United Nations

By Thalif Deen | (Inter Press Service) | – – An aerial view of the Village of Kolhuvaariyaafushi, Mulaaku Atoll, the Maldives, after the Indian Ocean Tsunami. Credit: UN Photo/Evan Schneider UNITED NATIONS, Jul 26 2017 (IPS) – The Maldives, one of the world’s low-lying, small island developing states (SIDS) — threatened with extinction because […]

Corruption

How Saudi blackmailed the UN to avoid Yemen War Human Rights Slam

contributors

By Thalif Deen | (Inter Press Service) | – – UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – When Saudi Arabia – which has been spearheading a coalition of Arab states in a devastating war against Yemen since 2015 – was accused of bombing civilians, and particularly children caught up in the conflict, the government in Riyadh threatened to […]

Donald Trump

Can António Guterres Fend Off America’s War on the UN?

contributors

By Dulcie Leimbach | (Inter Press Service) | – – UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – When António Guterres was chosen by the United Nations Security Council in October to become the next leader of the UN, neither he nor anyone else could have predicted precisely who would be commanding the Oval Office of the White House […]

Africa

Gambia’s ‘Trump’ and the dilemma of the Int’l Criminal Court

contributors

By Ebrahim Shabbir Deen | (Informed Comment) | – – The stepping down, under duress, of long-term Gambian president Yahya Jammeh clearly illustrates the impact of credible collective security. However, for this ‘African solution’ to be replicable, much will need to be allayed regarding possible future attempts to renege on the deal, which reportedly provides […]

Saudi Arabia

UN Calls Out Saudi Arabia for Killing Yemeni Women and Children

contributors

By TeleSur | – – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon demanded all parties fighting in Yemen “fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law.” In a rare move, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon called out Saudi Arabia on Thursday for airstrikes in Yemen that killed dozens of civilians, including women and children. On Wednesday the U.S.- and […]

Authoritarianism

UN: Return Saudi-led Coalition to ‘List of Shame’ Secretary-General’s De-Listing Opens Door to Political Manipulation

contributors

Human Rights Watch | – – (New York) – The United Nations secretary-general should immediately return the Saudi-led coalition to his “list of shame” for violations against children in Yemen, Human Rights Watch and 19 other organizations said today in a letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. On June 6, 2016, the secretary-general announced that he […]

Bashar al-Assad

Stymied by Syrian regime Sieges, UN planning Food Airdrops to 600K Civilians

contributors

By Lyndal Rowlands | (Inter Press Service) | – – UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – The UN has begun plans to deliver aid to besieged Syrian towns by air but says there are a number of obstacles in the way and that delivery by land remains its preferred choice. The UN had promised to plan the […]

Human Rights

UN Rebukes Saudi Arabia: Yemen’s Children Victims of Shocking Violations

contributors

By Kristine Beckerle, Finberg Fellow | ( Human Rights Watch) | – – Every year, the United Nations secretary-general releases a “list of shame” of government forces and armed groups that have committed grave violations against children during armed conflict. This year, the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen was listed for the first time, identified […]

Human Rights Watch

UN must hold Perpetrators accountable for War Crime of Hospital Bombings: HRW

contributors

Human Rights Watch | – – An airstrike on April 27, 2016, that hit al-Quds Hospital and surrounding areas, killed 58 civilians, including medical staff and many patients, according to the Syrian Civil Defense, an opposition search-and-rescue volunteer group. On April 29, another airstrike hit a clinic in the opposition-held al-Marja neighborhood, injuring 10 people, […]