The European Union has played an important role in achieving a political breakthrough and improving security in the Horn of Africa, according to the organization's top diplomat. Catherine Ashton spoke in the Security Council on Wednesday during the discussion of cooperation between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organizations in maintaining international peace [...]
Africa’s position on a new global framework for disaster risk reduction amidst continuing concern over the ravages of climate change, drought, floods and other natural hazards is the focus of the 4th Africa Regional Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction meeting taking place in Tanzania. The meeting, attended by representatives of 40 African States is to [...]
On February 14th, a billion people – men and women, across the globe are being urged to rise and dance together to end violence against women. Eve Ensler, author of the famous Vagina Monologues, says the campaign, called ONE BILLION RISING, will be “the biggest global action in the history of humankind to end the [...]
United Nations officials have expressed concern about the health of Palestinian detainees on hunger strike in Israeli custody. The prisoners who have not been charged or face trial are being held under what is called "administrative detention" by Israel. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has reiterated her concern about this [...]
Countries in the Americas can contribute more to United Nations' efforts to solve global problems. That's the message delivered by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. He said that global influence of the Americas is on the rise as many [...]
Advances in technology have brought new ways to communicate with each other, but radio remains the medium that reaches the widest audience worldwide. That's according to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) which is behind the annual observance of World Radio Day on 13 February. The day also marks the anniversary of [...]
The representative of Burundi has said his country is "not enthusiastic” about the terminology used in a resolution on his country adopted by the Security Council on Wednesday. In a unanimous vote, the Council extended the mandate of the UN Office in Burundi (BNUB) for one year to continue its efforts to help the country [...]
The head of the UN food agency wrapped up a two-day visit to Tanzania on Wednesday. During her visit, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Ertharin Cousin, met with Tanzanian leaders to discuss WFP's work in the East African country. In the capital, Dar-es-Salaam, Ms Cousin visited the logistical hub at the [...]
There's a call for food security and nutrition to be the central element in future development efforts. According to a global multi-stakeholder consultation which discussed the world development agenda beyond 2015, new development objectives should be established for the entire global community. The one-day consultation on Hunger, Food Security and Nutrition in the Post-2015 Development [...]
The UN Security Council has expressed its deep concern that civilians continue to account for the vast majority of casualties in situations of armed conflict. In a presidential statement late Tuesday following a day-long meeting, the Council reaffirmed that parties to armed conflict bear the primary responsibility to take all feasible steps to ensure [...]
The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) on Wednesday completed its second aid delivery into north-western Syria where thousands of internally displaced people are in acute need of humanitarian assistance. UNHCR says the convoy of seven trucks carrying 1,000 tents and 15,000 blankets, travelled from Latakia and Damascus to the Bab al-Hawa area near the Syrian-Turkish [...]
Today is World Radio Day. The decision to declare 13 February as World Radio Day was adopted by UNESCO. This celebration marks the day in 1946 when the newly-founded United Nations decided to establish and launch UN Radio. In a message to mark the occasion, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that from short-wave to FM [...]
"Since its invention more than 100 years ago, radio has sparked imagination, opened doors of change and served as a channel for life-saving information", says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. In his message on World Radio Day, observed on 13 February, the Secretary-General calls for the celebration of the power of radio. He recalls that as [...]
Opening the first-ever guided tours for children at the United Nations on Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said, “As young citizens of our planet, I hope that what you learn on your adventure at the United Nations this morning will inspire you to help us to improve the lives of millions of people around the [...]
