The UN is "part and parcel" of the modern history of the Middle East, but has also been "shaped" heavily itself by the region. That's one of the main themes of a new history of the world body's involvement there, entitled: Land of the Blue Helmets, the United Nations and the Arab World. Karim Makdisi [...]

A scheme to help increase girls' "performance at school" by giving them their own bicycle has just been launched in Tanzania, by the winner of a special UN award. Rebecca Gyumi is a lawyer and activist in the East African country, who founded the Msichana Initiative, which advocates for girls' rights and access to education. [...]

In  this week's programme we have an exclusive and extensive interview with the outgoing UN Secretary-General. Ban Ki-moon, who hails from South Korea, has led the organization for the past ten years. He steps down at the end of December and will be replaced by Antonio Guterres of Portugal. Ari Gaitanis sat down with Mr [...]

Leaders around the world need not just passion but also compassion to bring about change according to the outgoing United Nations Secretary-General. Ban Ki-moon who is leaving the UN after 10 years leading the organization, says the new Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has those qualities. Ari Gaitanis has been speaking to Mr Ban ahead of his [...]

"Blood money" of trafficked women now "lifeblood" sustaining terrorists The "blood money" of women and children has become part of the "lifeblood" that sustains terrorists in places like Syria and Iraq, the UN special envoy for sexual violence in conflict has said. Zainab Bangura briefed members of the UN Security Council during an open debate [...]

Listen to a bulletin of news and features from United Nations, with Jocelyne Sambira and Dianne Penn. In today's programme: Aid workers are racing against the clock to help thousands of people leave Syria's Aleppo city; And, the outgoing UN chief says world leaders need "passion and compassion" to bring about change;

  Security Council to receive summary of report on Syria convoy attack A detailed summary of a United Nations report on a deadly attack on a humanitarian convoy in Syria in September has been submitted to the UN Security Council, the global organization has announced. The report is by the UN Headquarters Board of Inquiry [...]

South Sudan "on a trajectory towards mass atrocities": UN chief South Sudan is "on a trajectory towards mass atrocities" and immediate action needs to be taken by the UN Security Council to prevent that from happening. That was the message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, at a recent meeting of the 15-member council in New [...]

"Exercise maximum restraint" in face of political crisis DRC leaders warned Political leaders are being urged to "exercise maximum restraint" in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, during the on-going crisis caused by the refusal of President Charles Kabila to obey constitutional law, and step down. In a statement, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, urged "all [...]

Listen to a bulletin of news and features from United Nations, with Daniel Dickinson and Matthew Wells. In today's programme: Clashes continue in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo… And, we hear why women are the "backbone" of agriculture across the world