Tag: UN

Religious freedom a ‘reality’ in recovering CAR

August 26, 2015 Central African Republic Bambari, Bossangoa, Catherine Samba-Panza, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, Nicolas Guérékoyamé-Gbangou, Oumar Kobine Layama, PK5, UN

Left to right: Imam Oumar Kobine Layama, Msgr. Dieudonné Nzapalainga and Rev. Nicolas Guérékoyamé-Gbangou received the 2015 Sergio Vieira de Mello Prize at the UN office in Geneva, Switzerland on 19 Aug.World Watch Monitor The Central African Republic (CAR) is gradually recovering from the two-and-a-half-year crisis which ravaged the . . . Read More

‘Saints of Bangui’ honoured

July 29, 2015 Central African Republic Bangui, Central African Republic, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, Nicolas Guérékoyamé-Gbangou, Oumar Kobine Layama, UN

The 2015 Sergio Vieira de Mello Prize has been awarded to the three top religious leaders of the Central African Republic. Sergio Vieira de Mello was the UN’s Special Representative in Iraq, killed when the UN headquarters in Baghdad was bombed in August 2003. Every two years the award goes . . . Read More

Central African Republic – A forgotten crisis

July 29, 2015 Central African Republic Anti-balaka, Bambari, Bangassou, Bria, Kaga Bandoro, Seleka, UN

On 25 July 2014, a ceasefire was signed between the two main warring groups in the Central African Republic: a predominantly Muslim rebel coalition known as Séléka, and violent vigilante groups who opposed their advance through the country, which became known as the “anti-Balaka” (“Balaka” means “machete”). A year later, . . . Read More

4 million have fled Syria – sixth of population

July 10, 2015 Syria Civil War, IDPs, Refugees, Syria, UN

More than four million Syrians have fled their country to escape the current conflict announced the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) today. The head of the UN’s refugee agency, Antonio Guterres, called it the “worst humanitarian crisis of our generation”. Syria’s civil war, which is now in its . . . Read More

Modi’s UN Yoga Day latest example of co-incidence with Christian ‘high days and holidays’

June 29, 2015 India BJP, Good Governance Day, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Narendra Modi, Shimla, UN

Thousands in India celebrated the first International Day of Yoga, 21 JuneFB/Narendra Modi As you may have seen, June 21 was the first-ever International Yoga Day, observed from New Delhi to New York. In yoga’s birthplace, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself led a yoga session attended by 37,000 . . . Read More

UN finds gross human rights violations in Eritrea

June 9, 2015 Eritrea Eritrea, Migrants, Refugees, UN

A new UN report finds Eritrea’s government may have committed crimes against humanity, including a shoot-to-kill policy against its own people trying to leave the country. The report, which details extrajudicial killings, sexual slavery and enforced labour, says that the situation in the country has prompted thousands of people to . . . Read More

Vietnam’s Religion Law

May 8, 2015 Vietnam Catholics, Central Highlands, Churches, Communism, Human rights, Minorities, Religion Law, Religious freedom, UN, Vietnam

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is drafting a “Law on Belief and Religion,” for passage in the National Assembly in 2016, and possibly this year. It is almost inevitable the new law will disappoint proponents of universal human rights.1 Diverse religions and religious practices flourish in communist Vietnam. Religious believers far . . . Read More

CAR warring factions devote a week to peace

May 6, 2015 Central African Republic Anti-balaka, Catherine Samba-Panza, Seleka, UN

Delegates to a national reconciliation forum in Bangui, Central African Republic, stand for the official portrait. At front is the mediator, Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso (red tie), and CAR interim President Catherine Samba Panza (turquoise suit).World Watch Monitor A week-long attempt to reconcile warring elements in the Central . . . Read More

Religious groups face extinction around world

May 4, 2015 Global News -- No Particular Country Anti-balaka, Armenian Genocide, Boko Haram, Central African Republic, Iraq, Kachin, Myanmar, Nigeria, Seleka, Sunni, Syria, UN

Campaigners warn that 100 years after the Armenian genocide there are still religious and ethnic groups facing extinction around the world. Groups identified include Christians in Iraq, Syria, Nigeria and the Central African Republic (CAR), and the Christian Kachin in Myanmar. Each of these countries is listed on the 2015 . . . Read More

Vietnam’s two faces

April 30, 2015 Vietnam Cambodia, Central Highlands, Dien Bien, Ho Chi Minh City, Montagnards, Nguyen Van Dai, Religious freedom, UN

n Vietnam’s paddy fields and distinctive rock formations are major attractions for tourists. Kristen Elsby / Getty Images As Vietnam celebrates 40 years since the end of what is commonly known elsewhere as the ‘Vietnam War’, its government faces accusations of failing to ensure the rights of its citizens . . . Read More

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