UN experts urge Bahrain to release prominent human rights defender
Sep 06, 2014, at 03:40 pm
New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) A group of independent United Nations experts on Friday urged the Government of Bahrain to release prominent human rights defender Maryam Al-Khawaja, who has been detained since 30 August on charges of assaulting a police officer.
UN releases new guidelines for child online protection
Sep 06, 2014, at 03:35 pm
New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) New York, Sept 6 (IBNS) United Nations agencies, together with partners of the Child Online Protection Initiative, on Friday released new guidelines to "provide the most accessible online tools for teens as well as to enable them to seek help and advice when they need it."
US 'concerned' over 'formation' of new Al Qaeda wing
Sep 05, 2014, at 06:04 pm
Washington, Sept 5 (IBNS): The United States has expressed concern over the reported formation of Al Qaeda's India branch and said the country is committed to dismantling the militant group anywhere that 'it poses a threat to the United States'.
American Ebola patient returning to the US
Sep 05, 2014, at 05:52 pm
Washington, Sept 5 (IBNS): An American doctor, who has been infected with the Ebola virus, is returning to the US for his treatment.
Ninety-six percent of Syria’s declared chemical weapons destroyed – UN-OPCW mission chief
Sep 05, 2014, at 04:38 pm
New York, Sept 5 (IBNS) The Special Coordinator for the Joint Mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations (OPCW-UN) told the Security Council on Thursday that 96 percent of Syria’s declared stockpile, including the most dangerous chemicals, had been destroyed and preparation were underway to destroy the remaining 12 production facilities.
Ban stresses need for Cyprus settlement in meeting with new UN envoy
Sep 05, 2014, at 04:37 pm
New York , Sept 5 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday stressed the importance of reaching a lasting settlement in Cyprus as the new United Nations envoy on this issue prepares to meet with the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on Friday.
UN agencies ramp up much-needed aid in Iraq amid 'alarming rate' of displacement
Sep 05, 2014, at 04:34 pm
New York, Sept 5 (IBNS) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Thursday that it has resumed delivering food assistance to an area of Iraq encompassing much of the western part of the country for the first time since May, targeting 76,000 people who are part of a "massive displacement" of families fleeing fighting.
Evidence on rampant violence against children 'compels us to act' – UNICEF report
Sep 05, 2014, at 04:33 pm
New York, Sept 5 (IBNS) Violence against children is universal – so prevalent and deeply ingrained in societies it is often unseen and accepted as the norm – according to new, unprecedented data presented by the United Nations on Thursday.
Libya: UN report details serious human rights abuses in Tripoli, Benghazi
Sep 05, 2014, at 04:33 pm
New York, Sept 5 (IBNS) Citing indiscriminate violence by armed fighters in Libya and grave abuses by all sides in the conflict, a new United Nations report out on Thursday warns that serious human rights violations are taking place in the country’s two largest cities, Tripoli and Benghazi, with dire consequences for civilians and civilian infrastructure.
'Now is the time to act,' UN urges on release of first global report on suicide prevention
Sep 05, 2014, at 04:32 pm
New York, Sept 5 (IBNS) More than 800,000 people commit suicide every year – around one person every 40 seconds – according to the United Nations health agency’s first global report on suicide prevention, which was published on Thursday.
SAMOA: Small island conference leaves 'legacy with impact' – UN
Sep 05, 2014, at 04:31 pm
New York, Sept 5 (IBNS) With $1.9 billion pledged in sustainable development partnerships, the United Nations on Thursday wrapped up its small island developing States conference and kicked off a drum roll of action on climate change.
UNESCO chief condemns 'despicable murder' of US journalist in Syria
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:58 pm
New York, Sept 4 (IBNS) The head of the UN agency mandated to defend press freedom on Wednesday expressed shock at the killing of American journalist Steven Sotloff and called for the immediate release of all civilian hostages held by militant groups in Syria.
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:57 pm
New York, Sept 4 (IBNS) During its tenure as President of the United Nations Security Council, the United States will convene a summit meeting on September 25 to focus international attention to the “growing and dangerous phenomenon†of foreign terrorist fighters, according to Ambassador Samantha Power.
Erosion of Gaza's economy accelerates amid Israeli military operations, ongoing blockade – UN
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:56 pm
New York, Sept 4 (IBNS) Even before the latest crisis in the Gaza Strip, the tiny enclave's local economy was in a state of total collapse, chiefly due to the accumulated impact of a crushing seven-year blockade and two devastating Israeli military operations in November 2012 and December 2008, according to a new United Nations report out on Wednesday .
UN envoy calls for probe into massacre by armed groups at Iraqi military base
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:55 pm
New York, Sept 4 (IBNS): A senior United Nations official has called on the Iraqi authorities to conduct a public and independent investigation into the attack at Camp Speicher military base, when it was seized by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and associated armed groups in June.
In Auckland lecture, Ban lauds New Zealand's 'ingenuity and hard work' for the UN
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:53 pm
New York, Sept 4 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday hailed the vital contributions of New Zealand to the work of the United Nations, from peacekeeping and disarmament to gender equality and human rights, as he addressed students and faculty at the University of Auckland.
Citing women's crucial role in peacebuilding, UN officials urge concrete support on ground
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:52 pm
New York, Sept 4 (IBNS) Women are crucial partners in peacebuilding and must be guaranteed the safe political space, including a seat at the "negotiating table," to participate in all steps of post-conflict reconciliation and recovery processes, stressed high-level United Nations officials on Wednesday at a Headquarters event.
Security Council again demands immediate release of peacekeepers detained in Golan
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:51 pm
New York, Sept 4 (IBNS) The Security Council called again on Wednesday for the immediate and unconditional release of 45 United Nations peacekeepers seized late last week by an armed group in the Golan, while the Organization’s top peacekeeping official said the UN is continuing to look at ways to enhance safety and security procedures in what has become a "very challenging situation."
SAMOA: Pacific women, youth to benefit from partnerships-UN
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:50 pm
New York, Sept 4 (IBNS) Women and youth must be seen as partners in development and involved, not just included, in decision-making, according to discussions at the United Nations conference on small island developing states which wraps up Thursday in Samoa.
SAMOA: New partnerships seek to protect world's oceans
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:48 pm
New York, Sept 4 (IBNS) Fishermen in coastal Samoan villages say there are less fish than there used and they worry that the fish populations will soon disappear altogether, but participants at a United Nations conference on forming partnerships with small island developing states are vowing to prevent that from happening.
SAMOA: UN disaster risk chief calls for putting partnerships to work
Sep 04, 2014, at 02:47 am
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) The commitments made at the international conference on partnering with small island developing states must be prioritized and implemented as soon as possible, urged the top United Nations official on disaster risk reduction.
Ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine drives more people from their homes - UN
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:57 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) The number of displaced people in eastern Ukraine has risen dramatically in recent weeks due to the ongoing fighting in the country, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday, warning of corresponding increases in the need for humanitarian aid for civilians in the region.
New UN South Sudan envoy stresses civilian protection, national ownership of peace process
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:54 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) Taking up her post on Tuesday as head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Ellen Margrethe Løj acknowledged that while it was a "huge and difficult" challenge, the job was impossible to turn down because the country's people had fought hard for their independence.
Ban appoints veteran UN official as assistant Secretary-General for peacebuilding support
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:51 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday announced the appointment of. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco of Argentina as Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support.
Mali: Ban condemns deadly attack against UN peacekeepers
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:48 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) Condemning the latest in a series of recent attacks against United Nations personnel and contractors in northern Mali, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday declared that the latest incident, in which four UN peacekeepers were killed and 15 others injured, would not deter the Organization’s determination to support the Malian Government and people.
With nearly 3 billion now online, UN-backed forum opens to debate key Internet issues
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:45 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) The ninth annual meeting of the United Nations-backed Internet Governance Forum (IGF) has opened in Istanbul, Turkey with more than 2,500 participants who will debate over the next four days key issues “that could affect every Internet user on Tuesday and on Wednesday.â€
Recent attacks in Nigeria send thousands fleeing to Cameroon for refuge - UN
Sep 03, 2014, at 06:37 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) Recent attacks by insurgent groups in north-east Nigeria have prompted thousands of people to seek refuge in Cameroon over the past 10 days, with some sleeping in schools and churches, and children suffering from poor health, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported on Tuesday.
Syria: UN relief operation delivers food assistance to record number of people
Sep 03, 2014, at 03:23 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) dispatched food to a record-breaking 4.1 million people inside war-ravaged Syria in August, owing to improved access with increased cross-line operations within the country and more cross-border convoys.
Over one million Somalis in danger as food crisis worsens, warns UN agency
Sep 03, 2014, at 03:22 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS): Poor rains, conflict, trade disruptions and reduced humanitarian assistance have led to a worsening of the food security situation across Somalia, the United Nations warned on Tuesday, adding that acute malnutrition increased in many areas, particularly among children.
Ban welcomes lifting of siege of Amerli in northern Iraq; UN agencies rush in aid
Sep 03, 2014, at 03:22 pm
New York, Sept 3 (IBNS): With the siege on the northern Iraqi town of Amerli finally broken,Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday expressed his appreciation to the Iraqi Security Forces, Kurdish Peshmerga, and others, who, with air support from the United States, helped avert a humanitarian disaster in the town, which had been blockaded by militants for the past two months.