GENEVA, Nov. 2, 2016 – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, already the world’s most translated document, is now available in more than 500 translations with the addition of North Bolivian Quechua to the collection. “The growing number of translations underscores the universality of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the power of its […]
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Impunity for crimes against journalists must end to protect open democratic societies – experts tell UN
November2, 2016 – On the morning of 1 November 2015, the day before the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists last year, Abdalaziz Alhamza, co-founder of a campaign to expose atrocities committed against civilians in the Syrian city of Raqqa, received two photos. One was of his colleague – with no head. […]
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Water conflicts between Asian nuclear powers pose global threat
Oct. 31, 2016 – The current political rhetoric between India and Pakistan underlines the risk of failing to manage correctly and cooperatively vital water resources shared between nations. India’s suspension of the Indus Water Commission meeting on 26 September 2016, and its convening of a meeting to review India’s options for modifying or walking away […]
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Report: Food and Energy Demand Drives 58 Percent Decline in Global Wildlife Populations
Oct. 26, 2016 – Global populations of vertebrates — mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish — have declined by 58 percent between 1970 and 2012, states a new report from World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Animals living in the world’s lakes, rivers, and freshwater systems have experienced the most dramatic population declines, at 81 percent. Because […]
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Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar – Winners of the 2016 Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought
October 27, 2016 – The President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz made the following statement on the awarding of the 2016 Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought to Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar. The two women were chosen by President Martin Schulz and political group leaders on Thursday morning in Strasbourg. “By awarding […]
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Climate change: Voters will be hot under the collar by 2099
Oct. 26, 2016 – By 2099 the nature of democratic politics could change in costly ways for politicians because of climate change, says Nick Obradovich of Harvard University in a paper in Springer’s journal Climatic Change. Leveraging a century’s worth of political science research, he predicts that voters’ disgruntlement about the societal effects of climatic […]
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WMO: Globally Averaged CO2 Levels Reach 400 parts per million in 2015
Oct. 24, 2016 – Globally averaged concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached the symbolic and significant milestone of 400 parts per million for the first time in 2015 and surged again to new records in 2016 on the back of the very powerful El Niño event, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s annual Greenhouse […]
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Iraq: Investigate Mosque Strike That Killed Civilians
Beirut, October 24, 2016 – At attack on October 21, 2016, hit the women’s side of al-Khani mosque in Daquq, 30 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, killing at least 13 women and children. The strike on the mosque, filled with mourners observing the Muslim holy month of Moharram, occurred without apparent military targets in the […]
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France/UK: Protect Children Before Calais Closes
Calais, October 21, 2016 – France and the United Kingdom should ensure that all unaccompanied children in informal migrant camps in Calais receive adequate accommodation and care before the camps are demolished, Human Rights Watch said today. French authorities have signaled that demolition of the camps, sometimes called the “Jungle” by their residents, will begin […]
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South Africa Signals ICC Withdrawal
Johannesburg, October 21, 2016 – South Africa’s government communicated its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court to the United Nations secretary-general on October 20, 2016. The following quote is attributable to Dewa Mavhinga, Africa division senior researcher: “South Africa’s proposed withdrawal from the International Criminal Court shows startling disregard for justice from a […]
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Of the 1.3 million people dying each year from traffic accidents, 49 per cent are pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists
Oct. 20, 2016 – Lack of investment in safe walking and cycling infrastructure is contributing to the deaths of millions of people and overlooking a great opportunity to contribute to the fight against climate change, a new UN Environment report says today. In Global Outlook on Walking and Cycling, UN Environment calls on countries to […]
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Over 180 Tibet groups condemn Larung Gar demolitions in joint statement
Oct. 19, 2016 – Over 180 Tibetan organisations from around the world have condemned the ongoing removals and demolitions at Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in one of the largest joint statements ever made by Tibetan organisations. In the statement, the organisations describe the damage being done to Larung Gar and urge the United Nations High […]
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Fracking pumps up public’s climate fears
LONDON, Oct. 17, 2016 – Public opposition to pumping water and chemicals into the ground to extract gas from shale − the technique known as fracking − is growing even in the countries whose governments are most in favour. Although only four countries – France, Bulgaria, Germany and Scotland – have an outright fracking ban […]
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Green transformation ‘unstoppable’ as countries agree to curb powerful greenhouse gases – UN
Oct. 17, 2016 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have welcomed the landmark deal struck today by nearly 200 countries to reduce the emissions of potent chemicals used in air conditioners and refrigerators – a move that could prevent up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of global warming by the end […]
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Trade and investment agreements block progress on agroecology and food sovereignty
Oct. 17, 2016 – On World Food Day, a new report from Friends of the Earth International finds that current strategies to raise investment in agriculture are most likely blocking rather than aiding the achievement of food security and food sovereignty. One key reason is that trade and investment agreements focus on attracting agribusiness investments […]
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Agriculture must transform to feed a hotter, more crowded planet, UN says on World Food Day
Oct. 16, 2016 – To mark World Food Day 2016, the United Nations is highlighting the close links between climate change, sustainable agriculture, and food and nutrition security, with the message: “The climate is changing. Food and agriculture must, too.” “As the global population expands, we will need to satisfy an increasing demand for food,” […]
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Only one out of six children under the age of two worldwide receives adequate nutrition – UNICEF
Oct. 14, 2016 – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a new report today with the alarming statistic that five out of six children worldwide under two years old are not receiving adequate nutrition for growth and brain development. Childhood nutrition during the first two years of life is critical to development and […]
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António Guterres appointed next UN Secretary-General by acclamation
Oct. 13, 2016 – The General Assembly today appointed by acclamation the former Prime Minister of Portugal, António Guterres, as the next United Nations Secretary-General, to succeed Ban Ki-moon when he steps down on 31 December. Mr. Guterres, aged 67, was Prime Minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002, and the UN High Commissioner for […]
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Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej dies after 70-year reign
Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej has died aged 88, ending seven decades on the throne during which he became a unifying father figure and rare source of stability in a country that has weathered more than a dozen coups since he came to power in 1946 aged just 18. A statement from the royal household bureau […]
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WHO report warns global actions and investments to end TB epidemic are falling far short
Geneva/Washington¦13 October 2016 – New data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its 2016 Global Tuberculosis (TB) Report show that countries need to move much faster to prevent, detect and treat the disease if they are to meet global targets. Governments have agreed on targets to end the TB epidemic both at the […]