28 February 2014 – An independent United Nations human rights expert today called on authorities in Guinea-Bissau to address the critical needs of the poorest and most marginalized members of society as she wrapped up her first official visit to the West African nation. “The people of Guinea-Bissau cannot wait any longer for state policies to become effective,” said Magdalena Sepúlveda, the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, adding that authorities must act with the vision to ensure a better life for current and future generations. “Guinea-Bissau has an opportunity to progress, but it must agree on a…
Author: UN News
27 February 2014 – The United Nations and its humanitarian partners are prioritizing shelter and livelihoods projects in the typhoon-devastated parts of the Philippines, while continuing to provide the most vulnerable people with life-saving assistance and protection services. “The Government, the United Nations and NGO [non-governmental organizations] partners must now continue to work together to do more so that the most vulnerable people are included in the recovery,” Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos told journalists in the capital, Manila, wrapping up a two-day visit to the country. Around 100 days have passed since super Typhoon Haiyan tore across central…
26 February 2014 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged the political parties in Thailand to respect human rights and the rule of law, and to work together towards resolving the politically-motivated confrontations which are becoming more deadly. In a statement from his spokesperson, Mr. Ban said that he was “increasingly concerned” about the three-month political struggle. The Thai protesters are reportedly seeking to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s administration and implement anti-corruption reforms. Children were reportedly among the casualties at this weekend’s demonstrations. Mr. Ban condemned that violence. “The Secretary-General believes strongly that there should be no place…
25 February 2014 – The United Nations refugee agency today confirmed that it assisting the Government of Pakistan to issue new refugee cards to more than 1.6 million Afghan refugees in the country, certifying that they are legally in the country and should be allow access to social services and basic rights. The refugee card “protects against risks such as extortion, arbitrary arrest and detention as well as deportation under Pakistan’s Foreigner’s Act,” UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards told journalists in Geneva. Under the two-phase process, current card holders of the so-called proof-of-registration (PoR) cards will get a replacement card valid…
27 February 2014 – The United Nations Security Council said it is “appalled” by today’s terrorist attack in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, for which the Islamic insurgent group Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility and which has killed at least 12 people and wounded several others. “The members of the Security Council condemned the attack in the strongest terms,” the 15-member body added in a statement issued to the press. Today’s suicide bombing near the country’s intelligence headquarters is the latest in a wave of attacks to hit the Horn of Africa nation in recent weeks. Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for many…
27 February 2014 – The establishment of a special Tribunal to prosecute crimes of slavery in Mauritania bring the country one step closer to effectively ending the practice of slavery, an independent United Nations expert said, calling on the Government to deploy all necessary efforts to making this a reality. Wrapping up an official visit to the country, Gulnara Shahinian, the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, urged authorities to take more vigorous measures to fully implement the laws and policies. “The adoption of the road map for the implementation of my previous recommendations is a clear sign…
27 February 2014 – Ahead of the twentieth anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today honoured the launch of “Kwibuka 20,” a series of events commemorating the tragedy, and urged the international community to do more to fully internalize and implement the lessons learned from the killings of 800,000 people in 1994. “We must speak out forcefully whenever communities are threatened by mass atrocities or their precursors,” Mr. Ban said in New York ahead of the official observance of the Day on 7 April. He described the collective failure to prevent atrocities in Syria over the past…
27 February 2014 – The top United Nations humanitarian official in South sudan described as “shocking” what he saw during a visit to a teaching hospital in the town of Malakal, where he encountered nothing but dead bodies. “Last week it was a functioning centre to treat the sick; now it’s an empty, silent shell,” UN Humanitarian Coordinator Toby Lanzer tweeted after visiting the hospital with a delegation that included representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), adding “nothing left except dead bodies.” Malakal itself looked and felt deserted, added Mr. Lanzer, who also serves as Deputy Special Representative of…
27 February 2014 – The United Nations human rights office said today that the publication by a Ugandan newspaper of the names and photos of people it claims are homosexual violates basic rights to privacy and dignity, and called on media outlets to refrain from actions that fuel hatred and violence. A Ugandan tabloid on Tuesday named the country’s “200 top homosexuals,” a day after President Yoweri Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act into law, criminalizing and imposing life imprisonment for homosexuality, same-sex marriage and “aggravated homosexuality.” “The publication by a newspaper in Uganda of the names and photos of people…
26 February 2014 – The United Nations Security Council urged Guinea-Bissau and the international community to redouble efforts aimed at preparing for the long delayed elections which have been postponed yet again, and reiterated that they are willing to use targeted sanctions against civilian and military individuals who undermine efforts to restore the constitutional order. In a statement to the press after its discussions, the 15-member Council expressed concern at the continuing delays in the legislative and presidential elections, which have recently been postponed to 13 April from 16 March, according to a decree signed by interim President Manuel Serifo…