Listen to a bulletin of news and features from the United Nations, with Dianne Penn and Jocelyne Sambira. In today's programme: a UN expert underlines how rights for persons with disabilities cover "every single group in society";  and we hear how an action is giving to hope to people with albinism in Africa.

  Landmines exacerbate humanitarian crises, hinder response The threats posed by landmines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices exacerbate humanitarian crises and hinder emergency responses. That's what the Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), Alexander Zuev, told diplomats at the UN on Tuesday. [...]

The endorsement of an action plan on albinism in Africa has given "renewed hope" to people born with the condition, a UN human rights expert has said Ikponwosa Ero was speaking ahead of International Albinism Awareness Day, observed this Tuesday, 13 March. Albinism results from a lack of melanin, producing lighter than normal skin and [...]

The war-weary people of the Central African Republic (CAR) have "no alternative" but to rely on the UN and the international community to help forge a lasting peace. That's the firm belief of the head of the UN Mission in the CAR (MINUSCA), Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, who said that without their support on the ground "another [...]

A massive increase is needed in the number of refugees given shelter in so-called third countries, the head of the UN refugee agency (UNCHR) said on Monday. In his appeal to Member States, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said that resettlement needs "far outweigh" current shelter options in adoptive countries by 13 to [...]

Listen to a bulletin of news and features from the United Nations, with Dianne Penn and Matthew Wells. In today’s programme … The UN refugee chief is alarmed by the drop in resettlement options for vulnerable people And … World Day Against Child Labour focuses on children caught in conflict and disaster

US$65 million needed to help aid DRC refugees fleeing into Angola The UN and partners are appealing for US$65 million in emergency aid to help refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) fleeing across the border into Angola. Around 30,000 have already arrived since April and hundreds are continuing to cross the border [...]

Just as people with disabilities represent a diverse cross-section, society must come up with diverse and inclusive solutions that protect their human rights. That's the opinion of UN human rights expert Catalina Devandas Aguilar, speaking ahead of the start of a three-day meeting to take stock of progress since the adoption of the Convention on [...]

A significant number of the nearly 170 million child workers globally are living in areas affected by disaster and conflict, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). Children caught in these circumstances might be forced to fight in wars, or they are pushed to find jobs because their families can no longer afford to care [...]

  UN chief expresses support, "admiration" for UNRWA following criticism The UN Secretary-General expressed his concern on Monday over "recent public criticism" of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). António Guterres issued his statement following news reports on Sunday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netahyahu had suggested the UN should consider [...]