Tuberculosis deaths nearly halved since 1990, but 4,400 dying daily: WHO
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday that the fight against tuberculosis (TB) is paying off, with this year’s death rate nearly half of what it was in 1990, but 1.5 million still people died from the disease last year, with more than half occurring in China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria and Pakistan.
Minorities face discrimination at every turn in criminal justice systems: UN expert
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): In criminal justice processes worldwide, minorities face discrimination ranging from excessive and sometimes lethal use of force, torture by police, to longer periods of stay in pre-trial detention, discrimination during judicial procedures and biases influencing sentencing, according to the UN human rights expert on minority issues.
'Terrorism is on the march' Ban tells global dialogue in Madrid
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): Despite the world's best efforts, "terrorism is on the march" and the violent ideas that fuel it are spreading, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned on Wednesday, telling delegations gathered for a global dialogue in Madrid that a unified, multi-dimensional and rights-based response is required to wipe out the scourge.
Two-thirds of world's population is infected with herpes: WHO
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): More than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1, which in most cases causes "cold sores" around the mouth, according to the first global estimates of the infection by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Security Council urges Burundian parties to pursue dialogue
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): Renewing its call for all stakeholder Burundian stakeholders to engage in dialogue “and to spare their country and its people further suffering,†the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday voiced its deep concerns about the growing insecurity, the continued rise in violence, and the persisting political impasse there.
Social protection systems should be inclusive of persons with disabilities: UN expert
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): States should make their social protection systems more inclusive for persons with disabilities, rather than pursuing models that often lock them into a cycle of dependence and poverty, a UN expert on the rights of persons with disabilities has said.
DPR Korea: UN rights expert regrets unchanged human rights situation
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): The international community was strongly urged on Wednesday by a UN rights expert to maintain effective and meaningful efforts to address the continued dire human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Ethiopia experiencing worst drought in 30 years due to El Niño conditions: UN report
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): Ethiopia is experiencing its worst drought in 30 years according to the United Nations, with levels of acute need across all humanitarian sectors having already exceeded levels seen in the Horn of Africa drought of 2011, and which are projected to become far more severe in 2016.
UNESCO appeals for safeguarding world's endangered archives
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): Against the backdrop of a large share of the world’s audiovisual heritage already lost forever, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Tuesday warned that only 10 to 15 years are left to transfer remaining audiovisual recordings to digital media before they too vanish.
Syrians living tragedy and despair barely imaginable five years ago: UN relief official
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): The most senior United Nations humanitarian official on Tuesday stressed that the failure of parties to the conflict in Syria to uphold the basic tenets of international law has propelled the Syrian people to levels of tragedy and despair which could barely have been imagined five years ago.
UN report reveals urgent need for systematic approach to youth violence prevention
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): While youth violence is not a simple problem with easy solutions, a new report launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) underscores that prevention programmes can improve a broad range of health, education and social outcomes – and lead to potentially substantial economic savings.
Despite raging conflict, scores of refugees continue to arrive in Yemen by sea: UN
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): The ongoing conflict and the widening humanitarian crisis in Yemen has not deterred nearly 70,000 refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants to reach the country by sea causing the Yemini population to 'bear the brunt,' said the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday.
Cholera spreading in Iraq, suspected case reported in Syria: WHO
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Tuesday that it would start vaccine treatments for cholera beginning this weekend to prevent further outbreaks in Iraq, where the disease has now been confirmed in 15 out of 18 governorates, while the agency also reported a suspected case was also found in northern Syria.
Yemen: Ban calls to halt operations after Saudi-led airstrikes destroy hospital
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday condemned airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition that hit the Hayadeen Medical Hospital in the Sa'dah governorate, which is run by Médecins Sans Frontières with support from the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Nauru: OHCHR raises concerns about sexual assault allegations by asylum-seekers
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): Underscoring the "fragile mental and physical condition" of 'Abyan' (the pseudonym for a Somalian refugee), who was allegedly raped in Nauru in July and was returned by Australia, the United Nations human rights office on Tuesday called upon both countries to urgently provide decent mental and physical care for her, including provisions to terminate her pregnancy, if she desires.