Russia's intervention in Ukraine condemned
Brussels, Apr 1 (IBNS): The Foreign Ministers of the NATO-Ukraine Commission on Tuesday condemned Russia's intervention in Ukraine."We, the Foreign Ministers of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, are united in our condemnation of Russia's illegal military intervention in Ukraine, and Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We do not recognize Russia's illegal and illegitimate 'annexation' of Crimea. We will continue to work together to reach a political and diplomatic solution which respects international law and Ukraine's internationally recognized borders," the NATO said in a statement on Tuesday.
UN denounces mass death sentences in Egypt
New York, Apr 1 (IBNS): A group of eight United Nations human rights independent experts on Monday urged the Egyptian authorities to quash the 529 death sentences announced in Egypt last week and give the defendants new and fair trials, in line with international human rights law.
UN officials reach South Sudan amid hunger, displacement
New York, Apr 1 (IBNS): Senior United Nations relief officials began a visit to South Sudan on Monday to meet conflict-affected people and to review the ongoing response and needs amid a spiralling humanitarian crisis in the world’s youngest nation.
UN urges to abandon broken, reactive approach to aid
New York, Apr 1 (IBNS): Relief aid should anticipate and prevent – not just react and treat, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) declared on Monday in a new report that challenges humanitarian and development actors to change the way they operate, and aims to kick-start an urgent global dialogue on preventing crises through effective risk management.
UN to probe violence against women in UK
New York, Apr 1 (IBNS): Domestic and sexual violence, sexual bullying and harassment, forced and early marriages, and female genital mutilation – all these issues and more will be on the docket as the United Nations expert tasked with monitoring violence against women launched her first mission in the United Kingdom.
El Salvador: Ban commends turnout for presidential poll
New York, Apr 1 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon followed with keen interest the electoral process in El Salvador, whose outcome confirmed the election of Salvador Sanchez Ceren as President.
Internet unsafe for expressing views: BBC Poll
London, Mar 31 (IBNS) Just over one in two citizens (52%) across 17 countries, including India, polled for the BBC World Service disagree that “the Internet is a safe place to express my opinions,†outnumbering the 40 per cent who agree it is safe.
CAR: Ban says perpetrators will be held accountable
New York, Mar 31 (IBNS): UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday voiced concern at the latest upsurge in violence in the Central African Republic (CAR), and reminded all those involved that they will be held accountable for their actions and brought to justice.
DR Congo: UNSC extends mandate of intervention force
New York, Mar 29 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Friday extended for one year the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) – along with its Intervention Brigade – noting the need for the Mission to strengthen its support so the Congolese government can address security challenges in line with the aims of a regional peace and security accord.
UN concerned at Turkey’s crackdown on YouTube
New York, Mar 29 (IBNS): A group of independent United Nations human rights experts on Friday voiced serious concern over the Turkish Government’s measures, taken in the context of upcoming elections, to prevent access to video-sharing website YouTube, a week after social media platform Twitter was shut down.
UN urges Kenya to stop scapegoating refugees
New York, Mar 29 (IBNS): The United Nations refugee agency on Friday denounced as “scapegoating†the Kenyan Government’s decision earlier this week to order some 50,000 refugees, believed to be mostly Somalis, to report to two camps after a recent upsurge in violence in the region.