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Pacific 

First Person: Fighting anti-vaccination rumours in Pakistan

Village Reporter
Dennis Chimenya In an interview with UN News, Mr. Chimenya, who leads UNICEF’s communications activities, outlines the problems that he and his colleagues face in raising awareness of the crucial health benefits of polio vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. “As a young boy growing up in Malawi, I remember being impressed by the positive impact and influence that radio had… Read More
Pacific 

Rohingya crisis needs lasting solutions, renewed commitment amid COVID-19 pandemic, UN refugee agency

Village Reporter
“The COVID-19 pandemic has added additional complexities,” UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic told journalists the regular news briefing in Geneva. 3️⃣ years of exile 3️⃣ years of resilience 3️⃣ years of generosity from their hosts The world must not forget the Rohingya people. We must protect their dignity and their hope. pic.twitter.com/hxEmld2atH — UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) August 21,… Read More
Pacific 

UN rights office ‘appalled’ at violence against human rights defenders in the Philippines

Village Reporter
“We are saddened and appalled by the ongoing violence and threats against human rights defenders in the Philippines, including the killing of two human rights defenders over the past two weeks,” Liz Throssell, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said at a regular media briefing.  Randall “Randy” Echanis, an agrarian reform advocate… Read More
Pacific 

Bridging Asia-Pacific ‘digital divide’ vital to realize tech benefits

Village Reporter
Advances such as in coronavirus genome mapping, scaled-up testing, contact tracing to identify and isolate infections – and geographic information systems and satellite imagery – have provided new insights on how the disease spreads.  Divide now ‘very real’  However, with nearly 52 per cent of the region’s 4.3 billion people offline and denied access to such innovations, there are fears… Read More
Pacific 

Real Life Heroes: Building a safe space for Rohingya women refugees

Village Reporter
Rizvi Hassan, architect, by © Rizvi Hassan The centre, designed and built by Rohingyas, provides counselling and training to the women and girls, as part of a project by Bangladeshi NGO BRAC and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Mr. Hassan shares his story as part of the #RealLifeHeroes campaign, by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),… Read More
Europe 

Belarus crisis: Top UN official concerned over torture allegations

Village Reporter
Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki, UN Resident Coordinator, has expressed serious concern over allegations of torture and other ill treatment of people, including minors, who were detained after demonstrations connected to elections held on 9 August. “Torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment are absolutely prohibited and can never be justified,” she said in a statement issued late last week. ‘Deeply troubling’… Read More
Pacific 

Virtual Concert unites Pacific with the world in battling COVID-19

Village Reporter
From across the region, the UN in the Pacific brought together artists UN leaders, heads of State and international celebrities in the world’s first regional COVID-19 concert. “I’m very proud to be part of this historic event”, said Tofiga Fepulea’i, who hosted the concert in character as the popular television persona ‘Aunty Tala’. “Now is the time for us to… Read More
Europe 

UN chief: Belarusians must be able to exercise their ‘civil and political rights’

Village Reporter
Following the announcement that authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko – who has ruled since 1994 – had a landslide victory in Sunday’s presidential election, largely peaceful protests erupted throughout country, prompting a heavy crackdown by the security forces. Later, women holding flowers dressed in white formed human chains throughout the capital of Minsk and other cities, protesting police brutality.  The UN… Read More
Pacific 

Afghanistan: More action needed to stop killings of human rights defenders 

Village Reporter
“Already by August, Afghanistan has far exceeded last year’s figures”, said Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.  She issued a joint statement with three other UN Human Rights Council-mandated Special Rapporteurs, saying that “impunity allows the perpetuation of such crimes and implies a lack of recognition for human rights defenders’ role in society”. Noting that… Read More
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