Laos: UN experts appeal for help to probe two-year-old disappearance of rights defender
Dec 24, 2014, at 02:40 pm
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS) International support is now needed to investigate the enforced disappearance of leading Laotian human rights defender Sombath Somphone, who was last seen in December 2012, a group of United Nations independent experts urged on Tuesday.
Tunisia's successful presidential elections 'critical step' in country's transition – Ban
Dec 24, 2014, at 02:34 pm
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday commended the Tunisian people on the successful holding of the second round of presidential elections on 21 December and congratulated the winner, Beji Caid Essebsi.
As winter hits displaced Iraqis, UN appeals for boost in humanitarian funding
Dec 24, 2014, at 02:32 pm
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS) The United Nations on Tuesday called for a surge in humanitarian funding to help cover the basic needs of close to one million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq’s Kurdistan region amid plummeting temperatures and wintry conditions.
UN rights experts alarmed at resumption of death penalty by States for terrorist acts
Dec 24, 2014, at 02:31 pm
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS) As Pakistan lifted a six-year moratorium on use of the death penalty following the recent terrorist attack in Peshawar, United Nations human rights experts on Tuesday warned against rescinding such suspensions and stressed the risks of overusing capital punishment for terrorist acts.
Muslim group trapped by Central African Republic violence face dire situation, warns UN
Dec 24, 2014, at 02:30 pm
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS) The United Nations refugee agency voiced concern on Tuesday over the “deteriorating situation†facing more than 400 members of a Muslim minority group trapped by the ongoing violence fracturing the Central African Republic (CAR).
Montagnards hiding in Cambodian forests since October now safe, UN reports
Dec 24, 2014, at 02:28 pm
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS)After weeks of effort and engagement with authorities, the United Nations said on Tuesday that it has helped a group of Vietnamese Montagnards who had been hiding in the Cambodian forests since October with little protection and subsistence get to safety.
Libya: UN warns of human rights violations as factional fighting continues
Dec 24, 2014, at 02:28 pm
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS) Libyan civilians have been subject to targeted killings, forced displacement and acute humanitarian conditions amid an escalation in fighting in the North African country, a new United Nations human rights report has warned.
UN officials hail entry into force of landmark global arms trade treaty
Dec 24, 2014, at 02:27 pm
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS United Nations officials are welcoming the entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), hailing it as a new chapter in collective efforts to bring responsibility, accountability and transparency to the global arms trade.
In Security Council, UN officials urge renewed engagement with DPR Korea on human rights
Dec 23, 2014, at 02:01 pm
New York, Dec 23 (IBNS) Despite a grim litany of human rights abuses committed against its own people and ongoing provocations to global peace and security, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has shown signs of compliance with human rights mechanisms prompting hopes that the Asian nation may one day yield to the call for full accountability and reform, two senior United Nations officials stated on Monday.
Central African Republic: rebels clash with UN peacekeepers during weekend fighting
Dec 23, 2014, at 02:01 pm
New York, Dec 23 (IBNS) The United Nations mission in the Central African Republic has said it is concerned about fighting that took place this weekend in several locations around the country, including between anti-Balaka members and peacekeepers.
2015 will be 'tough year' for humanitarian operations, senior UN official warns
Dec 23, 2014, at 01:58 pm
New York, Dec 23 (IBNS) The outlook for global humanitarian operations is "very, very bleak," a top United Nations humanitarian official warned on Monday saying that "it's been a rapid deterioration through 2014 and sadly, as we move forward we're expecting to face a tough year in 2015."
Maldives: UN expert concerned at 'unacceptable' dismissal of Supreme Court justices
Dec 23, 2014, at 01:57 pm
New York, Dec 23 (IBNS) The removal of two Supreme Court justices in the Maldives by local authorities threatens the independence of the country’s judiciary and further compromises the rule of law, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers has warned.
Dec 23, 2014, at 05:44 am
Abuja, Dec 22 (IBNS) A bomb blast at a bus station in Nigeria's Gombe city killed at least 20 people on Monday, media reports said.
North Pole: Santa swamped by millions of letters
Dec 20, 2014, at 07:42 pm
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): With Christmas less than a week away, Santa and his helpers have been busy receiving stacks of letters from children around the world, according to the United Nations postal agency, which estimates the total this year will climb above 7 million.
Central African Republic: Security Council appeals to armed groups to lay down arms
Dec 20, 2014, at 07:34 pm
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the recent resurgence of violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) and reiterated its appeal to all parties to the conflict to “immediately and permanently†lay down their arms, release all children from their ranks, and embark upon the path of dialogue as the only viable means towards achieving lasting peace.
'Suffering an enormous human cost', civilian casualties up nearly 20 per cent in 2014-UN
Dec 20, 2014, at 07:25 pm
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): Civilian casualties in Afghanistan increased by nearly 20 per cent in 2014 compared to the previous year and are expected to rise to a figure over 10,000 by end of December-for the first time since the UN mission in the country began keeping record in 2008.
Adopting resolution, Security Council urges fight against nexus of transnational crime, terrorism
Dec 20, 2014, at 07:21 pm
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): Amid a proliferation of well-funded and well-organized transnational criminal activities in Africa, the Middle East and beyond, the United Nations Security Council today adopted a resolution spotlighting its concern over the ties between cross-border crime and terrorism and called on UN Member States to ramp up efforts in combatting the two activities.
DR Congo: Amid spike in violence, UN refugee agency concerned about humanitarian situation
Dec 20, 2014, at 07:12 pm
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): Continuing violence and multiple attacks in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have sown widespread fear and sparked displacement of thousands of people, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) reported Friday, amid appeals for humanitarian access to help those in distress.
Cambodia: 'Substantial grounds' to believe Montagnards may be in danger, UN warns
Dec 20, 2014, at 07:00 pm
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): The United Nations agencies responsible for human rights and refugees are voicing concern Friday over the health and well-being of 13 Vietnamese Montagnards who have been hiding in the Cambodian jungle for more than seven weeks with no access to assistance or protection.
South Sudan: UN probe uncovers targeting of civilians, abductions, sexual violence
Dec 20, 2014, at 06:57 pm
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): In a report issued Friday, the Human Rights Division of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has said there is reason to believe that at least 11 civilians were killed and several other serious rights abuses were committed during an attack by opposition forces on Bentiu, the capital of Unity state, in October this year.
'Extremely serious' situation for over a million children in crisis-torn eastern Ukraine-UN
Dec 20, 2014, at 06:53 pm
New York, Dec 20 (IBNS): In eastern Ukraine, the situation remains 'extremely serious' for more than 1.7 million children affected by the escalating crisis, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned Friday as it appealed for funds to continue its humanitarian response in the country.
General Assembly decides to refer UN report on human rights in DPR Korea to Security Council
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:34 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS) Condemning "ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights" in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on Thursday by which it would transmit a UN-backed report probing such violations to the Security Council.
UN envoy condemns latest spate of attacks in Nigeria
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:33 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS) The United Nations’ top official in West Africa has strongly condemned a series of attacks in north-eastern Nigeria which reportedly left over 30 people dead and resulted in the abduction of some 200 others.
UN expert group on arbitrary detention welcomes the release of detainees in Cuba, US
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:30 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS)The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on Thursday welcomed the recent release of a number of detainees in Cuba and the United States, some of whose cases have been followed by the expert group.
Amid heightened tensions, Security Council extends UN mission in Golan
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:29 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council this morning extended the mandate of its mission in the Golan until 30 June 2015, as it condemned recent fighting in the area and stressed that both Israel and Syria must “scrupulously†abide by the terms of the disengagement accord to prevent any breaches of the ceasefire.
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:29 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS) Continuing steady growth in 2013 for the fourth consecutive year, global wood production has fully recovered from the economic downturn of 2008-2009, though production of pulp and paper stagnated largely due to a decline in consumption in China, data released by the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Agency (FAO) revealed on Thursday.
Asia-Pacific report: World's most disaster prone region experiences three-fold rise in deaths
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:28 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS) Asia and the Pacific is the world's most natural disaster-prone area and accounts for more than 60 per cent of the world’s hungry people, but continues to drive the global economic recovery, according to the United Nations Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific 2014, released on Thursday.
UN rights chief welcomes conviction of Congolese army officer for crimes against humanity
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:26 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS) The top United Nations official on human rights issues has welcomed the recent conviction and sentencing of a senior army officer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for crimes against humanity, adding that the move would help garner momentum for other similar cases currently underway in the country.
UN launches appeal for life-saving aid to millions of Syrians, support to host communities
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:22 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS) As Syria's war rages on into its fifth year, the needs for food, shelter and medicine are astronomical, several United Nations agencies said on Thursday as they launched a major appeal, requesting over $8.4 billion to help nearly 18 million people in Syria and throughout the region.
On International Day, UN chief urges greater attention to 'precarious' situation of migrants
Dec 19, 2014, at 03:21 pm
New York, Dec 19 (IBNS)Far too many migrants still live and work in precarious and unjust conditions, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has said on Thursday in a message to mark International Migrants Day.