Iran is targeted by UN over human rights abuses
The human rights committee of the United Nations on Thursday called upon Iran to end discrimination and religious intolerance, citing incidences of torture, flogging, amputations and stoning, as well as widespread discrimination and violence against women. The committee also condemned the human rights records of Myanmar and North Korea.
Violence in Haiti is hampering cholera response
The UN called for calm in Haiti after demonstrations targeting aid workers led to the cancellation of aid flights, the destruction of more than 500 tons of food aid and the disruption of development projects. The violence broke out after elements in Haiti sought to blame UN peacekeepers for the outbreak of cholera which has thus far claimed more than 1,100 lives. In a national address on Tuesday, Haitian President Rene Preval also looked to cool the situation, saying, “Disorder and instability have never brought solutions to a country going through hard times. You must be even more watchful of those who exploit the country’s misfortunes for their own benefit.”
World food crisis looms after surge in costs
The United Nations says that people should be prepared to spend more money for food next year, and that the world is on the cusp of another food crisis. Already the cost of imports of key commodities — such as wheat, corn, rice, oilseeds, dairy products, sugar and meats — is close to levels seen during the peak of the 2008 food crisis.
Support for female circumcision wanes
Public support for female circumcision is dropping across Africa as rates of performed procedures decrease, according to a study by the UNICEF Innocenti Research Center. Public education campaigns and the use of local figures to promote education about the dangers of the procedure have helped drive the change, the report says.
UN Prepares to Vaccinate Hundreds of Thousands Amid Polio Fight in Congo
A particularly swift-moving outbreak of polio in the Congo Republic has killed more than 100 people, and paralyzed some 200 more, over the past two weeks. The World Health Organization is preparing to begin vaccinating hundreds of thousands of people in Central Africa this week.
Stars add power to Girl Up campaigns
Jordan’s Queen Rania al Abdullah and “American Idol” star David Archuleta led events in Los Angeles for the United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up initiative. The program looks to harness the enthusiasm of American girls to support UN programs for girls in the developing world on education, health, gender-based violence and more.
UN envoy urges rehabilitation for child pirates
Children recruited as pirates should not face the same legal consequences as adults if an international tribunal to cope with piracy off the coast of Somali is formed, says Radhika Coomaraswamy, UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. Efforts should be made instead to rehabilitate children caught up in the violent world of international piracy, according to Coomaraswamy.
Mexico is losing youth to drug wars
Mexico’s brutal drug wars and high rates of unemployment are exacting a heavy price as the country’s younger generation, now known as Generation Narco, increasingly become involved in the fighting. Police recently arrested teenagers for taking part torture and murder of drug gang rivals.
