Partnerships central to post-2015 agenda: UN official
Feb 28, 2015, at 03:39 pm
New York, Feb 28 (IBNS): Partnerships involving Government, the private sector, civil society, academia and philanthropic organizations will prove central to implementation of the new development agenda, the President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council said on Friday as he opened a special event on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships at UN Headquarters in New York.
Iraq: UNESCO chief condemns ISIL’s cultural cleansing
Feb 28, 2015, at 03:37 pm
New York, Feb 28 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations agency mandated to protect heritage sites has reiterated her dismay at the “destructive fury†exhibited by militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in their recent assault on the Mosul Museum.
Ban reiterates condemnation of Boko Haram attacks
Feb 28, 2015, at 03:36 pm
New York, Feb 28 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday reiterated his strong condemnation of the continuing indiscriminate and horrific attacks by Boko Haram against civilian populations in Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.
Indonesia: UN envoy discusses violence against children
Feb 28, 2015, at 02:59 pm
New York, Feb 28 (IBNS): During her visit this week to Jakarta, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Marta Santos Pais, stressed that violence against children is never justified and commended Indonesia for addressing the scourge.
UN welcomes release of hostages by Somali pirates
Feb 28, 2015, at 02:57 pm
New York, Feb 28 (IBNS): Senior United Nations officials have welcomed the release this week of four Thai nationals after nearly five years in captivity, bringing an end to the longest held hostage ordeal in the east African nation thanks to a mission carried by the UN anti-crime agency.
UN expert applauds US decision guaranteeing net neutrality
Feb 28, 2015, at 02:38 pm
New York, Feb 28 (IBNS): The United States Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to establish new regulations protecting so-called net neutrality, or the equal treatment of all Internet traffic, is “a real victory†for freedom of expression and access to information, a United Nations human rights expert said on Friday.
Closely monitoring critical situation in Yemen: UN
Feb 28, 2015, at 02:36 pm
New York, Feb 28 (IBNS): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said on Friday that it is closely monitoring the critical situation in Yemen where the political dialogue is faltering and urged a meaningful dialogue to avoid further instability.
West African nations commit to ending statelessness: UN meeting
Feb 28, 2015, at 02:34 pm
New York, Feb 28 (IBNS): Delegates representing fifteen West African nations have pledged to step up efforts towards eliminating statelessness in a move aimed at resolving the situation of hundreds of thousands of stateless people across the region, the United Nations refugee agency reported on Friday.
Agriculture in Caribbean vital to economic growth: UN official
Feb 28, 2015, at 02:32 pm
New York, Feb 28 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations agriculture agency underlined on Thursday the huge importance of agriculture and farming to countries of the Caribbean during an address to Heads of Government at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit in the Bahamas.
UN urges to work towards eradicating cholera: Malawi
Feb 28, 2015, at 02:29 pm
New York, Feb 28 (IBNS): With 39 cases of cholera in the last two weeks, including two deaths, the United Nations children’s agency in Malawi is on high alert for spread in southern border areas where highly-populated camps for people displaced by the floods are located, according to a press statement released on Friday.
'We must not fail in Gaza' say UN agencies, joining global call to action
Feb 28, 2015, at 01:11 am
New York, Feb 27 (IBNS) United Nations agencies and offices are expressing alarm over the limited progress in rebuilding the lives of those affected by last summer's fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip.
Yemen: Security Council calls on all parties to stay committed to peaceful political transition
Feb 28, 2015, at 01:09 am
New York, Feb 27 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council called for all parties in Yemen, including the Houthis, to adhere to resolving their differences through dialogue and consultation, according to a press statement released yesterday.
Iraq: UNESCO outraged over terrorist attack against Mosul Museum
Feb 28, 2015, at 01:04 am
New York, Feb 26 (IBNS) UNESCO expresses outrage over terrorist attack against Mosul Museum The head of the United Nations agency mandated to protect heritage sites on Thursday said that she is "deeply shocked" by the footage depicting the destruction of statues and other artefacts at the Mosul Museum in Iraq.
UN rights expert urges Belgium to boost fight against modern slavery
Feb 28, 2015, at 01:02 am
New York, Feb 27 (IBNS) Despite its comprehensive approach to tackling modern forms of slavery, the Government of Belgium must further sharpen its focus on proper victim detection and identification, a United Nations independent expert declared on Thursday.
Ban voices concern over reported violence in Venezuela, calls for dialogue
Feb 28, 2015, at 01:00 am
New York, Feb 27 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday voiced concern over new reports of violence and loss of life in Venezuela, and expressed support for regional dialogue to help the country overcome its current challenges.
UN envoy for Lebanon visits refugee camps
Feb 27, 2015, at 02:03 pm
New York, Feb 27 (IBNS): The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag on Thursday expressed support to Middle East country as it faces the impact of the conflict in Syria.
Security Council condemns abduction of Syrian Christians
Feb 27, 2015, at 02:02 pm
New York, Feb 27 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the abduction of more than 100 Assyrians, as well as the destruction and desecration of Christian and other sites in northeast Syria this week by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
WHO treaty induces change in tobacco use
Feb 27, 2015, at 02:00 pm
New York, Feb 27 (IBNS): A World Health Organization-led treaty that aims to achieve a tobacco-free world has dramatically curbed tobacco use worldwide since its entry into force 10 years ago on Friday, but “the war on tobacco is far from over†with the tobacco industry still spending billions to promote products that are expected to kill some 8 million people each year by 2030, the WHO said.
Mali: Inquiry team concludes probe against peacekeepers
Feb 27, 2015, at 01:58 pm
New York, Feb 27 (IBNS): The team appointed by the United Nations to investigate the events surrounding a violent demonstration against the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has concluded its visit to the African country, the UN spokesperson’s office confirmed on Thursday.
Paraguay: UN chief says 2015 crucial for international community
Feb 27, 2015, at 01:57 pm
New York, Feb 27 (IBNS): In an intensive year of landmark events, from establishing a post-2015 agenda to tackling climate change, Paraguay has yet another opportunity to demonstrate its “exceptional global leadership†in the international arena, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has affirmed.
Syria’s war continues unabated: Security Council
Feb 27, 2015, at 01:55 pm
New York, Feb 27 (IBNS): In a briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria, two United Nations relief officials warned on Thursday that as the conflict enters its fifth year, the violence and brutality continue unabated and with total impunity.
WHO cites challenges in reaching Ebola affected communities
Feb 27, 2015, at 01:53 pm
New York, Feb 27 (IBNS): New cases of Ebola rose again in Guinea and transmission remains widespread in Sierra Leone, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) reported as it and the UN Ebola response mission both raised concerns about challenges in engaging communities to win the fight against the disease.
Security Council extends peacekeeping force in Abyei
Feb 27, 2015, at 01:52 pm
New York, Feb 27 (IBNS): The Security Council has extended the United Nations peacekeeping force in Abyei, a resource-rich area contested by Sudan and South Sudan, as part of the Organization’s ongoing efforts to maintain peace and protect civilians in the disputed territory.
Feb 27, 2015, at 04:18 am
Geneva, Feb 26 (IBNS): Following a worldwide trade union campaign to defend it, the right to strike has been re-affirmed at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva.
IS militant Jihadi John identified as Mohammed Emwazi
Feb 27, 2015, at 03:48 am
London, Feb 26 (IBNS): The IS militant 'Jihadi John', who is seen in video beheading hostages, has been identified as Mohammed Emwazi,media reports said.
Significant breakthrough in HIV prevention: UN agency
Feb 26, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, Feb 26 (IBNS): The United Nations programme working to combat HIV/AIDS welcomed on Tuesday the results of a number of recent clinical studies of the effects of antiretroviral medicines on preventing new HIV infections, which were presented at a conference on viruses held in Seattle.
Myanmar needs to get back on track: UN rights chief
Feb 26, 2015, at 03:07 pm
New York, Feb 26 (IBNS): United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, on Wednesday warned that Myanmar “seems headed in the wrong direction and needs urgently to get back on track†in a crucial year for the country's democratic transition and long-term reconciliation.
UN urges Libya’s stakeholders to pursue next round of talks
Feb 26, 2015, at 03:05 pm
New York, Feb 26 (IBNS): The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced on Wednesday that it is undertaking a series of urgent consultations with stakeholders in the North African country to ensure the convening of the next round of talks soon and “not let this window of opportunity slip away.â€
FAO: Ethiopian marmalade soon to hit shelves at Eataly
Feb 26, 2015, at 03:04 pm
New York, Feb 26 (IBNS): The partnership between the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Eataly which supports family farmers around the globe, is backing a cooperative of women in Ethiopia who are now ready to ship their 4,000 jars of jam to Rome.
UN report pushes to end torture in Afghan detention facilities
Feb 26, 2015, at 03:01 pm
New York, Feb 26 (IBNS): The Government of Afghanistan’s efforts to prevent torture and ill-treatment have shown some progress over the last two years but much more remains to be done, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed on Wednesday as it released its latest report on the treatment of conflict-related detainees in Afghan custody.