UN News Centre

11 February 2013 – United Nations human rights experts today called on Iran to immediately release two leading opposition figures and their family members who remain under house arrest, as well as hundreds of other prisoners of conscience, ahead of the country’s June 2013 presidential elections. “I urge the Iranian… »

Scaling up the global response to food security and nutrition topped the agenda today at a special joint meeting between the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the General Assembly, world experts and the UN food agencies aimed at identifying steps to build a future free of hunger. The… »

The United Nations mission in Libya has welcomed today’s decision (6th of February) by the General National Congress on the formation of the body that will be tasked with drafting the country’s new constitution. The General National Congress decided to endorse election as the process by which the members of… »

The United Nations political chief today stressed the need for all Kenyans and their institutions to ensure the upcoming general elections in March are credible, peaceful and transparent. “Kenya’s elections will be watched closely around the world,” Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said during a visit to Nairobi, the… »

The United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has welcomed the recent law reforms in Mongolia that have removed all travel restrictions and other discriminatory provisions for people living with HIV. The reforms, which were passed in December and came into effect on 15 January, removes all HIV-related restrictions… »

Ahead of World Cancer Day, the United Nations health agency today launched a survey showing that more than half of all countries are struggling to prevent cancer and to provide appropriate long-term treatment and care to avoid human suffering and protect countries’ social and economic development. “Cancer should not… »

A senior United Nations official today warned of the risk of reprisal attacks against Tuareg and Arab civilians in various regions of northern Mali and urged the country’s military to protect all citizens regardless of their ethnic affiliation. “While the liberation of towns once under the control of the rebel… »

Spanish authorities must show leadership in the fight against racism and xenophobia in the country, an independent United Nations expert said today, adding that, against a backdrop of pervasive unemployment, the Government must ensure vulnerable groups such as immigrants are not blamed for the nation’s economic woes. “It is crucial… »

A new report proposing ways to tackle violence against women in India represents a groundbreaking basis for action, the United Nations human rights chief said today, urging the Government to follow through with its recommendations. The report was produced by the Verma Committee, which was named after former Chief… »

A United Nations expert today urged the United Kingdom (UK) to revise a series of legal and policing measures that are having a negative impact on its citizens’ right of peaceful assembly and association. Measures such as the use of undercover police officers embedded in protests, containing protesters through ‘kettling’,… »