At UN-backed forum, Latin American, Caribbean nations pledge robust efforts against child labour
Oct 16, 2014, at 06:07 pm
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS) At a United Nations-backed regional conference held in Lima, Peru, 25 Latin American and Caribbean countries on Wednesday announced the launch of an initiative that bolsters efforts to combat child labour, and achieve the goal of total eradication by 2020.
At UN-backed forum, Latin American, Caribbean nations pledge robust efforts against child labour
Oct 16, 2014, at 06:06 pm
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS) At a United Nations-backed regional conference held in Lima, Peru, 25 Latin American and Caribbean countries on Wednesday announced the launch of an initiative that bolsters efforts to combat child labour, and achieve the goal of total eradication by 2020.
Marking World Day, UN spotlights rural women as 'force' that can drive global progress
Oct 16, 2014, at 06:03 pm
New York, Oct 16 (IBNS) Rural women are key agents for achieving the transformational economic, environmental and social changes required for sustainable development, the United Nations declared ahead of the International Day commemorated as an opportunity to promote their empowerment.
Japan Airlines flight returns to Honolulu after sexual assault incident aboard
Oct 15, 2014, at 04:59 pm
Honolulu, Oct 15 (IBNS): A Japan Airlines flight had to return to Honolulu after a male passenger allegedly sexually assaulted a female co-passenger in the airplane's lavatory, the FBI said.
Security Council extends UN peacekeeping force in Abyei through February 2015
Oct 15, 2014, at 04:49 pm
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS) The Security Council on Tuesday extended the United Nations peacekeeping force in Abyei a resource-rich area contested by Sudan and South Sudan as part of the Organization's ongoing efforts to maintain peace and protect civilians there.
One million Somalis at risk of starvation, UN envoy warns, briefing Security Council
Oct 15, 2014, at 04:46 pm
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS) The United Nations envoy in Somalia warned on Tuesday that despite some political and security gains, the humanitarian situation in the long-troubled country has deteriorated, with more than three million people now in need of assistance, including over one million Somalis who do not have enough to eat.
Surge in Central African Republic violence hinders relief work, UN agency reports
Oct 15, 2014, at 04:43 pm
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS) The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has expressed alarm at the recent outbreak of violence in parts of the Central African Republic's capital Bangui, targeting civilians, humanitarian workers and UN peacekeepers.
Haiti: Amid ongoing humanitarian problems, Security Council extends UN mission for another year
Oct 15, 2014, at 04:40 pm
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS) The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution renewing the mandate for the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in the Caribbean nation, urging political stakeholders in the country to fully commit to the democratic process and calling on international donors to strengthen their efforts in helping the Government.
Libya: UN rights chief condemns ongoing attacks against rights defenders, activists
Oct 15, 2014, at 04:38 pm
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS) Warning that human rights defenders in crisis-torn Libya are being increasingly targeted by armed groups, the United Nations human rights chief on Tuesday urged Libyan authorities to undertake prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into the incidents, to hold those found responsible to account, and to ensure an effective remedy for victi
ISIL advance on Iraqi town unleashes new flood of displacement, warns UN agency
Oct 15, 2014, at 04:34 pm
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS) A new offensive launched by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) against the Iraqi city of Hit has triggered yet another wave of internal displacement in the war torn country, the UN refugee agency announced on Tuesday, warning that those displaced were facing increased hardships amid advancing cold weather and overcrowded refugee camps.
In war-ravaged Gaza, Ban urges ministers of new government to unite on "building one Palestine"
Oct 15, 2014, at 04:30 pm
New York, Oct 15 (IBNS) Two days after donors pledged $5.4 billion in aid for Gaza reconstruction, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited the war-ravaged enclave, where he viewed destruction wrought by the most recent conflict that was "beyond description", and also met with the ministers of the National Consensus Government calling on them to focus all efforts on "building one Palestine."
Senior UN economic, social official celebrates awarding of Nobel Prize in Economics
Oct 15, 2014, at 12:24 am
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS) Ambassador Martin Sajdik, President of the United Nations, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) congratulated French economist Jean Tirole on Monday for winning the 2014 edition of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, citing his contributions on global regulatory behaviour as being of "particular relevance."
Somalia: amid unstable security, UN warns of growing humanitarian crisis
Oct 15, 2014, at 12:15 am
New York., Oct 14 (IBNS) The top United Nations official in Somalia on Monday condemned the car bombing which left an estimated 13 people dead and many more injured in Mogadishu, the capital, amid a precarious humanitarian situation in the rest of the country.
South Sudan: UN envoy, Government agree on steps to tackle widespread sexual violence
Oct 15, 2014, at 12:07 am
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS) Back from her first visit to South Sudan, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Mrs. Zainab Hawa Bangura warned on Monday that sexual violence is a consistent characteristic of the conflict there, and is being perpetrated by all the parties.
UN calls for increased food security measures to offset threat of 'shocks'
Oct 15, 2014, at 12:03 am
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS) With some 805 million people still chronically undernourished in the world, a United Nations committee focusing on food security opened its current session in Rome on Monday with the stated goal of adopting a set of principles for responsible investment in agriculture and food syste
Kicking off 'Africa Week' at Headquarters, UN officials call for integrated, peaceful continent
Oct 14, 2014, at 11:47 pm
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS) While many African countries and communities have made great progress in peace and security, human rights, good governance and the rule of law, more remains to be done, several senior United Nations said during a high-level panel discussion assessing the continent’s development.
In Middle East, Ban urges Gaza rebuilding amid efforts to resolve 'root causes' of conflict
Oct 14, 2014, at 11:43 pm
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS) The rebuilding of Gaza remains an important undertaking, but tackling the root causes of instability in the territory is equally critical, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon affirmed on Monday as he began a visit to the long-troubled region, urging both Israeli and Palestinian stakeholders to come to an agreement and "avoid yet another tragic conflict in the future."
On World Disaster Reduction Day, UN spotlights unique needs, vulnerabilities of older persons
Oct 14, 2014, at 11:38 pm
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS) Marking International Day for Disaster Reduction, the United Nations is spotlighting the need to address the vulnerabilities facing older persons, who suffer disproportionately high levels of death and injuries in different types of emergencies and disasters, ranging from weather events and epidemics to armed conflict.
Frenchman Jean Tirole wins Economics Nobel
Oct 14, 2014, at 12:16 am
Stockholm, Oct 13 (IBNS): French economist Jean Tirole won the Nobel prize for economics on Monday for research on market power and regulation.
UN chief set for Gaza visit to help jump-start massive reconstruction effort
Oct 13, 2014, at 05:29 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on Sundaythat he will travel to Gaza on Tuesday to visit several sites destroyed during last summer's conflict, spotlighting the need to help the enclave "look ahead and build a better future" and advance reconstruction efforts.
In Cairo, Ban urges parties to Gaza conflict to end 'cycle of building and destroying'
Oct 13, 2014, at 05:16 pm
New York, Oct 13 (IBNS): On the next stop of his tour of North Africa, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Egypt on Sunday at a conference on the reconstruction of Gaza urged all parties to last summer's war to address the root causes of the protracted conflict to prevent the "cycle of building and destroying" from becoming a ritual.
For any political progress to hold, 'the fighting has to stop', UN chief declares in Libya
Oct 12, 2014, at 04:50 pm
New York, Oct 12 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Tripoli on Saturday where he urged all Libyan parties to press forward on peace talks in order to restore stability to their crisis-ridden country, declaring "enough killings, displacement of people and destruction."
UN-backed forum spotlights civil society's role in fighting hunger, developing food policy
Oct 12, 2014, at 04:49 pm
New York, Oct 12 (IBNS) The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Saturday kicked-off a two-day meeting focusing on civil society's role in giving a voice to the hungry and how best to improve a multi-stakeholder approach to food security and nutrition policy development at national, regional and global levels.
After quake, typhoon Vonfong to hit Japan
Oct 11, 2014, at 07:57 pm
New Delhi, Oct 11 (IBNS): At a time when super cyclone "Hudhud" is about to unleash in the eastern coast of India, Japan is readying itself to face the pounding of Typhoon "Vongfong", which is about to hit the archipelago nation Saturday, media reported.
In Tunisia, UN Chief commends African nation for 'staying true to ideals' of Arab Spring
Oct 11, 2014, at 06:52 am
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Tunisia early this morning where he met with President Moncef Marzouki to pledge full United Nations support for the north African nation in its forthcoming elections and transition to democracy.
As ISIL advances on Syrian town, UN envoy urges international action to avoid 'massacre'
Oct 11, 2014, at 06:50 am
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS) The United Nations will adopt a minimalistic, concrete and realistic approach to addressing the crisis generated by Syria’s ongoing conflict, a senior UN official said on Friday as he warned about the growing dangers facing civilians amid the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s (ISIL) latest offensive in the country.
UN marks World Day against Death Penalty with strong calls to end 'cruel practice'
Oct 11, 2014, at 06:37 am
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS) The continuing application of the death penalty is a "cruel practice" that undermines human dignity, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said as he urged Member States to "reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights" and impose moratoriums on executions.
UN celebrates awarding of Nobel Peace Prize to children’s rights activists
Oct 11, 2014, at 03:29 am
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS): The United Nations lauded Friday's awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to two human rights activists, saying the winners had received well-deserved recognition for championing children’s rights around the world.
DR Congo: UN officials urge justice for grave crimes committed by M23
Oct 10, 2014, at 05:18 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS) Senior United Nations officials appealed on Thursdayfor justice for crimes committed by the March 23 Movement (M23)in parts of the North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Council (DRC), on the heels of a new UN- backed report citing a raft of grave rights abuses committed by the armed group between April 2012 and November 2013.
Republic of Korea: UN rights experts urges adoption of anti-discrimination law
Oct 10, 2014, at 05:14 pm
New York, Oct 10 (IBNS) An independent United Nations human rights expert has urged the Republic of Korea to enact a comprehensive anti-discrimination law, saying it is essential for the Government to address the issue of racism and xenophobia in view of the country’s history of ethnic and cultural homogeneity.