Category: Pacific

Every year, according to official government figures, between seven and nine thousand very young girls get married in Kyrgyzstan, and about 500 girls aged 13 to 17 become mothers. Girls still run the risk of falling prey to such practices as “ala kachuu”, which literally means “pick up and run away” in Kyrgyz. In other words, they are kidnapped and… Read More

“The United Nations in Timor-Leste has been supporting democracy in the country for more than two decades, by promoting human rights, development, and peace and security. Our role in elections depends on the wishes of the Member State involved, and commonly consists of technical support and advice, and can also include support for electoral administration and planning, voter registration, election… Read More

“We were told that Syria is the sacred land”, recalls Asel, a 32-year-old Kazakh woman. “If we died there in battle, we would immediately go to heaven and become martyrs”. In 2014 Asel was one of around 150 people who left Kazakhstan to join the ISIL terrorist network, also known by the Arabic term Da’esh, in Syria, along with her… Read More

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, UNHCR spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh said the agency was stepping up aid for the displaced as conflict intensifies.  “Security is deteriorating rapidly across the country as fighting and armed conflict intensifies with no sign of abating”, Mr. Saltmarsh said.  In total, some 440,000 people have been newly displaced since February 2021 -when a brutal military coup displaced the… Read More

“A decade after the killing of the two journalists, there is still no justice as a result of an appalling and pervasive culture of impunity in Bangladesh,” the five UN Special Rapporteurs said in a statement.   Mr. Sarowar and Ms. Runi, who were married, were stabbed to death in their home in the capital, Dhaka, in front of their… Read More

The natural disasters were a major blow to 74-year-old Fangupō Lātū, from the village of Pātangata. His fishing boat was sunk and destroyed during the tsunami, leaving him unable to make a living.  However, he is also worried about how the crisis is affecting his community. “My village’s main source of income and livelihood come from the ocean, but the… Read More

Jolina, 23, is eight months pregnant and lives in Burgos on the island of Siargao, which suffered some of the worst fallout of the typhoon. Her nearest health centre was completely destroyed and she will likely have to travel some 50 kilometres to give birth, she told the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, which is busy providing service… Read More

The revised Humanitarian Needs and Priorities Plan (HNP) targets 840,000 people over six months, up from 530,000 in the initial $107 million HNP, released on 24 December.  📢 7 weeks after #typhoonRai/#OdettePH: – 9.9M people severely affected – 840K people targeted for assistance– $169M funding requested The UN and partners are providing food, shelter material and other essentials but more… Read More

“We are gravely concerned for their well-being and safety”, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, told journalists at a regular press briefing in Geneva.  Despite the de facto authorities’ announcement on Saturday of an investigation into the disappearance two weeks ago of these individuals, “there is still no confirmed information on their whereabouts”, she added.  The UN human rights… Read More

“This is a breaking of the DPRK’s announced moratorium in 2018 on launches of this nature, and a clear violation of Security Council resolutions”, he said in a statement issued by his deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq. Secretary-General @antonioguterres condemns the possible intermediate range ballistic missile launch by the DPR Korea, noting it is of great concern that the country has again disregarded any consideration for… Read More