Women’s workplace equality may take decades: UN

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:46 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): Women earn on average 77 per cent of what men earn, the United Nations labour organization said on Friday, noting that “without targeted action, pay equity between women and men will not be achieved before 2086, or at least 71 years from now.”

UN condemns destruction of Nimrud heritage site in northern Iraq

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:44 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): The United Nations agency mandated with protecting cultural heritage around the world today strongly condemned the destruction of the archaeological site of Nimrud in Iraq, deploring such “criminal chaos” as yet another attack against the Iraqi people.

Climate change threatens self-determination of citizens in island States

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:43 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): In the United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday, senior UN officials joined high-level delegates from Pacific Island States that are on the frontline of the global battle against sea-level rise to examine the potentially devastating impact of climate change on human rights.

Palestine suspends security cooperation with Israel, Ban urges restraint

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:42 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday expressed concern regarding the 5 March decision by the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Central Council to suspend all forms of security coordination with Israel.

Lebanon: UN to boost funding to ease Syria crisis burden

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:41 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): The continuing influx of refugees fleeing from the Syrian conflict is burdening Lebanon’s infrastructure and economy and threatening the country’s stability, the United Nations humanitarian chief said on Friday.

Asia-Pacific’s least developed countries need to be transformed: UN

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:39 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): Transforming the lives of some 300 million people in the least developed countries in Asia and the Pacific “is not about ticking the boxes on a few variables,” but to ensure that economic growth and development is sustainable to lift the millions above the extreme poverty line, a senior United Nations official in the region said on Friday.

Women farmers pillar of food security: UN

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:37 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): Ahead of International Women’s Day, United Nations food relief agencies gathered to remind the world that women farmers play a central role in achieving food and nutrition security, urging countries to step up efforts to empower rural women who too often do “backbreaking work” to harvest food.

UN review finds vast majority of climate-related disasters

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:36 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): The United Nations office dedicated to disaster risk reduction on Friday appealed to world leaders ahead of a major gathering in northern Japan next week to provide clear, action-oriented guidance to tackle the underlying drivers of risk, such as climate change, which now accounts for 87 per cent of the disasters that have killed some 700,000 people over the past decade.

Ban welcomes important step forward towards Mali peace

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:35 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the progress made towards the establishment of an inclusive peace in Mali in an effort to resolve the country's ongoing crisis, the United Nations spokesperson confirmed on Friday.

UN to scale back food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:33 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday said “a critical shortage of funding” has forced it to reduce the number of Syrian refugees it can assist through an innovative electronic voucher system in Turkey, which hosts the largest number of asylum-seekers fleeing fighting in neighbouring Syria.

Road ahead will be difficult in Ukraine: UN political chief

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:32 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): As the Security Council on Friday morning met to hear briefings from top United Nations officials on the political, humanitarian and human rights situations in Ukraine, members heard that the eastern part of the country remains “in limbo.”

Security Council condemns use of chemical weapons in Syria

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:30 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): The Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution strongly condemning the use of any toxic chemical, such as chlorine, as a weapon in Syria and stressing that those who use such weapons must be held accountable.

Ban disappointed over failed progress on South Sudan peace talks

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:28 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday expressed profound disappointment after the unsuccessful conclusion of peace talks in South Sudan and the failure of President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar to display statesmanship and reach a power-sharing deal.

UN sets equality targets for 2030

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:27 pm

New York, Mar 7 (IBNS): The past 20 years has seen haltering progress on women’s rights issues and, in some areas, outright stagnation and regression, the head of the United Nations entity for gender equality and women’s empowerment said on Friday.

Pakistan: Students form shield for Hindus celebrating Holi in Karachi temple

Mar 07, 2015, at 03:55 am

Karachi, Mar 6 (IBNS) In a bid to show solidarity with Hindus in attendance, the National Student’s Federation (NSF) organised the formation of a human shield at the Swami Narayan Temple in Pakistan's Karachi city during a Holi celebration, media reports said on Friday.

FBI team investigates Roy murder scene

Mar 07, 2015, at 02:15 am

Dhaka, Mar 6 (IBNS) A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) team, which is currently in Bangladesh to investigate writer Avijit Roy's murder case, visited the crime scene at Dhaka University on Friday, media reports said.

Member States must enforce human rights: UN rights chief

Mar 06, 2015, at 02:42 pm

New York, Mar 6 (IBNS): The world may be at a “turning point” as violent extremism and intolerance remain pervasive across the spectrum of global society, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Thursday as he urged Member States to uphold the human rights principles underlying their communities in their fight against radicalism.

UN agencies step up aid deliveries in northern Iraq

Mar 06, 2015, at 02:40 pm

New York, Mar 6 (IBNS): Several United Nations agencies are working closely with humanitarian partners to deliver life-saving assistance to thousands of families in the Salah al-Din Governorate of Iraq amid heavy fighting between Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which has caused the displacement of thousands of people.

World food prices dip to lowest level since July 2010

Mar 06, 2015, at 02:38 pm

New York, Mar 6 (IBNS): Food prices dipped to a 55-month low in February, dropping a steady per cent from the previous month and 14 per cent below its level compared to a year earlier, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported on Thursday.

Gaza: UN reports undermining living standards due to blockade

Mar 06, 2015, at 02:37 pm

New York, Mar 6 (IBNS): The living conditions of nearly 2 million Palestinians residing in the Gaza Strip have been undermined by the enduring blockade against the enclave, the United Nations humanitarian office reported on Thursday.

WHO announces start of Ebola vaccine testing in Guinea

Mar 06, 2015, at 02:35 pm

New York, Mar 6 (IBNS): The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday that it will begin conducting Ebola vaccination trials in Guinea this week, which if found effective, could be the “game-changer to finally end the epidemic” that has affected nearly 24,000 people, mostly in West Africa.

Security Council extends mandate for political mission in Libya

Mar 06, 2015, at 02:33 pm

New York, Mar 6 (IBNS): Having determined that the situation in Libya remains a threat to international peace and security and acting under Chapter VII of the Charter, the Security Council adopted unanimously on Thursday a resolution extending the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

South Sudan: UN chief urges all sides to show leadership

Mar 05, 2015, at 04:14 pm

New York, Mar 5 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged South Sudanese political rivals President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar to resolve their differences and move towards a lasting peace ahead of an impending mediation deadline.

Cooperation vital to combating wildlife crime: UN Assembly President

Mar 05, 2015, at 04:12 pm

New York, Mar 5 (IBNS): The President of the United Nations General Assembly called on Wednesday for a coordinated international response to the trafficking of wildlife that took aim at the both the supply and demand side of poaching and the illegal trade in animals.

WHO's solid evidence backing its call to reduce sugar intake

Mar 05, 2015, at 04:08 pm

New York, Mar 5 (IBNS): New guidelines released by the United Nations health agency on Wednesday recommended that adults and children worldwide reduce their daily sugar intake to boost health and stave off non-communicable diseases.

UN joins demands for release of child soldiers: South Sudan

Mar 05, 2015, at 04:06 pm

New York, Mar 5 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, on Wednesday demanded the release of hundreds of child soldiers forcibly recruited by militias and groups aligned with the warring factions or the South Sudan Government, saying “there needs to be accountability for child recruiters and those who commit grave violations against children.”

Sustainability starts in Sendai: Ban

Mar 05, 2015, at 03:59 pm

New York, Mar 5 (IBNS): A new United Nations report urging greater investment in risk prevention has underscored disaster risk reduction as a building block for future sustainable development, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon affirmed on Wednesday as the Organization prepares for a pivotal upcoming global conference on the issue.

No evidence death penalty deters any crime: UN official

Mar 05, 2015, at 03:57 pm

New York, Mar 5 (IBNS): Despite progress in recent years to universally abolish the death penalty, major challenges persist, the United Nations human rights official said on Wednesday at a high-level debate in Geneva, expressing concern that the death penalty, in practice, is “too often applied to the poor and marginalized foot soldiers” rather than the powerful organizers of the drug business.

Move to repeal state law in Australia welcomed by UN

Mar 05, 2015, at 03:55 pm

New York, Mar 5 (IBNS): A United Nations rights expert praised on Wednesday the move made in Australia to repeal restrictive laws that regulate protests, and encouraged the reversal of any legislation that curtails the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly.

Libya crisis festering: UN envoy

Mar 05, 2015, at 03:53 pm

New York, Mar 5 (IBNS): The overall situation in Libya is “deteriorating rapidly” amid a growing terrorist threat and continuing violence, the United Nations envoy to the country warned the Security Council on Wednesday, as he urged national stakeholders to move firmly in defining the country’s future.