The UN Security Council is expected to vote on a new Syria resolution Thursday. Members have been debating its content and whether or not to include sanctions and other measures. Columbian Ambassador Nestor Osorio, whose country holds the rotating Council presidency for the month says they put off the vote so that members could negotiate [...]
The top United Nations human rights official said Wednesday she is "seriously alarmed" by the current climate of intimidation against journalists and human rights defenders in Ethiopia. Charles Appel reports. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says the overly broad interpretation of laws concerning terrorism and civil society in Ethiopia are resulting in [...]
More than one million children could experience severe acute malnutrition this year as a result of the food crisis in the Sahel region, the UN humanitarian office (OCHA) is warning. The children are among 18 million people in nine countries where food insecurity and high prices, combined with armed conflict, are having a dire effect [...]
If we continue on our present path for the next 20 years, we risk global catastrophe, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday at an event with "Future We Want Champions" in Beijing, China. Mr. Ban said people simply do not recognize that the planet has limits and some of those limits have been exceeded such as [...]
There were 34.2 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS at the end of last year, a slight increase from 33.5 million the year before, according the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). The new 2012 UNAIDS report "Together we will end AIDS" was launched Wednesday in Washington DC ahead of the XIX International AIDS [...]
The contributions of one the world's greatest advocates for freedom, justice and democracy—former South African President Nelson Mandela—were celebrated in the General Assembly on Wednesday. Since 2010, the world has commemorated 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day, in honour of Mr. Mandela's birthday and his nearly seven decades of service to humanity. Dianne Penn [...]
A series of new legislative amendments in Russia could have a "seriously negative" impact on human rights in the country, according to a top United Nations official. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay is urging the Government to ensure that the new laws are in line with international standards. In June, restrictive amendments [...]
"Turning the tide together" is the theme of the upcoming International Conference on AIDS. The World Health Organization's HIV programme is planning to participate in the conference with a specific focus on the theme "The strategic use of ARVs”. At a press conference on Geneva on Tuesday, Dr. Gottfried Hirnschall and others explained how the [...]
Students from various African nations as well as other countries throughout the world gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa recently to participate in a dialogue and discussion about Nelson Mandela. That was part of their way of honouring his life and legacy for this year's Mandela International Day, observed on 18 July. They also pledged to [...]
ANC leader Nelson Mandela addresses the General Assembly about his fight against the Apartheid regime in South Africa, four years before being elected President. Language: English Genre: Speech 1990 Duration: 24’00″
This ceremony honors Nelson and Winnie Mandela and the fight against the Apartheid regime in South Africa. Language: English Genre: Speech 1984 Duration: 8’00″
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed hope that the UN Security Council will speak with one voice when it comes to a resolution regarding Syria. There are a number of proposals in front of the Council that members have been debating. The Secretary-General said he hopes they come together in a united manner to help [...]
This year on 18 July — Nelson Mandela’s 94th birthday — the UN is joining a call by the Nelson Mandela Foundation to devote 67 minutes of time to helping others, as a way to mark Nelson Mandela International Day. In November 2009, the UN General Assembly declared 18 July “Nelson Mandela International Day” in [...]
