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Citing ongoing incidents of murder, rape, torture, widespread attacks on civilians and hostage-taking committed by Syrian forces and anti-Government armed groups, a United Nations-appointed human rights probe reported today that “the perpetrators of these violations and crimes, on all sides, act in defiance of international law. They do not fear accountability.”

Countries must remain committed to protecting populations from mass atrocities, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told an informal dialogue in the General Assembly today, stressing this does not only entail acting in the face of violence, but also focusing on conflict prevention.

More people than ever are living abroad the United Nations today reported, with Asia seeing the largest increase of international migrants over the past decade, and the United States remaining the most popular destination.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly welcomed the emergence of “serious international discussions” that could lead to an agreement in the UN Security Council to secure and destroy Syria’s chemical weapons.

“We wanted to speak about peace in a way other than our speeches, which some people say are a little boring,” Simona-Mirela Miculescu said ahead of the launch of the Ambassadors Sing for Peace album, a compilation of songs promoting world peace, hope and togetherness performed by five United Nations Ambassadors and youth choirs.

A United Nations independent expert today urged Governments worldwide to provide adequate protection to members of civil society, including whistleblowers, and ensure transparency in their decision-making processes.

The United Nations has condemned the killing of two aid workers in the Central African Republic (CAR), and urged all parties to ensure the protection of civilians and respect for humanitarian law.

More than 550 children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have left armed groups in the past five months, the United Nations humanitarian relief arm today announced.

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today voiced grave concern over the killing of a newspaper editor and a radio journalist in the Philippines, and urged authorities to investigate these crimes.

Various measures implemented in recent years by the British Government are eroding the right to affordable housing in the United Kingdom, a United Nations independent expert said today.