As 2016 draws to a close, UN rights chief outlines enormity of challenges to human rights

Dec 01, 2016, at 01:13 pm

New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): Highlighting the challenges to human rights around the world, the United Nations human rights chief called on the international community to act collectively for the common good and to do “everything possible” to prevent the situation from deteriorating.

Nearly half of children in Mosul now cut off from clean water as conflict intensifies – UNICEF

Dec 01, 2016, at 01:12 pm

New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): Destruction of a major water pipeline has left nearly half of the children in the Iraqi battleground city of Mosul cut off from access to clean water, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Wednesday.

Cultural traditions in Portugal, Uganda and Ukraine added to UNESCO heritage protection list

Dec 01, 2016, at 01:11 pm

New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): With the current session of the United Nations committee tasked with safeguarding intangible cultural heritage under way, three cultural elements in Portugal, Uganda and Ukraine have been inscribed to the United Nations list of cultural traditions in need of urgent protection.

New UN report reveals barriers to inclusive development and highlights key steps to progress

Dec 01, 2016, at 01:10 pm

New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs has just released its 2016 Report on the World Social Situation, which includes important new findings about persisting inequalities in education and economic opportunity and, challenges the international community to work harder to break down barriers to participation.

Security Council strengthens measures against DPRK’s nuclear, ballistic missile activities

Dec 01, 2016, at 01:09 pm

New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): Strongly condemning the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 9 September, the Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted measures that United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described as “the toughest and most comprehensive sanctions regime ever” against that country.

Haiti: UN’s new approach on cholera puts people at heart of the response

Dec 01, 2016, at 01:08 pm

New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): The response to cholera in Haiti will be a “long and thorough battle,” but the United Nations will stand by the Haitian people and authorities, Stéphane Dujarric, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, on the eve of the launch of the Organization's new approach to tackling the epidemic in the country.

Without urgent steps to end violence, Aleppo may become ‘giant graveyard,’ Security Council told

Dec 01, 2016, at 01:07 pm

New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): With thousands of civilians fleeing neighbourhoods in eastern Aleppo, senior United Nations officials on Wednesday appealed to the Security Council and the wider international community to come together and “do everything in their power to protect civilians and enable aid access to the besieged parts of the [war-battered city] before it becomes one giant graveyard.”

Ahead of World AIDS Day, UN chief honoured for work to end epidemic, fight against stigma

Dec 01, 2016, at 01:06 pm

New York, Dec 1 (Just Earth News): Speaking at a special event commemorating World AIDS Day, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday underscored the need to stop stigma and abuse against those living with the disease and to ensure that they receive the care, treatment and protection they are entitled to.

UN’s new LGBT expert urges global partnership to end violence and discrimination

Dec 01, 2016, at 05:25 am

New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): Global partnership is needed to end discrimination and violence against the worldwide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, a United Nations human rights expert has told an international conference in Bangkok, Thailand, outlining five key steps that should be taken.

South Sudan: Bureaucratic obstacles hindering relief work must stop, says senior UN official

Dec 01, 2016, at 05:24 am

New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): Expressing deep concern over the impact of a series of bureaucratic impediments and access constraints on relief operations, a senior United Nations humanitarian official in South Sudan has called on all parties to allow free, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to the people in need.

At least 12 die in Turkey dormitory fire

Nov 30, 2016, at 05:45 pm

Ankara, Nov 30 (IBNS): At least 11 schools girls and a woman worker died while 22 others sustained injuries as a fire engulfed a school dormitory in southern Turkey, media reports said.

‘Cling to every little sign of hope’ – outgoing head of UN Mission in South Sudan

Nov 30, 2016, at 01:36 pm

New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): On 23 July 2014, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon announced the appointment of Ellen Margrethe Løj of Denmark as his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS). Løj succeeded Hilde Johnson of Norway, who had completed her assignment two weeks earlier, on 7 July 2014.

Keyword: Ghana, Ban ki Moon, President, opposition leader, defuse tensions, upcoming elections, UN

Nov 30, 2016, at 01:33 pm

New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): About 30,000 families in 58 municipalities in Nicaragua’s ‘Dry Corridor,’ the area of the country most affected by droughts and climate change, are expected to benefit from a financial agreement between the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Nicaragua to boost sustainable agricultural production.

Ghana: Ban urges President, opposition leader to defuse tensions ahead of upcoming elections

Nov 30, 2016, at 01:32 pm

New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged Ghana’s President and the opposition leader to continue their role in defusing tensions towards the holding of peaceful and credible elections in the African country.

Formation of Houthi government ‘complicates search for peaceful solution’ to Yemen crisis – UN envoy

Nov 30, 2016, at 01:31 pm

New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): Describing the recent announcement by Ansar Allah and the General People’s Congress of the creation of a new Government as “a new and unnecessary obstacle” to peace in Yemen, the United Nations envoy for the country on Tuesday urged the parties “to re-think their approach and demonstrate their commitment to the peace process with concrete actions.”

Bulgaria: UN concerned at calls for expulsions following tensions at overcrowded reception centre

Nov 30, 2016, at 01:30 pm

New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): The United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday voiced concerns over calls for expulsion, on national security grounds, of asylum-seekers after a protest at Bulgaria’s largest and most overcrowded reception centre.

Fleeing violence in Horn of Africa, asylum-seekers find little safety in Yemen – UN refugee agency

Nov 30, 2016, at 01:29 pm

New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): Highlighting a dramatic increase in sea crossings by migrants and refugees from the Horn of Africa to Yemen – which itself is reeling under a deteriorating humanitarian crisis, the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday called for urgent steps to deter and save people from the deadly risks they are taking.

UN health agency issues new guidelines on HIV self-testing

Nov 30, 2016, at 01:28 pm

New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): Ahead of World AIDS Day, marked annually on 1 December, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) has released new guidelines on HIV self-testing, which aim to help millions of people know their HIV status and get treatment.

With Burundi at ‘dangerous junction,’ UN experts call on Government to protect citizens against violence

Nov 30, 2016, at 01:27 pm

New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): Denouncing reports of open intimidation from armed militia against citizens of Burundi, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has called upon the Government to take immediate effective action to protect its people.

UN launches new strategy to minimize environmental footprint of its peace operation

Nov 30, 2016, at 01:26 pm

New York, Nov 30 (Just Earth News): Underscoring the importance of environmental protection and management in the work of peacekeeping missions, the United Nations Department of Field Support (DFS) on Tuesday launched a new strategy to maximize its peace operations' efficiency in the use of natural resources, and to minimize their risk to people, societies and ecosystem.

Myanmar: UN rights chief warns of ‘spiral of violence’ in Rakhine state

Nov 30, 2016, at 05:28 am

New York, Nov 29 (Just Earth News): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Tuesday expressed alarm over reports of serious rights violations in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state that cite allegations of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and sexual violence, and a renewed spike in hate speech – including on social media.

Amid battle for Mosul, ISIL forcing civilians ‘squarely in harm’s way,’ UN rights wing warns

Nov 30, 2016, at 05:27 am

New York, Nov 29 (Just Earth News): As the Iraqi military intensifies its operations to wrest Mosul from terrorists, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Tuesday warned that it continues to receive reports of “serious breaches” of international human rights and humanitarian law by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) in and around the war-torn city.

‘Urgent steps’ needed to revive two-state solution, Ban says on Day of Solidarity with Palestinian people

Nov 30, 2016, at 05:26 am

New York, Nov 29 (Just Earth News): Marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the world to reaffirm commitment to upholding the rights of the Palestinian people and working to build a future of peace, justice, security and dignity for Palestinians and Israelis alike.

Syria: Amid ‘chilling’ situation in Aleppo, 16,000 flee intense fighting, UN aid chief warns

Nov 30, 2016, at 05:25 am

New York, Nov 29 (Just Earth News): Citing preliminary reports that that up to 16,000 people have fled fighting in the eastern neighbourhoods of Syria’s Aleppo city, the United Nations humanitarian chief on Tuesday warned that thousands more will have no choice but to flee should the attacks spread and escalate over the coming days.

Ban voices deep concerns over renewed violence in the Central African Republic

Nov 30, 2016, at 05:24 am

New York, Nov 29 (Just Earth News): Expressing deep concerns over last week's renewed violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) that has reportedly claimed dozens of lives and displaced more than 11,000 persons – many civilians – United Nations Secretary-General has called on the armed groups to immediately and to “genuinely” commit to peace.

Plane carrying Brazilian football club team crashes in Bolivia

Nov 29, 2016, at 05:32 pm

Bogota, Nov 29 (IBNS) : A plane carrying 72 people, including the members of a Brazilian football team, , has crashed in Colombia, reports said.

‘Hang on to every little glimmer of hope,’ says UN envoy for South Sudan

Nov 29, 2016, at 12:56 pm

New York, Nov 29 (Just Earth News): All people in South Sudan, regardless of their ethnic affiliation, must unite towards creating a national identify, the head of the United Nations mission there urged on Monday, underscoring the potential of the resource-rich African country to prosper despite its ongoing challenges.

Central African Republic: Half the population needs humanitarian support, says UN

Nov 29, 2016, at 12:55 pm

New York, Nov 29 (Just Earth News): With nearly half the population in the Central African Republic (CAR) in need of humanitarian assistance, some $400 million is required over the coming year to shore up relief efforts that will be critical “to save the lives of people who are among the poorest and most forgotten on this planet,” a senior United Nations official said on Monday.

UN committee on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage opens session in Ethiopia

Nov 29, 2016, at 12:54 pm

New York, Nov 29 (Just Earth News): More than 300 artists and performers showcased the wealth of Ethiopia’s intangible cultural heritage in Addis Ababa on Sunday ahead of on Monday’s opening of the 11th session of the United Nations Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

‘Massive efforts’ under way in flood-hit northern DPRK require additional support – UN

Nov 29, 2016, at 12:53 pm

New York, Nov 29 (Just Earth News): While nearly 12,000 families in northern Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) have moved into new houses three months after devastating Typhoon Lionrock destroyed their homes, the United Nations is reporting that this “massive effort” still needs additional support so damaged water networks can be repaired and essential medicines and nutritious foods can be provided.