Eleven firms agree to promote inclusion of disabled people: UN labour agency
Oct 29, 2015, at 03:52 pm
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): Eleven major international companies on Wednesday agreed to promote and include persons with disabilities throughout their operations worldwide in a move the International Labour Organization (ILO) hailed as "not only just a good moral cause" but also "good for business."
Amid situation in Darfur, UN peacekeeping official urges political settlement
Oct 29, 2015, at 03:41 pm
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): Warning of an "unpredictable" political and security situation in Darfur, a senior United Nations peacekeeping official told the Security Council on Wednesday that a comprehensive resolution of the Darfur conflict, which would allow for the return of over 2.6 million displaced persons, required first and foremost a political settlement between the Government and the armed movements.
Tuberculosis deaths nearly halved since 1990, but 4,400 dying daily: WHO
Oct 29, 2015, at 03:33 pm
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday that the fight against tuberculosis (TB) is paying off, with this year’s death rate nearly half of what it was in 1990, but 1.5 million still people died from the disease last year, with more than half occurring in China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria and Pakistan.
Minorities face discrimination at every turn in criminal justice systems: UN expert
Oct 29, 2015, at 03:23 pm
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): In criminal justice processes worldwide, minorities face discrimination ranging from excessive and sometimes lethal use of force, torture by police, to longer periods of stay in pre-trial detention, discrimination during judicial procedures and biases influencing sentencing, according to the UN human rights expert on minority issues.
'Terrorism is on the march' Ban tells global dialogue in Madrid
Oct 29, 2015, at 03:21 pm
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): Despite the world's best efforts, "terrorism is on the march" and the violent ideas that fuel it are spreading, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned on Wednesday, telling delegations gathered for a global dialogue in Madrid that a unified, multi-dimensional and rights-based response is required to wipe out the scourge.
Two-thirds of world's population is infected with herpes: WHO
Oct 29, 2015, at 03:18 pm
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): More than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1, which in most cases causes "cold sores" around the mouth, according to the first global estimates of the infection by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Security Council urges Burundian parties to pursue dialogue
Oct 29, 2015, at 03:16 pm
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): Renewing its call for all stakeholder Burundian stakeholders to engage in dialogue “and to spare their country and its people further suffering,†the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday voiced its deep concerns about the growing insecurity, the continued rise in violence, and the persisting political impasse there.
Social protection systems should be inclusive of persons with disabilities: UN expert
Oct 29, 2015, at 03:13 pm
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): States should make their social protection systems more inclusive for persons with disabilities, rather than pursuing models that often lock them into a cycle of dependence and poverty, a UN expert on the rights of persons with disabilities has said.
DPR Korea: UN rights expert regrets unchanged human rights situation
Oct 29, 2015, at 03:06 pm
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): The international community was strongly urged on Wednesday by a UN rights expert to maintain effective and meaningful efforts to address the continued dire human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Nepal welcomes its first female President
Oct 29, 2015, at 01:40 am
Kathmandu, Oct 28 (IBNS) Nepal on Wednesday achieved a historic feat by electing its first ever female President Bidya Devi Bhandari.
Ethiopia experiencing worst drought in 30 years due to El Niño conditions: UN report
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:56 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): Ethiopia is experiencing its worst drought in 30 years according to the United Nations, with levels of acute need across all humanitarian sectors having already exceeded levels seen in the Horn of Africa drought of 2011, and which are projected to become far more severe in 2016.
UNESCO appeals for safeguarding world's endangered archives
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:54 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): Against the backdrop of a large share of the world’s audiovisual heritage already lost forever, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Tuesday warned that only 10 to 15 years are left to transfer remaining audiovisual recordings to digital media before they too vanish.
Syrians living tragedy and despair barely imaginable five years ago: UN relief official
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:53 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): The most senior United Nations humanitarian official on Tuesday stressed that the failure of parties to the conflict in Syria to uphold the basic tenets of international law has propelled the Syrian people to levels of tragedy and despair which could barely have been imagined five years ago.
UN report reveals urgent need for systematic approach to youth violence prevention
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:51 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): While youth violence is not a simple problem with easy solutions, a new report launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) underscores that prevention programmes can improve a broad range of health, education and social outcomes – and lead to potentially substantial economic savings.
Despite raging conflict, scores of refugees continue to arrive in Yemen by sea: UN
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:50 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): The ongoing conflict and the widening humanitarian crisis in Yemen has not deterred nearly 70,000 refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants to reach the country by sea causing the Yemini population to 'bear the brunt,' said the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday.
UN ramps up to assist those in Afghanistan and Pakistan affected by earthquake
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:48 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands of homes in Afghanistan and Pakistan were destroyed by the massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck the Badakshan Province in Afghanistan on Monday, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Cholera spreading in Iraq, suspected case reported in Syria: WHO
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:46 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Tuesday that it would start vaccine treatments for cholera beginning this weekend to prevent further outbreaks in Iraq, where the disease has now been confirmed in 15 out of 18 governorates, while the agency also reported a suspected case was also found in northern Syria.
Yemen: Ban calls to halt operations after Saudi-led airstrikes destroy hospital
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:44 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday condemned airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition that hit the Hayadeen Medical Hospital in the Sa'dah governorate, which is run by Médecins Sans Frontières with support from the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Nauru: OHCHR raises concerns about sexual assault allegations by asylum-seekers
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:42 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): Underscoring the "fragile mental and physical condition" of 'Abyan' (the pseudonym for a Somalian refugee), who was allegedly raped in Nauru in July and was returned by Australia, the United Nations human rights office on Tuesday called upon both countries to urgently provide decent mental and physical care for her, including provisions to terminate her pregnancy, if she desires.
UN General Assembly renews call for end to US embargo against Cuba
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:40 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): In a near unanimous vote, the 193-member United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution renewing its call for an end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba, while also acknowledging the restoration, after nearly 50 years, of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Burundi: Ban welcomes African Union decision on addressing political and security crisis
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:39 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): In a phone call on Tuesday, United Nations Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, discussed the situation in Burundi, with Ban welcoming recent decision by the AU Peace and Security Council on addressing the country's political impasse.
Côte d’Ivoire: Ban welcomes completion of first round of presidential elections
Oct 28, 2015, at 02:37 pm
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday welcomed the successful completion of voting in the first round of presidential elections in Côte d'Ivoire, which took place on Sunday.
UN chief welcomes Israel's commitment to restore calm at holy sites in Jerusalem
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:57 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed the statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterating Israel's commitment to uphold the status quo at the Haram al Sharif/Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Yemen: UN envoy says negotiations only way to end cocktail of dramatic crises
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:53 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): Stressing that a political solution is key to resolving the "terrible cocktail" of crises in Yemen, the United Nations Special Envoy for the country on Monday announced that preparations have begun for talks between the conflict parties.
UN report links processed meats to cancer in humans
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:47 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS):The cancer research arm of the World Health Organization (WHO) has determined that the consumption of processed meats like hotdogs, ham, sausages and meat-based sauces causes colorectal cancer, while eating red meat like beef, pork and lamb is "probably carcinogenic to humans."
El Niño will 'test' disaster resilience in hazard-prone Pacific region: UN
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:46 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): Amid growing fears that the irregular climatic activities of El Niño will result in severe weather events across the hazard-prone region of small islands and atolls in the Pacific, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) on Monday addressed a gathering in Suva, Fiji, of disaster reduction and humanitarian response partners from across the region at a joint programme of events around regional resilience to disasters and emergency management.
UN human rights chief sends assessment mission to South Sudan
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:44 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): After reports of alleged violations and abuses of human rights committed by both parties to the conflict in South Sudan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is deploying a 10-member mission to the country to assess the situation.
UN official welcomes EU agreement on plan for Western Balkans migration route
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:42 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): As European leaders met this week to hammer out a 17-point plan of action on the Western Balkans migration route for refugees and migrants fleeing Syria and other strife-torn regions, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees commended the fact that a consensus had been reached.
First nine months of 2015 are hottest on record, UN agency reports
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:41 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): Earth has just had the hottest January-September on record, the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Monday, adding that the average air and sea temperatures in September logged the greatest rise above monthly average in the 136-year historical record.
UN agencies ready to support Government-led relief efforts in quake-hit South Asia
Oct 27, 2015, at 02:39 pm
New York, Oct 27 (IBNS): United Nations agencies are mobilizing and stand ready to support Government-led relief operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday, adding that his thoughts are with the people of the two countries after a powerful earthquake struck Badakshan province in Afghanistan.