General News

The release of civilians in Nigeria who had been kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorist group has been welcomed by UN.

Nigerian troops rescued 338 people, mostly women and children, who were reportedly being held in the north-east of the West African country.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is providing support.

Cristina Silverio has been speaking to the agency’s Doune Porter who’s based in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.

Duration: 2’48”

The number of women in Central America and Mexico fleeing gang violence is rising at an alarming rate, fuelling a new refugee crisis in the region.

That’s the conclusion of a new report from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), called “Women on the Run”.

In early 2014, thousands of children escaping gang violence in Central America sparked a refugee crisis on the US border, prompting a heated debate over immigration.

The “culture of denial and silence” around sexual violence against women in conflict must be broken according to a leading UN expert.

Zainab Bangura, the UN’s Special Representative on sexual violence in conflict, was the keynote speaker at a gathering at the organization’s headquarters this week.

The event was billed as an opportunity for Ms Bangura to speak personally about her role as a champion for those who have experienced sexual violence.

Veronica Reeves has more.

Duration:1'38"

Effective social dialogue between governments, workers and employers can improve compliance and produce better workplaces.

That’s according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), which says social dialogue includes all types of negotiation, consultation and an open exchange of information between partners.

There has been “no significant improvements over the last 15 years” in the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

That’s according to the UN’s Special Rapporteur on human rights in the country, who has presented his findings in a report to the UN General Assembly.

Veronica Reeves spoke with Special Rapporteur Marzuki Darusman and asked him about some of the ongoing and emerging human rights concerns in DPRK.

Duration: 2'31"

Only a “political settlement” between the Sudanese government and armed opposition will allow millions to return home in Darfur.

That’s according a the senior UN official briefing the Security Council on Wednesday.

Assistant Secretary-General Edmond Mulet, briefed members on the stat e of the joint UN and African Union operation in Darfur (UNAMID).

Matthew Wells reports.

Duration: 2'35"

The President of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Mahmoud Abbas, appealed to the UN on Wednesday to help stop the violence there, or else risk an “explosion” by his people that would have “grave consequences” for everyone.

In a special address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Mr Abbas said that peace was still possible with Israel, but that this was perhaps the last chance to achieve it.

Lack of medical professionals is a problem in Myanmar, with only 1.3 health workers for every 1,000 persons according to the United Nations.  But a technology company there is putting health care in the palms of people’s hands.

Koe Koe Tech has developed mobile phone applications (or “apps”) for the health sector, including one that provides pregnant women and parents of young children with vital information.

The company is among the winners of a UN-backed competition that awards innovation.

The pace of civilian displacement across Syria “remains relentless”.

That’s according to the UN’s Humanitarian Affairs chief, briefing the Security Council on Tuesday.

Stephen O’Brien said the number of Syrian civilians needing protection had increased by 1.2m so far this year.

Syria’s bloody civil war erupted in 2011 and around 250,000 people have been killed.

Matthew Wells reports.

Duration: 2'31"

Time “is running out” to help people trapped in the rubble nearly 48 hours after a massive earthquake struck the mountainous border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan, UN experts said Tuesday.

The bleak assessment by the UN disaster risk reduction agency, UNISDR, after the 7.5 magnitude tremor highlights the need for more governments to implement measures that can improve countries’ resilience when catastrophe hits.