Oct 21, 2016, at 01:55 pm
New York, Oct 21 (Just Earth News): A major conference on the future of the world’s cities and towns, known as Habitat III, has wrapped up in Quito, Ecuador, with delegations adopting a new framework that will set the world on a course towards sustainable urban development by rethinking how cities are planned, managed and inhabited.
Oct 21, 2016, at 01:53 pm
New York, Oct 21 (Just Earth News): The top United Nations official dealing with the world body’s support for Colombia’s peace process is long-serving veteran Jean Arnault.
UN chief calls on General Assembly to 'fulfil moral duty' to assist storm-ravaged Haiti
Oct 21, 2016, at 01:50 pm
New York, Oct 21 (Just Earth News): Briefing the United Nations General Assembly on the humanitarian situation in Haiti following the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underlined the urgency of additional resources to help respond to the dire needs on the island.
Oct 21, 2016, at 01:48 pm
New York, Oct 21 (Just Earth News):The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the Coalition for Climate and Clean Air (CCAC) and the Government of Norway has launched a global awareness campaign on the dangers of air pollution – especially ‘invisible killers’ such as black carbon, ground-level ozone and methane – for the health of individuals and the planet.
Free expression under worldwide assault, UN human rights expert warns in new report
Oct 21, 2016, at 01:47 pm
New York, Oct 21 (Just Earth News): Warning that the freedom of expression is under the widespread assault, a new United Nations human rights report has found that governments worldwide, wielding the tools of censorship, are “treating words as weapons.â€
UN report reveals stark gap between urban and rural employment in Latin America and the Caribbean
Oct 21, 2016, at 01:46 pm
New York, Oct 21 (Just Earth News): A new United Nations labour report has revealed that more than half of the 52 million workers in rural areas of the Latin American and Caribbean region are in a state of vulnerable employment, characterized by lower wages, lower social protections and the prevalence to poverty.
Oct 21, 2016, at 01:45 pm
New York, Oct 21 (Just Earth News): Following a report that more than half of the population in southern Madagascar – 840,000 people – is experiencing alarming rates of food insecurity, United Nations agencies are responding to the most severe cases of malnutrition and acute hunger to prevent a catastrophe.
UN provides emergency food aid to 8,000 people amid renewed violence in Central African Republic
Oct 21, 2016, at 01:42 pm
New York, Oct 21 (Just Earth News): The United Nations food relief agency is providing emergency aid to 8,000 people affected by an upsurge in violence in the north of the Central African Republic (CAR), in addition to regular food and nutrition support for some 120,000 people.
Put ‘people, not cars’ first in transport systems, says UN Environment chief
Oct 21, 2016, at 01:40 pm
New York, Oct 21 (Just Earth News): Lack of investment in safe walking and cycling infrastructure not only contributes to the deaths of millions of people in traffic accidents on unsafe roads and poorly designed roadways, but also overlooks a great opportunity to boost the fight against climate change, a new UN Environment report said on Thursday.
Investing in 10-year-old girls will yield huge demographic payoff towards Global Goals – UN
Oct 21, 2016, at 01:39 pm
New York, Oct 21 (Just Earth News): If all of the ten-year-old girls living in developing countries that currently drop out of or do not attend school were to complete their secondary education, it would lead to an additional $21 billion per year, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) revealed on Thursday in its annual State of the World Population Report.
UN experts concerned about situation of jailed anti-slavery activists in Mauritania
Oct 20, 2016, at 01:39 pm
New York, Oct 20 (Just Earth News): Voicing serious concern over recent intensified crackdown by the Mauritanian Government on the imprisoned anti-slavery activists, a group of United Nations human rights experts on Wednesday urged the authorities to ensure a fair hearing and provide needed medical treatment for the detainees.
DR Congo: Ban notes conclusion of national dialogue, urges active engagement with all stakeholders
Oct 20, 2016, at 01:38 pm
New York, Oct 20 (Just Earth News): Taking note of the wrap-up of the African-Union mediated national dialogue in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged the Government to remain actively engage with all political stakeholders, and called on political actors not involved in the talks to resolve their difference peacefully.
UN calls for protecting civilians as fighting, though reduced, continues in north-west Myanmar
Oct 20, 2016, at 01:37 pm
New York, Oct 20 (Just Earth News): Even though fighting between security forces and a group, identified by the Government as the Aqa mul moujahideen, in some villages on the outskirts of Maungdaw township in Myanmar’s Northern Rakhine province appear to have reduced in severity, an atmosphere of fear and tension continues to grip the local population, a spokesperson for the United Nations said on Wednesday.
Oct 20, 2016, at 01:34 pm
New York, Oct 20 (Just Earth News): With violent extremism on the rise and waves of intolerance and hate targeting minorities, migrants and the most vulnerable, the international community must renew efforts to uphold its human rights treaties, the United Nations General Assembly heard this morning.
Oct 20, 2016, at 01:33 pm
New York, Oct 20 (Just Earth News): On 13 October 2016, the UN General Assembly appointed, by acclamation António Guterres, as the next United Nations Secretary-General, to succeed Ban Ki-moon when he steps down on 31 December.
UN, African Union partnership to foster job opportunities for African rural youth
Oct 20, 2016, at 01:32 pm
New York, Oct 20 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has partnered with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) to generate job and business opportunities for young people in rural Benin, Cameroon, Malawi, and Niger, thanks to a $4 million grant from the Africa Solidarity Trust Fund.
Emotional family reunions highlight need for psychosocial care for all girls abducted by Boko Haram
Oct 20, 2016, at 01:31 pm
New York, Oct 20 (Just Earth News): After more than two years of being held hostage by Boko Haram insurgents in north-east Nigeria, the 21 recently-released Chibok girls have finally been reunited with their families, however, their return emphasizes the necessity of urgent and intensive psychosocial care, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
In turbulent Middle East, UN envoy warns against ‘sleep-walking into another violent conflict’
Oct 20, 2016, at 01:30 pm
New York, Oct 20 (Just Earth News): As the absence of progress towards a two-state solution has led to growing anger and frustration among Palestinians and profound disillusionment among Israelis, the top United Nations Middle East envoy warned on Wednesday: “We must all avoid the risk of sleep-walking into another violent conflict at a time when the region as a whole needs moderate forces†to stand up to rising radicalization.
Oct 20, 2016, at 01:26 pm
New York, Oct 20 (Just Earth News): On 13 June 2016, the United Nations General Assembly elected Peter Thomson of Fiji to serve as President of its seventy-first session, which runs from September 2016 to September 2017. Thomson, who had had been serving as the Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations until his appointment, announced that the theme of the 71st session will be ‘The Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform our World.’
UN relief wing and partners ready to rush in aid once pause in Yemen fighting begins
Oct 20, 2016, at 05:14 am
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): Following a month that saw civilians continuing to bear the brunt of the conflict in Yemen, a 72-hour halt to fighting set to take effect later on Wednesday is welcome, but not nearly enough time, according to a senior United Nations relief official, who appealed for more predictable access to be able deliver aid to hard-to-reach communities caught up in the crisis.
Reforesting Kilimanjaro could ease East Africa's severe water shortages – UN
Oct 20, 2016, at 05:13 am
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): There is a need to reforest Africa’s highest mountain to help protect vital water supplies that are under threat across large parts of East Africa, a UN Environment report urged on Wednesday.
Millions more children will have access to ‘5-in-1’ vaccine through UNICEF supply agreement
Oct 20, 2016, at 05:11 am
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): With a price drop to below $1 a dose, UNICEF has successfully secured a five-in-one vaccine for children at half the price the agency currently pays, which will allow it to buy 450 million doses for 80 countries over the next three years.
Saudi prince executed for murdering fellow citizen
Oct 19, 2016, at 03:56 pm
Riyadh, Oct 19 (IBNS): A Saudi prince was executed recently for murdering a compatriot, reports said.
Tackling impacts of land degradation vital to achieving Global Goals – senior UN treaty official
Oct 19, 2016, at 01:33 pm
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification told delegations gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, to assess the treaty’s implementation, the impacts of land degradation affect the sustainability of the entire world, so a global effort is needed to tackle it, including through the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UN human rights experts outline steps to strengthen prohibition, prevention of torture
Oct 19, 2016, at 01:31 pm
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): Following a discussion with the main committee of the United Nations General Assembly responsible for social, humanitarian affairs and human rights issues affecting people all over the world, three UN human rights experts briefed reporters in New York, highlighting steps to strengthen protection against torture.
Oct 19, 2016, at 01:30 pm
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): Hurricane Matthew, which ripped through Haiti 13 days ago, has left more than 700,000 people in an “extremely difficult situation,†United Nations Special Adviser David Nabarro said on Tuesday, and while steady progress is being made, led by Haitians themselves, the response must be accelerated as the needs are still great, frustrations are high, and access to hard-hit areas remains tough.
Mosul: UN mission calls for Iraqi unity behind Government forces fighting ISIL
Oct 19, 2016, at 01:27 pm
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): With the military operations under way to wrest the control of Mosul from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) terrorists, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Tuesday called on the Iraqi people to unite in support of their country’s armed forces and is urging “that every step be taken to avoid civilian casualties.â€
HABITAT III: ‘A human-centred city is a culture-centred space’ says UNESCO report
Oct 19, 2016, at 01:26 pm
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): With top diplomats and urban development experts gathered this week in Quito, Ecuador, for a major United Nations conference on green, clean urban spaces, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has released a new report spotlighting the power of culture as a strategic asset for creating cities that are more inclusive, creative and sustainable.
Oct 19, 2016, at 01:25 pm
New York, Oct 19 (Just Earth News): United Nations humanitarian agencies operating in Iraq are bracing for what could be a displacement catastrophe requiring the largest and most complex global response in 2016, in the wake of the military offensive under way to oust terrorists from Mosul, the country’s second-largest city.
Oct 19, 2016, at 04:23 am
New York, Oct 18 (Just Earth News): United Nations human rights experts have welcomed the release of 21 Chibok school girls from Boko Haram and called upon Nigerians – particularly their families and local communities – to support their immediate reintegration and rehabilitation.