Latest news on the Asia-Pacific region from the United Nations
- The forthcoming provincial elections in Sri Lanka are an important opportunity for reconciliation in the country, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, calling on all parties to take part in the electoral process in a peaceful manner.
- Citing Afghans’ “exuberant” display of national unity and pride at the war-wracked country’s victory in a regional football championship as a “welcome sign” on the gradual path to normalcy, the top United Nations envoy there today also pointed to other recent political and security gains despite major challenges.
- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged all political leaders in the Maldives to live up to their responsibilities and respect the democratic process in the second round of the presidential election on 28 September.
- The United Nations has secured a loan from major donors to meet the salaries of national staff working for the tribunal responsible for trying genocide suspects in Cambodia.
- A United Nations senior official today called on Afghan authorities to boost efforts to strengthen human rights in the country, noting that despite progress in recent years, they remain fragile as the nation continues its transition period.
- The head of the United Nations-appointed inquiry into human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) reported today that testimony heard so far by his team pointed to widespread and serious abuses, including abductions and torture, as well as “unspeakable atrocities” in detention camps.
- The head of the United Nations body tasked with promoting women’s rights today condemned the intimidation and targeted killings of female Afghan officials and called for bringing the perpetrators to justice.
- A senior United Nations official in the Philippines, on behalf of the UN humanitarian team and its partners, today called for an immediate end to the latest violence and said the team is ready to support the Government in delivering humanitarian aid to people affected by the armed clashes.
- Strongly condemning the Taliban bombing attack against the United States Consulate in Herat, the United Nations Security Council today urged broad cooperation to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and reiterated that “no terrorist act can reverse the path towards Afghan-led peace, democracy and stability in Afghanistan.”
- The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today voiced grave concern over the killing of a newspaper editor and a radio journalist in the Philippines, and urged authorities to investigate these crimes.
- A common motivation of men who have admitted to rape is the belief that they are entitled to sex even without the female partner’s consent, according to a newly released United Nations study of some Asia and Pacific countries, which urges greater measures to end impunity for men who use violence against women and girls.
- The first aid convoy in nearly two years has delivered food, medicine and other supplies to thousands of displaced people in Laiza town in the eat of Myanmar’s Kachin state, the United Nations relief arm today reported.
- While the total area of Afghan farmland used for cannabis cultivation fell by 17 percent in 2012, there was still an eight per cent rise in the overall production of cannabis compared to 2011, according to a report released today by the United Nations drug and crime agency and the country’s Ministry of Counter-Narcotics.