UN News stories

10 stories found over the past 45 days
UN envoy and young Pakistani activist launch drive for safe, universal education

17 June 2013 – A 15-year-old Pakistani girl targeted by assassins – Malala Yousafzai – is the first signatory of a new worldwide petition calling for urgent action to ensure the right of every child to safely attend school, launched today with the backing of the United Nations Special Envoy for Education.

New UN initiative seeks to give children better start by boosting nutrition for mothers

07 June 2013 – Two United Nations agencies are launching a new partnership to improve nutrition among pregnant and breastfeeding women to ensure that children get a good start toward a healthy and productive life.

Leadership, commitment keys to winning battle against undernutrition, UN agency says

06 June 2013 – With 165 million children around the world who are stunted as a result of undernutrition, the United Nations children’s agency has reiterated its calls to invest in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.

UN experts urge El Salvador to reconsider abortion legislation, citing ruling against ill woman

04 June 2013 – A group of United Nations independent experts today called on the Government of El Salvador to reconsider its abortion legislation, following a ruling by the Supreme Court which denied the procedure to a seriously ill woman.

Senior UN officials spotlight women’s health rights to accelerate global development

30 May 2013 – Investing in the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls will help accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the post-2015 sustainable development agenda, United Nations senior officials said on the final day of the Women Deliver Conference.

As UN marks Buddhist holiday, Ban says spiritual ideals can help tackle global challenges

24 May 2013 – The teachings of Buddhism can offer significant insights on how to face today's most pressing challenges, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, in a message marking Vesak Day, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha.

Greater attention needed for safe childbirths, UN urges on inaugural Day to end obstetric fistula

23 May 2013 – The prevalence of obstetric fistula – a preventable and treatable condition linked to women’s reproduction – among women and girls in developing countries is a denial of their human rights, senior United Nations officials today said urging global action to make childbirth safer.

Health gap between countries is narrowing, but challenges remain – UN report

15 May 2013 – The health gap between poor and rich countries has narrowed significantly over the past two decades according to a United Nations report released today, which stresses that in spite of this progress, challenges still remain to achieve the health targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

UN’s Ban urges accelerated action on health-related MDGs for women, children

06 May 2013 – The planet’s social and economic inequalities must be addressed if women and children are to “survive and thrive,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged today, calling for accelerated action on achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ahead of the 2015 deadline.

UN hails midwives' contribution to maternal health around the world

06 May 2013 – Midwives can make the difference between life and death for hundreds of thousands of women every year, the United Nations population agency affirmed today, recognizing their crucial role in improving maternal health, family planning and assisting during humanitarian emergencies.