FEATURE: 'We all have to do what we can' to prevent
Jul 27, 2016, at 11:48 am
New York, July 27 (Just Earth News): The United Nations has a “zero tolerance†policy towards sexual abuse by anyone working under the blue flag.
UN agency appeals for added funds for return of Somali refugees from Dadaab camp
Jul 27, 2016, at 11:46 am
New York, July 27 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday appealed to donors for an additional $115.4 million to fund the voluntary return and reintegration of Somali refugees from Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp.
Gender equality, women's empowerment central to Colombian peace process – UN officials
Jul 27, 2016, at 11:42 am
New York, July 27 (Just Earth News): Two senior United Nations officials on Tuesday underscored that the centrality of women to the Colombian peace process, as shown by the 'historic commitment' by the Government and Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP) at the Havana Peace Talks Table, must be reinforced in the final agreement and, more importantly, during the implementation phase.
Recent attacks on hospitals in Aleppo 'can amount to war crimes' – UNICEF
Jul 27, 2016, at 11:41 am
New York, July 27 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reiterated on Tuesday that attacks on health facilities are a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and can amount to war crimes, in response to the recent airstrikes on four hospitals and a blood bank in eastern Aleppo city in Syria.
Thailand: UN rights expert warns against curbs on free speech ahead of major vote
Jul 27, 2016, at 11:35 am
New York, July 27 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights expert on freedom of opinion and expression has condemned recent Government clampdown over public and social media expressions in Thailand ahead of a constitutional referendum scheduled for 7 August.
Syria: UN aid chief calls for weekly, 48-hour humanitarian truce in Aleppo
Jul 26, 2016, at 02:09 pm
New York, July 26 (Just Earth News): Citing the alarming humanitarian conditions across Syria, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator on Monday urged fresh momentum and action to protect civilians and ensure sustained aid access “before it's too late,†including through the establishment of a weekly, 48-hour pause of the fighting in eastern Aleppo, where food supplies are expected to run out next month.
UN health agency to launch new hepatitis testing guidelines ahead of World Day
Jul 26, 2016, at 02:00 pm
New York, July 26 (Just Earth News): Ahead of World Hepatitis Day – observed annually on 28 July – the United Nations health agency has said it plans to release new testing guidelines for hepatitis B and C, among other action, in an attempt to encourage testing and reach the 95 per cent of people who are not aware they are infected with the disease.
General Assembly decision makes International Organization for Migration part of UN system
Jul 26, 2016, at 01:58 pm
New York, July 26 (Just Earth News): The United Nations General Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution approving an agreement to make the International Organization for Migration (IOM) part of the UN system as a related organization.
UN Assembly adopts resolution proclaiming Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa
Jul 26, 2016, at 01:51 pm
New York, July 26 (Just Earth News): Underlining the need for the sustainable industrialization of Africa, the United Nations General Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution proclaiming the period 2016-2025 as the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa.
UN envoy condemns Israel's decision to continue settlement expansion in occupied West Bank
Jul 26, 2016, at 01:49 pm
New York, July 26 (Just Earth News): The United Nations senior official coordinating efforts toward the peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Monday strongly condemned the recent decision by Israeli authorities to advance plans to build some 770 housing units in the settlement of Gilo, located on occupied Palestinian land between Bethlehem and East Jerusalem.
Top UN counter-terrorism official urges cohesive response to 'persistent' threat of terrorism
Jul 23, 2016, at 01:56 pm
New York, July 23 (Just Earth News): With more than 30,000 foreign terrorist fighters from some 100 countries around the world, terrorism is a global threat requiring a comprehensive and unified response, a top United Nations counter-terrorism official said on Friday.
UN deputy aid chief urges support for millions in southern Africa hit by El Niño-induced droughts
Jul 23, 2016, at 01:50 pm
New York, July 23 (Just Earth News): Wrapping up a visit to southern Africa, the United Nations deputy humanitarian chief on Friday called for urgent action to assist millions of people across the region where local coping capacities have been impacted by the worst El Niño-induced drought in 35 years.
UN-backed AIDS conference closes with calls to end discrimination, bolster HIV care, support
Jul 23, 2016, at 01:48 pm
New York, July 23 (Just Earth News): As the 21st International AIDS Conference wrapped up in Durban, South Africa, the Deputy Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV / AIDS (UNAIDS), Luiz Loures, called for ending discrimination against patients, especially those from the most vulnerable populations.
UN launches e-learning training to tackle sexual exploitation and abuse
Jul 23, 2016, at 01:46 pm
New York, July 23 (Just Earth News): The United Nations department providing logistical support to field missions announced on Friday the launch of a new mandatory online programme for all uniformed and civilian personnel to strengthen training on the standards of conduct, with a special focus on sexual exploitation and abuse.
UN officials alarmed by closure of access route in eastern Aleppo; call for ‘humanitarian truce’
Jul 22, 2016, at 01:44 pm
New York, July 22 (Just Earth News): The United Nations humanitarian chief on Thursday expressed grave alarm over developments in the eastern part of Aleppo city in Syria, where civilian, humanitarian and commercial movements have been effectively cut off following the closure of the last remaining access route in and out of the area.
Ban urges Turkish authorities to respect constitutional order, human rights amid state of emergency
Jul 22, 2016, at 01:41 pm
New York, July 22 (Just Earth News): Following the declaration of a three-month state of emergency in Turkey as a result of an attempted military coup late last week, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Turkish authorities to ensure that constitutional order and international human rights law are fully respected.
As DR Congo polls approach, UN rights chief warns of threats to free speech, public assembly
Jul 22, 2016, at 01:39 pm
New York, July 22 (Just Earth News): Concluding a four-day mission to Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, on Thursday commended the country’s efforts to strengthen human rights but cautioned that some of these advances may be under threat, especially what he saw as repression against opposition parties in the coming elections.
Jul 22, 2016, at 01:38 pm
New York, July 22 (Just Earth News): Following its first-ever private discussions with the candidates vying for selection as the next United Nations Secretary-General, the UN Security Council on Thursday conducted the first round of informal polls on those seeking the world’s top diplomatic post.
Syria: After week of ‘horrific’ incidents, UNICEF calls for end to all violence against children
Jul 22, 2016, at 01:37 pm
New York, July 22 (Just Earth News): In a week marked by the brutal on-camera murder of a 12-year-old boy in Aleppo and the killing of more than 20 children killed during air strikes in Manbij, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for an immediate end to all forms of violence against children in Syria and urged all parties to the conflict there to make every effort to avoid the loss of civilian lives.
2016 on pace to be hottest year ever as climate change trends reach ‘new climax’– UN
Jul 22, 2016, at 01:36 pm
New York, July 22 (Just Earth News): Global temperatures for the first six months of this year reached new highs, setting 2016 on track to be the hottest-ever on record, the United Nations weather agency said on Thursday.
South Sudan: UN human rights expert calls for the release of journalist Alfred Taban
Jul 22, 2016, at 03:01 am
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): A United Nations human rights expert on Thursday urged the Government of South Sudan to immediately release Alfred Taban, a prominent journalist and chief editor of the daily English newspaper, Juba Monitor.
UN chief invites leaders to fast-track ratification of Paris climate deal
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:51 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging world leaders to ratify the Paris Agreement on climate change and speed up the process to restrict greenhouse gas emissions.
UN agency steps up operations in South Sudan to thwart possible cholera outbreak
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:50 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): Dozens of people in South Sudan may have cholera, the United Nations children’s agency on Wednesday announced, saying it is working with partners to step up its operations to avoid a possible cholera outbreak in the country.
South Sudan: Demonstrators protest outside UN compound without incidents
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:49 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): A thousand people on Wednesday demonstrated in front of a United Nations compound in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, the UN Mission in the country announced, and dispersed without incidents after handing over a petition.
Mali: UN mission decries deadly attack against Malian military camp
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:47 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali on Wednesday strongly condemned an attack against a military camp and its checkpoints in Nampala, in the central part of the country.
New drive for pediatric HIV treatment launched at global AIDS conference
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:45 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): A new global push to end paediatric AIDS by 2020 was launched on Wednesday at the 21st International AIDS Conference, the world’s largest forum devoted to any single health or development issue, said the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) on Wednesday.
Torching of house in occupied West Bank draws UN official’s concern
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:41 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations official coordinating the peace process toward resolving the longstanding conflict between Israel and Palestine on Wednesday expressed concern about reports of yet another arson attack targeting a Palestinian family in Duma in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
UN agency starts food aid to 6.5 million people affected by severe drought in Malawi
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:40 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations food relief agency has launched what is set to become the largest ever emergency food relief operation in Malawi, where an unprecedented El Niño-related drought has left nearly 40 per cent of the population in need of emergency assistance.
Trees contribute to reducing carbon footprints even after being cut down – UN report
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:38 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): Forests can contribute greatly to the fight against climate change even after trees have been logged, according to a new United Nations report which looks at the impact of wood products on carbon storage.
UN forum on indigenous issues urges talks between Mexican officials, teacher union wing
Jul 21, 2016, at 12:37 pm
New York, July 21 (Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations forum on indigenous issues on Wednesday urged Mexican officials to meet with a wing of the national union of teachers to resolve the conflict in the southern state of Oaxaca, where violent protests over education took at least six lives.