'Show unprecedented vision to make peace,' senior UN official tells Israeli, Palestinian leaders
Dec 17, 2015, at 02:28 pm
New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Citing Palestinian attacks against Israelis, perceived impunity for settler violence against Palestinians and the impression of an endless occupation, a senior United Nations political official on Wednesday called for “unprecedented vision†by both sides to take the bold steps necessary for peace.
Dec 17, 2015, at 02:27 pm
New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) As 2015 draws to a close, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon summed up the "pivotal year" in which the Organization marked its 70th anniversary by highlighting landmark steps taken to advance sustainable development, climate action, conflict resolution and provision of humanitarian assistance.
Dec 16, 2015, at 05:31 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The 193 Member States of the United Nations will for the first time be included "totally" in the selection of the next UN Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly said on Tuesday, pledging to make the process as transparent and inclusive as possible.
Security Council renews UN peacekeeping force in Abyei for another five months
Dec 16, 2015, at 04:54 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday extended for another five months its interim peacekeeping force in Abyei, a resource-rich area contested by Sudan and South Sudan, calling on both sides to swiftly resume regular meetings to resolve the oil-rich territory’s final status.
Amid escalating hate speech against Muslims, UN rights officials denounce intolerance, incitement
Dec 16, 2015, at 04:52 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Expressing “grave concern†at the outpouring of intolerance and hate speech in public discourse and in the media in recent weeks, which focused particularly on Muslims, senior United Nations human rights officials have urgently called on those in positions of authority and political leadership to act responsibly and with respect for both international and national laws.
Despite progressive laws, gender-based violence ‘pervasive’ in South Africa, UN expert warns
Dec 16, 2015, at 04:00 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Warning that deeply entrenched patriarchal attitudes make violence against women “an almost acceptable phenomenon†in South Africa, a United Nations human rights expert on Tuesday urged the Government to strengthen its fight against gender-based violence through awareness and education at all levels of society.
Two-year conflict has led to ‘unrelenting crisis’ for South Sudan’s children, UN agencies warn
Dec 16, 2015, at 03:37 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The children of South Sudan are among the most vulnerable on the planet, two leading United Nations humanitarian agencies said on Tuesday, with a senior UN refugee official warning that the world’s newest nation cannot afford to lose a generation of children, “as in them lies the future and hope of the young nation.â€
Dec 16, 2015, at 03:23 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday chided the United Nations Security Council for its “empty promises†to bring Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir to trial for atrocities in Darfur, even as his victims cry out for justice amid indiscriminate killings and mass rape.
UN rights chief urges Cuba to halt harassment of activists and respect human rights
Dec 16, 2015, at 03:20 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The top United Nations human rights official expressed concern today over the extremely high number of arbitrary arrests and short-term detentions of individuals, including human rights defenders and dissidents, in Cuba in recent weeks.
Dec 16, 2015, at 03:18 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations nuclear watchdog on Tuesday closed the book on the possible military aspects of Iran’s nuclear programme, finding that they were limited to feasibility and scientific studies and did not proceed beyond 2009, bringing an international nuclear accord with Iran a step closer to implementation.
Yemen: UN-sponsored peace talks kick off as ceasefire goes into effect
Dec 16, 2015, at 03:16 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) After months of relentless violence in Yemen, consultations facilitated by the United Nations began on Tuesday in Switzerland aimed at finding a durable settlement to the crisis, including establishing a permanent ceasefire, securing improvements to the humanitarian situation and a returning to a peaceful and orderly political transition.
Dec 16, 2015, at 03:13 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Although international attention has waned regarding the crisis in Israel and the Occupied Palestine Territory, the United Nations human rights office on Tuesday warned that the region is still rife with violence and the recent escalation in the fighting has claimed 117 Palestinian lives, along with two foreign nationals and injured thousands more.
Burundi: UN urges immediate action to stop 'senseless' violence
Dec 16, 2015, at 02:18 pm
New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Amid the “deadly escalation†of violence in Burundi, the United Nations human rights chief on Tuesday sounded the alarm at the unfolding crisis in the country and urged all actors in the current crisis to take every step possible to stop the growing violence and engage in a meaningful and inclusive dialogue.
Los Angeles schools closed over 'threat': Report
Dec 16, 2015, at 03:24 am
Los Angeles, Dec 15 (IBNS) All Los Angeles Unified School District campuses have been closed down by officials following threats of violence, media reports said on Tuesday.
Dec 15, 2015, at 03:20 pm
New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Ten years after the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society, delegates from Member States and observer entities are meeting at UN Headquarters starting on Mondayto identify emerging trends, fresh priorities and innovations for advancing information and communications technologies.
Referendum held in much of Central African Republic despite disruptions - UN peacekeeping chief
Dec 15, 2015, at 03:19 pm
New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): A constitutional referendum meant to help stabilize the Central African Republic (CAR) amid conflict between Muslim and Christian factions took place successfully in the majority of the country yesterday, but violent “spoilers†disrupted the process in some areas, the top United Nations peacekeeping official reported on Monday.
Two billion move out of extreme poverty over 25 years – UN flagship development report
Dec 15, 2015, at 03:15 pm
New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Some two billion people have moved out of low human development levels in the last 25 years but in order to secure these gains and galvanize progress, a stronger focus to “act now†to provide decent work is needed, according to the new United Nations Human Development Report released on Monday.
Dec 15, 2015, at 03:13 pm
New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Speaking from Damascus today, the top United Nations relief official said the situation in Syria is "unacceptable," with nearly 13.5 million Syrians in need of some form of assistance, and he urged the international community to generously support the UN's $3.2 billion humanitarian operations plan for the war-torn country.
UN agencies relaunch winter aid programme to support vulnerable Syrian children in Jordan
Dec 15, 2015, at 02:42 pm
New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As the harsh winter approaches Jordan, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) launched the winter cash assistance programme again, that will allow vulnerable Syrian families in Za'atari and Azraq camps to buy warm winter clothing for all their children.
After Zuckerberg, Pichai extends support towards Muslims in US
Dec 12, 2015, at 07:28 pm
California, Dec 12 (IBNS) A day after Mark Zuckerberg took a swipe at Donald Trump for suggesting a ban on Muslims' entry to the US, another tech giant, Sundar Pichai echoed the same sentiments.
Saudi women get to cast ballot for the first time
Dec 12, 2015, at 06:37 pm
Riyadh, Dec 12 (IBNS) In an unprecedented move, Saudi Arabia has officially allowed its women to cast their votes for the first time, according to media reports.
Viet Nam: UN rights office alarmed at series of attacks against human rights defenders
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:23 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Alarmed by the recent spate of violent attacks on human rights defenders in Viet Nam, the United Nations rights agency on Friday expressed concern at the "apparent failure" of the Vietnamese authorities to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators and urged the Government to take measures to ensure security of all human rights defenders.
As Central Africa prepares to vote, UN rights chief warns of inter-communal strife
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:20 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS0: On the eve of a constitutional referendum meant to help stabilize the Central African Republic (CAR) amid conflict between Muslims and Christians, the United Nations human rights chief on Friday voiced deep concern at mounting sectarian language, warning of possible "dramatic consequences" given the highly volatile pre-election atmosphere.
International Mountain Day: UN study reveals hunger trends in highland areas
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:16 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): While global hunger figures are declining, the number of food insecure people in mountain areas rose 30 per cent over 12 years to nearly 330 million, according to a study released on Friday by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and a partner agency on International Mountain Day.
Ukraine could again slip into cycle of calm giving way to savage fighting: UN official
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:08 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): A senior United Nations human rights official warned on Friday that the fighting in Ukraine, which has recently decreased, could erupt again with a massive civilian toll in a conflict that has already left over 9,000 people dead and nearly 21,000 injured over the past two years.
Ceasefire in Homs shows a nationwide truce in Syria is possible: UN envoy
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:06 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations in Syria and its partners have evacuated more than 300 fighters along with their families from the last rebel-held neighbourhood of the western city of Homs, as part of a local truce the UN Special Envoy for Syria has described as having "great value" toward demonstrating that a nationwide ceasefire is "doable."
Burundi: Ban condemns attacks on military camps
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:03 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon on Friday condemned the attacks by groups of unidentified assailants on military camps in Bujumbura early this morning and said that such acts of violence can lead to a further destabilization of the situation in crisis-torn Burundi.
Libyan parties set 16 December as date to sign political agreement: UN envoy
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:02 pm
New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The new United Nations envoy for Libya announced on Friday that the parties to the country's political dialogue process have agreed to set 16 December as the target date to sign the UN-facilitated agreement on forming a national unity government, aiming to bring an end to a crisis that has left nearly 2.4 million Libyans in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.
Narendra Modi, Shinzo Abe attend Business Leaders Forum
Dec 12, 2015, at 03:00 pm
New Delhi, Dec 12 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe attended the Business Leaders Forum here on Saturday .
Ban calls on civil society to keep governments accountable on climate commitments
Dec 11, 2015, at 03:10 pm
New York, Dec 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Meeting with civil society groups on Thursday at the United Nations climate change conference (COP21), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he counts on grassroots organizations to help keep governments accountable, so they implement what they have committed to in words.