UN disaster risk reduction conference in Sendai
Mar 13, 2015, at 01:18 pm
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): Government and civil society leaders from around the world are gathering in the Japanese city of Sendai for a United Nations conference that will take stock of ten years of global work to better prepare for and curb the impact of disasters, and to agree on an updated global response framework.
UN and Haitian partners appeal for aid to reduce vulnerability
Mar 13, 2015, at 01:16 pm
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): The United Nations, the Haitian Government and its partners have launched a $401 million appeal to reduce extreme vulnerability, while building resilience on the small Caribbean nation.
Effects of Ebola outbreak felt outside affected countries: UN report
Mar 13, 2015, at 01:14 pm
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): The effects of Ebola, which has infected nearly 24,000 people and killed nearly 10,000, mainly in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, extend beyond the people who suffer from the virus and even beyond the borders of the worst-affected countries, says a new United Nations report released on Thursday.
New UN appointments announced for political affairs, civil aviation
Mar 13, 2015, at 01:12 pm
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): The United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has appointed Fang Liu of China to head up the Montreal-based agency, while Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon has appointed Miroslav Jenca of Slovakia as Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs.
UN proposes measures by Europe to reduce lives lost at sea
Mar 13, 2015, at 01:11 pm
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency announced on Thursday that it has sent a letter to the European Union asking for a robust search-and-rescue operation in the Mediterranean Sea as part of a number of “bold and innovative†solutions to prevent more refugees and migrants losing their lives at sea.
UN's aim to simplify care for millions infected with hepatitis B
Mar 13, 2015, at 01:09 pm
New York, Mar 13 (IBNS): With 650,000 deaths caused by hepatitis B each year, and with up to 240 million people worldwide infected with the virus’s chronic strain, the United Nations health agency on Thursday issued its first ever official guidance for treating the disease.
UN chief stresses collective responsibility to resolve Syria conflict
Mar 13, 2015, at 01:07 pm
New York, mar 13 (IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday stressed the need to bring to an end the conflict in Syria, which has been raging for four years, while United Nations humanitarian agencies urged greater support to help the millions of people caught up in a “nightmare of suffering.â€
On visit to Syria, senior UN official appeals for more support for humanitarian work
Mar 12, 2015, at 06:13 pm
New York, Mar 12 (IBNS) Wrapping up a three-day visit to Syria, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations agency mandated to assist Palestinian refugees across the Middle East requested more support for work being carried out across the country, stressing that in Yarmouk "safe, uninterrupted, substantial humanitarian distributions must become the norm."
At Libya talks, UN envoy stresses commitment to continued dialogue, positive outcome
Mar 12, 2015, at 06:11 pm
New York, Mar 12 (IBNS) Several Libyan political parties and personalities concluded a two-day meeting on Wednesdayin Algiers, during which United Nations envoy Bernardino León reiterated the resolve of the world body to continue the dialogue until it reaches positive outcomes.
At UN, Bollywood's Farhan Akhtar leads push to involve more men to end violence against women
Mar 12, 2015, at 06:05 pm
New York, Mar 12 (IBNS) When the moderator of a panel discussion on Wednesdayat United Nations Headquarters in New York on how to end violence against women looked a little disappointedly at her virtually all-female audience, she called out: "Where are the men? Where are the men?"
Society's attitudes must change worldwide to stop gender-based violence, say UN officials
Mar 12, 2015, at 06:02 pm
New York, Mar 12 (IBNS)( At an event held on Wednesdayon the fringe of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, panellists addressing the continuum of violence against women underlined the importance of making cultural changes in societies to eradicate the scourge of gender-based violence, with a particular focus on engaging men and boys in national efforts to tackle the problem.
Security Council delegation assesses progress in Central African Republic
Mar 12, 2015, at 05:58 pm
New York, Mar 12 (IBNS) A delegation from the United Nations Security Council is in the Central African Republic on Wednesdayto assess the progress made in stabilizing the country as well as the first months of operation of the UN peacekeeping operation set up last year.
Real breakthrough needed to protect children from abuse, UN rights body told
Mar 12, 2015, at 05:48 pm
New York, Mar 12 (IBNS): Millions of children are subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation, being sold and trafficked for prostitution, forced labour, illegal adoption or the transfer of organs, an independent United Nations expert told the Human Rights Council today, calling for a real breakthrough to end such crimes.
Cote d'Ivoire: senior UN official urges justice for victims of human rights abuses
Mar 12, 2015, at 05:43 pm
New York, Mar 12 (IBNS) The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesdayurged the Government of Cote d'Ivoire to ensure justice for victims of serious human rights abuses that occurred prior to and during the 2011 conflict in the country.
Member States must cease detention of children: UN
Mar 11, 2015, at 01:43 pm
New York, Mar 11 (IBNS): Member States must adopt new alternatives to the detention of children that fulfil the child's best interests and the authorities' obligation to protect them from torture and other ill-treatment, a United Nations human rights expert said on Monday.
Surge in vicious attacks on albino children in East Africa: UN
Mar 11, 2015, at 01:41 pm
New York, Mar 11 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief expressed revulsion at a recent spike in gruesome attacks against people with albinism in several East African countries where in the past six months, at least 15 albinos were abducted, wounded, or killed, including three such incidents last week.
UN urges independent investigation for jailed Mauritanian activists
Mar 11, 2015, at 01:39 pm
New York, Mar 11 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights office on Monday expressed “deep concern†over judicial proceedings under way in Mauritania against members of two civil society groups, including the anti-slavery Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement, who have been held since November last year after a demonstration in the southwest of the country.
Ukraine: UN agency concerned by dire conditions facing civilians
Mar 11, 2015, at 01:38 pm
New york, Mar 11(IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency said on Monday that it is “extremely concerned†about the worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, particularly in areas controlled by anti-government forces, with the civilian population in those areas now lacking access to benefits and services previously provided by the central authorities.
South Sudan: UN official condemns forced child conscription
Mar 11, 2015, at 01:36 pm
New York, Mar 11 (IBNS): Individuals responsible for the recruitment of child soldiers in South Sudan must be held accountable for violating international law, the top United Nations official in the country declared today during a visit to the devastated frontline town of Malakal.
UN rights expert urges Malian parties to work together towards peace
Mar 11, 2015, at 01:34 pm
New York, Mar 11 (IBNS): Condemning the “reprehensible†attacks on civilians and United Nations peacekeepers and facilities in Mali, UN independent expert Suliman Baldo on Monday expressed deep concern that massive violations of the most basic rights continue to plague populations in areas affected by fighting.
Opportunity for reconciliation, cooperation in Sri Lanka: UN
Mar 11, 2015, at 01:33 pm
New York, Mar 11(IBNS): Following elections, a historic opportunity has now presented itself for Sri Lanka to set up a domestic process that is credible, accountable and up to par with international norms and standards for the benefit of the country's people, with the help of the wider international community, the United Nations political chief said on Monday.
Crushing impact of conflict in Syria on people: UN reports
Mar 11, 2015, at 01:29 pm
New York, Mar 11 (IBNS): Four years of armed conflict, economic disintegration and social fragmentation in Syria have hollowed out its population by 15 percent, forced some 10 million people to flee their homes and reduced life expectancy by two decades, from nearly 76 years of age to 56, according to a United Nations-backed report released on Monday on the “catastrophic†impact of the conflict.
Global health partnership saved 2.5 million women and children: Ban
Mar 11, 2015, at 01:27 pm
New York, Mar 11 (IBNS): At a high-level event on Monday morning at the United Nations, Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon said preventable deaths of women and children could be ended “within a generation,†with political commitment an increase in innovative financing and strong partnership.
UN urges private sector to help close gender gap
Mar 11, 2015, at 01:26 pm
New York, Mar 11 (IBNS): Although businesses were not part of the discussions at the historic Beijing Women’s Conference 20 years ago, it is now clear that achieving gender equality will require the concerted efforts of the private sector, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told participants at the annual Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) event at UN Headquarters.
Women in politics map reflects slow progress in gender equality
Mar 11, 2015, at 01:24 pm
New York, Mar 11 (IBNS): ‘Women in Politics’ 2015 Map launched at United Nations headquarters on Monday reveals the “snail’s pace of progress†on gender equality and women’s participation in public and political life, prompting representatives of the UN and the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) to warn that such slow advancement will severely check the new global development agenda due to be adopted later this year.
S Korea: Knife attacked US envoy leaves hospital
Mar 10, 2015, at 08:46 pm
Seoul, Mar 10 (IBNS): U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert, who was attacked with a knife recently,has been released from a hospital here on Tuesday, media reports said.
Argentina: 2 helicopters collide mid-air, 10 killed
Mar 10, 2015, at 03:42 pm
Buenos Aires, Mar 10 (IBNS) At least 10 people were killed as two helicopters collided in mid-air at Villa Castelli area in Argentina's La Rioja province, media reports said.
UN urges world to step it up to ensure gender equality by 2030
Mar 10, 2015, at 01:20 pm
New York, Mar 10 (IBNS): As women thrive, so will humanity but if girls are held back, the whole world will feel the pain, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned the high-level opening of the United Nations body tasked with the promotion of gender quality and the empowerment of women, which also saw the adoption of a political declaration reaffirming commitment to the outcome of the historic 1995 Beijing women’s conference.
UN-EU strategic partnership key as world faces multiple crises: Ban
Mar 10, 2015, at 01:18 pm
New York, Mar 10 (IBNS): The development of a strong partnership between the United Nations and the European Union (EU) is increasingly critical as global crises intensify in complexity and multiply in scope, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared on Monday.
UN policy-making body opens annual session in Vienna
Mar 10, 2015, at 01:17 pm
New York, Mar 10 (IBNS): The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs began meeting on Monday in Vienna, where the policy-making body will tackle challenges ranging from protecting children from the sale of new psychoactive substances online to confronting financial flows linked to drug trafficking, as well as planning for a General Assembly special session on the World Drug Problem in 2016.