UNICEF names Jordan’s Queen Rania first-ever Eminent Advocate for Children
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has appointed Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan as the agency’s first-ever Eminent Advocate for Children.
Israel: Ban Ki-moon deplores suicide bombing; urges Palestinians to stop further attacks
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today condemned in the strongest possible terms the Palestinian suicide bombing which killed three people and wounded another at a bakery in the Israeli town of Eilat and called for swift action by Palestinian security forces to prevent threatened further attacks.
UN outraged by deadly attack on girls’ school in Baghdad
Two United Nations agencies joined forces today to voice outrage at the needless waste of children’s lives after an attack on a Baghdad girls’ school killed five students and injured at least 20 others.
UN marks Holocaust Day as constant reminder to prevent future genocides
The United Nations today marked the annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust with an urgent appeal that the remembrance of the millions of Jews and others murdered by the Nazis serve to prevent new massacres, a rebuff for those who deny that the tragedy ever occurred, and moving testimony from survivors.
UNICEF seeks $635 million for 33 emergencies, some well known, others forgotten
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today launched its Humanitarian Action Report 2007, calling on donors to provide $635 million to aid children and women in 33 emergencies, ranging from Darfur in Sudan, which accounts for nearly a fifth of the appeal, to Haiti, Eritrea and the Central African Republic (CAR).
UN official hails international court’s decision to try Congolese militia leader
The top United Nations official dealing with children and armed conflict today welcomed a ruling by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to try Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga Dyilo for war crimes involving recruiting children as soldiers, in what would be the Hague-based court’s first trial.
UN helps Liberia shore up rule of law through support for corrections facility
The top United Nations envoy to Liberia has pledged the Organization’s continued support to promoting the rule of law through improved correctional facilities in the West African country which is rebuilding after a devastating 14-year civil war that killed almost 150,000 people and resulted in 850,000 more fleeing across its borders.
UN agency concerned as Thailand deports Lao Hmong to Laos, reiterates offer to help
The United Nations refugee agency has expressed concern over Thailand’s decision to deport 16 Lao Hmong to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic without screening them to see if they needed international protection, and has repeated its offer to help Thai authorities put in place a screening system.
Lebanon: UN force rises above 12,000 as troops arrive from Qatar
The enhanced United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, sent to monitor the end of hostilities after last year’s conflict between Israel and Hizbollah, now numbers over 12,000, the mission said today, while reporting that two of its de-miners were injured trying to rid the country of the massive number of cluster bombs left over from the fighting.
UN envoy calls on Haitians to seize ‘window of opportunity’
Haiti has made solid progress in rebuilding its economy and restoring the rule of law but serious obstacles remain in the country, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping operation there said today.