International Criminal Court’s First Verdict
ICC First verdict: Thomas Lubanga guilty of conscripting and enlisting children under the age of 15 and using them to participate in hostilities.
More information:
UN Resources:
At the first-ever formal UN Human Rights Council inter-governmental debate on violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people held on 7 March 2012, Ban Ki-moon told countries that he sees a pattern of violence and discrimination directed at people just because of their sexual orientation and gender identities.
To those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, Ban Ki-moon said:
You are not alone. Your struggle for an end to violence and discrimination is a shared struggle. Any attack on you is an attack on the universal values the United Nations and I have sworn to defend and uphold. Today, I stand with you … and I call upon all countries and people to stand with you, too.
Related resources
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: Discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity (PDF)
Overview from the UN News Centre
More on combatting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on all sides in Libya to lay down their arms and work together peacefully to rebuild the North African nation amid reports that Colonel Muammar al-Qadhafi has been killed.
The UN began deploying staff last month to its newly established UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), headed by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Ian Martin. The mission, based in the capital, Tripoli, will assist the authorities in restoring public security, plan for elections and ensure transitional justice.
The UN Human Rights Council today called for an immediate end to all violence in Syria and decided to dispatch an independent international commission of inquiry to investigate alleged abuses committed during the Government’s crackdown on protesters.
With signs that the conflict that has raged in Libya for more than six months may soon end, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today appealed for a smooth and peaceful transition and pledged the assistance of the United Nations for the people of the North African nation.
UN resources on the situation in Libya:
UN News Centre story: Libya: Ban Ki-moon urges smooth and peaceful transition of power
Full remarks by Ban Ki-moon in meeting with press
Latest on International Criminal Court Prosecutor talks with Transitional National Council
”The United Nations stands together with the people of Norway at this terrible moment,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday after condemning the violence and expressing condolences to the Government and families of the victims.
Major announcement: Famine has been declared today in two regions of Southern Somalia. This crisis represents the most serious food insecurity situation in the world today, in terms of both scale and severity.
Is there still time to intervene? The current humanitarian response is inadequate to meet emergency needs, but lives can still be saved with an immediate, massive, multisectoral response.
UN Food and Agriculture Organization: Food Security and Nutriton Analysis Unit - Somalia
Frequently asked questions (FAQs), including definition of “famine”
How can you help?
On Wednesday, the Security Council recommended to the General Assembly that South Sudan be admitted as the 193rd Member of the UN, and the General Assembly is expected to meet on the issue tomorrow, Thursday. Watch live at 10 a.m. New York City time.
Info page: How a country becomes a UN Member State
Background story: Security Council recommends South Sudan for UN membership
On the eve of South Sudan’s independence, the Security Council voted Friday unanimously to set up a new United Nations mission to help Africa’s newest nation consolidate peace and lay the foundation for longer-term state-building, conflict prevention and economic development.
Ban Ki-moon is now in Juba ahead of tomorrow’s independence ceremony.
Here’s a round-up of related material from around the UN System:
Related statements, resolutions and more
Ban Ki-moon’s op-ed in the New York Times: Standing by South Sudan
UNICEF: As South Sudan looks to nationhood, education is pivotal
Sudan: Beyond the euphoria of Southern independence (IRIN)
Photo Gallery: What does it take to prepare for independence?
A new UN report published today on the Millennium Development Goals says that the percentage of people in developing countries living on less than $1.25 a day is expected to drop from 45 to 15 percent by 2015. Find out more and get involved!
A few key stats:
- Deaths from malaria were cut by 20% between 1990 and 2009.
- More than 95% of kids in some of the poorest countries are now in school.
- New HIV infections are dropping steadily, with 21% fewer people infected in 2009 compared to 1997.
- Over 1.8 billion people gained access to safe drinking water between 1990 & 2008.
