News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

19 July 2009 - The past year has witnessed a rise in violence against women in Afghanistan and of its public acceptance, according to the UN women’s development fund, UNIFEM.

KABUL - For the first time ever two Afghan climbers have reached the summit of Afghanistan’s highest mountain. The two climbers, Amruddin and Malang, reached the 7,492 metres summit of Noshaq in the Hindu Kush in the Wakhan, earlier today. They are the first Afghans to reach the summit of…

20 July 2009 - Afghanistan’s presidential and provincial council elections on 20 August are just one month away. Forty one presidential candidates, including two women and more than 3,000 provincial council candidates are campaigning for people’s votes. Last week the UN Security Council welcomed the…

KABUL - The United Nations in Afghanistan today assured that every effort will be made to ensure security in the upcoming presidential and provincial council elections. “Allow me to assure you that there will be no let up on behalf of the international community in underlining the importance of…

KABUL - There are exactly two months to go until the International Day of Peace on 21 September. The United Nations in Afghanistan is organizing a huge campaign under the theme “What are you doing for Peace?” Already final preparations are being made to a number of events and activities and a huge…

21 July 2009 - Speech by the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan Kai Eide, at a conference on Human Rights at Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister Spanta, Dr. Samar, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Let me first express my gratitude to the Center of…

KABUL - The Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) has disqualified two provincial council candidates from the provincial and presidential elections to be held on 20 August 2009. Grant Kippen, ECC Chairman, told a news conference in Kabul that the candidates were barred from contesting for "failing…

21 July 2009 - The United Nations in Afghanistan today called on all parties to allow aid assistance reach those most in need. “I would like to make an appeal to certain players in the country who are blocking the delivery of the humanitarian aid,” said Robert Watkins, the Deputy Special…

21 July 2009 - The UN Mission in Afghanistan has started its own special page on iTunes for its radio programming. To launch the free service a special 45 minutes briefing in English on the forthcoming 20 August presidential and provincial council elections has been produced. The podcast features…

21 July 2009 - The top United Nations envoy to Afghanistan today called for strengthening the country’s justice system, which he stressed is fundamental for ensuring the rule of law and respect for human rights. The lack of proper access to justice leads to daily violations of human rights and to an…

22 July 2009 - It's examination season at Kabul's oldest and most venerable public university. Yet, the topic of conversation, among students, is hardly restricted to the realm of academics. Instead, along with algebra, pharmacy studies, and company law, conversations are diverse and can often veer…

KABUL - Afghanistan is headed towards a new beginning in its history. The elections due to take place in just a few weeks will not only determine the fate of the country for the next five years, but will also establish its future and the future of its people for a long time to come. دری - پشتو Our…