Europe 

UN child rights committee lauds Swiss asylum offer to Kurdish family

“We welcome the timely action taken by Switzerland to suspend the children’s return to Bulgaria, in compliance with the Committee’s request for interim measures,” said Ann Skelton, a member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC). “We also welcome the decision to reassess these children’s situation and their risk of being exposed to cruel, inhuman and degrading… Read More
Africa Featured World 

Africa Safer Internet Day for 2023 launched

The 2023 Africa Safer Internet day commemoration has been launched officially by its conveners. The virtual launch on Wednesday brought together several players in the digital sector. Series of activities have now been lined up by conveners to create the needed awareness about safer internet for users especially children. This year’s commemoration will take place on Tuesday, February 7, 2023… Read More
Europe 

Spain: Rights experts call for probe into claim Catalan leaders were spied on

“Spanish authorities must conduct a full, fair, and effective investigation into these allegations, publish the findings and stop any unlawful interference into the fundamental rights of the Catalan minority activists in Spain,” they said in a statement.  Top leaders arrested  Following the October 2017 independence referendum, Spain arrested leaders of the Catalonian independence movement on charges of sedition.   The alleged… Read More
Africa Central Africa World 

DR Congo: Pope Francis calls for an end to ethnic differences

Pope Francis who is visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo has called for an end to ethnic differences. The pope is visiting Congo for the first time and it is also the first time a catholic pope is visiting the country since 1980. Pope Francis told young people in Congo that putting aside ethnic differences and building a new future… Read More
Europe 

UN experts laud International Olympic Committee for considering admission of Russian, Belarusian athletes

Against the backdrop of the ongoing and deadly Russian invasion of Ukraine, the experts urged the IOC to adopt a decision in that direction, and to go further.  Level playing field needed  Alexandra Xanthaki, Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights and Ashwini K.P., Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, asked the… Read More
Pacific 

IOM steps up support as Rohingya refugee numbers rise in Southeast Asia

Almost 3,300 arrived in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand last year, the UN agency said, a roughly 290 per cent rise over the 850 people recorded in 2021.  IOM urged States in the region to work collectively to provide life-saving care and support to the refugees to prevent loss of life at sea during the migration journey.    Steadfast support  The Rohingya,… Read More
Pacific 

Deny legitimacy of Myanmar’s military junta, UN expert urges

The State Administration Council (SAC) is illegal and illegitimate, Special Rapporteur Thomas Andrews said at the launch, co-hosted by the democracy and electoral assistance body, International IDEA. He called on the international community to stand firm against military rule, create a coalition of Member States to enforce strong, coordinated sanctions, and support the democratic National Unity Government, which has a… Read More
Pacific 

Guterres strongly condemns deadly mosque attack in Pakistan

News reports stated that a militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred at a crowded mosque. Reports showed that the bombing caused the roof to collapse on top of those inside. ‘Abhorrent’ attack “It is particularly abhorrent that the attack occurred at a place of worship,” the Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement issued by his… Read More
Pacific 

Two years on from Myanmar military coup, UN chief stresses international unity, as arrests, airstrikes continue

Ahead of 1 February – marking two years since the military overturned and arbitrarily detained members of the democratically elected civilian Government, including President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi – the Secretary-General, in a statement issued by his Spokesperson, raised several concerns. He also condemned all forms of violence as the multidimensional crisis in… Read More
Pacific 

Afghanistan: Humanitarians await guidelines on women’s role in aid operations

Representing the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), they stressed that the world’s largest humanitarian operation – supporting some 28 million people in Afghanistan – simply cannot function without women staff.  The officials reported on their mission to the country last week, in the wake of the edict prohibiting Afghan women from working with local and international aid agencies, announced on 24… Read More
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