UN News stories

331 stories found over the past 45 days
Nepal: Ban urges all parties to ‘maintain momentum’ to hold elections within timetable

24 May 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged all parties in Nepal to overcome remaining political obstacles to hold the country’s next elections within the existing timetable.

UN agency calls on Syria’s neighbours to keep borders open for refugees

24 May 2013 – The United Nations refugee agency today called on countries around Syria to keep their borders open for refugees, while also stressing the need for “urgent and robust” international support for host countries and aid agencies.

UN human rights office urges trial to be decided on merits after Guatemalan court overturns Ríos Montt conviction

24 May 2013 – The United Nations human rights office today said it was “concerned” about the legal rights of Guatemalans after a high court overturned the 80 year prison sentence against former military leader, Efrain Ríos Montt.

Japan must continue efforts to deactivate Fukushima nuclear plant – UN agency

24 May 2013 – Although Japan has made progress towards stabilizing the damaged reactors of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant crippled by a devastating earthquake two years ago, there are still issues to be resolved before it can begin its deactivation, the United Nations atomic agency said in a report released today.

Afghanistan: UN condemns terrorist attack on partner agency’s compound

24 May 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the top United Nations envoy in Afghanistan have strongly condemned the terrorist attack on a compound of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in central Kabul, which earlier today wounded three of the agency’s staff, one seriously.

UN report highlights benefits of school meal programmes in crisis settings

24 May 2013 – A United Nations report released today stresses the importance of providing meals for schoolchildren, particularly in times of crisis, and notes that this is still lacking in many developing countries.

Deploring attacks in Niger, Security Council says perpetrators must be brought to justice

24 May 2013 – The Security Council today condemned “in the strongest terms” the two terrorist attacks that occurred on Thursday in Niger, and underlined the need to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Continuing push for Great Lakes peace, UN chief in Uganda after visit to Rwanda

24 May 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today thanked the Government of Uganda for its contribution to peace and security in Africa, travelling alongside World Bank President Jim Yong Kim on a first-of-its-kind visit to support a recent peace accord and promote economic development in the Great Lakes region.

Politics has too much sway over culture, education in Bosnia and Herzegovina – UN expert

24 May 2013 – An independent United Nations human rights expert today voiced concern at the extent to which political bodies have influence over cultural institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and urged the Government to ensure that people have opportunities to engage freely in cultural life.

UN rights experts call for stronger protection of victims of caste-based discrimination

24 May 2013 – More than 260 million people across the world are still victims of human rights abuses due to caste-based discrimination, United Nations independent experts warned today, urging South Asian countries to strengthen legislation to protect them.