'Knowledge saves lives,' UN stresses on International Day for Disaster Reduction
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday stressed the "indispensable" power of traditional, indigenous and local knowledge in his message on this year’s observance of the International Day for Disaster Reduction.
UN urgently appeals for $86 million to tackle food insecurity in Zimbabwe
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): The United Nations in Zimbabwe has appealed to humanitarian and development partners for $86 million that is critically needed to fill a shortfall to support 1.5 million people affected by food insecurity in the country.
Member States pledge $100 million to UN agency supporting Palestine refugees
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): Twenty-two Member States of the United Nations are planning to pledge $100 million dollars to support next year's budget of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which provides educational, health, relief and social services for some five million such refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza.
Terrorist attacks in Chad and Cameroon condemned by UN Security Council
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): The members of the UN Security Council have strongly condemned the "horrific" terrorist attacks attributed to Boko Haram, perpetrated on Saturday and Sunday in the towns of Baga Sola, Chad, and Kangaleri, Cameroon, which resulted in a large number of deaths and casualties.
UN focuses on adolescent girls as part of drive towards equality for all by 2030
New York, Oct 12 (IBNS): The newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer an opportunity for a global commitment to breaking intergenerational transmission of poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination – and realizing our vision of a life of dignity for all, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon declared, marking the International Day of the Girl Child.
UN highlights survival of postal service hinges on ability to quickly change, innovate
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): On World Post Day, the head of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) is highlighting that the future of postal services strongly depends on their ability to innovate and to embrace new technologies.
UN commends Tunisian Dialogue Quartet on Nobel Peace Prize win
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon applauded the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet on being awarded this year’s Nobel Prize for Peace.
UN launches 'Nelson Mandela Rules' on improving treatment of prisoners
New York, Oct 8 (IBNS): The United Nations on Wednesday launched the Revised Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, dubbed the 'Nelson Mandela Rules,' which Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed as "a great step forward" but also drew attention to three areas that could be strengthened from a human rights perspective.
UN agencies launch new standards to improve adolescent care worldwide
New York, Oct 7 (IBNS): Two United Nations agencies – the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) – announced on Tuesday they have developed new standards for quality health-care services for adolescents, which aim to help countries improve services for people between the ages of 10 and 19.
UN urges international community to invest in recruiting, empowering teachers
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): Marking the first World Teacher's Day after the adoption of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, senior United Nations officials appealed to the international community to value, support, and empower teachers, "for it is they who will educate a new generation of children who, in turn, will carry forward all our goals to build a better world for all."
UN, humanitarian community struggling to meet unprecedented needs of refugees
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): The global refugee crisis is so great that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), other UN agencies and their partners on Monday said that they are struggling to respond to and meet all the humanitarian needs they face.
UN panel warns against 'designer babies' and eugenics in 'editing' of human DNA
New York, Oct 6 (IBNS): Warning that rapid advances in genetics make "designer babies" an increasing possibility, a United Nations panel on Monday called for a moratorium on "editing" the human genome, pending wider public debate lest changes in DNA be transmitted to future generations or foster eugenics.
At UN, Canada urges focus on financing for climate change mitigation, adaptation
New York, Oct 4 (IBNS) The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Daniel Jean, addressed the United Nations General Assembly today, noting the importance of the new sustainable development agenda and of ensuring the proper financing of climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.
UN human rights office voices concern after Tajikistan bans Islamic political party
New York, Oct 3 (IBNS): The United Nations on Friday voiced concern about an increasing risk of human rights violations connected with the recent banning of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRPT), and the arrest and detention of more than a dozen of its members since early September.
UN: UAE calls for international partnerships to achieve Middle East peace
New York, Oct 3 (IBNS): Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Friday and urged the international community to coordinate and build partnerships to achieve peace and security in the highly volatile Middle East region.