Latest News

A United Nations envoy dealing with children’s rights today hailed the decision of Member States to adopt a new protocol aimed at protecting children from abuse and violence.

Fiscal austerity policies being implemented by countries are driving the global economy towards a recession, the United Nations trade and development body warned today, stressing that greater attention should be paid to high unemployment, which it called a more pressing problem than budgetary deficits.

An independent United Nations human rights expert has urged authorities in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory to lift restrictions to freedom of expression, stressing that these are curbing minority views and dissenting opinions, and preventing journalists and human rights defenders from reporting on rights violations.

The Security Council today voiced its appreciation of efforts by the United Nations regional centre for preventive diplomacy in Central Asia, particularly its focus on trans-boundary threats to stability, the management of common resources and cooperation on anti-terrorism measures.

United Nations Member States today expressed deep concern at both persistent reports of “systematic, widespread and grave” human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the precarious humanitarian situation inside the Asian country.

United Nations Member States today expressed deep concern at reports of human rights violations in Iran, including torture, the use of cruel punishments such as flogging and amputations and “pervasive gender inequality and violence against women,” and called on Tehran to strengthen its national human rights institutions.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on transitional authorities in Egypt to show restraint after several days of clashes between security forces and protesters in the capital, Cairo, have reportedly killed at least 10 people and injured hundreds more.

The top United Nations official in Cote d''Ivoire today deplored the deadly clashes in the west of the country that have reportedly killed at least six people this weekend.

The United Nations today launched the Decade on Biodiversity with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging humanity to live in harmony with nature and to preserve and properly manage its riches for the prosperity of current and future generations.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced hope that the Sri Lankan Government will move forward on its commitments to deal with accountability concerns in the wake of the long-running civil war in the Asian country.