Political progress in Libya to end impunity for atrocity crimes: ICC Prosecutor
Nov 06, 2015, at 01:56 pm
New York, Nov 6 (Just Earth News/IBNS): After a "seemingly endless cycle of violence," Libya’s incessant conflict and political division may soon come to an end, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, noting that significant progress is being made towards achieving the goal of peace and stability in the country.
UN envoy welcomes commitment by rebel group in Colombia to end child recruitment
Nov 06, 2015, at 01:55 pm
New York, Nov 6 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Leila Zerrougui today welcomed as "an important step" the commitment by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP) to stop the recruitment and use of children.
Bangladesh: UN rights chief calls for protection of writers threatened by extremists
Nov 06, 2015, at 01:51 pm
New York, Nov 6 (Just Earth News/IBNS): In the wake of recent violence against publishers, writers, bloggers and civil society groups by extremists in Bangladesh, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Thursday condemned the acts and urged the Government to take "urgent, concerted measures to ensure the protection of all those who are being threatened by extremists operating in the country."
Magnitude of dangers facing Libya should not be underestimated: UN envoy
Nov 06, 2015, at 01:49 pm
New York, Nov 6 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The magnitude of the dangers facing Libya should not be underestimated, the top UN official in the country told the Security Council on Thursday, noting that despite the passing of the timeline by which the United Nations had hoped a final political settlement would be endorsed, there is yet to be a final agreement.
I will never stop calling for an end to the death penalty: Ban
Nov 06, 2015, at 01:47 pm
New York, Nov 6 (Just Earth News/ IBNS): Vowing to never stop calling for an end to the death penalty, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday said studies have proven that those who are poor, mentally disabled, and/or are minorities are at higher risk of receiving the death sentence, regardless of guilt or innocence.
Trafficking in cultural property source of enormous illicit profits: UN official
Nov 06, 2015, at 01:43 pm
New York, Nov 6 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Trafficking in cultural property has increasingly come to the attention of the international community and represents a source of enormous illicit profits, an official from UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) stressed on Thursday at a special event in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Ban welcomes decision by Turkey to provide access to burial sites in Cyprus
Nov 06, 2015, at 01:42 pm
New York, Nov 6 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Following a confirmation from the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mustafa Akinci, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday welcomed the decision by Turkey to allow access to the Committee on Missing Persons excavation teams, to 30 suspected burial sites in the military areas in the north of Cyprus.
Uganda: UN symposium on revitalizing global partnership for sustainable development
Nov 06, 2015, at 01:39 pm
New York, Nov 6 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Speaking at a symposium on the revitalization of a global partnership for sustainable development, top United Nations officials dealing with economic and social issues on Thursday stressed the importance of building trust, cultivating leadership and adjusting policies to achieve the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Nov 05, 2015, at 03:36 pm
Male, Nov 5 (IBNS) President Abdulla Yameen’s declaration of a 30 day state of emergency in the Maldives ahead of planned anti-government protests raises the prospect of further attacks on dissent and human rights in the country, said Amnesty International on Wednesday.
Myanmar: UNICEF urges future leaders to commit to children ahead of elections
Nov 05, 2015, at 03:06 pm
New York, Nov 5 (IBNS): As the historic elections in Myanmar draws closer, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Save the Children urged potential leaders of the country to prioritize children and commit to providing them with a fair start in life.
Western Sahara: UN chief reiterates call for 'true negotiations'
Nov 05, 2015, at 03:04 pm
New York, Nov 5 (IBNS): As the conflict over the future of Western Sahara nears its fortieth year, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling on all concerned, within the region and the wider international community, to take advantage of the "intensified efforts" of his Personal Envoy to facilitate the launching of true negotiations in the coming months.
UN expert launches survey to identify practices to protect human rights defenders
Nov 05, 2015, at 03:03 pm
New York, Nov 5 (IBNS): Human rights activists face increasing risks, a United Nations expert said on Wednesday at the launch of a worldwide survey to identify effective practices to protect human rights defenders.
Yemen: UN warns more than 1 million people could be impacted by flooding
Nov 05, 2015, at 03:01 pm
New York, Nov 5 (IBNS): While the United Nations is reporting that Cyclone Chapala – the rare tropical storm that slammed into Yemen's southern coast on Tuesday, dumping perhaps a year’s worth of rain in some areas – is expected to weaken to a tropical depression over the next 12 hours, the immediate concern remains the welfare of an estimated 1 million people, mainly in the two governorates of Shabwah and Hadramaut.
Peacekeeping envoy Kobler tapped to head up UN Mission in Libya
Nov 05, 2015, at 02:58 pm
New York, Nov 5 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday announced the appointment of Martin Kobler of Germany as his Special Representative and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
'Climate change knows no national borders,' Ban says
Nov 05, 2015, at 02:56 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): With the "deadline" for concluding a universal climate agreement just four weeks away, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday warned that despite months of talks and critical pledges on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, key issues still remain in play – on equity and differentiation, on finance and ambition – requiring world leaders to give clear guidance to their negotiators to seek compromise and reach a fair, universal deal at the upcoming UN climate conference in Paris.
UNICEF official experiences 'humanity on the move' through Europe
Nov 05, 2015, at 02:54 pm
New York, Nov 5 (IBNS): As the number of women and children on the move in Europe continues to increase, an official from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday shared her eyewitness experience travelling with refugees and migrants for eight days along a difficult route from Greece to Slovenia, passing through the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Croatia.
No room for death penalty in 21st century, says UN official
Nov 05, 2015, at 02:52 pm
New York, Nov 5 (IBNS): Ahead of the launch of a new book by the United Nations on the global trend away from the death penalty, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights said on Wednesday that there has been a decline in the number of countries upholding capital punishment in the last 40 years.
UNESCO chief urges commitment for 'new humanism' on agency's 70th anniversary
Nov 05, 2015, at 02:50 pm
New York, Nov 5 (IBNS): Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in a report to its 38th General Conference, which kicked off at the threshold of the new 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, the agency's chief looked back on past achievements while appealing for enhanced cooperation from member States to address UNESCO's priorities and tackle the current challenges.
UN agency to reduce poverty and increase in-comes in rural China
Nov 05, 2015, at 02:46 pm
Rome, Nov 5 (IBNS): The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has signed a US$43.5 million financing agreement with the People’s Republic of China in efforts to sustainably reduce rural poverty and improve the livelihoods of rural households in the Liupan Mountain Area of China.
Emergency declared in Maldives
Nov 04, 2015, at 08:08 pm
Male, Nov 4 (IBNS) Maldives President Abdulla Yameen on Wednesday declared a state of emergency, reports said.
Ireland to change its drug law, cocaine and heroine to be decriminalised
Nov 04, 2015, at 05:04 pm
Dublin, Nov 4 (IBNS) As part of their 'radical cultural shift', Ireland will be making changes in their drug law which will come into effect from next year, allowing its citizens to possess small amounts of drugs such as cocaine, cannabis and heroine for recreational use, media reports have said.
Iraq: WHO mobilizes immunization campaign to help control cholera outbreak
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:23 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): The World Health Organization (WHO) has mobilized 510,000 dozes of oral cholera vaccine (OCV) to be administered to an estimated 250,000 displaced persons in Iraq, in an effort to curtail the cholera outbreak which is now feared to be spreading to neighbouring countries.
UN calls for urgent action to address child statelessness
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:21 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): Stateless children across the world share the same feelings of discrimination, frustration and despair, according to a new United Nations report published on Tuesday, that warns that urgent action is needed before statelessness “sets in stone†problems haunting their childhood.
Peru: UN conference addresses poverty and inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:19 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): As policymakers start putting into practice the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in September, United Nations officials and Government representatives are meeting to discuss how to continue reducing poverty and inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean, despite the region's economic slowdown.
'Severe impact' feared in Yemen due to rain potential of cyclone Chapala
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:17 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): As cyclonic storm Chapala made landfall on Tuesday morning in the southwest of Riyan in Yemen with a surface wind speed of 120 to 130 kilometres per hour, United Nations agencies reported that although it had weakened rapidly, the impacts could be severe and challenging.
Corruption feeds and sustains wildlife and forest crime: UN anti-crime chief
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:16 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): Expressing concern that spiralling wildlife and forest crime – fuelled by corrosive corruption – can impede vital progress of the new global sustainable development agenda, the top United Nations anti-crime official and the head of the global UN–backed treaty on protecting endangered species today urged nations to step up the fight to disrupt criminal networks that supply the disastrous illegal trade.
UN humanitarian official in Libya calls for release of abducted aid workers
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:13 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): The top UN relief official in Libya on Tuesday condemned the abduction of two aid workers in southern Libya and warned that persistent threats against humanitarian workers is hindering the delivery of crucial aid to those in need in that part of the war-torn country.
Ban offers sympathies to Israel on 20th anniversary of assassination of Yitzhak Rabin
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:12 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): Marking the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has offered his deepest sympathies to the citizens of the State of Israel, and, noting current tensions in the region, urged all parties to be guided by the late Israeli leader's realization "that the path to true security and strength is through dialogue and compromise."
'We need greater transparency, accountability,' Member States told at debate
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:10 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): To advance the values, principles and purposes of the United Nations, the General Assembly's role, authority, effectiveness and efficiency must be continuously reviewed and enhanced, the 193-member body's President, Mogens Lykketoft, said on Tuesday, stressing the need for transparency throughout the UN system.
Climate change poses 'major threat' to food security, warns UN expert
Nov 04, 2015, at 01:08 pm
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): Climate change poses severe and distinct threats to food security, and could subject an additional 600 million people to malnutrition by 2080, a United Nations human rights expert warned on Tuesday.