May 26, 2016, at 01:54 pm
New York, May 26 (Just Earth News): At the second United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) taking place in Nairobi this week, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) was among a group of agencies launching a new tool and report that recommends ways to protect threatened coral reefs.
UN rights office 'deeply concerned' about possible imminent executions in Gaza
May 26, 2016, at 01:50 pm
New York, May 26 (Just Earth News):Expressing concern about possible imminent executions in Gaza, the United Nations human rights office on Wednesday urged the authorities in Gaza to uphold their obligations to respect the rights to life and to a fair trial and not carry out death penalty.
Iraq: UN human rights office urges investigation into use of force against protestors
May 25, 2016, at 01:51 pm
New York, May 25 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday urged the Government of Iraq to immediately conduct an independent, transparent and effective investigation into the use of force by security forces against protestors outside the Green Zone in Baghdad this past week.
Yemen: UN-mediated peace talks continue following trilateral meeting with Ban in Qatar
May 24, 2016, at 01:35 pm
New York, May 24 (Just Earth News):The delegation of the Government of Yemen returned to the negotiating table in Kuwait in the latest round of peace talks on Monday, with the United Nations envoy for the conflict-torn country holding a plenary this morning with both delegations, a UN spokesperson said.
UN envoy welcomes resumption of cement deliveries into Gaza
May 24, 2016, at 01:24 pm
New York, May 24 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for the peace process in the Middle East on Monday welcomed the decision to resume the private import of cement into Gaza after nearly 45 days of suspension.
Venezuelan Government and opposition should address challenges through dialogue – Ban
May 22, 2016, at 01:13 pm
New York, May 22 (Just Earth News):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon continues to follow events in Venezuela and is encouraged by the ongoing initiatives by former Heads of State and Government to promote dialogue between the Government of Venezuela and the opposition, under the auspices of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).
On World Day, UN hails potential of cultural diversity to boost development
May 22, 2016, at 01:11 pm
New York, May 22 (Just Earth News):Cultural diversity is an outstanding source of exchange, innovation and creativity, and has the enormous potential to accelerate sustainable development, the United Nations cultural agency declared on Saturday.
Ban urges UN system to bolster support for indigenous peoples, as annual forum concludes
May 21, 2016, at 01:54 pm
New York, May 21(Just Earth News):Much has been achieved to improve the rights of indigenous peoples, but conflicts on their lands and territories, and the lack of inclusion of their voices in peace processes, remain a challenge, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday at the closing of a two-week forum.
May 21, 2016, at 01:50 pm
New York, May 21(Just Earth News):One of the expected outcomes of the first World Humanitarian Summit (WHS), which will take place next week in Istanbul, Turkey, is a commitment from the international community to dedicate more resources to prevent and reduce human suffering.
Zika ‘on doorstep of Africa,’ UN health agency warns after virus confirmed in Cabo Verde
May 21, 2016, at 01:44 pm
New York, May 21(Just Earth News): The United Nations health agency on Friday confirmed that the Zika virus strain circulating in Cabo Verde, an island nation off the northwest coast of Africa, is the same as the one responsible for the outbreaks linked to neurological disorders and microcephaly in South America.
Ecuador: month after quake, humanitarian needs acute; many without roof over heads – UN
May 21, 2016, at 01:39 pm
New York, May 21(Just Earth News): One month after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that claimed the lives of over 650 people in north-western Ecuador, humanitarian needs remain acute there, as 73,000 people have been displaced, 15,000 people have lost their identity documents, and 17,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, mostly from Colombia, who lived in the stricken areas were also affected, the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday.
FEATURE: UN uses virtual reality to inspire humanitarian empathy
May 20, 2016, at 12:20 pm
New York, May 20(Just Earth News): It is one thing to say that you understand someone's pain and worries, but quite another to experience them. From living in a refugee tent to facing the Ebola epidemic, the United Nations is using virtual reality to create awareness of humanitarian crises around the world in hopes of changing how a person acts towards others.
May 20, 2016, at 03:25 am
Rome, May 19 (IBNS): With more than 60 million people across the world reeling from the drought caused by El Nino, Josefina Stubbs from the UN's International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has a strong message for leaders gathering at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul next week.
UN deputy chief calls for greater integration efforts to meet challenges of refugees in urban areas
May 19, 2016, at 01:41 pm
New York, May 19 (Just Earth News): More than half of the world’s refugees live in urban areas, and often in fragile cities with high levels of inequality, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said on Wednesday, stressing the importance of integration efforts that enable refugees to benefit from the opportunities cities offer so that they can ultimately have a dignified life.
UN health agency foresees low to moderate risk of Zika virus spread in Europe
May 19, 2016, at 01:28 pm
New York, May 19 (Just Earth News):The overall risk of a Zika virus outbreak across Europe is low to moderate during late spring and summer, according to a new risk assessment published on Wednesday by the World Health Organization (WHO), with a varying risk across the region that is higher in countries where Aedes mosquitoes are present.
May 18, 2016, at 01:28 pm
New York, May 18 (Just Earth News): Warning of a return to a full-scale war in Syria, an international group of diplomats reaffirmed its determination to bolster a fragile ceasefire, ensure aid reach those in need, and make progress toward a peaceful political transition, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
On World Telecommunication Day, UN hails role of IT in sustainable development
May 18, 2016, at 01:16 pm
New York, May 18 (Just Earth News): The global sustainable development agenda recognizes the great potential of information and communication technology to accelerate human progress, bridge the digital divide and advance knowledge, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday, marking World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
Nearly one in five suicide bombers used by Boko Haram is now a child – UN
May 17, 2016, at 01:20 pm
New York, May 17 (Just Earth News): The number of children used by Boko Haram as suicide bombers up tenfold over the past year, the United Nations humanitarian wing has reported, also warning that the group’s gunmen continue to carry out attacks on civilian and military targets despite the ramped up military operations in the Lake Chad Basin region.
Yemen: UN-mediated peace talks continue, with consensus on some issues
May 15, 2016, at 02:28 pm
New York, May 15 (Just Earth News):In his latest update on the Yemeni peace talks currently under way in Kuwait, the United Nations envoy for the conflict-torn country reported that the two delegations discussed proposals to bridge the gap between their respective visions, reaching consensus on some issues.
Security Council 'deeply disappointed' over failed election deadlines in Haiti
May 15, 2016, at 02:28 pm
New York, May 15 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council has expressed its deep disappointment that Haitian actors failed to meet the election and inauguration deadlines agreed upon in the February political accord, calling on all actors to ensure the prompt return to constitutional order.
UN Economic and Social Council President urges coherent global action to address El Niño
May 14, 2016, at 01:44 pm
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS): On the heels of a United Nations special meeting on El Niño, the President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has emphasized the need to reduce the impact of the phenomenon by implementing agreed-upon international frameworks in a coherent manner and increasing resilience-building efforts for the development of holistic disaster risk management worldwide.
In Syria, head of UN agency for Palestine refugees calls for protection to be strengthened
May 14, 2016, at 01:37 pm
New York, May 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The head of the United Nations relief agency charged with the well-being of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East has just completed a two-day visit to Syria where he met with Palestine refugees and called for their protection to be strengthened.
Top UN and African Union officials condemn deadly violence at camp for displaced in North Darfur
May 13, 2016, at 01:57 pm
New York, May 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, have jointly condemn Monday’s attacks by armed groups on an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp and the shooting at a nearby market in Sortoni, North Darfur.
Weak world economic growth lingers, with only modest improvement seen – UN
May 13, 2016, at 01:56 pm
New York, May 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With little prospects for a turnaround in 2016, growth in the world economy remains weak, posing a challenge to the implementation of development targets, a new United Nations report released on Thursday has found.
UN calls for closer cooperation with African organizations for sustaining peace
May 13, 2016, at 01:54 pm
New York, May 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Stronger partnerships between the United Nations and African regional and sub-regional organizations are necessary to sustain the momentum for peacebuilding in Africa and prevent a lapse into violent conflict, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said on Thursday, calling for greater efforts to reinforce initiatives and define the parameters of cooperation.
May 13, 2016, at 01:53 pm
New York, May 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): After nearly two decades, the Amendment to the United Nations –backed Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) entered into force on 8 May – strengthening nuclear security and reducing the threat of nuclear terrorism worldwide.
Cambodia: UN experts urge end to attacks against civil society, human rights defenders
May 13, 2016, at 01:47 pm
New York, May 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations human rights experts on Thursday called on the Government of Cambodia to stop a clampdown on civil society, human rights defenders, parliamentarians and UN personnel, and instead protect civil society and respect fundamental freedoms in the country.
Yemen: UN-brokered peace talks continue in parallel meetings
May 12, 2016, at 01:21 pm
New York, May 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations-facilitated Yemeni peace talks continued on Wednesday in parallel meetings, with a committee making headway by exploring a proposal to release 50 per cent of all prisoners and detainees held by the parties before the month of Ramadan.
Iraq: UN envoy condemns ‘cowardly’ bomb attacks in Sadr City and Baquba
May 12, 2016, at 01:18 pm
New York, May 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations envoy for Iraq has strongly condemned the car bomb attack that occurred earlier on Wednesday in a busy market in Sadr City, claiming many lives and leaving scores injured.
In Madagascar, Ban calls for end to corruption, reports on ‘alarming’ cost of hunger
May 12, 2016, at 01:17 pm
New York, May 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): During his visit to Madagascar on Wednesday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Malagasy parliamentarians to end the corruption that has weakened their society, while launching a report on the cost of hunger in the island nation.