Ahead of the UN's Rio+20 conference on sustainable development, the Global Compact, a UN voluntary initiative for responsible corporate citizenship will hold its own forum. Over 1,000 business people from 130 countries are expected to attend from 15-18 June in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They will be discussing how to align their operations and strategies [...]
Two men are literally sketching out a better future for women and girls in Haiti. Mike Charles, a script writer, and Chevelin Pierre, an illustrator, are behind a new comic book that encourages Haitian women and girls to go after the career of their dreams. It tells the story of classmates Florans and Deniz who [...]
The massacre of civilians in Syria, similar to that of the 108 people killed in El Houleh last weekend, could plunge the country into a catastrophic civil war. That warning has come from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who spoke at the UN Alliance of Civilizations forum in Istanbul, Turkey on Thursday. Mr Ban said the [...]
It is becoming more difficult to find solutions for people around the world who are in a prolonged refugee situation, according to the head of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR). Antonio Guterres on Thursday launched "The State of the World's Refugees" which, he said, is not a book about statistics but an analysis of [...]
As many as 60 million additional jobs could be generated through a transformation to a greener economy according to a new report. The Green Jobs Initiative says this could potentially lift tens of millions of workers out of poverty over the next two decades. The study "Working towards sustainable development: Opportunities for decent work and [...]
1. UN remembers peacekeepers who lost their lives in the line of duty. 2. Former Liberian president Charles Taylor to serve 50 years for war crimes in Sierra Leone 3. UN body call for sea change in policies to protect marine biodiversity. 4. Health assembly wants to reduce deaths from world's leading killer diseases. 5. Global [...]
Despite huge challenges that Sierra Leone is facing, it has made remarkable progress since the civil war ended 10 years ago, according to the representative of South Africa to the United Nations. Ambassador Baso Sangqu spoke as the Council heard a briefing on its mission to the West African countries of Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire and [...]
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has strongly condemned the massacre of 108 people, including 49 children in El Houleh, Syria on Friday and Saturday The Committee, which is holding its session in Geneva, says it is also alarmed at reports by United Nations observers of continued violence and killings of civilians. [...]
On World No Tobacco Day, observed on 31 May, governments around the world are being urged to expose the activities of the tobacco industry which is promoting its product that kills six million people every year. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that by 2030 tobacco will kill more than eight million people every [...]
The transition to a greener economy could generate up to 60 million jobs according to a report launched in Geneva on Thursday. The study by the Green Jobs Initiative is a partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and the International Trade Union Congress [...]
Cigarette makers are now using the court system to undermine public health policies that protect people from the harmful effects of tobacco. That's the opinion of the World Health Organization (WHO) which says these companies are threatening governments with litigation or discrediting evidence proving the dangers of tobacco. On World No Tobacco Day, observed on [...]
A militarization of the conflict in Syria will bring enormous suffering to the country. The warning has come from Jean-Marie Guéhenno, the Deputy Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League on the Syrian crisis. Following a briefing to the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Mr. Guehenno said that after 15 months [...]
Victims of Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war are celebrating Charles Taylor's sentence of 50 years in prison. Amputees got together in the capital of Freetown to watch in a cinema as the former Liberian leader received his sentence from the UN backed Special Court for Sierra Leone at the Hague. Tens of thousands of people [...]
The United Kingdom's decision to establish a special rapid deployment unit that will collect evidence of rape and other sexual violence in conflict areas has been welcomed by a senior UN official. Margot Wallström, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sexual Violence in Conflict, said measures like this will help build a strong [...]
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor awaiting verdict on April 26, 2012. Photo: UN Webcast video Liberia's former president, who was convicted for aiding and abetting war crimes in Sierra Leone, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison. The 64-year-old Taylor was convicted in April on 11 counts, including terrorism, murder, rape, sexual slavery, [...]
An initiative by the government of the United Kingdom to help combat sexual violence in conflict areas has been welcomed by a top United Nations official. The UK government announced on Tuesday that it is creating a special rapid deployment unit to collect evidence on suspected sexual violence perpetrated in areas of conflict. Margot Wallström, [...]
The youth unemployment crisis is among the items topping the agenda of the International Labour Conference which opened in Geneva on Wednesday. The conference is held annually by the International Labour Organization (ILO), which says the unemployment rate for young people is three times that of adults. ILO chief Juan Somavia applauded young people who [...]
Policies that are being formulated to respond to the global economic crisis are not creating job opportunities for young people. That's the message delivered by Juan Somavia, the outgoing Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) at the start of the agency's conference in Geneva on Wednesday. Mr. Somavia said that since the 2008 financial [...]
The joint United Nations-Arab League envoy for Syria has stressed the importance of finding a solution that will lead to a democratic transition in the country. Kofi Annan spoke in Amman, Jordan, on Wednesday following talks with the country's prime minister and foreign minister on the ongoing crisis in Syria. He said the situation in [...]
The tobacco industry is using deceitful and dirty tactics to weaken and undermine the fight against tobacco consumption, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The tactics include legal actions against governments that have been at the forefront of the war against tobacco, exaggerating the economic importance of the tobacco industry and discrediting proven science [...]
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor has been sentenced to 50 years in jail for aiding and abetting the commission of war crimes during Sierra Leone’s 10 year civil war. Judges at the Special Court for Sierra Leone said if the former leader had not provided moral, financial and logistical support to the RUF rebels the conflict [...]
The joint envoy of the United Nations and Arab League has urged President Bashar al-Assad of Syria to take "bold steps" to implement his six-point plan to resolve the crisis in the country. Kofi Annan, who met with President Al-Assad in Damascus on Tuesday morning, told reporters that he frankly conveyed the international community's concern [...]
The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is to receive $90 million from Australia over the next five years. An agreement was signed by Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr and the head of UNRWA, Filippo Grandi, in the Australian capital, Canberra, on Monday. Charles Appel reports. Australia was the tenth largest donor to UNRWA [...]
Israeli authorities have taken steps to address the concerns of more than 1,500 Palestinian prisoners who went on strike in April to protest against their detention. That's what the UN Secretary-General's Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, told the Security Council on Tuesday. Mr. Serry said the strike was resolved on [...]
Approximately 120,000 peacekeepers are serving at UN missions worldwide. Their contributions are remembered every year on 29 May, the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. Captain Rachel Kagia of Kenya is a military observer at the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Nana Bolodjua of Radio Okapi sat down with [...]
The United States government has been urged to investigate allegations of killings of Mexican migrants by Border Patrol officers. The appeal has come from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights following a decision of the U.S. Justice Department to close the case of a Mexican who was fatally shot in the [...]
Peacekeepers, or the "blue helmets," are the visible embodiment of the United Nations and in some ways serve as informal ambassadors for the organization in the countries where they are posted. The UN remembers their contributions each year on 29 May, the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. This year, the focus is on partnerships. The [...]
Millions of children in some of the world's richest countries are living in poverty, according to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). In its latest report, UNICEF says that 30 million children in 35 countries, including those in the European Union, do not have basic items or three meals a day, among other measures of what [...]
The United Nations on Tuesday honoured 112 police officers and soldiers who lost their lives while serving in peacekeeping operations around the world last year. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke at a wreath laying ceremony in New York which started with the observance of a moment of silence. Mr. Ban called the fallen peacekeepers heroes. [...]
About 30 million children across 35 countries with developed economies live in poverty, according to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). In a report released on Tuesday, UNICEF says 13 million children in the European Union plus Norway and Iceland lack basic items necessary for their development. Gordon Alexander, Director of UNICEF’s Office of Research, says [...]
Thousands of Somalis displaced by a recent military operation in the Afgooye corridor have arrived in the country's capital, Mogadishu, according to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR). On 22 May troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia and the Somali Army went into Afgooye to push back Al-Shabaab insurgents from the region where [...]
At the 2009 United Nations Day celebration here in New York, a concert to honour peacekeepers took place, and the General Assembly hall echoed with music and inspiration from artists and musicians from around the world. UN Radio's Florence “Beng” Poblete-Enriquez prepared these excerpts from that concert. Master of ceremonies was Isha Sesay, anchor [...]
Most of the 108 people killed in Syria’s El Houleh region on Friday were summarily executed, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Rupert Colville, a spokesperson for the High Commissioner, says initial investigations by the United Nations indicate that fewer than 20 of the victims were killed by artillery or tank fire. [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan arrived in Syria on Monday for talks with President Bashar Al-Assad and senior officials. His visit follows the killing of more than 100 civilians in the village of El-Houleh on Friday. "I urge the Government to take bold steps to signal that it is serious in its intention to [...]
The UN envoy for Sudan and South Sudan says he is hopeful about the talks between the two countries scheduled to begin on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In an interview with Radio Miraya in South Sudan, Haile Menkerios said the neighbouring states must implement agreements they have already reached. The talks will centre around [...]
Representatives from Sudan and South Sudan are scheduled to hold talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday to resolves outstanding issues related to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. These include the status of nationals of one country resident in the other, border demarcation and the final status of the disputed Abyei region. South Sudan [...]
Asia-Pacific countries are being urged to lead the global push towards a green economy that will help reduce poverty while promoting sustainable development. The charge comes from Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, head of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), which on Monday launched what it called a "blueprint" for developing [...]
The killing of more than 100 people in the Syrian village of El-Houleh on Friday has drawn international condemnation and outrage. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said the incident may mount to crimes against humanity or other forms of international crime. Following emergency closed door consultations on Sunday, the UN Security Council [...]
The UN agency which works with Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has welcomed a $817,000 contribution from the United Arab Emirates Red Crescent. UNRWA says the funds will go towards assisting some of the most vulnerable families in Gaza, where more than half the population is partly dependent on international organizations for food. Dianne Penn reports. The [...]
The recent killing of more than 90 men, women and children near the Syrian city of Homs was a flagrant violation of international law, according to the UN Secretary-General and the UN-Arab League envoy for the country. In a joint statement, Ban Ki-moon and Kofi Annan called on the Syrian government to cease using heavy weapons in [...]
![Security Council chamber [UN file photo].](http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/sc.jpg "Security Council Chamber")
The Security Council has called for an end to all forms of violence in Syria following the killing of villagers on Friday. Council members held emergency closed door consultations on Sunday, following which they released a press statement strongly condemning the killing of dozens of people in El-Houleh, near the city of Homs. Azerbaijan holds [...]
Those responsible for the recent massacre of villagers in El-Houleh, Syria, will be brought to justice. That information comes from the country's ambassador, Bashar Ja’afari, who spoke to reporters in New York on Sunday following an emergency meeting of the Security Council. "My government has established a national commission of inquiry tasked with finding [...]
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are benefiting from a new family health team model that has been introduced by the United Nations Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). UNRWA says the new approach started as pilots in two health centres in late 2011. The agency says that as of March this year, the model is expanding [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
There is a need to focus on ending malnutrition which is stunting and killing children in Yemen, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). UNICEF says that the political upheaval, continuing instability and underdevelopment have created a dire humanitarian situation in the country. The agency is calling for immediate action to help the 13 [...]
Nearly 6,000 South Sudanese have been airlifted back home from the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). They are part of a group of nearly 12,000 South Sudanese who were stranded at Kosti in Sudan for months waiting for transport. IOM says there have been 40 flights between Khartoum and [...]
Member states of the World Health Organization(WHO) have agreed to cut the number of deaths as a result of non-communicable diseases by 25 per cent over the next 15 years. The diseases which include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes account for more than 63 per cent of deaths around the world. In [...]
Growth must resume; More jobs must be created, particularly for young people, General Assembly President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser tells Thematic debate on Rio+20 and Beyond. In the interview part, reporter Damar Ardyan interviewed the Chief of Working Group on Law Study and Enforcement of REDD + Mas Ahmad Santosa. The interview discussed about deforestation moratorium [...]
Youth unemployment has reached unprecedented proportions in many countries, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). ILO says there will be 75 million jobless young people this year, four million more than in 2007. To address this challenge, the agency this week held a three-day forum in Geneva in which 100 young people participated. Patrick [...]
Although maternal mortality world-wide has dropped by half over the past 20 years, millions of women and children are dying because they cannot access medicines and health supplies. A UN Commission wants to increase provision of life-saving medicines which could prevent up to six million deaths over the next three years. Charles Appel reports. American [...]
Worsening security and humanitarian conditions in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan are driving thousands of refugees into neighbouring South Sudan. The UN Refugee agency (UNHCR ) says the refugee population in Yida camp in South Sudan has swollen to more than 35,000 and is expected to exceed 40,000 by the end of the month as more [...]
The Federation of St. Kitts-Nevis has become the first English-speaking Caribbean State to launch their Man and the Biosphere Programme. According to a story on UNESCO's website, the St. Mary's Biosphere Programme, is dedicated to the sustainable development and management of an area of significant biodiversity and cultural conservation, sustainable development capacity building and information [...]
NARRATOR: The World Bank has approved a US$25 million financial package to support the first phase financial package to support the first phase of the Caribbean Regional Communications Infrastructure Program. The program will provide 27 million people with access to better and affordable broadband services. The Infrastructure Program is the first phase of a 10-year [...]
NARRATOR: It is the view of Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar that while young people are innocent bystanders in the global financial crisis, they may end up paying the heaviest price as they will be called upon to work longer to service the debts accumulated in recent years and to support an increasingly [...]
Every day, girls as young as five years old are robbed of their childhood because they cease being girls and become brides. However, thousands of American girls between the ages of 13 and 18 who are outraged after learning about child marriage are working to fight it. These girls are raising awareness and funds to [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Global polio eradication efforts could grind to a halt over the next two years unless a one billion dollar funding shortfall is met, according to the World Health Organization(WHO). The agency says the funding is needed to scale up vaccination campaigns in Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan, which are the remaining polio endemic countries. WHO says [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
1. Kofi Annan expresses concern over third operating force in Syrian conflic 2. UN Supervision Mission head in Syria says nearly 260 observers deployed 3. UN mission chief says Syria dialogue cannot happen unless violence stops 4. New model needed for economic growth, says Ban Ki-moon 5. Trial of Mladic starts at The Hague 6. [...]
1. Over 1.5 billion people living in conflict-affected countries, says Ban Ki- moon 2. UN envoy to Guinea-Bissau says crisis there affecting population and economy 3. $400 million urgently needed to feed 8 million people in drought-affected countries of Sahel region : WFP head 4. ILO expert : Creating jobs is key for new French [...]
1. UN : Rio+20 is our chance to put the world on a more sustainable path 2. UN experts push proposal for global financial transaction tax 3. December 21, 2012 : Beginning of a new era in the Mayan culture 4. UNSMIS chief says Syrians placing ” a lot of hope ” in UN observers 5. Humanitarian [...]
1. Rio+2o about people's aspirations: UN. 2. Asia Pacific urged to Protect environment as it pursues economic growth. 3. Guatemala invites the world to welcome a new era on December 21, 2012. Narrated and Produced by Ambalika Misra Duration: 15’00″
Over the past weeks, elements of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) have been terrorizing people in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The group, led by Joseph Kony, began operating in Uganda in the 1980s and has also been active in South Sudan. LRA actions have included killing, robbing, raping, [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
United Nations agencies have launched a joint emergency operation to help thousands of people displaced by insecurity in northern Mali. More than 500,000 people have been displaced with over 300,000 seeking refuge in neighbouring countries including Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Niger. Elisabeth Byrs of the World Food Programme (WFP) says her agency and the UN [...]
More than 20 migrants are dead or missing after their boat sank on Saturday off the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean according to the UN Refugee agency UNHCR. The boat which is said to have been carrying about 40 people had set sail from the island of Anjouan in the Comoros Islands. [...]
Close to 15,000 people from the Democratic Republic of Congo have fled into southwest Uganda, as fighting continues between Congolese government forces and rebel groups, according the the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). The agency says over 7,000 of those displaced, many of whom come from villages in North Kivu, are camping in the town of [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Declining donor support is likely to affect the attainment of global health targets including those of HIVAIDS according to the World Health Organization. WHO says the UN Millennium development goal of having 15 million HIV positive people on antiretroviral treatment by 2015 will not be met mainly as a result of serious financial constraints facing [...]
Some new weapons are being developed to fight dengue fever. One is genetically modified mosquitoes and the other is a vaccine. Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection found in tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world. In recent years, transmission has increased predominantly in urban and semi-urban areas and has become a major international public health [...]
The Australian Mission to the United Nations held a celebration for the permanent forum on indigenous issues, with a reception in the General Assembly lobby. Some 2,000 indigenous people from around the world are in New York for the annual meeting which ends this week. This year’s special theme is “The Doctrine of Discovery: Its [...]
Governments around the world have been urged by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon not to abandon their commitment to sustainable development. Mr. Ban spoke on the second day of a meeting on the global economy at UN Headquarters in New York attended by government leaders and economists. He said he is deeply concerned about the slow [...]
The United Nations on Friday received the highest honour of Timor-Leste from the country's outgoing president. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate José Ramos-Horta thanked the United Nations on his last day as Timor's president at a medal ceremony held at the headquarters of the UN mission in the capital city of Dili. Four UN officials accepted [...]
The Security Council on Friday imposed targeted sanctions against military officers who seized power in Guinea-Bissau on 12 April. The Council unanimously adopted a resolution submitted by Portugal which reiterated the condemnation of the coup d'état in Guinea-Bissau. The Council demanded that soldiers relinquish power and take steps to restore and respect constitutional order. Ambassador [...]
Libya and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have committed themselves to work together to improve food security in the country. Under an agreement signed in Rome on Friday, the government of Libya is expected to provide $71 million to develop the country's agricultural sector. Dianne Penn reports. The agricultural projects to receive funding [...]
The persistent adverse state of the world economy remains a matter of global concern, and demands that the United Nations address itself to the challenges. That's what Guyana's President Donald Ramotar told the Summit segment of High-Level Thematic debate on the State of the World Economy Thursday at UN Headquarters in New York. President Ramotar [...]
More than 2,000 South Sudanese have been airlifted from the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, to Juba, the capital of South Sudan. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says many of the passengers were previously stranded at the Kosti way station 300 kilometres south of Khartoum for several months. According to the agency, about 12,000 South Sudanese [...]
There is a real risk that the present global fragility could impact on small peripheral economies and other developing countries that were able to withstand the initial impact of the crisis due to strong domestic economic buffers. So says Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persaud Bissessar. She told a High-Level Thematic debate on the [...]
The global financial crisis has highlighted the growing inequality found in many parts of the world. Economists Robin Wells and Paul Krugman blame this increasing inequality for the spiral of social polarization, growing divisions and crisis. Their essay has been published in "The Occupy Handbook," a new release which analyzes the grassroots occupy movement. The [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
The violence in Syria can only be stopped if all parties genuinely commit to a process that will lead to dialogue. That was the message from the head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), Major-General Robert Mood, who spoke to reporters in Damascus on Friday. Major-General Mood also gave an update on the [...]
More refugees and migrants from the Horn of Africa have arrived in Yemen this year than during the same period last year, according to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR). UNHCR says three out of four people who board rickety boats on the beaches near the port towns of Obock in Djibouti or Bossasso in [...]
A third force may be involved in the ongoing conflict in Syria, according to a spokesman for the joint envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League on Syria. Suspicions about this involvement have been prompted by bomb attacks in Syria that are similar to those carried out by Al-Qaeda. Last week more than [...]
Following more than two decades of negotiation, the United Nations in 2007 adopted a declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. The international human rights instrument emphasizes the rights of indigenous people everywhere—from the Andes Mountains in South America to the sacred aboriginal lands in Australia—to maintain their own institutions, cultures and traditions. A [...]
The UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) is expected to be fully operational in record time, according to its head. Major-General Robert Mood told reporters in the country's capital, Damascus, on Friday that there are now close to 260 unarmed UN observers on the ground from nearly 60 countries. He said the arrival of observers [...]
Representatives from Asia-Pacific participate in UN indigenous forum This week interview is about renewable energy in Indonesia as a solution for the need of economic growth which does not cause environmental damage. The interview relates the UNDP report “One Planet to Share”. The report , which launched in Jakarta, Indonesia, emphasized the need for [...]
Sexual violence is being used by illegal armed groups in Colombia as a weapon to scare and subjugate communities in areas where these groups operate. That's the testimony a senior United Nations official heard from women who have been raped in the department of Meta, about 100 kilometres from the capital, Bogotá. Margot Wallström, [...]
The number of women worldwide dying from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth has dropped by nearly half over the past two decades: from 543,000 in 1990 to 287,000 in 2010. However, many countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, are unlikely to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of reducing maternal deaths by 75 per cent before [...]
Some new weapons are being developed to fight dengue fever. One is genetically modified mosquitoes and the other is a vaccine. Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection found in tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world. In recent years, transmission has increased predominantly in urban and semi-urban areas and has become a major international public health [...]
The Khmer Krom, the indigenous peoples of the Mekong Delta who live in Viet Nam, are trying to preserve their heritage while advancing their culture. They are one of the many groups that came to the United Nations to participate in the 11th Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The UN says there [...]
The Khmer Krom, the indigenous peoples of the Mekong Delta who live in Viet Nam, are trying to preserve their heritage while advancing their culture. They are one of the many groups that came to the United Nations to participate in the Eleventh Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The UN says [...]
The World Bank is helping Tanzania establish a safety net programme to improve the lives of 15 million people, over half of whom are women. Through cash for work projects and other programmes, people are earning money to support their families while rebuilding their communities. Nearly half of Tanzania's population lives below the poverty line [...]
Indigenous peoples who have gathered in New York for their annual session in New York celebrated the fifth anniversary of a UN declaration on their rights. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the General Assembly in September 2007 after more than two decades of debate. It outlines the rights [...]
The global economy is at a critical juncture according to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who says the old model is broken and a new one for dynamic growth needs to be created. He made the remarks at the opening of a UN General Assembly thematic debate on the "State of the World Economy and Finance [...]
The 15 members of the Security Council are set for a three-country trip to West Africa on Friday evening. The Council members are scheduled to visit Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone and to meet with the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. UN spokesman Martin Nesirky says in Liberia, the ambassadors will review [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Fundamental rights enshrined in international law should be enjoyed by everyone regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. That's the message of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, in a video message for the International Day against Homophobia observed on 17 May. Charles Radcliffe is chief of the Global Issues Section [...]
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is to allocate close to $67 million for projects run by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the country. An agreement paving the way for the funds was signed by Saudi and FAO officials in Rome during the agency's regional conference for the Near East. Beng Poblete-Enriquez reports. [...]
A new model for dynamic economic growth that creates jobs and fights poverty is needed, according to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Mr. Ban spoke in the General Assembly on Thursday during a debate on the "State of the World Economy and Finance and its Impact on Development" attended by government leaders. He said the old [...]
Access to financial and technical assistance is critical to promoting and protecting the human rights of indigenous peoples. That message came from the President of the General Assembly who spoke on Thursday at an event commemorating the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Nassir Abdulaziz [...]
All around the world, people are arrested, attacked, tortured or killed because they are in a loving relationship with someone of the same sex. To counteract this harassment and discrimination, activists around the world commemorate 17 May as the International Day against Homophobia. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has released [...]
Colombian women are speaking up against sexual violence and want their government to fight impunity. That's what Margot Wallström, the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict said Thursday on the first day of her visit to the South American country. She met with members of non-governmental organizations who told her about [...]
Authorities in Libya have informed the International Criminal Court (ICC) that they want to prosecute the son of the late Muammar Gaddafi for crimes committed during the uprising in the country. That's what Luis Moreno Ocampo said on Wednesday during his last report to the Security Council as the ICC Prosecutor. Mr. Ocampo said ICC [...]
The number of women dying of pregnancy and childbirth related complications has dropped by nearly half over the past twenty years. That's according to a new report released on Wednesday by the World Health Organization, the UN Children's Fund, the UN Population Fund and the World Bank. The report, entitled "Trends in maternal mortality: 1990 [...]
The trial of former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic gets underway at The Hague with a stern warning by the judge following gestures made in court. Mr. Mladic reportedly made a throat-slitting gesture to a victim. The judge told all sides that inappropriate interactions were unacceptable. Mladic is facing charges on war crimes, crimes [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Over half the population of South Sudan, or some 4.7 million people, are at risk of going hungry this year, according to an assessment by food agencies and the country's government. They say food shortfalls have continued to worsen in the country, which celebrates its first year of independence in July. The anticipated cereal deficit [...]
The trial of former Serb Commander Ratko Mladic, accused of war crimes during the 1992 to 1995 Bosnian War began at The Hague on Wednesday. Mr. Mladic is facing eleven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in what was known as "ethnic cleansing" in that war. He has pleaded not [...]
The number of women worldwide dying from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth has dropped by nearly half over the past two decades. Estimates released on Wednesday by four agencies, including the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), show that maternal mortality fell from 543,000 to 287,000 between 1990 and 2010. However, they warn that many countries, [...]
Widespread torture, killings and human rights violations have allegedly been committed in Syria, according to the Chairperson of the UN Committee against Torture. Claudio Grossman spoke at a meeting in Geneva which took place despite the Syrian delegations absence. Government officials were supposed to report to the Committee on what Syria has done to implement [...]
A senior UN official is travelling to Colombia on Wednesday in efforts to combat impunity for crimes of sexual violence committed during the country's armed conflict. Margot Wallström, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for sexual violence, said she hopes to deepen dialogue and strengthen cooperation with the government during her four-day visit. She will [...]
Violence by criminals is threatening stability in Central America, according to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Mr. Ban addressed the General Assembly during a discussion on how to promote and implement a regional security strategy in Central America. The Secretary-General said political violence has been greatly reduced and democratic processes are being consolidated. However, he added, [...]
New health data by the World Health Organization(WHO) shows a dramatic increase in chronic diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes especially in the developing world. WHO says one in three adults worldwide, has raised blood pressure, while one in ten adults has diabetes. In its annual World Health Statistics report WHO says [...]
Former Liberia leader Charles Taylor says he cannot be held responsible for the war crimes committed during Sierra Leone’s 10 year civil war. In a statement before the Special court for Sierra Leone at The Hague, the former president said his contribution to peace in Sierra Leone was not taken into account during his trial [...]
Just ahead of the Rio+20 conference in June, business leaders will be meeting to discuss how they can add to the forum on sustainable development. The Global Compact, which is a UN voluntary initiative for responsible corporate citizenship, is hosting "The Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum" from 15-18 June. The focus of the meeting in Rio [...]
Singer Rachelle Jeanty performs in a myriad of styles, from pop to jazz, and she has worked with artists such as Celine Dion and Johnny Halliday. But she says regardless of the type of music she sings, her Haitian heritage is always an influence. Jeanty was born in New York and grew up in [...]
Somalia has made considerable advances as it prepares for the end of transitional governance in August, the top UN envoy in the country told the Security Council on Tuesday. Dr. Augustine Mahiga, head of the UN Political Office for Somalia, said challenges remain in the months ahead, including a tight timeline and limited resources. "As [...]
Sub-Saharan Africa cannot sustain its present economic resurgence unless it eliminates the hunger that affects nearly a quarter of its people, according to a report out Tuesday from the United Nations Development Programme. UNDP argues in the newly released Africa Human Development Report "2012: Towards a Food Secure Future" that action focused on agriculture alone [...]
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Despite the weaker global economic environment, sub-Saharan Africa is expected to continue growing strongly in 2012, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In its latest Regional Economic Outlook for Africa, the IMF says the region's robust growth is a result of its relative isolation from negative factors pulling down many other countries. IMF's Lika [...]
Nearly 50,000 people in Mexico have been killed over the past six years, victims of the drug violence in the country. The latest incident occurred this weekend with the discovery of 49 mutilated bodies in a region near the border with the United States. While the victims have not yet been identified, media reports say [...]
Thousands of people in Somaliland are eating more fresh meat, thanks to a World Food Programme (WFP) scheme. WFP has provided parents with vouchers thus giving them the choice to purchase food from local traders. Charles Appel reports. Through the WFP programme, parents receive US $80 in vouchers each month to buy food such as [...]
Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa cannot be sustained if hunger is not eliminated, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) warns in a report released on Tuesday. The first-ever, Africa Human Development Report says while the region has experienced some of the world's highest rates of economic growth in recent years, nearly a quarter of its people [...]
Algeria has become the first and only country in the Arab world to have more than 30 per cent of its parliamentary seats held by women, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). IPU reports that 145 women were elected as parliamentarians during last week's elections in Algeria. In the outgoing parliament, women MPs accounted for [...]
Nearly 400 South Sudanese nationals who had been stranded in a transit center in Sudan have now been airlifted back to their country by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Close to 12,000 South Sudanese nationals were stranded at Kosti which is 300 km south of the Sudanese capital Khartoum for months awaiting transport back [...]
A special concert will be held Tuesday night at the United Nations in support of a Permanent Memorial to the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. In conjunction with the performance, the UN has an ongoing free exhibition in the visitors lobby that showcases a retrospective on the scope and abolition of the [...]
The year 2012 will see the dawning of a new era for Guatemala and the world. That is the message officials from the country brought to the United Nations on Monday. For Guatemalans, 21 December 2012 will mark the start of the B'aktun era. This is based on the Mayan calendar, from the indigenous people [...]
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is seeking new war crimes charges against Democratic Republic of Congo rebel leader Bosco Ntaganda. Luis Moreno-Ocampo accused Mr. Ntaganda of murder, ethnic persecution, rape and sexual slavery. The ICC Prosecutor is also seeking similar charges against Sylvestre Mudacumura, military commander of the Democratic Forces for the [...]
Seven peacekeepers with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were wounded in an armed attack in South Kivu Monday. They were treated for gunshot wounds, while a number of other peacekeepers were also injured after being hit by stones. UN spokesman Martin Nesirky says 1,000 people surrounded the Mission's [...]
Over the past weeks, elements of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) have been terrorizing people in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The group, led by Joseph Kony, began operating in Uganda in the 1980s and has also been active in South Sudan. LRA actions have included killing, robbing, raping, [...]
Rio+20 is the last chance to put the world on a more sustainable path, one that has inclusive green growth, social equity and the long-term health of our planet firmly at the centre. That was the message Under Secretary-General Sha Zukang delivered Monday at a United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Brisbane, Australia. "If [...]
A group of UN independent experts is calling for a global financial transaction tax that would be used to fight poverty. They say a levy of between 0.1 and 0.5 per cent on the trading of bonds and shares would result in $48 billion to $250 billion annually to offset the costs of the ongoing [...]
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A group of United Nations independent experts is urging the European Union to push forward with a global financial transaction tax. EU ministers have been discussing a financial transaction tax across the Eurozone. The UN experts say money raised from a global tax on the financial industry could be used to address several social issues, [...]
Foreign Direct investment to low income countries is booming globally. On average, it's grown about 20% each year for the past decade. Some of the main investors are the so-called BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India and China. Chinese foreign direct investment alone has grown three times the global level. Amy Held of the International Monetary [...]
21 December 2012, represents the end of the Mayan calendar, but not the end of the world, according to Guatemalan officials who came to the United Nations to debunk doomsday predictions Carlos Batzín, the Minister of Culture of Guatemala said the date is really the beginning of a new era, the B'aktun era in [...]
The World Summit on the Information Society WSIS is taking place in Geneva this week. One focus will be on reviewing progress made in bridging the digital divide, as well as setting goals beyond 2015. Patrick Maigua reports from Geneva. When the WSIS first took place in 2003, a Plan of Action was set out [...]
Indigenous women and girls suffer a disproportionate amount of gender related violence, according to a report from experts gathered at the UN for the 11th Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. They are calling on governments and UN agencies to support strategies to combat the problem. They also want to see more involvement between the indigenous [...]
In Afghanistan, the minimum age for marriage is 16, but UN Women estimates half of all girls marry before age 15. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), which has been working to end the practice, says child brides represent the most prevalent form of sexual abuse and exploitation of girls. Just recently the in-laws of an Afghanistan [...]
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) need to free themselves from dependence on fossil fuel imports and transform their energy sectors to encompass modern, efficient, clean and renewable sources of energy, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a message to an audience of prime ministers, ministers, international experts, civil society leaders and business executives at the Barbados [...]
Indigenous women and girls suffer a disproportionate amount of gender related violence, according to a report from experts gathered at the UN for the 11th session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. They are calling on governments and UN agencies to support strategies to combat the problem. They also want to see more involvement [...]
An Achieving Sustainable Energy for All in Small Island Developing States Conference wrapped up this week with the adoption of the "Barbados Declaration", calling for universal access to modern and affordable renewable energy services, while protecting environment, ending poverty and creating new opportunities for economic growth. The declaration, adopted just weeks before the UN Conference [...]
Sudanese air attacks on civilian areas in South Sudan have been condemned by the UN human rights chief, Navi Pillay. Ms. Pillay, who is visiting South Sudan, said the attacks could amount to an international crime. "I am saddened and outraged to learn that such attacks which place civilians at great risk and have already [...]
The General Assembly hall was abuzz with jazz for the first International Jazz Day celebrated on 30 April 2012. A musical extravaganza of musicians from around the world gathered, celebrated and performed the universal power of jazz — Stevie Wonder, Sheila E, Jimmy Heath, Angelique Kidjo, Wynton Marsalis, Lang Lang, Hugh Masakela and many more. [...]
UN Humanitarian Affairs chief Valerie Amos is calling for long-term investment in Afghanistan to address issues such as land tenure, provision of basic services and economic opportunities. Ms. Amos has concluded a four-day mission to the country where she said more than one third of the population has experienced displacement. Her itinerary included a stop [...]
The situation in Syria is being closely watched by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) for any possible spill over into the neighbouring country. The head of UNAMI Martin Kobler says the plight of Syrian refugees, as well as the political conflict, are two areas of focus. According to Mr. Kobler, security in Iraq [...]
In Haiti, the United Nations is assisting the government in cracking down on groups of armed men carrying illegal weapons. Many of them are former military soldiers in the country and have been lobbying for the government to restore its armed forces, according to the UN Mission in Haiti, MINUSTAH. Lieutenant commander Jim Hoeft of [...]
Some 2,000 indigenous people from around the world are in New York for the annual meeting of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues which opened this week. Roughly two thirds of the world’s indigenous population lives in Asia and the Pacific and the region is well represented at the forum which runs through 18 [...]
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The government of the world's newest nation, South Sudan, has been urged to ratify the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international treaties as soon as possible. The appeal came from UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay who is visiting the country, which became independent in July 2011. Ms. Pillay said coming to South [...]
Asia-Pacific cannot afford to "grow first and clean up later," according to a new report from the UN Development Programme. UNDP says as the region prospers economically, it should also take steps to protect the environment and create jobs for the poor in its manufacturing, farming and energy generation activities. Anuradha Rajivan headed the team [...]
The conflict in Yemen has taken a toll on children in the Arabian Peninsula country, which is threatened with a major humanitarian crisis. The country is struggling to recover from the turmoil which started last year as people protested against the rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was eventually forced to relinquish power. However, [...]
After two straight days of bombings in Syria there is relative calm according to Major-General Robert Mood, head of the UN Supervision Mission in the country, UNSMIS. On Wednesday, a bomb exploded near an UNMIS caravan injuring Syrian soldiers. A day later twin explosions killed more than 50 people in Damascus and injured hundreds more. [...]
Syrians have placed "a lot of hope" in the UN mission deployed to the country. That's what Major-General Robert Mood, head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), told UN Radio on Friday. Maj-Gen Mood said the recent deadly bombings in Syria were a "graphic" reminder of the suffering the people are facing. "My [...]
The repatriation of nearly 15,000 South Sudanese currently stranded at a town south of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, is expected to commence this weekend, according to the International Organization for Migration(IOM). The South Sudanese have been in Kosti way station for up to a year waiting for transport to enable them to complete their journey [...]
Over 81,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo are to be repatriated home from the neighbouring Republic of Congo where they have been living for the past three years. The refugees fled inter ethnic violence in the northern DR Congo province of Equator in 2009. The Voluntary repatriation is organized by the UN Refugee [...]
The adoption of guidelines for safeguarding people's rights to own or access land, forests and fisheries resources has been welcomed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The voluntary guidelines, adopted at an FAO meeting in Rome on Friday outline principles and practices that governments can use when making laws on land tenure. Alexander Müeller [...]
Yemen is likely to experience a major humanitarian crisis unless urgent donor funding is made available to tackle growing malnutrition and control disease outbreaks, according to United Nations agencies. The crisis is being driven by insecurity which has left a large proportion of the population without adequate food, while damage to the health infrastructure has [...]
13 year old Vicky Jackson of Guyana narrates this programme about children's rights on Human Rights Day. Language: English Genre: Drama 1975 Duration: 13’00″
In Haiti, more than half of the 10 million cubic metres of rubble caused by the earthquake has been removed in one of the largest-scale clearance operations of its kind by the UN and its partners. A portion of it is being used to repair roads, improve neighbourhoods and rebuild houses. More than 80,000 buildings [...]
Libya is approaching what has been described by a top United Nations envoy as "a key moment" in its democratic transition. Ian Martin, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, briefed the Security Council on Thursday. Mr. Martin told the Council that there is progress in the preparations for the National Congress elections and [...]
Conditions in which internally displaced people live in a camp near the Somali capital, Mogadishu, have been described by a senior UN official as "appalling." Deputy humanitarian affairs chief Catherine Bragg is in Somalia and Kenya this week to assess humanitarian challenges. The UN estimates that one third of Somalia's population, or approximately 2.5 million [...]
The UN Secretary-General has repeated his call for all sides in Syria to cease armed violence following two deadly bomb attacks in the country's capital on Thursday. In a statement, Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the blasts which killed more than 50 people and injured scores of others. Martin Nesirky is the spokesperson for the UN [...]
Indigenous people from around the world have gathered at United Nations headquarters in New York for a two week forum to discuss their issues. Samuel Naikada, a Maasai from Kenya is one of the 2,000 delegates attending this year's session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The Maasai are the indigenous people of [...]
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A funding shortfall could affect the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the Sahel and Horn of Africa which are grappling with drought. That warning has come from the head of FAO, José Graziano da Silva who spoke at an international economic forum held in Madrid on Thursday. Mr. Da Silva said [...]
The Joint Special Envoy on Syria has sharply condemned Thursday’s bombings in Damascus, which reportedly killed at least 55 people and injured hundreds. International mediator Kofi Annan says "these abhorrent acts are unacceptable and the violence in Syria must stop now." On 12 April his six point peace plan went into effect and unarmed observers [...]
The economies of countries in Asia and the Pacific region will continue to grow though they will slow down in 2012, according to a report released on Thursday. The Economic and Social Survey for Asia and the Pacific says a major concern for the region is the volatility and long-term rise of commodity prices. The [...]
Countries of the Asia and Pacific region continue to have the fastest growing economies in the world, according to a new report by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. However, the Economic and Social Survey for Asia and the Pacific, released on Thursday, says growth in 2012 will be slower [...]
Asia-Pacific countries cannot afford to prosper economically without also responding to the challenge of climate change, according to a new report released by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) on Thursday. UNDP says the region will need to change the way it handles manufacturing, farming, livestock rearing and energy generation, in order to sustain the environment [...]
Two Palestinian prisoners who are on a hunger strike in Israeli prisons are in imminent danger of death, according to the UN Agency assisting Palestinians UNRWA. The two prisoners are among thousands of Palestinian prisoners who have been on hunger strike for more than 74 days. UNRWA Commissioner General Filippo Grandi said the health and [...]
Next month, the world will gather in Brazil for the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. The UN calls it a “historic opportunity to define pathways to a safer, more equitable, cleaner, greener and more prosperous world for all”. Heads of state, researchers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and activists will gather to shape how economic [...]
The UN-Arab League envoy for Syria has strongly condemned two deadly blasts which rocked the country's capital, Damascus, on Thursday. More than 50 people are reported to have been killed and scores of others wounded in the early morning attacks, which took place near a military building. In a statement, Kofi Annan expressed condolences for [...]
1. ILO says number of people without jobs rising 2. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses Myanmar parliament , stresses elections and open government 3. Somalis fleeing drought now face flooding in refugee camps 4. People displaced by Sudan and South Sudan conflict to be provided emergency aid by IOM 5. Judiciary's independence under grave threat in [...]
1. Ban Ki-moon calls for intensified efforts to defeat malaria 2. T-3 initiative aims to combat malaria, WHO says 3. Security Council discusses illicit cross-border trade between countries 4. Securing borders against illicit materials and goods, UN to provide comprehensive assessment in 6 months 5. Syrian cooperation with monitors ” absolutely important” says Ban Ki- moon 6. [...]
The bomb explosion near a UN observer convoy in Syria on Wednesday is evidence of the challenging circumstances under which the unarmed monitors are working. That's what UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in the General Assembly on Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Ban strongly condemned the bomb blast. "Today's incident is an example of what the Syrian [...]
The World Bank is urging governments to build more "resource efficient" economies. In a new report launched on Wednesday, the bank challenges policy makers to better measure how natural resources are being used. Rachel Kyte is World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development. "There's no denying that our current economic system is enormously inefficient because [...]
China's efforts to combat the illegal trade in wildlife have been praised by a UN agency which protects endangered species. The country has been awarded a Certificate of Commendation by (CITES), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife and Fauna, in recognition of two nation-wide law enforcement operations carried out earlier this [...]
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs is calling on donor states to continue supporting the people of Afghanistan now more than ever. Valerie Amos, who is also the UN's Emergency Relief Coordinator is on her first trip to Afghanistan where she assessing the humanitarian situation in the country. Ms. Amos says the UN this year has [...]
As part of this year's session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, an exhibit opened at United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday evening. Cultural groups of indigenous peoples from around the world performed during the opening of the exhibit entitled "Indigenous Peoples and Food Sovereignty." The performers are part of the [...]
As Afghanistan moves to assume full responsibility for its security, governance and development efforts, the international community is being urged not to forget the country's ongoing humanitarian needs. That message comes from UN Humanitarian Coordinator Valerie Amos who is visiting the country. She spoke to reporters in the capital, Kabul, on Wednesday. "We have [...]
The United Nations is supporting Haiti in its crack down on illegal weapons. The UN Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the national police this week began joint patrols in different neighbourhoods of the capital, Port-au-Prince to stop the circulation of these items. According to MINUSTAH, there has been a recent increase in the number of [...]
France needs to focus on creating jobs as it deals with the ongoing European financial crisis, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). Richard Torres, author of the recent World of Work report by the ILO says cutting back on public spending has not reduced Europe's financial problems. He says a policy shift will help [...]
A bomb exploded near a convoy carrying United Nations observers in the Syrian city of Dar'a on Wednesday, according to the office of UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy, Kofi Annan. The incident, in which several Syrian soldiers were injured, occurred as the convoy entered Dar'a, located in southwestern Syria near the border with Jordan. No [...]
Although Lebanon remains stable it is in a region which a top United Nations envoy has described as "at the brink of the abyss of war." Terje Roed-Larsen, who oversees implementation of a Security Council resolution concerning Lebanon's sovereignty, briefed the Council on Tuesday. Speaking to journalists after the briefing, Mr. Roed-Larsen said it was [...]
UN-Arab League joint special envoy Kofi Annan has told the Security Council that his peace plan for Syria could be the “last chance to avoid civil war” in the country. He also told Council members during a closed briefing that despite a cessation of hostilities, government forces continue to crack down. Mr. Annan said he [...]
Regional and other countries have been deploying "huge efforts" to undermine the work of UN observers in Syria, the country's ambassador told journalists in New York on Tuesday. Bashar Ja'afari stated there is what he called "a big conspiracy" against UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan. “The big problem now, we are facing right [...]
The situation in Syria could slide into civil war if more is not done to end the violence. That warning came from Kofi Annan, the joint special envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League for Syria after briefing the Security Council by video teleconference on Tuesday. He told reporters in Geneva that [...]
There is need to coordinate efforts to resolve the political crisis in Guinea-Bissau where soldiers seized power on 12 April. That's what Joseph Mutaboba, the head of the UN Peacebuilding Support Office for Guinea-Bissau, told UN Radio on Tuesday. Mr. Mutaboba said he has met in New York with representatives of the Economic Community of [...]
The ongoing political crisis caused by the April 12 military coup in Guinea-Bissau is creating economic difficulties for the people. That's what Joseph Mutaboba, the head of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in that country (UNOGBIS) told UN Radio on Tuesday. The West African country has a long history of military coups since it [...]
Tens of thousands of Syrian refugees continue to cross into neighbouring countries to escape violence in their country. The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) says it is providing aid to nearly 70,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is also helping these refugees, many of whom are very young. Correspondent [...]
Hundreds of Syrian refugees are arriving at Domiz Camp in northern Iraq, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The agency says there are nearly 3,000 Syrian refugees at the camp located in the governorate of Dahuk and local authorities estimate that over the next month up 7,000 more may arrive. Chris Lom is [...]
At least seven Somali migrants have died as they attempted to cross from Libya to Europe, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR. The dead include five men and two women. UNHCR says the dead were among a group of 90 migrants who travelled on a boat from Libya across the Mediterranean Sea. The boat [...]
The joint United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has launched a campaign to end new HIV infections among children by 2015. Known as "Believe it. Do it" , the campaign also aims to ensure that women living with HIV stay healthy through pregnancy, delivery and breast-feeding. UNAIDS estimates that about 390,000 children become newly infected with [...]
The UN special envoy for Guinea-Bissau has suggested the Security Council consider targeted measures against coup leaders. Joseph Mutaboba gave Council members an update on the situation in the country following the seizure of power by members of the army on 12 April. He also reaffirmed the United Nations' condemnation of the coup d’état and [...]
African nations need to stimulate sectors within their countries that can diversify their economies, so that they are not dependent on commodities. That is the message from Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the finance minister of Nigeria who attended the recent spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington D.C. The IMF's [...]
The Eleventh Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues opened in New York Monday. This year's special theme is "The Doctrine of Discovery: Its Enduring Impact on Indigenous Peoples and the Right to Redress for Past Conquests. Around 2,000 indigenous delegates from around the world are expected to attend the annual meeting. [...]
More than 2,000 indigenous peoples from around the world have gathered in New York. They are participating in a two-week session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues which opened on Monday. One of the participants is Dr. Mirna Cunningham of the Miskito people of Nicaragua and a member of the Forum. Dianne Penn [...]
More than 1.5 billion people still live in conflict-affected countries despite a decline in violent conflict over the past 20 years, according to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Mr. Ban addressed the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a non-profit organization which develops policy initiatives in Washington D.C. on Monday. He said peacebuilding is complex and [...]
The window of opportunity to save people from hunger in Africa's Sahel region is narrowing by the day. That's the assessment of the heads of the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), who concluded a four-day mission to Niger on Monday. In a joint statement, the two agency chiefs are appealing [...]
Promoting employment will be a key goal for the new French president. That's according to Richard Torres, author of the recent World of Work report by the International Labour Organization (ILO). François Hollande, who was elected French President on Sunday, has inherited a country with 10 per cent unemployment. Charles Appel reports. Torres heads [...]
The continued political crisis in Guinea-Bissau has resulted in mounting anxiety about the social and economic situation in the West African country. That message comes from Joseph Mutaboba, the top United Nations envoy in Guinea-Bissau in his latest report to the Security Council on Monday. The military seized power in Guinea-Bissau on 12 April, just [...]
The impact of the Age of Discovery on indigenous people is the focus of the latest session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues which opened in New York on Monday. The "forward-thinking dialogue" will not only look at historical wrongs done to indigenous people during the European annexation of their lands more [...]
Communities in Jonglei State of South Sudan have been commended by the top UN official in the country for their commitment to peace. This followed the conclusion of a peace conference this weekend where representatives of six main communities signed resolutions aimed at breaking the cycle of violence in South Sudan's largest state. Charles Appel [...]
Chinese pianist Lang Lang says in music there are no barriers, instead it brings people together. The UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador was just one of several musicians to take part in the first annual International Jazz Day concert at the United Nations on 30 April. The Day seeks to spotlight the historic influence the jazz music [...]
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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wrapped up a momentous trip to Myanmar earlier this week, where he met with democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for the first time and became the first foreigner to address the Union Assembly, Myanmar’s joint houses of parliament. He also launched the UN Global Compact’s Myanmar network which he described as [...]
More than 19,000 people have been displaced over the past one week in the North Kivu Province of Democratic Republic of the Congo as government troops battle soldiers loyal to former rebel commander Bosco Ntaganda. The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR says most of the displaced are seeking shelter in Goma. Another 4,100 mainly of [...]
Over one million babies worldwide die each year because they were born too soon, according to a report released on Wednesday. But the majority of these premature deaths—75 per cent—can be avoided through simple and low-cost interventions including promoting constant skin-to-skin contact between the mother and baby, a procedure known as "kangaroo mother care." The [...]
The government of Sudan has rescinded an earlier decision to expel an estimated 15,000 South Sudanese nationals stranded in Kosti town some 200 kilometers south of the capital, Khartoum. The South Sudanese nationals who have been in the town for months waiting for transport back to their country had been ordered to leave by 5th [...]
The peace plan for Syria is on track despite continued violence, according to the joint UN and Arab League Envoy Kofi Annan. The special envoy says there have been small signs of compliance, including the withdrawal of some of the heavy weapons from civilian areas. Meanwhile the number of UN monitors is expected to reach 50 [...]
Five years ago, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution condemning attacks on journalists in conflict situations. At a panel discussion to mark World Press Freedom Day at the UN on Thursday, journalists and diplomats shared views on what has happened since the adoption of that resolution. For many of the participants, the news [...]
NARRATOR: The Government of Trinidad and Tobago recognizes the important contribution of youth to community and national development. And for that and other reasons, and aware of the challenges they continue to face, the Government actively undertakes efforts to ensure the health and well-being of all of citizens, including the adolescent and youth population. That’s [...]
NARRATOR: Guyana’s vision for tourism is based on established, sustainable tourism principles – meeting the needs of the present tourism and host regions, while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future. Prime Minister Samuel Hinds told the 13th Sustainable Tourism Conference that Guyana’s tourism vision is to make Guyana a destination of choice, and a [...]
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The UN Security Council has called on Sudan and South Sudan to end hostilities. In a unanimous resolution on Wednesday, Council members called on the two countries to resume negotiations and within three months resolve the issues causing the conflict. They include the status of nationals of one country resident in the other, border demarcation [...]
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Afghan refugees being registered Fewer Afghan refugees are returning to their country and that's because of a lack of economic opportunities according to the UN Refugee Agency. UNHCR says about 70,000 Afghan refugees opted to return home last year from a peak of 250,000 in 2008. The agency says the majority of those who do [...]
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Myanmar's newly elected legislators will receive training and support from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on how to build an effective and democratic legislative body. The IPU has sent a four- member team to help the new legislators better understand the workings of a democratic parliament including parliamentary proceedings, legislative drafting and parliament's role in the promotion [...]
More than 325,000 Somali children may die in the coming months if funds are not raised to provide them with life saving nutrition, according to the UN Children's fund UNICEF. UNICEF says its 2012 Somalia appeal is $289 million, but it has only managed to raise about $30 million. The agency warns that severely malnourished children [...]
