Haiti: UN and partners welcome consensus on appointment of interim Prime Minister
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS) The United Nations and its international partners on Tuesday welcomed the designation of Florence Guillaume as Haiti’s interim Prime Minister.
Laos: UN experts appeal for help to probe two-year-old disappearance of rights defender
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS) International support is now needed to investigate the enforced disappearance of leading Laotian human rights defender Sombath Somphone, who was last seen in December 2012, a group of United Nations independent experts urged on Tuesday.
Tunisia's successful presidential elections 'critical step' in country's transition – Ban
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday commended the Tunisian people on the successful holding of the second round of presidential elections on 21 December and congratulated the winner, Beji Caid Essebsi.
As winter hits displaced Iraqis, UN appeals for boost in humanitarian funding
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS) The United Nations on Tuesday called for a surge in humanitarian funding to help cover the basic needs of close to one million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq’s Kurdistan region amid plummeting temperatures and wintry conditions.
UN rights experts alarmed at resumption of death penalty by States for terrorist acts
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS) As Pakistan lifted a six-year moratorium on use of the death penalty following the recent terrorist attack in Peshawar, United Nations human rights experts on Tuesday warned against rescinding such suspensions and stressed the risks of overusing capital punishment for terrorist acts.
Muslim group trapped by Central African Republic violence face dire situation, warns UN
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS) The United Nations refugee agency voiced concern on Tuesday over the “deteriorating situation†facing more than 400 members of a Muslim minority group trapped by the ongoing violence fracturing the Central African Republic (CAR).
Montagnards hiding in Cambodian forests since October now safe, UN reports
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS)After weeks of effort and engagement with authorities, the United Nations said on Tuesday that it has helped a group of Vietnamese Montagnards who had been hiding in the Cambodian forests since October with little protection and subsistence get to safety.
Libya: UN warns of human rights violations as factional fighting continues
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS) Libyan civilians have been subject to targeted killings, forced displacement and acute humanitarian conditions amid an escalation in fighting in the North African country, a new United Nations human rights report has warned.
UN officials hail entry into force of landmark global arms trade treaty
New York, Dec 24 (IBNS United Nations officials are welcoming the entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), hailing it as a new chapter in collective efforts to bring responsibility, accountability and transparency to the global arms trade.
In Security Council, UN officials urge renewed engagement with DPR Korea on human rights
New York, Dec 23 (IBNS) Despite a grim litany of human rights abuses committed against its own people and ongoing provocations to global peace and security, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has shown signs of compliance with human rights mechanisms prompting hopes that the Asian nation may one day yield to the call for full accountability and reform, two senior United Nations officials stated on Monday.
Central African Republic: rebels clash with UN peacekeepers during weekend fighting
New York, Dec 23 (IBNS) The United Nations mission in the Central African Republic has said it is concerned about fighting that took place this weekend in several locations around the country, including between anti-Balaka members and peacekeepers.
UN rights chief urges return to moratorium as executions resume in Pakistan, Jordan
New York, Dec 23 (IBNS) The top United Nations official on human rights issues voiced "deep regret" on Monday over the resumption of executions in Pakistan and Jordan at a time when the international community is increasingly turning away from the use of the death penalty.
2015 will be 'tough year' for humanitarian operations, senior UN official warns
New York, Dec 23 (IBNS) The outlook for global humanitarian operations is "very, very bleak," a top United Nations humanitarian official warned on Monday saying that "it's been a rapid deterioration through 2014 and sadly, as we move forward we're expecting to face a tough year in 2015."
Maldives: UN expert concerned at 'unacceptable' dismissal of Supreme Court justices
New York, Dec 23 (IBNS) The removal of two Supreme Court justices in the Maldives by local authorities threatens the independence of the country’s judiciary and further compromises the rule of law, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers has warned.
Abuja, Dec 22 (IBNS) A bomb blast at a bus station in Nigeria's Gombe city killed at least 20 people on Monday, media reports said.