Health and safety of women and children in disaster-prone areas must be a priority: UN
New York, Oct 30 (IBNS): Disaster response specialists, including from the United Nations and other organizations, gathered in Suva, Fiji this week for the annual Pacific Humanitarian Partnership meeting, where the focus has been on high rates of preventable mortality and morbidity among women and children in the disaster-prone region.
Worsening weather off coast of Lesvos leads to tragedy for refugees and migrants
New York, Oct 30 (IBNS): At least 15 people have died and some 38 others are missing in five incidents involving smuggler boats carrying hundreds of refugees and migrants by sea between Turkey and the Greek islands, according to the United Nations refugee agency.
Human rights must be at the heart of historic election period in Myanmar: UN expert
New York, Oct 30 (IBNS): A United Nations independent expert on Thursday called on all those in positions of authority in Myanmar to ensure that respect for the human rights of all must be at the core of the historic elections due to take place in 10 days' time.
UN official urges support for people in central and eastern Africa
New York, Oct 30 (IBNS): Warning of worsening violence and humanitarian crises across areas of East and Central Africa, the Head of Operations for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), John Ging, on Thursday called for additional support to "people and communities who have faced years of crisis in Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia."
UNESCO kicks off conference against doping in sport
New York, Oct 30 (IBNS): The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) hosted the fifth session of the International Convention against Doping in Sport at its headquarters in Paris on Thursday, with the theme of educating young sportspersons about the danger of using prohibited substances.
Very significant number of Eritreans joining exodus to Europe: UN Assembly
New York, Oct 30 (IBNS): "A very significant number" of Eritreans are fleeing a country "that is not in a situation of conflict or unrest" to seek a life free from fear, the head of a UN-appointed commission of inquiry on human rights in the east African nation told the UN General Assembly on Thursday.
ISIS orders the closure of women's clinic in Syria's Raqqa
Damascus, Oct 29 (IBNS) The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on Thursday ordered the closure of all women clinic in the Raqqa to stop male gynecologist from treating female patients.
UN agencies warn of deteriorating food security in Southern Madagascar
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): Leading food agencies of the United Nations warned that 46 per cent of the population from eight regions of Madagascar, comprising of 1.9 million people are food insecure, including 450,000 people who face chronic food insecurity.
General Assembly elects 18 members to UN Human Rights Council
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): The General Assembly on Wednesday elected 18 States to serve on the United Nations Human Rights Council for three-year terms beginning on 1 January 2016.
UN rights chief urges to end violence between Israelis and Palestinians
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): At a special meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stressed that Israeli-Palestinian violence will draw "closer to a catastrophe" if not stopped immediately, while President Mahmoud Abbas called for creation of a "special protection" regime for the Palestinian people, amid roiling tensions in the region.
Eleven firms agree to promote inclusion of disabled people: UN labour agency
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): Eleven major international companies on Wednesday agreed to promote and include persons with disabilities throughout their operations worldwide in a move the International Labour Organization (ILO) hailed as "not only just a good moral cause" but also "good for business."
Amid situation in Darfur, UN peacekeeping official urges political settlement
New York, Oct 29 (IBNS): Warning of an "unpredictable" political and security situation in Darfur, a senior United Nations peacekeeping official told the Security Council on Wednesday that a comprehensive resolution of the Darfur conflict, which would allow for the return of over 2.6 million displaced persons, required first and foremost a political settlement between the Government and the armed movements.
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.