Although Yemen is making progress in its political transition, it continues to face serious challenges including terrorism and a divided military institution that is also beset by corruption. That assessment was made by the United Nations Special Adviser on Yemen, Jamal Benomar, who briefed the Security Council on Tuesday. He said that 23rd November marked [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 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 [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
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 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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 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 [...]
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 [...]
