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Viet Nam: UN rights office denounces ‘increasing clampdown’ on freedom of expression
08 January 2021
The UN human rights office (OHCHR), on Friday, voiced concerns over the use of “vaguely defined laws” in Viet Nam, to arbitrarily detain an increasing number of journalists, bloggers, commentators and rights defenders, amidst what appears to be part of an “increasing clampdown” on the freedom of expression in the country.
“They are then frequently held incommunicado for…
7 months 1 week ago
REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE
08 January 2021
Bi-Weekly Briefing
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service, and Rhéal LeBlanc, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section of the United Nations Information Service, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by the spokespersons and representatives of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Also present this morning, as a special guest, was Assistant Secretary-General Fabrizio Hochschild…
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Citizens globally affirm belief in international cooperation
08 January 2021
People worldwide have overwhelmingly highlighted their faith in multilateralism to address global challenges, the results of a year-long survey by the United Nations have shown.
The UN75 initiative was launched by Secretary-General António Guterres, in January last year, to understand the global public’s hopes and fears for the future, as well as their expectations and ideas for international…
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WHO warns of COVID-19 ‘tipping point’ as cases rise across Europe
07 January 2021
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a “tipping point” in the fight against COVID-19, amid surging cases in Europe and the fresh challenge of a mutating virus.
“We were prepared for a challenging start to 2021 and it has been just that”, Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, said on Thursday during a virtual press briefing from Copenhagen.
Although new tools…
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Saudi Arabia: UN rights expert welcomes ‘positive first step’ toward détente in Gulf
07 January 2021
Saudi Arabia’s action in lifting sanctions against Qatar is a “positive first step” towards normalized relations in the Gulf region, a UN independent human rights expert said on Thursday, urging the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt to follow suit.
“I am encouraged by the recent decision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to open land, sea and airspace borders…
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Food for Mozambicans struggling amidst violence and COVID-19, ‘will be compromised’ without more funding: WFP
07 January 2021
Despite increased insecurity and limited funding, the UN food relief agency is continuing to supply food for hundreds of thousands of people affected by conflict in northern Mozambique.
Since 2017, some half a million people have fled the gas and mineral rich province of Cabo Delgado, as violence and COVID-19 continue to increase.
The World Food…
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Callamard calls for ‘clear, explicit and unambiguous standards’ to protect civilian planes during conflicts
07 January 2021
Urgent measures are needed to protect civilian aircraft flying over conflict zones or other areas where military tensions are high, a UN independent human rights expert said on Thursday.
Agnès Callamard, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, made the appeal ahead of the first anniversary of the downing of…
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Guterres ‘shocked’ at massacre of civilians in eastern DR Congo
07 January 2021
The United Nations Secretary-General has expressed shock at the massacre of civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and called on the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
At least 25 villagers are reported to have been killed in recent attacks attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militia in the villages of Tingwe, Mwenda and Nzenga, near Beni…
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Hong Kong: UN human rights office urges immediate release of arrested activists
07 January 2021
The UN human rights office (OHCHR) on Thursday voiced deep concerns over the arrests of over 50 individuals under the new National Security Law in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, and called for their immediate release.
Fifty-three political activists, academics, former legislators, current district councillors, and lawyers, were arrested on Wednesday,…
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FROM THE FIELD: The genocide survivor helping others avoid starvation
07 January 2021
During the 1994 Genocide Against The Tutsi In Rwanda, Liberee Kayumba avoided starvation thanks to emergency rations from the World Food Programme (WFP). Today, she is helping to ensure that Burundian refugees in the country have enough to eat.
WFP's Liberee Kayumba checks food rations at Mahama Camp in Rwanda., by WFP/Jonathan Eng
Liberee Kayumba recounts her harrowing experience…
