Europe

UN rights experts urge France to provide safe water, sanitation for migrants in ‘Calais Jungle’

United Nations human rights experts are urging the Government of France to devise long-term measures to provide access to safe drinking water and sanitation for migrants in Calais and other areas along the northern French coast.

source: Europe

People’s lives continue to worsen, but they live with hope, says UN official in Ukraine

Concluding her visit to Ukraine, the United Nations Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator underlined on Friday the urgent need for humanitarian funding to address the dire situation faced by millions of civilians during the coming winter months.

source: Europe

Partnerships will play key role in future of work in Europe and Central Asia - UN labour agency

The United Nations International Labour Organization’s 10th European Regional Meeting concluded today with a call for a future of work where partnerships play a key role in promoting dialogue, social progress and economic growth in the region.

source: Europe

Switzerland needs to do more to keep ‘dirty money’ at bay, urges UN expert

Highlighting the problems posed by illicit financial flows globally, including undermining rule of law and human rights, a United Nations human rights expert has called on Switzerland to ensure that so called dirty money – which stems from tax evasion and corruption – does not enter its financial market.

source: Europe

UN human rights chief urges probe into violence during referendum in Catalonia

The top United Nations human rights official urged today the authorities in Spain to ensure thorough, independent and impartial investigations into all acts of violence that took place Sunday during a referendum on the independence of Catalonia.

source: Europe

France must bring counter-terrorism law in line with international rights obligations – UN experts

Warning of possible “discriminatory repercussions," especially for Muslims, two United Nations rights experts expressed concern over a new law that may perpetuate the emergency measures France introduced in 2015 – establishing a permanent state of emergency.

source: Europe

United Nations ‘backbone’ of global order, stresses Norway at Assembly

Underscoring that the “unprecedented” progress achieved by human kind over the last decades cannot be taken for granted, Norway called for continued international cooperation to safeguard the achievements and to ensure that they remain sustainable.

source: Europe

Allow people to be ‘dignified agents of their own destiny,’ Holy See tells UN debate

The Observer of the Holy See, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary of Relations with States, speaking on the final day of the United Nations General Assembly’s annual debate praised this year’s theme – ‘Focusing on People: Striving for peace and a decent life on a sustainable planet’– saying that Pope Francis “never tires of insisting on people first, especially those who suffer, those who are excluded, marginalized and left behind.”

source: Europe

New UN report details grave human rights violations in Crimea

The human rights situation in Crimea has significantly deteriorated under Russian occupation, a United Nations report says, detailing how residents there were affected when Ukrainian laws were substituted by those of Russia, including the imposition of Russian citizenship.

source: Europe

In a globalized world, ‘we must live in each other’s shelter, not shadow,’ Ireland tells UN

Expressing his faith in the United Nations and its commitment to responding to challenges such as the disasters presently plaguing Latin America and the Caribbean, Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, said that and other issues require the UN to “move from debate to action.”

source: Europe

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