Asia Pacific

Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions Christof Heyns.
Jean-Marc Ferré

UN experts note Indian Supreme Court ruling but urge abolition of death penalty

30 January 2014
The decision by India’s Supreme Court to commute 15 death sentences to life imprisonment is a ‘significant step’, independent United Nations human rights experts today said, urging the country to establish a moratorium on executions with a view of abolishing the death penalty.
Journalists wait for the arrival of official delegations at the Geneva II Conference on Syria, in Montreux, Switzerland.
UN Photo/Violaine Martin

UNESCO chief denounces killings of television journalists in Pakistan, Iraq

28 January 2014
The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today condemned the separate killings of four television journalists in Pakistan and Iraq, calling for those responsible to be brought to trial.
A garment industry worker sews garter to a skirt in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
World Bank/Chhor Sokunthea

Cambodia: UN labour agency urges independent probe in deadly protests

28 January 2014
Amid reports that riot police have been deployed in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh to break up anti-Government protests, the United Nations labour agency today urged everyone to remain calm and reiterated its calls for a probe into police action.
Coconuts.
UN Photo

Philippine coconut farmers in dire need of alternative livelihoods, UN agency warns

27 January 2014
Coconut farmers in the Philippines are in urgent need of assistance to recover their livelihoods nearly three months after Typhoon Haiyan tore through the country, the United Nations food relief agency today warned, calling for donors to support its $38 million call for severely affected Philippine households.
A member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at a checkpoint on the streets of Cotabato.
Guy Oliver/IRIN

Ban welcomes signing of Government, rebel accord on southern Philippines

25 January 2014
The Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) today signed a final security agreement that paves the way for a comprehensive peace accord on the island of Mindanao, a move welcomed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Humanitarian chief Valerie Amos (centre), on a visit in December 2012 to the the Ma Gyee Myaing camp in Sittwe Town, Myanmar, where displaced from Rakhine state are hosted.
UNOCHA/David Ohana

Top UN officials call for probe into latest violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state

23 January 2014
The United Nations human rights and humanitarian chiefs on Thursday voiced deep concern about reports of alarming levels of violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, including the killing of many civilians and a policeman, and called for an immediate investigation by the authorities.
Polio vaccinators traverse floodwaters in Sindh Province, Pakistan, to reach children during a September 2012 immunization campaign.
UNICEF/Asad Zaidi

Ban ‘strongly condemns’ spate of deadly terrorist attacks in Pakistan

22 January 2014
Reiterating deep concern over continued terrorist attacks and sectarian violence in Pakistan, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned a spate of deadly violence in the country, including the bombing of a market earlier this week in Rawalpindi, and a series of attacks against polio workers.
UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) in Turkmenistan’s capital of Ashgabat.
UN Photo

Central Asia: Security Council praises UN regional centre's preventive diplomacy efforts

21 January 2014
The Security Council once again today acknowledged the role of the United Nations regional office in assisting countries in Central Asia to respond to threats and challenges, including terrorism and religious extremism, and reaffirmed the importance of the use of preventive diplomacy and early warning mechanisms to assist in the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Photo: IRIN/Victoria Hazou
IRIN/Victoria Hazou

UN agency warns of growing bird flu risk, urges vigilance ahead of Chinese holidays

20 January 2014
The United Nations agricultural agency today issued a new warning that bird flu viruses are on the rise again in China and urged neighbouring countries to be extra vigilant head of the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities.
Photos of four UN staff killed in 17 January 2014 suicide bombing are displayed at memorial service in Kabul.
UNAMA/Fardin Waezi

Honouring fallen colleagues, top UN officials pledge continued support to Afghanistan

20 January 2014
United Nations today flew its flags at half-mast in honour of four staff members killed in Friday’s terrorist attack in Kabul, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other senior officials pledging to continue working in active support of Afghans.