UN launches 'Nelson Mandela Rules' on improving treatment of prisoners
Oct 08, 2015, at 01:18 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS): The United Nations on Wednesday launched the Revised Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, dubbed the 'Nelson Mandela Rules,' which Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed as "a great step forward" but also drew attention to three areas that could be strengthened from a human rights perspective.
Political tensions running high ahead of 2016 elections in DR Congo: UN officials
Oct 08, 2015, at 01:15 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS): The top United Nations official in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that he cannot say with certainty whether the progress attained in the country is sustainable, or whether violence will erupt again and reverse what has been achieved so far.
UN chief condemns killing of peacekeeper in Central African Republic
Oct 08, 2015, at 01:14 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned on Wednesday the killing of a 'blue helmet' from the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), which occurred on Tuesday in the capital, Bangui.
Rice genetics placed in global data pool to help develop sustainable crops: UN
Oct 08, 2015, at 01:12 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS): The genome sequences of thousands of rice varieties have been placed with a United Nations-backed treaty on plant genetics by the world’s leading rice research institute to help boost plans to set up a global data exchange for crop genetic resources, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
UN envoy urges action to make roads safe for children
Oct 08, 2015, at 01:10 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS): Marking International Walk to School Day, Jean Todt, the United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety, has is calling for urgent action to halt road deaths and traffic accidents, which, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), kill some 500 children a day.
Houthis reaffirm acceptance of Security Council resolution to end violence in Yemen: UN
Oct 08, 2015, at 01:09 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, has welcomed the latest statements by the Houthis reaffirming their acceptance of a UN Security Council resolution aimed at ending the country’s months-long conflict, the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday.
UN rights expert welcomes steps taken to combat torture in Ghana
Oct 08, 2015, at 01:08 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS): A United Nations expert on torture on Wednesday urged the Government of Ghana to step up its effort to implement recommendations issued after a mission to the country in November 2013, when deep concerns about the situation of overcrowding in prisons and other rights violations were voiced.
Ban welcomes US decision on early release of 6,000 prisoners
Oct 08, 2015, at 01:06 pm
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed on Tuesday the decision by the United States Government to release 6,000 inmates from federal penitentiaries in an effort to ease overcrowding in prisons and provide a degree of redress for persons who received disproportionately long sentences for non-violent drug-related offences.
Russia fires 26 missiles on IS in Syria
Oct 08, 2015, at 05:03 am
Moscow/Damascus, Oct 7 (IBNS) Russian navy on Wednesday, launched 26 missiles from 4 warships on Islamic State captured Syria, confirmed Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Air strike on Afghanistan hospital was a mistake: US
Oct 07, 2015, at 02:57 pm
Washington, Oct 7 (IBNS): US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has expressed his regret over the loss of lives in a U.S. military airstrike on a hospital in Afghanistan.
UN agencies launch new standards to improve adolescent care worldwide
Oct 07, 2015, at 02:17 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): Two United Nations agencies – the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) – announced on Tuesday they have developed new standards for quality health-care services for adolescents, which aim to help countries improve services for people between the ages of 10 and 19.
Peace process in Mali 'back on track' but vigilance necessary: UN envoy
Oct 07, 2015, at 02:14 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): The road towards peace and the implementation of an accord to end instability and violence in Mali is full of obstacles, the United Nations envoy for the country on Tuesday told the Security Council, noting that these difficulties have been encountered sooner than he had expected.
Ban voices profound alarm at growing number of deadly incidents in West Bank
Oct 07, 2015, at 02:12 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced "profound alarm" on Tuesday at the growing number of deadly incidents in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Despite looting of aid agencies in Central Africa UN pledges continued support
Oct 07, 2015, at 02:08 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): Despite worsening security conditions and the recent looting of international aid offices in the Central African Republic (CAR), prompting the temporarily relocation of 200 personnel, the United Nations on Tuesday pledged to keep bringing aid into the war-torn country, where over half the population urgently needs assistance.
Foreign terrorist fighters pose significant and evolving global threat: UN report
Oct 07, 2015, at 02:05 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): In the wake of last week’s meeting of world leaders at United Nations Headquarters on countering violent extremism, a new UN report released on Tuesday throws into stark relief the growing threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters, especially in an era where extremist groups freely use social media and the Internet to disseminate their ideologies and even raise funds.
No humanitarian agencies left in Afghan city of Kunduz after bombing: UN
Oct 07, 2015, at 02:01 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): There are currently no humanitarian agencies left in Kunduz, the north-eastern Afghan city where an air strike hit the Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) hospital, causing the deaths and injuries of medical personnel, patients and other civilians, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
EU migration policy 'will fail' without human rights focus: UN rights chief
Oct 07, 2015, at 01:57 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): Warning that Europe's "narrow, exclusion-focused [migration] policies have clearly failed," the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Tuesday urged the European Union to make certain that upcoming policy discussions undertaken in light of the region's refugee crisis are grounded firmly on the need to protect the human rights for all migrants.
UNICEF calls for a joint vaccination plan in Sudan
Oct 07, 2015, at 01:54 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): Calling for a joint vaccination operational plan in Sudan, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday outlined the dire situation for thousands of children living in the Nuba Mountains, which remain inaccessible after four years while conflict in the country continues.
Libya: Ban calls for agreement on formation of Government of National Accord
Oct 07, 2015, at 01:51 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged participants in the Libyan political dialogue to urgently conclude the process and sign an agreement leading to the formation of a Government of National Accord.
UN officials shocked by allegations against former General Assembly President
Oct 07, 2015, at 01:49 pm
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): Top United Nations officials expressed on Tuesday that they are "shocked" and "deeply troubled" to learn about the "very serious allegations" announced this morning by United States' federal prosecutors against John Ashe, a former President of the UN General Assembly.
JMB leader killed in grenade blast
Oct 07, 2015, at 12:15 am
Dhaka, Oct 6 (IBNS): Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leader Mohammed Javed was killed in a grenade blast on Tuesday, media reports said.
South Sudan: UN agency air operation delivers agriculture aid
Oct 06, 2015, at 02:36 pm
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Monday announced that its rapid response operation in conflict-torn South Sudan has delivered livelihood assistance to 60,000 food-insecure households in hard-to-reach areas of northern Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile States, where food stocks are running out and most families have been unable to produce food through farming or fishing this year.
Marking World Habitat Day, UN highlights importance of public spaces for all
Oct 06, 2015, at 02:34 pm
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): Marking World Habitat Day, which is observed every year on the first Monday of October, top United Nations officials on Monday urged the creation of "Public spaces for all."
UN urges international community to invest in recruiting, empowering teachers
Oct 06, 2015, at 02:29 pm
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): Marking the first World Teacher's Day after the adoption of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, senior United Nations officials appealed to the international community to value, support, and empower teachers, "for it is they who will educate a new generation of children who, in turn, will carry forward all our goals to build a better world for all."
UN, humanitarian community struggling to meet unprecedented needs of refugees
Oct 06, 2015, at 02:24 pm
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): The global refugee crisis is so great that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), other UN agencies and their partners on Monday said that they are struggling to respond to and meet all the humanitarian needs they face.
UN panel warns against 'designer babies' and eugenics in 'editing' of human DNA
Oct 06, 2015, at 02:23 pm
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): Warning that rapid advances in genetics make "designer babies" an increasing possibility, a United Nations panel on Monday called for a moratorium on "editing" the human genome, pending wider public debate lest changes in DNA be transmitted to future generations or foster eugenics.
Poverty to fall below 10 per cent, advancing towards UN goal by 2030: World Bank
Oct 06, 2015, at 02:21 pm
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): The World Bank announced on Monday that extreme poverty is likely to fall to below 10 per cent this year, "giving fresh evidence that a quarter-century-long sustained reduction in poverty is moving the world closer to the historic goal of ending poverty by 2030" – echoing a top goal set by the newly-agreed United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda.
Ban appoints Philippines national as head of UN internal oversight office
Oct 06, 2015, at 02:19 pm
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, following consultations with Chairs of Regional Groups, informed the General Assembly on Monday of his intention to appoint Heidi Mendoza of the Philippines as the new Under-Secretary-General for the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) for a five-year non-renewable term.
Burkina Faso: Ban meets with transition President Kafando
Oct 06, 2015, at 02:14 pm
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): In a meeting on Monday with Michel Kafando, the Transitional President of Burkina Faso, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his sympathy for the lives lost and the many injured during the coup d’état that took place on 16 September 2015.
Afghanistan: UN envoy urges unbiased inquiry into fatal Kunduz hospital air strike
Oct 06, 2015, at 02:13 pm
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): Nicholas Haysom, the United Nations Special Representative for Afghanistan, reiterated on Monday the need for an impartial investigation into the deadly air strike on the Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) hospital in Kunduz, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of medical personnel, patients and other civilians this past Saturday.