Ban urges to 'never forget' Nigerian girls on anniversary of abduction
Apr 15, 2015, at 06:01 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): On the one-year anniversary of their abduction by the extremist group Boko Haram, the kidnapped girls of Chibok, Nigeria must not be forgotten, United NationsSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared on Tuesday as he reiterated his call for their immediate release and safe return to their families.
Global advocate Daniel Craig to boost UN's incredible work on mine action
Apr 15, 2015, at 05:55 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): After designating the renowned actor Daniel Craig as the first United Nations Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards at Headquarters on Tuesday,Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon thanked the current James Bond for his commitment to supporting the UN’s vision of a world free from the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war.
Security Council: UN official says Central Africa's transition at critical stage
Apr 15, 2015, at 05:43 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): Amidst a tentative political transition, the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) remains tenuous as sectarian tensions continue to simmer and the severity of the country's humanitarian crisis increases, the top United Nations official in the African country warned on Tuesday.
UN condemns killing of Chilean peacekeeper in Haiti
Apr 15, 2015, at 05:32 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): The United Nations called for a swift investigation into the shooting death of a Chilean peacekeeper in Haiti whose killing prompted strong condemnations from the UN mission on the ground as well as the Secretary-General and Security Council at the world body's Headquarters.
Emerging threats demand renewed fight against sexual violence: UN envoy
Apr 15, 2015, at 05:26 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): Those who use rape as a weapon of war are becoming increasingly “brutal and ruthless,†the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) on Sexual Violence in Conflict said on Tuesday, warning against a lax attitude that would allow emerging armed groups to gain further ground and continue committing such atrocious crimes.
Doha: UN conference urges boosting assistance to trafficking victims
Apr 15, 2015, at 05:22 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): With human trafficking now a global criminal enterprise generating billions of dollars every year, United Nations officials stressed on Tuesday during a high-level event at the UN Crime Congress in Doha, Qatar, that victims of the crime need broad based assistance for their recovery.
UN rights experts welcome Blackwater sentence
Apr 15, 2015, at 05:17 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): The outsourcing of national security to private firms creates risks for human rights and accountability, the United Nations working group on the use of mercenaries confirmed on Tuesday as it welcomed the sentencing of four former Blackwater Worldwide personnel for the 2007 killing of 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians.
UN delivers much needed humanitarian supplies to vulnerable groups Syria
Apr 15, 2015, at 05:13 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): Despite huge challenges in getting access, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has managed to deliver much-needed humanitarian supplies to Qamishli in north-east Syria, a spokesperson for the agency said on Tuesday.
UN Syria Envoy to hold consultations on re-start of peace talks
Apr 15, 2015, at 04:58 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): The United Nations announced on Tuesday that the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Syria will proceed with a series of in-depth, separate consultations with Syrian stakeholders and regional and international actors to take stock of their views on reopening peace talks based on the 2012 so-called Geneva Communique.
Libyan political parties, activists conclude second round of UN-backed talks
Apr 15, 2015, at 04:19 pm
New York, Apr 15 (IBNS): A second meeting of Libyan political parties and activists, facilitated by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), concluded its deliberations on Tuesday in the Algerian capital by reiterating the commitment to the political dialogue as the only option to resolve the crisis in Libya.
Yarmouk crisis, international community has compelling imperative to act: UN
Apr 14, 2015, at 03:10 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): The thousands of Palestinian and Syrian refugees trapped in the Yarmouk refugee camp have suffered “untold indignities†amid intensifying hostilities between armed groups in the area, the United Nations agency concerned with the well-being of Palestinian refugees declared on Monday.
Nearly 800,000 children forced to flee violence in Nigeria: UNICEF
Apr 14, 2015, at 03:09 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): A new report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reveals that least 800,000 children have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the conflict in northeast Nigeria between Boko Haram, military forces and civilian self-defence groups.
UNESCO condemns destruction at Iraq’s Nimrud site
Apr 14, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): The United Nations agency mandated with protecting heritage sites worldwide on Monday denounced further destruction at the archaeological site of Nimrud in Iraq, calling the deliberate damage of culture a "war crime" and pledging to do everything possible to fight it.
Algeria: UN envoy opens latest round of talks between Libyan leaders
Apr 14, 2015, at 03:07 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): Libyan stakeholders must give the country’s United Nations-facilitated peace process a chance in order for a political solution to take hold and end the ongoing fighting in the North African nation, the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has declared.
Doha: UN spotlights equal access to justice in promoting economic development
Apr 14, 2015, at 02:57 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): The role fair, transparent and accessible legal frameworks play in poverty eradication – and in promoting sustainable development – was highlighted on Monday by General Assembly President Sam Kutesa and other top United Nations officials told the UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, in Doha, Qatar on Monday.
Official stresses link between demographic shifts and UN development
Apr 14, 2015, at 02:56 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): As United Nations Member States met on Monday in New York to begin the 48th session of the Commission on Population and Development, the head of the UN office dealing with economic and social affairs underlined the importance of the link between population changes and the Organization’s current development priorities.
UN unveils new online tool to reduce risks to aircraft in conflict zones
Apr 14, 2015, at 02:54 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): The United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has launched a new website issuing warnings about risks to aircraft in conflict zones, which aims to serve as a single source for up-to-date assessments from States and relevant international organizations to reduce risks to civil aviation arising from armed conflict.
UN Postal conference aims to work on strategy reflecting new challenges
Apr 14, 2015, at 02:50 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): In a message delivered on Monday to delegates at the World Strategy Conference for the United Nations postal agency, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underlined the essential role to be played by postal services in global efforts to build a sustainable future.
Doha: UN conference stresses grave need to combat wildlife crime
Apr 14, 2015, at 02:43 pm
New York, Apr 14 (IBNS): With wildlife and forest crimes on the rise, yielding enormous profits for criminal networks, United Nations high-level officials at a major anti-crime meeting under way in Doha, Qatar, stressed the gravity of the scourge, saying that it fuels violence, corrupts supply chains and undermines the rule of law.
Human Space Flight Day: UN spotlights the need to advance exploration
Apr 13, 2015, at 02:04 pm
New York, Apr 13 (IBNS): Marking International Day of Human Space Flight, the United Nations on Sunday spotlighted the contribution of space science and technology to sustainable development and underscored the need to push the boundaries of exploration for the benefit of all people.
Human rights, rule of law vital for sustainable development: Ban
Apr 13, 2015, at 02:03 pm
New York, Apr 13 (IBNS): Kicking off the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Doha, Qatar, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon along with several other top UN officials on Sunday spotlighted the critical connection between rule of law and sustainable development.
Afghan civilian casualties from ground combat rise in 2015: UN
Apr 13, 2015, at 02:01 pm
New York, Apr 13 (IBNS): In the first three months of 2015, civilian casualties from ground engagements rose by eight per cent compared to the same period last year, according to the latest figures released on Sunday by the United Nations with warning that the toll is likely to rise in the coming summer months.
UN: IKEA campaign to brighten lives of thousands of refugees
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:19 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): A global campaign launched by the big-box retailer Ikea has raised millions of dollars to help the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) in its efforts to provide refugees with renewable energy devices and educational opportunities, the agency announced on Friday.
Vanuatu: UN urges support for Government-led relief efforts
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:17 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The Government of Vanuatu urgently needs funding to continue basic humanitarian relief efforts such as food, safe drinking water and shelter, according to the United Nations humanitarian mission helping the country respond to the effects of Cyclone Pam.
Yemen crisis getting worse by the hour: UN official
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:16 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The humanitarian situation in Yemen is “getting worse by the hour,†the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the country warned on Friday, saying that the escalating conflict has put millions of people at risk of physical injury or death.
UN agency voices concern as violence in Yarmouk refugee camp intensifies
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:14 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The violence in Yarmouk camp is intensifying, plunging the Palestinian refugee camp into the “lower reaches of hell†amid running battles between armed groups, a spokesperson for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said on Friday.
Mali: Security Council welcomes political agreement as step towards peace
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:13 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The members of the United Nations Security Council on Friday welcomed a peace and reconciliation accord between the Malian Government, armed groups and an international mediation team in what the body described as an “historic opportunity†for resolving the African country’s ongoing political and security crisis.
Central Africa: UN deplores protestor's death after attacks
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:11 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic, known by its French acronym MINUSCA, has deplored the death and injuries resulting from a mob attack against its base in the city of Kaga-Bandoro – the second violent act of this kind in less than a week.
UN mission condemns killing of Afghan civilians in spate of attacks
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:09 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Friday condemned the killing of at least 18 civilians over the last 24 hours in three separate incidents, and extended condolences to the families of the victims.
Ebola outbreak still a global emergency despite drop in cases: WHO
Apr 11, 2015, at 02:08 pm
New York, Apr 11 (IBNS): A meeting convened by the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa still poses a threat to international peace and security, despite a major fall-off in in case incidence and geographic distribution in the most-affected countries Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.