members of extreme right-wing groups, United Nations human rights experts have said.
Jul 18, 2018, at 09:35 am
New York, July 18 (IBNS): A high-level gathering of representatives from the Somali government and the international community, including the United Nations, ended in Brussels today with renewed commitment to support the Horn of Africa country’s progress in a range of areas, such as state and peace-building efforts.
Jul 18, 2018, at 09:30 am
New York, July 18 (IBNS): There have been “positive developments” when it comes to democratization across the vast West Africa and Sahel region, but that has been “competing with the volatile security situation” particularly around areas where terrorist groups are active such as the Lake Chad Basin, the head of the UN Office for the region (UNOWAS) told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Jul 18, 2018, at 09:27 am
New York, July 18 (IBNS): Following further restrictions on goods and supplies that can be moved across the border of the Gaza Strip, the top United Nations humanitarian official there has called for urgent measures to prevent an already critical humanitarian situation from getting worse.