UN joins partners in pledging support for President-elect of Central African Republic
Mar 05, 2016, at 02:08 pm
New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations on Friday, in a joint statement with other multilateral organizations, welcomed the final results of the second round of the presidential elections in the Central African Republic (CAR) announced earlier this week, congratulating President-elect Faustin-Archange Touadéra.
Authorities in Apple-FBI case 'risk unlocking Pandora's Box' – UN human rights chief
Mar 05, 2016, at 02:05 pm
New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The top United Nations human rights official on Friday urged United States authorities to proceed with great caution in their legal efforts to break the encryption on an iPhone linked to the investigation into the mass killings in San Bernardino, California, saying the case could have broader implications for digital security and human rights.
Civilians bear brunt of Yemen's unrest, UN human rights office warns
Mar 05, 2016, at 02:03 pm
New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The number of civilians killed in Yemen continues to rise, almost doubling between January and February, the United Nations human rights office Friday announced.
Haiti must address prison overcrowding and prolonged pre-trial detention – UN report
Mar 05, 2016, at 02:00 pm
New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Haiti has made important steps towards the promotion and protection of human rights but some challenges exist regarding the judicial system, the excessive use of force by state agents and the situation of people returned or deported to Haiti by the Dominican authorities, according to a United Nations report on the human rights situation in that country.
Women's participation rate in parliaments slows, even as more gain top seats – IPU
Mar 05, 2016, at 01:57 pm
New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Despite an increase in the number of women Speakers of Parliament, the number of female parliamentarians across the world rose by only 0.5 percentage points in 2015, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Friday reported, dashing hopes that gender parity in parliament could be achieved within a generation.
'When cultural heritage is under attack, human rights are under attack' – UN expert
Mar 05, 2016, at 01:50 pm
New York, Mar 5 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The destruction of cultural heritage is a violation of human rights, a United Nations-appointed expert said on Friday, as the international criminal tribunal began a pre-trial procedure for the first-ever case in which charges were brought against the destruction of cultural and religious sites.
Former Brazil President detained over Petrobras scandal
Mar 05, 2016, at 01:10 am
Sao Paulo, Mar 4 (IBNS): Brazilian authorities have detained country's ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in connection with huge fraud inquiry into the state oil company Petrobras.
NATO SG to meet Prime Minister of Turkey
Mar 04, 2016, at 09:12 pm
New York, Mar 4 (IBNS) NATO Secretary Genera Jens Stoltenberg will meet with Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet DavutoÄŸlu.
Yemen: UN humanitarian chief urges civilian protection, access to all parts of country
Mar 04, 2016, at 02:36 pm
New York, Mar 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Protecting civilians amid the unabated conflict in Yemen is the most pressing concern today, the top United Nations relief official told the Security Council, calling on the international community to impress upon the actors their obligations to guard civilians and to facilitate unconditional and sustained access to all parts of the country.
In Burkina Faso, UN chief praises country's hard-won gains to consolidate democracy and development
Mar 04, 2016, at 02:32 pm
New York, Mar 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Burkina Faso is making a solid comeback, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday in the country's capital, Ouagadougou, where he praised the Burkinabe Government and people for their perseverance during a series of tests in recent years, and who with UN support, are firmly on a path to consolidated democratic gains and ensure sustainable development.
Governments must commit to eliminating homelessness by 2030, UN rights expert urges
Mar 04, 2016, at 02:29 pm
New York, Mar 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Homelessness is found in every country in the world and is spreading with impunity, a United Nations human rights expert on Thursday warned, calling on governments to recognize homelessness as a human rights crisis and commit to its eradication by 2030, in line with the new UN Sustainable Development Goals.
UN human rights experts urge US to increase efforts to address water contamination
Mar 04, 2016, at 02:25 pm
New York, Mar 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The situation of lead-contaminated water in Flint, Michigan, is fundamentally about human rights, a group of United Nations experts Thursday said, urging the United States to protect the rights of children and others who are most at risk from pollution and toxic chemicals.
Darfur: top UN and African Union officials call for free movement of peacekeepers and aid workers
Mar 04, 2016, at 02:21 pm
New York, Mar 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Expressing deep concern about the upsurge in fighting between the Sudanese Government forces and a rebel group in Darfur, United Nations Secretary-General ban Ki-moon on Thursday called for freedom of movement for UN peacekeepers and humanitarian actors in their continued efforts to protect and support the affected civilians.
Ukraine: growing despair among over three million civilians in conflict zone - UN report
Mar 04, 2016, at 02:09 pm
New York, Mar 4 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Despite a decrease in the number of civilian casualties in the east of Ukraine over the past few months, a new United Nations report shows that the conflict is severely impacting on the daily life of civilians, with a growing sense of despair and isolation affecting those living in the conflict zone, especially in the areas controlled by the armed groups.
N. Korea launches short-range missiles toward East Sea
Mar 03, 2016, at 02:38 pm
Seoul, Mar 3 (IBNS) North Korea on Thursday fired several short-range missiles toward the East Sea, media reports said.
Twice as many girls as boys will never start school – UNESCO report
Mar 03, 2016, at 01:54 pm
New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Almost 16 million girls between the ages six and 11 will never get the chance to learn to read or write in primary school compared to about eight million boys if current trends continue, according to a new report from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics (UIS).
DPR Korea: Ban welcomes Security Council measure tightening and expanding sanctions
Mar 03, 2016, at 01:49 pm
New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution that imposes new sanctions and tightens some of its existing measures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), due to the country's ongoing nuclear and ballistic missile-related activities that “threaten international peace and security.â€
Amid signs of hope in Syria, UNICEF chief sees 'harsh evidence' of war's toll on children
Mar 03, 2016, at 01:46 pm
New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Wrapping up his visit to Syria, the head of the United Nations children's agency has urged both the Government and armed opposition groups to facilitate access to all children in need, especially so the UN and its partners can implement a nationwide immunization programme.
Libya 'needs to move ahead now, or risk division and collapse,' UN envoy tells Security Council
Mar 03, 2016, at 01:41 pm
New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Libya needs to move ahead now or risk division and collapse, the top United Nations official in the country warned the UN Security Council on Wednesday, while presenting the latest report on political and humanitarian developments.
Drug treaties' aim is health, not 'war on drugs,' says UN expert report
Mar 03, 2016, at 01:40 pm
New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The ultimate goal of the international drug control treaties is to ensure the health and welfare of mankind, according to a United Nations-backed report, which this year underscored that the objectives of the conventions are often misinterpreted as mandating a “war on drugs.â€
Ban appoints long-serving UN tribunal jurist to head up courts' residual mechanism
Mar 03, 2016, at 01:33 pm
New York, Mar 3 (Just Earth News/IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Judge Theodor Meron of the United States as President of the international body that will carry out the residual functions of the UN war crimes tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, for a new term that began on Tuesday.
NATO Secretary General welcomes change of command in Afghanistan
Mar 02, 2016, at 05:33 pm
Kabul, Mar 2 (IBNS) General John “Mick†Nicholson assumed command of NATO’s Resolute Support mission from General John F. Campbell on Wednesday, a NATO press release said.
Mar 02, 2016, at 03:16 pm
New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Marking 50 years since the unanimous adoption of two United Nations human rights treaties – respectively promoting respect for civil and political, and economic, social and cultural rights – a top UN official on Tuesday said the landmark covenants have helped extend rights to people crushed by tyranny and discrimination for generations.
UN hails launch of 'Day of School Feeding' as vital to Africa's development efforts
Mar 02, 2016, at 03:02 pm
New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations joined the African Union Tuesday in hailing African countries on the inaugural "Africa Day of School Feeding," as part of a key strategy to address the continent's development challenges through home-grown school meal programmes.
Senior UN relief official calls for end to discrimination against displaced Muslims in Myanmar
Mar 02, 2016, at 03:00 pm
New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Many of the Muslims displaced by inter-communal violence in Myanmar are still prevented from moving freely and often denied access to local hospitals, a senior United Nations humanitarian official said on Tuesday, calling for an end to such discriminatory practices.
Iraq: UN reports more than 400 civilians killed in February; cites 'viciousness' of attacks
Mar 02, 2016, at 02:49 pm
New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq claimed the lives of 670 people, including 410 civilians, in February 2016, the United Nations political mission in that country has reported.
Ban says Europe's border restrictions not in line with international law 'or human decency'
Mar 02, 2016, at 02:47 pm
New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): In Spain on Tuesday evening, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised the country's efforts to address some of “the most urgent issues on the international agenda,†including the plight of asylum seekers fleeing across the Mediterranean, and the devastating war in Syria.
War weary families in Central African Republic face dire food situation- UN
Mar 02, 2016, at 02:46 pm
New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Three years of conflict and ongoing displacements in the Central African Republic (CAR) continue to disrupt agriculture and severely constrain people's access to food, as they struggle with the effects of multiple poor harvests, disrupted markets and soaring prices for many staple foods, two United Nations agencies warned Tuesday.
War weary families in Central African Republic face dire food situation- UN
Mar 02, 2016, at 02:43 pm
New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Three years of conflict and ongoing displacements in the Central African Republic (CAR) continue to disrupt agriculture and severely constrain people's access to food, as they struggle with the effects of multiple poor harvests, disrupted markets and soaring prices for many staple foods, two United Nations agencies warned Tuesday.
Syria: UN-mediated peace talks to resume on 9 March
Mar 02, 2016, at 02:39 pm
New York, Mar 2 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura on Tuesday announced that intra-Syrian peace talks he has been mediating in Geneva will resume next Wednesday, 9 March.