Security Council adjusts mandate of UN mission in South Sudan to deter sexual violence, monitor hate speech

Dec 17, 2016, at 02:17 pm

New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News):Approving a one-year extension of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, the Security Council on Fridaydemanded an end to the fighting in the war-riven country, and decided that the mission, known as UNMISS, shall “use all necessary means” to “deter and prevent” sexual violence within its capacity, and “monitor, investigate and report incidents of hate speech.”

Ban condemns deadly attack on military post in northern Burkina Faso

Dec 17, 2016, at 02:12 pm

New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned today's attack against a military post in Nassoumbou, province of Soum in the north of Burkina Faso, in which Burkinabè soldiers were killed and injured.

Philippines: UN expert rejects Government-imposed conditions on fact-finding mission

Dec 17, 2016, at 02:06 pm

New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News):The United Nations Special Rapporteur on summary executions urged the Government of the Philippines to lift a series of preconditions it has imposed on her planned visit to investigate the alleged extra-judicial killings of suspected drug dealers, since President Rodrigo Duterte took office.

Possibility of genocide in South Sudan is ‘all too real,’ Ban warns in opinion piece

Dec 17, 2016, at 01:53 pm

New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News):Given the scale of the disaster in South Sudan, the United Nations Security Council, regional organizations and the international community must step up to their responsibility to the help the country’s people, who have suffered through three years of bloody conflict, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Fridayin an opinion piece published by Newsweek.

UN refugee agency chief launches appeal to support thousands displaced in Lake Chad Basin

Dec 17, 2016, at 01:48 pm

New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News):The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, launched on Fridaya multi-million dollar inter-agency appeal to provide support to nearly 500,000 people who have been affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, including those in Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, as well as Nigerian refugees.

UN rights chief urges Gambian leader to respect results of presidential election

Dec 17, 2016, at 01:44 pm

New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News):The increased military presence deployed across Gambia since President Yayha Jammeh rejected the election result risks heightening the current climate of intimidation and harassment in the country, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights warned on Friday.

Israelis and Palestinians must ‘rebuild trust in each other,’ Ban tells Security Council

Dec 17, 2016, at 01:39 pm

New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News):While the international community must spare no effort revive waning support for the long-sought two-state solution for Middle East peace, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the United Nations Security Council on Fridaythat “ultimately, it is up to the Israelis and the Palestinians to make peace,” and called on the two sides to “rebuild trust in each other.”

‘Aleppo now synonym for hell,’ Ban warns in final press conference as UN chief

Dec 17, 2016, at 01:32 pm

New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News):In his last press conference as United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon on Fridaydelivered stark warnings on two issues at the forefront of international concern: that “the carnage in Syria remains a gaping hole in the global conscience;” and that South Sudan faces a risk of genocide as the country leaders have “squandered a peace agreement.”

General Assembly calls on Member States to support new UN approach to cholera in Haiti

Dec 17, 2016, at 04:58 am

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): Recognizing the moral responsibility of the United Nations to the victims of the cholera epidemic in Haiti, the General Assembly on Fridaywelcomed the new UN approach to tackling the disease – formally launched earlier this month by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon – and called on all 193 of the world body’s Members States to provide the two-track plan their full support.

Gender equality is ‘critical ingredient’ in fight against poverty and hunger – UN agriculture chief

Dec 17, 2016, at 04:53 am

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): The fight against extreme poverty, hunger and malnutrition is not possible without gender equality and women empowerment, José Graziano da Silva, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said on Fridayin Rome, where he called for more efforts to ensure that rural women, “the backbone of our work in agriculture,” enjoy a level playing field.

Iraq: UN refugee agency steps up response as Mosul conflict displaces nearly 100,000

Dec 17, 2016, at 04:44 am

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): With the number of people displaced from Mosul approaching 100,000 since the military operation to oust terrorists from the Iraqi city began three months ago, the United Nations refugee agency is bolstering its capacity to host and support civilians fleeing the fighting.

Myanmar's handling of northern Rakhine lesson in how to make 'bad situation worse' – UN rights chief

Dec 17, 2016, at 04:41 am

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): Expressing concern over the situation in Myanmar's northern Rakhine, the top United Nations human rights official warned that the Government's “short-sighted, counterproductive, even callous” approach to the handling of the crisis could have grave long-term repercussions for the country and the region.

UNICEF partners with the Government of Malawi to test first humanitarian drone in Africa

Dec 16, 2016, at 03:19 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): In cooperation with the Government of Malawi, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will establish an air corridor and use unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), known as drones, for humanitarian purposes, the agency announced on Thursday.

Security Council underlines need to halt proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

Dec 16, 2016, at 03:17 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): Expressing concern over the threat of terrorism and the risk that non-State actors may acquire or use nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, the United Nations Security Council on Thursday called on all countries to establish national controls to prevent proliferation of such weapons as well as their means of delivery.

UN campaign previews hub in Germany to drive action on Sustainable Development Agenda

Dec 16, 2016, at 03:12 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): Together with the Government of Germany, the United Nations SDG Action Campaign offered a behind-the-scenes tour of the Global Campaign Center in Bonn, a new hub that will deliver on the Campaign’s mandate to inspire action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Respecting gender parity, geographical diversity pledges, SG-designate Guterres picks core team members

Dec 16, 2016, at 03:06 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Secretary-General-designate, António Guterres on Thursday announced that he will be appointing Amina J. Mohammed of Nigeria as the UN deputy chief, on his assumption of office as the ninth chief of the global Organization in January 2017.

UN invited to monitor and assist fresh evacuation efforts under way in war-ravaged Aleppo

Dec 16, 2016, at 03:02 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): The United Nations was on Thursday invited to monitor and assist in the renewed effort to evacuate sick and wounded civilians and opposition fighters from the remaining rebel-held areas of Syria’s war-ravaged city of Aleppo, a senior UN humanitarian envoy announced on Thursday.

Number of children recruited into South Sudanese conflict passes 17,000 – UNICEF

Dec 16, 2016, at 02:54 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News): According to new figures released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), some 1,300 children were recruited by armed forces and armed groups in 2016, bringing the total number of children used in conflict since 2013 to more than 17,000.

Paris auction fetches $22m for Chinese imperial seal

Dec 15, 2016, at 05:54 pm

Paris, Dec 15 (IBNS): Following a heated bidding war, an 18th century Chinese imperial seal sold for a whopping $18 million in Paris on Wednesday, reports said.

Yahoo reveals new hack

Dec 15, 2016, at 02:31 pm

California, Dec 14 (IBNS): Yahoo! Inc. on Thursday identified data security issues concerning certain Yahoo user accounts.

Central African Republic: Arbitrary killings, sexual violence cited in new UN human rights report

Dec 15, 2016, at 02:25 pm

New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News): Central African Republic: Arbitrary killings, sexual violence cited in new UN human rights report Violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law in the Central African Republic (CAR), which include arbitrary killings, sexual violence and inhuman treatment, continue to plague the country, according to a United Nations report published today.

Security Council ‘strongest when united,’ says Secretary-General as he bids farewell

Dec 15, 2016, at 02:21 pm

New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News): In its farewell to the outgoing United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Security Council on Wednesday acknowledged his contribution to international peace, security and development, in particular his exceptional efforts to solve international problems in economic, social, environmental and cultural fields.

Syrian Government ‘palpably failing’ to ensure safety of its people – UN human rights chief

Dec 15, 2016, at 02:19 pm

New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News): Expressing shock at the apparent collapse of a deal enabling evacuation of thousands of civilians from eastern Aleppo, the United Nations human right chief said on Wednesday that the resumption of extremely heavy bombardment by Syrian Government forces and their allies on civilian-populated areas “is almost certainly a violation of international law and most likely constitutes war crimes.”

Northeast Nigeria: 400,000 children could suffer from malnutrition – UN

Dec 15, 2016, at 02:10 pm

New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News): With about two-thirds of health facilities in parts of Nigeria’s restive north-east region either completely destroyed or partially damaged, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has estimated that 400,000 children there could suffer from severe acute malnutrition over the next year.

UN rights chief urges establishment of hybrid court for atrocities in South Sudan

Dec 15, 2016, at 02:02 pm

New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday urged the African Union to quickly establish the hybrid court for South Sudan to investigate and prosecute those bearing criminal responsibility for the atrocities.

Gambia: UN chief 'dismayed' at military takeover of electoral commission

Dec 15, 2016, at 01:58 pm

New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News): Expressing dismay at the takeover of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) premises by the military in Gambia, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the security forces to immediately vacate the Commission and to refrain from any further acts that could jeopardise efforts towards the peaceful transfer of power.

UN expert calls for concerted action to guarantee rights for persons with disabilities

Dec 14, 2016, at 03:03 pm

New York, Dec 14 (Just Earth News): Following the recent global commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a United Nations human rights expert on Tuesday issued a warning that some of the most basic components of the convention have yet to be realized and that urgent steps are necessary to level inequalities.

The vulnerable ‘must be our first priority,’ says Ban, calling on donors to support UN emergency fund

Dec 14, 2016, at 02:59 pm

New York, Dec 14 (Just Earth News): At a high-level pledging conference in New York today on the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the UN is seeking at Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s request, an unprecedented $1 billion by 2018 – a stark increase since its 2005 establishment.

UN human rights report urges end to ‘unimaginable abuse’ of migrants in Libya

Dec 14, 2016, at 02:53 pm

New York, Dec 14 (Just Earth News): A joint report launched today by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) citied “unimaginable” human rights violations and abuses of migrants in Libya as a result of the breakdown in the crisis-riven country’s justice system.

‘Children are the world’s hope for a better future,’ says UNICEF chief, marking agency’s 70th anniversary

Dec 14, 2016, at 02:50 pm

New York, Dec 14 (Just Earth News): Celebrities and advocates came together last night to honour UNICEF’s 70 years of advocacy for children around the world at an event in New York that included conversations with Goodwill Ambassadors and musical performances.