Listen to a bulletin of news and features from the United Nations, with Matt Wells and Dianne Penn. In today's programme: horrific eye-witness accounts of human rights violations by government personnel and militia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Kasai region are catalogued in a new UN report; and we've the first studio interview [...]

The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) released a report on Friday of "absolutely horrific" accounts of killings and human rights violations against villagers in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The report was based on interviews with nearly 100 refugees from the volatile region who have fled to neighbouring Angola. UN [...]

Engagement of regional countries "good thing" for South Sudan peace process The engagement of countries in eastern Africa in a process aimed at revitalizing the peace process and bringing an end to conflict in South Sudan is a "good thing" the head of global UN peacekeeping operations has said. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who is the UN [...]

The government of Mauritania has a responsibility to ensure that a "free, transparent and credible" voting process takes place in a constitutional referendum due to take place on Saturday. That's the call coming from the UN human rights office (OHCHR) on Thursday, ahead of protests organized by opposition politicians, due to take place in the [...]

Syria Commission of Inquiry calls for justice for Yazidis A UN-mandated Commission of Inquiry on Syria is calling for justice for the Yazidi religious minority, victims of the terrorist group ISIL, also known as Daesh. The Commission is urging the international community "to recognize the crime of genocide being committed by ISIL against the Yazidis [...]

Listen to a bulletin of news and features from the United Nations, with Matt Wells and Dianne Penn. In today's programme: Mauritania's government needs to ensure a free and credible vote in the upcoming constitutional referendum there, the UN Human Rights office tells us. And – don't call us "crazy" – health professionals in Somalia [...]

This week we’re bringing you a special programme to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, which runs until 7 August. Breastfeeding protects both babies and their mothers from an array of diseases and helps boost their health long-term. But despite the benefits of breastfeeding for babies and mothers, no country in the world fully meets recommended standards [...]

South Sudan protection force "on track": UN peacekeeping chief Efforts are underway to expedite the full deployment of a Regional Protection Force to South Sudan, the head of UN peacekeeping operations said on Thursday. Jean-Pierre Lacroix was speaking at the end of his three-day visit to the country, where political turmoil and inter-community violence have [...]

  UN mission in DRC concerned over arrests The head of the UN's peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO, has expressed concern over arbitrary arrests and detentions in various parts of the country. MONUSCO chief Maman Sidikou said they followed peaceful civil society mobilization to protest delays in the publication of [...]

Top UN officials condemn deadly mosque attack in Afghanistan A deadly assault on a Shia mosque in Afghanistan has been strongly condemned by the UN Secretary-General. At least 31 people were killed and scores injured in the attack, which took place in the north-western city of Herat on Tuesday evening. Two assailants entered the mosque [...]