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As the conflict in Syria enters its fourth year, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has released a new report that carries alarming news: more than twice as many children are affected by the hostilities than were 12 months ago, and particularly hard hit are up to a million children trapped in areas that are under siege or that are hard to reach with humanitarian assistance due to continued violence.

United Nations Secretary-General today expressed concern about the situation in the Maldives following the decision of the Supreme Court to remove the Chair and the Vice Chair of the Elections Commission and to sentence the Chair for contempt of court.

Deeply concerned by an outbreak of inter-communal violence in North Darfur, the African Union-United Nations Mission in the region called today for an end to the fighting, which has sent thousands fleeing for safety and left a number of people dead over the past few days.

Violence has again disrupted efforts to deliver aid to a besieged camp on the outskirts of Damascus, the United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees across the Middle East warned today, as UN and other humanitarian agencies launched a global campaign demanding immediate access to all civilians in war-torn Syria trapped by the violence.

To mark International Women's Day, the United Nations family is spotlighting a simple truth: achieving equality for women and girls is essential not merely because it is a matter of fairness and fundamental human rights, but because progress in so many other areas depends on it.

The African Union-United Nations Joint Mediator for Darfur has wrapped up talks between the top African Union (AU) official and leaders of two of the region's main rebel movements, encouraging the parties to overcome their misgivings and press ahead towards a comprehensive political accord, for the benefit of not only strife-ridden Darfur, but also for wider Sudan.

The top United Nations office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today expressed strong appreciation to the International Criminal Court (ICC) which convicted former Congolese militia leader Germain Katanga of war crimes in relation to a deadly 2003 attack.

The United Nations human rights chief today voiced concern at the increasing restrictions on civil and political rights in Burundi, following a series of violent acts by the ruling party’s youth wing and the disruption of public meetings organized by opposition parties.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed serious concern today over the conviction of Malaysian opposition leader, Karpal Singh, who was found guilty of sedition late last month and is due to be sentenced on 11 March.

The Security Council today unanimously adopted a resolution setting out practical steps to combat violations against children in armed conflict, as United Nations officials underscored the need to do more to ensure that children are protected and perpetrators are brought to justice.