Every two seconds, a baby is born in a conflict zone - UNICEF

Dec 18, 2015, at 03:17 pm

New York, Dec 18 (Just Earth News/IBNS) More than 16 million babies in 2015 were born in conflict zones such as Afghanistan, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen or on perilous journeys to escape fighting, which translates to 1 in 8 of all births worldwide, or one newborn every two seconds, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday.

New bill in Finland threatens Sami peoples' right to traditional lands, livelihoods, UN expert warns

Dec 18, 2015, at 03:12 pm

New York, Dec 18 (Just Earth News/IBNS) A United Nations human rights expert expressed deep concern on Thursday at the lack of consultation and the reduced protections to the Sami indigenous people in the current draft law on the Finnish Forest and Parks Service (Metsähallitus) to regulate the management of State-owned lands.

Security Council urges action against human trafficking, sexual abuse by ISIL and other terror groups

Dec 17, 2015, at 02:32 pm

New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The Security Council on Wednesday called on all United Nations Member States to do everything in their power to combat human trafficking, especially for sexual purposes, citing the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and Boko Haram as prime perpetrators.

Some 150 million migrants now participating in global workforce - new UN labour agency report

Dec 17, 2015, at 02:31 pm

New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) A new statistical study conducted by the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) has revealed that migrant workers account for 150.3 million of the world’s approximately 232 million international migrants, which amounts to a total of 72.7 per cent of working age migrant population.

Opium production in Myanmar and Laos are stable at high levels, new UN report shows

Dec 17, 2015, at 02:31 pm

New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Opium poppy cultivation has stabilized at high levels in Myanmar and Lao People's Democratic Republic, but "the region’s demand for heroin remains at unacceptably high levels and transnational organized crime groups are making huge profits," according to a new survey released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

'Show unprecedented vision to make peace,' senior UN official tells Israeli, Palestinian leaders

Dec 17, 2015, at 02:28 pm

New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Citing Palestinian attacks against Israelis, perceived impunity for settler violence against Palestinians and the impression of an endless occupation, a senior United Nations political official on Wednesday called for “unprecedented vision” by both sides to take the bold steps necessary for peace.

After 'year of breakthrough and horror,' Ban urges greater collaborative action to tackle crises in 2016

Dec 17, 2015, at 02:27 pm

New York, Dec 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS) As 2015 draws to a close, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon summed up the "pivotal year" in which the Organization marked its 70th anniversary by highlighting landmark steps taken to advance sustainable development, climate action, conflict resolution and provision of humanitarian assistance.

For first time in history, selection of next UN Secretary-General will include input from all Member States

Dec 16, 2015, at 05:31 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The 193 Member States of the United Nations will for the first time be included "totally" in the selection of the next UN Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly said on Tuesday, pledging to make the process as transparent and inclusive as possible.

Security Council renews UN peacekeeping force in Abyei for another five months

Dec 16, 2015, at 04:54 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday extended for another five months its interim peacekeeping force in Abyei, a resource-rich area contested by Sudan and South Sudan, calling on both sides to swiftly resume regular meetings to resolve the oil-rich territory’s final status.

Amid escalating hate speech against Muslims, UN rights officials denounce intolerance, incitement

Dec 16, 2015, at 04:52 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Expressing “grave concern” at the outpouring of intolerance and hate speech in public discourse and in the media in recent weeks, which focused particularly on Muslims, senior United Nations human rights officials have urgently called on those in positions of authority and political leadership to act responsibly and with respect for both international and national laws.

Despite progressive laws, gender-based violence ‘pervasive’ in South Africa, UN expert warns

Dec 16, 2015, at 04:00 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Warning that deeply entrenched patriarchal attitudes make violence against women “an almost acceptable phenomenon” in South Africa, a United Nations human rights expert on Tuesday urged the Government to strengthen its fight against gender-based violence through awareness and education at all levels of society.

Two-year conflict has led to ‘unrelenting crisis’ for South Sudan’s children, UN agencies warn

Dec 16, 2015, at 03:37 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The children of South Sudan are among the most vulnerable on the planet, two leading United Nations humanitarian agencies said on Tuesday, with a senior UN refugee official warning that the world’s newest nation cannot afford to lose a generation of children, “as in them lies the future and hope of the young nation.”

ICC Prosecutor calls on Security Council to help bring high-profile indictees to justice for Darfur war crimes

Dec 16, 2015, at 03:23 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday chided the United Nations Security Council for its “empty promises” to bring Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir to trial for atrocities in Darfur, even as his victims cry out for justice amid indiscriminate killings and mass rape.

UN rights chief urges Cuba to halt harassment of activists and respect human rights

Dec 16, 2015, at 03:20 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The top United Nations human rights official expressed concern today over the extremely high number of arbitrary arrests and short-term detentions of individuals, including human rights defenders and dissidents, in Cuba in recent weeks.

UN ends probe into Iran’s past nuclear activities, moving international accord closer to implementation

Dec 16, 2015, at 03:18 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations nuclear watchdog on Tuesday closed the book on the possible military aspects of Iran’s nuclear programme, finding that they were limited to feasibility and scientific studies and did not proceed beyond 2009, bringing an international nuclear accord with Iran a step closer to implementation.

Yemen: UN-sponsored peace talks kick off as ceasefire goes into effect

Dec 16, 2015, at 03:16 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) After months of relentless violence in Yemen, consultations facilitated by the United Nations began on Tuesday in Switzerland aimed at finding a durable settlement to the crisis, including establishing a permanent ceasefire, securing improvements to the humanitarian situation and a returning to a peaceful and orderly political transition.

‘Unrelenting’ Israeli-Palestinian violence leaves nearly one person dead every day – UN rights office

Dec 16, 2015, at 03:13 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS) Although international attention has waned regarding the crisis in Israel and the Occupied Palestine Territory, the United Nations human rights office on Tuesday warned that the region is still rife with violence and the recent escalation in the fighting has claimed 117 Palestinian lives, along with two foreign nationals and injured thousands more.

Burundi: UN urges immediate action to stop 'senseless' violence

Dec 16, 2015, at 02:18 pm

New York, Dec 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Amid the “deadly escalation” of violence in Burundi, the United Nations human rights chief on Tuesday sounded the alarm at the unfolding crisis in the country and urged all actors in the current crisis to take every step possible to stop the growing violence and engage in a meaningful and inclusive dialogue.

Los Angeles schools closed over 'threat': Report

Dec 16, 2015, at 03:24 am

Los Angeles, Dec 15 (IBNS) All Los Angeles Unified School District campuses have been closed down by officials following threats of violence, media reports said on Tuesday.

With high-level forum, UN Assembly aims to narrow digital divide, harness power of information technology

Dec 15, 2015, at 03:20 pm

New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Ten years after the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society, delegates from Member States and observer entities are meeting at UN Headquarters starting on Mondayto identify emerging trends, fresh priorities and innovations for advancing information and communications technologies.

Referendum held in much of Central African Republic despite disruptions - UN peacekeeping chief

Dec 15, 2015, at 03:19 pm

New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): A constitutional referendum meant to help stabilize the Central African Republic (CAR) amid conflict between Muslim and Christian factions took place successfully in the majority of the country yesterday, but violent “spoilers” disrupted the process in some areas, the top United Nations peacekeeping official reported on Monday.

Two billion move out of extreme poverty over 25 years – UN flagship development report

Dec 15, 2015, at 03:15 pm

New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Some two billion people have moved out of low human development levels in the last 25 years but in order to secure these gains and galvanize progress, a stronger focus to “act now” to provide decent work is needed, according to the new United Nations Human Development Report released on Monday.

Syria crisis a 'blot on our collective conscienc' UN relief chief says, urging sustained aid access, funding

Dec 15, 2015, at 03:13 pm

New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Speaking from Damascus today, the top United Nations relief official said the situation in Syria is "unacceptable," with nearly 13.5 million Syrians in need of some form of assistance, and he urged the international community to generously support the UN's $3.2 billion humanitarian operations plan for the war-torn country.

UN agencies relaunch winter aid programme to support vulnerable Syrian children in Jordan

Dec 15, 2015, at 02:42 pm

New York, Dec 15 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As the harsh winter approaches Jordan, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) launched the winter cash assistance programme again, that will allow vulnerable Syrian families in Za'atari and Azraq camps to buy warm winter clothing for all their children.

After Zuckerberg, Pichai extends support towards Muslims in US

Dec 12, 2015, at 07:28 pm

California, Dec 12 (IBNS) A day after Mark Zuckerberg took a swipe at Donald Trump for suggesting a ban on Muslims' entry to the US, another tech giant, Sundar Pichai echoed the same sentiments.

Saudi women get to cast ballot for the first time

Dec 12, 2015, at 06:37 pm

Riyadh, Dec 12 (IBNS) In an unprecedented move, Saudi Arabia has officially allowed its women to cast their votes for the first time, according to media reports.

Viet Nam: UN rights office alarmed at series of attacks against human rights defenders

Dec 12, 2015, at 03:23 pm

New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Alarmed by the recent spate of violent attacks on human rights defenders in Viet Nam, the United Nations rights agency on Friday expressed concern at the "apparent failure" of the Vietnamese authorities to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators and urged the Government to take measures to ensure security of all human rights defenders.

As Central Africa prepares to vote, UN rights chief warns of inter-communal strife

Dec 12, 2015, at 03:20 pm

New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS0: On the eve of a constitutional referendum meant to help stabilize the Central African Republic (CAR) amid conflict between Muslims and Christians, the United Nations human rights chief on Friday voiced deep concern at mounting sectarian language, warning of possible "dramatic consequences" given the highly volatile pre-election atmosphere.

International Mountain Day: UN study reveals hunger trends in highland areas

Dec 12, 2015, at 03:16 pm

New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): While global hunger figures are declining, the number of food insecure people in mountain areas rose 30 per cent over 12 years to nearly 330 million, according to a study released on Friday by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and a partner agency on International Mountain Day.

Ukraine could again slip into cycle of calm giving way to savage fighting: UN official

Dec 12, 2015, at 03:08 pm

New York, Dec 12 (Just Earth News/IBNS): A senior United Nations human rights official warned on Friday that the fighting in Ukraine, which has recently decreased, could erupt again with a massive civilian toll in a conflict that has already left over 9,000 people dead and nearly 21,000 injured over the past two years.