United Nations

UN Staff Seeks Deal to Loosen Aid Funding

February 10, 2016

C-FAM reports that UN staff is seeking a deal to break down Western safeguards on funding that might be used for terrorism, which they view as obstacles to humanitarian aid funding, in exchange for "greater transparency and accountability" regarding the use of this funding.
Activists Seek UN Investigation of US Water Contamination

February 09, 2016

The nongovernmental organization Detroit Water Brigade has called for the UN Special Rapporteur on the management of hazardous materials Baskut Tuncak to visit Flint, Michigan, to investigate whether water contamination in that city violates international treaties.
UN Official: Zika Virus Shows Need for "Reproductive Health" Rights

February 09, 2016

Responding to government warnings in countries affected by the Zika virus to delay pregnancies, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has called for increased access to "sexual and reproductive health services," including emergency contraception and abortion, in these countries.
UN Working Group Declares Assange "Should Be Freed"

February 05, 2016

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has determined that the UK and Sweden should let Wikileaks founder Julian Assange walk free from charges of rape and that Assange should receive compensation for violations of his right against "arbitrary detention" under international human rights law.
NGOs Criticize UN Negotiations with Syrian Regime

February 04, 2016

Foreign Policy reports that Syrian relief organizations are criticizing the UN for its communications with the Syrian government, which is accused of committing war crimes against the country's citizens, regarding the deletion of references to Syrian human rights violations in UN reporting and securing emergency relief for hard-hit Syrian areas.
UN Agent Warns of TPP Human Rights Impact

February 04, 2016

Prior to the signing of the Transpacific Partnership ("TPP") trade deal by countries on the Pacific Rim, UN Independent Expert Alfred de Zayas has called on these countries not to sign the deal without making fresh commitments to international human rights treaties and to the UN Sustainable Development Goals ("SDGs") to "guarantee the regulatory space of States."
UN Working Group: African-Americans Face "Human Rights Crisis"

February 03, 2016

Following a visit to the US, the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent blamed official impunity and racist ideology for a "human rights crisis" facing African-Americans and called on officials to take measures to address "Afrophobia" and end the "epidemic of racial violence" in US law enforcement.
UN Chief: Palestinian People Will "Resist Occupation"

February 03, 2016

In response to Israeli criticism that his past remarks associating Islamic terrorism with Israel's policy toward Palestinians condone jihadist acts, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has published an op-ed in The New York Times arguing both that he condemns terrorism but also believes that Palestinians "will always resist occupation."
UN Announces More Allegations of Sex Abuse in CAR

February 03, 2016

UN Assistant Secretary General for Field Support Anthony Banbury has announced that there were 22 cases involving sexual abuse allegations against the UN's peacekeeping force in the war-torn Central African Republic ("CAR") in 2015.
NGO Calls for External Review of UN Sex Abuse Claims

February 03, 2016

George Russell reports that the nongovernmental organization AIDS-Free World is calling on the UN to establish an independent body composed of judges, academics, authorities, and others to review claims of sex abuse against peacekeepers working with the UN and bring cases directly to UN member governments.