UN Human Rights Commissioner Visits Mexico

Mexico City, (Prensa Latina) UN Human Rights Commissioner Navanethem Pillay begins an official visit here on Saturday, according to the Foreign Affairs Secretariat.

Pillay will be in Mexico until July 9, and as part of her agenda she will visit the state of Oaxaca and meet with President Felipe Calderon.

UN Chief to Talk with Spanish President

United Nations, Jul 2 (Prensa Latina) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, will meet next Wednesday in Madrid with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Trinidad Jimenez.

Need to Reform UN Focus of Jurists´ Debate in Cuba

Havana, Jun 22 (Prensa Latina) The need to reform the United Nations, its view of human rights and its stance on violations of international law is the focus of debates on Wednesday by jurists from 11 countries.

The 5th International Summer School on Public International Law and the 7th Seminar-Workshop on International Humanitarian Law, which run until June 24, also will analyze the responsibility of nations and the concept of impunity.

UN Demands That Bahrain Respects Human Rights

United Nations, (Prensa Latina) The United Nations called on authorities and security forces of Bahrain to act in accordance with international standards with regard to human rights and fundamental freedoms.

UN Indigenous Forum Enters 2nd Week

United Nations, May 23 (Prensa Latina) The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues entered its second week after a long debate on the reality of those communities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

  The unequal development and persistent social and economic gap affecting indigenous peoples were the focus of discussion during a session of the forum dedicated to regional problems.

ILO: Indigenous Forced Labor Widespread in Latin America

United Nations, May 21 (Prensa Latina) Latin America is one of the main regions where indigenous people are the victims of forced labor on a mass scale, according to accusations presented at the UN.

That exploitation exists not only in sugarcane fields and chestnut plantations in Para, Brazil, but also in Amazonian logging camps, according to a report by the International Labor Organization.

UN Forum of Indigenous Affairs Begins on Monday

United Nations, May 16 (Prensa Latina) The Permanent Forum of the United Nations Indigenous Affairs begins on Monday its tenth session at the headquarters of the world organization without a central issue of discussion but with a very tight agenda of problems to be solved.

UN: Strong Backing for Protection of Biodiversity

United Nations, May 14 (Prensa Latina) The fight in defense of living beings and nature received a strong boost this week with the addition of eight other countries to Nagoya Protocol on the protection of biodiversity.

The new signatories to the protocol adopted last October in Japan city of Nagoya are Guatemala, India, South Africa, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Switzerland and Tunisia.

UN Marks Int’l Mother Earth Day

United Nations, Apr. 20 (Prensa Latina) Harmony between human beings and nature will be the focus of an interactive debate on Wednesday to mark Mother Earth Day (April 22), established by the UN General Assembly two years ago.

The debate, Between a Green Economy and the Rights of Nature, is sponsored by the Bolivian Permanent Mission to the UN.

UN Calls for More Women’s Participation, Equality

United Nations, Mar 7 (Prensa Latina) Women continue holding second-class status in some countries and societies, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated on Monday.

Cuba Elected Vice President of UN De-colonization Committee

United Nations, Feb 24 (Prensa Latina) Cuba was elected on Thursday vice president of the UN De-colonization Committee, which it appreciated as recognition of its permanent commitment to the eradication of colonialism worldwide.

UN Women’s Commission in Session

United Nations, Feb 23 (Prensa Latina) Gender equality and women’s access to science and technology were the issues under discussion on Wednesday at the 55th session of the UN Commission on Women Status.

U.S. Vetoes Resolution against Israel

United Nations, Feb 18 (Prensa Latina) United States Friday vetoed in the Security Council a draft resolution condemning the construction of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Ban Ki-moon to Visit Ecuador, Peru

United Nations, Feb 10 (Prensa Latina) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is expected to visit Ecuador and Peru next week, official spokesman for UN Martin Nesirky confirmed on Wednesday.

In Quito, Ban is scheduled to meet with President Rafael Correa and other Ecuadorian high ranking officials.

UN: Latin American Reshuffle in Security Council

United Nations, Jan 1 (Prensa Latina) Mexico transferred to Colombia its non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council after insisting on the need to reform that body, which maintains a veto privilege for five of its 15 members.

On Friday, Mexico concludes its two years on the Security Council of management in this instance of the United Nations, together with Costa Rica (2009) and Brazil (2010), the other representatives of Latin America.

2011, International Year for People of African Descent

United Nations, Jan 2 (Prensa Latina) The world will observe through 2011 the International Year for People of African Descent, established by the UN to promote the full enjoyment of economic, cultural, social, civil and political rights for these communities.