Asia Pacific

Jean-Marc Ferré

UN experts alarmed by reprisals against Chinese human rights activists

16 October 2013
United Nations independent experts today voiced serious concern over reports that Chinese activists have been intimidated and prevented from taking part in a major assessment of the human rights situation in the country.
IRIN/Jason Gutierrez

Philippines: UN agencies arriving to assist with post-quake relief effort

16 October 2013
United Nations humanitarian agencies are arriving in the central Philippine island of Bohol to assist the Government with the response to a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck yesterday and which has so far affected more than 3 million people.

Afghanistan: UN mission condemns attack on mosque that killed government official

15 October 2013
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) today strongly condemned an attack on a mosque, which killed the governor of the Logar Province, Arsala Jamal.
IRIN/Mohamed Amin Jibril

Not enough done to reintegrate victims of human trafficking, UN-backed report warns

14 October 2013
Although human trafficking is recognized as modern-day slavery, many victims of the scourge in the Greater Mekong Sub-region of South-East Asia are not given adequate help for reintegration into their communities, according to a United Nations-backed report released today.
UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

Ban calls for enhanced partnership with Southeast Asian bloc to promote peace, development

10 October 2013
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for enhanced partnership between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as the two bodies work together for peace, human rights and sustainable development across the region.

ISAF/PAO/Matthew Chlosta

Ahead of 2014 draw down, Security Council extends assistance force in Afghanistan

10 October 2013
The United Nations Security Council today extended the authorization of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) until the end of 2014, when it is expected that the force will draw down and the Government of Afghanistan will assume full responsibility for security throughout the country.
UN Photo/Kibae Park

Latest Bangladesh factory fire underscores need to do more to improve safety, says UN

9 October 2013
The United Nations labour agency said it was deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life in a fire at a garment factory in Bangladesh, adding that the incident highlights the need to do more to address the safety of workers.
PAHO/WHO

UN health agency approves new encephalitis vaccine to protect children in developing countries

9 October 2013
The United Nations health agency has approved a new vaccine against Japanese encephalitis (JE), stressing that access to the vaccine will help save the lives of children in developing countries.
UN Photo/Evan Schneider

Political prisoners in Myanmar must be released without conditions, UN expert stresses

9 October 2013
An independent United Nations human rights expert today welcomed the latest release of political prisoners in Myanmar, while also voicing concern over ongoing arrests of activists and conditions attached to arrests.
UNICEF Myanmar

Violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state must end for sake of children – UNICEF

8 October 2013
Citing the negative impact of the inter-communal clashes in Myanmar’s Rakhine state on children in the region, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today urged all parties to put an end to the violence.