At UN meeting, tolerance and education highlighted as critical allies against terrorism
Oct 01, 2014, at 03:43 pm
New York, Oct 1 (IBNS) The international community must act swiftly and concretely to confront the root causes of violent extremism, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday, underlining the need to address terrorism through more comprehensive and holistic efforts.
Increased pension coverage key to future global development agenda, says UN agency
Oct 01, 2014, at 03:43 pm
New York, Oct 1 (IBNS) In order to promote economic recovery and prevent pensionable citizens from relapsing into poverty, social protections must be placed at the forefront of the future development agenda currently being elaborated by Member States, says the United Nations labour agency.
In West Africa, UN launches strengthened response as Ebola shatters lives, orphans children
Oct 01, 2014, at 03:42 pm
New York, Oct 1 (IBNS) Amid a climbing death toll and widespread panic, the Ebola outbreak continues to ravage West Africa leaving thousands of orphaned children in its wake, an official for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Tuesday, as a fortified UN mission arrived in the region to confront and contain the growing crisis.
Equality must be driving force of new development agenda, Belarussian minister tells UN
Oct 01, 2014, at 03:41 pm
New York, Oct 1 (IBNS) As the international community lays the foundation for a sustainable development agenda that will follow the Millennium Development Goals in 2016, the Foreign Minister of Belarus on Tuesday urged the United Nations General Assembly to make globalization more even and equitable than it has been up to now.
At General Assembly, Eritrea criticizes 'dominant powers' for impeding vital overhaul of UN
Oct 01, 2014, at 03:41 pm
New York, Oct 1 (IBNS) From the General Assembly podium on Tuesday, Eritrea called for a fundamental overhaul of the United Nation, charging that it has failed in its prime goals of securing world peace and ending poverty due to cynical determination of the dominant Powers to maintain control.
Oman Minister, in Assembly address, urges 'unified position' on Mid-east crises
Oct 01, 2014, at 03:40 pm
New York, Oct 1 (IBNS) New and old crises in the Middle East are being exacerbated by the lack of international consensus on the paths to assist the concerned parties in resolving them, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Oman told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, urging a "unified position" to tackle the region’s main challenges, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
UN official urges sustained pressure on parties to Syria conflict to ensure aid access
Oct 01, 2014, at 03:39 pm
New York, Oct 1 (IBNS) With winter fast approaching and the conflict in Syria showing no signs of abating, the United Nations humanitarian chief on Tuesday called for sustained pressure on the parties to ensure access to those in need of assistance as well as financial support to maintain vital aid operations.
In speech to UN Assembly, Yemen’s Minister highlights political transition, urges ongoing support
Sep 30, 2014, at 05:57 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) With Yemen pressing ahead after coming through a complex, United Nations-assisted transition, the country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jamal Abdullah Al-Sallal, told the General Assembly on Monday that continued international support would be needed, including a “strong call†from the UN Security Council against those seeking to undermine the political process.
Uruguay urges rooting new sustainable development agenda in human rights
Sep 30, 2014, at 05:51 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) The basis of a new sustainable development agenda must be poverty eradication, rooted in a strong foundation of human rights and recognition of rights, Uruguay’s Foreign Minister on Monday told the United Nations General Assembly, calling for a greater focus on equality.
Colombian bill on military criminal justice 'major setback' for human rights, say experts
Sep 30, 2014, at 05:48 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS): A group of independent United Nations human rights experts are calling on the Government and the Congress of Colombia to reconsider the possible adoption of a bill that aims to restructure and expand the scope of the jurisdiction of military courts.
New Zealand, in UN address, voices support for small island developing nations
Sep 30, 2014, at 05:46 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) Not enough attention is focused on the challenges of small island developing nations, the Foreign Minister of New Zealand on Monday told the annual United Nations General Assembly calling for greater efforts to share experiences and skills with the so-called SIDS regions.
Eritrea: UN expert to investigate pervasive rights abuses as part of 'historic' inquiry
Sep 30, 2014, at 05:44 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) Amid forced conscription, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, the human rights situation in Eritrea continues to remain “dire,†a United Nations independent expert warned, adding that a new Commission of Inquiry would help “pave the way†to accountability.
UN expert urges European nations to rethink policies as migration-related deaths rise
Sep 30, 2014, at 05:41 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) In attempting to seal their borders, European nations are facing an “impossible†task, the United Nations independent expert on the human rights of migrants said on Monday, as he encouraged the European Union (EU) to identify new legal channels of migration in an effort to save lives.
Sep 30, 2014, at 05:38 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) From the podium of the General Assembly on Monday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the world of the grave threat he said it faced from militant Islam’s desire to dominate the planet, be they Sunni extremists or Iran, defended Israel’s Gaza campaign as moral, and dubbed the United Nations Human Rights Council the “terrorist rights council.â€
Kyrgyz official warns UN Assembly of international dangers from unstable Afghanistan
Sep 30, 2014, at 05:19 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) Afghanistan poses the most serious external challenge to Central Asia, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldaev told the United Nations General Assembly, calling for a more proactive international contribution to strengthen regional law enforcement and to promote regional cooperation.
At UN Assembly, Philippines decries expansionist territorial claims in region
Sep 30, 2014, at 05:15 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) The Philippines took the General Assembly podium on Monday to accuse another Member State of embarking on expansionist territorial claims that violate its rights, and called on the United Nations to take speedy action to protect UN peacekeeping forces after Filipino troops were seized in the Golan Heights.
Perpetrators of extra-judicial killings in Mexico must be brought to justice – UN expert
Sep 30, 2014, at 05:15 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) The Government of Mexico must "fully investigate, prosecute, and punish" all cases of extra-legal, arbitrary and summary executions, a United Nations independent human rights expert stressed on Monday, as he welcomed the country’s recent arrest of eight military personnel suspected in the extra-judicial killings of 22 unarmed criminals.
European leaders tell UN 'collective sense of purpose' needed to maintain peace, security
Sep 30, 2014, at 05:13 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) Addressing the General Assembly this afternoon, Liechtenstein’s Foreign Minister, Aurelia Frick, said acts of aggression perpetrated against Ukraine and the illegal annexation of parts of its territory underline the need to enforce international law.
Libya: UN envoy hails start of political dialogue aimed at resolving ongoing crisis
Sep 30, 2014, at 05:10 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) The top United Nations envoy to Libya called on Monday a historic day as the political dialogue aimed at resolving the crisis in the country got under way in the town of Ghadames.
Victims of ISIL brutality 'waiting on us to act', Syrian leader tells UN Assembly
Sep 30, 2014, at 05:09 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) As the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants began carrying their slaughter in the Middle East, "they might have surprised many of the countries present here, but not…us," the Deputy Prime Minister of Syria told the United Nations General Assembly, underscoring on Monday that the time has come for the world to stand united and tackle the threat head-on.
UN refugee chief warns against overlooking humanitarian crises in Africa
Sep 30, 2014, at 05:08 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) The United Nations refugee chief on Monday warned the international community about the risks of overlooking the humanitarian crises in Africa, calling for a renewed commitment to preventing conflict and ending protracted displacement.
Adverse conditions stop poorer countries reaching development goals, Laos tells UN
Sep 30, 2014, at 05:06 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) Armed conflicts, political unrests, pandemics, and environmental degradation have impeded efforts by the world’s least developed countries (LDCs) to reach the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Laotian Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisovlith told the United Nations General Assembly on Monday.
Holy See calls at General Assembly for 'renewed' UN to use 'licit force' against terror
Sep 30, 2014, at 04:54 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) In the face of terrorist attacks on Christians and other minorities in the Middle East, and other lethal crises, Pope Francis' representative at the General Assembly’s high-level annual meeting on Monday called for a reinvigorated United Nations capable of deploying the necessary multilateral force to defeat the scourge.
World needs 'paradigm shift' towards sustainable agriculture, UN agency urges
Sep 30, 2014, at 04:49 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) In order to move towards more sustainable agriculture, a broader approach is needed to overhaul the world’s food system, the head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Monday, as he pressed for a global reduction in the quantity of chemicals and water in contemporary agriculture.
In Republic of Korea, UN meeting tackles safe use of living modified organisms
Sep 30, 2014, at 04:47 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) Representative from governments, civil society and industry around the world on Monday kicked off a five-day United Nations meeting in the Republic of Korea (ROK) to ensure the safe use of modified living organis.
Pacific islands facing 'existential threats' need special attention, Vanuatu's leader tells UN
Sep 30, 2014, at 04:45 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) Taking to the General Assembly podium on Monday, Vanuatu’s Prime Minister, Joe Natuman said that as a Pacific small Island developing State (SIDS), his country was confronted with unique development challenges, which needed to be addressed by the UN and international community.
Not a single child untouched by recent Gaza conflict, says UN rights expert
Sep 30, 2014, at 04:39 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) There is not a single child who has not been adversely affected by the recent conflict in Gaza, where children suffer from bedwetting, difficulties in sleeping, nightmares, a loss of appetite, and display more aggressive behaviour at school, an independent United Nations human rights expert said on Monday.
Spanish job growth still 'incomplete' amid slow global economic recovery – UN report
Sep 30, 2014, at 04:36 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) The Spanish economy requires "comprehensive" measures to boost lagging job creation and lower its rate of chronic unemployment, among the highest in Europe, a new report by the United Nations labour agency has warned.
At UN debate, African leaders say global sustainability agenda must reflect local realities
Sep 30, 2014, at 04:33 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) With a new sustainable development agenda as the focus of this year’s annual General Assembly debate, African leaders on Monday called on the United Nations to take into consideration the continent’s specific realities and challenges.
UN congratulates Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on inauguration
Sep 30, 2014, at 04:32 pm
New York, Sept 30 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations mission in Afghanistan on Monday welcomed the inauguration of Ashraf Ghani as President and reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to cooperate with the national unity government in the country’s progress to peace, stability and development.