Crushing impact of conflict in Syria on people: UN reports
New York, Mar 11 (IBNS): Four years of armed conflict, economic disintegration and social fragmentation in Syria have hollowed out its population by 15 percent, forced some 10 million people to flee their homes and reduced life expectancy by two decades, from nearly 76 years of age to 56, according to a United Nations-backed report released on Monday on the “catastrophic†impact of the conflict.
Global health partnership saved 2.5 million women and children: Ban
New York, Mar 11 (IBNS): At a high-level event on Monday morning at the United Nations, Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon said preventable deaths of women and children could be ended “within a generation,†with political commitment an increase in innovative financing and strong partnership.
UN urges private sector to help close gender gap
New York, Mar 11 (IBNS): Although businesses were not part of the discussions at the historic Beijing Women’s Conference 20 years ago, it is now clear that achieving gender equality will require the concerted efforts of the private sector, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told participants at the annual Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) event at UN Headquarters.
Women in politics map reflects slow progress in gender equality
New York, Mar 11 (IBNS): ‘Women in Politics’ 2015 Map launched at United Nations headquarters on Monday reveals the “snail’s pace of progress†on gender equality and women’s participation in public and political life, prompting representatives of the UN and the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) to warn that such slow advancement will severely check the new global development agenda due to be adopted later this year.
S Korea: Knife attacked US envoy leaves hospital
Seoul, Mar 10 (IBNS): U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert, who was attacked with a knife recently,has been released from a hospital here on Tuesday, media reports said.
Argentina: 2 helicopters collide mid-air, 10 killed
Buenos Aires, Mar 10 (IBNS) At least 10 people were killed as two helicopters collided in mid-air at Villa Castelli area in Argentina's La Rioja province, media reports said.
UN urges world to step it up to ensure gender equality by 2030
New York, Mar 10 (IBNS): As women thrive, so will humanity but if girls are held back, the whole world will feel the pain, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned the high-level opening of the United Nations body tasked with the promotion of gender quality and the empowerment of women, which also saw the adoption of a political declaration reaffirming commitment to the outcome of the historic 1995 Beijing women’s conference.
UN-EU strategic partnership key as world faces multiple crises: Ban
New York, Mar 10 (IBNS): The development of a strong partnership between the United Nations and the European Union (EU) is increasingly critical as global crises intensify in complexity and multiply in scope, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared on Monday.
UN policy-making body opens annual session in Vienna
New York, Mar 10 (IBNS): The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs began meeting on Monday in Vienna, where the policy-making body will tackle challenges ranging from protecting children from the sale of new psychoactive substances online to confronting financial flows linked to drug trafficking, as well as planning for a General Assembly special session on the World Drug Problem in 2016.
Libya: Parties wrap up round of UN-supported political talks
New York, Mar 10 (IBNS): Libyan stakeholders must seize the momentum generated by the on-going political dialogue and bring an end to the country’s instability and insecurity, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said on Monday amid continuing fighting in the North African nation.
World must never relent until gender equality becomes reality: UN
New York, Mar 10 (IBNS): As the Commission on the Status of Women opened its 59th session on Monday at United Nations Headquarters in New York, delegates heard a keynote address calling for a revival of the “spirit of Beijing†to tackle problems that have persisted since the adopted in 1995 of the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on gender equality and women's empowerment.
Ban appoints British advocate to head up UN relief wing
New York, Mar 10 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on Monday the appointment of Stephen O’Brien of the United Kingdom as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and Emergency Relief Coordinator, the UN Spokesperson’s office announced on Monday.
Solar-powered aircraft starts its journey around the world
Abu Dhabi, Mar 9 (IBNS) Creating a new record, a solar-powered plane started its journey to travel around the world from Abu Dhabi, media reports said.
UN urges more action to achieve gender equality
New York, Mar 9(IBNS): To mark International Women's Day on Sunday, senior United Nations officials highlighted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a historic roadmap signed by 189 governments 20 years ago that set the agenda for realizing women's rights.
Gender equality vital for world to fulfill potential: Ban
New York, Mar 9(IBNS): Thousands of people gathered on Sunday in New York to march from United Nations headquarters to Times Square in commemoration of International Women's Day and to demand greater efforts by Governments to achieve gender equality worldwide.