Nov 22, 2014, at 06:31 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) On a tour of the United Nations Accessibility Centre for the audio, visual, and physically impaired on Friday, United States Senator Tom Harkin said that "when you make a system better for a person with a disability its makes it better for people without disabilities."
UN agency unveils push to make cooking safe for 10 million people by 2020
Nov 22, 2014, at 06:28 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) Every year, household air pollution from cooking kills over four million people and sickens millions more, the United Nations spotlighted at a New York conference on cookstoves, as it urged Governments to take action to accelerate the adoption of clean cooking solutions.
Slovenia: UN expert urges focus on 'vulnerable' ostracized older persons
Nov 22, 2014, at 06:25 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) Following her first official visit to Slovenia, the United Nations independent expert on the human rights of older persons hailed efforts by the country's Government in ensuring the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, but urged authorities to focus on those being ostracized, as they are "the vulnerable of the vulnerable."
Burkina Faso: UN chief urges continued dialogue as transitional Government takes power
Nov 22, 2014, at 06:21 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday reiterated his call for all Burkinabé stakeholders to ensure Burkina Faso’s seamless transition to democracy amid an ongoing constitutional crisis in the West African country, a United Nations spokesperson has confirmed.
UN conference generates renewed global momentum to eradicate malnutrition
Nov 22, 2014, at 06:17 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) In a move hailed as renewed global momentum to end hunger, leaders from over 170 countries attending a United Nations nutrition conference which concluded on Friday, pledged to establish national policies aimed at eradicating malnutrition in all its forms from, hunger to obesity and transform food systems to make nutritious diets available to all.
Sectarian clashes displace thousands in south-eastern Central African Republic, UN warns
Nov 22, 2014, at 06:04 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) An upsurge in violent attacks this week between communities in a town near the Central African Republic’s border with South Sudan has left at least 10 people injured and thousands more displaced, marking the first major inter-community incident in the region since the country’s crisis began in 2012, the United Nations humanitarian relief office said on Friday.
Middle East: UN-backed reconstruction efforts set to kick-off in Gaza next week
Nov 22, 2014, at 06:01 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) The next phase in reconstruction efforts for war-ravaged Gaza is slated to begin as early as next week following an updated "understanding" between Israeli and Palestinian stakeholders, the United Nations special envoy in the region has announced.
As challenges mount for displaced in eastern Ukraine, UN agency ramps up food voucher plan
Nov 22, 2014, at 05:55 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) Key steps have been taken recently to deliver food vouchers to some 10,000 internally displaced people in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) reported on Friday, while underscoring that ensuring access to food in the country's crisis-gripped eastern region remains a "priority concern."
South Sudan: UN relief official urges respect for ceasefire, scaling up of aid operations
Nov 22, 2014, at 05:51 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) Concluding a three-day mission to South Sudan, a senior United Nations relief official has called on all parties to the conflict there to respect their ceasefire commitments, while urging the international community to continue providing support to enable humanitarians to scale up and expand critical aid operations.
UN agency's innovative standards to boost TV viewing experience for millions
Nov 22, 2014, at 05:49 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) The technological advancement of the television medium a critical tool for "informing, channelling, and affecting" public opinion is necessary for the improvement of communication and globalization, the United Nations International Telecommunications Union (ITU) declared on Friday, as it announced new measures aimed at heightening television viewing for millions of people around the world.
'Time is growing short,' UN warns as it boosts delivery of winter kits to displaced in Iraq
Nov 22, 2014, at 05:39 pm
New York, Nov 22 (IBNS) The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is stepping up its efforts in Iraq to deliver winter aid to people displaced by this year’s conflict including Thursday with the landing in northern Iraq’s Kurdistan region the first in a series of flights carrying supplies aimed at mitigating the impact of the harsh months ahead.
Venkaiah Naidu shares his encounter with thief in Barcelona
Nov 21, 2014, at 05:17 pm
New Delhi, Nov 21 (IBNS): Union Minister of Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu on Friday shared his experience in Barcelona where a thief stole his bag but later threw it back in panic, media reports said.
UN humanitarian news service to be spun off
Nov 21, 2014, at 04:31 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS): The humanitarian news service IRIN (Integrated Regional Information Networks), after nearly 20 years as part of the United Nations, announced on Thursday that it will spin off to become an independent, non-profit media venture, with the support of a major private donor.
Ban urges Israeli, Palestinian leaders to stand up to extremists on both sides, end surging violence
Nov 21, 2014, at 04:29 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that he was shocked by the recent deadly attack on a synagogue in West Jerusalem and “at this delicate and dangerous juncture†both leaders must show the courage to do everything necessary to end the surging violence.
Iraq: UN envoy sees inclusive political process as critical to resolving crisis
Nov 21, 2014, at 04:27 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS) As Iraq struggles to deal with the increasing security threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as well as with dire financial and humanitarian conditions, the United Nations envoy to the country has cited an inclusive political process as vital to finding comprehensive solutions.
Security Council adopts first-ever resolution on 'invaluable role' of UN police operations
Nov 21, 2014, at 04:21 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Thursday adopted its first-ever resolution focusing on the world body’s policing operations, stressing their invaluable contribution to peacekeeping, civilian protection and the rule of law, and pledging to give clear mandates as well as appropriate resources to UN police-related work.
UN champions children as 'fundamental building blocks,' marking 25th anniversary of historic treaty
Nov 21, 2014, at 04:19 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS) As countries around the world celebrate the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations family on Thursday hailed the landmark treaty as a powerful human rights tool, while taking stock of the long-standing disparities that must be addressed to propel actions for the well-being of all children into the future.
Pope Francis urges concrete action in global nutrition challenge at UN conference in Rome
Nov 21, 2014, at 04:14 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS) Pope Francis on Thursday urged leaders attending a United Nations Food and Agriculture (FAO) nutrition conference in Rome to view food and nutrition and the environment as global public issues at a time when nations are more tightly linked with each other than ever before.
UN rights chief criticizes legal amendment in Gambia targeting homosexuals
Nov 21, 2014, at 04:10 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS): The top United Nations human rights official on Thursday criticized a recent amendment to the criminal code of The Gambia that creates a broad and vague offence of “aggravated homosexuality†punishable by life imprisonment, and expressed alarm at reports of a wave of arbitrary arrests and detention of individuals perceived to be homosexual in the country.
In latest report, UN rights office says nearly 1,000 dead amid shaky Ukraine ceasefire
Nov 21, 2014, at 04:07 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS):lmost 1,000 people have been killed in Ukraine since a tenuous ceasefire was established there in early September amid efforts to end the violence between armed rebel groups and the Government, the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) said on Thursday as it released its latest report on the situation in the country.
Leveraging innovation key to advancing progress on child rights – UNICEF
Nov 21, 2014, at 04:05 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS) Despite progress in advancing child rights over the past 25 years, including a marked reduction in the number of children dying before the age of five and increased access to education and clean water, urgent action is needed to prevent millions of children from missing out on the benefits of innovation, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a new report.
On World Philosophy Day, UN lauds role of dialogue, diversity in multicultural world
Nov 21, 2014, at 03:54 pm
New York, Nov 21 (IBNS) The head the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Thursday marked the twelfth edition of World Philosophy Day with a widespread appeal for dialogue in diversity, adding that only by embracing the intellectual pluralism of our global society can the foundations of a truly global community be laid.
Security Council strongly condemns 'despicable terrorist attack' in Jerusalem synagogue
Nov 20, 2014, at 10:29 pm
New York, Nov 20 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned Tuesday's “despicable terrorist attack†in a synagogue in Jerusalem, resulting in the murder of four innocent civilians worshipping there and a police officer, as well as the injury of many more.
'Insecurity on the march again' in Africa's Sahel region, UN relief official warns
Nov 20, 2014, at 10:26 pm
New York, Nov 20 (IBNS): Insecurity is on the march again in the countries of Africa’s Sahel belt, where extremists have displaced 1.5 million people in Nigeria and the threat of Ebola is exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis, the United Nations humanitarian regional coordinator said Wednesday
UN spotlights children's rights as world gears up to mark 25th anniversary of landmark treaty
Nov 20, 2014, at 10:23 pm
New York, Nov 20 (IBNS): As the global human rights community readies to celebrate tomorrow the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations committee charged with monitoring its implementation highlighted the right of children to actively participate and not just be heard in discussions that affect their lives and communities.
Security Council calls for thorough investigation into alleged mass rape in North Darfur
Nov 20, 2014, at 10:16 pm
New York, Nov 20 (IBNS): Echoing calls from the wider United Nations community, the Security Council Weday expressed concern at allegations over the mass rape in late October of 200 women and girls in Tabit, North Darfur, calling on the Government of Sudan to conduct a thorough investigation.
Libya: UN mission brokers 'critical' 12-hour humanitarian truce in Benghazi
Nov 20, 2014, at 10:13 pm
New York, Nov 20 (IBNS): The head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced Wednesday that all parties to the conflict in Benghazi have agreed to an unconditional humanitarian truce to evacuate civilians and retrieve the bodies of the dead.
UN Asia-Pacific forum opens meeting to advance gender equality
Nov 20, 2014, at 10:08 pm
New York, Nov 20 (IBNS): More than 700 representatives from governments, inter-governmental organizations, UN bodies and civil society in Asia and the Pacific began meeting Wednesday to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment with the keynote speaker highlighting the urgency of eliminating violence against women and girls.
Somalia cannot afford to repeat 'pattern of division, paralysis'-UN political chief
Nov 20, 2014, at 10:05 pm
New York, Nov 20 (IBNS): Somalia’s positive strides do not mean “plain sailingâ€, the United Nations political chief stressed Wednesday, telling a high-level forum in Copenhagen that the international community must continue to support the Horn of Africa nation in its efforts to stabilize and build sustainable security.
At high-level debate, UN, Security Council renews pledge to counter foreign terrorist fighters
Nov 20, 2014, at 10:02 pm
New York, Nov 20 (IBNS): As foreign fighters continue to flood the world’s zones of conflict, exacerbating already tenuous security situations and further destabilizing States, the United Nations Security Council reiterated Wednesday its pledge to counter the global terrorist threat by adopting a statement reaffirming its commitment towards the preservation of international peace and security.