19 March 2014 – Young Syrian refugees in Jordan need the support of the country’s population, said the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), during a visit to the country to examine the challenges faced both by the Syrian and Jordanian youth since the arrival of hundreds of thousands displaced families. Irina Bokova, UNESCO’s Director-General, went to Zainab Bint El Rasoul public girls’ school located in Ramtha, five kilometres from the Syrian border, where a UNESCO project is helping Syrian refugee girls cope with the uprooting from their country and the loss of their homes,…
Author: UN News
19 March 2014 – With Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon headed to Russia and Ukraine as part of his diplomatic efforts to de-escalate current tensions, the Security Council heard senior United Nations officials in New York urge adherence to fundamental principles of the UN Charter, including respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensuring respect for the human rights of all. “It is in the spirit of the UN Charter that [the Secretary-General] now embarks on his mission to Moscow and Kiev,” said Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, who, alongside UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Simonovic, briefed the Council on…
17 March 2014 – Leading the United Nations push for parties in Ukraine to resolve the country’s ongoing political crisis through peaceful dialogue, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said he is “deeply concerned and disappointed” that this weekend’s Crimea secession referendum will only exacerbate an “already complex and tense situation.” “The Secretary-General continues to closely follow the situation in Ukraine,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, told reporters in New York, adding that since the beginning of the crisis, the UN chief has urged all parties to avoid “hasty steps” that could exacerbate tensions. “He encourages all parties to work for a…
19 March 2014 – The Security Council today unanimously adopted a resolution condemning attempts to illicitly export crude oil from Libya and imposing sanctions on vessels involved in such efforts. The resolution requested that Libya inform the Security Council committee overseeing the arms embargo, travel ban and assets freeze imposed on the country by resolution 1970 – known as the 1970 committee – of any vessels transporting crude oil illicitly exported from Libya. It also decided that the 1970 committee would designate those vessels for some or all measures authorized in the resolution on a case-by-case basis for a period…
19 March 2014 – The United Nations envoy for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, has welcomed progress made by the national army and the African Union peacekeeping mission in regaining control of key towns from Al Shabaab insurgents. In a news release issued by the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), Mr. Kay congratulated the Somali National Army (SNA) and the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on their efforts in south-central Somalia. He added that the UN will continue support the joint operations, and stressed the importance of ensuring that international humanitarian law and human rights are fully respected during these operations.…
18 March 2014 – The United Nations strongly condemned a deadly suicide attack that occurred today in the northern Afghan province of Faryab, killing 15 civilians and injuring nearly 50 others. According to reports, a suicide attacker with a body-borne improvised explosive device (IED) detonated in the centre of the provincial capital, Maimana. Local health officials have confirmed that two children were among those killed, and the injured included a pregnant woman. “The continuing rise in civilian deaths from IEDs is tragic. Their use in a distinctly civilian location such as a market is atrocious and cannot be justified,” the…
18 March 2014 – A group of independent United Nations experts today urged Chinese authorities to promptly investigate the circumstances leading to the death of prominent human rights lawyer Cao Sun Ly Shunli, who died in the hospital on 14 March. According to a news release issued by the experts, Ms. Cao had tirelessly campaigned since 2008 for transparency and greater participation of civil society in the periodic review of China’s human rights record by the UN Human Rights Council. On 14 September 2013, Ms. Cao was prevented by Chinese authorities from boarding a flight from Beijing to Geneva where…
17 March 2014 – Detailing a raft of “unspeakable atrocities” committed in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) “without parallel in the modern world,” the head of a United Nations-mandated probe into the human rights situation there called today on the international community to hold the country to account, including through referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC). “The Commission of Inquiry found systematic, widespread and grave human rights violations occurring in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It also found a disturbing array of crimes against humanity,” said Chairman Michael Kirby in Geneva during a dialogue with members…
17 March 2014 – In a personal appeal to the Afghan people less than three weeks before national elections, a senior United Nations envoy today urged all citizens of the nascent democracy to exercise their right to vote and not allow spoilers to deter the holding of peaceful and credible polls. “The success of the April 2014 elections will be of critical significance in reinforcing Afghanistan’s institutional and political stability and instilling confidence in the future,” the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ján Kubiš, said in his briefing to the Security Council. Afghanistan is set to hold presidential and provincial…
18 March 2014 – The United Nations mission in Libya has strongly condemned the terrorist bombing in Benghazi on Monday that targeted members of the military, and called on the country’s citizens to rally around their national institutions. In a statement issued today, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called on Libyans of all affiliations to denounce and reject the continued series of acts of violence and terror such as kidnappings, assassinations and bombings that have buffeted Benghazi and other parts of the country. “The Mission urges Libyans to rally around their national institutions in confronting these crimes and…