Global

UN agencies unveil initiative to reduce female genital mutilation

9 August 2007
Women

Two United Nations agencies have launched a $44 million programme to reduce female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) by 40 per cent by 2015 and to end the harmful traditional practice within a generation.

‘Granny power’ can propel development, UN food agency says

18 June 2007
Economic Development

Grandmothers are a large untapped renewable resource for maternal and child nutrition, health and development, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today.

Rearing cattle produces more greenhouse gases than driving cars, UN report warns

29 November 2006
Climate and Environment

Cattle-rearing generates more global warming greenhouse gases, as measured in CO2 equivalent, than transportation, and smarter production methods, including improved animal diets to reduce enteric fermentation and consequent methane emissions, are urgently needed, according to a new United Nations report released today.

Proposed UN convention on disabled rights close to fruition as negotiations resume

14 August 2006
Human Rights

A new United Nations convention to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is within reach and could be adopted later this year, the chairman of the negotiations said today as he opened what may be the final round of talks.

Meeting on first-ever international rights treaty for disabled persons opens at UN

16 January 2006
Human Rights

Pledging to complete a full draft of a first-ever international treaty on the rights of persons with disabilities, the General Assembly committee charged with that task opened a marathon three-week meeting at United Nations headquarters today.

For disability rights meeting, UN will print first direct-to-Braille documents

12 January 2006
Human Rights

In time for negotiations for an international agreement on the rights of persons with disabilities, the United Nations will be able for the first time to produce materials directly in Braille thanks to the donation today of a state-of-the-art printer by a US-based non-governmental organization (NGO) for the blind.

Director General Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei

Accepting Nobel Prize, UN nuclear agency chief lays out vision for peace

12 December 2005
Peace and Security

Accepting this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei has laid out a three-point programme to save the world from self-destruction by ensuring that nuclear weapons have no place in the collective conscience and no role in security.

Newly established IAEA Nobel Cancer and Nutrition Fund

UN atomic agency’s Nobel Prize funds cancer care, nutrition in developing world

25 November 2005
Health

The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), this year’s Nobel peace Prize co-laureate, announced today that its €525,000 share of the award will be used to create a fund for fellowships and training to improve cancer management and childhood nutrition in the developing world.

UN nuclear agency agrees to use Nobel Peace Prize money to developing countries

17 October 2005
Peace and Security

The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), this year’s Nobel peace Prize co-laureate, has agreed to use its share of the award money to funding the needs of developing countries in the peaceful application of nuclear energy and, especially in connection with human health and food production.

Annan reports momentum against racism continues following Durban conference

12 October 2005
Human Rights

Momentum generated by the United Nations World Conference against Racism four years ago is fuelling a trend towards reporting and monitoring, often using statistics, of racist crimes and incidents, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says in his latest report on the issue to the General Assembly.