Children are still being captured at a young age, shot up with drugs and used in combat, warns Academy Award-winning actor and producer Michael Douglas. It's one of the causes he has taken up since being appointed UN Messenger of Peace in 1998. Mr. Douglas recently hosted a documentary filmed in Sierra Leone to [...]
The Government of Haiti is committed to strengthening its relationship with humanitarian aid partners and making their job more efficient, Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe told the international community on Monday. Two years after a deadly earthquake slammed the country, the Prime Minister said Haiti does not want to be known as an "NGO nation." Rather, [...]
For many people around the world who have suffered war crimes and crimes against humanity, The Hague represents hope. Home to a number of international courts and institutions charged with promoting and protecting international peace and justice, it's also a place where countries come to settle their disputes. Advancing the cause of justice and [...]
The rule of law is generally understood to mean that people in societies should be governed by laws with no-one being above the law. When disputes occur between people, judges should adjudicate in courts of law. Constitutions form the basis for laws that are passed in democratic countries. At the international level, the rule of [...]
A painful era is now coming to an end for Serbia, a European country which was part of the former Yugoslavia, according to Vuc Jeremic, the newly elected President of the 67th General Assembly. His tenure, says the former Foreign Minister, will mark the re-instatement of his country on the international scene. Twenty years ago, [...]
Indian actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS). She will assist efforts to reduce the number of children born with HIV and to empower women affected by the virus. "This particular cause, the particular agenda that UNAIDS has, when you have [...]
The energy sector could be a key player in the transition to a greener economy, according to the head of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Achim Steiner says renewable energy is increasingly becoming less a question of economics as costs are falling rapidly. The UNEP Executive Director spoke ahead of a high-level meeting of the [...]
The World Health Organization (WHO) is obtaining further information to determine whether there are any public health implications following reports of two confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in Europe. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses which includes those that cause the common cold and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Charles Appel reports. WHO says the [...]
As the annual debate of the UN General Assembly opens in New York, the UN emergency relief coordinator is hoping humanitarian concerns will remain in the spotlight. Valerie Amos told UN Television that so far this year, aid organizations have asked for nearly $9 billion but only half that mount has been received. “It’s a [...]
Once again world leaders have gathered in New York City, the headquarters of the United Nations to discuss global issues. Behind the scenes, a lot of preparations have been made for the General Debate taking place during the next two weeks. One person who makes sure that world leaders and other delegates gathered in [...]
Countries are being urged to strengthen the rule of law, which is in the best interest of all people. That was the message UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered to the General Assembly on Monday. Mr. Ban called for action in five areas, including supporting UN initiatives through measures such as training police officers and enhancing [...]
Israel is failing to take legal action against Israeli settlers and soldiers who perpetuate violence against Palestinians and their property, according to a report by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR). The report says a soldier investigated for the killing of a Palestinian woman and her daughter was yet to be indicted for the crime, [...]
