February 24, 2021 No comments
Myanmar: Stop harassment of workers, UN agency urges military
INTERNATIONAL, 24 February 2021, Peace and Security - The United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) has called on the military in Myanmar to end the harassment and intimidation of workers by security forces, and ensure that they can exercise their rights to freedom of expression, in a climate free of violence and fear. In a statement on Tuesday, the agency said it received allegations that police and military are conducting door-to-door searches for trade unionists at their dormitories and hostels in the Hlaingtharyar industrial township, in the country’s largest city, Yangon. It is alleged that the acts of harassment and intimidation are “largely targeted” at young female workers working in the private sector industries of Yangon, who are living far away from their families in the...
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February 24, 2021 No comments
Supermodel Natalia Vodianova joins UNFPA to tackle stigma and advance women’s health
INTERNATIONAL, 24 February 2021, Women - The UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, on Wednesday appointed supermodel, philanthropist, and impact investor Natalia Vodianova as its newest Goodwill Ambassador, in an effort to empower women and girls, including fighting stigma surrounding menstruation. “For too long, society’s approach to menstruation and women’s health has been defined by taboo and stigma”, said Ms. Vodianova, stressing that the situation “has undermined the most basic needs and rights of women.” Today, we’re very excited to announce that supermodel and philanthropist @NataSupernova has been appointed as a @UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador ? Learn more and join us in welcoming her to the @UN family: https://t.co/6B9I2X2tb5 #StandUp4HumanRights pic.twitter.com/PuDYRiRDfy — UNFPA (@UNFPA) February 24, 2021 In her new role with UNFPA, officially known as the UN Population Fund, Ms. Vodianova will seek to help culturally redefine...
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February 23, 2021 No comments
Experts accuse Iran of rights violations in shooting down Ukraine airlines flight
INTERNATIONAL, 23 February 2021, Human Rights - Iran committed multiple human rights violations in shooting downing Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Flight PS752 last year and in the aftermath of the deadly attack, two independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said on Tuesday. Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and Javaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the country, have consistently expressed concern over the 8 January 2020 incident. Flight PS752 was heading from Tehran to Kiev when it was struck down by two missiles fired by the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), killing all 176 people on board. Iran said the military personnel mistook the civilian aircraft for a US missile. The strike took...
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February 23, 2021 No comments
First wave of COVID-19 vaccine syringes start journey to Maldives
INTERNATIONAL, 23 February 2021, Health - The critical task of ensuring that all countries have enough medical equipment to vaccinate people safely against COVID-19 gathered pace on Tuesday, with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announcing that 100,000 syringes have been sent to the Maldives, ahead of an inoculation drive there. The shipment is part of “the first wave” of syringes and safety boxes organised by the agency, which over the next few weeks, plans to dispatch more than 14.5 million single-use needles to more than 30 countries, including Côte d'Ivoire and São Tomé and Principe. These include the 0.5 millilitre syringes which are meant for use with the AstraZeneca vaccine, while the 0.3 millilitre version is for the Pfizer-BioNTech shot. One billion jabs In total, UNICEF aims to...
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February 23, 2021 No comments
UN to review deadly convoy attack in DR Congo which led to Italian Ambassador’s death
INTERNATIONAL, 23 February 2021, Peace and Security - The World Food Programme (WFP) has provided further information on the deadly convoy attack in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Monday in which Italy’s Ambassador to the country, his bodyguard, and a WFP driver were killed. The UN’s Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) will be leading a detailed review into the incident, the agency said in an update on Tuesday. Forced to disembark Ambassador Luca Attanasio and his security escort, Vittorio Iacovacci, were among seven people travelling in two WFP vehicles from Goma, capital of North Kivu province, to visit one of the agency’s school feeding programmes in Rutshuru, approximately 40 kilometres away. The group left Goma at approximately 9:00 AM, local time, on Monday. An armed group...
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