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UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre

INTERVIEW: Advancing human rights, a ‘never ending process’ says new UN rights chief

17 October 2018
Human Rights

In August, Michelle Bachelet, twice-elected President of Chile and the first head of UN Women, was confirmed as the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, replacing Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.

UN Photo/Loey Felipe

Africa is ‘on the rise’, says UN chief Guterres, urging collaboration for better future

17 October 2018
SDGs

Africa is “on the move and on the rise” with communities coming together to resolve their problems and offer mutual support, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted on Wednesday.

UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre

World ‘deserves to know the truth’ behind Kashoggi disappearance: UN human rights chief

17 October 2018
Human Rights

United Nations human rights chief Michele Bachelet said on Wednesday that she was open to an independent, UN-led investigation into the fate of Saudi journalist Jamal Kashoggi, if joint efforts by Turkey and Saudi Arabia, fail to uncover the facts.

WHO

‘Virginity testing’: a human rights violation, with no scientific basis - UN

17 October 2018
Women

A group of United Nations agencies has issued a joint statement calling for a ban on tests meant to assess the virginity of a girl or a woman, which is a common practice in at least 20 countries.

UN Photo

West Bank: ‘imminent’ demolition of Palestinian village could be ‘war crime’ – ICC Prosecutor

17 October 2018
Human Rights

The Prosecutor mandated to oversee the Occupied Palestinian Territory for the International Criminal Court (ICC) stated on Wednesday that her office is keeping “a close eye” on the planned demolition of a Palestinian village in the West Bank by Israeli authorities, warning that, according to international law, it could constitute a “war crime”.

UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Veteran UN Syria Envoy to step down, pledges to work 'until the last hour' for peace

17 October 2018
Peace and Security

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, told the Security Council on Wednesday that he is stepping down at the end of next month, after four years and four months on the job

WFP/Jonathan Dumont

UN Chief says ending poverty ‘a question of justice’ on International Day

17 October 2018
Human Rights

Highlighting that for the United Nations, eliminating poverty in all its forms remains one of the greatest global challenges and priorities, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed the fundamental connection between eradicating poverty and upholding equal rights for all.

UNFPA/Ollivier Girard

World population set to grow another 2.2 billion by 2050: UN survey

17 October 2018
Economic Development

The world’s population is set to grow by 2.2 billion between now and 2050, the UN said on Wednesday, and more than half of that growth - 1.3 billion - is likely to be in sub-Saharan Africa, where women’s rights are hampered by limited access to healthcare and education, along with “entrenched gender discrimination”.

OCHA / Yasmina Guerda

Nigeria: UN chief ‘appalled’ by killing of aid worker; calls for release of remaining hostages

16 October 2018
Humanitarian Aid

The United Nations Secretary-General strongly condemned on Tuesday the killing of an aid worker from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in north-east Nigeria. He said he was “appalled” by her death on Monday.  

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

UN ‘stands in solidarity’ with cyclone-hit India – Secretary-General Guterres

16 October 2018
Humanitarian Aid

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed sadness at the loss of lives and devastation caused by Cyclone Titli in India and said that the Organization is ready to provide assistance.