News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

14 July 2011 - Landmine-like explosive devices drove the 15 percent increase in civilian casualties in Afghanistan in the first half of this year,United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) announced in Kabul today. FULL TRANSCRIPT “June saw an all-time high in the number of security…

KABUL - Staffan de Mistura, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Afghanistan, today met at their request with key women members of the Wolesi Jirga or the lower house of the Afghan Parliament to discuss the representation of women in the upcoming Afghanistan…

NEW YORK - Representatives from 400 youth groups will gather in New York on Monday to attend a high-level meeting on youth convened by the General Assembly to discuss a wide range of issues of concern to the younger generation, including jobs, poverty and sustainable development. UN News Centre…

Hundreds of young people converged on the United Nations in New York today as the General Assembly kicked off a high-level meeting devoted to tackling the challenges facing youth and exploring their potential to bring about change in their societies and in the world at large. UN News Centre story…

NEW YORK - The UN General Assembly today convened a high-level meeting with youth from around the world to discuss challenges they face. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's speech to the participants is below. Mr. President of the General Assembly, Distinguished Heads of State and Government…

25 July 2011 - Afghanistan should develop mechanisms to raise awareness about the dangers of human trafficking, support victims and prosecute perpetrators, say rights activists. IRIN story "We see it as an alarming problem because a huge number of women and children are vulnerable to trafficking in…

KABUL - The head of the United Nations anti-drugs agency has called for strengthening border controls around Afghanistan – still the world’s leading producer of opium and heroin – boosting security in that country, and lowering demand in so-called “consumer countries.” UN News Centre story UNODC…

MAZAR-I-Sharif - In his first visit to Mazar-e-Sharif since the UN mission was attacked on 1 April, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Afghanistan Staffan de Mistura promised that “we will intensify our activities.” The SRSG met with the Governor of Balkh Ata Mohammad…

KUNDUZ- UNAMA hosted a consultative meeting with the Kunduz religious scholars and community elders on protection of civilians during the armed conflicts. The aim of the meeting was to pass the message to communities and sides of armed conflict on better protection of civilians. “Your role as the…

NEW YORK - United Nations Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon today announced his intention to appoint Mr. Martin Kobler of Germany as his Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). He will replace Ad Melkert of the Netherlands who served in Iraq…

BAMYAN - Hundreds of field workers in the Central Highlands Region have begun training for the first national door-to-door survey of Afghan households. Download the UNFPA press release The Socio-Economic and Demographic Survey (SEDS) will begin next month in Bamyan and be rolled out in all 34…

KABUL - Since he was nine-years-old Wais Ahmad Hikmat has been the editor-in-chief of the Rafahi Naw Jawan (Teenager Welfare), a bi-monthly magazine published for and by young volunteers. “When I realized there was publication for young adults, I decided to start one,” Hikmat, now 16, told UNAMA…