The continued lack of jobs worldwide could spark more social unrest in many countries. That's according to a new study released on Monday by the UN's labour agency, ILO. The global economy is on the verge of a new and deeper jobs recession that will further delay the global economic recovery. This grim analysis comes [...]
The death of three Afghans working for the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) in Afghanistan, shows the risks that aid workers face in the country. That's what United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday following a suicide attack at the UN premises in the southern city of Kandahar. Mr. Ban said that a car [...]
The seven billionth baby has been born in, what has been described as, a world of "terrible contradictions". Speaking in New York on Monday, the United Nations Secretary-General stressed, Ban Ki-moon stressed that the Day of Seven Billion is not about one child but about the entire human family. He said the world is facing a [...]
Hibakusha is a Japanese word which literally means "explosion affected people". It's also the name given to survivors of the atomic bombings in 1945. During Disarmament Week, Japanese "Ambassadors" for a nuclear free world commemorated the event at the UN. Together with a group of poets, and a young female violinist, Setsuko Thurlow, a survivor [...]
A third of women between the ages of 20 and 24 in developing countries are married before they turn 18, says UNICEF, the UN Children's Fund. Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director, told the UN General Assembly that worldwide, some 15 million girls become mothers before they are ready. In this report by Gerry Adams, Mr. [...]
At a meeting commemorating the International Year of People of African Descent 2011, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, told a gathering of women from the African diaspora that the situation of people of African descent remains dire, particularly for women and girls. Ms. Pillay's words were confirmed by Dr. Hellen Felter of [...]
Two hundred forty-five million women worldwide are widows, according to UN Women. Almost half of them live in extreme poverty, are discriminated against and live lives of isolation. In India, women shudder at the prospect of being widowed. It's a fate many consider to be a death sentence. UN's Daljit Dhaliwal tells the story of [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
At a meeting commemorating the International Year of People of African Descent 2011, the High Commissioner for Human rights, Navi Pillay, told a gathering of women from the African diaspora that the situation of people of African descent remains dire, particularly for women and girls. Ms. Pillay's words were confirmed by Dr. Hellen Felter of [...]
Pakistan can help the process of reconciliation to end the violence in Afghanistan, according to the author of a new book on the region. Afghanistan has been fighting extremism since the Taliban were removed from power by a US-led coalition a decade ago. But despite ongoing peace efforts with the Taliban and other insurgent groups, [...]
NARRATOR: The designation of "middle-income country" could be regarded as a double-edged sword. The warning comes from Jamaica's Representative Ambassador RAYMOND WOLFE. He told the General Assembly's Economic and Financial committee that while the classification recognized progress a country had made in drawing closer to achieving some of the internationally agreed development goals, it also [...]
NARRATOR: While there was no longer any doubt that globalization was impacting every country on the planet, the costs and benefits of this new era of interconnectedness should be more equally shared, delegates told the General Assembly's Economic and Financial Committee during its discussion on globalization and interdependence. Providing a vivid example of how globalization [...]
NARRATOR: With nearly 1.5 billion people still living in absolute poverty, eradication efforts had not succeeded and it remained the most significant challenge facing humankind, delegates told the General Assembly's committee that deals with economic and financial matters. Speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community-CARICOM, the representative of Suriname Ambassador Henry Mac Donald said the [...]
NARRATOR: Drawing parallels to recent political uprisings in defence of freedom and self-determination, General Assembly delegates on Wednesday again denounced the decades-old economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba, voting overwhelmingly to adopt the world body's twentieth consecutive resolution calling for an end to the measures. The resolution – adopted [...]
Preserving the world's audiovisual heritage and making sure it is not destroyed and saved for future generations is extremely important. A message issued by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO marking World Day for Audiovisual Heritage. The UN has saved 80,000 hours of audio recording on 70,000 tapes and discs as well [...]
Governments worldwide are being asked by the UN to guarantee basic income and social services for all, as a means to ensure peace and boost economic growth. The International Labour Organization or ILO says that 5 billion people lack adequate social security or social protection worldwide. Meanwhile just 15 percent of the world's unemployed are receiving [...]
• Two-thirds of children in Africa don't attend secondary school, according to a UNESCO report. It says that globally the number of pupils attending secondary school grew by 60% between 1990 and 2009. The agency says as more children complete primary level education, demand for places in secondary schools has increased exponentially. Alleged massacre of [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
News and features from United Nations Radio.
An agreement prohibiting the export of hazardous waste from developed countries to developing countries, also known as the Ban Amendment, will finally be enforced. The deal, brokered in Cartagena, Columbia, has ended a 15-year long deadlock, according to the UN's Environment Programme, UNEP. The ban ensures that poor nations do not become a dumping ground [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Developing countries risk being seriously affected by the debt crisis in affluent societies, two top United Nations economic bodies have warned. The General Assembly's Second Committee, which deals with economic and financial issues, held a joint session with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Delegates discussed growing fears of a double dip recession, and [...]
A two-week long UN conference to reverse global land degradation and food insecurity has ended in Changwon, South Korea. Delegates at the conference rallied behind the Changwon Initiative, agreeing to a series of action plans that include reforestation in Asia and Africa. More than 12 million hectares of productive land are lost every year due [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
A woman is now in charge of the most powerful decision-making body in international diplomacy. Nigerian Ambassador to the UN, Joy Ogwu is President of the Security Council for the month of October. She is one of only three women on the 15 member council. The United States and Brazil also have female Ambassadors. Ogwu [...]
Tanzania’s population growth rate is 2.9%, an average increase of 1.3 million people each year. In 2012, Tanzania plans to undertake a national census which is estimated to cost $76 million. As part of the preparations, a week long pilot census is currently taking place in select regions and districts around the country. The United [...]
Myanmar has been told that it has a real chance at a successful transition to democracy if it releases its prisoners of conscience, and improves its human rights record. UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar Tomás Ojea Quintana made that point to the country's authorities during a recent visit. Two hundred prisoners of [...]
Just nine months after the ousting of President Ben Ali, Tunisia is preparing for its first comprehensive general elections. On Sunday, four million Tunisians will get the opportunity to elect members of the country's Constituent Assembly that will draft a new constitution. Parliamentary and presidential elections are expected to take place in the months ahead. [...]
The discovery of oil off the coast of Ghana in 2007 was greeted with mixed feelings of joy and concern about corruption that has plagued other countries with oil resources. A civil society organization, known as Publish What You Pay Ghana is working to ensure that the country's oil production process and the revenue it [...]
The UN Security Council on Friday strongly condemned the violent crackdown of pro-democracy protestors by Yemeni authorities. The 15-member Security Council passed a Resolution which supports a Gulf Cooperation Council's plan that calls for President Saleh to transfer power to his deputy in exchange for immunity from prosecution. Several people have been killed this week [...]
Cholera cases in the impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti could reach half a million by the end of this year if current trends continue. That's the prediction of the World Health Organization (WHO) as the country expects heavy rainfall this season. The agency has called on the international community and its donors to remain vigilant [...]
As drought and famine continue to force thousands of Somalis from their home country, many are choosing to embark on the risky sea journey across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen. The majority of refugees from Somalia have sought safety and help in neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia but since January 20,000 new refugees have reached [...]
A UN expert has urged Israel to protect Palestinian children that are arrested by the country's security forces. Richard Falk is the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories. He has warned that prolonged occupation deforms the development of children. And that Palestinian children in the West Bank [...]
North Korea is being described as "a country of chronic poverty and underdevelopment" that needs increased humanitarian support by the international community. The appeal comes from Valerie Amos, the head of United Nations humanitarian operations who is ending a five-day visit to the country. Ms Amos says malnutrition is increasing in North Korea where six [...]
Almost four million Tunisians will head to the polls on Sunday to elect a Constituent Assembly that will eventually draft the country's constitution. This comes nine months after President Ben Ali was ousted and Tunisia opened the floodgates of pro-democracy protests across the Arab world. Over 11,000 candidates are vying for 217 seats. After the [...]
The United Nations Human Rights Office has called for an investigation into how Colonel Muammar Qadhafi was killed. The UN wants to probe if the ousted Libyan dictator was executed after he was captured alive. Spokesman for the UN Human Rights Office, Rupert Colville, says it is vitally important that justice is done in Libya. [...]
The UN's top envoy to Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, is optimistic that the Al-Shabaab rebel movement will be defeated in Somalia. His comments follow Kenya's military incursion on Somali soil, triggered by a round of kidnappings and killings blamed on the Islamist rebel group, Drought and famine in Somalia has killed tens of thousands of people [...]
Scores of Somalis are embarking on a risky sea journey across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen, according to the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR. There are currently thought to be 196,000 Somali refugees in Yemen, but the worsening security situation is putting them at risk of human trafficking and abduction. Andrej Mahecic, spokesman for [...]
The floods that are devastating South East Asia have shown how the region is not well prepared to reduce risks caused by disasters. That's the conclusion of the United Nations risk reduction agency, (UNISDR) as the region faces devastating floods that have killed more than 200 children in Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. UNISDR spokesman in [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
The United Nations human rights office says it's disappointed that Muammar Qadhafi won't face judicial proceedings over serious human rights violations committed in Libya during his 42-year rule. The human rights office says it is not clear whether the late Libyan leader was killed in some form of fighting or was executed after his capture. [...]
More Kenyan police officers are being deployed to enhance security at the Dadaab complex hosting over 460,000 Somali refugees, according to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR). On Thursday last week, gunmen abducted two Spanish aid workers and their Kenyan colleagues. UNHCR spokesman, Andrej Mahecic says his agency and its partners have continued to provide [...]
Over the next 25 years, land degradation could reduce global food production by as much as 12 percent while the population continues to grow. This warning comes from the UN Conference on combating desertification known as COP 10 which concluded in Changwon, South Korea on Friday. UN Radio's Jérôme Longué, reports that the outcomes of [...]
Yacouba Sawadogo, an illiterate peasant in Burkina Faso has transformed the lives of thousands of people across the Sahel region. He stopped the expansion of the desert. His work inspired a British filmmaker to produce a documentary entitled "The Man who Stopped the Desert." Ghana works to avoid the ” curse” of oil The discovery [...]
Libyans on all sides of the conflict are being asked by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to lay down their arms and rebuild the nation following reports of Muammar Qadhafi's death. A civil war broke out in February when protests asking for the Libyan leader to step down were met with violent repression by the army. [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Libyans have been urged to unite as they face the future following the death of former Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi on Thursday. The call has come from UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon amid reports that Mr. Qadhafi was killed as forces of the National Transitional Council tried to arrest him in his hometown of Sirte. Mr. [...]
Authorities in Malawi have been asked by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to explain why they did not arrest Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir during his visit last week. The ICC has an arrest warrant against Mr. Bashir on charges of genocide and war crimes committed during the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region. The Sudanese president [...]
The spread of HIV/AIDS has led to an increase in child-headed households in Africa, particularly in Mozambique. An estimated 24 thousand homes in the country are made up entirely of children, according to UNICEF, the UN Children's Fund. Mayke Huijbregths tells Gerry Adams how UNICEF is working with the Government to address the needs of [...]
The African country of Malawi has been asked by the International Criminal Court or the ICC to explain why it did not arrest Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir during his visit last week. The Sudanese president was in Malawi to attend a regional trade bloc summit along with other African leaders. Malawi is a signatory [...]
More than 1,200 Sub-Saharan African migrants have arrived in Chad from the southern Libyan city of Sebha, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The migrants had been trapped in recent fighting in Sebha between forces of the new Libyan authorities and loyalists to Muammar Qadhafi, who was reportedly killed on Thursday. The migrants, [...]
Delegates at a conference on combating desertification have agreed on a blueprint to step up efforts to protect and revitalize drylands. An estimated two billion people worldwide depend on drylands and their degradation is threatening their livelihoods. Drylands cover 40% of the world's land surface. Jerome Longué is in Changwon, South Korea, where the UN [...]
People of African descent, particularly women and girls, continue to face discrimination and live in poverty around the world. That's what the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told a gathering on women of African descent in New York on Wednesday. She said 2011 is being observed as the International Year for [...]
At a time when Europe and America are seeing job cuts and shrinking economies, the International Monetary Fund is predicting strong growth for sub-Saharan Africa, almost six per cent, actually, for next year. However, some of Africa's wealthier countries could get left behind. Derrick Mbatha has more. (Duration: 3’09″)
An individual in Burkina Faso has given a real meaning to the expression 'one person can make a difference.' He's not a politician or a rich businessman but an illiterate peasant. Meet Yacouba Sawadogo, a man who has transformed the lives of thousands of people across the Sahel region by stopping the expansion of the [...]
The situation across South East Asia remains serious, as rains continue to pound countries such as Thailand and the fear of waterborne diseases caused by flooding looms. The UN's relief agency OCHA says more than 800 people have been killed in Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia and the Philippines since July this year and the heavy [...]
If you're young and seeking to find a job in the present economic conditions, be prepared for the worst. That's the message the International Labour Organization or ILO gave in its latest report on Monday. ILO warned of a "scarred" generation of young workers facing a dangerous mix of high unemployment, increased inactivity and high [...]
Non-governmental organizations attending the UN conference on combating desertification in Changwon, South Korea have called for an end to land grabbing. It is estimated that 227 million hectares of land belonging to local communities and indigenous people, mainly in Africa, have been sold or licensed to international investors, through secret deals since 2001. Non-governmental organizations [...]
Eight hundred people have been killed by floods in Southeast Asia as rains continue to pound the region, according to the UN humanitarian agency (OCHA). OCHA says the situation remains serious and there is fear of waterborne diseases caused by flooding. It estimates that 8 million people have been affected by the floods in Thailand, [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
The economies of Sub-Saharan African countries are expected to grow by nearly 6 per cent in 2012, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The agency says that economic growth has remained strong in the region where low income countries weathered the global economic slowdown well. Charles Appel reports. In its latest forecast, the International [...]
A mission of United Nations experts is going to West Africa in the coming days to examine the scope of the threat posed by piracy in the region. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told delegates during Wednesday's Security Council meeting on piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Mr. Ban said that piracy continues to [...]
Young people in the developed countries have been hardest hit by unemployment as a result of the global economic crisis according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). In a new report, the agency warns of what it calls a 'scarred' generation of young people who don't have jobs. It says that globally the number of [...]
A non-profit organization in the US State of New Jersey is helping asylum seekers from Africa gain legal status in the country. Asylum claims to industrialized nations like the US and Europe have increased by 17% in the first half of 2011. The majority of people who come to the Bergen County Sanctuary Committee for [...]
American poet and author Maya Angelou is being honoured at the United Nations as one of the elders of the community of literary greats and a strong voice for human and civil rights. 2011 has been proclaimed the International Year for People of African Descent in recognition of their rich contributions to the global [...]
Major celebrations took place in Ramallah and Gaza on Tuesday as Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel. Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel led to the freeing of over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for one Israel soldier, Gilad Shalit. The much publicized swap reportedly took five years to negotiate. Hamid Seyam, a Professor at [...]
The "son of Israel" might be free, but at what cost, is the question some in Israel are asking. Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier was released on Tuesday in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners. Dov Waxman, a professor from Baruch College in New York, believes it sets a dangerous precedent. He says although the deal [...]
Long term solitary confinement in excess of 15 days could amount to torture and should be banned, says Juan Mendez, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. Quoting scientific studies, Mendez says indefinite and prolonged solitary confinement or isolation causes mental damage. Juveniles, persons with mental disabilities or in pre-trial detention should not be isolated because [...]
The fight against Malaria is yielding results around the world. A global report by the World Health Organization reveals that more and more states are taking the threat of malaria seriously. Three countries, including Morocco, have completely eradicated the disease in the last four years. WHO also says that nearly a third of all [...]
There are mixed feelings in Israel over the release of Gilad Shalit, a soldier who has been held captive by Hamas for five years, according to Yigal Palmor, a spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There has been intense pressure by the public for his release, but fears of renewed attacks against Israel [...]
The prisoner exchange between Israelis and Palestinians on Tuesday has been welcomed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit has been released by the Palestinian movement Hamas and 477 Palestinians by Israeli authorities. Under a deal between Israel and Hamas another group of 550 Palestinians are to be released next month. The Secretary-General [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Providing scientific information about climate and weather patterns particularly in developing countries helps farmers to engage in agriculture and fight desertification. That's according to the head of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Michel Jarraud who is attending a conference on combating desertification in Changwon, South Korea. WMO is working on a new Global Framework [...]
Nearly a third of the 108 countries affected by malaria are on course to eliminating the disease in the next decade, according to a new global report on malaria. The Roll Back Malaria Partnership together with the World Health Organization authored the report. It reveals how three countries, including Morocco and Turkmenistan, have been declared [...]
The number of people seeking asylum in industrialized countries has increased by 17% during the first half of 2011, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. The number of applications could be the highest in eight years. Charles Appel reports. UNHCR predicts that there could be as many as 420,000 asylum applications by the [...]
The UN human rights office has condemned the killing of unarmed protestors by Yemen's security forces on Saturday. It also reports that hundreds more were wounded in the capital Sana'a and southern city of Taiz. The people are demanding an end to President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 33 year rule. Rupert Colville is the spokesperson for [...]
The deportation of Eritrean asylum-seekers by Sudanese authorities on Monday has been condemned by the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR). The Eritreans who had been detained for several weeks in Dongola, in Sudan's Northern State bordering Egypt, were convicted on charges of illegal entry and movement within Sudan. Adrian Edwards, Spokesperson for UNHCR, says that [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
More than one billion people around the world are poor and living on less than $1.25 a day an issue being highlighted on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The theme for the day marked on Monday is "From Poverty to Sustainability: People at the Centre of Inclusive Development”. Since 1957, a non-governmental organisation [...]
School meals being prepared by local Palestinian women are serving a two-fold purpose – they are helping to improve nutrition among children and providing the women a much needed income. It's all part of a programme that began in 2010. Supported by the Palestinian Authority, UN Women and the Government of Norway, the programme encourages [...]
Cambodia has made some remarkable progress in halting the country's HIV epidemic. However, that's where the good news ends, according to a recent UN report. The report has found that more than half of Cambodians living with HIV were hungry and lacked adequate food supplies last year, compared to just over one third of those [...]
Laws fighting discrimination against women have been established, but putting them into practice has been a problem, a rights expert told the UN General Assembly. Special Rapporteur Rashida Manjoo was presenting a key thematic report on violence against women, its causes and consequences. Her mandate is to analyze violence against women in four spheres – [...]
Lather up – it's the best way to prevent life threatening diseases. Clean hands save lives is the message for Global Hand Washing Day, being celebrated by millions of children in thousands of schools around the world on October 15th. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates diarrhoea alone kills over one million children each [...]
A Hollywood movie which shows the alleged sexual trafficking of women in Bosnia in the 1990s by UN peacekeepers has been shown at UN headquarters in New York. The Whistleblower is a fictional account of events that are said to have taken place in Bosnia. A debate on how to counter sexual abuse and trafficking [...]
Sexual exploitation will not be tolerated in any form. The UN Secretary-General, Ban-Ki moon reiterated this message at a discussion on sexual abuse and trafficking in war-torn countries, following the screening of The Whistleblower at the United Nations on Friday. The Whistleblower is a fictional account of events that are said to have taken [...]
This programme describes the challenges arising from the population growth in the 20th century for alimentation and nutrition. Duration: 14’00″
A Hollywood movie about the alleged involvement of United Nations peacekeepers in sex trafficking in Eastern Europe in the 1990s was recently shown at UN headquarters on Friday as part of a discussion on sexual abuse and trafficking in war-torn countries. The Whistleblower is a fictional account of events that are said to have taken [...]
A senior United Nations human rights official believes thousands of detainees are being tortured in Libya, many of whom are being held in makeshift prisons across the country. Mona Rishmawi from the UN Human Rights Office, recently visited Libya to assess the human rights situation and to discuss transitional justice. Ms Rishmawi says she's concerned [...]
Donors are being urged to provide funds to feed 2.5 million Pakistanis affected by floods in the southern province of Sindh. The World Food Programme (WFP) says it has already fed over a million people in eight districts of Sindh. WFP says the 27 million dollars received so far will allow them to feed those [...]
More than 40 percent of the 10 million cubic metres of rubble caused by last year's Haiti earthquake has been removed in one of the largest-scale clearance operations of its kind by the United Nations and partners, coordinated by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). Homeowners and private enterprises have cleared an additional 10 percent of [...]
Following a remarkable year in the promotion of gender equality and women's empowerment that was marked by the establishment of UN-Women and the launch of the Secretary-General's Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health, it was now time to turn the momentum generated in 2010 into clear, tangible gains for women and girls everywhere. That's [...]
In today's global community, the international community must rely heavily on collective actions and solid partnerships, if States are to overcome the many common challenges they face. So says St.Kitts-Nevis' Foreign Minister Sam Condor. He told the General Assembly's 66th session that among these challenges are the misguided or ill-considered choices that are made by [...]
A multilingual online TV channel is being launched ahead of World Food Day 2011 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The move is part of a global anti-hunger campaign organized by the agency to educate people on the issue and get them involved in ending the scourge. FAO is also asking people to give [...]
One third of Thailand has been affected by heavy flooding, killing close to 300 people, according to the Thai government estimates. Now with water heading towards the country's capital, Bangkok and residents are busy stocking up on food, water and candles in case they are confined to their homes. Meanwhile, local officials are busy setting [...]
A young Israeli soldier captured by Hamas more than five years ago, is due to be released in the coming days in exchange for the release of over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. Gilad Shalit, will be freed as part of a deal that has been reached by Israel and Hamas which controls Gaza. Noam Shalit, the [...]
Millions of people around the world will remain vulnerable, as high food prices are here to stay, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The Agency says continued under-funding of agriculture is the biggest cause of the problem but growing populations and climate change are also contributing to price hikes. FAO's Abdessalam Ould Ahmed [...]
Washing hands with soap is being promoted as an effective, simple and affordable way to prevent disease. Millions of people around the world are expected to take part in events on Global Handwashing Day on Saturday , to highlight the importance of washing, particularly after using the toilet or before handling food. The United [...]
A top UN human rights official has urged the international community to take immediate measures to protect Syrians, as security forces continue their attacks on the population. Expressing dismay at the worsening human rights situation in the country, Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the Government had manifestly failed to protect [...]
Economies in Sub-Saharan Africa continue to grow despite the current global economic slowdown. The continent has been growing at an average of five per cent over the past years and that trend is expected to continue. The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is playing an important role in this as the blueprint for the continent's [...]
A Hollywood movie about the alleged involvement of United Nations peacekeepers in sex trafficking in eastern Europe in the 1990s is being shown at UN headquarters on Friday as part of a discussion on sexual abuse and trafficking in war-torn countries. The Whistleblower is a fictional account of events that are said to have taken [...]
A senior United Nations official today expressed shock and anger at the abduction of two female NGO workers and the shooting of their driver at Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp. António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, called the kidnapping "wholly unacceptable." Mr Guterres also appealed for their immediate return. The two Médecins Sans Frontières staff [...]
• West and Central Africa are facing a serious cholera outbreak. So far this year more than 85,000 cases of cholera have been reported and 1,466 people have died from the disease. UNICEF says that it's dealing with one of the worst ever cholera outbreaks in the region. Post-conflict African countries urged to reform security [...]
One third of Thailand has been affected by heavy flooding, killing close to 300 people, according to Government estimates. With the waters heading towards the country's capital, Bangkok, residents are busy stocking up on food, water and candles in case they are confined to their homes. Meanwhile, local officials are busy setting up prevention measures [...]
Farmers in Kenya's east are bracing themselves for the rainy season. More than 5,000 farming households are getting help from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in conserving rain water and in preventing soils from being washed away. In return for their work, farmers receive vouchers that can be redeemed for food and building materials. [...]
Half a million Iraqi children in primary schools around the country will benefit from a school feeding programme at the start of the new academic year, according to the World Food Programme (WFP). The children will come from the country's most vulnerable districts and will receive a mid-day snack under this new programme. The meals [...]
As Bangkok prepares itself for possible flooding this weekend, the world is observing the International Day for Disaster Reduction. The theme in 2011 recognizes the role children and young people can play in responding to disasters. This comes as a power message, especially in a year that has already seen a famine in the Horn [...]
Bangkok is now preparing for the worst, as flood waters threaten to breach the city's barriers in the next days. With additional rains forecast and waters from the Northern provinces headed for the capital, the Government is taking all necessary precautions. Water heading for Bangkok is being diverted, sandbags have been laid around the Chao Phraya [...]
As densely populated countries like India become more vulnerable to natural disasters, as well as climate change, governments and people need to be better prepared. One such way is for citizens to better adapt to climactic challenges. In India, the Sarista Foundation teaches the most vulnerable communities to reduce risks from disasters and impacts of [...]
The perception of Africa as a place where poverty, hunger, disease and civil war are the norm is fast changing. That's what Deputy Secretary-General, Asha Rose Migiro told participants at the World Knowledge Forum in Seoul, Korea on Wednesday. The continent has had a robust growth of more than 5 per cent, on average, over [...]
For the first time in over a decade, there has been a fall in the number of tuberculosis or TB infections and deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO says the world is on track to achieve the goal of cutting the number of people who die from tuberculosis or TB by 50 [...]
The need to reform the army, police, prisons and other security agencies in countries emerging from conflict in Africa has been high on the Security Council's agenda. Reforming these sectors has been critical to ensuring peace and promoting development during reconstruction. The Council met on Wednesday to discuss this issue which is known as security [...]
Reforming the army and other security agencies is crucial for preventing conflicts from breaking out again. That's what the head of the United Nations peacekeeping operations, Hervé Ladsous, told the Security Council as it met to discuss security sector reforms in Africa. He cited Liberia as an example, where security sector issues were not addressed [...]
Yemen is in the middle of a severe food crisis as it grapples with political instability and rising prices of food. Millions of people in Yemen, including children, are starving, according to the World Food Programme (WFP) on Wednesday. The agency will soon be launching programmes to feed over three and a half million Yemeni. [...]
Despite the rain, voters in Liberia lined up in the capital Monrovia and other areas of the country on Tuesday to vote for a new president and members of parliament. It is the first time that Liberians have organized and managed the elections themselves since the end of a 14 year civil war in 2003. [...]
It's still possible to achieve the goal of zero new HIV infections and to eliminate AIDS-related deaths world-wide. That's the message given by the Executive Director of UNAIDS, at a Millennium Development Goal Conference on achieving the goal of combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other major diseases. Delegates at the international forum highlighted the contribution by [...]
Political instability and rising food prices are causing millions of people in Yemen to go hungry. That's the warning being given by the World Food Programme (WFP) on Wednesday. The situation is being described as “dire” with malnutrition rates among children exceeding 50 per cent. And the price of basic commodities like bread has doubled [...]
The process of tallying ballot papers has begun in Liberia following general elections on Tuesday. Voters cast their ballots without any major security incident throughout the country, according to the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). It is the first time that the National Electoral Commission has been fully charged with organizing and running the elections since [...]
The number of people who fall ill with tuberculosis each year is declining, according to a new report issued by the World Health Organization on Tuesday. The agency says that the world is on track to achieve the goal of cutting the number of people who die from TB by 50 per cent by 2015. [...]
PART I: Nobel Peace Prize honours women and non-violent struggle. 5'50'' PART II: Never Again, the charter to end extreme hunger. 4'00'' PART III: UN radio archive: a treasure trove of priceless recordings. 3'26'' Narrated and Produced by Ambalika Misra Duration:15’00″
Scores of internally displaced Somalis are moving to bigger cities like the capital Mogadishu in search of health care. To stop the huge influx and decentralize health care in emergency settings, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set up a field hospital in Dolow, Somalia. Jocelyne Sambira has more. Duration: 2’49″
1.Nobel Peace Prize to 3 women welcomed by Ban Ki-moon 2.Criminals, terrorists behind wave of violent protests, says Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister 3.Outbreak of measles reported in Europe, Africa and the Americas by WHO 4.Afghanistan facing severe drought:World Food Program 5.UN peacekeeping operations head says Abyei “potential source of tension” 6.Murder rate rising in the [...]
1.Syria urged to allow human rights experts to visit the country 2.Bahrain criticized for jailing medical staff 3.UN Envoy de Mistura : No alternative to political solution in Afghanistan 4.Terrorism still a “potent threat”:UN chief 5.UN membership for Palestine on Security Council agenda 6.UN official says Palestinian authority ready to run state 7.Displaced persons living [...]
1.Bob Geldorf calls for political leadership to help Horn of Africa 2.OCHA head Valerie Amos stresses need for saving lives in Horn of Africa 3.Prime Minister of Lesotho calls for consistence in dealing with conflicts 4.Palestinian authority applies for full UN membership 5.South Sudan wants help in getting out of the 'abyss of poverty' 6.Cofidence [...]
The crisis in Yemen is rapidly escalating as fighting continues between forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh and those opposed to his rule. Scores of people have been killed by security forces trying to quell the mass protests by people demanding the resignation of the president. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the situation in [...]
A report reviewing the human rights situation in Syria has been adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council – but not without Syria accusing some council members of politicizing the review. The Universal Periodic Review of Syria is part of a continual examination of the human rights performance of all UN member countries. The [...]
The situation in Yemen is becoming catastrophic, according to Jamal Benomer, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Adviser for Yemen. A political deadlock in Yemen has led to a worsening of the economic and humanitarian situation, exacerbating the nine month old crisis. Meanwhile, fighting continues between forces loyal to the president and those opposed to his [...]
The United Nations says it's deeply distressed by the spate of public executions that took place in Saudi Arabia last Friday. Ten men were executed last Friday….eight of whom were migrant workers from Bangladesh. They were reportedly convicted for killing an Egyptian security guard in 2007. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights [...]
Three peacekeepers of the joint African Union – United Nations mission in Darfur (UNAMID) have been killed in an attack by unidentified assailants in North Darfur. According to UNAMID, this brings the number of its peacekeepers killed in hostile action to 33 since the beginning of the mission in January 2008. UNAMID spokesman Kemal Saiki [...]
Opium production has risen by over 60 per cent in Afghanistan this year. That's according to a report released Tuesday by the UN and Afghan Government. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says poppy cultivation in the country also increased by 7 per cent in 2011, due to insecurity, economic hardship and high prices. [...]
The United Nations Children's Agency (UNICEF) says that it's dealing with one of the worst ever outbreaks of cholera in the West and Central African region, with children being particularly vulnerable to the disease. So far this year, more than 85,000 cases have been reported amongst all age groups and 2,466 people have died. Cholera [...]
The United Nations human rights office is calling on the Israeli government to protect Palestinian civilians and property in the occupied Palestinian territory. The call follows an increase in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank since the beginning of September. The human rights office says it's particularly concerned about the situation [...]
So far this year, more than 85,000 cases of cholera have been reported in West and Central Africa – of those 2,466 people have died. The United Nations Children's Agency (UNICEF) says that it's dealing with one of the worst ever cholera outbreaks in the region. Nicki Chadwick reports. Duration: 2’23″
Violence against women is pervasive and widespread, a new UN report has found. The report on violence against women was presented to the UN General Assembly on Monday by Special Rapporteur, Rashida Manjoo. Ms Manjoo said any violence against women is unacceptable and called on States to uphold human rights obligations by preventing acts of [...]
Solving world political issues through diplomacy and mediation is set to be at the centre of the work of the United Nations General Assembly over the next year. The 66th session of the main deliberative body of the UN has recently begun and a new President chosen to manage business for the year. Nassir Abdulaziz [...]
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced deep sadness at Sunday night's clashes in Cairo that left dozens dead and almost 300 people injured. Media reports indicate the killings occurred when a group of Coptic Christians clashed with military forces over a recent attack against a church. Tensions between Muslims and the minority Coptic [...]
Unpredictable rains, conflict and the return of over 300,000 refugees are some of the factors behind food shortages in South Sudan. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns of a looming food crisis where 1.3 million people are at risk. A recent crop assessment predicts that the country will at best produce only half of the [...]
The Democratic Republic of the Congo can drive Africa's economic development if its vast forests and mineral reserves are used wisely. That's the outcome of an assessment undertaken by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). The country's tropical rainforests extend over 1.5 million square kilometres and account for more than half of Africa's forest resources. [...]
The lack of access to modern energy is a threat to realizing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). That's the message United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gave at a conference in Oslo on Monday. He said energy poverty is detrimental to economic growth and job creation and that the answer lies in providing access to affordable [...]
Families might be forced to cut back on nutritious food because of food price hikes, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In its State of Food Insecurity in the World (SOFI 2011) report, FAO says price volatility is dangerous for food security and is likely to continue to increase over the next decade. FAO [...]
Prisoners suspected of being Taliban fighters or implicated in crimes associated with the armed conflict in Afghanistan are being 'systematically tortured' while in the hands of Afghan police or intelligence agents. That's according to a new report by the United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA). Half of the 400 detainees interviewed in Afghan prisons [...]
Liberians are going to the polls on Tuesday to vote for their president and members of parliament. It is the first time that the elections will be organized and run by the Liberia National Electoral Commission. The country, which is recovering from a 14-year civil war, has enjoyed peace for eight years. Derrick Mbatha spoke [...]
As Liberians go to the polls to elect a new President on Tuesday, the UN mission in the country, (UNMIL) is going to ensure that the voting is peaceful. The assurance was given by the head of UNMIL, Ellen Margrethe Løj, who spoke to Liberians through UNMIL Radio. She says UNMIL has been standing side [...]
Food prices are likely to become even more volatile in the coming years, putting to risk poor families and small farmers. That's the stern warning given in a joint United Nations report released on Monday. Small import dependent countries, particularly in Africa are especially most vulnerable. The report also says that crises, including the famine [...]
Afghan detainees across the country have been subjected to some form of torture by Afghan authorities, according to a new UN report. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) concluded this after interviewing detainees related to the conflict, who were being held by the police or the country's intelligence agency. The Mission says [...]
A Hollywood star expands her role working with the UN's Refugee agency (UNHCR) and a tennis star takes the UN's Children's Fund (UNICEF) on as a new partner off the court. Award winning actress Angelina Jolie will now be a UNHCR Special Envoy in some of the world's most difficult refugee situations. Champion tennis player [...]
NARRATOR: Antigua and Barbuda has long argued that the legacy of slavery, segregation and racial violence against people of African descent have severely impaired their advancement as nations, communities and individuals across the economic, social and political spectra. Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer told the 66th UN General Assembly that in seeking redress for the injustices [...]
NARRATOR: CARICOM Member States, like much of the rest of the world, are all recording regression in social development goals. That's what St. Lucia's representative Ambassador Donatus St. Aimee told the General Assembly's committee that deals with social, humanitarian and cultural affairs during its discussion on social development. Speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community [...]
NARRATOR: The international community has had to grapple with the negative effects of successive interlocking crises – from the food crisis and the fuel crisis to one of the most devastating financial crises of recent times. That's what the representative of Belize JANINE ELIZABETH COYE-FELSON told the General Assembly's Economic and Financial Committee as it [...]
NARRATOR: The UN office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released its first Global Study on Homicide, which shows that young men, particularly in Central and South America, the Caribbean and Central and Southern Africa, are at greatest risk of falling victim to intentional homicide but that women are at greatest risk of murder owing [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
A Hollywood star expands her role working with the UN's Refugee agency and a tennis star takes the UN's Children's Fund on as a new partner off the court. Award winning actress Angelina Jolie will now be a UNHCR Special Envoy in some of the world's most difficult refugee situations. Champion tennis player Serena Williams [...]
Syria says criminals and terrorists are behind the wave of violent protests that have going on in the country since March. Addressing the UN Human Right Council, Syria’s deputy foreign minister Faisal Mekdad said his country is under attack from criminals who have killed 1,200 citizens with arms supplied by neighboring countries. He accused [...]
A large outbreak of measles has been reported in Europe, Africa and the Americas according to the World Health Organization. Close to 160,000 measles cases have been reported worldwide since January this year. WHO says Africa bears the burden of the outbreak with over 130,000 cases. The highest case load is in the DR Congo [...]
• Ten years ago African leaders adopted NEPAD, the New Partnership for Africa's Development. The main objective of NEPAD is to extricate Africa from underdevelopment and exclusion in an increasingly globalized world economy. A senior UN official says the continent is making progress in this effort. More Somalis flee violence to Kenya • Violence has [...]
It's possible in Africa to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by world leaders in 2000 to eradicate extreme poverty by 2015. That's the conclusion of a United Nations report, launched on Thursday, on progress that Africa has made in achieving the goals. But some African countries lag behind, says the report. The report [...]
If the fighting and insecurity isn't enough, Afghanistan is now facing a severe drought that has affected almost half the country. The World Food Programme today is warning that people are left with less than two months of food. In order to help an estimated 3 million people in 14 provinces, the United Nations has [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
News and features from United Nations Radio.
News and features from United Nations Radio.
The Guinea-worm disease is on the verge of eradication, but progress is being slowed down by lack of funding, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Fewer than 1,800 cases of the disease were reported last year compared to an estimated 3.5 million cases in the mid 1980s. WHO says the disease is still endemic in four African [...]
Nobel Peace Prize Archbishop Desmond Tutu denounces the Apartheid regime in South Africa in this speech before the Special Political Committee. Duration: 33′
News and features from United Nations Radio.
The ever growing complexity of conflicts and the intensity of natural disasters is making it harder to find solutions for the worlds 43 million refugees, internally displaced and stateless people according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. Head of UNHCR António Guterres says greater concerted efforts is needed by the international community to prevent conflict, [...]
More than 1,200 African migrants who have been stranded in the southern Libyan city of Sebha are being evacuated to Chad by the International Organization for Migration. The Migrants left Sebha on a convoy of 15 trucks on Sunday 2nd October. The journey to Chad is expected to last seven days. The group was part [...]
Liberia's commitment to democratic governance and peaceful coexistence will be tested this month with the election on October 11. Vice President Joseph Boakai says every action is being taken to ensure it is free, fair, transparent and credible. It has been nearly a decade since the United Nations intervened in Liberia, ending a disastrous 14-year [...]
The warning signs of drought and famine will never be missed again if a new charter is implemented….well, that's according to the people behind the charter. Drought and famine in the Horn of Africa have killed tens of thousands of people in the past several months. Many say this disaster, in which millions more are [...]
Women should be used more often to mediate disputes, because they can sometimes be more effective. That may not be something you often hear, but that's what Uganda's Vice-President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi believes. He hopes, given time that the African Union can play a greater role in helping mediate disputes in the region. Julie [...]
Governments around the world are been urged to adopt measures to ensure that older people enjoy their rights, including their right to healthcare. The call has come from, Anand Grover, the United Nations independent expert on the right to health on the International Day of Older Persons on Saturday. Charles Appel reports. The independent expert [...]
Keeping peace and stability in the South-East Asia will help advance economic growth in the region. That's one of the messages Laos' Deputy Prime Minister delivered to the UN General Assembly. Thongloun Sisoulith said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had made progress based on its three pillars – political-security community, economic community and [...]
