Education and reproductive health for girls key to sustainable development – UN

Mar 12, 2016, at 02:07 pm

New York, Mar 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Investing in adolescent girls – especially in their education and reproductive health and rights – will ensure sustainable development for all, according to United Nations officials, government representative, experts, and young women who gathered on Friday at an event at UN Headquarters.

UN refugee agency concerned about restrictions on Iraqis in displacement camps

Mar 12, 2016, at 02:05 pm

New York, Mar 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Concerned about hampering the rights of displaced Iraqis seeking shelter in camps, the United Nations refugee agency on Friday urged the Government to set up clear procedures and special facilities for screening people that are separate from camps established to provide shelter and humanitarian aid.

UN report highlights ‘searing’ account of killings, rapes by South Sudanese forces

Mar 12, 2016, at 02:04 pm

New York, Mar 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS):A new United Nations report on the human rights situation in South Sudan published on Friday describes a multitude of horrendous violations in “searing detail,” in particular by Government forces, including cases of civilians burned alive or cut to pieces and a teenage girl being raped by ten soldiers.

Pennsylvania: Gunmen kill six including a pregnant lady

Mar 11, 2016, at 04:16 pm

Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, Mar 11 (IBNS) A family cookout turned gory as two gunmen shot six people in their own backyard on Wednesday night, including an eight-month old pregnant lady, in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, according to reports.

UN: Cooperation among judges vital to counter-terrorism efforts, human rights protection

Mar 11, 2016, at 03:34 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Formal cooperation among judges is essential in bringing individuals charged with terrorism-related crimes to justice and ensuring that the rule of law is upheld throughout the process, according to officials at a United Nations event that for the first time brought together Supreme Court justices to discuss how terrorism cases are handled in their respective countries.

Upcoming UN forum to focus on women’s empowerment, sustainable development

Mar 11, 2016, at 03:32 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, will be the focus of the United Nations Comion on the Status of Women (CSW), which begins its 60th session in New York next week.

Missile firing prompts UN chief to call on DPR Korea to stop ‘destabilising acts’

Mar 11, 2016, at 03:18 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “remains gravely concerned” by the situation on the Korean Peninsula following on Thursday’s ile launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), his spokesman said.

UN and African Union condemn ambush on peacekeepers in Darfur

Mar 11, 2016, at 03:14 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations and the African Union have condemned Wednesday’s attack by an unknown armed group that killed one South African peacekeeper and injured another in Sudan’s Darfur region.

Following missile launch, Ban calls on Iran not to increase tensions through ‘hasty actions’

Mar 11, 2016, at 03:11 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Following Wednesday’s ballistic missile launch conducted by Iran, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called on the Government “to act with moderation, caution and the good sense not to increase tensions through any hasty actions.”

UN expert urges Honduran Government to protect witness to Berta Cáceres killing

Mar 11, 2016, at 03:08 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS):In the wake of the assassination of human rights activist Berta Cáceres in Honduras, an independent United Nations human rights expert is calling on the Government in that country to ensure the safety and protection of a second activist who witnessed the killing and was injured during the attack.

UN rights chief calls on EU to adopt more ‘humane’ measures on migration

Mar 11, 2016, at 03:01 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief today reiterated his profound concern about the situation faced by refugees and migrants “in extreme vulnerability,” and urged the European Union to adopt a more humane set of measures on migration at a summit next week.

UN chief presents Security Council with special measures to curb sexual exploitation

Mar 11, 2016, at 02:56 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday presented to the Security Council special measures aimed at ending impunity, helping and supporting victims, and strengthening accountability as part of a more effective collective response to sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel.

Tajik restrictions on opposition, civil society, media ‘eroding’ rights, says UN expert

Mar 11, 2016, at 02:53 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS):An independent United Nations human rights expert on Thursday voiced concern over the increasing Government restrictions on opposition parties, civil society and the media over the past year in Tajikistan.

Cultural goods remain economic driver in digital age – UNESCO report

Mar 11, 2016, at 02:50 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS):A United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) report launched on Thursday finds that the trade in cultural goods doubled from 2004 to 2013 despite a global recession and a massive shift among consumers of movies and music towards web-based services.

As 'most disaster-prone region,' Asia-Pacific needs risk-sensitive development, UN reports

Mar 11, 2016, at 02:47 pm

New York, Mar 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The Asia-Pacific region continued to be the world's most disaster-prone region in 2015, requiring a paradigm shift from a response-recovery governance to a risk-sensitive development approach, according to a new United Nations report.

Multiple attacks in Israel condemned by senior UN official

Mar 10, 2016, at 03:51 pm

New York, Mar 10(Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process has condemned the multiple attacks which took place on Tuesday in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Petah Tiqva and Jerusalem in which at least one person was killed and some 14 others injured.

UN: Syria talks to begin next week, as humanitarian aid reaches more besieged areas

Mar 10, 2016, at 03:23 pm

New York, Mar 10(Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria on Wednesday announced that ‘substantive’ UN-mediated peace talks will begin next Monday, as humanitarian aid convoys continue to reach more people in besieged and hard-to-reach areas following a nationwide cessation of hostilities that began on 27 February.

Freedoms of religion and expression ‘twin rights’ in fighting intolerance – UN report

Mar 10, 2016, at 03:18 pm

New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The freedoms of religion and of expression are not contradictory but complementary, as both rights are the twin tools in combating incitement to hatred, an independent United Nations human rights expert said on Wednesday.

UN chief appoints French national to head new political ion in Colombia

Mar 10, 2016, at 03:13 pm

New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday announced the appointment of Jean Arnault of France as the head of the United Nations political ion that will be deployed in Colombia.

UN experts suggest ways to avoid human rights violations during public protests

Mar 10, 2016, at 03:09 pm

New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS):A new report presented on Wednesday to the United Nations Human Rights Council offers recommendations on proper preparations and precautions to protect the rights of the demonstrators, bystanders and police during public gatherings.

LGBT detainees suffer higher rates of violence, states new UN report

Mar 10, 2016, at 02:57 pm

New York, Mar 10(Just Earth News/IBNS):Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) detainees suffer more acts of violence than the general population in custody, according to a new United Nations human rights report that explored the link between gender and torture.

Hunger intensifies in areas suffering from drought, flooding and conflict – UN report

Mar 10, 2016, at 02:52 pm

New York, Mar 10(Just Earth News/IBNS):Thirty-four countries, including 27 in Africa, are currently in need of external assistance for food due to drought, flooding and civil conflicts, according to a new United Nations report released on Wednesday.

'No terrorist attack can reverse Tunisia's democracy,' UN Security Council says

Mar 10, 2016, at 02:37 pm

New York, Mar 10 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Strongly condemning the 7 March terrorist attack in Tunisia, the United Nations Security Council last night stressed that “no terrorist attack can reverse Tunisia's democracy and its efforts towards economic recovery and development.”

Top IS commander targeted in US airstrike in Syria

Mar 09, 2016, at 03:14 pm

Washington, Mar 9 (IBNS) A U.S. airstrike on Mar 4, near al Shaddadi, Syria, targeted senior ISIL leader Tarkhan Tayumurazovich Batirashvili, also known as Abu Umar al-Shishani, and "Omar the Chechen", the Pentagon has said.

UN rights expert calls on Turkey to reverse seizure of independent media group

Mar 09, 2016, at 02:55 pm

New York, Mar 9 (IBNS):An independent United Nations human rights expert on Tuesday called on the Government of Turkey to relinquish State control over Feza Media Group, which includes the Zaman newspaper.

Ban marks UN’s 20th year in Bonn, stresses need for ‘shared responsibility’ on migration

Mar 09, 2016, at 02:50 pm

New York, Mar 9 (IBNS):Continuing his visit to Germany, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday celebrated the 20th anniversary of the United Nations offices in Bonn, praising the work of the Organization’s agencies based there, and discussed a range of issues with the country’s leaders, including the challenges associated with mass migration.

In boost to relief effort, UN-chartered jet brings life-saving supplies to Fiji

Mar 09, 2016, at 02:46 pm

New York, Mar 9 (IBNS):A large plane carrying life-saving supplies arrived in Fiji on Monday, in a big boost to the United Nations emergency response to Cyclone Winston, one of the strongest storms in history.

With 2.4 million forcibly displaced, UN concerned situation in Yemen could worsen

Mar 09, 2016, at 02:39 pm

New York, Mar 9 (IBNS):The conflict in Yemen has forcibly displaced more than 2.4 million people and the situation is likely to worsen, the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday reported, calling for humanitarian access to the hardest-hit areas in the country.

UN expert urges Iraqi Government to protect marginalized ethnic, religious groups

Mar 09, 2016, at 02:36 pm

New York, Mar 9 (IBNS):A clear message must be sent to all of Iraq’s diverse communities that they have a future in the country, an independent United Nations human rights expert on Tuesday said, calling on the Government to ensure the protection of the most threatened and marginalized ethnic and religious groups.

New UN initiative aims to protect millions of girls from child marriage

Mar 09, 2016, at 02:29 pm

New York, Mar 9 (IBNS): The United Nations announced a new initiative on Tuesday to advance efforts to end child marriage by 2030 and protect the rights of millions of the most vulnerable girls around the world.