united nations

December 15, 2017

Sri Lanka joins global landmine ban

Sri Lanka joined the international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines on 13 December, 2017. Human Rights Watch said “This should spur other countries that haven’t joined the treaty to review their position and address any obstacles to joining it.”
December 14, 2017

Millions face severe hunger in DRC but funding crisis threatens aid delivery

Millions of people facing severe hunger and acute malnutrition in one of the worst hit areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) risk having life-saving aid cut if donors do not plug a hole in the aid budget, Oxfam has warned.
December 11, 2017

UN launches campaign for 70th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The United Nations has launched a year-long campaign to honour the foundational human rights document, which next year marks its 70th anniversary.
December 8, 2017

Anti-nuclear activists to celebrate Nobel Peace Prize at MoD

Anti-nuclear activists will gather outside the Ministry of Defence on Saturday December 9 2017, to celebrate the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to ICAN, the global network which campaigned for a United Nations nuclear weapons ban treaty.
December 7, 2017

UN designates 2021-2030 ‘Decade of Ocean Science’

The UN has designated the years 2021 to 2030 as the ‘Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development’ to boost international coordination and cooperation in research and scientific programmes for better management of ocean and coastal zone resources and the reduction of maritime risks.
December 3, 2017

UN urges Saudi-led coalition to lift blockade of Red Sea ports

Top officials from across the United Nations system have called for the Saudi-led coalition to fully lift its blockade of Yemen's Red Sea ports, warning that unless commercial imports are resumed, “the threat of widespread famine in a matter of months is very real.”
November 28, 2017

UN-backed data shows family members linked to nearly half of child trafficking cases

Almost half of identified child trafficking cases have begun with a family member’s involvement, new data from the United Nations migration agency has revealed.
November 23, 2017

UN hails conviction of Mladic as 'a momentous victory for justice'

The United Nations top human rights official has welcomed the conviction of former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic on multiple counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes by an international tribunal
November 19, 2017

UN warns that famine may be unfolding 'right now' in Yemen

The United Nations relief wing warned of famine-like conditions unfolding in Yemen, as a blockade on aid and other essential goods by a Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels there entered its twelfth day.
November 15, 2017

One in 10 children work, UN agency reports

An estimated 152 million children around the world work, a practice that the international community at a United Nations co-organised conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is trying to eliminate.