Middle East
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More than half of Afghans face food insecurity at ‘crisis’ or ‘emergency’ levels
Nearly 23 million people, or 55 per cent of the Afghan population, are estimated to be in crisis or experiencing emergency levels…
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UN experts call for protection of trafficked workers from Viet Nam in Saudi Arabia
Some women and girls being recruited in Viet Nam to serve as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, are suffering sexual abuse and torture, leading…
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Israel settlement expansion ‘tramples’ on human rights law, experts contend
Israel’s plan to build thousands of new homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem has…
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‘Climate of fear’ prevails for human rights defenders in Afghanistan
Human rights defenders in Afghanistan report that they are now enduring a “climate of fear”, threats, and becoming increasingly desperate over conditions in the country, an independent UN…
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First Person: Telling the tragic story of mercury poisoning in Japan
Masami Ogata is a survivor of Minamata Disease, a debilitating illness caused by industrial mercury poisoning, which originated in the…
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Syria: Progress still possible, following ‘disappointment’ over constitutional talks
Although the outcome of the latest meeting of the Syrian Constitutional Committee was “a disappointment”, members must continue their vital work, the UN…
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UN experts condemn Israel’s designation of Palestine rights defenders as terrorist organisations
Independent UN human rights experts on Monday strongly condemned the decision by the Israeli Minister of Defence to designate six Palestinian human rights and civil society groups…
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Middle East Green Initiative: ‘pathbreaking work’ to protect the planet
The Middle East Green Initiative launch in Saudi Arabia on Monday was hailed by the UN’s deputy chief as a…
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‘Big disappointment’ over lack of Syria constitution agreement
The process of drafting a new constitution for Syria has been “a big disappointment” UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen concluded…
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Fears grow for the lives of 5 Palestinians on hunger strike in Israeli prisons
Israel has been urged to either release or charge five Palestinian prisoners currently on hunger strike in Israeli prisons. Grave concerns have…
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