UN condemns ‘despicable’ terrorist attacks in Paris
New York, Nov 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS) : Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations Security Council have condemned the “despicable" terrorist attacks carried out on Friday in various locations in and around Paris, and Ban has demanded the immediate release of the numerous individuals reportedly being held hostage in the Bataclan theatre.
Security Council condemns attack against UN peacekeeping mission in Central Africa
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The Security Council on Wednesday strongly condemned the attack against a checkpoint of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), which followed an outbreak of violence in a camp for internally displace people in the town of Batangafo, during which one peacekeeper from Cameroon was killed.
UN's ECOSOC President urges stronger cooperation to thwart tax evasion
New York, Nov 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Citing an enormous loss of $100 to $240 billion dollars in uncollected global corporate income tax revenues each year, Oh Joon, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Wednesday stressed the need to curb tax evasion and avoidance and called for stronger international tax cooperation.
UN launches 2016 International Year of Pulses, celebrating benefits of legumes
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Under the slogan 'nutritious seeds for a sustainable future,' the United Nations, led by its Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), on Tuesday launched the 2016 International Year of Pulses to raise awareness about the protein power and health benefits of all kinds of dried beans and peas, boost their production and trade, and encourage new and smarter uses throughout the food chain.
UN urges immediate release of detained Egyptian human rights defender
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations has called for the immediate release of detained Egyptian human rights defender Hossam Bahgat with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon describing as "profoundly worrying" the latest in a series of such detentions.
UN envoy commends South Sudanese opposition commanders' plan to prevent rape
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict on Tuesday commended 54 ranking members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Sudan People's Liberation Army-in Opposition (SPLA-IO) for signing "explicit undertakings' to prevent conflict-related sexual violence.
UN calls for urgent action to address child statelessness
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): Stateless children across the world share the same feelings of discrimination, frustration and despair, according to a new United Nations report published on Tuesday, that warns that urgent action is needed before statelessness “sets in stone†problems haunting their childhood.
'We need greater transparency, accountability,' Member States told at debate
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): To advance the values, principles and purposes of the United Nations, the General Assembly's role, authority, effectiveness and efficiency must be continuously reviewed and enhanced, the 193-member body's President, Mogens Lykketoft, said on Tuesday, stressing the need for transparency throughout the UN system.
'Racial superiority' myth must be debunked, experts tell UN event
New York, Nov 4 (IBNS): Debunking the myth of racial hierarchy, United Nations experts on racial discrimination on Tuesday said that it is imperative to deconstruct, on a global scale, the ideological myth of a superior race and the resulting conviction of a superior culture.
East Jerusalem: UN officials call for respect of health premises, right to health care
New York, Nov 3 (IBNS): Officials from a number of United Nations agencies have stressed the need to ensure respect for health premises as well as the right to health, following recent actions by the Israeli security forces at a hospital in East Jerusalem.
UN calls on Libyan political stakeholders to redouble efforts to reach agreement
New York, Nov 3 (IBNS): The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called on Monday on the main political stakeholders in the country to redouble their efforts in bringing the political dialogue process to a successful conclusion, which would allow for an agreement to form a Government of National Accord and for the resumption of Libya’s democratic transition.
UN Security Council strongly condemns terrorist attack against Somali hotel
New York, Nov 2 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Sunday condemned "in the strongest terms" the attacks carried out on Sunday against the Sahafi hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia by Al-Shabaab, resulting in a number of deaths and injuries.
UN agency warns of refugee crisis as women flee Central America and Mexico
New York, Oct 30 (IBNS): Women in Central America and Mexico are fleeing their countries in rising numbers to escape a surge in deadly, unchecked gang violence, fuelling a looming refugee crisis in the Americas that demands urgent and concerted action by the States of the region, the United Nations refugee agency is warning.
UN ramps up to assist those in Afghanistan and Pakistan affected by earthquake
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands of homes in Afghanistan and Pakistan were destroyed by the massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck the Badakshan Province in Afghanistan on Monday, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
UN General Assembly renews call for end to US embargo against Cuba
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): In a near unanimous vote, the 193-member United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution renewing its call for an end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba, while also acknowledging the restoration, after nearly 50 years, of diplomatic relations between the two countries.