Women should have the right to choose to wear a controversial bathing suit known as the burkini without coercion from the state or individuals; that's according to the UN agency focused on gender issues, UN Women. The burkini is a full-body swimsuit with a headscarf which is favoured by many Muslim women as well as [...]

"Immediate cessation of hostilities" in Yemen needed ahead of peace deal An "immediate cessation of hostilities" by the warring parties in Yemen is needed before any roadmap for peace can be finalized. That's according to the UN Special Envoy on Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, following meetings with senior ministers from the United States, the [...]

Recent comments by a prominent politician in Burundi stating that the 1994 Rwanda genocide was a "fabrication of the international community" have been branded by a UN human rights expert as "simply unacceptable." UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng said the statement, published on the website of the ruling political party, [...]

Climate change is a major cause of displacement in Latin America, including in Mexico, a UN independent expert has said during a recent visit to Mexico City. People in the Central American country are leaving certain areas affected by extreme changes in the weather according to Chaloka Beyani, Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Human [...]

The "virulent spread" of violent extremism is posing a "direct assault" on the UN Charter and human rights around the world according to the UN, led by a new generation of young terrorists. In the latest edition of our podcast The Lid Is On, we've been talking in-depth to a former supporter of the Taliban [...]

Needs of children "outpacing the response" across Lake Chad region The humanitarian needs of millions of children across Africa's Lake Chad region are "outpacing the response" according to the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF. Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa, said this was especially true now that new areas which were cut [...]

Children flee Central America to escape gang violence, poverty Every month, thousands of children from Central America flee to the United States to escape gang violence and poverty, a new report by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has found. Some are kidnapped, trafficked, raped or killed along the way. They are from countries like El [...]

Listen to a bulletin of news and features from United Nations Radio, with Jocelyne Sambira and Matthew Wells. In today's programme: Humanitarian convoys "ready to depart" for Aleppo in war-torn Syria; And, displaced Colombians are building a new future after the signing of a peace agreement ending half a century of war.

The conclusion of peace negotiations in Colombia has been welcomed by the United Nations. The Government and the main rebel group, FARC, signed a peace agreement in Cuba on Wednesday. Colombians will vote on whether to accept or reject the deal in a referendum set for October. More than 200,000 people died and nearly seven [...]

Humanitarian convoys are "ready to depart" for the city of Aleppo in war-torn Syria to deliver aid after Russia agreed to a 48-hour humanitarian pause, UN officials announced on Thursday. However, other parties on the ground have yet to give their security assurances. The city is divided with rebel forces controlling the east and government [...]