Unprecedented food crisis looms over strife-torn South Sudan, UN agencies warn
South Sudan faces unprecedented levels of food insecurity, with 2.8 million people, nearly 25 per cent of the population, in urgent need of aid, at least 40,000 of them on the brink of catastrophe, at a time when the war-torn country is traditionally...
UNHCR concerned about the conditions of refugees and migrants in Calais and Dunkerque, in particular children
Some 4,000 refugees and migrants are currently reported to be living in the Calais "jungle" and almost 2,500 in Grande-Synthe, on the edges of Dunkerque, often in dire circumstances, aggravated by the winter conditions. UNHCR is specifically concerned...
PACE rapporteur on the Syrian refugee crisis to visit Jordan and Lebanon
Annette Groth (Germany, UEL), who is preparing a report on a stronger European response to the Syrian refugees crisis for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), is to visit Jordan and Lebanon from 8 to 13 February 2016.
New statistical report on female genital mutilation shows harmful practice is a global concern – UNICEF
At least 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation in 30 countries, according to a new statistical report published ahead of the United Nations’ International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation...
Senior UN officials urge elimination of ‘violent practice’ of female genital mutilation by 2030
The most senior United Nations officials are urging the world to eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM) by 2030, calling it a “violent practice” that scars girls for life, endangering their health, depriving them of their rights, and denying them...
Tunisia: Landmark Step for Detainee Rights
Tunisia’s parliament made a significant breakthrough for human rights by approving proposed changes in detainee rights, Human Rights Watch said on February 4. Provisions to grant suspects the right to a lawyer from the onset of detention, and to...
UAE: Libyans Facing Unfair Trial
Multiple serious due process violations in pretrial detention make it highly unlikely that four Libyans charged with links to armed and political groups in Libya can receive a fair trial in the United Arab Emirates, Human Rights Watch said on February...
Sierra Leone: Sign Bill Allowing Safe Abortions
An estimated 400 women showed up in support of the safe abortion bill wearing “children by...
New stamps promoting LGBT equality worldwide unveiled at UN
UN Free and Equal postage stamps – promoting LGBT equality worldwide.
Protect Lives, Not Just Territory, Against Attacks
In December 2015, Nigeria’s government announced a “technical defeat” of extremist group Boko Haram. The claim of victory in the six-year-old conflict was based on alleged expulsion of Boko Haram by government forces from territory it previously held...
