Afghan

Archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley, Afghanistan

UN marks 10th anniversary of destruction of Buddha statues in Afghanistan

28 February 2011
On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the destruction of the giant Buddha statues of Bamiyan, in Afghanistan, by the then-ruling fundamentalist Islamic Taliban, the United Nations cultural chief today called on the world to protect the heritage of humanity from damage, turmoil and theft.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) with the late Richard Holbrooke in 2007

Late US diplomat Holbrooke a shining example of what UN can be, says Ban

17 February 2011
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today held up veteran United States diplomat Richard Holbrooke, who died in December, as a steadfast friend of the United Nations and a shining example of what the Organization can aspire to be.
Afghan children at play

Ban calls for greater efforts to tackle child rights violations in Afghanistan

14 February 2011
Greater efforts are needed to end grave violations against children in Afghanistan, including their use as child soldiers, sexual violence, killing and maiming, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report to the Security Council.
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, signs agreement in Kabul on 30 January 2011.
UN Photo/Eric Kanalstein

New UN-Afghan pact will help curb recruitment, sexual abuse of children – UN

3 February 2011
A new agreement between Afghanistan and the United Nations holds out the hope of ending the recruitment of children by armed forces and curbing the sexual abuse of young boys by powerful commanders, particularly in the national police, a top UN official said today.