January 26, 2020 No comments
End discrimination against women and children affected by leprosy
INTERNATIONAL, 26 January 2020, Health - Governments must put an end to the informal segregation and institutionalized neglect of hundreds of thousands of women and children affected by leprosy, an independent UN human rights expert said on Sunday, World Leprosy Day. “Too many women and children affected by leprosy – also known as Hansen's disease – are victims of stereotypes, physical and verbal abuse, delays of diagnosis and lack of adequate care”, declared Alice Cruz, UN Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members. The UN expert expressed concern over the “complete lack of specific plans by States to address the particular needs of women and children affected by leprosy and to end discrimination and violence against them”. Today is #WorldLeprosyDay....
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January 25, 2020 No comments
UN heath agency: The time is now to 'act as one' in fighting infectious coronavirus
INTERNATIONAL, 25 January 2020, Health - Following confirmed cases of the Novel coronavirus in Europe, the United Nations health agency released a statement on the need for the international community to work together as one to combat the infectious disease. The evolving outbreak that began in China is “a sign that every country needs to be ready to timely detect and manage outbreaks of any type”, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday. Virus infections have now been reported on four continents, including in Australia, France and the United States, among recent travelers to China. Several other countries in Asia have reported cases as well. WHO’s Regional Office for Europe has officially been notified of the first novel #coronavirus cases in Europe. Three cases have been...
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January 25, 2020 No comments
A busy year in the UN Security Council: more openness, diversity mark 2019
INTERNATIONAL, 25 January 2020, Peace and Security - With over 240 public meetings and a wider range of civil society briefers, the UN Security Council continued its push towards more transparency in 2019, a year marked by widespread popular uprisings and the erosion of hard-won international treaties. Here are some key figures for the world’s top peace and security body last year: 243 public meetings held – an average of 21 per month 93 meetings on situations in Africa 52 resolutions adopted 25 meetings on Syria crisis 2 new field missions established (support for the ceasefire in Yemen; an integrated UN Office in Haiti) 1 new agenda item added (‘the situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela’) On three occasions last year, sharply divided delegations presented competing draft resolutions, which resulted in the rejection of six proposed...
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January 25, 2020 No comments
Deadly earthquake kills dozens in Turkey, UN stands in solidarity and offers support
INTERNATIONAL, 25 January 2020, Humanitarian Aid - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres was deeply saddened by the “loss of life and destruction of property” caused by a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked eastern Turkey on Friday night. Secretary-General @antonioguterres deeply saddened by earthquake #Turkey's Elazig province, extends condolences to the victims' families, as well as to the people and Government of Turkey. Full statement here: https://bit.ly/2RIOXvS Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the loss of life and destruction of property in the wake of an earthquake in Elazig province, Turkey. The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the un.org “The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the people and Government of Turkey”, UN...
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January 24, 2020 No comments
The drive for quality education worldwide, faces ‘mammoth challenges’
INTERNATIONAL, 24 January 2020, Culture and Education - Aligning inclusive, quality education with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was centre-stage on Friday, as the President of the UN General Assembly held a high-level interactive meeting for the International Day of Education. “The education sector is wrestling with mammoth challenges worldwide”, said Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, in his message for the day. As a former teacher, I know the life-changing power of education. Universal access to quality and, now, life-long education is a right, and a necessity. #EducationDay Listing them, he said there was a “precipitate decline” in the quality and standards of education; a widening knowledge gap between students in technically advanced societies and those in developing countries; a crisis of learning in conflict zones; growing...
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