Women are the "backbone" of agriculture across the world, according to the Director-General of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Speaking at a High-Level event in Rome, JosĂŠ Graziano da Silva noted that achieving gender equality and empowering women was a critical element in the fight against extreme poverty, hunger and malnutrition. About 45 [...]

The situation in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been described as "very volatile" by a representative from the UN's Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO). Clashes erupted between protestors and security forces over President Joseph Kabila's refusal to give up power. His 15-year rule was due to end on 19 December. [...]

A new "fusion" restaurant in the Austrian capital Vienna, has found the special ingredient to turn Syrian refugees into budding entrepreneurs with a chance to open their own businesses. That's the dream of the founder of Habibi & Hawara, Katha Schinkinger, who was host to a special patron on his last overseas trip as UN [...]

There is a "growing problem" of organized crime syndicates corrupting politics and politicians worldwide, especially at a local level. That's according to Catalina Uribe, Programme Officer for UN partner organization, the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, otherwise known as International IDEA. The Swedish-based institute organized a panel discussion at UN Headquarters this month on [...]

Murder investigation call for Philippines President A murder investigation should be launched in the Philippines,  following the admission by the country's President that he personally killed people in the past, as part of his so-called war on drugs campaign, the UN Human Rights Chief said on Tuesday. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein's appeal follows a statement [...]

Listen to a bulletin of news and features from United Nations, with Matthew Wells and Daniel Dickinson. In today's programme: women and girls trafficked as the "spoils of war" have become a major income source for depraved terrorists, the Security Council hears. And, we'll hear how organized crime's influence on politics is a growing problem [...]

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 on trafficking in persons in conflict countries on Tuesday. [...]

Indigenous people in Australia are "disproportionally represented" in the country's criminal justice system according to a United Nations rights expert. Mutuma Ruteere, the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, recently visited Australia to gather first-hand information on the situation of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance there. At the end of his [...]

UN Chief condemns the assassination of Russian Ambassador to Turkey The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has condemned the assassination of Russia's Ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov in the capital Ankara on Monday. The UN chief expressed his condolences to the family of Ambassador Karlov and said he was "appalled by this senseless act of terror" [...]

Hundreds and thousands of Afghan citizens are returning home "with hope" from host countries like Pakistan and Iran, the UN special envoy for the country has said. Tadamichi Yamamoto made the remarks on Monday as he briefed members of the Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan. Many will face an uncertain future with a [...]