South Sudan: UN campaign for children forced out of school by war
New York, Feb 20 (IBNS): UNICEF’s ‘Back to Learning’ campaign, which was launched in Juba on Thursday by the agency and the President of South Sudan Salva Kiir, will reach out-of-school children in all 10 states, including areas currently engulfed in conflict, over the next 12 months.
New York, Feb 19 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday urged the Government of Burundi to establish a climate of freedom and openness conducive to the holding of elections later this year and expressed concern about reports of intimidation, harassment, arbitrary detention and other curtailments to the enjoyment of the rights of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.
UN official says recent terror attacks represent 'exact opposite' of values of peace, stability
New York, Feb 19 (IBNS) The High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, Nassir Al-Nasser, said on Wednesday that the "vicious forces" of extremism, violence and terrorism should not hamper international efforts to prevent and combat such forces.
With Libya in 'imminent danger,' UN envoy urges support for push to end political, security crisis
New York, Feb 19 (IBNS) Recent savage terrorist acts culminating in the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians highlight the "imminent danger" confronting Libya, its people and the wider region, the United Nations envoy to the country warned on Wednesday, urging swift agreement among the main parties on resolving the crisis and ending the military and political conflict.
UN political chief warns of 'increasingly toxic' Gaza; calls for new talks, international support
New York, Feb 19 (IBNS) Briefing the United Nations Security Council after “another tumultuous and deadly month†in the Middle East, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, warned that further escalation remains possible in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians and could be highly damaging to both parties and to the two-State solution.
Security Council extends UN Guinea-Bissau office for another year
New York, Feb 19 (IBNS) The Security Council on Wednesday extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Peace-Building Office in Guinea-Bissau, known as UNIOGBIS, so that it can continue to assist in tackling a range of political, security and development challenges in the country.
Iran: UN experts urge 'immediate halt' over scheduled execution of juvenile
New York, Feb 19 (IBNS)The Government of Iran must comply with its international human rights obligations and immediately halt its planned execution of a juvenile offender, two United Nations human rights experts urged on Wednesday.
Over 10,000 Afghanistani civilian casualties in 2014: UN
New York, Feb 19 (IBNS): Civilian casualties in Afghanistan topped 10,000 in 2014, a 22 per cent increase compared to the past year, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on Wednesday.
South Sudan's Government commits to combat sexual violence: UN
New York, Feb 19 (IBNS): UN representative Zainab Hawa Bangura on Sexual Violence in Conflict placed in South Sudan said on Wednesday, that any peace agreement reached to end the conflict in South Sudan should reflect the commitments made at the end of 2014 to ensure accountability for sexual violence crimes.
Syria indicates willingness to freeze Aleppo fighting
New York, Feb 19 (IBNS): UN Secretary-General’s special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, sees a “glimmer of hope†for his proposed ‘freeze’ of localized hostilities in the city of Aleppo amid continuing fighting throughout the Middle Eastern country between Government forces and entrenched rebels.
Nigeria military op leaves 300 Boko Haram militants killed
Abuja, Feb 18 (IBNS): Nigerian forces have killed more than 300 Boko Haram fighters during an operation to recapture 11 towns and villages since the start of the week, media reports said on Wednesday.
Over 40 people burnt alive by IS militants in Iraq
Baghdad, Feb 18 (IBNS): At least 40 people, including security personnel, were burnt alive by Sunni radical group Islamic State (IS) on Tuesday, media reports said. The incident reportedly took place in Iraq's western province of Anbar.
Security Council endorses Minsk ceasefire
New York, Feb 18 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, adopted a resolution endorsing the 13-point accord on ending the Ukraine crisis agreed in Minsk, including a cease-fire, and called on all parties to the conflict to fully implement that cessation of hostilities, as the UN human rights office expressed concern over reported shelling and trapped civilians in the country's east.
UN rights chief condemns murder of 21 Christians in Libya
New York, Feb 18 (IBNS): The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday that the beheading of 21 Christian men in Libya was a “vile crime targeting people on the basis of their religion†and urged Libyans to unite against extremists.
UN development chief begins last leg of West Africa Ebola mission
New York, Feb 18 (IBNS): A United Nations development official, Helen Clark on Tuesday began the last leg of her Ebola-recovery focused visit to West Africa a day after she witnessed the reopening of schools in Liberia and urged the international community to support “recovery from this terrible crisis†beyond the emergency phase.