Addressing the Human Rights Council, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk noted that the tome was the “core of faith” for well over one billion Muslims. Those who had burned the Quran most likely did so “to express contempt and inflame anger”, Mr. Türk said, as he warned that these acts also aimed…
Briefing the Security Council on the state of the JCPOA, Ms. DiCarlo set the tone for the discussion by stating, “diplomacy is the only way to effectively address the Iranian nuclear issue.” The 2015 deal sets out rules for monitoring Iran’s nuclear programme and paves the way for the lifting of UN sanctions. It was agreed…
“We have expressed concerns” over the investigation into her death, said Viviana Krsticevic, a member of the Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, speaking at a press conference in Geneva: “in particular over the fact that today her family’s right to truth and justice remains unfulfilled”. She added that the investigations had “fallen short of international human…
The meeting of the Human Rights Council is likely to be held this week: Photo: File Geneva: An emergency meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council was convened at the request of Pakistan to discuss the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden. The spokesperson of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Pascal Sim,…
Security Council members reiterated strong support for the full withdrawal of the decade-old UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), and the transfer of security responsibilities to the country’s transitional Government, which has been in power since a coup in 2021. Commending the peacekeeping operation and its staff, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for the…
“So far, the ceasefire between the M23 and the FARDC has held up relatively well and has contributed to some security gains”, said UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Martha Pobee. “The relative calm in Rutshuru territory, for example, allowed more than 45,000 people from the Bishusha group to return home”, she said. She noted, however, that…
The Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Tlaleng Mofokeng, warned that technology enabled easy sharing of sensitive health data of adolescents, migrants and people whose sexual orientation or health status was subject to discrimination. “Accessibility of information through digital tools should not impair the right to have personal health data treated with confidentiality,” Ms. Mofokeng…
“Whilst many challenges and risks lie ahead, there are also many opportunities, and I urge all international partners to lean in and provide additional support to the people,” said the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia Catriona Laing. Regarding current security conditions, Ms. Laing, who also heads the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), raised concerns…
Abdoulaye Bathily, briefed the Security Council and acknowledged the recent efforts of the so-called “6+6” Committee working towards new elections, as an important step forward, though insufficient to resolve the most contested issues. He said the lack of agreement over eligibility criteria for the presidential poll, the link between that and parliamentary elections, and the issue…
Muhammad Saeed Shaikh, President of the Houston and Karachi Sister City Association of the American state of Texas, was awarded the ‘Salter of the Year’ by Sister Cities International by Mayor Sylvester Turner in the Houston City Council in recognition of his three decades of outstanding community service. Awarded the award. The Mayor’s Annual…
