UN News Centre

Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon today said that the United Nations will launch an independent investigation into allegations of the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria, after receiving a formal request from the country’s Government. “The investigation mission is to look…

Marking the first ever International Day of Happiness, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the international community to commit to an inclusive and sustainable human development that will improve the well-being of those who lack basic services needed to pursue…

Top United Nations officials today welcomed an agreement by more than 130 Member States on the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls, and urged governments to translate the outcome of the ‘historic’ gathering into…

Norway, Australia and the United States lead this year’s Human Development Index (HDI) rankings, the annual United Nations measure of progress in human well-being, while Niger, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Mozambique are at the bottom. The…

The United Nations today expressed concern over Hungary’s adoption of an amendment to the constitution that threatens the independence of its judiciary, and stressed this could have a profound effect on the human rights of its citizens. According to the…

As the crisis in Syria enters its third year, United Nations officials today warned that civilian suffering is escalating and humanitarian needs mounting, while funds are rapidly running out. “Shelter, water, food, basic supplies, health care – all are precarious,”…

Senior humanitarian aid workers, United Nations organizations and civil society members are meeting today in Norway to discuss what the international humanitarian community can realistically do to prepare for and to respond to the humanitarian impact of a nuclear weapon…

With the world undergoing a “great transition,” it is time for a new kind of inclusive dialogue about decolonization, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, calling for fresh approaches to resolve the situations of the remaining 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories. “The risk…

Countries that switch from lamps, candles, flashlights and other traditional lighting systems to solar power can recover the costs in less than one year, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said today, highlighting new studies that show the development and…

In the wake of a meteor impact in Russia that shattered windows over a wide area, injuring hundreds of people and terrifying thousands, a United Nations team today called for international cooperation to face the threat of near space objects.…