By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – When colonial powers redrew borders in Africa and picked choice lands for themselves and less desirable land for everyone else, some of those deals remained through this century. Few were undone. A case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will decide if colonial deals […]
Kazakhstan Persistently Pursuing Peace and Security Agenda
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) – Four months before Kazakhstan’s eventful two-year non-permanent membership of the Security Council comes to an end, the Central Asian Republic continues to make its presence felt in an organ of the United Nations, which has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. 2018 began […]
Indigenous Peoples in the Grip of ‘Criminalization’, Warns New UN Report
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA (IDN) – A new United Nations report warns that “in a wide variety of countries,” both physical violence and legal prosecution are used against Indigenous Peoples defending their rights and lands. They are “criminalized”. The report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, to the […]
UN Determined to Protect Civilians, Humanitarian Aid Workers
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – Fifteen years ago, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Iraq’s capital Baghdad killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. The Brazilian United Nations diplomat had been working for the world body’s humanitarian and political […]
The Indigenous Peoples, TRIPS & Biodiversity Convention
By Victoria Tauli-Corpuz The writer is the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and a Member of the South Centre Board. She has served as chairperson of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2005-2010). Following are extensive extracts from her presentation at the International Conference on the TRIPS-CBD Linkage: Issues […]
Kudos and Criticism for New UN Human Rights Chief
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – Moments after the UN General Assembly unanimously agreed on August 10 to appoint Chile’s former President Michelle Bachelet as the seventh UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Secretary-General António Guterres tweeted: “Ms. Bachelet is a pioneer, a visionary, a woman of principle, and a great human rights leader […]
Rising Nuclear Tensions Call For Elimination Of Atomic Weapons
Viewpoint by Izumi Nakamitsu Ms Izumi Nakamitsu is High Representative, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). Following is the text of the message she delivered to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Service on 6 August 2018 on behalf of the UN Secretary-General. – The Editor HIROSHIMA (IDN-INPS) – It is a privilege to pay tribute […]
UN Chief Begins To Walk The Talk For Promised Reforms
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has taken a vital step towards creating a ‘21st century UN‘ by introducing wide-ranging reforms to the way the world body works and how it delivers on its mandate – thus translating into action the announcement of his intention soon after taking office […]
Kazakh Chair of UN Sanctions Committee Calls for Support to Peace in Horn of Africa
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) – Applauding the landmark rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea, ending two decades of hostility, the UN Security Council has called for providing all necessary support to build peace in the Horn of Africa. The appeal came in the briefing on July 30 on the Council’s recent visit to the […]
AIDS 2018 Concludes Underlining $6 Billion Gap In Funding
By Reinhard Jacobsen AMSTERDAM (IDN) – Since the first cases of HIV were reported more than 35 years ago, 78 million people have become infected with HIV and 35 million have died from AIDS-related illnesses, says UNAIDS, a United Nations organization that is leading the global effort since1996 to end AIDS as a public health […]