UN-backed partnership, support fund launched to end violence against children

Jul 13, 2016, at 02:21 pm

New York, July 12 (Just Earth News): A United Nations-backed partnership and fund were launched on Wednesday to make achieving the new global target to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children a public priority and a collective responsibility.

Human rights are not ‘abstract ideas,’ must be main tool in meeting development targets – Ban

Jul 13, 2016, at 02:19 pm

New York, July 12 (Just Earth News): Far greater emphasis must be placed on human rights as the international community continues to work towards implementing the agreed-upon sustainable development agenda, because it is the most powerful driver of peace and development, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday.

Selecting the next Secretary-General: UN to hold townhall meeting with candidates

Jul 13, 2016, at 02:17 pm

New York, July 12 (Just Earth News): Continuing a series of ‘firsts’ regarding the selection of the next United Nations Secretary-General, candidates for the world’s top diplomatic post will this evening participate in a globally televised and webcast event in the UN General Assembly Hall, where they will take questions from diplomats and the public at large.

Warning of stalled progress against HIV infections, new UN report urges stepped-up prevention efforts

Jul 13, 2016, at 02:16 pm

New York, July 12 (Just Earth News): Globally, new HIV infections among adults and children have been reduced by 40 per cent since the peak in 1997, but the decline among adults has stalled for at least five years, according to a new report from the United Nations agency leading the world’s HIV/AIDS response.

Thousands of civilians in Aleppo city at risk, says UN humanitarian wing

Jul 13, 2016, at 02:15 pm

New York, July 12 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned on Wednesday that the lives of thousands of civilians in the Syrian city of Aleppo are at risk following spread of hostilities and reports of continued aerial bombardment and shelling on civilian locations in both western and eastern parts of the city.

South Sudan ceasefire ‘largely holding;’ UN urges safe passage for fleeing civilians

Jul 13, 2016, at 02:13 pm

New York, July 12 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has reported that the ceasefire in the crisis-gripped country appears to be “largely holding, barring sporadic gunfire,” while the UN refugee agency has urged countries to keep their borders open for people fleeing tensions in Juba, where the human rights wing has warned the situation is “deteriorating rapidly.”

Warning against ‘cherry-picking’ among Global Goals, UN experts say human rights cannot be ignored

Jul 13, 2016, at 05:03 am

New York, July 12 (Just Earth News): The largest group of rights experts in the United Nations system stressed on Tuesday that focus on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development should in no way become “the perfect excuse” for Member States to give less priority to their binding human rights obligations, or to ignore the comprehensive protection that is at the core of international human rights instruments.

At Security Council, Ban urges Israel-Palestine talks to overcome ‘political paralysis’

Jul 13, 2016, at 05:01 am

New York, July 12 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to immediately begin discussions on implementing the recommendations made in a recent report published by the diplomatic partners mediating the peace process as efforts continue to restore hope for a lasting political solution.

UN agency urges implementation of accord to tackle illegal fishing

Jul 13, 2016, at 05:00 am

New York, July 12 (Just Earth News): An international agreement aimed at tackling illegal fishing “marks the dawn of a new era,” but rapid action is needed to ensure that its implementation is effective, the head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said.

'Alarming' levels of malnutrition and famine-like conditions in northeast Nigeria – UN

Jul 13, 2016, at 04:59 am

New York, July 12 (Just Earth News): Humanitarian convoys have uncovered emergency levels of severe acute malnutrition and famine-like conditions in Nigeria's Borno State, particularly in 15 satellite camps, where some 275,000 people are living, the United Nations relief aid wing has warned.

Italy: Train crash kills 20

Jul 13, 2016, at 01:03 am

Milan, July 12 (IBNS): At least 20 people have died after two passenger trains collided in Italy on Tuesday, media reports said.

China refuses South China Sea arbitration award

Jul 12, 2016, at 11:25 pm

Beijing, July 12 (IBNS): In a significant move China on Tuesday said it is neither accepting nor recognising the award of an arbitral tribunal in the South China Sea arbitration, media reports said.

International tribunal rules China has no historic title over South China Sea

Jul 12, 2016, at 09:36 pm

The Hague (Netherlands), Jul 12 (IBNS): The international tribunal at The Hague, on Tuesday, ruled that China has no historic title over the waters of the South China Sea, according to media reports.

PODCAST: End of AIDS within reach, but Kenneth Cole warns of reversal if treatment push lags

Jul 12, 2016, at 12:37 pm

New York, July 12 (Just Earth News): Ending AIDS means controlling the spread of HIV and lessening its impact on people’s lives, the Joint UN Programme fighting the epidemic (UNAIDS) has said, noting that the number of people on anti-retroviral treatment on Monday has surpassed the number of new infections each year, and more countries are reporting that zero mother-to-child transmission of HIV is in sight.

‘Time to massively reinforce UN action’ on South Sudan, Ban says ahead of Security Council meeting

Jul 12, 2016, at 12:35 pm

New York, July 12 (Just Earth News): Ahead of a meeting with the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday on South Sudan, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged the body to impose an immediate arms embargo, enact additional targeted sanctions on leaders and commanders blocking implementation of the peace deal, and to fortify the UN mission in the country, which has seen a resurgence of deadly violence in recent days.

West Africa and Sahel must step up intelligence gathering, UN envoy tells Security Council

Jul 12, 2016, at 12:34 pm

New York, July 12 (Just Earth News): Countries in West Africa and the Sahel must expand intelligence gathering capacities to counter militant threats, such as those posed by Boko Haram, the head of the United Nations operation for that region said on Monday.

UN political forum opens with focus on achieving 2030 Agenda’s call to ‘leave no one behind’

Jul 12, 2016, at 12:31 pm

New York, July 12 (Just Earth News): Opening the first meeting of the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development since the adoption of the UN 2030 Agenda, the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Monday outlined the tasks before the body and called for stronger commitment to accomplish its mandated tasks.

UN food relief agency launches innovation project to spur progress towards ending hunger by 2030

Jul 12, 2016, at 04:49 am

New York, July 11 (Just Earth News): The United Nations food relief agency launched on Monday an initiative to identify and nurture new technologies and business models which will contribute to the global goal of ending hunger by 2030.

UNESCO names Turkish musician Kudsi Ergüner as agency’s Artist for Peace

Jul 12, 2016, at 04:47 am

New York, July 11 (Just Earth News): The United Nations cultural agency, has appointed musician Kudsi Ergüner, as an Artist for Peace in recognition of his efforts to promote the universal values of music, his contribution to the protection of musical heritage support for the International Decade of the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013-2022), and his unwavering commitment to the ideals of the Organization.

UN launches ‘Sendai Seven’ campaign aimed at boosting disaster risk management

Jul 12, 2016, at 04:45 am

New York, July 11 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy dealing with disaster risk reduction on Monday launched a new multi-year campaign that aims to reduce disaster losses, improve management of disaster risk, and save lives.

Syria: UN airlifts bring humanitarian lifeline to northeast governorate of Al Hassakeh

Jul 12, 2016, at 04:43 am

New York, July 11 (Just Earth News): The first United Nations World Food Programme-chartered flight carrying relief aid reached Al Hassakeh Governorate in Syria’s northeast over the weekend, an area cut off from food and humanitarian supplies for more than six months.

Stand up for and invest in teenage girls, UN says on World Population Day

Jul 12, 2016, at 04:41 am

New York, July 11 (Just Earth News): Leaders and communities must focus on and stand up for the rights of teenage girls, particularly those who are poor, out of school, exploited, or subjected to harmful traditional practices, the United Nations has said, marking World Population Day with a call to bolster the success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by investing in better opportunities for teen girls.

UN condemns heavy fighting in South Sudanese capital, urges calm, access to displaced civilians

Jul 11, 2016, at 03:35 am

New York, July 10 (Just Earth News): The United Nations is again urging calm in the wake of heavy fighting in and around the South Sudanese capital of Juba, with the UN mission reporting that it has mobilized peacekeepers to protect civilians and the Security Council strongly condemning days of violence in the area, which also saw UN and diplomatic officials targeted, as the world's youngest country on Saturday marked the fifth anniversary of its independence.

North Korea test fires SLBM

Jul 09, 2016, at 05:23 pm

Pyongyang, July 9 (IBNS): South Korea's military have accused its neighbour North Korea of test firing submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), reports said.

‘Prevailing calm should not be confused with stability,’ warns UN envoy for Lebanon

Jul 09, 2016, at 12:17 pm

New York, July 9 (Just Earth News): The United Nations envoy for Lebanon has asked the UN Security Council to devote greater attention to situation there, including the deteriorating security conditions, weakening State institutions and the need for continued dispersal of funding for the refugees hosted by the country.

INTERVIEW: Rapid response team, funding, vital to eliminating cholera in Haiti – UN official

Jul 09, 2016, at 12:16 pm

New York, July 9 (Just Earth News): A rapid response mechanism is crucial to tackling an endemic disease such as cholera and eliminating it in Haiti, the deputy head of the UN mission there said on Friday, emphasizing that the effectiveness of such efforts requires predictable financing.

Central African Republic’s leaders must commit to inclusive, transparent governance, Security Council told

Jul 09, 2016, at 12:15 pm

New York, July 9 (Just Earth News): The Central African Republic’s (CAR) considerable progress over the past two years risks being reversed unless national authorities demonstrated commitment to inclusive and transparent governance, and to addressing the root causes of the crisis afflicting the country, the United Nations peacekeeping chief warned on Friday.

INTERVIEW: Sustainable Development Goals must be owned by everyone, says senior UN officia

Jul 09, 2016, at 12:14 pm

New York, July 9 (Just Earth News): Ahead of next week’s United Nations High-Level Political Forum, Assistant Secretary-General Thomas Gass talks about sustainable development, leaving no one behind, and why this time “it’s for real”.

Meeting with Chinese Premier, Ban commends country’s leadership on UN 2030 Agenda

Jul 09, 2016, at 12:12 pm

New York, July 9 (Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing, where he welcomed China's efforts towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as its support to other countries in their own implementation.

Syria: UN relief wing sounds alarm on behalf of some 300,000 people trapped in war-torn Aleppo

Jul 09, 2016, at 12:11 pm

New York, July 9 (Just Earth News): The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has expressed serious concern for the estimated 300,000 people trapped in eastern Aleppo City, due to heavy clashes along the Castello road, the only road in and out of that part of the city.