UN News stories

19 stories found over the past 45 days
Ban meets with UN partners in Washington DC to boost ‘quality and equality’ of education

18 April 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his Special Envoy for Education Gordon Brown are in Washington DC to meet with international government and development partners on how to accelerate progress towards the United Nations Global Education First Initiative to put every child in school, improve the quality of learning, and foster global citizenship by the end of 2015.

Briefing media on world crisis flashpoints, Ban says political solution is only answer

17 April 2013 – Both in Syria where conditions are daily worsening, and in Mali where security has much improved, a political solution is the only answer for long-term stability, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today in a news briefing that touched on crisis flashpoints around the world.

Security Council, in day-long debate, urged to strengthen measures to end rape in war zones

17 April 2013 – Conflict-related sexual violence, horrific in itself, is also an impediment to national reconciliation and development, top United Nations officials told the Security Council at the start of a day-long debate, urging increased political and financial pressure on those who commit, command or condone sexual violence in war zones.

Mali: UN food agency ‘urgently working’ to aid communities despite insecurity

16 April 2013 – The continuing conflict in Mali combined with the country’s impending “lean season” is threatening to aggravate hunger in the Sahelian nation, the United Nations food aid agency warned today, adding that it was “urgently working” with partner organizations to help affected families, particularly in the country’s North.

Conflict prevention in Africa must address poverty, marginalization, UN warns

15 April 2013 – The United Nations Security Council today held a debate on preventing conflict in Africa, with calls for top priority to be given to addressing underlying root causes such as poverty, hunger, human rights abuses, marginalization and impunity, especially with regard to sexual violence.

UN expert calls for support to protect Burkina Faso from terrorism threat

12 April 2013 – A United Nations independent expert today called for international support to ward off terrorism from Burkina Faso, stressing it remains vulnerable to radicalization and violent extremists.

Mali: UN reaffirms support for African military force after deadly terrorist attack

12 April 2013 – The United Nations today reaffirmed its determination to back the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) after a terrorist suicide bombing killed three Chadian members of the force, which is helping national efforts to recover the northern Sahara region of the trouble-wracked country from insurgents.

Sahel region needs women’s leadership, says UN-backed conference

10 April 2013 – Dozens of women from the Sahel have met with the United Nations envoy to the region and the world organization’s top official for women’s issues, at a conference to recommend ways to boost economic recovery, political stability and conflict prevention in the troubled African region.

Meeting in Vatican, Secretary-General and Pontiff discuss ways to eradicate poverty

09 April 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Pope Francis today discussed what can be done to accelerate work to reduce poverty and advance economic development during a meeting in the Vatican.