Oct 13, 2017, at 02:05 pm
New York, Oct 13(Just Earth News): After a brief mission to Libya, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Thursday said the Government “can and should†lead efforts to urgently address arbitrary detention, torture and other grave violations that must be brought to an end in the crisis-torn North African country.
In Geneva, UN Member States and experts discuss demographic, economic dimensions of migration
Oct 13, 2017, at 02:04 pm
New York, Oct 13(Just Earth News): United Nations Member States began Thursday in Geneva the sixth thematic session of discussions on the proposed Global Compact on Migration, during which delegates and experts will examine the issue of labour mobility of migrants.
Relief aid is saving lives, but world must tackle root cause of famine: conflict – UN chief
Oct 13, 2017, at 02:03 pm
New York, Oct 13(Just Earth News): Until fighting stops and development takes root, communities and entire regions will continue to face hunger, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Thursday, underscoring the link between conflict and famine.
UN and partners launch plan to stop transmission of bovine tuberculosis to humans
Oct 13, 2017, at 02:02 pm
New York, Oct 13(Just Earth News): Stressing the damaging impact on poor rural communities in Africa and South-East Asia of animal tuberculosis’ (bovine TB) transmission to humans, United Nations health experts launched the first-ever roadmap to combat the so-called zoonotic TB.
Silencing opposition voices threatens Cambodian democracy – UN rights expert
Oct 13, 2017, at 02:00 pm
New York, Oct 13(Just Earth News): Civil and political rights in Cambodia are “under threat†as the main opposition party is being dissolved in the parliament, a United Nations human rights expert warned Thursday, also voicing concern that the dissolution may affect upcoming elections in the country.
INTERVIEW: Few global issues as urgent as tackling climate and disaster risks – UN official
Oct 13, 2017, at 01:57 pm
New York, Oct 13(Just Earth News): Recent devastating natural events – from hurricanes in the Caribbean to floods in South Asia and earthquakes in Mexico – have again shone a spotlight on the importance of efforts to reduce disaster risk, and how impossible it is to achieve global development goals without addressing such hazards.
In phone call, UN chief offers congratulations and support to Palestinian President
Oct 13, 2017, at 01:55 pm
New York, Oct 13(Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has congratulated by phone Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, on the intra-Palestinian agreement, signed earlier Thursday in Cairo.
Ahead of UN mission's closure, envoy reports greater stability, security in Haiti
Oct 13, 2017, at 01:54 pm
New York, Oct 13(Just Earth News): Haiti has seen a significant turnaround from profound instability, widespread political violence, and a climate of lawlessness that in 2004 impacted the every-day lives of millions of Haitians, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Caribbean islands country told the Security Council on Thursday.
Latin America and Caribbean falling off ‘zero hunger’ path towards 2030 – UN report
Oct 13, 2017, at 05:09 am
New York, Oct 12(Just Earth News): The total number of persons that suffer from hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean has increased, reversing decades of progress, even as overweight and obesity emerged as a major problem in all countries in the region of the Americas, a United Nations-backed report shows.
US withdrawal from UNESCO 'loss for multilateralism,' says cultural agency's chief
Oct 13, 2017, at 05:08 am
New York, Oct 12(Just Earth News): The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voiced “profound regret†on Thursday over the United States' decision to withdraw from the agency.
UN chief Guterres welcomes peaceful elections in Liberia
Oct 13, 2017, at 05:00 am
New York, Oct 12(Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed Tuesday's peaceful holding of the presidential and House of Representatives elections in Liberia and reiterated the continued support of the UN to the consolidation of peace and democracy in the West African country.
New allegation of sexual abuse surfaces at UN mission in Central African Republic
Oct 12, 2017, at 02:27 pm
New York, Oct 12(Just Earth News): United Nations Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said Wednesday that the UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) reported it had received an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor that took place in Bambari by UN peacekeepers.
Despite progress on voter registration, DR Congo faces challenges on election timeline – UN envoy
Oct 12, 2017, at 02:26 pm
New York, Oct 12(Just Earth News): The notion that elections would most probably not be held before the end of 2017 has regrettably led to the re-emergence of a climate of political uncertainty and tensions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a United Nations envoy for that country told the Security Council on Wednesday.
FEATURE: A woman’s strength is unlimited, says award-winning UN peacekeeper
Oct 12, 2017, at 02:24 pm
New York, Oct 12(Just Earth News): “Being a girl child, I dreamt of occupying a powerful position to influence and create change in the community. It was the segregation of women that I experienced in my childhood that gave me the strength to add my voice in everything I did.â€
UN chief proposes $5.4 billion budget for 2018-2019
Oct 12, 2017, at 02:22 pm
New York, Oct 12(Just Earth News): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday presented the Organization’s proposed programme budget for the 2018-2019 biennium, amounting to just under $5.4 billion, to the UN General Assembly’s main administrative and budget committee.
At UN, robot Sophia joins meeting on artificial intelligence and sustainable development
Oct 12, 2017, at 02:21 pm
New York, Oct 12(Just Earth News): Artificial intelligence has the potential to accelerate progress on global development goals, but also poses a range of complex challenges, including ethical questions, human rights issues and security risks, speakers told a United Nations event on Wednesday that featured a robot as one of the panellists.
Cutting greenhouse gases, reducing disaster risk, vital for sustainable development – UN envoy
Oct 12, 2017, at 02:20 pm
New York, Oct 12(Just Earth News): A new United Nations report has underscored the importance of a “risk-informed†approach to sustainable development and called for integrating global agreements on disaster risk reduction and climate change into national socio-economic planning.
‘EmPOWER’ girls before, during and after crises, UN says on International Day of the Girl Child
Oct 12, 2017, at 04:45 am
New York, Oct 11(Just Earth News): The world’s 1.1 billion girls are a source of power, energy, and creativity – and the millions of girls in emergencies are no exception, the United Nations said on the International Day of the Girl Child, which kicks off a year-long effort to draw global attention to and action on the challenges and opportunities girls face before, during, and after crises.
UN launches innovative plan to significantly cut new HIV infections
Oct 12, 2017, at 04:44 am
New York, Oct 11(Just Earth News): Despite a 50 per cent drop in AIDS-related deaths since the peak of the epidemic, new HIV infection declines among adults are lagging, prompting the United Nations to launch a 10-point plan that lays out immediate, concrete steps countries can take to accelerate progress.
Youth obesity increases 10-fold in four decades, UN-backed study reveals
Oct 12, 2017, at 04:42 am
New York, Oct 11(Just Earth News): The number of obese children and adolescents aged five to 19 years worldwide has risen tenfold in the past four decades, and if current trends continue, there will be more obese children and adolescents than those moderately or severely underweight by 2022, a United Nations-backed study shows.
Security Council condemns attack on UN mission base in DR Congo
Oct 11, 2017, at 01:29 pm
New York, Oct 11(Just Earth News): The United Nations Security Council has called on the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to investigate into, and bring to justice those behind Monday’s attack on a peacekeeping mission base in North Kivu that resulted in the deaths of two “blue helmets.â€
Libya: Security Council endorses UN plan on restarting political process
Oct 11, 2017, at 01:26 pm
New York, Oct 11(Just Earth News): The Security Council on Tuesday endorsed the United Nations’ action plan to resume an inclusive political process in Libya.
Housing ‘most urgent need’ for hurricane-ravaged Dominica, UN agency reports
Oct 11, 2017, at 01:25 pm
New York, Oct 11(Just Earth News): Three weeks since category 5 Hurricane Maria ripped through Dominica, the scope of the damage remains daunting, with islanders in dire need of water, electricity, food and supplies, the United Nations migration agency reported on Tuesday as it continued to carry out an array of activities as part of the response.
Creating a healthy workplace improves mental wellbeing and productivity – UN
Oct 11, 2017, at 01:24 pm
New York, Oct 11(Just Earth News): People spend a large proportion of time at work, where experiences there factor into their overall wellbeing, the United Nations said on World Mental Health Day, noting that depression and anxiety disorders are common mental disorders that have an impact on our ability to work, and to work productively.
Leaders ‘not interested’ in finding solution to Yemen crisis, UN envoy tells Security Council
Oct 11, 2017, at 01:23 pm
New York, Oct 11(Just Earth News): Parties to the conflict in Yemen are eroding the path to peace while the country’s people suffer amid a man-made humanitarian catastrophe, said on Tuesday a senior United Nations official, urging Security Council member countries to use their political and economic powers to pressure warring sides to commit to a path of peace.
New UN-led partnership to help curb unsustainable wildlife hunting, protect biodiversity
Oct 11, 2017, at 01:22 pm
New York, Oct 11(Just Earth News): To help African, Caribbean and Pacific countries stop unsustainable wildlife hunting, conserve natural heritage and strengthen people's livelihoods and food security, the United Nations agriculture agency launched on Tuesday a €45 million multi-partner initiative.
'The death penalty has no place in the 21st century' – UN chief Guterres
Oct 11, 2017, at 01:21 pm
New York, Oct 11(Just Earth News): The death penalty does little to deter crimes or serve victims, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday, calling on all countries which have not forbidden the extreme practice to urgently stop executions.
UN health agency establishes high-level commission to tackle noncommunicable diseases
Oct 11, 2017, at 04:10 am
New York, Oct 10(Just Earth News): The United Nations health agency on Tuesday announced the establishment of a high-level global commission on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) to identify innovative ways to curb the world’s biggest causes of death and extend life expectancy for millions of people.
Disaster risk outpaces resilience in Asia-Pacific, warns UN regional commission
Oct 11, 2017, at 04:09 am
New York, Oct 10(Just Earth News): Disaster risk is outpacing resilience in Asia-Pacific and putting people in this most disaster-prone region at risk of being pushed back into poverty, the latest report from a United Nations regional commission has revealed.
UN Treaty ‘beginning of the end for nuclear weapons,’ say Nobel Peace Prize winners
Oct 10, 2017, at 01:23 pm
New York, Oct 10(Just Earth News): Speaking to journalists at the United Nations Headquarters, in New York, representatives of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winner – International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) – urged countries around the globe to eliminate nuclear weapons.