Sudan: UN rights office laments crackdown on rights activists
Dec 14, 2014, at 03:53 am
New York, Dec 13 (IBNS) The United Nations human rights office expressed deep concern on Fridayover a spate of detentions and prosecutions in Sudan which, it said, appeared aimed at “silencing political opposition and criticism†of the governing political party.
Security Council welcomes talks between leaders of Sudan, South Sudan
Dec 14, 2014, at 03:03 am
New York, Dec 12 (IBNS) Welcoming recent talks between Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan, the United Nations Security Council on Thursday called on both governments to hold a high-level security meeting as soon as possible and urged all parties to refrain from violence against civilians and to expedite humanitarian access for the timely delivery of aid to all civilians in need of assistance.
Middle East: UN-backed reconstruction efforts continue in Gaza amid ‘dire’ conditions
Dec 14, 2014, at 03:02 am
New York, Dec 12 (IBNS) Reconstruction efforts in Gaza are continuing as thousands of people will soon have access to building materials for urgent repairs to their homes following last summer’s conflict in the war-ravaged enclave, the United Nations special envoy in the region has announced.
UN launches new tool to help to stop atrocity crimes 'before tensions escalate'
Dec 14, 2014, at 03:00 am
New York, Dec 12 (IBNS): With much more needing to be done to prevent crises and protect populations at risk of genocide, the Framework of Analysis for Atrocity Crimes offered a route to reaching that vitally important goal, the Deputy-Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said on Thursday at the tool’s official launch.
'The more we delay, the more we will pay,' says Ban, urginig action on climate
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:59 am
New York, Dec 12 (IBNS): The more action that is taken on Thursday on climate change, the more likely countries will push for stronger agreements on Friday, United Nations Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon told a high-level meeting on Thursday at the UN Climate Change Conference, known also as the 20th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 20).
UN agency reports record cereal crop as Ebola, conflict threaten food security
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:58 am
New York, Dec 12 (IBNS): Despite world cereal production likely to reach an all-time record of more than 2.5 billion tonnes in 2014, a total of 38 countries are at risk of food insecurity, including 29 in Africa, with food insecurity worsening in several countries due to civil conflicts, adverse weather and the Ebola outbreak, according to a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report released on Thursday.
As Sahel faces mounting threats, UN envoy urges Security Council to remain engaged in region
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:57 am
New York, Dec 12 (IBNS):Amid a proliferation of militant groups and “disquieting†levels of food insecurity, the situation in the Sahel has become increasingly fragile, a United Nations special envoy told the Security Council on Thursday, as she urged the international community to ramp up its efforts towards helping the diverse and troubled region.
Iran: UN atomic agency chief appeals for funds to extend monitoring mission until June 2015
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:56 am
New York, Dec 12 (IBNS): The United Nations atomic agency has made an appeal on Thursday for 4.6 million euros so that it can continue to undertake its monitoring and verification activities in Iran until June 2015 under the Joint Plan of Action with Iran agreed to by China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States last December.
UN envoy says international patience ‘wearing thin’ with warring parties in South Sudan
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:55 am
New York, Dec 12 (IBNS): Leaders on both sides of the conflict in South Sudan must inject “a new sense of urgency†into the peace process in order to reach a comprehensive peace agreement as soon as possible, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General said during a press conference in Juba on Thursday.
After CIA torture revelations, US must now recover moral high ground-UN expert
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:53 am
New York, Dec 12 (IBNS): The United States' use of torture when interrogating prisoners captured in its “War on Terror†has damaged the country's moral high ground and created a set-back in the global fight against the condemnable practice, a United Nations human rights expert has declared.
Amid warm welcome by PM Modi, President Putin visits India
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:41 am
New Delhi, Dec 11 (IBNS): Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in Delhi on Wednesday night for a 22-hour visit.
Security Council condemns actions of LRA in Central Africa, demands end to all attacks
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:28 am
New York, Dec 11 (IBNS): The Security Council on Wednesdayexpressed its concern at the grave security situation in parts of Central Africa, particularly the ongoing crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) and its regional impact, the continuing threat of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), and the expansion of Boko Haram terrorist activities into countries in the sub-region.
Somalia: Security Council calls for unity amid political crisis
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:27 am
New York, Dec 11 (IBNS)The United Nations Security Council announced on Wednesdaythat it has taken note of a recent parliamentary vote of “no confidence†resulting in the political ouster of Somalia’s Prime Minister amid a surge of political instability and extremist violence in the East African country.
Spotlighting racism, stigma, UN launches International Decade of People of African Descent
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:26 am
New York, Dec 11 (IBNS) People of African descent still face racism in every country, region and continent of the world, said United Nations General Assembly President Sam Kutesa as the word body on Wednesdaykicked off its International Decade of People of African Descent.
On Human Rights Day, UN official calls for Member States to 'stamp out torture'
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:25 am
New York, Dec 11 (IBNS) Governments must ramp up their efforts in eradicating the practice of torture and compensate the victims of this “most vicious of crimes,†the top United Nations human rights official has urged, as he marked the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention against Torture.
Central African Republic: UN mission captures rebel leader
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:23 am
New York, Dec 11 (IBNS) The Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has announced on Wednesdaythe arrest of Chadian rebel leader and former CAR official, Mahamat Abdul Kadre.
Ban 'deeply saddened' by death of Ziad Abu Ein, urges Israel to investigate
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:17 am
New York, Dec 11 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesdaythat he is “deeply saddened†by the death of Palestinian Minister Ziad Abu Ein, which occurred after a demonstration near Ramallah that resulted in clashes with Israeli security forces.
'Things are about to change,' UN expert urges Malta to prepare for migrants
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:16 am
New York, Dec 11 (IBNS) Malta, a key entry point into Europe, needs to step up its preparation for migrants and asylum-seekers crossing the Mediterranean Sea and arriving at its external borders, United Nations human rights expert François Crépeau warned today.
As number of seafaring migrants surges, UN calls for better global protection efforts
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:14 am
New York, Dec 11 (IBNS) Amid record high numbers of global migrant arrivals by sea, the international community is steadily losing focus on saving lives and intensifying its efforts to deny foreigners access to asylum, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has warned ahead of a Geneva-based forum devoted to protecting sea-bound migrants.
UN report on ‘interpersonal violence’ shows urgent need to scale up prevention
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:12 am
New York, Dec 11 (IBNS) One in four children has been physically abused, one in five girls has been sexually abused and one in three women has been a victim of physical violence at some point in her lifetime, according to the first report of its kind on violence prevent by three United Nations agencies released today.
Ban welcomes Lesotho elections, reaffirms commitment to peace in the Kingdom
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:07 am
New York, Dec 11 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has noted the recent announcement of national elections in Lesotho to be held on 28 February next year.
Marking international observance, UN declares 'Every day is Human Rights Day'
Dec 14, 2014, at 02:06 am
New York, Dec 11 (IBNS) The universal reach of human rights should not be restricted to one day alone but extended to every day of the year, top United Nations officials declared on Wednesdayas they marked Human Rights Day – an annual UN-backed event commemorating the date on which the General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Dec 10, 2014, at 03:25 pm
New York, Dec 10 (IBNS) On the eve of the worldwide commemoration of Human Rights Day, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, on Tuesday led in New York’s historic Harlem neighborhood, a public reading of the landmark Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
UN expert calls for prosecution of CIA, US officials for crimes committed during interrogations
Dec 10, 2014, at 03:24 pm
New York, Dec 10 (IBNS): A United States Senate report has confirmed what the international community has long believed – that there was a clear policy orchestrated at a high level within the Bush Administration which allowed to commit gross violations of international human rights law, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on counter terrorism and human rights said on Tuesday.
UN refugee agency posts largest-ever budget as funding pledges drop by a quarter
Dec 10, 2014, at 03:23 pm
New York, Dec 10 (IBNS) Faced with multiple large-scale emergencies in the Middle East and Africa, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on Tuesday warned donors at the agency’s annual pledging conference that the world’s humanitarian financing system was "close to bankruptcy."
UN agency requests $400 million 'lifeline' for Palestinian refugees
Dec 10, 2014, at 03:21 pm
New York, Dec 10 (IBNS) The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has on Tuesday launched an emergency appeal for $414 million to support those living in the occupied Palestinian territory, where demands for “lifeline†services continue to grow.
Central African Republic in 'critical phase' of transition – UN peacekeeping chief
Dec 10, 2014, at 03:20 pm
New York, Dec 10 (IBNS): Despite a volatile security situation and ongoing fighting throughout the country, the Central African Republic (CAR) is now entering “a critical phase†in its transition to stability and democracy, the top United Nations peacekeeping official told the Security Council on Tuesday, as he urged the international community to remain engaged in the war-torn country.
Genocide begins with 'dehumanization;' no single country is immune from risk, warns UN official
Dec 10, 2014, at 03:20 pm
New York, Dec 10 (IBNS) Not a single country is immune to the risk of genocide, said the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Prevention of Genocide on Tuesday as he marked the 66th anniversary of the signing of the 1948 Genocide Convention.
South Sudan: UN mission destroys weapons seized from displaced persons camps
Dec 10, 2014, at 03:17 pm
New York, Nov 10 (IBNS): The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has destroyed a deadly assortment of weapons confiscated from internally displaced persons (IDPs) living at its civilian protection sites, the Mission has announced, amid broader efforts to defuse tensions in the young country.
Thailand: Murders of human rights defenders underline need for protection, says UN
Dec 10, 2014, at 04:33 am
New York, Dec 9 (IBNS) The murders of two human rights defenders working on land and natural resource issues in the south of Thailand underscore the need for authorities in the country to take urgent measures to ensure the safety and protection of such people, United Nations said on Tuesday.