In regaining hope for the future, two Yazidi girls deal greatest blow to ISIL: UN envoy
Sep 18, 2015, at 02:19 pm
New York, Sept 18 (IBNS): Five months after she first met with two girls from the Yazidi community who had been held by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the United Nations official dealing with sexual violence in conflict said after seeing them again on Thursday that they are "filled with hope for the future," and that is "the greatest blow they could have dealt" to the terrorist group.
Sep 17, 2015, at 03:12 pm
Washington, Sept 17 (IBNS): An earthquake measuring 8.3 on the Richter Scale rocked coast of Chile on Wednesday, officials said.
World must protect climate as it preserved ozone layer: Ban
Sep 17, 2015, at 02:06 pm
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): A political commitment to manage hydrofluorocarbons under the Montreal Protocol – a huge environmental success that agreed to phase out ozone-depleting chemicals – could be one of the biggest climate change wins in the lead-up to the December’s climate conference, says United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
UN urges creation of special court in Sri Lanka after report confirms horrific abuses
Sep 17, 2015, at 02:05 pm
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): A new report released on Wednesday by the United Nations human rights office has identified patterns of grave violations in Sri Lanka between 2002 and 2011, and recommends the establishment of a hybrid special court to ensure that justice is served.
UN welcomes partnership and leadership to spearhead sustainable energy efforts
Sep 17, 2015, at 02:03 pm
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): A firm foundation to ensure affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all has been built but a solid long-term institutional arrangement is needed, the United Nations Secretary-General said on Wednesday, as he welcomed the creation of an international not-for-profit organization to spearhead renewable energy efforts.
Syria: UN official appeals to Security Council to find political solution to crisis
Sep 17, 2015, at 02:02 pm
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): The United Nations humanitarian chief on Wednesday urged the Security Council to find a political solution to end the conflict in Syria, warning its members that the fighting had created one of the largest refugee exoduses since the Second World War.
World leaders to gather for 70th General Assembly at a time of turmoil and hope: Ban
Sep 17, 2015, at 02:00 pm
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wenesday he will convene a high-level meeting later this month to mobilize a “humane, effective and rights-based response†to a global crisis that has seen 60 million people flee their homes by an unprecedented number of brutal conflicts, the breakdown of basic governance and mounting economic despair.
Head of UNESCO deplores killing of Colombian journalist
Sep 17, 2015, at 01:59 pm
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has denounced the recent killing of Colombian journalist Flor Alba Núñez Vargas.
Europe must change course on refugee crisis response: UN agency
Sep 17, 2015, at 01:57 pm
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): Only a united European emergency response can address the current refugee and migration crisis, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stressed on Wednesday.
Simple act of playing represents grave danger for children in Syria: UNICEF
Sep 17, 2015, at 01:56 pm
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has condemned in the strongest terms mortar attacks on civilian areas of Aleppo, Syria, which reportedly killed at least 19 children on Tuesday, including six in a UNICEF-supported child friendly space.
Ban calls for immediate release of detained leaders of Burkina Faso
Sep 17, 2015, at 01:55 pm
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced his outrage at reports that President Michel Kafando of Burkina Faso, Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida and several Government ministers have been detained by soldiers from the presidential guard.
Nigeria: UN rights expert condemns attack against displaced persons' camp
Sep 17, 2015, at 01:54 pm
New York, Sept 17 (IBNS): A "heinous" attack against a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Yola, north-eastern Nigeria, where some 32,000 people have found refuge, was strongly condemned on Wednesday by an independent United Nations human rights expert.
UN marks International Day by stressing vital role of civil society for true democracy
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:30 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): A strong and freely operating civil society is crucial for successful and stable democracies and must be given the space to carry out their vital functions, the United Nations emphasized on Tuesday, as it marked the International Day of Democracy.
UN agency urges Europe to develop coherent response to refugee crisis
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:29 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): While welcoming the steps taken by European leaders at their meeting in Brussels to tackle the current refugee crisis, the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday said a robust and coherent response is still urgently needed.
UNICEF advocate David Beckham issues call to end violence against children
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:26 pm
New YOrk, Sept 16 (IBNS): David Beckham, Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is championing a letter signed by 18 child survivors of violence that calls on world leaders to end the widespread abuse affecting millions of children around the world.New YOrk, Sept 16 (IBNS): David Beckham, Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is championing a letter signed by 18 child survivors of violence that calls on world leaders to end the widespread abuse affecting millions of children around the world.
Latest provocations could ignite fresh Israeli-Palestinian violence: UN envoy
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:25 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told the Security Council on Tuesday that he is gravely concerned over the violence and continuing clashes in and around the holy sites of the Old City of Jerusalem, and urged all leaders to ensure that visitors and worshippers demonstrate restraint and respect for the sanctity of the area.
No country has yet achieved equality between men and women: UN rights chief
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:23 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday that no country to date has achieved full equality between the sexes and urged the 47 members of the Human Rights Council "to do better than our societies" and make a real difference in achieving gender parity.
Millions of children in Syria deprived of education: UNICEF
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:21 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): As children around the world return to school, there are more than two million in Syria who will not be able to join them, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) cautioned on Tuesday, adding that another 400,000 are at risk of dropping out of school as a direct result of conflict, violence and displacement.
Syria: Ban names panel to probe accountability for chemical weapons use
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:20 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Virginia Gamba of Argentina to head the independent three-member panel that will lead the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) tasked with identifying those responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
Opening 70th UN General Assembly, President underscores urgent need for action
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:18 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): A major priority for the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly is to ensure that all actors move swiftly to deliver on the promises being made for sustainable development, the President of the 193-member body said on Tuesday.
UN officials condemn 'virtual silence' about escalating violence in Yemen
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:17 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): Two senior United Nations officials on Tuesday condemned "the virtual silence" about the increasing impact on civilians of the escalating conflict in Yemen, and urged leaders from all sides to refrain from manipulating religious identities for political purposes.
Killing of Somali media worker draws condemnation from UN official
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:15 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending the freedom of the press on Tuesday denounced the recent killing of a Somali news editor.
New allegation of sexual exploitation received by UN mission in Central Africa
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:14 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): A new allegation of sexual exploitation in the Central African Republic (CAR) was received on Tuesday by the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country, reportedly committed by one of its civilian staff last Saturday.
UN chief to highlight important work that lays ahead for world leaders
Sep 16, 2015, at 02:13 pm
New York, Sept 16 (IBNS): Ahead of what is expected to be one of the busiest high-level periods in recent memory at the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will brief reporters on Wednesday on a range of issues that world leaders will tackle in New York beginning next week.
Netizens slam Charlie Hebdo for publishing 'controversial' cartoon on Aylan Kurdi
Sep 15, 2015, at 11:56 pm
Paris, Sept 15 (IBNS): French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has triggered a fresh controversy by publishing cartoon on the death of Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi in its current issue, media reports said.
Central America faces major crop losses due to El Nino: UN agency
Sep 15, 2015, at 02:54 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): This year's cereal outputs in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua have been severely reduced because of the dry weather associated with the El Nino weather phenomenon, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Monday.
UN atomic energy chief highlights importance of science and technology for development
Sep 15, 2015, at 02:48 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday stressed the importance of science and technology for development, as he highlighted the links between the Sustainable Development Goals that will be adopted by United Nations Member States next week and the work of the Agency.
UN official welcomes proclamation of International Day to honour victims of genocide
Sep 15, 2015, at 02:47 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide has welcomed the resolution adopted by the General Assembly last week proclaiming 9 December as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime.
Persecution of civil society, migration crisis top concerns of UN rights chief
Sep 15, 2015, at 02:45 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): An "exhausted and angry" High Commissioner for Human Rights on Monday opened the 30th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council with a wide-ranging address in which he singled out countries by name for their role in accelerating human misery and implored decision-makers worldwide to swiftly establish an effective and principled policy to deal with the global migration crisis.
Creator of energy solutions to shine a light on childbirth wins $1 million UN grant
Sep 15, 2015, at 02:43 pm
New York, Sept 15 (IBNS): We Care Solar, which provides renewable energy at low cost with a medical device that prevents maternal and child complications during labour in areas without electricity, was announced on Monday as the winner of a $1 million grant by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).