Asia Pacific

According to UNICEF, security forces have reportedly occupied several schools and university campuses in Myanmar. Pictured here a school building in the country's north. (file photo)
OCHA/Eva Modvig

Scores of schools ‘reportedly occupied’ by security forces in Myanmar, as Guterres condemns continuing brutality

19 March 2021
Peace and Security

Security forces in Myanmar have reportedly occupied more than 60 schools and university campuses across the country, marking a further escalation of the crisis, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.  In a statement issued later in the day, the UN Secretary-General condemned the "continuing brutal violence" being directed at peaceful protesters as the death toll mounts. 

Two women pray at a temple in Yangon, Myanmar. (file photo)
Unsplash/Matteo Massimi

UN envoy continues efforts to access Myanmar, amidst increasingly brutal crackdown

18 March 2021
Peace and Security

The UN Special Envoy for Myanmar continues her work towards engaging with officials in the country nearly two months after the military coup, the global Organization said on Thursday. 

A prison cell. (file)
UNICEF/Rajat Madhok

Rights experts demand Iran release academic ‘nearing death’ in solitary confinement

18 March 2021
Human Rights

United Nations independent human rights experts on Thursday called on Iran to immediately release Iranian-Swedish academic Ahmadreza Djalali, reported to be in a “near death” condition after months of prolonged solitary confinement. 

Jean Arnault, then Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Colombia, speaks to the press in Bogota. (file photo)
UNIC Bogotá

Secretary-General appoints Jean Arnault as his personal envoy on Afghanistan

18 March 2021
UN Affairs

The United Nations Secretary-General on Wednesday announced the appointment of seasoned mediator Jean Arnault as his new Personal Envoy on Afghanistan and Regional Issues, reflecting the Organization’s continued commitment to the peaceful resolution to the decades-long conflict in the country. 

A five-year-old child at a community-based education centre in an IDP camp in Herat province, Afghanistan.
UNICEF/Omid Fazel

South Asia: Sharp rise in child and maternal deaths due to COVID-19

17 March 2021
Health

Severe disruptions in health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic may have resulted in an additional 239,000 child and maternal deaths in South Asia last year, United Nations agencies said on Wednesday. 

The Sule pagoda in downtown Yangon, the commercial hub of Myanmar.
Unsplash/Justin Min

Myanmar crisis: UN chief 'appalled' by escalating violence with dozens reported killed over weekend

15 March 2021
Peace and Security

The UN chief on Monday issued a statement saying he was "appalled" by the reported killing over the weekend of dozens of protesters calling for the restoration of democracy, at the hands of the country's military. 

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN-Women. (file photo)
UN Photo/Mark Garten

UN agency raises alarm over ‘targeted’ violence against women in Myanmar protests

12 March 2021
Peace and Security

The United Nations entity dedicated to protection of women’s rights has voiced deep concerns over “targeted and disproportionate” violence against women being recorded during the crackdown against peaceful protesters in Myanmar. 

Commuters travel to work by bus in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. (file)
UNOCHA/David Ohana

COVID contributed to ‘starvation’, executions in DPR Korea, Rights Council hears

10 March 2021
Human Rights

Disturbing reports have emerged from North Korea - officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) - that people have starved or been executed because of COVID-19 restrictions, a leading rights expert said on Wednesday.

Housing in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. (file)
Photo: Danilo Pinzon/World Bank

Philippines: UN rights office appalled over simultaneous killings of ‘red-tagged’ activists  

9 March 2021
Human Rights

The UN human rights office (OHCHR) said on Tuesday that it was “appalled” by what appears to be the simultaneous arbitrary killings of nine activists in the Philippines during police-military operations in provinces surrounding the metropolitan area of the capital, Manila. 

The city skyline of Yangon, Myanmar, at sunset.
Unsplash/Anjani Kumar

Myanmar: UN calls for safe release of trapped protesters in Yangon

8 March 2021
Peace and Security

The United Nations Secretary-General on Monday called for the safe release of hundreds of peaceful protesters trapped by security forces for several hours in residential buildings in the Yangon neighbourhood of Sanchaung.