UN experts urge Israeli lawmakers to halt proposed legislation targeting civil society groups
Jun 25, 2016, at 03:08 pm
New York, June 25 (Just Earth News): Three United Nations human rights experts today urged Israeli lawmakers not to approve the bill that would, in effect, target non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are critical of Government policy.
Detention, heavy fines for artistic expression in Iran ‘unacceptable,’ say UN rights experts
Jun 25, 2016, at 04:39 am
New York, June 24 (Just Earth News):UN human rights experts on cultural rights and on freedom of expression have expressed concern at the imprisonment and imposition of heavy fines against three artists in the Islamic Republic of Iran earlier this month and have called for their immediate release.
In Cannes, Ban pitches ad agencies on Global Goals, announces ‘Common Ground’ partnership
Jun 25, 2016, at 04:37 am
New York, June 24 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called on advertising and creative communication professionals to wage “the biggest-ever campaign for humanity†by supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a 15-year anti-poverty, pro-planet action plan, adopted by 193 Member States last year.
In wake of UK vote to leave EU, Ban says UN to continue to work with both 'important partners'
Jun 25, 2016, at 04:35 am
New York, June 24 (Just Earth News): Following the vote in the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday that the UN looks forward to continuing to work with both “important partners.â€
Jun 24, 2016, at 03:30 pm
New York, June 24 (Just Earth News): Marking the tenth anniversary of the first meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission –which has become known as ‘Peacekeeping Day’ – United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson on Thursday urged Member States, particularly those with membership in the Security Council, to make full use of the Commission and its role in preventing violent conflict.
Ban appoints Ivan Å imonovic as special adviser on the responsibility to protect
Jun 24, 2016, at 03:25 pm
New York, June 24 (Just Earth News):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday announced the appointment of Ivan Šimonović of Croatia as his Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect.
UN rights experts stress need for protection of LGBT people in places of detention
Jun 24, 2016, at 03:22 pm
New York, June 24 (Just Earth News):Ahead of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, UN human rights experts highlighted the lack of policies and methods to recognise people’s self-identified gender, and the need to carry out proper risk assessments in order to protect LGBTI people from stigmatization and violence in detention.
Ban marks UN Public Service Day with call for shared drive to achieve sustainability agenda
Jun 24, 2016, at 03:12 pm
New York, June 24 (Just Earth News):The efforts of women and men engaged in public service are crucial to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, United NationsSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, paying tribute to public servants on the day set aside by the General Assembly to spotlight their invaluable contributions.
UN agency boosts support in Lake Chad Basin to safeguard agricultural livelihoods
Jun 24, 2016, at 04:56 am
New York, June 23 (Just Earth News):The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Thursday it is providing agricultural and livelihood assistance to affected host communities and displaced people in the Lake Chad Basin as a result of massive population displacements and insecurity that are putting livelihoods and food security at high risk.
World's oft-marginalized widows must be part of sustainable development agenda – UN chief
Jun 24, 2016, at 04:55 am
New York, June 23 (Just Earth News):With nearly half the world’s 259 million widows living poverty, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged greater efforts to “make them more visible in our societies†and ensure they are a vital part of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda’s pledge to ‘leave no one behind.’
Record 29 million people drug-dependent worldwide; heroin use up sharply – UN report
Jun 24, 2016, at 04:52 am
New York, June 23 (Just Earth News):The number of people suffering from drug use disorders has increased disproportionally for the first time in six years in 2014, while the number of people who used at least one drug stayed at five per cent of the adult population, according to the annual report prepared by the United Nations.
UN mourns death of former General Assembly President John Ashe
Jun 24, 2016, at 04:51 am
New York, June 23 (Just Earth News):United Nations General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft expressed sincere condolences on Thursday to the widow, friends and colleagues of former Assembly President John Ashe, who died of a heart attack on Wednesday.
Jun 23, 2016, at 12:11 pm
New York, June 23 (Just Earth News): The United Nations head of humanitarian operations for Lebanon on Wednesday urged the international community to develop a comprehensive approach of support, or risk the implosion of a country that is vital to the regional dynamics.
UN summit jump-starts global drive for responsible business actions on Sustainable Development Goals
Jun 23, 2016, at 12:09 pm
New York, June 23 (Just Earth News):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday rallied corporate leaders and entrepreneurs gathered for a summit in New York to focus on key areas required to reach a new era of sustainability, including responsible practices, transformative partnerships, breakthrough innovation and targeted investment.
UN pays tribute to British parliamentarian Jo Cox
Jun 23, 2016, at 12:05 pm
New York, June 23 (Just Earth News):Standing up for values and principles that unite us – not divide us – and never succumbing to violent provocations in on Wednesday’s world is vital so that extremists and perpetrators do not declare victory, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General emphasized on Wednesday at a ceremony in tribute to Jo Cox, the United Kingdom Member of Parliament who was killed this past week.
UN special adviser stresses urgency of de-escalating tensions sparked by protests in Bahrain
Jun 23, 2016, at 04:40 am
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News):Noting the new protests and increased tensions in Bahrain triggered by the revocation of the citizenship of a prominent Shia religious leader, a senior United Nations human rights advisor called on the Government to ensure that the right to freedom of peaceful assembly is fully respected and that any response to the protests is in accordance with the country’s obligations under international human rights law.
UN report finds Caribbean region must boost efforts to prepare for increased drought
Jun 23, 2016, at 04:32 am
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News): Climate change is expected to increase the intensity and frequency of droughts in the Caribbean, so countries in the region must enhance their capabilities to deal with this and other extreme weather-related challenges to ensure food security and hunger eradication, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said in a new report.
Disarming armed groups, civilian protection crucial for Central African Republic – UN expert
Jun 23, 2016, at 04:30 am
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News):Concluding her seventh visit in the country, Marie-Thérèse Keita Bocoum, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic (CAR), expressed concern about the threats from armed groups and large-scale banditry to the protection of civilians, natural resources and to the crisis recovery process.
Jun 22, 2016, at 02:22 pm
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News): Addressing an event commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson on Tuesday stressed the importance of prevention and early response efforts, as well as the need to shift shame and stigma from victims to perpetrators.
Jun 22, 2016, at 02:20 pm
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News):While Governments around the world have been working decidedly and collectively to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and nuclear weapons, the international community must intensify efforts in that regard in order to keep up with and effectively address global challenges, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday.
Progress on economy, improving security is imperative for Afghanistan, UN envoy reports
Jun 22, 2016, at 02:19 pm
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News):Progress on the economy and improving security is imperative so that Afghans have confidence in their Government, the United Nations envoy in Afghanistan said on Tuesday.
Niger: UNICEF reports more than 240,000 uprooted from homes in Diffa region
Jun 22, 2016, at 02:16 pm
New York, June 22 (Just Earth News):More than 240,000 people, or a third of the population, in Niger’s Diffa region have been uprooted from their homes since 3 June attacks by Boko Haram insurgents, the single largest displacement since 2013, a senior United Nations official said on Tuesday.
Bahrain: UN rights office concerned at crackdown on human rights and political opposition groups
Jun 22, 2016, at 04:37 am
New York, June 21 (Just Earth News):Concerned at the intensification of a crackdown on free expression and association, and the right to a nationality in Bahrain, the United Nations human rights office on Tuesday urged the Government to ensure those rights are protected in line with the country’s obligations under international law and that civil society activists do not face undue pressure, intimidation or reprisals for their work.
More than half of Yemen’s population now food insecure – UN
Jun 22, 2016, at 04:34 am
New York, June 21 (Just Earth News):Vast swathes of war-torn Yemen,19 out of 22 governorates are facing severe food insecurity, and the situation within affected areas is likely to deteriorate if conflict persists, according to a new assessment by the United Nations and partners.
Thailand: Ban reaffirms UN’s readiness to support country’s return to democracy
Jun 21, 2016, at 01:09 pm
New York, June 21 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has reaffirmed the UN’s readiness to support Thailand as the country prepares to vote on a final draft Constitution.
UN expert sees very little change in efforts to protect right to life, end impunity in Mexico
Jun 21, 2016, at 01:08 pm
New York, June 21 (Just Earth News): A United Nations human rights expert on Monday said that in Mexico, very little has changed regarding the protection of the right to life his 2013 fact-finding mission to the country.
UN strongly condemns series of attacks in Afghanistan
Jun 21, 2016, at 01:05 pm
New York, June 21 (Just Earth News):The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Monday expressed grave concern about a series of deadly attacks across Afghanistan, reiterating its call for anti-Government elements, including the Taliban, to immediately cease all attacks in civilian-populated areas and stop targeting civilians, including diplomatic facilities and personnel.
‘Unprecedented’ 65 million people displaced by war and persecution in 2015 – UN
Jun 21, 2016, at 04:52 am
New York, June 20 (Just Earth News):The number of people displaced from their homes due to conflict and persecution last year exceeded 60 million for the first time in the United Nations’ history, a tally greater than the combined populations of the United Kingdom, or of Canada, Australia and New Zealand, says a new report released on World Refugee Day today.
Myanmar must address ‘serious’ human rights violations against minorities – UN rights chief
Jun 21, 2016, at 04:51 am
New York, June 20 (Just Earth News): Issuing a new report on the situation of minorities in Myanmar, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has urged the Government to take concrete steps to end the “systemic discrimination†and ongoing human rights violations against minority communities, particularly the Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state.
UN relief wing foresees thousands more fleeing Fallujah amid ongoing fighting
Jun 21, 2016, at 04:49 am
New York, June 20 (Just Earth News):More than 83,000 people have fled the besieged city of Fallujah and surrounding areas as of this past Saturday, and thousands more could still be on the move amid ongoing fighting, the United Nations relief wing has reported.