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Entries posted on “December 2012”
UN Daily News 31 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
UN wraps up Timor-Leste mission
The UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) concluded its mandate on Monday, 31 December after six years in the country. The UN helped guide the Asia-Pacific nation to independence in 2002, while the mission assisted in consolidating stability and building democracy in the wake of major political, humanitarian and security crises. Ameerah Haq is a [...]
UN mission in Timor-Leste draws to a close
After six years in the country, the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) concluded its mandate on Monday, 31 December. The UN helped guide the Asia-Pacific nation to independence in 2002, and the mission assisted in consolidating stability and building democracy in the wake of major political, humanitarian and security crises. Ameerah Haq, the [...]
UN-Arab League envoy warns of threat of "Somalization" of Syria
The conflict in Syria risks degenerating into chaos similar to what happened in Somalia when the state there collapsed in 1991, unless a political solution is found. That warning came over the weekend from the Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the Arab League for the Syrian crisis, Lakhdar Brahimi. On Sunday, the [...]
UNRWA receives EUR 1 million for mother and child health care from Andalucia
The regional government of Andalucía has confirmed a EUR 1 million donation to support mother and child health-care services provided by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). This is the fourth consecutive year that Andalucía has helped the agency provide quality and accessible family health care for Palestine refugee women and their children [...]
Pillay urges fundamental changes in wake of India rape tragedy
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Monday expressed her deep sadness at the death of a 23-year old Indian woman who was brutally gang-raped on a bus on 16 December. At the same time, she expressed her hope that this terrible case would mark a turning point against violence against women in [...]
UN independent expert expressed serious concern over attacks on independence of judiciary
A UN independent expert has expressed serious concern over the impeachment proceedings against the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the recent attacks against lawyers who have been fighting for the independence of the judiciary in Sri Lanka. Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Gabriela Knaul says "The recent steps taken [...]
ICTY closes field offices in Croatia and Kosovo
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has closed its field offices in Zagreb and Pristina effective Monday 31 December, 2012. The closure is in line with the completion strategy of the ICTY. However, the field offices in Belgrade and Sarajevo will remain open to continue supporting the work of the Tribunal. The [...]
Ban condemns escalating violence in Pakistan
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is appalled by the escalating terrorist violence in Pakistan. A statement attributable to his Spokesperson's office says the Secretary-General condemns in particular, the continued violent targeting of religious minorities – the latest being a car bombing of three buses in south-west Pakistan Sunday, in which some 20 Shi'a pilgrims on their [...]
Secretary-General expresses sorrow following death of rape victim in India
Violence against women must never be accepted, excused or tolerated, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said following the death of a young woman from India who had been gang raped earlier this month. The 23-year-old student was raped by six men while on board a bus in New Delhi on 16 December. She suffered severe injuries [...]
Political process is only choice to end Syrian crisis: UN-Arab League envoy
The crisis in Syria will remain a "direct threat" to world peace if it is not resolved in the coming months, according to UN-Arab League Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi. Brahimi was speaking to reporters in Cairo on Sunday where he met with Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Al Arabi. On Saturday the Joint Special Representative [...]
Joint UN-Arab League envoy goes to Russia
The Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the Arab League on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, is travelling to Moscow to meet with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday, according to the UN spokesperson. His visit is part of his efforts to end the conflict in Syria which started almost two years ago as a [...]
UN Daily News 28 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Security Council condemns attacks by rebels in Central African Republic
The Security Council has condemned the attacks by armed groups known as the Seleka coalition, which have taken several towns in the Central African Republic. In a statement issued late on Thursday, the Council says these attacks undermine a 2008 agreement signed in Libreville, Gabon to end the conflicts in the country. It urges all [...]
UNFPA encourages Nepalese families to delay girls' marriages
Half of all girls in Nepal are married before the age of 18, an illegal but prevalent practice which denies them access to education and puts them at risk of complications in childbirth from having children too young. Pat Duffy tells the story of a young woman, Bihay Laxmi, who was married before she [...]
Exhibition documents 'Momentum' between UN and Timor-Leste
The UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) completes its mandate at the end of this month, after six years of service in the country. UNMIT was the fifth UN peacekeeping or political operation in Timor-Leste, dating back to the country's struggle for self-determination following the 1999 Popular Consultation. A multimedia exhibition called 'Momentum' on display [...]
Japan contributes additional $2 million to UNRWA
The Government of Japan has contributed an additional $2 million to support the emergency work of the United Nations Relief Agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) in Gaza. UNRWA says the donation will be used to provide non-food items to Palestinian refugees affected by the recent violence in the territory. The items include emergency bedding materials as [...]
Key public health milestones reached in 2012: WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that key public health milestones were reached in 2012. As the year ends, the agency highlights some of the key achievements and developments related to health during the year, including the end of polio transmission in India. WHO also says that the Millennium Development Goal target on drinking water [...]
Displaced people in eastern DR Congo get relief aid from IOM
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has completed a four-day operation to distribute items to about 6,500 displaced households in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The non-food items received by the displaced people at the spontaneous Bulengo settlement included plastic sheeting, sleeping mats, blankets, soap, kitchen sets, feminine hygiene, jerry [...]
General Assembly resolution aims to end FGM
United Nations Member States on the 20th of December approved a draft resolution aimed at ending the harmful practice of female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation or cutting, also known as FGM/C, refers to several different harmful practices involving the cutting of the female genitals for non-medical reasons. The UN World Health Organization (WHO), [...]
The sun sets on UN mission in Timor-Leste
The UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) winds down its activities on 31 December, having assisted the country in consolidating stability and building democracy in the wake of major political, humanitarian and security crises. Monica Villela Grayley sat down with Ameerah Haq, head of the UN Department of Field Support in New York, who [...]
Down with Dragons
A radio drama about international understanding and mutual appreciation of cultures between East and West. Language: English Genre: Drama 1959 Duration: 28’38″
The Pursuit of Peace
Reflections from “living memories” on mankind’s progress towards peace. Language: English Genre: Drama 1958 Duration:28’25:
Peace on Earth
Actor Charles Boyer discusses the cruelties of war, highlighting the urgency for peace in troubled areas such as Korea, India, Iraq, Germany and Syria, and giving a voice to soldiers and civil society. Language: English Genre: Report 1953 Download (30 min, 14 mb)
UN Daily News 27 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Modern technology helps meet the needs of refugees in South Sudan
Modern technology is being used to help thousands of refugees in South Sudan, says the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR. The agency is using satellite imagery, interactive mapping, digital fingerprinting and text messages to strengthen refugee protection, help the most vulnerable and reach out to refugees in urban areas. UNHCR is conducting its first [...]
UNICEF helps HIV-positive teens in Namibia realize their dreams
According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), East and Southern Africa remains the area most heavily affected by the HIV epidemic. Dianne Penn reports on a club at a hospital in Namibia, which is supported by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), that's helping HIV-positive teenagers to build their confidence so that they [...]
UN-Arab League envoy proposes transitional government in Syria
The joint Special Representative of the United Nations and League of Arab States has proposed the formation of a transitional government in Syria. Lakhdar Brahimi spoke to reporters in the Syrian capital, Damascus on Thursday ahead of his trip to Moscow this weekend. He spoke as the government and the opposition continue their military confrontation [...]
Call for probe into LRA poaching of African elephants welcomed by CITES
The UN agency dealing with stopping trade in endangered wildlife has welcomed a call to investigate the alleged involvement of the Lord's Resistance Army' (LRA) in the poaching of African elephants. The call was made by the Security Council in a presidential statement on 19 December, which condemned the destabilizing activities of the LRA [...]
UN chief condemns armed attacks by rebels in Central African Republic
The armed attacks launched by rebel fighters on several towns in the Central African Republic have been strongly condemned by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The rebels are reported to have advanced towards the capital, Bangui, prompting the United Nations to temporarily relocate its non-essential staff from the country. In a statement issued late on [...]
UNICEF urges Russia to put best interests of children first
The government of Russia has been urged to let the best interests of children determine its actions. The appeal comes from the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) following a reported overwhelming vote in the Russian Parliament to ban American citizens from adopting Russian orphans. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Executive Director of UNICEF, Anthony [...]
UN Daily News 26 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
End impunity and empower victims of sexual violence in conflict: UN official
Ending impunity for those who commit sexual violence during conflict is one of the goals of Zainab Bangura, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General tasked with fighting this scourge. A former Minister of Health in Sierra Leone, Ms. Bangura this month conducted her first official mission which took her to the Central African Republic. [...]
UN envoy details progress and challenges in Afghanistan
While Afghanistan continues to face significant challenges in areas such as human rights and protection, the country has realized strong political and development gains, according to the top UN envoy in the country. In his recent year-end briefing to the Security Council, Ján Kubiš stressed the need for a sustained partnership between Afghanistan and the [...]
UNESCO condemns killing of Syrian TV cameraman
The head of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has condemned the recent killing of a Syrian television cameraman. In a statement issued on Wednesday, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova says she is appalled by the killing of Haidar al-Sumudi and the continuing attacks on journalists in Syria. UNESCO says Haidar al-Sumudi, who worked [...]
A complex and challenging year for the UN draws to a close
As UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told journalists at his year-end press conference in New York last week, 2012 has been a "tumultuous" year for the world and for the United Nations. The intensification of the crisis in Syria, instability and hunger in The Sahel, violence in Gaza and fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of [...]
CITES welcomes call for probe into LRA involvement in poaching of African elephants
A call to investigate the alleged involvement of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in the poaching of African elephants has been welcomed by the UN agency dealing with stopping trade in endangered wildlife. The call was made by the Security Council in a presidential statement on 19 December which condemned the destabilizing activities of the [...]
It is critical to "mentally disarm" former combatants: UN official
It is not enough to physically disarm former combatants and reintegrate them into security forces, according to the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zainab Bangura. Ms. Bangura is just back from the Central African Republic, the first country she has visited since she was appointed as special envoy in June. She tells [...]
UN Daily News 24 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
General Assembly resolution aims to end FGM
United Nations Member States on the 20th of December approved a draft resolution aimed at ending the harmful practice of female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation or cutting, also known as FGM/C, refers to several different harmful practices involving the cutting of the female genitals for non-medical reasons. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) estimates [...]
Senior humanitarian official says Syrians losing hope as crisis deepens
The Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the Arab League, Lakhdar Brahimi, has reiterated his call for all parties in Syria to reach a solution that would in his words "meet the aspirations of the Syrian people." Brahimi met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Monday to exchange views on the [...]
Asia-Pacific adopts plan to use space technology for disaster risk reduction and sustainable development
Asia-Pacific countries have adopted a five year Regional Plan of Action for the application of space technology to address natural disasters and achieve sustainable development. The countries met in Bangkok, Thailand, from 18 to 20 December under the auspices of the UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The plan calls on ESCAP [...]
Caribbean Tourism showed signs of recovery in 2012: CTO
The Caribbean tourism industry continued to show signs of recovery during 2012, fuelled by improvements in the United States and Canadian markets. However, the region's tourism development agency, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), says the region continues to face challenges in Europe, particularly the United Kingdom market from which the numbers have been falling. [...]
Urgent needs remain to end Haiti’s displacement crisis:IOM
Newly published reports on the number of displaced persons remaining in camps show that almost 360,000 Haitians are still living in 496 sites throughout the country. The IOM Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) registration analysis for 2012, produced by IOM, Haiti and its partners, shows that between January and August 2012, at least 84% of the [...]
Special adviser voices concern for sectarian violence in Syria
The Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide has warned of the increasing risk of sectarian violence in Syria. Adama Dieng said he was "deeply concerned that entire communities risk paying the price for crimes committed by the Syrian Government". Mr. Dieng is concerned that civilian communities, including Alawite and other minorities [...]
URDU #52: Bain Ul Aqwami Manzarnama
1. ICC prosecutor briefs SC, says victims of Darfur can hardly wait 2. UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs says women's participation in decision-making process far from adequate 3. 500,000 Syrians seeking refuge in neighbouring countries : UNHCR 4. ILO : Women facing higher level of unemployment than men 5. CERF helps the most [...]
URDU #51: Bain Ul Aqwami Manzarnama
1. Ban Ki-moon applauds work of volunteers on International Volunteers Day 2. Leadership encouraged by UN Climate Change Coference in Doha, Qatar 3. Northern Mali security situation needs urgent attention, says UN official 4. UNHCR : Civilians victims of ongoing conflict in Syria 5. OCHA says Somalis will need 3.8 million in 2013 6. Eastern DR [...]
UN Daily News 21 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Security Council authorizes mission in Mali
The Security Council has authorized the deployment of a mission in Mali which is plagued by political instability since a military coup in March. In addition to this, armed rebels now control the northern parts of the country. The African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA), will help the authorities in Mali to recover rebel-held [...]
Urgent needs remain to end Haiti's displacement crisis:IOM
With an estimated 84 percent of the Haitian population still living in camps, there is an urgent need to end Haiti's displacement crisis, says the International Organization for Migration ( IOM). Newly published reports from IOM Haiti and its partners say almost 360,000 Haitians are still living in 496 sites throughout the country. Gerry Adams [...]
UN independent expert calls for a halt to plight of Somali boat people
"The plight and suffering of Somali boat people must stop," says the UN independent expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Shamsul Bari. His call follows a recent boat disaster in the Gulf of Aden, which claimed the lives of 55 Somali refugees and migrants. He says "This tragic incident shows the level [...]
Aboriginal women in Australia face abuse, says an aborigine
Australia's aboriginal female community experiences much higher rates of abuse than the rest of the population, says Cathy Eatock, a senior policy officer in state government. Ms. Eatock, an aborigine herself, spoke at a recent meeting at the United Nations on strategies for ending violence against women. She explained to Gerry Adams some of [...]
Displaced Palestinian refugees in Syria to receive food assistance
Palestinian refugees are among the scores of people who have been affected by the ongoing crisis in Syria. The Yarmouk camp in the capital, Damascus, is home to the largest Palestinian refugee community in the country. However, violent clashes this week resulted in nearly 100,000 Palestinians fleeing the area. The World Food Programme (WFP) is [...]
UN envoy brings hope to survivors of sexual violence in Central African Republic
UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zainab Bangura is just back from the Central African Republic, the first country she has visited since taking up her mandate in June. Ms. Bangura says it was important to travel to the country, not only to engage with the authorities and partners but also [...]
Any attack against health workers is unacceptable: WHO
Any attack on health workers is unacceptable, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday, responding to the killing of health workers conducting a polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan. WHO Spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic says the provision of health services must be neutral in any conflict or situation. “ At the end, it’s the children and the affected [...]
Congolese army and rebel fighters accused of mass rape and looting
An investigation carried out by the United Nations has revealed wide-ranging human rights violations committed by Congolese army soldiers and the fighters belonging to the M23 rebel group in the aftermath of the clashes for the control of Goma town in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The atrocities are reported to have been carried [...]
WFP to the aid of Palestinians displaced from Yarmouk camp
![A Syrian family receives food aid at a WFP distribution point. [Photo: WFP/John Wreford]](http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/wfp-syria-201103.jpg "wfp-syria-201103 (Photo: WFP/John Wreford)")
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is to start providing emergency food assistance to thousands of Palestinian refugees caught up in fighting around the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus. WFP hopes to reach over 125,000 Palestinians and displaced Syrians with ready-to-eat food. The Yarmouk camp, which is home to the largest Palestinian refugee community [...]
UN Security Council demands Malian rebel groups cut all ties to terrorist organizations
Determining that the situation in Mali constitutes a threat to international peace and security, the UN Security Council, acting under the enforcement provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, demanded that Malian rebel groups cut off all ties to terrorist organizations, notably Al-Qaida in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and associated groups, and take concrete and [...]
European Commission and Germany contribute €10 million to UNDP to help countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions
25 developing countries around the world are to get help in reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The help comes from the European Commission and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) that have each announced a €5 million contribution to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The joint Low [...]
UN Daily News 20 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
International Human Solidarity Day celebrates unity in diversity
"People across the world are demanding greater political freedom, accountability and equality," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on the occasion of International Human Solidarity Day, 20 December. The Secretary-General said the world can "best shape solutions for a more secure, sustainable and prosperous future" by acting as one. "Solidarity is crucial to solving problems in [...]
Security Council members condemn attacks in Central African Republic
The members of the UN Security Council have condemned the attacks conducted by armed groups in the last few days in north-eastern Central African Republic and associated human rights abuses. In a press statement, the members of the council also expressed strong concern at the situation in the country, noting that the developments threatened the [...]
Syrian conflict takes on sectarian nature: UN independent experts
What started as a protest against the government and developed into a conflict, is now becoming sectarian violence, according to a new report on Syria. The report, covering the period between the end of September to 16 December of this year, was compiled by the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria. In what has [...]
Significant progress made in advancing peacebuilding: Ban
The United Nations has made significant progress in advancing the peacebuilding agenda, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the UN Security Council Thursday. In remarks during the Council's open-debate on post-conflict peace building, the Secretary-General noted that despite the strides we have made, major peacebuilding challenges remain. He said many countries continue to experience instability years after [...]
UNHCR urges Kenya to continue upholding refugee rights
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has condemned recent security incidents in Kenya which have killed scores of citizens and refugees. UNHCR says recent public statements have linked the presence of refugees to these attacks and it cautions against stigmatization of refugees and asylum-seekers. Kenya is hosting more than 600,000 refugees, the majority of whom are [...]
Over 100,000 Palestinians fleeing violence in Syria
Tens of thousands of Palestinians are on the move in Syria following deadly clashes in a camp hosting the refugees in Damascus. The Yarmuk refugee camp was bombed by Syrian war planes on Sunday following the suspected influx of rebel fighters. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) estimates that two- thirds of the 150,000 [...]
Syria engulfed in sectarian violence
The Syrian conflict is increasingly taking on a sectarian nature with various groups being forced to take up arms for their own defense or to take sides. The Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria says government forces and their supporting militia were attacking Sunni civilians, while anti-Government armed groups were attacking Alawites and other pro-Government [...]
Attention needed on sustainable livelihoods in Afghanistan: UN envoy
International troop drawdown and the scaling down of some large-scale military -backed stabilization projects efforts will have substantial economic impacts on Afghanistan. That according to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ján Kubiš. He told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that attention is needed on the issue of sustainable livelihoods, noting that overall, sustainability [...]
Security Council condemns ongoing attacks and atrocities by Lord’s Resistance Army
The Security Council has strongly condemned the ongoing attacks and atrocities carried out by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and their continued violations of international humanitarian law and abuses of human rights. In a presidential statement Wednesday, the Council stressed that these actions pose a significant threat to the civilian population, in particular women and [...]
Two-State solution critical for regional peace and security: USG Feltman
2013 will be a decisive year in the peace process, a top United Nations official told the UN Security Council on Wednesday. Under Secretary Jeffrey Feltman told the Council that it was incumbent upon all to support the Israelis and Palestinians in stabilizing the situation and permitting progress toward the goal of achieving a two [...]
UN Daily News 19 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
ITU-IMPACT establishes cyber-security center in Arab region
The first Cybersecurity Innovation Centre to cater to the needs of the Arab region is being established in Oman. The centre is a result of a partnership between the International Telecommunication Union, ITU, its cyber-security partner, the International Multilateral Partnership against Cyber Threats (IMPACT), and the Information Technology Authority (ITA) of Oman. According to ITU, [...]
2012 was "tumultuous year" says Ban Ki-moon
A tumultuous year is coming to a close, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday. Speaking at his last press conference for the year, Mr. Ban said that turmoil tested the United Nations once again on its founding obligation to stop conflict and build peace. Derrick Mbatha reports Duration: 4'46"
UN launches $1.5 billion appeal to address Syrian humanitarian crisis
The United Nations is appealing for $1.5 billion to address the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria. The funds will be used to meet the needs of the more than four million people inside Syria who require urgent assistance and of the more than 500,000 Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries. The UN's Office for the [...]
Contemporary forms of slavery exist in Madagascar: UN expert
The Government of Madagascar has been called on to fight poverty, domestic servitude and bonded labour by the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery. Ms. Gulnara Shahinian, who made her first fact-finding mission to the country in December, warned that "human rights cannot thrive in an environment of extreme poverty." The Special Rapporteur [...]
2012 was a tumultuous year: Secretary-General Ban
A tumultuous year is coming to a close, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters Wednesday at his year-end press conference. He said, "Two thousand twelve saw tension from Syria to the Sahel and from Eastern Congo to the Korean Peninsula.” On Syria, he said it was critical that the Syrian opposition was coming together. But he was [...]
Earning gap narrows between men and women:ILO
Women make nearly as much money as men in most countries, says an International Labour Organization report. But according to the report, that may just mean that men are worse off now than before the global economic crisis. It goes on to say that there are major differences across the globe when it comes to [...]
Africa: Beyond Commodity Dependence
The volatility in prices of raw commodities has affected many regions in recent years, including those in Sub Saharan Africa. That is because the price of a commodity whether, oil or cocoa, can make or break the health of a country in this region. At the same time, some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa depend [...]
Some human rights progress in Iraq, but some problems remain: UN
The respect and protection of human rights in Iraq remains fragile as the country continues its transition from years of conflict and violence to peace and democracy. That according to the United Nations in its most recent Report on Human Rights in Iraq, which covers the period from 1 January to 30 June 2012. The [...]
UN appeals for US$ 1.5 billion as the Syrian crisis worsens.
The number of Syrians affected by the on going civil war has now topped four million according to United Nations aid agencies. The agencies say number of Syrians who have fled the country into Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and Egypt is expected to double over the next six months to reach one million, while 2 [...]
Global economy at risk of falling into renewed recession: UN
Growth of the world economy has weakened considerably during 2012 and is expected to remain subdued in the coming two years, according to the United Nations in its latest issue of the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2013 (WESP), published Tuesday. The report says the global economy is expected to grow at 2.4 per cent [...]
UN General Assembly endorses UNESCO's resolution proclaiming 13 February as United Nations Radio Day
The General Assembly has endorsed the resolution adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO at its thirty-sixth session, proclaiming 13 February, the day United Nations Radio was established in 1946, as World Radio Day; 13 February is World Radio Day — a day to celebrate radio as [...]
UN and humanitarian agencies appeal for $144 million for Haiti
United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners on Tuesday appealed for $144 million dollars to help more than one million people in Haiti next year. The UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said that the funding will be used to respond to crises, including food insecurity, cholera, and displacement. The Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Martin Nesriky, [...]
Getting food in Syria is 'a nightmare,' says WFP
It is becoming increasingly difficult for Syrians to get enough food as the conflict continues in the country, according to the World Food Programme (WFP). It says that the country's hardest hit areas are in the north where insecurity is preventing delivery of food to people in need. Despite these difficulties, the agency continues to [...]
UN agencies condemn attacks on health workers in Pakistan
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have joined the Government of Pakistan in condemning the multiple attacks that have killed six health workers in the past 24 hours. At least six people working on a polio vaccination campaign have been reported shot dead in several locations in Pakistan, including Karachi city, Sindh Province and [...]
Expert Group says private military and security firms in Somalia need regulation
As Somalis continue to rebuild their country, a group of human rights experts is hoping that all citizens receive the right to protection, not just those who can afford it. Members of a UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries recently returned from a week-long mission to the country to assess what impact these [...]
UN expert group calls for regulation of private and military security companies in Somalia
As Somalia rebuilds its security institutions, the Government should ensure that private security forces are properly regulated and do not become a substitute for competent and accountable police. The call comes from the Chairperson of the Working Group on the use of mercenaries, Faiza Patel who has just wrapped up a seven-day mission to Somalia. [...]
UN Daily News 18 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Somali Army extends control over Somalia
People in the Somali town of Jawhar, 90 kilometres north of the capital, Mogadishu, now live without the stringent rules of the al –Shabaab Islamic extremists. On 9 December, the Somali National Army, supported by African Union troops captured the town, one of the few remaining strongholds of al-Shabaab. The town, in the Middle Shabelle [...]
WHO calls for access to the wounded and health care facilities in Syria
In Syria, access to health care facilities for both patients and health care providers is one of the main obstacles to the provision of health care along with shortages of supplies and health personnel. That according to the World Health Organization – WHO which says it remains very concerned about the security of health [...]
Migrants usually stuck 'between rock and hard place": IOM
The plight of migrants who are stranded in crisis situations as a result of man-made or natural disasters is the focus of this year's International Migrants Day. The day is observed on 18 December each year to highlight issues that affect millions of migrants around the world. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says that [...]
Humanitarian needs rising as residents flee fighting in Syria
As the Syria conflict and its impact on civilians continue to escalate, humanitarian needs are rising as residents flee fighting and seek safety in schools run by the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees –UNRWA. The agency says it remains gravely concerned about the safety of the Palestine refugee population in Syria and appeals to [...]
Hundreds of women and girls sexually assaulted in Goma
Nearly 400 women and girls were sexually assaulted in North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo during the recent fighting for the control of the strategic town of Goma. The United Nations Children's fund UNICEF says care has been provided to more than 275 women and 100 girls who were victims of sexual [...]
UN Chief moves into newly renovated offices; praises their energy efficiency
This is an historic day for the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday as he moved into new offices at the newly-renovated UN Secretariat building. The Secretary-General told reporters he was excited to be back to the landmark Secretariat building after it was beautifully renovated. He pointed to the systems and the space, noting [...]
Top envoy strongly condemns deadly attacks in Iraq
The top United Nations envoy in Iraq on Monday strongly condemned attacks that have claimed dozens of lives across the Middle Eastern nation since Sunday. Gerry Adams reports. A series of attacks – targeting both Iraqi security forces and civilians – killed at least 25 people on Monday. The wave of violence was preceded on [...]
URDU #50: Bain Ul Aqwami Manzarnama
1. Bridging of gap between commitments & actions for disabled persons urged by Ban ki Moon 2. Ban ki Moon : Israel should rescind plan to cut off East Jerusalem from West Bank 3. UN Humanitarian chief praises Bangladesh disaster preparedness 4. Government regulators from 193 countries discuss updating telecommunications rules in Dubai 5. UNHCR [...]
Aboriginal women in Australia face abuse, says an aborigine
Australia's aboriginal female community experiences much higher rates of abuse than the rest of the population, says Cathy Eatock, a senior policy officer in state government. Ms. Eatock, an aboriginie herself, spoke at a recent meeting at the United Nations on strategies for ending violence against women. She explained to Gerry Adams some of [...]
UN Daily News 17 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Progress in fighting malaria threatened by slowdown in global efforts
Progress made in controlling malaria is being threatened by a slowdown in global efforts against the disease. The warning comes in this year's annual report of the World Health Organization (WHO) on malaria. WHO says that $5 billion is needed over the next decade to combat malaria but only half of that amount is available. [...]
Forest Whitaker launches peace organization in South Sudan
Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation, announced on Monday that his PeaceEarth Foundation is launching the Youth Peacemaker Network in South Sudan. The Network is designed to nurture a new generation of leaders in the world's youngest country, the majority of whose population is under the age of 30. [...]
Fukushima conference wraps up with an eye to the future
A Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety wrapped up Monday with calls for continuous improvement and vigilance to further strengthen nuclear safety worldwide. The Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety aimed to share knowledge and lessons from the Fukushima Daiichi accident, further enhance transparency and discuss the progress of international efforts to strengthen nuclear safety, including [...]
Asia-Pacific Countries support ground-breaking strategy to 'make every life count'
Leading statisticians and senior government officials from 41 countries in the Asia-Pacific region have agreed to ambitious steps to improve environment and social statistics, critical in the context of the post-2015 development agenda. They've also endorsed a strategy to improve civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems in the region. Speaking at the opening, [...]
UNRWA appeals for safeguard and security of Palestinians in Syria
Syrian authorities and all parties to the conflict are being urged to safeguard the security of Palestine refugees wherever they reside in Syria. The call comes from the top official of the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees Filippo Grandi Grandi’s appeal follows what's been described as horrific images captured by news agencies, and reports [...]
WHO signals slowdown in the fight against malaria
Global efforts to prevent and control malaria are slowing down, threatening to reverse gains made during the past decade to contain one of the worlds leading infectious disease. This is according to the World Health Organization(WHO) in its annual World Malaria Report. WHO says delivery of bed-nets in sub Saharan Africa has dropped from a [...]
Ban expresses concern over escalations of violence in Syria
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed alarm over the continued dramatic escalation of violence in Syria over the past several days. According to a statement attributable to the Secretary-General's Spokesperson's office, there have been reports of a mass killing of civilians in the village of Aqrab near Hama, as well as alleged firing of [...]
HINDI # 52: Antar Rashtriya Patrika
1. ILO reports finds women facing greater unemployment than men. 2. Invest in farmers to end poverty and hunger: FAO. 3. International Mountain Day calls for an end to neglect of mountains. 4. Study calls for greater action to monitor trade in python skins. Narrated and Produced by Ambalika Misra Duration: 14’00″
HINDI # 51: Antar Rashtriya Patrika
1. Security Council condemns North Korea rocket launch. 2. Dozens of children on death row in Yemen. 3. Secretary-General visits camps for Syrian refugees. 4. Thawing permafrost could amplify global warming: UNEP. 5. A tribute to sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar Narrated and Produced by Ambalika Misra Duration: 13’28″
UN group wants Egypt draft constitution to ensure women's rights
A UN expert group is calling for a review of Egypt's draft constitution ahead of a planned referendum this weekend. The UN Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law has expressed concern about equality, non-discrimination and protection and promotion of women's rights in the document. In a statement on Friday, [...]
Germany bids farewell to the Security Council
Five countries this month end their terms as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council. They include Germany whose priorities ranged from Afghanistan to chairing the Al Qaeda/Taliban Sanctions Committee. German ambassador Peter Wittig spoke about his country's tenure at a press conference in New York on Friday. He said Germany's membership in the Security [...]
UN chief launches new initiative to fight cholera in Hispaniola
Cholera continues to take a heavy toll on Haiti and the Dominican Republic. And UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched an initiative for the elimination of cholera in Haiti noting that it has claimed the lives of more than 7,750 people, infected over 620,000, and added a heavy weight of suffering on a country already recovering [...]
Law of the Sea Convention ushered a new chapter in conservation, management of marine resources: CARICOM
The historic act of opening the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea for signature 30 years ago, ushered in a new chapter in the development of the law of the sea, as it established a legal framework for the conservation, management, exploration and exploitation of the living and non-living marine resources within and [...]
Trinidad and Tobago hails the 30th anniversary of the Law of the Sea Convention
The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, acting as a "constitution for the oceans", guided every aspect of maritime affairs and set out a delicate balance of rights and duties, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said as the General Assembly celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of the opening for signature of the nearly [...]
Political crisis continues in Guinea-Bissau: UN envoy
The political crisis Guinea-Bissau caused by the military coup on 12 April continues, according to the outgoing top United Nations envoy in the West African country. For the past four years, Joseph Mutaboba has been trying to help the country rebuild its political institutions following years of coups since its independence from Portugal in 1974. [...]
UN Daily News 14 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
More women globally are without jobs than men: ILO
Women around the world face higher unemployment rates than men, according to a new report issued by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The ILO's Global Employment Trends for Women 2012 was produced in collaboration with UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Derrick Mbatha reports. UNAMA report [...]
Special committee in Jamaica addresses violence against women
Violence against women is pervasive and harms not only women but their families and their communities. At a two-day forum at the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, UN officials, government representatives and other stakeholders discussed how to prevent it. Sandrea Falconer, Jamaica's Minister of Information with responsibility for gender affairs, told Gerry Adams that she [...]
IOM programme to resettle Bhutanese refugees reaches milestone
More than half of the 120,000 Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal have been resettled in other countries, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Friday. The resettlement progamme reached the 75,000 mark this week when a six year old refugee flew to a new home in Pennsylvania in the eastern United States. Chris [...]
New treaty to bring connectivity to more people worldwide
A global conference on international telecommunications concluded in Dubai on Friday with the signing of a new treaty that will bring the power of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to people everywhere. The agreement details general principles on the free flow of information as well as new provisions on assisting developing countries and promoting [...]
Security Council and Secretary-General deplore North Korea rocket launch
The announcement this week that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea had successfully launched a long-range rocket drew condemnation from the Security Council and the UN Secretary-General. Ban Ki-moon expressed concern that this "provocative act" could have implications on peace and stability in the region, adding that it violated two Security Council resolutions banning [...]
Low-wage labour set to change in China
Wages in China more than tripled between 2000 and 2010, leading to speculation about whether the era of cheap Chinese labour is over. According to the International Labor Organization –ILO Global Wage Reeport 2012/2013, the figures relate mainly to state-owned enterprises, known as urban units, but separate surveys show that wages in small and medium [...]
Children at risk of exploitation in storm ravaged southern Philippines
Children left homeless and destitute in areas affected by Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines are in danger of being abused and exploited, according to the UN Children's agency UNICEF. The agency says pressing issues for children have received less attention in the aftermath of the devastating typhoon, exposing them to the risk of trafficking. UNICEF [...]
UN appeals for $8.5 billion to deliver humanitarian aid in 2013
The United Nations is appealing for $8.5 billion to support its humanitarian operations in 2013. The funding will go to support 51 million people in 16 countries worldwide who will need humanitarian assistance. A total of 520 aid organizations will partner with the United Nations to deliver aid to refugees, internally displaced persons and other [...]
Asia-Pacific increasingly affected by global economic slump: ESCAP
Development in Asia and the Pacific is increasingly being affected by the ongoing slowdown in the global economy as well as structural problems within the region's economies, according to latest United Nations macroeconomic projections and policy advice released in Bangkok Friday. The Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2012: Year-end Update, published [...]
27 per cent of all victims of human trafficking officially detected globally were children -UNODC
27 per cent of all victims of human trafficking officially detected globally between 2007 and 2010 are children, up 7 per cent from the period 2003 to 2006. That according to the 2012 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons released by the UN Office on drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Report, which is based on [...]
UN Daily News 13 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
ICC Prosecutor says crimes still committed in Darfur
The issue of senior Sudanese officials sought by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the crimes allegedly committed in Darfur was brought before the Security Council on Thursday. The crimes relate to the civil war which erupted in the region in 2003 between the government of Sudan and its allied militia and other armed rebel [...]
International tourism hits one billion – UNWTO
One billion tourists have travelled the world in 2012, marking a new record for international tourism, according to the UN World Tourism Organization –UNWTO. On the symbolic arrival date of the one-billionth tourist (13 December 2012), UNWTO revealed the actions tourists can take to ensure their trips benefit the people and places they visit, as [...]
World tourism reaches the milestone of one billion travellers
The one billionth tourist crossed an international border on the 13th of December of 2012, according to the UN World Tourism Organization. Marcelo Risi of the UNWTO says everybody likes to travel. In fact, he told Gerry Adams that travel's socio-economic impact is so wide-ranging that it has become an important addition to the UN [...]
Foreign debt expert warns against "vulture funds"
The UN independent expert on foreign debt and human rights is speaking out against so-called "vulture funds" which purchase the outstanding debts of distressed companies or heavily indebted countries. In a statement on Thursday, Cephas Lumina explains that "vulture funds" purchase these debts on the secondary market for less than the face value of the [...]
Darfur victims await "concrete" action from Security Council: ICC Prosecutor
Sudan's failure to implement arrest warrants against senior officials for crimes committed in Darfur appears symbolic of its commitment to a military solution for the region. That statement comes from International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda who briefed the Security Council on Thursday. The ICC has issued arrest warrants against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, [...]
Experts seek to advance gender equality in post-2015 development agenda
Promoting gender equality and women's empowerment in international development after the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals is the aim of a two-day meeting which opened in Vienna on Thursday. Experts and senior representatives from governments, women's organizations and other sectors will develop policy recommendations in light of emerging sustainable development challenges. Women's participation [...]
Women not benefiting from economic progress: UN official
The central role of women in development is being discussed at a two-day meeting taking place in Vienna, Austria. The Vienna Policy Dialogue has been organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) in partnership with UN women and the Government of Austria. Representatives and experts from national and local governments, women's [...]
Ethiopian migrants remain stranded in Yemen
Early this week more than 200 Ethiopian migrants were returned to their country from Yemen on a flight chartered by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). They are part of hundreds of Ethiopian migrants who are stranded in and around Yemen's north-western town of Haradh after their attempt to enter Saudi Arabia in search [...]
Security Council condemns North Korea rocket launch
The Security Council has condemned the launch of a rocket by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), calling it a clear violation of resolutions banning the country from conducting ballistic missile tests. In a statement following a closed door meeting on Wednesday, members said they will continue consultations on an appropriate response given the [...]
UN chief deplores North Korea's rocket launch
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has deplored Wednesday's rocket launch by the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea. In comments to reporters at a photo exhibition, the Secretary-General said it was all the more regrettable because it defied the unified and strong call of the international community. He says it is a clear violation of the Security Council [...]
UN hosts LGBT special event
The United Nations is taking leadership in the fight to end discrimination against lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender, or LGBT, individuals. At an historic meeting on the 11th of December, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, human rights defenders, politicians and international entertainers all voiced their support for the LGBT community. Gerry Adams reports. Duration: 3’22″
UN Daily News 12 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
General Assembly reviews efforts to curb illegal trade in cultural property
Ambassadors meeting in the UN General Assembly on Wednesday are hearing how the illicit traffic in cultural property continues despite global efforts to combat it. Introducing a draft resolution on the return or restitution of these items to their countries of origin, Greek ambassador Anastassis Mitsialis pointed out that the threat of smuggling rises during [...]
New initiative to eliminate cholera in Haiti and Dominican Republic
![A child reads a cholera prevention poster in Cite L'Eternel, Haiti. [UN Photo/UNICEF/Marco Dormino]](http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/haiti-cholera.jpg "haiti-cholera")
A new initiative has been launched at the United Nations to help eliminate cholera in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the two countries that make up the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. Announcing the initiative at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it will take a holistic approach to [...]
Women out loud: How women living with HIV will help the world end AIDS
A new report, entitled Women out loud, explores the impact of HIV on women and the instrumental role women living with the virus are playing to end AIDS. The report, by UNAIDS, includes the latest data and commentary from some of the leading advocates on women and HIV. The report includes the voices of some [...]
Egypt's democratic future under threat without representative constitution: IPU
Egypt's fight for democracy will have been in vain without putting in place a constitution that guarantees the rights of all its' people or, one on which everyone can agree, says the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Abdelwahad Radi says "Democracy and strong democratic leadership is about listening to and representing the [...]
Dozens of children threatened with execution in Yemen
There's dismay at Yemen's execution of a girl named Hind Al-Barti on the 3rd of December this year, according to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. In addition, the Committee says 21 juvenile offenders, all under the age of 18 at the time of commission of the offenses, have been condemned to [...]
UN expert on sexual violence in conflict wraps up visit to Central African Republic
The full power of the international community will be harnessed to fight those who commit sexual violence in the Central African Republic, according to a senior UN official visiting the country. Zainab Bangura, UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, made this vow during a press conference on Wednesday, marking the end of her [...]
UN launches new initiative to help fight cholera on Hispaniola
The United Nations has launched a new initiative to support the Hispaniola campaign for the Elimination of Cholera on the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The announcement was made by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “The new initiative will invest in prevention, treatment, and education.” Duration: 5″ Secretary-General Ban says this new initiative [...]
Dozens of children on death row in Yemen
Dozens of juvenile offenders below the age of 18 continue to face the death penalty in Yemen, in violation of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. The latest victim was a girl named as Hind Al-Barti who was executed on the 3rd of December this year. The UN Committee on the [...]
Secretary-General deplores North Korea rocket launch
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is concerned about the negative consequences on regional peace and stability following Wednesday's launch of a long-range rocket by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. In a statement, Mr. Ban called the move regrettable, saying it was a clear violation of a UN Security Council resolution which bans the country from [...]
Bad policies have caused underdevelopment in Africa: UN scholar
A number of African countries are making progress in economic development, according to a scholar at the United Nations University in Helsinki, Finland. However, in the 1970s and 1980s, bad policies adopted by national governments have been blamed for underdevelopment that has afflicted Sub-Saharan Africa. The UN University scholar, Augustin Fosu has identified four such [...]
Try to be a global citizen with a global vision, Ban urges UN Interns
Try to be a global citizen and have a global vision, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a group of UN interns who were wrapping up the internship at the United Nations. The Secretary-General says it is his hope that they have learned what the UN is doing and what they can do for the Organization. He [...]
Law of the Sea celebrates 30 years of international cooperation
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, also known as UNCLOS, is often called the "constitution for the oceans". It governs all aspects of ocean space, including the delimitation of maritime boundaries and the settlement of international disputes involving marine issues. Former UN Ambassador Tommy Koh of Singapore was instrumental in bringing UNCLOS [...]
Security Council voices concern following arrest of Malian Prime Minister
![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 condemned the arrest of Mali's Prime Minister by members of the armed forces. In a statement on Tuesday, Council members stressed that such action contravenes repeated calls for the military to cease interfering in the work of the country's transitional authorities. Cheick Modibo Diarra was arrested on Monday in the [...]
Human Rights office concerned about recent clashes between Sudan's police and students
The UN Human rights office has expressed concern about recent violent clashes between students and police in Khartoum, Sudan. The Office says that on Monday, 10 December, hundreds of students continued to protest, for a third day, over the deaths of four Darfuri students belonging to El-Gezira University in Central Sudan. Spokesperson Rupert Colville says [...]
South African singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka supports UN fight against homophobia
The Princess of Africa is calling for more action to stamp out homophobia. Yvonne Chaka Chaka says lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people should be free to be themselves and should not be subjected to discrimination and violence. The South African singer was speaking to journalists at UN Headquarters on Tuesday ahead of an [...]
UN Daily News 11 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
More women globally are without jobs than men: ILO
Women around the world face higher unemployment rates than men, according to a new report issued by the International Labour Organization (ILO) on Tuesday. The ILO's Global Employment Trends for Women 2012 has been produced in collaboration with UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Derrick Mbatha reports: [...]
Human rights office expresses concern following murder of South Sudan blogger
The UN human rights office has welcomed South Sudan's decision to investigate the murder of a journalist which took place earlier this month. Diing Chan Awol, a local blogger and well-known political commentator, was killed outside his home by unidentified gunmen on 5 December. According to his family, Awol—who was also known by his [...]
Afghanistan reports progress and challenges in stamping out violence against women
Despite advances in implementing a landmark law on the Elimination of Violence against Women, Afghanistan still has a long way to go in its application. That assessment comes from Georgette Gagnon, Director of the Human Rights Section at the UN mission in the country (UNAMA), which on Tuesday released a report reviewing progress on the [...]
CERF is real help for the most vulnerable of our human family: Ban
In Syria, in the Sahel and Sudan … in Haiti, West Africa and Pakistan … in Columbia, Peru and Paraguay … around the world where people are suffering, CERF – the Central Emergency Response Fund – offers relief. That's what UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in remarks at the opening of a high-level conference for [...]
International Mountain Day calls for an end to neglect of mountains
It’s time to stop neglecting mountains. That is the call from the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization on the occasion of International Mountain Day, celebrated every year on the 11th of December. FAO reports that over 50 percent of the world’s population relies on freshwater from mountains for drinking, cooking, irrigation, hydropower [...]
ILO report finds women facing greater unemployment than men
Women worldwide are facing higher levels of unemployment than men, according to a report launched on Tuesday by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Produced in collaboration with UN Women, it says this is unlikely to change over the coming years. José Manuel Salazar is ILO Executive Director of Employment. "From 2002 to 2007, in those [...]
Doha Climate Conference opens gateway to greater ambition and action on climate change
Governments have taken the next essential step in the global response to climate change in their just concluded climate conference in Doha. Countries have successfully launched a new commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, agreed to a firm timetable to adopt a universal climate agreement by 2015 and agreed to a path to raise necessary [...]
UN appeals for $65 million to assist victims of Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines
Nearly five million people have been affected by Typhoon Bopha which hit eastern Mindanao region in the Philippines a week ago. Assessments done by United Nations relief agencies indicate that many survivors are so desperate that they have left the overcrowded and flooded emergency shelters to return to their storm- ravaged homes. UN agencies say they [...]
500,000 Syrians seeking refuge in neighbouring countries
The number of Syrians who have fled into neighbouring countries has now surpassed the half a million mark, according to the UN Refugee agency UNHCR. The agency says 510,000 Syrians are registered or are in the process of being registered in Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey and North Africa. UNHCR however says less than half of [...]
Pledges made to UN's fund for emergencies
Representatives of governments from around the world are gathering at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday to pledge money to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Since its inception in 2006, CERF, which is one of the world's largest sources of humanitarian assistance, has given relief aid to 49 countries in different parts of [...]
UNHCR urges the United States to strengthen its fight against statelessness
The UN refugee agency and the Open Society Justice Initiative are jointly appealing to the United States Government to take further action to end the hardships facing stateless people in the United States. In a report released Monday, Citizens of Nowhere: Solutions for the Stateless in the U.S. the two organizations recommend changes that [...]
UN Daily News 10 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
General Assembly commemorates 30 years of Law of the Sea convention
It is ironic that people know more about outer space than the oceans, the "blue lungs of the planet." That observation comes from Tommy Koh, President of the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea, speaking on Monday in the General Assembly. Ambassadors met to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention [...]
Sahel crisis under spotlight in Security Council
The ongoing crisis in the Sahel region of Africa was under the spotlight in the Security Council on Monday. The semi-arid region, south of the Sahara desert which stretches from the Red Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, is facing a number of problems, including drought, hunger and conflict in Mali. Derrick Mbatha reports. Duration: 3’43″
Goodwill Ambassador recalls importance of human rights
Renowned American-born opera singer Barbara Hendricks is the longest serving Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN refugee agency. On the occasion of Human Rights Day, the 10th of December, she recalled feeling like a refugee as she grew up in the then racially segregated south of the United States. Dianne Penn reports on how important [...]
New Human Rights Council president vows to transparency, impartiality in working methods of Council
In Geneva, the Human Rights Council has elected a new President Ambassador Remiqiusz Henczel of Poland was elected at an organizational meeting Monday and takes up his duties on 1 January. He told delegates that as president, he will spare no effort to further contribute to the full implementation of the Council's founding resolution which [...]
Independent experts call for accountability for perpetrators of violence against women
"Truth, justice and accountability are key in upholding the human rights of women and their right to a life free from violence, particularly in countries in post-conflict situations". The view was expressed by the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its causes and consequences, Rashida Manjoo, and the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General [...]
UNESCO event pays tribute to Pakistani teen advocate for girls' rights
Policy makers, senior UN officials and students have gathered in Paris on Monday to promote the right of all girls to go to school. 'Stand up for Malala—Stand up for girls' right to education!' was the rallying cry for the advocacy event which took place at the headquarters of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural [...]
Secretary-General warns of "toxic brew of vulnerability" in the Sahel
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling for the strengthening of resilience in Africa's Sahel region, where nearly 20 million people continue to face food insecurity. Speaking in the Security Council on Monday, Mr. Ban said the governments and people of the region need the full support of the international community. "The warning lights for the [...]
UN Human Rights Chief: We should all have a voice that counts in our societies
UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay has decried the continued exclusion of women and other minority groups from active participation in public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives. Ms Pillay said such exclusion not only denied them the basic human rights, but also services that would give them the opportunity to build a better [...]
UN human rights chief salutes people fighting for their rights
On Human Rights Day United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, salutes all the people around the world who are suffering for demanding their rights. In her message marking the day, observed on 10 December, Ms. Pillay says millions of people have gone to the streets to advocate for their civil, political, economic, social [...]
Nations urged to "change tact" in war on drugs
Sir Richard Branson, English business magnate, best known as the founder and chairman of Virgin Group has joined forces with the Global Commission on Drug Policy and the International Drug Policy Consortium to urge drug policy reforms at the national and local levels. He spoke to UN Radio's Donn Bobb. Duration: 4’56″
More aid is needed for Syrian refugees: Ban Ki-moon
All Member States are being urged to ramp up assistance to the countries and humanitarian agencies helping Syrian refugees. The appeal was made by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during a visit to the Islahiye refugee camp for Syrian refugees in Turkey. Mr. Ban said the numbers of Syrian refugees have tripled since July and keep [...]
Grenada ready to reduce carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020
Grenada stands to be counted among those who must commit to the strengthening of the multilateral rules-based system of a legally binding nature for the governance of the climate change phenomenon. Environment Minister George Prime told the Doha climate change conference that is why Grenada has committed to reduce its small carbon emissions by 20 [...]
Jamaica tells climate conference it has lost billions as a result of climate impacts
The universal phenomenon that is climate change is threatening the very economic base on which Jamaicans seek to build their country and the time honored traditions inherent in their culture. Jamaica's Minister of Environment and Climate Change Robert Pickersgill warned that without collective actions, climate change will continue to be a major obstacle in achieving [...]
Barbados tells Doha Climate conference 'we are no way near where we need to be' in fighting climate change
NAR: Caribbean States have made their views known on efforts to stall or even roll back the impacts of climate change. Barbados' Minister of Foreign Affaires Maxine Mc Clean says while some progress has been made, "we are no way where we need to be. She says all major reports on the state of the [...]
Deaths from typhoon in Philippines continue to rise
The number of people killed, injured, missing and affected by Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines continues to rise as debris is cleared and more information becomes available. That's according to the United Nations humanitarian agency (OCHA) which says the typhoon has destroyed over 3,000 houses. OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke says the government puts the number [...]
The dawn of a new day in China for women in rural politics
Across rural China, there is a transformation taking place. More and more women are stepping out of their traditional roles and into positions of power. UN TV travelled to a remote region of China to meet women leaders who are shaping a new future for their country. Study calls for greater action to monitor [...]
UN chief visits camps for Syrian refugees in Jordan and Turkey
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday reiterated his call for an end to violence in Syria as he visited camps for Syrian refugees in Jordan and Turkey. Mr. Ban arrived in Turkey to hold discussions with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. The Secretary-General first went to the Za'atari camp in [...]
UN Daily News 07 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
UN humanitarian chief visits Myanmar
The head of the United Nations humanitarian agency (OCHA), Valerie Amos, is in Myanmar to assess the country's humanitarian situation including the ongoing conflict in Kachin and northern Shan states. OCHA says that about 75,000 people in these states have been forced to flee their homes since the fighting began in June last year. [...]
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom visits South Africa
Since 2009, British actor Orlando Bloom has used his status as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador to speak out on child rights issues. The star of the 'Lord of the Rings' franchise recently visited South Africa where he learned about efforts to support orphans and other at-risk youth, and challenges such as gang violence and sexual [...]
UN ready to help typhoon-hit Philippines: Ban Ki-moon
More than 500 people are reported to have been killed and hundreds more are missing after Typhoon Bopha devastated parts of southern Philippines. The United Nations stands ready to provide humanitarian assistance to the Philippines which has been hit by a typhoon, says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Gerry Adams reports. Duration: 3’29″
Emergency polio and measles vaccination under way in Syria
An emergency campaign in Syria to protect young children against measles and polio has been described by the UN children's agency (UNICEF) as amazing, as it is under way even as fighting rages on. UNICEF says it is targeting 1.4 million children although there has been no reassurance from the warring parties that it [...]
ILO reports slow growth in global wages
The economic and financial crisis has had a strong impact on wages and, by extension, workers. That's according to the latest Global Wage Report from the International Labour Organization (ILO), which shows monthly average wages grew by just over one per cent in 2011, compared with 2.1 per cent in 2010. The report also finds [...]
WHO calls for emergency vaccination in Darfur as Yellow fever spreads
An emergency vaccination campaign is underway in Sudan's Darfur region to halt an outbreak of Yellow Fever, which the World Health Organization(WHO) now says is the largest in the world. More than 700 people have so far contracted the disease with 165 deaths being reported. The vaccination campaign is targeted to reach over 5.5 million [...]
Food security linked to peace in the Sahel: FAO chief
Improving food security in the Sahel will contribute to peace and stability in the region. The view was expressed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General José Graziano da Silva during an address to a meeting on the Sahel situation. He says “Investing in food security in the Sahel is also an investment in [...]
ILO calls for adoption of minimum wage policies
The global economic crisis has had a strong impact on workers wages around the world with many seeing little or no changes at all in their earnings. This is according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). In its annual Global Wages Report, ILO says global monthly wages grew by 1.2 per cent in 2011, [...]
New Initiative launched to recognize climate-friendly financing
A new initiative – the “Momentum for Change: Innovative Financing for Climate-friendly Investment” was launched in Doha on Friday by the UN Climate Change Secretariat, in partnership with the World Economic Forum. The initiative aims to recognize and highlight creative financing models that enable adaptation and mitigation activities in developing countries. The initiative will showcase [...]
UN Women chief calls for more investment in women
There is a simple solution to global challenges ranging from poverty to climate change to food security: invest in women. That message comes from Michelle Bachelet, head of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women. Ms. Bachelet this week addressed the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jakarta, Indonesia, [...]
Syrian leader warned against use of chemical weapons
The government of Syria has been warned that its leaders will be brought to justice if it uses chemical weapons. The warning came from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during a press conference in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Thursday, as he continued his visit to the Gulf. Mr. Ban's s visit comes as the [...]
UN Daily News 06 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Over 160 people die of yellow fever in Darfur
More than 700 cases of yellow fever, including 165 deaths have been reported in the Darfur region of Sudan, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). A mass vaccination campaign by the Ministry of Health started last month to cover 2.2 million people. The United Nations agency says the second phase is planned for [...]
UN ready to help typhoon-hit Philippines: Ban Ki-moon
The United Nations stands ready to provide humanitarian assistance to the Philippines which has been hit by a typhoon, says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. More than 300 people are reported to have been killed and hundreds more are missing after Typhoon Bopha devastated parts of southern Philippines. UN spokesperson, Martin Nesirky says the Secretary-General is [...]
International conference on radiation protection in Medicine discusses radiation exposure
The benefits to mankind from the medical use of ionizing radiation are being discussed at an International Conference on Radiation Protection taking place in Bonn, Germany. The meeting is also discussing the fact that while some countries lack access to essential radiation-based services, others receive more exposure to radiation medically than naturally. Gerry Adams [...]
Invest in farmers to end poverty and hunger: FAO
![Sierra Leonean farmer. [FAO/Caroline Thomas]](http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/sierra-leonean-farmer.jpg "sierra-leonean-farmer")
The more than one billion farmers worldwide should be at the centre of investments in the agricultural sector, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In its flagship annual report, known as The State of Food and Agriculture, FAO says investing in agriculture is one of the most effective ways to reduce hunger [...]
Tribute paid to great Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer
Tributes are being paid to the world renowned great Brazilian architect, Oscar Niemeyer who died in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday at the age of 104. Mr. Niemeyer was a prominent member of a team of architects that designed and built the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The head of the UN Educational [...]
New initiative launched to support women in fighting climate change
A new initiative to recognize the critical role of women in fighting climate change: “Momentum for Change: Women for Results”, was launched by the UN Climate Change Secretariat together with the Rockefeller Foundation at the 18th Climate Change Conference taking place in Doha. The initiative will showcase activities to inform governments, media and the public [...]
Farmers should be at centre of strategy to improve investment in agriculture: FAO
The world's more than one billion farmers, who are the largest investors in agriculture, should be at the centre of any strategy aimed at improving agricultural investment. That's the key message of the latest edition of "The State of Food and Agriculture 2012" (SOFA), issued by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on [...]
Historic convention protecting IDPs comes into effect
A historic convention that protects internally displaced persons in Africa came into effect on Thursday 6 December. It comes against continuing concern that the number of internally displaced persons, IDPs, in Africa and around the world, is larger than the number of refugees, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). The Kampala Convention, as [...]
HINDI # 50: Antar Rashtriya Patrika
1. Women peace and security. 2. UN-HABITAT introduces"Prosperity Index" to rate world cities. 3. Deforestation deprives Kenya's economy millions of dollars. 4. International Organization of Migration assists Nepalese victims of trafficking to return home from Haiti. Narrated and Produced by Ambalika Misra Duration: 14’00″
HINDI #49: Antar Rashtriya Patrika
1. UN General Assembly accords Palestine Non Member State status. 2. Secretary- General Ban Ki- Moon urges Israel to rescind plan to cut off East Jerusalem from West Bank. 3. Mr. Ban urges intensification of efforts to consign HIV/AIDS to the pages of history. 4. Food security situation rapidly deteriorating for many Syrians as conflict [...]
New website links Ghanaian Diaspora to Ghana
A website has been launched this week to create links between the three million Ghanaians living abroad and their country's development. The http://www.ghanaiandiaspora.com/ was launched on Tuesday by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the government of Ghana. The site launch coincided with the launch of a Diaspora Support Unit based at Ghana's Ministry [...]
Convention to protect and assist displaced people goes into effect in Africa
African Union Convention on the Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons also known as the Kampala Convention came into force on Thursday after being ratified by 15 member states. The convention sets out a legal framework for protecting and helping internally displaced persons. It also obliges Africa states to actively seek ways to prevent [...]
Tribunal for former Yugoslavia faces challenges in completing its work
It is difficult to precisely predict when the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) may complete its work. That's what Judge Theodor Meron, the President of the tribunal which is trying people charged with war crimes during the Balkan wars in the 1990s, told the Security Council on Wednesday. Reporting on progress that [...]
Born Equal and Free
A review of the concepts and ideals that inspired the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as the successes and failures that followed. Language: English Genre: Report 1973 Duration: 14’00″
Secretary-General calls for more concerted global effort to address climate change
Climate change will remain a priorityconcern for the United Nations because it touches many other issues on the UN agenda. That's what United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a ministerial meeting in Doha, Qatar on Wednesday. Mr. Ban said climate change is not an environment issue for environment ministers only, but a challenge for all areas of [...]
Ban plans to visit refugee camps of displaced Syrians
Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon remains deeply concerned about the continuing conflict in Syria which threatens to spill over and destabilize the region. The Secretary-general told a press conference in Kuwait Wednesday that the violence must stop, first and foremost, immediately, without any condition. He all the remaining problems should be resolved through political dialogue, through a [...]
Let Freedom Ring
Through excerpts from historic speeches, a commemoration of the first anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Language: English Genre: Report 1949 Duration: 14’00″
Declaration of Human Rights by Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt reads the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Language: English Genre: Speech 1948 Duration: 12’00″
Humanitarian situation in North Kivu in DR Congo "worrying": UN
The humanitarian situation in the North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been described by a United Nations spokesperson as "worrying". The withdrawal of the M23 rebel group from the provincial capital Goma which it captured recently has continued and the Congolese army is deploying back to Sake, west of Goma. [...]
Study calls for greater action to monitor trade in python skins
Striking colours and naturally occurring patterns have made snakeskin accessories a perennial favourite among the fashionable set. It's estimated that nearly half a million python skins are shipped each year from South-East Asia to Europe where they are transformed into luxury versions of items such as shoes, belts, wallets and handbags. But a recent report [...]
URDU #49: Bain Ul Aqwami Manzarnama
1. Valerie Amos meets Syrian refugees in Lebanon 2. EU representative announces additional EUR 11.5 million to UNRWA 3. EU representative commends UNRWA for continuing “Excellent work” 4. UN Special Coordinator says status quo is unsustainable in Middle East 5. UNEP report: Thawing Permafrost could amplify significant global warming 6. UNRWA chief asks parties to [...]
Central African Republic faces long and difficult road to peace
The Central African Republic is facing a long and difficult road in its efforts to achieve peace but it can succeed, says Zainab Bangura the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Ms. Bangura spoke to reporters in the capital, Bangui, at the start of her first mission since she took office [...]
Volunteers show "the spirit of compassion we need": Ban Ki-Moon
"Celebrate volunteering!" is the theme of this year's International Volunteer Day. Every year, hundreds of millions of people volunteer their time and skills to make the world a better place. And every year on the 5th of December, International Volunteer Day celebrates the impact volunteers have on their communities and around the world. Erika Anderson [...]
UN Humanitarian chief urges reconciliation in Rakhine, Myanmar
The top UN Humanitarian official has expressed concern over the condition of displaced communities across Rakhine State, describing the situation as "dire". Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos said she saw thousands of people in overcrowded, substandard shelter with poor sanitation, noting that they don't have jobs, children are not in school and they can't leave [...]
UN Daily News 05 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Security situation in northern Mali needs urgent attention: UN official
The security situation in northern Mali continues to deteriorate with reports of human rights abuses and the arrival of jihadists and terrorists to join the armed groups there. That's what the head of the United Nations Department of Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman said on Wednesday during a briefing to the Security Council on the situation [...]
Work of volunteers applauded on International Volunteers Day
The work done by millions of volunteers who help promote development and deliver assistance to people in need is being recognized on International Volunteer Day, observed on 5 December. In his message, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says volunteers are wherever struggling people need a helping hand: in war zones and classrooms, in hospitals and homes. [...]
UN Climate Change Secretariat and Climate Group collaborate to encourage leadership on climate change
The UN Climate Change Secretariat and the Climate Group on Wednesday announced a strategic partnership which aims to encourage the mutually reinforcing leadership of business and of government at all levels by combining the efforts of their respective global initiatives to help raise awareness: the Climate Group’s “Clean Revolution” campaign and the UN Climate Change [...]
Mapping "hot spots" to prevent debilitating lead poisoning in children: WHO
There's a warning out on lead poisoning of children in mining countries. The Bulletin of the World Health Organization (WHO) says countries – especially those with a long mining history — can substantially reduce lead poisoning in children by mapping contamination levels in the soil to identify high-risk areas and by taking measures to keep [...]
Israel urged to abide by ceasefire agreement that ended recent Gaza hostilities
A human rights expert has called on Israel to abide by and fully implement the cease fire agreement that ended the recent crisis with Gaza. UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories Richard Falk, says "Experience has shown that Israel fails to meet its international obligation to promptly and [...]
Kenya: Growing with the flow
Thousands of poor farmers living on the slopes of East Mount Kenya depend on seasonal rains to water their crops. The water situation in that area of the country has also been affected by decades of excessive logging which reduced forest cover and slowed water flow. But now, a pilot project, supported by the International [...]
First UN Forum on Business and Human Rights opens in Geneva
Addressing the impact of human rights on business is the focus of a three-day meeting taking place in Geneva this week. The first UN Forum on Business and Human Rights brings together representatives from multinational corporations and people from communities affected by their activities. The aim is to assess implementation of global standards which prevent [...]
UN Women chief says men also must champion women's rights
The solution to global challenges such as poverty, climate change and food security is simple: invest in women. That's according to Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women. Ms. Bachelet said if the world wants to achieve the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by [...]
UN Daily News 04 December 2012
News and features from United Nations Radio.
Situation in Syria deteriorates on daily basis: OCHA
The situation in Syria is deteriorating on a daily basis, says Radhouane Nouicer of OCHA, the UN humanitarian agency. According to Mr. Nouicer, the Regional Coordinator for Syria, new methods to assist the Syrian population are required to reach as many people as possible. Gerry Adams reports. Duration: 2’37″
UN chief urges North Korea not to launch a rocket
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged authorities in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) not to go ahead with their planned rocket launch. According to reports, North Korea has notified the International Maritime Organization (IMO) about its planned launch between 10 and 22 December. Mr. Ban says that any such launch would be a [...]
Investing in women is a "smart thing to do": Michelle Bachelet
Women are essential in meeting the Millennium Development Goals or MDGs to improve people's lives by the year 2015. That's the message from Michelle Bachelet, the head of UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, who addressed the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jakarta, Indonesia, [...]
General Assembly president stresses the urgency of achieving a breakthrough in climate negotiations
It is our most solemn and urgent duty—both as individuals and nations, that are now more interdependent than ever before—to achieve the breakthrough [in climate change negotiations] that allows us to leave the world in better shape than we found it. The plea comes from the President of the UN General Assembly Vuk Jeremic in [...]
Innocent civilians the victims of the ongoing conflict in Syria: UNHCR
A top official of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says innocent civilians were the prime victims of the on-going conflict in Syria. Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Erika Feller, visited refugees in Jordan's Za'atri refugee camp and noted that many of the refugees were elderly and clearly traumatized. Adrian Edwards is the Spokesperson for UNHCR. [...]
Somalia humanitarian appeal launched in Mogadishu
A $1.3 billion humanitarian appeal for Somalia aims to respond to immediate humanitarian needs while enhancing resilience to drought, famine and other challenges. UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Stefano Porreti launched the three-year appeal in the country's capital, Mogadishu, on Tuesday, marking the first time this has happened in more than 20 years. With nearly [...]
Displaced people in eastern DR Congo lack basic non-food items: UNICEF
![Displaced families find shelter at Don Bosco Orphanage in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo,after M23 rebels claimed control of the city. [November 2012]
© Kate Holt/IRIN](http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/drc-displaced-irin.jpg "drc-displaced-irin")
Thousands of families displaced by recent fighting in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo don't have basic non-food items, according to the UN Children's' Fund (UNICEF). The region has been the scene of fighting between government forces and rebel fighters of the M23 movement which recently took over Goma, the capital [...]
Ban calls for political will to tackle the climate change crisis
In Doha, governments have been asked to focus on five key deliverables which could sustain and accelerate momentum towards an effective, universal climate agreement by 2015. The call comes from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Among those deliverables he says, the first is the adoption of a ratifiable second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol which [...]
UN: Responsible business means acting with respect for human rights
Governments have been urged make extra effort to address human rights violations that have played a large part in facilitating and sustaining the current economic crisis. United Nations Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay says demands for greater political freedom go hand in hand with demands that the rule of law apply to all, including in [...]
3.8 million Somalis will need humanitarian assistance in 2013
The United Nations says it will require US$1.3 billion to meet humanitarian needs in Somalia in 2013. The funds will be spent on a total of 369 humanitarian projects targeting 3.8 million Somali's in need. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs -(OCHA) says although the humanitarian situation in Somalia remains critical, the improvement [...]
Iranian government urged to free human rights activist on hunger strike
Iranian authorities are being urged to release human rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh, an internationally recognised lawyer, who has been on hunger strike since 17 October and whose health is reportedly deteriorating. The appeal comes from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay who is extremely concerned about the activist's health. Ms. Sotoudeh, the [...]
Food security situation rapidly deteriorating for many Syrians as conflict intensifies: WFP
The recent escalation of violence in Syria is making it more difficult to reach the country's hardest-hit areas and food insecurity is on the rise due to bread shortages and higher food prices in many parts of the country. The warning comes from the World Food Programme (WFP), which also explains that high prices are [...]
Congolese troops return to Goma in eastern DR Congo
Congolese troops have returned to Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to United Nations sources. The move comes after the withdrawal of fighters of the M23 rebel movement who had taken over the city more than a week ago. The UN mission [...]
HINDI #48: Antar Rashtriya Patrika
1. No substitute to meaningful negotiations to achieve two state theory: Serry 2. More should be done to do real justice to Malala and the cause she serves: Navi Pillay. 3. Mongolian farmers in remote areas take advantage of solar power. 4. UN Population Fund Report 2012 Narrated and Produced by Ambalika Misra Duration: 13’23″
Twenty-five year old regulations to be updated
Government regulators from 193 countries will discuss updating the rules that regulate telecommunications at a meeting of the International Telecommunications Union in Dubai. Gerry Adams reports. Duration: 3’09″
Warring parties in Yemen commit to stop using child soldiers
The parties involved in conflict in Yemen have committed to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers. That's what Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict told reporters on Monday following her trip to the Middle Eastern country. Ms. Zerrougui said her three-day mission in Yemen, at the invitation [...]
IAEA tackles threat of radiation to patients and health workers
Hundreds of medical experts from around the world are participating in a week-long meeting which opened in Bonn, Germany on Monday to discuss the threat that overexposure to radiation can cause to patients and health workers. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for the first time in history, several countries are experiencing population [...]
Breaking down barriers on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities
More than one billion people worldwide live with some form of disability, according to United Nations statistics. Making sure that their contributions to society are recognized is one of the aims of this year's International Day of Persons with Disabilities, observed on 3 December. Dianne Penn reports on a ceremony held at UN Headquarters in [...]
A digital divide has no place in information age: Ban Ki-moon
The management of information and technologies should be transparent, democratic and inclusive. That's the message delivered by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the World Conference on International Telecommunications, which opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Monday. About 2,000 delegates from 160 countries have gathered to discuss a global treaty that sets out general principles [...]
UN-Habitat introduces "Prosperity Index" to rate world's cities
In a new released report entitled "State of the World Cities 2012/13" the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) ranked the world's cities in terms of prosperity, which they evaluated along a newly introduced "Prosperity index". Despite worldwide economic, political and environmental turmoil, cities like Vienna, Paris, Zurich, and Stockholm – all ranked in the [...]
Anti-personnel mine ban meeting starts in Geneva
The annual meeting of States Parties to the convention that bans anti-personnel land mines opened in Geneva on Monday. Representatives of governments and civil society, as well as experts are participating in the week-long gathering to review the treaty known as the Ottawa Convention. The president of the meeting, Ambassador Matjaž Kovačič of Slovenia says [...]
UN Chief urges a bridging of the gap between commitments and actions for Persons with Disabilities
There's been a call for action to bridge the gap between well-meaning commitments and long-overdue actions for more than one billion persons with disabilities. The call comes from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a message marking International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The Secretary-General says "Our challenge is to provide all people with the equality of [...]
UN Humanitarian chief praises Bangladesh's disaster preparedness
"In the past 20 years it is estimated that 135 million people have been affected by disasters in Bangladesh. But the Government is addressing this challenge head on by investing in its local communities and other countries can learn from Bangladesh." So says UN Emergency Relief and Humanitarian Coordinator Valerie Amos. Ms. Amos was in [...]
Ban Ki-moon urges Israel to rescind plan to cut off East Jerusalem from West Bank
Any plan to build a Jewish settlement that would cut off East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank would destroy chances of securing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. That warning comes from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, following the announcement by the Israeli government that it plans to build 3,000 new settlement [...]
Nutrition in HIV treatment and care slows down HIV
This World AIDS Day (1 December) we are observing unprecedented results in the prevention and treatment of HIV. A statement from the Executive Director of the World Food Programme ( WFP) Ertharin Cousin says access to adequate and nutritious food for a person living with HIV to respond well to antiretroviral treatment (ART) is [...]
Ban urges intensification of efforts to consign HIV/AIDS to the pages of history
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Member States to intensify their efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission, and to work to ensure all HIV-positive mothers can survive and thrive. In a message marking World AIDS Day, the Secretary-General noted that half the global reductions in new HIV infections in the last two years have been among new-born [...]
Today is World AIDS Day
A new World AIDS Day report by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), shows that unprecedented acceleration in the AIDS response is producing results for people. The report shows that a more than 50% reduction in the rate of new HIV infections has been achieved across 25 low- and middle-income countries––more than half [...]
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