UN rights office urges stay for defendants in Afghan gang-rape case sentenced to death
Sep 27, 2014, at 03:16 pm
New York, Sept 27 (IBNS) The United Nations human rights office today urged the Government of Afghanistan to halt the death sentences in a case against a group of men charged with armed robbery, kidnapping and gang-rape in a province of Kabul.
In annual address, Guyana urges UN Assembly to focus on border issues for development
Sep 27, 2014, at 03:15 pm
New York, Sept 27 (IBNS) The most important precondition for development progress is peace, the President of Guyana told the annual United Nations Assembly debate, calling on the Organization to redouble its efforts to resolve border issues which fuel conflicts in parts of the world.
Moroccan Prime Minister presents development model to UN Assembly
Sep 26, 2014, at 09:28 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Unless the international community supports developing countries to help them achieve progress and ensure security and stability, the world will face more conflicts and greater fanaticism, violence and terrorism, Morocco’s Prime Minister warned the United Nations General Assembly.
Sep 26, 2014, at 09:27 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Addressing the General Assembly this evening, Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, said his country had a strong record in serving humanity and upholding the values of the United Nations.
Tajikistan leader says new development agenda must learn from past gaps, flaws
Sep 26, 2014, at 09:24 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Taking to the General Assembly podium tonight, Prime Minister of Tajikistan, Qohir Rasulzoda, called on world leaders to establish a new global partnership that will not only advance a future sustainable development plan but will also address the gaps and flaws of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Timor-Leste leader calls for more active UN during General Assembly debate
Sep 26, 2014, at 09:18 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão of Timor-Leste, a country which the United Nations shepherded to independence from Indonesia a dozen years ago, told the General Assembly on Thursday that while the world body still embodies hope for millions of people it needs to become more active in the face of a multitude of proble
Terrorism, Ebola are impeding development, DR Congo chief tells UN
Sep 26, 2014, at 09:14 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) warned the United Nations on Thursday that global development was threatened by terrorism and the resurgence of the Ebola epidemic, pledging his country’s contribution to international efforts to combat the scourges.
Ban says world must press ahead on equal rights for LGBT community
Sep 26, 2014, at 09:12 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Bringing homophobia and transphobia to an end is "a great human rights cause," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday, adding that the fight against discrimination "lies at the core of the mission of the United Nations."
Improving health of women, children 'moral imperative' – Ban
Sep 26, 2014, at 09:08 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Lauding the gains made in improving the health of women and children worldwide, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called for renewed commitment and action to sustain the unprecedented progress made in this area in partnership with governments, civil society, the private sector, philanthropists and international organizations.
On World Maritime Day, UN urges ratification of conventions to protect global seaways
Sep 26, 2014, at 09:02 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) The implementation of measures ensuring shipping safety, maritime security and the protection of the marine environment can only be guaranteed if Member States ratify conventions enshrined by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), United Nations officials said on Thursday.
Working together, 'no limits to what we can achive' Australian leader tells UN
Sep 26, 2014, at 08:24 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Nations working together can serve our common humanity, Prime Minister Tony Abbott told the annual United Nations summit, reiterating Australia’s goal to be a “light on the hill†amid terrorism, aggression and the outbreak of disease.
Peru's President says development must align with core UN Charter principles
Sep 26, 2014, at 07:52 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Among several speakers from the Latin American and Caribbean region addressing the General Assembly on Thursday, Peru’s President, Ollanta Humala Tasso, outlined in his address several ways his country was making strides in sustainable development without straying away from the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, such as peace and security and human rights.
To combat hunger, UN agency launches initiative for sustainable use of world,s oceans
Sep 26, 2014, at 07:48 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) The future of global food security hinges on the better management and sustainable development of the planet’s oceans and fisheries, a top United Nations official stressed on Thursday, adding that the world could not wait any longer to act on saving Earth’s marine environments.
UN chief tells South Sudan leaders to heal suffering they caused
Sep 26, 2014, at 07:44 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday blamed the dire humanitarian situation in South Sudan on the country's leaders, telling them: "You opened the wounds that have caused so much suffering. Now heal them."
Kuwait tells UN Assembly Arab States should have permanent Security Council seat
Sep 26, 2014, at 07:16 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Taking the podium at the United Nations annual General Assembly on Thursday, Kuwait called for enlargement of the 15-member Security Council, with the Arab States being granted a permanent seat especially as issues relating to their region top the agenda of the decision-making body.
Lauding global success in fighting hunger, Ban urges sustained commitment
Sep 26, 2014, at 07:12 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Despite a rising global population and the perilous effects of climate change, the goal of eliminating hunger around the world remains within reach, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday.
Leaders of small island developing states call for bigger voice in UN decision-making
Sep 26, 2014, at 07:09 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) As the first head of a small island developing state to on Thursday address the annual General Assembly debate in New York, Gaston Browne called for a democratization of the United Nations to give a greater voice to countries that are marginalized "because we are considered too small to make a difference."
Nicholas Haysom of South Africa appointed as new UN envoy for Afghanistan
Sep 26, 2014, at 07:04 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Nicholas Haysom of South Africa as the top United Nations envoy to Afghanistan, it was announced on Thursday.
Europe's leaders at UN Assembly focus on Ukraine crisis, ISIL militants
Sep 26, 2014, at 07:00 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) European leaders called at the United Nations on Thursday for concerted action to confront the events that have turned 2014 into a terrible year, including Russian ‘aggression’ in Ukraine and the atrocities committed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
UN treaty regulating global arms trade set to enter into force
Sep 26, 2014, at 06:55 pm
New York, Sept 26 (IBNS) Less than two years after its adoption by the United Nations General Assembly, the Arms Trade Treaty has now received the 50 ratifications needed to trigger its entry into force, the world body announced on Thursday.
FBI: Militant in beheading video identified
Sep 26, 2014, at 04:47 pm
Washington, Sep 26 (IBNS): US intelligence agency Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director James B. Comey on Thursday said that they have identified the Islamic State militant who had appeared on two videos in the recent past in which two US journalists were seen beheaded by a masked killer, The New York Times News reported.
Central, Eastern European leaders warn against 'new status quo' of instability
Sep 26, 2014, at 06:20 am
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) Addressing the General Assembly in its second day of debate, the President of Slovakia, Andrej Kiska on Thursday warned world leaders against "a new status quo" where instability, poverty, violence and hatred are "fertilizers and catalysts of terrorism."
At high-level event, UN officials call for end to death penalty
Sep 26, 2014, at 06:19 am
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS): The continuing application of capital punishment is a “primitive†practice which has no place in the 21st century, United Nations officials declared on Thursday, as they pressed global leaders to set course towards abolishing the death penalty and advancing a more progressive judicial agenda in their respective States.
UN must lead world in united response to unprecedented raft of crises, says Japan's Abe
Sep 26, 2014, at 06:18 am
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) Warning that humankind faces "unprecedented crises," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday called on the world to become a truly "United Nations" in a multidimensional battle, from combating the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, to fighting Islamist extremism, and enhancing women's rights globally.
Ban calls on Libyan parties to forge consensus, safeguard democratic transition
Sep 26, 2014, at 06:15 am
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) Warning that Libya is in "deep crisis," United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called on all parties in the country to peacefully resolve the ongoing conflict, and safeguard the democratic transition under way since 2011.
Sep 26, 2014, at 06:12 am
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) Cautioning against what he saw as a growing indifference to human suffering, the President of Colombia on Thursday offered up to the United Nations General Assembly his country’s long experience grappling with – and eventually finding a way to overcome ¬– armed conflict as a guide to achieving peace and sustainable development t for all.
Brunei highlights importance of peace in development, in UN Assembly address
Sep 26, 2014, at 05:55 am
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) Instability, injustices and increasingly frequent natural disasters are precluding the international community from achieving gains that protect people’s welfare and the environment, the Sultan of Brunei said on Thursday, calling on delegations at the annual United Nations General Assembly debate to take concerted, unified action.
As conflict continues, UN rights expert urges Ukraine to step up aid for displaced people
Sep 26, 2014, at 05:52 am
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) The Ukrainian Government must intensify its efforts to meet the needs and protect the rights of the hundreds of thousands of people internally displaced by the country's ongoing conflict, an independent United Nations human rights expert affirmed on Thursday.
'The future of Africa is in unity', says Niger's President, among continental leaders at UN Assembly
Sep 26, 2014, at 05:45 am
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) Addressing the United Nations General Assembly at its annual high-level debate, Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger warned on Thursday against attempts to balkanize Africa and underscored that the post-2015 sustainable development agenda need to be anchored in the “three D’sâ€: defense, democracy and development.
UN rights chief condemns 'brutal' killings by ISIL of women politicians in Iraq
Sep 26, 2014, at 03:34 am
New York, Sept 25 (IBNS) The United Nations human rights chief on Thursday condemned the recent brutal, cold-blooded slaying by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) of human rights defender Sameera Salih Ali Al-Nuaimy, as well as the continuing detention, sexual exploitation and sale of hundreds of women and girls in areas captured by the militant group.