News in Brief 8 January 2021
Rights chief Bachelet echoes condemnation of incitement in US Capitol chaos Mass displacement amid Central African Republic election…
Category: UN
UN post-COVID poll: 1.5 million outline their needs, hopes and fears
The world’s first global poll conducted during the COVID-19 crisis to ask people what their…
Vaccinating equitably ‘saves lives, stabilizes health systems’ – WHO chief
Two billion doses of “safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines” have been secured by the international…
Uganda: ‘Deteriorating’ human rights situation in run-up to elections next week
The UN human rights office, OHCHR, is urging authorities in Uganda to ensure elections next week are free and…
Viet Nam: UN rights office denounces ‘increasing clampdown’ on freedom of expression
The UN human rights office (OHCHR), on Friday, voiced concerns over the use of “vaguely…
News in Brief 7 January 2021
Top UN officials saddened by violent mob protests inside US Capitol Hong Kong: UN human rights office urges…
WHO warns of COVID-19 ‘tipping point’ as cases rise across Europe
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a “tipping point” in the fight against…
Saudi Arabia: UN rights expert welcomes ‘positive first step’ toward détente in Gulf
Saudi Arabia’s action in lifting sanctions against Qatar is a “positive first step” towards normalized…
Callamard calls for ‘clear, explicit and unambiguous standards’ to protect civilian planes during conflicts
Urgent measures are needed to protect civilian aircraft flying over conflict zones or other areas…
Hong Kong: UN human rights office urges immediate release of arrested activists
The UN human rights office (OHCHR) has voiced deep concerns over the arrests of over…
On EU’s doorstep, UN raises alarm for thousands of young migrants sleeping rough
Well over 2,500 migrants and refugees have been forced to sleep rough in Bosnia-Herzegovina for several…
‘An unwanted prison sentence’ for seafarers stuck at home and stranded at sea
Hundreds of thousands of seafarers have been on board for many months longer than planned,…
UN human rights expert ‘cautiously welcomes’ UK court’s refusal to extradite Julian Assange
An independent UN human rights expert has welcomed a British court’s refusal to extradite Wikileaks…
News in Brief 5 January 2021
UNHCR relocates first Ethiopian refugees to new site in Sudan UN appeals to spoilers in…
WHO chief begins 2021 with plea for ‘less politicking’ over health
In a race to “save lives, livelihoods and end this pandemic”, the head of the…
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FROM THE FIELD: Weathering a tourist downturn in Kyrgyzstan
The residents of a small traditional village high in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan in Central…
FAO Podcast – The UN’s FAO at 75: A world of plenty?
In this second podcast from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) marking…
News in Brief 4 January 2021
Attack on Niger villagers leaves 100 dead, UN chief urges justice for victims Killing of…
World Braille Day highlights importance of accessible information
The United Nations is commemorating World Braille Day, on Monday, highlighting the importance of the…
Make 2021 ‘safer, healthier world for children’, UNICEF chief urges
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday that more than 371,500 children would be…
UN health agency clears COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use
To speed up access to COVID-19 vaccinations in the developing world, on the eve of…
Iran execution of child offender breaks international law: UN rights office
The execution of an Iranian man for a crime allegedly committed when he was 16…
Argentina: ‘Ground-breaking’ new abortion law crucial to ending gender discrimination – UN experts
The year drew to a close in Argentina with “a ground-breaking law” that legalizes abortions…
The virus that shut down the world: the path to a vaccine
Vaccines that protect against COVID-19 have been developed in record time over the year but,…
First Person: Vietnamese man finds ‘true voice’ in gay community
A Vietnamese man has told the UN he has found his ‘true voice’ in the…
News in Brief 30 December 2020
WHO urges greater COVID-19 surveillance Blackwater pardons an “affront to justice” – UN experts Refugee…
US pardons Blackwater guards: An ‘affront to justice’ – UN experts
Five independent UN experts condemned United States President Donald Trump’s pardoning of private security contractors,…
Bias, racism and lies: facing up to the unwanted consequences of AI
Powerful digital tools using artificial intelligence (AI) software are helping in the fight against COVID-19,…
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FROM THE FIELD: India’s pandemic of violence against women
An increase in violence against women in India during the global COVID-19 outbreak has been…
News in Brief 29 December 2020
US sanctions slowing Syria rebuilding: UN independent expert Netherlands violates nationality rights: UN rights committee…
Netherlands violates nationality rights: UN rights committee
The Netherlands has violated a child’s rights by registering children under the category “nationality unknown”…
UN rights expert urges United States to remove sanctions hindering rebuilding in Syria
A UN independent human rights expert, on Tuesday, called on the United States to remove…
United Nations Secretary-General’s New Year’s Message
United Nations Secretary-General’s New Year’s Message Read Original Article: United Nations Secretary-General’s New Year’s Message…
News in Brief 28 December 2020
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Migrant lives at ‘immediate risk’, warn UN agencies UN peacekeepers patrol polling…
After year of ‘trials, tragedies and tears’, UN chief sends message of hope for 2021
As the world enters 2021, after a “year of trials, tragedies and tears”, the United…
Vaccination no guarantee of virus eradication: WHO officials
In the final World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 press conference of the year, on Monday,…
FROM THE FIELD: Misunderstood and mistreated; transgender women in Mexico
A group of transgender women in Mexico City has been telling the UN how despite…
The virus that shut down the world: Education in crisis
Children all over the world have had their education severely disrupted this year, as schools…
World must be ready for the next pandemic, UN says on first International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
The United Nations is commemorating the first International Day of Epidemic Preparedness on Sunday, underscoring…
Chad: New law safeguards 480,000 refugees
The UN refugee agency commended Chad on Friday for adopting its first-ever asylum law, which…
The virus that shut down the world: 2020, a year like no other
COVID-19 is everywhere, literally, and during 2020 its spread and resulting impact has led to…
News in Brief 23 December 2020
Fears grow over pre-election violence close to Central African Republic capital Press freedom more important than ever, says UN body, condemns killing…
Hate speech on Facebook poses ‘acute challenges to human dignity’ – UN expert
An independent UN human rights expert called on Wednesday for Facebook’s Oversight Board to give…
Iraq: Trump pardons for Baghdad Blackwater guards ‘contributes to impunity’ says UN rights office
The UN human rights office OHCHR, has voiced deep concern over the decision by United States President…
Press freedom more important than ever, as UN condemns killing of 59 media workers
At least 59 media workers have been killed this year, four of them women, the…
New Sudan government ‘acceptable to the people’ paves way for UNAMID drawdown
The Security Council on Tuesday voted to end the hybrid UN-African Union civilian support operation…
News in Brief 22 December 2020
Tigray: Hundreds of civilians reported killed in artillery strikes Urgent appeal launched for Tigray emergency …
COVID-19: Support to frontline workers part of UN response in Brazil
UN agencies in Brazil are supporting national response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including by providing thousands of protective…
UN independent expert asks outgoing US president: Pardon Wikileaks’ Assange
In an open letter to Donald Trump on Tuesday, an independent UN human rights expert…
Mozambique: 250,000 displaced children facing deadly disease threat
A lack of safe water, sanitation and hygiene services have put approximately 250,000 children, displaced by…