TIMOR-LESTE: UN REPORTS CALM AHEAD OF ELECTIONS

TIMOR-LESTE: UN REPORTS CALM AHEAD OF ELECTIONS
New York, Apr 6 2007 11:00PM
The United Nations Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) today reported that the capital, Dili, and surrounding areas remained calm as presidential campaigning officially ended ahead of Monday's historic elections in the impoverished country.

In other parts of the country, the mission said the only reported incident took place yesterday near Manatuto, where opposing campaigners clashed, prompting the police, after negotiation efforts failed, to use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the fighting crowd.

The head of the UN Mission in Timor Leste Atul Khare praised the efforts of the UN Police and officers from the Bangladeshi Formed Police Unit who responded quickly to bring the situation under control.

"So far I have been satisfied with the presidential campaign and I believe that yesterday's illegal roadblock near Manatuto, like other security incidents during the past two weeks, has not been serious enough to derail the process," Mr Khare said

UNMIT is helping Timor-Leste with all aspects of the 2007 presidential and parliamentary electoral process -- the first in the tiny nation since it gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 -- including through technical and logistical support, electoral policy advice and verification.

2007-04-06 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCIES TEAM UP WITH ISRAEL, JORDAN, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY TO FIGHT FRUIT FLIES

UN AGENCIES TEAM UP WITH ISRAEL, JORDAN, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY TO FIGHT FRUIT FLIES
New York, Apr 6 2007 7:00PM
United Nations agencies are helping scientists, politicians and farmers from Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority in their fight against the Mediterranean fruit fly, one of the world's most destructive agricultural pests.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which works with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on this initiative, termed it a peaceful 'no fly' zone.

Sterilized male flies are brought in through a military checkpoint between Israel and Jordan in the Arava Valley. The 7 million flies are then transported to the Dead Sea on "the only plane authorized to tick-tack between the two countries in this region where military 'no-fly zones' typically rule," the IAEA noted in a news release.

Twice a week, Steve Carrigan becomes the friendly "fly bomber," releasing swarms of sterile male flies by air to overrun the Mediterranean Basin´s shared Valley. The "Medflies" are commercially bred for birth control; their mating yields no offspring. If left to multiply in the wild, Medflies would wreak havoc on citrus and other fruit, quickly turning crops into infested mush.

"We´re using a pest to fight a pest," said Jordan's Minister of Agriculture, Mostafa Qrunfleh. "Together with partners, we're winning," he added of the project, which has received support from the IAEA and FAO since the mid-1990s.

For the region's agricultural leaders, the success of the Medfly project feeds hopes. "As much as this may sound remarkable, the Medfly acts as a bridge to peace," Israel's Minister of Agriculture, Shalom Simhon, said. "We're working together to protect our shared region."

The IAEA and FAO first helped to set up pilot projects and supply sterile male Medflies to Israel and Jordan in 1998, four years after the two countries signed a peace treaty and related cooperation agreements. The Palestinian Authority joined the partnership one year later, and now has the capacity to adopt
partnership for many years, as did the United States, including a four-year, $2.5 million grant.

2007-04-06 00:00:00.000

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MALNUTRITION CHALLENGES CHILD SURVIVAL IN NIGER, DESPITE RECENT GAINS, UNICEF WARNS

MALNUTRITION CHALLENGES CHILD SURVIVAL IN NIGER, DESPITE RECENT GAINS, UNICEF WARNS
New York, Apr 6 2007 7:00PM
With malnutrition responsible for more than half of all deaths of children under five in Niger -- a country where 20 per cent never reach their fifth birthday -- the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is warning that recent gains in lowering mortality rates could be lost without consistent funding for aid efforts.

A new survey shows that malnutrition rates among children in Niger have improved significantly over the last year, the agency said, while cautioning that without consistent support for the strategy of managing and preventing malnutrition the situation could deteriorate again.

"The results show that malnutrition can be controlled and prevented with high-impact interventions," said UNICEF Representative in Niger Akhil Iyer. "The survey brought to light the urgent need for consistent funding and support for a bold strategy for the long term control of malnutrition in children."

The national nutritional survey revealed that acute malnutrition has fallen from 15.3 per cent in November 2005 to 10.3 per cent the following year. Those results highlight the impact of the large scale ongoing relief effort coordinated by UNICEF in response to the nutrition crisis of 2005.

The agency and its partners treated 382,400 malnourished children in 2006, and expect to treat another 300,000 in 2007.

Children under three years old are disproportionately affected by acute malnutrition, and the practice of exclusive breastfeeding for infants under six months -- proven to be the best way to reduce under-five child mortality -- remains at 2.2 per cent, among the lowest in the world.

Based on the results of the survey, UNICEF said it is scaling up the delivery of two essential types of interventions for prevention and care of malnutrition. The first is to treat moderate and severe acute malnutrition in children in nutritional rehabilitation centres, and the second is to prevent malnutrition and curb ch
intervention.

UNICEF is also working to prioritize nutrition in development policies while boosting health, education, family planning, water and sanitation, which are all inextricably linked to child survival.

2007-04-06 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON URGES STATES TO ACT DECISIVELY TO MITIGATE WORST EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

BAN KI-MOON URGES STATES TO ACT DECISIVELY TO MITIGATE WORST EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
New York, Apr 6 2007 3:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has called climate change one of his top priorities, today hailed a new report on the subject, urging nations to make decisive efforts to alleviate the worst consequences brought on by global warming.

The report, entitled "Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability," was released in Brussels by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The study said that warmer global temperatures are causing profound changes in many of the earth's natural systems. Approximately 20-30 per cent of plant and animal species assessed so far are likely to be at increased risk of extinction if increases in global average temperature exceed 1.5-2.5 degrees centigrade. According to IPCC forecasts, the earth is likely to warm by 3 degrees centigrade during this century, a temperature that would have largely negative consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem goods and services, such as water and food supply.

As a result of warmer temperatures, springtime events are occurring earlier, such increased run-off and peak discharge in many glacier- and snow-fed rivers, "greening" of vegetation and migration and egg-laying by birds. More animal and plant species have also been observed shifting toward higher latitudes.

The report found that while some efforts are underway to adapt to climate change, they are, by and large, insufficient in dealing with the scope of the potential problems.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban "expresses his concern that the impacts of climate change are increasingly noticeable, and likely to become more so in the future as extreme weather events intensify."

He called on States which are party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to act quickly to create a plan to tackle future needs in time to replace the Kyoto Protocol, an agreement requiring 35 industrialized countries and th
gas emissions which is set to expire in 2012.

He voiced hope that countries will take steps towards creating a new environmental framework at the UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Bali, Indonesia, in December.

"Adequate, large-scale adaptation measures have the potential to alleviate some of the worst consequences outlined in the report, if Governments take action without delay," Mr. Ban said.

Climate change presents dangers that could affect the health of millions of people, the report found, for it could lead to increased malnutrition, deaths and disease due to higher concentrations of ground level ozone.

The new report noted that changes are affecting regions differently, and in the coming years, the impacts of climate change will be even more dramatic. The IPCC forecasts that by mid-century, the annual average river runoff and water availability will increase by 10-40 per cent at high latitudes and in some wet tropical areas, while decreasing by 10-30 per cent in some dry regions at mid-latitudes and in the dry tropics.

The number of drought-affected areas is expected to increase, and regions that currently rely on glacier-fed rivers for their drinking water, presently providing water to about one-sixth of the world's popuation, will likely see reduced availability.

Today's report is the second of four that the IPCC will issue this year as part of its fourth Assessment Report on climate change. The report, written with the participation of hundreds of scientists from around the world, was endorsed by Government representatives after week-long deliberations in Brussels.

2007-04-06 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN RIGHTS OFFICIAL URGES PROBES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, DISAPPEARANCES IN DARFUR

TOP UN RIGHTS OFFICIAL URGES PROBES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, DISAPPEARANCES IN DARFUR
New York, Apr 6 2007 11:00AM
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today called for investigations into widespread sexual violence during attacks by Sudanese Government forces and allied militia in Darfur as well as the disappearance of over a dozen men allegedly at the hands of rebels there.

In a new report, the High Commissioner's Office describes attacks in December 2006 in eastern Jebel Marra, Darfur. At least 15 cases of sexual assault, including rape, had occurred, according to the report. At least two pregnant women were targeted in the violence.

"Soldiers came in cars heading towards the hills. Three were in green military uniform and the fourth was in civilian clothes. All four of them were armed and all of them raped me," said one 13-year old victim, according to the report.

While some women were raped in the villages, others were abducted, taken away, raped, and later released.

"Based on testimony gathered, it appears that rape during the December 2006 attacks was used as a weapon of war to cause humiliation and instill fear into the local population. The attacks were indiscriminately aimed at a population of the same ethnicity as some rebel groups and also resulted in civilian death and displacement," the Office of the High Commissioner, Louise Arbour, said in a statement on the reports.

Along with other recommendations, the High Commissioner is calling on Government authorities to investigate the attacks. "The investigation should aim to collect evidence to identify and prosecute those who planned, orchestrated, and/or conducted the attacks," Ms. Arbour said. "The results of the investigation should be made public, legal action should be taken against those found to be responsible and the victims of the attacks should be compensated."

A second report concerns the enforced disappearance of at least 19 Massalit men arrested by soldiers serving Mr. Minnawi's rebel group (SLA-Minnawi) in Gereida i
Commissioner is calling on the head of the group, Special Presidential Assistant Minni Arkoy Minnawi, who is also Chairman of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority, to immediately disclose the fate and whereabouts of these men.

Several of the men have reportedly been found dead after having been beaten at an SLA-Minnawi base where leaders were present.

"If the detainees are alive their physical integrity must be assured and they should be brought before a judicial authority," said Ms. Arbour, adding that the Human Rights Unit of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) should be provided access to all the detainees.

"If the captured persons are dead, there must be an independent, transparent, and timely inquiry to identify those responsible and hold them accountable for crimes that may have been committed," she said.

The High Commissioner pointed out that the systematic use of rape to punish and humiliate local communities is a war crime. It violates Common Article 3 to the 1949 Geneva Conventions, to which the Sudan is a High Contracting Party, and is punishable by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Government has a duty to hold perpetrators of rape accountable and provide protection from such a crime.

In February, the ICC's chief prosecutor named a Sudanese Government minister and a militia commander as the first suspects he wants tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo has concluded there are reasonable grounds to try Ahmad Muhammad Harun, former Sudanese Minister of State for the Interior, and Janjaweed militia leader Ali Kushayb, for having "jointly committed crimes against the civilian population in Darfur."

More than 2 million people have been forced to flee their homes in Darfur since Government forces and allied Janjaweed militias began fighting rebel forces in 2003, and at least 200,000 people have been killed.

2007-04-06 00:00:00.000

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REGISTERING SATELLITES LAUNCHED INTO OUTER SPACE, RELATED UN TREATIES DISCUSSED AT MEETING

REGISTERING SATELLITES LAUNCHED INTO OUTER SPACE, RELATED UN TREATIES DISCUSSED AT MEETING
New York, Apr 5 2007 7:00PM
Registering satellites and other objects launched into outer space, along with the status of the five United Nations treaties covering outer space, were among the main issues discussed during a 11-day meeting in Vienna under the auspices of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) that ended today.

This year marks the 50th session of the Committee and is also important for the wider space community as being the 50th anniversary of the launch of the first artificial satellite, as well as marking 40 years since the entry into force of the Outer Space Treaty.

The Vienna meeting of the Legal Subcommittee of COPUOS also examined aspects of capacity building in space law, during which leading experts gave presentations, and noted the positive effect of a recent letter by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon encouraging participation in the outer space treaties.

The Subcommittee, like COPUOS, is composed of 67 Member States, while inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as the Association of Space Explorers and the Planetary Society, have permanent observer status with COPUOS.

The Committee was set up by the General Assembly in 1959 to review the scope of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, to devise programmes in this field to be undertaken under UN auspices, and to deal with related matters.

The Vienna-based UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) implements the decisions of the General Assembly and of COPUOS and its two Subcommittees, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the Legal Subcommittee.
2007-04-05 00:00:00.000

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UN POLICE ADVISER STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING LOCAL FORCES AS HE LEAVES POST

UN POLICE ADVISER STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING LOCAL FORCES AS HE LEAVES POST
New York, Apr 5 2007 7:00PM
With the demand for United Nations police officers and all peacekeepers at record highs, the quality of personnel recruited must be maintained as their role in building national police capacity is more important than ever, the world body's top police officer said today as he ended his two-year appointment.

Police Adviser Mark Kroeker, who has been working with the UN for around 13 years, acknowledged that challenges remain with the world body's policing, not least of which is attracting more female officers. But he said the whole division, working as part of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), has also had important successes.

"The Police Division here working together, the police components in the field – the major achievement collectively that we have made is that we have ratcheted up our quality: quality of leadership, quality of technical capability, quality of police division, operation procedures… that's what I think is our biggest achievement," he told the UN News Centre.

Some recent initiatives involving the Police Division include putting in place the first all-female specialized police unit in Liberia, the establishment of the International Policing Advisory Council (IPAC), and preparations for setting up a Standing Police Capacity (SPC) of up to 100 officers who will be able to respond rapidly to UN operations wherever crises erupt.

There are now almost 9,500 UN Police officers worldwide, a 60 per cent increase in the last three years.

Earlier on Thursday at a weekly DPKO staff meeting, the UN peacekeeping chief paid tribute to Mr. Kroeker, and in particular his role in pushing forward the concept of the SPC, to which all Member States have given their support.

"Coming to the Department as the Police Adviser in February 2005 you have made a great difference to this Department. When I see where we are today and where we were two years ago: the sense of pride, the esprit de corps that you have built for the police. And as I recall all the very concrete achievements that you have made… the most impressive one maybe being your work on the Standing Police Capacity," said Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno.

A selection process is under way to find Mr. Kroeker's successor but Mohammed Alhassan, the Police Commissioner in the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), will take over as interim Police Adviser in the next few weeks.
2007-04-05 00:00:00.000

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GEORGIA: BAN KI-MOON CALLS LAST MONTH'S ROCKET ATTACKS 'MAJOR SETBACK' TO PEACE

GEORGIA: BAN KI-MOON CALLS LAST MONTH'S ROCKET ATTACKS 'MAJOR SETBACK' TO PEACE
New York, Apr 5 2007 6:00PM
Last month's rocket attacks in Georgia's upper Kodori valley were "a major setback" to efforts to bring peace to the northwest of the country, but there have been other welcome signs of progress recently between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in his latest <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2007/182">report on the work of the United Nations peacekeeping mission there.

Mr. Ban cites the continued joint patrols of the Kodori valley by the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) peacekeeping force as one example of the progress being made, adding that the patrols observed no heavy weapons and a reduction in the number of armed personnel since a similar patrol in October last year.

The recent expansion of UNOMIG assistance to the Gali district, from UN Police advisers to the full-time presence of a Human Rights Office in Abkhazia, Georgia, is also welcome, Mr. Ban says in his latest report to the Security Council on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia.

"I hope that the appointment of a presidential commissioner for human rights by the de facto Abkhaz authorities will enable them to address better human rights issues raised by UNOMIG as well as local non-governmental organizations (NGOs)," he writes.

The Secretary-General also voices hope that both the Georgian and Abkhaz sides will take further measures to build confidence between them, in line with the commitments they made during a UN-chaired meeting with the Group of Friends in Geneva in February.

But he calls the rocket attacks of 11 March – although they caused no casualties – "a major setback" and "a reminder of the risks with which the conflict is still fraught, and the potential for existing tensions to take a violent course."

He hopes that the investigation being carried out by the Joint Fact-Finding Group, comprised of representatives of UNOMIG, the Georgian Government, the Abkhaz side and the CIS peacekeeping force, "will help clarify the circumstances behind this incident."

The Kodori valley has long been a scene of clashes, and on the evening of 11 March a series of rockets were fired at the villages of Chkhalta and Adjara, with damage reported to buildings in Chkhalta. A CIS force checkpoint in the lower Kodori valley also reported observing or hearing flares, bursts of automatic weapons fire and truck movements.

So far the Joint Fact-Finding Group has carried out two visits to locations in the upper Kodori valley to examine the impact sites, collect evidence and interview witnesses. It has also held four sessions to discuss its findings.

UNOMIG was set up in 1993 and expanded following the signing by the parties of the 1994 Agreement on a Ceasefire and Separation of Forces to verify compliance, with patrols of the Kodori valley a specific part of its mandate.

As of last month, the Mission has some 140 uniformed personnel, including 127 military observers and 12 police, supported by 100 international civilian personnel and 178 local civilian staff.
2007-04-05 00:00:00.000

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UN MISSION SAYS OPPOSITION FORCES IN DR CONGO HAVE DISARMED, AWAITING HANDOVER

UN MISSION SAYS OPPOSITION FORCES IN DR CONGO HAVE DISARMED, AWAITING HANDOVER
New York, Apr 5 2007 6:00PM
After clashing violently with Government troops in the capital Kinshasa last month, opposition forces and their dependents in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) currently under United Nations protection have disarmed, the world body's Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) said today.

The UN mission in the DRC, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/monuc/index.html">MONUC, estimates that hundreds were killed and many more wounded in the violence which broke out on 22 March between Government forces and guards of former Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba, who was defeated last year by current President Joseph Kabila in the run-off round of landmark presidential elections.

As of 30 March, 149 opposition fighters, called DPP, have taken refuge with MONUC. In addition to those DPP members, some 93 women and 109 children who claim to be family of DPP members have also taken refuge with MONUC.

"The Mission is in discussions with the Government regarding [the opposition forces'] handover to Government authorities for disarmament or reintegration into the armed forces," Michele Montas, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson, told reporters in New York today.

Mr. Bemba's guards have yet to be handed over, as a detailed agreement is currently being negotiated by which the Government would guarantee to respect the opposition forces' human rights and their proper treatment before the law should they be tried, as well as giving MONUC's human rights officials access to them.

Yesterday, MONUC called on Government officials to ensure that the country's security forces act in accordance to the law and not create an atmosphere of persecution against people associated with the opposition or those originating from Equateur province, an opposition stronghold.

"It is crucial that the fundamental rights of individual security and liberty, as well as the liberty of opinion and expression, which are guaranteed by the DRC constitution, should be respected by all the security forces in relation to Congolese citizens, which includes members of the opposition and the press," MONUC spokesperson Kemal Saiki said.

On Tuesday, the Security Council called on the DRC's authorities and political parties to pursue national reconciliation and resolve their differences through dialogue.

Deploring the March violence, the 15-member Council underscored the legitimacy of the DRC's democratically elected institutions. The body also pointed out that these institutions must operate with respect for the rule of law, human rights and international humanitarian law, and must also avoid any unnecessary or disproportionate force.

The country is rebuilding following the end of a six-year civil war, widely considered the most lethal conflict in the world since World War II, which cost 4 million lives in fighting, hunger and disease.
2007-04-05 00:00:00.000

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UN READIES FOR ITS BIGGEST-EVER GATHERING ON CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP

UN READIES FOR ITS BIGGEST-EVER GATHERING ON CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP
New York, Apr 5 2007 6:00PM
More than 700 business leaders and hundreds of top representatives from government, labour and civil society are expected to attend the <"http://www.unglobalcompact.org/">Global Compact Leaders Summit in Geneva in July, which will be the largest ever gathering convened by the United Nations on the issue of corporate citizenship.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a meeting yesterday in New York of the Global Compact Board, a panel of 20 leaders from business, civil society and labour which he chairs, that the two-day summit "will be instrumental in bringing our joint vision for the future cooperation between business, the UN, governments, civil society and labour to full scale."

Created by Mr. Ban's predecessor, Kofi Annan, in 1999, the Global Compact is an initiative that tries to advance 10 principles of good corporate citizenship and responsible globalization in such areas as combating corruption, safeguarding the environment, ensuring social inclusion and building markets.

Thousands of companies around the world, as well as labour and civil society groups, are now part of the Compact, which is an entirely voluntary initiative.

In his opening remarks to yesterday's meeting, the Board's second, Mr. Ban stressed to members that they will play a key role in guiding the body's efforts towards promoting peace, human rights and development.

Mr. Ban appointed Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, Chairman of the Foundation for the Global Compact, and Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization in Egypt, as co-chairs who can conduct the Board's business and chair meetings during his absence.

The meeting heard details of preparations for the Geneva leaders' summit, which is open only to senior executives of Global Compact participants in good standing. The Board also decided that any Global Compact participants listed as "inactive" for one year or more should be removed entirely from its database.
2007-04-05 00:00:00.000

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UN TO TAKE PART IN MEETING ON STEPPING UP SUPPORT TO END DARFUR CONFLICT

UN TO TAKE PART IN MEETING ON STEPPING UP SUPPORT TO END DARFUR CONFLICT
New York, Apr 5 2007 4:00PM
The United Nations, the African Union (AU) and the Sudanese Government will participate in a technical-level meeting on Monday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to finalize the measures for the UN "heavy support package" to the AU peacekeeping mission in strife-torn Darfur, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

Monday's meeting is not intended to re-negotiate the heavy support package, the second phase of the three-step process culminating in the eventual deployment of a hybrid UN-AU force, Mr. Ban <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1011">told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York.

"As the Government of Sudan has made certain reservations on my proposals, this meeting will be used to clarify and for an exchange of views on this heavy support package," he said following a briefing to the Security Council on his recent trip to the Middle East.

"We hope that, through these consultative meetings, we will be able to deploy hybrid forces as soon as possible."

The technical meeting comes after a mini-summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last week in which Mr. Ban, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, the AU and the League of Arab States agreed to re-double their efforts to resolve the Darfur conflict and to press ahead with the three-phase plan leading to the hybrid peacekeeping force.

The existing AU mission, known as AMIS, has about 7,000 troops to patrol Darfur, a region roughly the size of France where rebel groups have fought Government forces and allied Janjaweed militias since 2003.

Under the three-phase plan, the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) is currently providing AMIS with a "light support package" that includes police advisers, civilian staff and additional resources and technical support. The heavy support package to be discussed on Monday will feature several hundred UN personnel assisting AMIS. The proposed hybrid UN-AU force will be comprised of about 17,000 troops and 3,000 police officers.

The plan was introduced amid mounting international concern about Darfur, which Mr. Ban has called the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. More than 200,000 people have been killed since the conflict began, and at least 2 million others displaced from their homes. The conflict is now having spill-over effects on neighbouring Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) as well.

Later this month in New York, Mr. Ban will hold a high-level meeting on the Darfur crisis with AU Chairman Alpha Oumar Konaré and with his Special Envoy for Darfur, Jan Eliasson, and his AU counterpart Salim Ahmed Salim.

In a related development, the Security Council was due to hear a briefing today on the work of its sanctions committee on Sudan from the committee chairman, Ambassador Marcello Spatafora of Italy.
2007-04-05 00:00:00.000

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HAITIAN GANG LEADER CAPTURED IN JOINT RAID INVOLVING UN PEACEKEEPERS

HAITIAN GANG LEADER CAPTURED IN JOINT RAID INVOLVING UN PEACEKEEPERS
New York, Apr 5 2007 4:00PM
United Nations peacekeepers and Haitian National Police (HNP) officers today captured a notorious gang leader during an early morning raid in the capital, Port-au-Prince, part of their joint efforts to crack down on violent crime in the impoverished Caribbean country.

Alain Cadet, who was the number two figure in the former Belony gang, was captured at a home east of the Pétion Ville district of Port-au-Prince, the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minustah/">MINUSTAH) said in a press release.

The Belony gang had operated in the Bois Neuf and Drouillard areas of Cité Soleil, the massive slum suburb in the capital.

MINUSTAH Force Commander Maj. Gen. Carlos Alberto Dos Santos Cruz described the arrest of Mr. Cadet as "a significant move towards improving security" for Haitians.

"We will continue to support the HNP to arrest alleged criminals, wherever they are hiding, and confiscate the weapons and material they use to try to prevent the country's progress towards stability and prosperity," he said.

This morning's operation involved HNP officers, UN peacekeepers, UN Police (UNPOL) and Formed Police Units (FPUs), MINUSTAH added.

The mission, which has been cracking down on criminal gangs in recent months, has been moving towards smaller and quicker joint operations with HNP so that it can more easily capture wanted criminals and confiscate weapons and ammunitions.
2007-04-05 00:00:00.000

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TRIAL OF BOSNIAN SERB PARAMILITARIES TRANSFERRED FROM UN TRIBUNAL

TRIAL OF BOSNIAN SERB PARAMILITARIES TRANSFERRED FROM UN TRIBUNAL
New York, Apr 5 2007 4:00PM
The United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia announced today that it is referring the case of a Bosnian Serb paramilitary leader and his cousin who are accused of burning to death scores of Muslim women, children and elderly men in 1992.

The trial of Milan Lukic, leader of a paramilitary unit known as the White Eagles or Avengers, and Sredoje Lukic, a member of the same unit, will now take place within Bosnia and Herzegovina's court system.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (<"http://www.un.org/icty/">ICTY), which sits in The Hague, has so far transferred nine accused to Bosnia and Herzegovina for trial, along with two accused to Croatia and one to Serbia.

Milan Lukic was taken into custody by the ICTY in February last year after having been transferred from Argentina, where he was arrested in 2005 after nearly seven years on the run.

Mr. Lukic and his cousin face multiple charges relating to the activities of their paramilitary unit, which prosecutors say worked with local police and military units to exact a reign of terror over Muslims in the area around Višegrad in south-eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Balkan wars of the early 1990s.

The Lukic cousins are accused of murdering about 70 Muslim women, children and elderly men by barricading them in one room of a house in Višegrad, setting the house on fire and then firing automatic weapons at those who tried to escape through the windows.

In a separate incident, the two men are accused of murdering about 70 other Muslims in the nearby village of Bikavac by forcing the victims into a house, barricading all exits and then throwing in several explosive devices.

The cousins are also accused of beating Muslim men who had been detained in a camp at a military barracks in Višegrad.

Milan Lukic is charged separately with several other counts of murder in which he is alleged to have led groups of Muslim men to the bank of the Drina River near Višegrad and then killed them.
2007-04-05 00:00:00.000

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ON UNICEF-BACKED PALESTINIAN CHILD'S DAY, YOUTH TAKE A STAND AGAINST VIOLENCE

ON UNICEF-BACKED PALESTINIAN CHILD'S DAY, YOUTH TAKE A STAND AGAINST VIOLENCE
New York, Apr 5 2007 3:00PM
To mark United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)-backed Palestinian Child's Day, hundreds of children gathered today in Gaza and Ramallah to speak out against violence, the culmination of months of youth-led campaigns calling for an end to the daily violence that many of them endure.

"I am here to defend children's rights and to prevent all those who are violating our rights from doing so," said 13-year-old Ayham Ammareen from Azza Refugee Camp in Bethlehem in a march leading up to the special day.

The young activists had also arranged to meet with high-level officials to ask that they spearhead the effort to protect children from violence.

<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF, which developed the project with two non-governmental agencies (NGOs), PANORAMA and Canaan Institute, has helped to train children on their rights and how to shield themselves from violence and abuse, with workshops being held on communication, negotiation, leadership and advocacy.

"Palestinian children are really surrounded by increased violence and UNICEF is trying to help them speak about the violence they are experience to enable them to create a change in their society," said Asmahan Wadi Nasser, UNICEF Child Protection Officer.

The violence Palestinian children face is due in part to the ongoing conflict and the resulting community fragmentation and economic decline, but also stems from cultural beliefs, practices and the acceptance of violence, which affects women and children in particular, as a fact of life.

"Before participating in this campaign I felt there were many people suffering from these problems without any solutions," said Hanin Abu-Swai, 14, after participating in an anti-violence workshop. "Now I realize how I can solve all of my problems without making a big deal of it."

Children developed campaigns – involving rallies, puppet shows, story writing, solidarity tents, songs, mural painting and theatrical sketches – to teach their peers about child rights and protection in 15 locations in the West Bank and Gaza.

They selected their own themes to work on, and all pertained to violence, with school-based violence being most common.
2007-04-05 00:00:00.000

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SOLOMON ISLANDS AT RISK OF MALARIA OUTBREAKS AND OTHER HEALTH CONCERNS, WARNS UN

SOLOMON ISLANDS AT RISK OF MALARIA OUTBREAKS AND OTHER HEALTH CONCERNS, WARNS UN
New York, Apr 5 2007 3:00PM
The Solomon Islands faces potentially serious health problems in the wake of Monday's deadly tsunami, United Nations humanitarian agencies warned today, with diarrhoea outbreaks already being reported in camps for the displaced and a surge expected in the number of malaria cases.

Shortages of clean drinking water, adequate sanitation facilities and the medicines and materials to prevent malaria are the biggest causes of concern, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/webpage.asp?Page=873&Lang=en">OCHA) said in a press release.

International assistance in the form of UN agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and neighbouring Governments has arrived in the Solomon Islands, where at least 34 people were killed on Monday. Many others remain missing and the death toll is expected to rise. Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and forced to seek makeshift shelter.

Monday's tsunami, which also affected neighbouring Papua New Guinea, was triggered by an earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale which struck 345 kilometres northwest of Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands. Since then, there have been almost 30 smaller aftershocks, although no further damage has been reported.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said its regional unit for malaria and vector-borne diseases is working with its country office in the Solomon Islands to try to prevent malaria outbreaks.

Although the South Pacific nation's malaria control has improved in recent years, thanks to more active case detection and greater use of insecticide-treated bed nets, the number of mosquito breeding sites will have also increased in the wake of the tsunami.

Given the time it takes to contract and incubate malaria, <"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO expects the number of malaria cases to rise over the next two months.

Diarrhoea outbreaks have been reported in some of the camps for the displaced, and the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_39300.html">UNICEF) – which yesterday issued an urgent appeal for $500,000 to help in relief efforts – is assessing the damage to water and sanitation facilities and what is required to restore or replace them.

Water purification tablets, jerry cans and water tanks have already been identified by UNICEF as priority needs, and the Fund has also pre-positioned emergency medical supplies that include measles vaccines and vitamin A supplements for children aged between four months and six years.
2007-04-05 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY WELCOMES DONATION FROM EU TO FEED BHUTANESE REFUGEES IN NEPAL

UN AGENCY WELCOMES DONATION FROM EU TO FEED BHUTANESE REFUGEES IN NEPAL
New York, Apr 5 2007 2:00PM
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today hailed a €1.5 million donation from the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) to feed over 108,000 Bhutanese refugees in eastern Nepal who are unable to work outside the camps in which they reside.

Since 1992, <"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP, in close coordination with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news">UNHCR), has being providing food for the Bhutanese refugees at the request of Nepal's Government.

WFP aims to feed the Bhutanese refugees, who arrived in Nepal 16 years ago after the introduction of strict citizenship laws in their homeland, at a cost of almost €18.5 million over the next two years, of which donors have already contributed €8.5 million. In the past six years, ECHO has donated €13.4 million towards WFP's efforts.

"We are very pleased that ECHO has decided to once again support the refugees," said Richard Ragan, WFP Country Director in Nepal. "The Commission has consistently been on of the biggest providers of humanitarian support to the refugees."

Frustration has been growing among the Bhutanese refugees as they have seen no solution to their situation over the last 16 years. A substantial offer of resettlement places by the United States was made last year, and Canada and Australia have also shown interest, but resettlement has yet to take place.

Last November, UNHCR and the Nepalese Government began taking a census of refugees, in which any existing information will be validated, cross-checked, updated and recorded in a new database, and refugees will have their photographs taken for identity cards.
2007-04-05 00:00:00.000

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AFGHANISTAN: UN FOOD AGENCY RUSHES SUPPLIES TO FEED 60,000 IN WAKE OF FLOODS

AFGHANISTAN: UN FOOD AGENCY RUSHES SUPPLIES TO FEED 60,000 IN WAKE OF FLOODS
New York, Apr 5 2007 10:00AM
The United Nations World Food Programme (<" http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2429">WFP) today stepped up assistance to victims of devastating spring floods in Afghanistan, sending 1,000 tonnes of emergency rations to feed 60,000 people for 30 days, but the agency is concerned about those affected who are beyond the reach of immediate help.

"We don't have a lot of time to waste," said the WFP Afghanistan Country Director Rick Corsino. "It can take quite a while in this country to get food and other assistance to affected people and there are many in desperate need of food, shelter, blankets and medicine."

WFP is worried about flood victims who are stranded in remote – sometimes war-torn – mountainous regions made inaccessible by road destruction, landslides and avalanches.

The agency voiced particular concern about the difficulties in sending aid to the heavily impacted southern province of Helmand, where security is a major concern given the frequent clashes between insurgents and Government and international forces.

Trucks carrying WFP food have frequently been attacked by anti-Government elements, complicating aid distribution.

Although the full death and destruction toll is unknown, the heavy rains which began last month have killed dozens of people and many more domestic livestock, damaged or destroyed thousands of homes and washed away tens of thousands of hectares of cultivated land.

The relentless precipitation, coupled with quickly melting winter snow, has also impeded access on the highways linking the capital Kabul to the north and south of the country.

The Vice President of Afghanistan has declared 13 of the country's 34 provinces as disaster areas, and WFP is coordinating with the Government, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and international military forces to distribute aid.

"We have been working very well together to quickly assess the real needs and deliver as much help as we can, and as fast as we can, to those who need it most," Mr. Corsino.
2007-04-05 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON RECEIVES LEBANESE MEMO ON PLANNED TRIBUNAL FOR HARIRI KILLING

BAN KI-MOON RECEIVES LEBANESE MEMO ON PLANNED TRIBUNAL FOR HARIRI KILLING
New York, Apr 4 2007 8:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has received a memorandum from 70 Lebanese parliamentarians asking him to act under the United Nations Charter and set up a special tribunal to try those alleged responsible for the 2005 assassination of the country's former prime minister <"http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=110&Body=Lebanon&Body1=">Rafik Hariri, a UN spokesperson confirmed today.

Mr. Ban is currently studying the memorandum, spokesperson Michele Montas told journalists, adding he remains concerned about Lebanon's continuing political impasse, which has delayed a parliamentary vote on the tribunal proposal.

Ms. Montas said Mr. Ban hoped the relevant Lebanese institutions would take the necessary steps under the constitution to conclude the formal agreement to set up the tribunal, but also noted the difficulties described by the lawmakers in their memorandum.

Many Lebanese lawmakers have been calling for a session of the country's Parliament to be convened so that they can vote on the proposal for a special tribunal. Although the Government has reached a deal with the UN on the tribunal's form and structure, the Parliament needs to ratify the agreement for the tribunal to enter into force.

The planned tribunal will be of "an international character" to deal with the assassination of Mr. Hariri, who was killed along with 22 others in a massive car bombing in downtown Beirut in February 2005.

A senior UN official told journalists today at UN Headquarters in New York that it will be ultimately up to the tribunal to determine whether other political killings in Lebanon since October 2004 are connected to Mr. Hariri's assassination and can therefore be dealt with by the tribunal.

Under the proposed statute, the tribunal's chambers will consist of one international pre-trial judge; three judges to serve in the trial chamber (one Lebanese and two international); five judges to serve in the appeals chamber (two Lebanese and three international); and two alternate judges (one Lebanese and one international).

The judges of the trial chamber and those of the appeals chamber will then each elect a presiding judge to conduct the proceedings in their chamber, with the presiding judge of the appeals chamber serving as president of the tribunal.

The prosecutor, who will be independent of the Lebanese Government, will be appointed by the UN Secretary-General for a three-year term that can be renewed as the Secretary-General decides in consultation with the Government. He or she will have the power to question suspects, victims and witnesses, collect evidence and conduct on-site investigations, and should be assisted by Lebanese authorities where necessary.

The senior UN official stressed that many of these measures were introduced specifically to ensure that the tribunal is as independent and impartial as possible, and reflects the form and structure of other international tribunals, such as those covering the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Cambodia.

The special tribunal in Lebanon has the power to impose penalties leading up to and including life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of crimes committed.

In April 2004 the Security Council set up the International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC) after an earlier UN mission found that Lebanon's own inquiry into the Hariri assassination was seriously flawed and that Syria was primarily responsible for the political tensions that preceded the attack. Its mandate runs out next year.

Serge Brammertz, the current head of the IIIC, told the Council last September that evidence obtained so far suggests that a young, male suicide bomber, probably non-Lebanese, detonated up to 1,800 kilograms of explosives inside a van to assassinate Mr. Hariri.
2007-04-04 00:00:00.000

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NEPALESE CHILDREN NEED MORE PROTECTION AFTER YEARS OF SUFFERING, SAY UN OFFICIALS

NEPALESE CHILDREN NEED MORE PROTECTION AFTER YEARS OF SUFFERING, SAY UN OFFICIALS
New York, Apr 4 2007 7:00PM
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN's human rights chief in Nepal today issued a joint appeal for the introduction of protective measures for the Himalayan country's children, saying they suffered widespread violence, indoctrination, manipulation and abuse during the 11-year civil war that ended last year.

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (<"http://www.ohchr.org/english/">OHCHR) Representative Lena Sundh and Gillian Mellsop from <"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF proposed that the electoral code of conduct being drawn up ahead of this year's planned polls include specific child protection measures so that children are protected from violence and arrest.

In particular they urge that this code of conduct commit political parties and other political actors to keep schools free of political meetings or other activities and to "not ask, encourage or force children in schools to participate in any political gathering or demonstration."

"Children might face further violence and manipulation, if necessary precautionary measures are not adopted… The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which Nepal has signed… guarantees children a number of rights, including the right to express their views on any matter affecting them," the joint statement said.

It also calls for laws and regulations banning the use of schools by all political actors; the use of children at schools in political activities; the enrolment/involvement of other
children in such activities without their parents' prior consent, and the use of school
buses for transporting political activists.

In addition, the statement presents 10 specific action points, covering the Government's responsibility to safeguard children from exploitation and a call for all political parties to prevent political manipulation, along with other recommendations.

The joint statement also highlighted that both the Nepalese Government and the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) endorsed provisions in February committing them to "ensuring that children who are released from or have left armed forces or groups are not used for political purposes by any party, including for political propaganda."
2007-04-04 00:00:00.000

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UN ANTI-NARCOTICS CHIEF HAILS SEIZURE OF $54 MILLION WORTH OF COCAINE IN GUINEA-BISSAU

UN ANTI-NARCOTICS CHIEF HAILS SEIZURE OF $54 MILLION WORTH OF COCAINE IN GUINEA-BISSAU
New York, Apr 4 2007 7:00PM
The head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (<"http://www.unodc.org/press_release_2007_04_04_2.html">UNODC) today lauded the Guinea-Bissau police for their seizure of 635 kilograms of cocaine, worth an estimated $54 million, and urged the West African country's Government to dispose of the drugs properly.

Despite the Judiciary Police's success in retrieving the narcotics near the capital Bissau yesterday, traffickers escaped with the rest of the 2.5-ton load because the law enforcement in Guinea-Bissau did not have the capacity to give chase.

"I commend the Judiciary Police for their bravery and resourcefulness in making this important seizure," said Antonio Maria Costa, UNODC's Executive Director. "It is regrettable that the rest of the consignment was not intercepted but hardly surprising as the police are woefully ill-equipped and often do not even have enough gasoline to operate their vehicles."

Given that drugs seized by police had "disappeared" in the past, Mr. Costa called on Guinea-Bissau's authorities to ensure that the cocaine is properly and verifiably disposed.

He noted that there is evidence that Government authorities and members of the armed forces were involved in the illicit drug trade, with police officers who attempt to curb trafficking being threatened.

"This is one of the worst forms of corruption and it must be vigorously resisted," Mr. Costa said. "All governments have a legal obligation to fight drug trafficking and take action against corruption on their territory."

He called on the country's international partners to aid the police force as it endeavours to combat narcotics trafficking and also to help provide the basic tools necessary to fight the drug trade – such as cars, fuel and efficient communications systems.

"If support is not forthcoming, I fear that honest police officers could become discouraged," he said. "This country must not be allowed to become a narco-state."

In another development, Mr. Costa said yesterday that despite the willingness of African nations to root out corruption, much more needed to be done to tackle the problem.

He pointed out to African ministers at the Johannesburg Global Forum on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity that on average, the continent was performing better than others in signing on to the UN Convention against Corruption, with 29 out of the 53 African countries ratifying the agreement.

"But that means that 24 of you have not" signed on to the treaty, of which UNODC is the custodian, said Mr. Costa. "Adhering to the Convention is becoming a leading indicator of a Government's willingness to address corruption seriously."

The 1995 Convention is the first to legally bind countries to fight corruption, with tough measures on asset recovery and bank secrecy. To date, 140 countries have signed it while 91 have ratified it.
2007-04-04 00:00:00.000

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DARFUR, CLIMATE CHANGE LEAD ISSUES FOR SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION THIS MONTH

DARFUR, CLIMATE CHANGE LEAD ISSUES FOR SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION THIS MONTH
New York, Apr 4 2007 7:00PM
The worsening violence and humanitarian situation in Sudan's strife-torn Darfur region, and its implications for neighbouring countries, along with the global impact of climate change, are among the key issues that will dominate Security Council deliberations this month, its President for April said today.

"The priorities: Sudan clearly, and Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR)… There will be an open debate," Emyr Jones Parry, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom, told a <"http://www.un.org//News/briefings/docs/2007/070404_Parry.doc.htm">press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York.

"There are lots of priorities on Darfur… it's not just Darfur: it's what Darfur means for Sudan, what it means also as a contagion for Chad, for the Central African Republic," he added, highlighting the need to pursue "three tracks" to try and resolve the crisis.

"To make sure that the humanitarian access is improved and sustained; that the political track involving [UN Special Envoy] Jan Eliasson and [African Union Special Envoy] Salim [Ahmed] Salim is catalysed, that we introduce a greater urgency into that… and on the question of security, we really need to deliver very soon some certainty as to what is to happen as the mandate of AMIS expires on the 30 June." AMIS is the current AU peacekeeping mission in Sudan.

Mr. Jones Parry said "the basis for a Security Council discussion of those parts of climate change which are relevant to the work of the Security Council" will also be considered.

Turning to Kosovo, the Serbian province that has been run by the UN since 1999, he said he expects a Council mission to visit Belgrade and Pristina sometime this month, although the details had yet to be finalized. The 15-member body started discussing the future of the province yesterday following a UN envoy's proposal for granting it independence in a phased process.
2007-04-04 00:00:00.000

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CALLING UN'S INTERNAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 'INEFFECTIVE,' GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES OVERHAUL

CALLING UN'S INTERNAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 'INEFFECTIVE,' GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES OVERHAUL
New York, Apr 4 2007 6:00PM
The General Assembly today responded to what it termed the "slow, cumbersome, ineffective and lacking in professionalism" United Nations system of internal justice, with its "flawed" administrative review, by mandating the first overhaul since its creation six decades ago with a pledge to redress these problems.

"We have taken a significant step forward in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of this Organization by approving the first serious overhaul of the United Nations' system of administration of justice in 60 years," <"http://www.un.org/ga/president/61/statements/statement20070404.shtml">declared General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa.

She said the Assembly's members asked for all elements of the new system to be fully functional by January 2009.

The President said the UN should model the standards it advocates. "Around the world, the Organization promotes justice and equality and represents the rule of law to its members. The Organization therefore requires a system of justice which is independent, transparent, professional and adequately resourced."

The existing system of internal justice, in place since the late 1940s, was designed for a different era when the Organization had only a few thousand staff in a handful of locations, she said. "Over time, the backlogs and delays have become significant and the independence and credibility of the system seriously compromised."

"The existing system serves no-one well - not the staff, not the managers and ultimately, not the Organization or the Member States," she said.

Describing the changes, she said they will include a stronger informal system aimed at resolving a large number of disputes between staff and managers before they go to "litigation," a stronger capacity for providing legal assistance and guidance to staff, and a series of measures to improve the accountability of managers and correct faulty decisions.

"While understanding that today is only an initial step to this very important reform, it is indeed a crucial step," she said.

The General Assembly's resolution recognizes that "the current United Nations system of administration of justice is slow, cumbersome, ineffective and lacking in professionalism, and that the current system of administrative review is flawed."

It notes that the "overwhelming majority of individuals serving in the system of administration of justice lack legal training or qualifications."

The Assembly expresses its decision to establish "a new, independent, transparent, professionalized, adequately resourced and decentralized system of administration of justice consistent with the relevant rules of international law and the principles of the rule of law and due process to ensure respect for the rights and obligations of staff members and the accountability of managers and staff members alike."

Among other measures, it formally establishes a Mediation Division within the Office of the United Nations Ombudsman to provide formal mediation services for the UN system, and an Office of the Administration of Justice, headed by a senior management-level official, which will have overall responsibility for the coordination of the United Nations system of administration of justice.

The Secretary-General is asked to ensure that the Joint Appeals Boards, the Joint Disciplinary Committees, the United Nations Administrative Tribunal and other bodies, as appropriate, continue to function until the new system is operational with a view to clearing all cases that are before them.

The resolution requires the Secretary-General to prepare a series of reports to move forward on the issue which should be presented to the Assembly during the main part of its upcoming session later this year, as well as a report on cost estimates.

The resolution draws on the recommendations of a group of experts called the "Redesign Panel" set up to examine the issue. In its July, 2006 report, the Panel concluded that the administration of justice in the UN "fails to meet many basic standards of due process established in international human rights instruments."

This must be corrected, the experts argued, "to avoid the double standard – which currently exists – where the standards of justice that are now generally recognized internationally and that the Organization pursues in its programmatic activities are not met within the Secretariat or the funds and programmes themselves."
2007-04-04 00:00:00.000

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AT UN-BACKED MEETING, HIV EXPERTS SEEK WIDER CONDOM USE FOR SEX WORKERS

AT UN-BACKED MEETING, HIV EXPERTS SEEK WIDER CONDOM USE FOR SEX WORKERS
New York, Apr 4 2007 6:00PM
Experts meeting in Beijing today at a United Nations-backed regional workshop on stopping the spread of HIV called for the promotion of increased condom use between sex workers and their clients.

Unprotected sex is now the leading transmission route for HIV in China, the UN Population Fund (<"http://www.unfpa.org/index.htm">UNFPA) said in a news release. Sex work, in a variety of settings, is widespread, and condom use is generally low.

The meeting offered an opportunity for participants to review successful local efforts to promote "100 per cent condom use" or "no condom, no sex" in relations between sex workers and clients. Approaches vary, but generally involve cooperation among health authorities, police, entertainment venue owners, and sex workers trained to be peer educators, the agency said.

"The only way HIV/AIDS can spread into a general epidemic is through sexual transmission," Dr. Hank Bekedam of the UN World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO) told the meeting. "Scaling up the 100 per cent Condom Use Programme is an urgent priority."

"If you want your programmes to work, involve communities," stressed Khartini Siamah, coordinator of the Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers. Health workers need training so they don't stigmatize sex workers seeking services, she added. "What does empowerment mean when sex workers cannot exercise their rights?"

"Sex workers are among the most vulnerable population group in the AIDS epidemic," Dr. Bekedam said. "Promoting the consistent use of condoms will empower them to protect themselves and help to reduce the spread of AIDS."

The two-day workshop, co-hosted by UNFPA and WHO, brought together 120 participants from national, provincial and local health departments, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and UN agencies.
2007-04-04 00:00:00.000

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INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC POSSIBLE - UN HUMANITARIAN CHIEF

INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC POSSIBLE – UN HUMANITARIAN CHIEF
New York, Apr 4 2007 6:00PM
A multi-dimensional international force could be deployed to the troubled northeast of the Central African Republic (CAR) without the approval of neighbouring Chad, which is beset by its own civil strife, the United Nations' top humanitarian official said today.

But John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, told the <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc8993.doc.htm">Security Council that some sort of international presence is also vital in eastern Chad, where hundreds of thousands of refugees from the CAR and Sudan's war-torn Darfur region, as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs), are living.

The CAR has said it supports the arrival of an international force to try to stabilize its northeast, where almost 300,000 villagers have become displaced in the past year because of clashes between rebels and Government forces and the torching of numerous towns and villages by rebels.

Many Central Africans have been forced to live in the bush out of concerns for their safety if they stay in villages or camps.

Mr. Holmes – who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator – later told reporters that Chadian officials have said that while they are willing to have international gendarmes or police in the east of the country, they are not so enthusiastic about a foreign military presence.

"The position of the UN, as you know, is that you can't have one without the other – that military protection is needed," Mr. Holmes said.

He added that there was widespread support within the Security Council for an international force to be deployed in eastern Chad and the CAR, and said he hoped that discussions between Council members and the Chadian Government on this issue advance quickly.

The Under-Secretary-General was briefing the Council today on his observations from his recent two-week trip to Sudan, Chad and the CAR, where three separate conflicts are threatening to spill into each other.

"The humanitarian situation in all three countries is truly alarming," Mr. Holmes said, adding that conditions were deteriorating despite the persistent efforts of UN humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Relief operations have become extremely fragile, especially in Darfur, because of increasing direct attacks on aid workers, mainly by rebels.

Mr. Holmes stressed to the Council that "in each country the fundamental and crying need is above all for political solutions brought about through dialogue and mediation."

He said there was a clear regional aspect to the conflicts, especially in the spill over from the Darfur crisis to eastern Chad, where hundreds of thousands of Darfur refugees are living in camps.

But "there is a clearly internal aspect to each conflict too, tempting though it is for the governments concerned to shift all the blame on to Darfur. In other words, there have to be national solutions in additional to the regional approach."

The worsening situation across the entire north of the CAR has also alarmed the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), which yesterday called for more than $5 million in urgent funds to prevent a "humanitarian disaster" from emerging.

Four out of every 10 Central African children are malnourished, the abuse of women and children is widespread, and the recruitment of child soldiers is also on the rise, UNICEF warned.

In January the Fund launched an appeal for $12 million, but so far it has received just 22 per cent of that amount from donors.
2007-04-04 00:00:00.000

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SOLOMON ISLANDS: UN AID WORKERS START RECOVERY EFFORTS AFTER TSUNAMI

SOLOMON ISLANDS: UN AID WORKERS START RECOVERY EFFORTS AFTER TSUNAMI
New York, Apr 4 2007 5:00PM
United Nations emergency and relief workers have begun recovery efforts in the Solomon Islands, helping to set up and run temporary field hospitals to treat the victims of Monday's undersea earthquake and subsequent tsunami that has killed at least 34 people and displaced more than 5,000 others.

Eight field hospitals will be established by the Solomon Islands to meet the medical needs of 10,000 people for the next three months, with the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_39300.html">UNICEF) supporting four and the World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en">WHO) and its non-governmental organization (NGO) partners backing the other four.

A temporary hospital has already been set up in Gizo, where the existing hospital has reportedly been damaged beyond use. Gizo Island is one of the worst-affected areas, and more than 1,500 residents are now living in makeshift settlements in the hills above the town. Three camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been set up in Western province as well.

UNICEF and WHO are sending extra emergency medical kits to the South Pacific nation, in addition to the supplies they have already pre-positioned in case of emergency. Food, water and sanitation, shelter, medical supplies and basic household goods have been identified as priorities in the recovery efforts.

UNICEF issued an urgent appeal today for $500,000 to help women and children in both the Solomon Islands and neighbouring Papua New Guinea, which was also affected by the disaster.

The Fund estimates that 30,000 children – half of whom are under the age of five – have been affected, and need help to survive and avoid hunger, disease and the effects of poor or overloaded sanitation facilities.

A particular concern is malaria, which is endemic to the area, and UNICEF is trying to ensure that displaced families have access to insecticide-treated nets and malaria prophylaxes. Water purification tablets, jerry cans, water tanks and hygiene materials such as soap and buckets are also needed.

At least 34 people have been killed and many more remain missing, according to Government figures, following Monday's tsunami, which was caused by an earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale. The quake struck 345 kilometres northwest of Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands. Since then, there have been almost 30 smaller aftershocks, although no further damage has been reported.

The tsunami indicates the need for a stronger emergency response in the world's most vulnerable island nations, the head of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (<"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=36158&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO) said today.

"Despite a newly strengthened warning system in the Pacific, which issued bulletins within minutes of the earthquake occurring and updated at regular intervals, a tsunami has again claimed lives and wreaked havoc on coastal communities," UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning System was created by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (<"http://ioc.unesco.org/iocweb/index.php">IOC) of UNESCO in the 1960s, and on Monday helped to send early warnings across the region, allowing authorities in most areas to take preventive action. But the earthquake's epicentre was only 43 kilometres from the coast of the Solomon Islands, which left little time for warnings to reach the residents of Gizo.
2007-04-04 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAYS DELEGATION WILL VISIT KOSOVO THIS MONTH

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAYS DELEGATION WILL VISIT KOSOVO THIS MONTH
New York, Apr 4 2007 5:00PM
The Security Council will this month send a delegation to Kosovo, the 15-member body's President said today, as it considers a United Nations envoy's proposal for granting independence in a phased process to the ethnic-Albanian majority Serbian province that has been run by the world body since Western forces drove out Yugoslav troops in 1999.

"I would expect that during the month of April there would be a Security Council mission to Belgrade and to Pristina," Emyr Jones Parry, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom, which holds the <"http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/index.html">Council's rotating presidency this month, told a press briefing in New York.

He added that details would follow after meetings with other Council members to see "how they'd like to conduct that mission."

Asked how the Council would advance the issue given the divergent views on how to proceed, including strong opposition to independence by the Russian Federation and Serbia, Mr. Jones Parry said yesterday's discussion was informative because it demonstrated to the Council "how sensitive this issue is and how carefully [former Finnish] President [Martti] Ahtisaari [the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the future status process for Kosovo], had formulated his proposal.

"Within the Council there is a natural sense of: we want more information, we are worried about the dismemberment of a State. At the same time many in the Council acknowledge that we've gotten to the point where what President Ahtisaari is proposing is the logical, the necessary political step and that if this is done in a carefully managed way, we can end up with stability, rights and reconciliation all furthered between Kosovo and Serbia."

Regarding the next steps, he said it would be necessary to take decisions on the Council mission's leadership and terms of reference. "What I do not expect is the early tabling of a resolution," he said, pointing out that consultations will have to be held in key capitals first.
On Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Ahtisaari briefed the Security Council in a private meeting, which was later followed by closed consultations.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr. Ahtisaari said this was the start of a process and that he was pleased by the discussions with the members of the Security Council. He said that the process, if not a marathon, was "at least a 10,000-metre run."

He also stressed that the Council must recognize that the sooner a decision is made on Kosovo, the better.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today <"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=37290&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">condemned the recent attack on the Monastery of Decani in Kosovo and pledged the agency's continued support to ensure the preservation of the edifice, which is considered an endangered cultural site.

"UNESCO and the whole international community recognized the universal value of this property when they inscribed it on the World Heritage List," said Koïchiro Matsuura, referring to the fact that the Monastery is part of the ensemble of Medieval Monuments in Kosovo, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2004, and put on the <"http://whc.unesco.org/en/158">World Heritage in Danger List in 2006.

On 30 March, a grenade launcher was found on the hillside overlooking the monastery, and a rocket engine was discovered lodged in one of its outer walls, according to the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). This follows reports of two explosive noises heard by the monks on Friday.

"I condemn the attack on the Monastery of Decani," Mr. Matsuura declared. "We at UNESCO remain committed to pursue the work undertaken to ensure the preservation of cultural heritage in Kosovo and I urge the leaders of all of Kosovo's communities to exercise restraint for the sake of a heritage that is valuable to us all."

The largest medieval church in South-Eastern Europe, the Decani Monastery has come under attack several times since the late 1990s. Initial reports indicate that the 14th century edifice sustained only light damage in last week's attack, according to UNESCO, which said none of the monks living in the Monastery were injured.

Following the attack, the senior UN envoy to Kosovo, Joachim Rücker, <"http://www.unmikonline.org/news.htm#3103">voiced concern about the situation and called the monastery "a place of immense spiritual importance for the Kosovo Serb community and a treasure for the people of Kosovo and beyond."
2007-04-04 00:00:00.000

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UN PROJECT IN HAITI BOOSTS, DIVERSIFIES LOCAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, OFFICIALS SAY

UN PROJECT IN HAITI BOOSTS, DIVERSIFIES LOCAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, OFFICIALS SAY
New York, Apr 4 2007 4:00PM
A United Nations-backed project is helping local communities in north-eastern Haiti to increase and diversify their agricultural production and reducing poverty in the process, officials involved in the initiative have said.

"This local governance experience showed that micro projects can have a real impact on the living conditions of vulnerable communities," said Joël Boutroue, a UNDP official working in Haiti.

Jointly carried out by the UN Capital Development Fund (<" http://www.uncdf.org/english/about_uncdf/index.php">UNCDF) and the UN Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org">UNDP), the main goal of the scheme is to help some 200,000 Haitians as part of overall efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals (<"http://www.undp.org/mdg">MDGs), a set of anti-poverty targets established at a 2000 UN Summit.

The beneficiaries of the project include residents who now have access to essential basic services that they were long lacking, such as drinkable water, health-care centres, and a better flow of local commodities thanks to rehabilitated roads, according to a UNDP press release. Schools and agricultural facilities were also provided.

Commercial benefits included improved pineapple and sugar cane production as well as the introduction of new varieties of mangoes and citrus fruits, the agency said.

Mr. Boutroue said the $5.5 million project, which was launched in 2000 and will run through 2010, demonstrated the importance of involving local communities in identifying priority concerns. He called this "a clear indication of their capacity to take charge of themselves" in development activities.

Chantal Santelli of the Capital Development Fund said the main challenge is "to be able to mobilize the necessary resources to the set up of the systems of local infrastructures" while ensuring that scarce funds are optimized.
2007-04-04 00:00:00.000

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MORE THAN A MILLION LIVES THREATENED AS CYCLONES, HEAVY RAINS PUMMEL SOUTHERN AFRICA

MORE THAN A MILLION LIVES THREATENED AS CYCLONES, HEAVY RAINS PUMMEL SOUTHERN AFRICA
New York, Apr 4 2007 4:00PM
Southern African communities, local authorities and humanitarian partners are finding their resources stretched to the limit with the early arrival of the rainy season and relentless precipitation as well as an unprecedented series of cyclones and tropical storms, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/webpage.asp?MenuID=12607&Page=2349">OCHA) said today.

Despite recent improvements in the capacities for disaster and emergency preparedness and response, areas of Angola, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia are working to rebuild their homes and recover their livelihoods after months of heavy rains, OCHA said in a press release.

"It seems either we have too much or too little rain," said Kelly David, who heads OCHA's Southern African regional office, underscoring the region's vulnerabilities to natural disasters and food insecurity. "Building the capacity to respond quickly to rapid onset emergencies goes hand in hand with other sustained efforts by national governments and humanitarian partners to improve the lives of millions."

Madagascar, an island nation off the African coast, has been battered by six cyclones and tropical storms since last December, affecting almost half a million people. The cyclones left widespread flooding, displacement and crop damage in their wake. Most recently, Cyclone Jaya this month pounded the northeastern portion of the country with high winds, heavy rains and flooding.

Meanwhile, southern Madagascar which is more arid saw its own share of the problems caused by drought, food insecurity and malnutrition.

The combined effects of the natural disasters have exhausted the country's resources, and less than half of a $9.6 million appeal issued in last month has been funded so far. OCHA anticipates that humanitarian needs will increase after the most recent cyclone, but without additional assistance, "the Malagasy people will continue to struggle to obtain shelter, food, potable water, and health care."

Mozambique, on the eastern coast of the continent, has also endured damage inflicted by floods and cyclones this year. Health centres, schools and other facilities have been severely damaged while crops have been destroyed.

Almost 150,000 displaced people are still in accommodation centres, while another 55,500 more are being moved to resettlement sites.

Close to 300,000 people in Zambia have been directly affected by the excessive rainfall last December which caused widespread flooding, and they need assistance to rebuild. Only 5 per cent of the almost $9 million need has been donated to respond to short-term needs as well as reduce risks and vulnerability in the long run.

Meanwhile, heavy flooding in Angola and Namibia has displaced a combined total of 45,000 people. OCHA said that communities are also threatened by water contamination, increases in water-borne diseases and malaria. A cholera outbreak in Angola is also affecting thousands monthly.
2007-04-04 00:00:00.000

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UN STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF MONDAY'S TIMOR-LESTE ELECTION FOR LONGER-TERM STABILITY

UN STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF MONDAY'S TIMOR-LESTE ELECTION FOR LONGER-TERM STABILITY
New York, Apr 4 2007 4:00PM
Next week's landmark presidential election in Timor-Leste, the first in the tiny nation since gaining independence from Indonesia in 2002, is important not only for peace in the country but also for longer-term stability, senior United Nations officials said today, highlighting the world body's support for the countrywide polls.

"Monday's election is the first step in the electoral process that will see a newly elected president and parliament in place by the second half of this year. This will signify the continuance of the democratic development of State institutions within this country and it is these institutions that will facilitate democratic consolidation," the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Timor-Leste Atul Khare told reporters.

Mr. Khare, who heads the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (<"http://www.unmiset.org">UNMIT), said he was pleased about the absence of any serious incidents of violence or intimidation in the campaigning period so far, although expressed regret over several reported incidents. He said this shows the commitment of the Timorese to a peaceful democratic process.

UNMIT's support for the 9 April polls includes a Candidate Resource Centre to support all eight presidential campaigns, which provides candidates with the use of computers and photocopy machines. In addition, all presidential candidates have received a $10,000 in-kind grant for the production of materials, such as flags, posters, banners and flyers.

"This election is an important step on the path to peace and stability in Timor Leste. The support provided for the electoral process through the Resource Centre reaffirms the commitment of the UN to ensuring the elections are run in a fair, credible and transparent manner," said the UN's Representative for Electoral Support, Finn Reske-Nielsen.

After the presidential polls, the Centre will become the Political Party Resource Centre based in the capital Dili, with three district branches established in Baucau, Maliana and Oecussi.
UNMIT is mandated through Security Council resolution <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/res/1704(2006)">1704 to support all aspects of this year's presidential and parliamentary electoral process, including providing technical and logistical support and electoral policy advice. The UN Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org">UNDP) is providing support and facilitation to both national and international observers to the polls, as well as other electoral assistance.
2007-04-04 00:00:00.000

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UN ENVOY CAUTIONS AGAINST FORCED DISARMAMENT BEFORE SOMALIA RECONCILIATION CONGRESS

UN ENVOY CAUTIONS AGAINST FORCED DISARMAMENT BEFORE SOMALIA RECONCILIATION CONGRESS
New York, Apr 4 2007 3:00PM
Welcoming plans to convene a national reconciliation congress for war-ravaged Somalia, the senior United Nations <"http://un-somalia.org/UN_Special_Representative/index.asp">envoy to the country has cautioned against forced disarmament to facilitate holding the meeting in the capital, Mogadishu.

Addressing a meeting of the International Contact Group in Cairo, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, François Lonsény Fall, said recent fighting in Mogadishu "clearly brings in sharp focus the differences between the views of those who want to carry out forced disarmament to secure the capital and those who believe that genuine reconciliation must precede any form of disarmament."

He noted plans to establish a National Governance and Reconciliation Committee consisting of six imminent Somali personalities and to convene a congress in Mogadishu in mid-May, but pointed out that the security of the venue remains an issue.

The Transitional Federal Government (TFG), backed by Ethiopian forces, dislodged the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) from Mogadishu and much of the rest of the country at the end of last year.

"From our contacts, it was clear that the TFG wants to secure the city by disarming the insurgent forces before the convening of the planned National Reconciliation Congress," Mr. Fall said. "However, the UIC leaders doubt whether genuine reconciliation can be achieved through this Congress. They oppose any forcible disarmament in Mogadishu, and they have stressed the need to have an agreed venue and agenda, and a neutral mediating body for the dialogue."

The UN welcomes the TFG's initiative to convene the Congress, which should receive international support, he said. "However, we are concerned about the security of Mogadishu as venue. We believe that providing security through forcible disarmament may not be the best approach may undermine the efforts undertaken by the African Union (AU) to stabilize the country and subsequently affects efforts for a sustainable peace and reconciliation."

Those who have influence with members of the former UIC should encourage them to "renounce violence and extremism and participate in the planned Congress, or otherwise open a dialogue with the TFG, without preconditions for the sake of national unity and reconciliation," he said.

The International Contact Group on Somalia includes Italy, Kenya, Norway, Sweden, Tanzania, the United Kingdom and the United States, together with the AU, European Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, League of Arab States and the UN.
2007-04-04 00:00:00.000

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