Importance of indigenous languages for development, peace and reconciliation

Ottawa, Feb 2 (IBNS): The International Year of Indigenous Languages (IYIL) is a United Nations (UN) observance in 2019 with an aim to raise awareness of the result of the global endangerment of indigenous languages and to establish a link between language, development, peace, and reconciliation, media reports said.

UN welcomes ‘milestone’ release of 833 Nigerian children from anti-Boko Haram force

New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): The United Nations welcomed on Friday as an “important milestone” the release in Nigeria of 833 children by the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF); a group formed in 2013 to protect communities and support the country’s security forces against Boko Haram extremists.

In Chad, top UN officials say humanitarian response must go ‘hand in hand’ with longer-term recovery

New York, Oct 8 (IBNS): Senior United Nations officials on Sunday called for stronger joint humanitarian and development interventions in Chad as the crisis-riven central African country as it tackles poverty, displacement, malnutrition, and lack of access to basic social services.

Yemen: Amid major roadblocks, an ‘unprecedented’ response to an unprecedented tragedy

New York, Sept 25 (IBNS): Despite continuing challenges in Yemen, the United Nations and partners have provided a robust humanitarian response to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, thanks to major donor support. However, as the situation continues to worsen for civilians across the country, aid agencies warned on Monday that international aid efforts must be sustained to avoid a major catastrophe and called for a political end to the conflict.

Truck carrying WFP food hit in Yemen's Hodeidah Governatorate

New York, Aug 31 (IBNS): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is gravely concerned about an incident on 29 August involving a truck under contract to WFP that came under shelling while delivering life-saving food assistance in the war-torn district of Al Tuhayta in Yemen’s southern Hodeidah governorate.

United Nations welcomes progress toward Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections

Kabul, Aug 14 (IBNS):  The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) welcomes the recent progress made toward Afghanistan’s parliamentary polls, including candidate vetting and other preparations required for printing ballots on schedule, as testament to Afghanistan’s successful ownership of the electoral process.

Safe spaces offer security and dignity for youth, and help make the world ‘better for all’: Guterres

New York, Aug 11 (IBNS): The world’s young people need safe spaces – both physical and digital - where they can “freely express their views” and “pursue their dreams” was the core message of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to mark this year’s International Youth Day.

‘Wind blowing in the direction of peace’ in Africa: UN Secretary-General

New York, July 10 (IBNS): Recent developments in Africa indicate that the continent is increasingly moving in the “direction of peace” and enhanced security, the United Nations Secretary-General told journalists in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Monday.

Global care crisis’ set to affect 2.3 billion people warns UN labour agency

New York, June 29 (IBNS): A “global care crisis” is looming which could affect 2.3 billion people by 2030, United Nations work experts warned on Thursday, highlighting the potential for greater inequality in a sector where women already perform “more than three-quarters” of all unpaid work.

UN rights chief slams ‘unconscionable’ US border policy of separating migrant children from parents

As part of his final global update, the United Nations human rights chief on Monday voiced his deep concern over recently-adopted United States border protection policies that have seen hundreds of migrant children forcibly separated from their parents.

UN and World Bank ink pact to spur cooperation on Global Goals

New York, May 19 (IBNS): The United Nations and the World Bank Group on Friday signed an agreement to work closer together to help countries implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieve measurable results to transform their economies and societies.

‘Gaza is about to explode,’ UN envoy warns Security Council

New York, Apr 27 (IBNS): The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is continuing with no prospects for a political resolution and “Gaza is about to explode,” a senior United Nations official said Thursday, urging both sides to avoid further clashes along the enclave’s border. 

Following airstrikes, UN chief warns against escalation over Syria

New York, Apr 15 (IBNS):  The United Nations Secretary-General has called on the international community to avoid actions which could escalate the crisis in Syria and deepen the suffering of its people.

UN launches global network of judges to strengthen integrity in courts

New York, Apr 10 (IBNS): The United Nations on Monday launched an initiative to connect judges around the world so that they can learn from each other about ways to strengthen integrity in courts, such as by preventing corruption and undue political interference into judicial appointments and decisions.

Efforts to discover those responsible for chemical weapons use in Syria at a standstill, Security Council told

New York, Apr 5 (JEN): A senior United Nations official on Wednesday stressed the need for an independent investigation to determine who used chemical weapons in Syria, and called on the Security Council to show unity to not let the perpetrators get away with it.