GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT LAUDS AL GORE, IPCC ON NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT LAUDS AL GORE, IPCC ON NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
New York, Oct 13 2007 6:00PM
The President of the United Nations General Assembly today congratulated Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on their receipt of the 2007 Nobel Peace Price and voiced hope that it would spur action on the issue.

"The President believes that the awarding of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize is a clear recognition of the fact that climate change is not just an environmental problem but a global, multifaceted challenge that deserves immediate and crucial attention from the international community," a spokesman for Srgjan Kerim said in a statement released in New York.

"The award is not only a recognition of the outstanding and important work that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has been pursuing over many years, but also reflects positively on the work of the United Nations as a whole," he said, pointing out that climate change is the "flagship issue" of the current Assembly session.

The awarding of the Nobel Prize should "give additional impetus to the efforts of Member States to work through the United Nations to address the challenge of climate change," he said.

2007-10-13 00:00:00.000

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT URGES ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT URGES ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
New York, Oct 12 2007 8:00PM
The world's island States and most vulnerable developing countries are waiting for concrete measures to deal with climate change, General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim said today.

Addressing the Rotary Club of Mulheim, Germany, Mr. Kerim said it was vital that participants at the major summit on climate change taking place in Bali in December develop a new regime for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other contributors to global warming.

A reduction in emissions is particularly important for island and poor nations, who have for "around 20 years heard enough solemn speeches" on the subject but witnessed few results, he said.

Mr. Kerim stressed the need for the entire United Nations system, including the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), to work more closely together in the fight against climate change.

He also said the General Assembly continues to have a valuable role as a forum for the 192 Member States to debate ideas and the best ways to respond, adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Mr. Kerim said the inter-connected nature of the world made the UN more essential than ever, but he added that it must ensure, by way of continuous reform, that it is as effective as possible in dealing with the biggest global questions.

As General Assembly President, he said he hoped it would become more of an interactive forum between States, rather than one in which countries use "pre-fabricated statements" to engage in "ritual monologues."

Yesterday, Mr. Kerim was in the Belgian capital, Brussels, for meetings with European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poetering and the European Union's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana. The meetings focused on the priority themes of the Assembly this session: climate change, countering terrorism, finance for development, the Millennium Development Goals (MDG
reform.

2007-10-12 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON HAILS NOBEL LAUREATES AL GORE, INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE

BAN KI-MOON HAILS NOBEL LAUREATES AL GORE, INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE
New York, Oct 12 2007 9:00AM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today hailed the awarding of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and urged governments to build on the momentum they have generated by adopting a new set of binding commitments to contain greenhouse gas emissions.

In a statement released by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban paid tribute to Mr. Gore's "exceptional commitment and conviction, as an example of the crucial role that individuals and civil society can play in encouraging multilateral responses to global issues."

His spokesperson said Mr. Ban "rejoices with the IPCC, and its co-sponsors, the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization."

Mr. Ban, who has made addressing climate change a key priority of his administration, pointed out that the IPCC's "lucid and well-documented findings" helped to establish "beyond doubt that climate change is happening, and that much of it is caused by human activity."

This led to "unprecedented momentum for action on climate change around the world, and recognition of the UN as the forum for reaching agreement on it," he said.

The Secretary-General, who last month convened summit-level talks on the issue in New York to jump-start diplomatic action on climate change, called for industrialized and developing countries alike to commit themselves to a real breakthrough at the critical Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bali in December.

That meeting will serve to hammer out a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol, which contains legally binding targets for greenhouse gas emissions but will expire in 2012.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner also praised the decision of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, saying it "has today made it clear that combating climate change is a central peace and security policy for the 21st century."

H
public attention on the issue of global warming while outlining the enormous risks but also the enormous opportunities confronting the world."

Mr. Steiner emphasized the importance of building on the momentum they have helped to build through "negotiations on a decisive, post 2012 emissions reduction agreement" at the Bali meeting.

Established in the late 1980s by UNEP and the World Meteorological Organization of the UN, the IPCC and its more than 2,000 scientists and experts have grappled with the science; the likely impacts of climate change and the economics.

The IPCC has "outlined the impacts, from the melting off glaciers in the Himalayas to more frequent and devastating floods in New York to Bangladesh?impacts, not in some far away future but in the life-time of people reading and hearing the announcement off the Peace Prize Committee," Mr. Steiner said.

He noted that the IPCC has also calculated the price of peace and stability on this planet at perhaps 0.1 per cent of global GDP a year for 30 years for combating climate change and avoiding instability, rising tensions and conflict.

"The IPCC, in validating the climate science, represents one of the most important contributions the UN has made in its history to humanity and its current and future choices," declared Mr. Steiner.

He recalled that UNEP earlier this year named Mr. Gore a UNEP Champion of the Earth for "making environmental protection a pillar of his public service and for educating the world on the dangers posed by rising greenhouse gas emissions."

With this prize, the IPCC joins the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), UN peacekeeping, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UN mediator Ralph Bunche, secretaries-general Dag Hammarskjöld and Kofi Annan as well as the United Nations itself as Nobel laureates in the UN family.

2007-10-12 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR 'GENUINE' DIALOGUE IN MYANMAR TO ACHIEVE RECONCILIATION

SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR 'GENUINE' DIALOGUE IN MYANMAR TO ACHIEVE RECONCILIATION
New York, Oct 11 2007 7:00PM
Strongly deploring Myanmar's recent use of violence against peaceful protesters, the Security Council today underscored the need for dialogue between the Government and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to accelerate its national reconciliation process.

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9139.doc.htm">presidential statement read by Ambassador Leslie K. Christian of Ghana, which hold the rotating Council presidency this month, the Council called on authorities and other parties to "work together towards a de-escalation of the situation and a peaceful solution."

Last week, the Council was briefed by Ibrahim Gambari, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser, after returning from a visit to Myanmar, the scene of what the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro characterized as a "brutal crackdown" against peaceful demonstrations led by monks.

The Government must take steps for a "genuine dialogue" with Ms. Suu Kyi – a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who has been under house arrest for four years and has spent 11 of the past 17 years in detention – and "all concerned parties and ethnic groups in order to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation with the direct support of the United Nations," the Council said today.

It also stressed the importance of releasing all political prisoners and remaining detainees.

Emphasizing that "the future of Myanmar lies with its people," the 15-member body called on authorities to take necessary steps to address the people's concerns.

Earlier this month, both Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Mr. Gambari welcomed news that Senior General Than Shwe has is prepared to meet Ms. Suu Kyi, albeit with certain conditions.

"The Security Council welcomes the Government of Myanmar's public commitment to work with the United Nations and the appointment of a liaison officer with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi," Mr. Christian said today.

However, the Council also highlighted the importance that "such commitments are followed by action."

Mr. Gambari has been invited back to Myanmar by authorities, and the Council voiced its support for a return visit as quickly as possible to "facilitate concrete actions and tangible results." The body also urged the Government and other parties to cooperate fully with the Special Adviser and to consider his proposals and recommendations seriously.

In a related development, the Secretary-General today dispatched Mr. Gambari to the region, where he will hold consultations in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China and Japan, with a view to returning to Myanmar shortly thereafter.
2007-10-11 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON UNVEILS JUDICIAL SELECTION PANEL FOR HARIRI TRIBUNAL IN LEBANON

BAN KI-MOON UNVEILS JUDICIAL SELECTION PANEL FOR HARIRI TRIBUNAL IN LEBANON
New York, Oct 11 2007 6:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the composition of a selection panel to recommend to him the names of judges and chief prosecutor to work on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which is being set up to prosecute the suspected killers of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri in 2005.

Mr. Ban sent a letter to the Security Council President informing him of his intention to appoint Judge Mohamed Amin El Mahdi, Judge Erik Møse and Nicolas Michel to the selection panel, according to a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sgsm11216.doc.htm">statement released by the Secretary-General's spokesperson.

Judge El Mahdi formerly served on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and Judge Møse currently serves as a presiding judge with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Mr. Michel is the UN Legal Counsel and Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs.

Today's statement stressed that Mr. Ban remained committed to setting up the Tribunal in a timely manner and that he continues to believe the court "will contribute to ending impunity in Lebanon for the crimes under its jurisdiction."

The Tribunal is being set up 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.

Once it is formally established, it will be up to the court to determine whether other political killings in Lebanon since October 2004 were connected to the assassination of Mr. Hariri and could therefore be dealt with by the Tribunal.

The selection panel is tasked with recommending to Mr. Ban the names of the four Lebanese judges and seven international judges who should serve on the court, as well as its chief prosecutor.

According to the Tribunal's statute, the 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.
2007-10-11 00:00:00.000

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PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD LEAD FIGHT ON CLIMATE CHANGE, BAN KI-MOON SAYS

PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD LEAD FIGHT ON CLIMATE CHANGE, BAN KI-MOON SAYS
New York, Oct 11 2007 5:00PM
The private sector should take the lead on tackling the challenges posed by climate change, from investing in clean new technologies to encouraging countries and industries to make the necessary adaptations to change, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told business leaders in Washington today.

Speaking to the United States Chamber of Commerce this afternoon, Mr. Ban said the role played by US businesses would prove particularly vital given their financial resources and historic leadership in technological innovation.

"We can promote economic growth, spur development and respond to climate change – this is not an either/or proposition," he said. "Your ability to determine investment flows gives you great influence over the pace of innovation, technological change and adaptation."

The Secretary-General called on business leaders to develop "innovative market mechanisms" as a means of combating climate change, particularly the perils raised by greenhouse gas emissions.

"I hope you will approach the carbon market as a major economic opening, one that has tripled in size $30 billion in just the past year alone. An expanded and improved carbon market is an essential part of the solution." The carbon market is a mechanism allowing companies to trade emissions credits in order to ensure that mandated caps are met.

Climate change is also the focus of two other speeches that Mr. Ban is giving during his two-day visit to Washington that ends tomorrow.

Tonight he is expected to tell the National Association of Evangelicals that tackling climate change and global warming is a "moral imperative and a defining issue of our era."

Mr. Ban will warn that the lives of hundreds of millions of people worldwide are in jeopardy from climate change.

"Without a strong global effort against global warming, we will fail in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the implicit human right to economic justice and development," he said, referring to a set of antipoverty targets which leaders at a 2000 UN summit said should be reached by 2015.

The Secretary-General is also due to address the staff of the US Peace Corps tomorrow before returning to UN Headquarters in New York.
2007-10-11 00:00:00.000

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UN-BACKED MEETING CHARTS COURSE FOR HELPING OLDER PERSONS IN ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

UN-BACKED MEETING CHARTS COURSE FOR HELPING OLDER PERSONS IN ASIA-PACIFIC REGION
New York, Oct 11 2007 5:00PM
Over 100 representatives from governments, non-governmental organizations and academia from 26 Asian and Pacific countries along with United Nations officials have forged a document on helping the region's large population of older persons.

Delegates attending a meeting organized by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (<"http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2007/oct/g41.asp">ESCAP) in Macao, China, today adopted an "Outcome Document" outlining specific measures aimed at ensuring income security in old age, raising public awareness of the benefits of active ageing, and generating inter-generational solidarity.

"One of the critical issues to be addressed is finding ways to match the desire of many older persons to remain productive with the actual employment opportunities available for them. Many countries also recognize the impact of modernization, migration and changing family structures on families' ability to care for older persons," said Keiko Osaki, Chief of ESCAP's Population and Social Integration Section.

"Universal social security coverage is virtually non-existent in the region and wherever it exists, its sustainability is being questioned," she said.

The Macao Outcome Document urges governments in the region to ensure sustainable and adequate retirement income and to raise awareness among younger generations about life-long preparation for old age and retirement, including in the areas of health and financial security. It underscores the need for data collection, research and studies focused on elderly issues.

Acknowledging the specific context of the Asian and Pacific region and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the Macao Outcome Document encourages the establishment of training programmes to further strengthen the capacities of informal caregivers and promotes the concept of "ageing in place" through the development of age-friendly physical environments.

The Document also urges governments to promote social and economic equalities for all ages so that older persons, especially women living in poverty, have universal access to health care.

Home to over 60 per cent of the world population, the Asian and Pacific region now accounts for 410 million older persons. This number is expected to increase to 733 million in 2025 and to a staggering 1.3 billion by 2050.

"It is essential for governments in the region to start planning ahead for the socio-economic implications of ageing societies, with the understanding of the changing demands and needs of the future elderly population," said Thelma Kay, Director of ESCAP's Emerging Social Issues Division.

Over the next 45 years, Asians aged 60 and older will triple in number, to 1.3 billion, and grow from 10 per cent to 25 per cent of the population, due to falling fertility and rising life expectancy, according to the UN Population Fund (<"http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1043">UNFPA), which estimates that Japan's over-60 population will grow from 28 per cent today to 44 per cent by 2050.

This demographic shift is occurring most rapidly in East Asia, where older persons will outnumber children under 15 by 2008, the agency said.

Garimela Giridhar, Director of UNFPA's Technical Services Team for East and South-East Asia, said the agency is working in a number of Asian countries to advocate anti-discriminatory legislation, promote data collection and analysis, and encourage families and communities to support older people.

The three-day meeting in Macao reviewed the progress made in Asia and the Pacific in carrying out the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, a landmark document adopted five years ago at the Second World Assembly on Ageing.
2007-10-11 00:00:00.000

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DARFUR: UN ENVOY WARNS SURGE IN VIOLENCE MUST END AHEAD OF PEACE TALKS

DARFUR: UN ENVOY WARNS SURGE IN VIOLENCE MUST END AHEAD OF PEACE TALKS
New York, Oct 11 2007 4:00PM
The United Nations Special Envoy to Darfur today called for an end to the "vicious cycle of violence" engulfing the war-torn Sudanese region ahead of major peace talks later this month, warning that any delay to the negotiations between the Government and the rebels would only lead to further bloodshed.

After a week of meetings with key regional figures, Jan Eliasson told a press conference in Khartoum that the talks – which he is co-convening with his African Union counterpart Salim Ahmed Salim – will start as scheduled on 27 October in neighbouring Libya.

But he stressed the need for all sides to refrain from violence to ensure there is an environment conducive to talks set up to try to end the conflict that has raged across Darfur, an arid and impoverished region in western Sudan, since 2003.

More than 200,000 people have been killed and at least 2.2 million others forced to flee their homes because of fighting between the rebels, Government forces and allied militia known as the Janjaweed.

In recent weeks there has been a spike in violence in Darfur, particularly in South Darfur state, and Mr. Eliasson voiced deep concern at the security situation and the recent escalation of Sudanese military activity.

He said the mediation process was staying on course ahead of the Libya talks, adding that any delay to those talks would be tragic and cause more bloodshed.

The envoy also expressed hope that the talks' first outcome would be to produce a formal declaration of a cessation of hostilities once the political negotiations are under way.

Invitations to rebel groups and civil society representatives to participate in the talks are expected to be issued in the next few days, Mr. Eliasson said.

This week, Mr. Eliasson has met with senior Sudanese Government officials and representatives of Chad, Egypt, Eritrea and Libya, and today he characterized the meetings as positive and successful.

Also speaking at the press conference, the AU's Sam Ibok, who is a senior adviser to Mr. Salim, said the Libya talks will be as inclusive as possible to ensure that there is broad-based public support of the peace process.

He added that no party will be allowed to "shoot its way to the talks," stressing that violence must end before the negotiations begin.
2007-10-11 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL DISPATCHES MYANMAR ENVOY TO MEET WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS

SECRETARY-GENERAL DISPATCHES MYANMAR ENVOY TO MEET WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS
New York, Oct 11 2007 3:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced that he is sending his Special Adviser on Myanmar back to the region this weekend to meet with regional partners about the situation in the troubled South-East Asian nation.

Ibrahim Gambari recently returned from a visit to Myanmar, where the Government used force – what the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro characterized as a "brutal crackdown" – against peaceful demonstrations led by monks.

According to a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sgsm11214.doc.htm">statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson, the Special Adviser will start his consultations in Thailand next Monday morning before visiting Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China and Japan, with a view to returning to Myanmar shortly thereafter.

In a related development, the Security Council issued a presidential statement today strongly deploring the Government's use of force against the demonstrators. The 15-member body urged authorities to take major steps towards inclusive national reconciliation and underscored the importance of dialogue between the Government and the opposition figure and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
2007-10-11 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY WORKS TO REGISTER DISPLACED CONGOLESE FLEEING NORTH KIVU

UN REFUGEE AGENCY WORKS TO REGISTER DISPLACED CONGOLESE FLEEING NORTH KIVU
New York, Oct 11 2007 3:00PM
The United Nations refugee agency is working to register displaced people fleeing confrontations between the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and troops of ex-General Laurent Nkunda in the volatile North Kivu province, where human rights abuses such as rape are reportedly on the rise.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported today that it has started registration of all internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the five camp sites in the Mugunga area some 15 kilometres west of Goma. Over 27,500 internally displaced have been identified.

This represents just a small fraction of the hundreds of thousands of Congolese who have fled North Kivu; many are staying with host families while others are in districts not yet reached by relief workers. Once access for humanitarian personnel to displacement zones improves, registrations at other IDP sites may be possible, the agency said in a news release.

"This registration has long been awaited. Once the operation is completed, the displaced registration lists will be available to partner UN agencies and NGOs [non-governmental organizations] to distribute food and other assistance goods in the Mugunga IDP sites," said <"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news">UNHCR Representative Eusèbe Hounsokou, who is overseeing the operations from Kinshasa.

Armed confrontations in the area intensified on 7 October and since then a trickle of newly displaced people have been arriving in the IDP sites close to Goma.

"Displaced report severe violations by armed groups, such as pillaging and destruction of houses, killings of civilians, recruitment of children into armed groups and cases of rape," the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/monuc/index.html">MONUC) said.

The mission cited statistics showing 351 cases of rape have been reported in North Kivu during September 2007, which represents a 60 per cent increase from the prior month. Survivors of rape among the new IDP arrivals are referred to specialist organizations for medical treatment and psycho-social support.

"UNHCR remains highly concerned that a further intensification of fighting may lead to the new displacement of tens of thousands of civilians," Mr. Hounsokou added.

In New York, a UN spokesperson reported that humanitarian convoys have tried to deliver food and supplies to areas where the fighting is taking place, but many have been forced to delay operations because of insecurity.

Meanwhile, the Force Commander of MONUC, General Babacar Gaye, estimated that there are 700,000 displaced people in the province and emphasized the mission's focus is on resolving the crisis.

"MONUC is very conscious in this situation of the consequences for the population," he said in an interview published by the mission. "We are coordinating with the humanitarians, and we give our support in terms of security in the displaced persons zones."

The mission is also conscious of what the DRC's Armed Forces, known as FARDC, are doing on the ground, he added.

"We give the FARDC a certain support, in particular in the medical evacuation of their wounded, to transport their reinforcements and their ammunition. But our number one concern really remains that a fast solution is found to a situation which risks becoming a drama of a bigger scale."

He said MONUC would be ready to absorb the forces of Mr. Nkunda in "brassage," its retraining programme for ex-combatants to form a part of integrated FARDC brigades. "The decision to send 500 men for brassage was made by Nkunda, but unfortunately it has not been carried out on the ground," he said. "We are ready to fully engage in this process."
2007-10-11 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON URGES RESTRAINT BY ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA AS TENSIONS RISE

BAN KI-MOON URGES RESTRAINT BY ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA AS TENSIONS RISE
New York, Oct 11 2007 3:00PM
Voicing his concern at escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the two East African neighbours to show maximum restraint and abide by the accords that ended their border war seven years ago.

Of particular concern are "recent shooting incidents, as well as the building up of military forces in the border area," according to a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sgsm11215.doc.htm">statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson.

The Secretary-General called on the two countries to exercise "utmost restraint," maintain their commitment to the Algiers Agreements – the pacts which ended the border war in 2000 – and preserve the integrity of the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ), where the UN has deployed a peacekeeping mission known as UNMEE.

He also urged them to facilitate the implementation of the decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) regarding the demarcation of their border. In 2002 the Commission handed down a final and binding decision awarding Badme, the town that triggered fighting between the two countries from 1998 to 2000, to Eritrea.
2007-10-11 00:00:00.000

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SUDANESE DEPORTATION OF ETHIOPIAN REFUGEES DRAWS CRITICISM FROM UN AGENCY

SUDANESE DEPORTATION OF ETHIOPIAN REFUGEES DRAWS CRITICISM FROM UN AGENCY
New York, Oct 11 2007 2:00PM
The United Nations refugee agency today condemned the recent deportation of at least 15 Ethiopian refugees by the authorities in Sudan, calling it a breach of the country's international legal obligations.

Sudanese officials handed over the refugees to Ethiopian authorities at the Metema border crossing, about 500 kilometres southeast of Khartoum, on 27 September, but the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/470e4b092.html">UNHCR) said in a statement issued in Geneva that it had only learned of the deportations this week.

UNHCR said information it had received so far indicated that the deportees are part of a group of more than 30 Ethiopian refugees arrested by Sudanese authorities in early July in Khartoum and in Damazine, the capital of Blue Nile state.

The Sudanese Government has not responded yet to UNHCR's repeated appeals on the refugees, and UNHCR said it fears the remaining Ethiopians in the group are in jail and could also face deportation.

Under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, refoulement – or forcibly returning individuals to their country of origin where they could face persecution – is prohibited.

"UNHCR urges the Government to abide by this important principle of international law, which is also an integral part of Sudan's National Interim Constitution," the agency said. "UNHCR also urges authorities to abstain from any further deportations."

After a separate case of refoulement to Ethiopia in early August, the Sudanese Government had assured UNHCR that it would not do this again.
2007-10-11 00:00:00.000

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GLOBAL EDUCATION SPENDING CONCENTRATED IN FEW COUNTRIES - UNESCO REPORT

GLOBAL EDUCATION SPENDING CONCENTRATED IN FEW COUNTRIES – UNESCO REPORT
New York, Oct 11 2007 1:00PM
A new publication by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) <" http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=40049&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">shows that global spending on education is concentrated in just a few countries, with the education budget of a single country like France or Italy outweighing education spending across all of sub-Saharan Africa.

Produced by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the <" http://www.uis.unesco.org/template/pdf/ged/2007/EN_web2.pdf">report finds that sub-Saharan African countries – home to 15 per cent of the school-age population – spend only 2.4 per cent of global education resources.

By contrast, the United States spends 28 per cent of the global education budget although only 4 per cent of the world's children and young people live there. The report attributes this to the large numbers of university students and the relatively high costs of tertiary education.

With a public education budget nearly equal to that of all of the Arab, Central and Eastern European, Central Asian, Latin American and the Caribbean, South and West Asian and sub-Saharan African regions combined, the US is in fact the single largest investor in education, according to the report.

Although public spending is a major source of education funding, many countries, particularly less developed ones, rely on households and communities to cover education expenses such as tuition, textbooks, uniforms and teachers' salaries.

"The challenge lies in ensuring access for disadvantaged students through mechanisms like scholarships or interest-free loans," said Institute Director Hendrik van der Pol.

"But the dynamics are very different for primary and secondary education, where serious questions about equity arise," he adds. "Should governments rely on households to provide for the human right to basic education of decent quality?"

Data shows that household expenditure is highest in Nicaragua, where families assume almost half the costs of primary and secondary education.

Mr. van der Pol highlighted the need for more data on the subject. "At present, only about 60 countries can provide reliable information on private spending for education. Without more data, we will continue to underestimate the tremendous burden placed on families to send their children to school," he stated.
2007-10-11 00:00:00.000

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UN FUND TO HELP OVER 100,000 BANGLADESHI WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

UN FUND TO HELP OVER 100,000 BANGLADESHI WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
New York, Oct 11 2007 1:00PM
A new United Nations-backed development project will <" http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2007/42.htm">help nearly 120,000 Bangladeshi microentrepreneurs – 90 per cent of whom are women – expand their small enterprises and develop new ones.

The UN International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) will provide a $35 million for the nearly $60 million Finance for Enterprise Development and Employment Creation Project.

The main participants in the initiative will be current successful microcredit borrowers whose businesses are crucial for the growth of the rural economy, and the project also hopes that some 200,000 jobs for extremely poor people will be created the newly-bolstered small businesses.

"The microenterprises create vital jobs for much poorer people who live well below the poverty line and often don't have adequate housing or enough to eat," said Nigel Brett, IFAD's country programme manager for Bangladesh. "They often lack the confidence and ability to risk taking a microcredit loan to start an enterprise and would rather find employment in small local businesses."

Although the project will be national in scope, it will target rural areas. It will train microentrepreneurs to manage their businesses more effectively and teach them how to boost the value of their products throughout the market chain, from the purchase of raw materials to the sale of finished products.

IFAD has supported 24 programmes and projects benefiting 8 million households in Bangladesh to date with loans totaling $424 million. The operations have worked to improve rural small entrepreneurs' access to markets and credit and to increase women's economic opportunities.
2007-10-11 00:00:00.000

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IRAQ: UN REPORTS WIDESPREAD RIGHTS ABUSES, URGES RESPONSE MEASURES

IRAQ: UN REPORTS WIDESPREAD RIGHTS ABUSES, URGES RESPONSE MEASURES
New York, Oct 11 2007 10:00AM
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (<"http://www.uniraq.org">UNAMI) today issued a report documenting widespread human rights abuses and recommending specific measures in response, including due process for detainees, punishment for perpetrators of "honour killings," and investigations into deaths caused by private military firms operating in the country.

The eleventh Quarterly Human Rights <"http://www.uniraq.org/FileLib/misc/HR%20Report%20Apr%20Jun%202007%20EN.pdf">report does not contain casualty statistics because the mission was "unable to persuade the Government to release data" on the issue.

UNAMI states that civilians continue to be targeted by armed groups through suicide bombings, abductions and extrajudicial executions by perpetrators who make no distinctions between civilians and combatants.

Concentrated around Baghdad, the violence is also prevalent in other cities, such as Mosul and Basra, and has victimized all ethnic groups while targeting professionals, such as journalists and lawyers, according to the report, which warns that such systematic or widespread attacks against a civilian population are tantamount to crimes against humanity and violate the laws of war, and their perpetrators are subject to prosecution.

UNAMI calls on insurgent groups and armed militia to cease attacks against civilians, cease hostage taking and release those being held. It urges the Government to carry out policies aimed at vetting law enforcement personnel, and emphasizes the importance of accountability.

The report also urges the Government and State institutions to do more in ensuring better judicial oversight mechanisms for suspects arrested in the context of the ongoing Baghdad Security Plan and immediately address reports of torture in Iraqi Government facilities as well as those of Kurdistan Regional Government.

UNAMI cites recent media coverage of the Blackwater security firm and other private c
of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that relying on private military firms risks eroding the distinction between civilians and combatants.

The mission urges the United States authorities to investigate reports of deaths caused by privately hired contractors, and establish effective mechanisms for holding them accountable whenever circumstances surrounding the killings show no justifiable cause.

"All credible allegations of unlawful killings by MNF forces be thoroughly, promptly and impartially investigated, and appropriate action be taken against military personnel found to have used excessive or indiscriminate force, and that the initiation of investigations into such incidents, as well as their findings, should be made public."

The report raises concern about prolonged detention and the absence of timely processing of detainees' cases through the judicial system. The overwhelming majority of detainees interviewed by UNAMI spoke of extended delays in their initial referral to a judicial official of up to two months in many cases and lack of information on what would happen next, or where and when they would be transferred and how long they would be held. As a matter of urgency, the Government of Iraq and the judicial authorities need to take all necessary measures to address these concerns, the report says.

UNAMI also urges the MNF to observe the basic due process guarantees enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
2007-10-11 00:00:00.000

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ARMS CONTINUE TO FLOW INTO DARFUR, SECURITY COUNCIL EXPERT PANEL FINDS

ARMS CONTINUE TO FLOW INTO DARFUR, SECURITY COUNCIL EXPERT PANEL FINDS
New York, Oct 10 2007 7:00PM
The Sudanese Government and rebel groups in Darfur continue to violate the Security Council arms embargo, sending heavy weapons, small arms, ammunition and other military equipment into the war-torn region over the past year, a panel of experts set up to monitor the ban says in a new <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2007/584">report.

The panel finds that the Government has shipped arms and equipment – including military airplanes and helicopters – by air into the airports of Darfur's three provincial capitals, El Fasher, Nyala and El Geneina.

This occurred even though the Government did not submit any requests for approval or exemption to the Security Council committee set up in 2005 as part of the arms embargo, the report states, covering the period from the end of September last year to the end of August this year.

Government warplanes also made numerous offensive overflights in Darfur, and engaged in aerial bombardments, although the panel notes that the frequency of aerial attacks has declined since April.

Several non-State armed groups have also received weapons, including assault rifles, rocket launchers and anti-aircraft guns, that were bought in an unnamed country and then transported through Eritrea and later Chad to reach the rebels in Darfur, which lies on Sudan's western flank.

The panel says it is still awaiting responses from several Member States concerning that shipment, as well as other shipments to non-State armed groups.

It reiterates its earlier recommendation to expand the arms embargo to cover Sudan's entire territory and issues a fresh recommendation calling for a ban on the sale and supply of arms and related materiel to non-State armed groups located in or operating from neighbouring Chad.

Turning to the targeted financial and travel-related sanctions, the panel states that the Sudanese and Chadian Governments have failed to fully implement the resolutions relating to the ban, such as by monitoring the financial accounts of individuals named by the Council.

The panel also finds that both the Sudanese Government and Darfur's major rebel groups have impeded the peace process, whether by conducting ongoing hostilities, placing lengthy pre-conditions on participating in peace talks or by failing to disarm other groups under their control.

Several rebel groups, including the National Redemption Front (NRF) and the Minni Minawi faction of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) have also actively targeted the African Union peacekeeping mission currently operating in Darfur.

For its part, the Government had used white aircraft in many of its offensive overflights in Darfur, including in at least one instance a plane with "UN" markings.

All sides, including local Arab tribal militia, are not enforcing any accountability for breaches of the laws and rules of war, while the panel states that rape is being widely used as an instrument of warfare.
2007-10-10 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON HOLDS FIRST TALKS WITH HEAD OF GUATEMALAN PROBE INTO ARMED GROUPS

BAN KI-MOON HOLDS FIRST TALKS WITH HEAD OF GUATEMALAN PROBE INTO ARMED GROUPS
New York, Oct 10 2007 7:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has held his first talks with the head of an independent body recently set up with the help of the United Nations to investigate the presence and activities of illegal armed groups in Guatemala.

Mr. Ban met with Carlos Castresana Fernández at UN Headquarters in New York yesterday, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

Mr. Castresana told the Secretary-General that the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (known by its Spanish initials as CICIG) is still in its preparatory phase and is likely to start operating by the beginning of January next year.

Ms. Montas said Mr. Ban voiced his full support for the work of the Commission and thanked Mr. Castresana for accepting the post.
CICIG was established under an agreement between the UN and the Guatemalan Government that came into effect on 4 September. An independent, non-UN body, the Commission will be able to conduct its own investigations and also help local institutions, particularly the Office of the Public Prosecutor.
One of the Commission's tasks is to recommend public policies and any legal or institutional measures for eradicating illegal armed groups and preventing their re-emergence. The costs are expected to be borne by voluntary contributions from the international community.
Over three decades of conflict in Guatemala ended with the signing of peace accords in December of 1996, but concern has been mounting in recent years that illegal security groups and clandestine security organizations have continued to operate with impunity, conducting criminal activities and violating human rights.
2007-10-10 00:00:00.000

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DISASTER RISK REDUCTION HAS NEVER BEEN MORE PRESSING, SAYS BAN KI-MOON

DISASTER RISK REDUCTION HAS NEVER BEEN MORE PRESSING, SAYS BAN KI-MOON
New York, Oct 10 2007 6:00PM
With recent calamities such as floods, storms, and droughts serving as a reminder of the devastating effects of natural hazards, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says the need to engage fully in disaster risk reduction has never been more pressing.

"We have a moral, social and economic obligation to act now in building resilient communities and nations," Mr. Ban states in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11192.doc.htm">message marking the International Day for Disaster Reduction, observed annually on 10 October.

Declaring that "disaster reduction is everybody's business," he urges governments, civil society and the private sector, international financial institutions and other international organizations to invest in disaster reduction.

Mr. Ban also cites the importance of stepping up implementation of the Hyogo Framework – a plan of action adopted by States nearly three years ago to reduce vulnerability to natural hazards.

Disaster reduction is about stronger building codes, sound land-use planning, better early warning systems, environmental management and evacuation plans and, above all, education, he states.

"It is about making communities and individuals aware of their risk to natural hazards and how they can reduce their vulnerability," the Secretary-General adds.

Last year the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (<"http://www.unisdr.org/">ISDR) launched a global awareness campaign entitled "Disaster risk reduction begins at schools," which emphasizes the key role that education can play in teaching children about the hazards that they face around their communities.

Sálvano Briceño, Director of the ISDR Secretariat, noted that children are among the most vulnerable groups in society to disasters. However, success stories from the campaign show that children can play an active part in disaster risk reduction.

On the occasion of the International Day, the ISDR has issued a new publication – entitled "Towards a Culture of Prevention: Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School" – which provides 35 practical examples of how to improve school safety.

"Too many children are dying because they are not educated to live with disasters or because they are attending classes in unsafe buildings. Making schools safer must be the priority of every government in a disaster-prone country," Mr. Briceño said.
2007-10-10 00:00:00.000

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PREVENTING MASS ATROCITIES 'SACRED CALLING' FOR UN AND THE WORLD - BAN KI-MOON

PREVENTING MASS ATROCITIES 'SACRED CALLING' FOR UN AND THE WORLD – BAN KI-MOON
New York, Oct 10 2007 6:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for the entire United Nations system to be empowered to shoulder the responsibility of preventing mass atrocities, which he deemed one of the "most sacred callings" of the world body and the international community.

"We must bring all our resources to bear: early warning, technical assistance, peacemaking, diplomacy, and, if ultimately necessary, military strength," he said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11212.doc.htm">message to a conference on the prevention of atrocities, organized by the UN University and the International Crisis Group, in New York.

The Secretary-General noted that the UN has not always lived up to this task. "The killing fields of Rwanda, Cambodia and the Balkans stand silent witness to the brutality that passed unchecked by an international system lacking both the will and the vision to act," Mr. Ban said.

Stating that "we can, and we must, do better," he emphasized the need to work with Member States to give real meaning to the promise that is the Responsibility to Protect, a concept enshrined in the 2005 Outcome Document adopted by leaders from across the world attending the UN summit. Sometimes referred to as "R2P," the doctrine holds States responsible for protecting their own populations – and the international community for doing so if States fail to live up to the obligations.

The Secretary-General added that by examining how the UN acts to prevent mass atrocities, the conference can help the world body improve its functioning and streamline its response.

"Indeed, I hope that your guidance can help ensure that the United Nations is never again found wanting in the face of the gravest crimes against humanity," he said.

In May, Mr. Ban appointed Sudanese diplomat Francis Deng as his Special Representative for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities with the mandate of collecting information on serious violations of human rights that could lead to genocide and to bring potential genocidal situations to the attention of the Security Council.

More recently, the Secretary-General has informed the Council of his intention to appoint Professor Edward Luck to the newly created position of Special Adviser for the Responsibility to Protect.
2007-10-10 00:00:00.000

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NEW UN SURVEY REVEALS SURGE IN MYANMAR'S OPIUM PRODUCTION

NEW UN SURVEY REVEALS SURGE IN MYANMAR'S OPIUM PRODUCTION
New York, Oct 10 2007 5:00PM
A report released today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (<"http://www.unodc.org/unodc/press_release_2007_10_10_7.html">UNODC) shows that while a decades-long eradication drive had slashed opium production in South-East Asia, cultivation in Myanmar has risen by nearly 30 per cent this year.

Presenting the 2007 <"http://www.unodc.org/pdf/research/icmp/south_east_asia_report_2007_web.pdf">report on opium cultivation in South-East Asia, UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa said that while the so-called Golden Triangle – comprising Laos, Myanmar and Thailand – is no longer a major supplier of opium, the situation in Myanmar is "extremely alarming."

Thailand has been opium-free for almost 20 years and Laos has cut opium production by 94 per cent in less than a decade, according to the report.

At the same time, opium cultivation rose by 29 per cent – and production by 46 per cent – in 2007 in Myanmar, thereby solidifying the country's position as the world's second largest opium producer after Afghanistan.

The report revealed that opium cultivation is highly concentrated in one area of the Myanmar, namely South and East Shan states, which accounts for 90 per cent of all opium grown in the country, Mr. Costa said.

In addition, there has been a "dangerous switch" in drug production away from opium to a significant increase in methamphetamines which lead to greater profits than that generated by opium.

He called for strengthening controls to prevent precursors from getting into Myanmar and for more forceful anti-corruption measures.

It is also important for the international community to assist farmers so they can find alternative sources of income and thus abandon opium production, he added.
2007-10-10 00:00:00.000

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CLIMATE CHANGE THE FOCUS OF SECRETARY-GENERAL'S TRIP TO WASHINGTON

CLIMATE CHANGE THE FOCUS OF SECRETARY-GENERAL'S TRIP TO WASHINGTON
New York, Oct 10 2007 5:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will head tomorrow to Washington for meetings that will focus on the perils of climate change and the importance of achieving the anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs).

United Nations spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters that the Secretary-General will meet with chief executive officers at the United States Chamber of Commerce to discuss climate change issues.

The same subject will be on the agenda when Mr. Ban gives the keynote address later tomorrow to an event organized by the National Association of Evangelicals.

He is also expected to discuss the need to meet the MDGs, which world leaders agreed at a UN summit in 2000 to strive to achieve by 2015.

Ms. Montas said that on Friday the Secretary-General will meet with members of the US Peace Corps before returning to UN Headquarters in New York.
2007-10-10 00:00:00.000

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SENIOR UN OFFICIAL IN HAITI URGES ACTION TO PREVENT SEXUAL ABUSE

SENIOR UN OFFICIAL IN HAITI URGES ACTION TO PREVENT SEXUAL ABUSE
New York, Oct 10 2007 4:00PM
A senior official serving with the United Nations peacekeeping operation in Haiti (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minustah/">MINUSTAH) has called for action to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel.

Speaking to participants at a UN-run workshop on the issue yesterday, the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative, Luiz Carlos da Costa, stressed that sexual exploitation and abuse constitutes a serious breach that can result in instant dismissal.

Addressing the problem is an essential issue for the UN, he said, emphasizing the need for all UN personnel to display exemplary conduct.

"All those who, under the banner of the United Nations, work in Haiti have a mission to help the country to advance on the road to peace and progress," he said. "We therefore have an essential role based on trust, and are expected to live up to a high standard of behaviour."

Mr. da Costa said it is "completely unacceptable that certain individuals betray this trust" by committing acts of sexual exploitation or abuse, or by overlooking them.

Mary Anne Martin, who specializes in discipline issues, led Tuesday's workshop, which included the participation of senior UN officials, other staff, and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGO) and UN agencies.

The aim was to lay the groundwork for preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, including the use of prostitutes, and came as part of the UN's overall "zero-tolerance" policy on the issue.

Ms. Martin emphasized the need to look at the problem comprehensively and define strategies which are best suited to address it. She called for participants to focus their attention on understanding the circumstances which give rise to misconduct to formulate appropriate responses.

MINUSTAH, in line with the overall UN policy, has taken steps to combat the problem, including by having a conduct and discipline unit related to the Office of the Secretary-General's Special Representative.
2007-10-10 00:00:00.000

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DR CONGO: UN WORKS TO HELP DISPLACED AS VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN NORTH KIVU

DR CONGO: UN WORKS TO HELP DISPLACED AS VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN NORTH KIVU
New York, Oct 10 2007 4:00PM
The United Nations peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is rushing aid to displaced people fleeing their homes in the country's troubled North Kivu region, while putting in place contingency plans to help those affected by the fighting.

Kemal Saiki, a spokesman for the UN mission, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/monuc/index.html">MONUC, told reporters in Kinshasa today that the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP) dispatched a team from Goma to deliver 100 tons of supplies to its non-governmental organization partners and to conduct a quick assessment of the situation of displaced people.

Displaced Congolese have reportedly been pouring out of the area since the start of September.

Escorted by MONUC, the WFP convoy travelled to Karuba where families were found escaping the fighting on foot in the direction of Goma.
In Goma, the WFP proceeded to unload supplies to feed 18,800 displaced people in Kitembo and Minova. But clashes in Shasa forced the agency to suspend the departure of the trucks headed for Kitembo and Minova.

WFP has voiced concern about the fate of approximately 150,000 displaced people in Masisi, Rutshuru and Kalehe. Most have been displaced for more than six months, and have not received food aid since August.

In North Kivu, MONUC and the humanitarian community are currently working on the coordination of a contingency plan to be able to best protect and help people affected by fighting in the province, Mr. Saiki said.

Meanwhile in Ituri, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process continues, with a total of 1,700 disarmed fighters laying down their arms, including 570 from the Revolutionary Congolese Movement (MRC), 270 from the Nationalistic and Integrationist Forces (FNI) and 870 from the Forces of Patriotic Resistance in Ituri (FRPI).

The DDR programme is expected to end this week, according to MONUC, which is working with the Congolese Army to prompt the groups to disarm.
2007-10-10 00:00:00.000

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LAND PROBLEMS DELAYING ROLL-OUT OF UN PEACE MISSION IN DARFUR - BAN KI-MOON

LAND PROBLEMS DELAYING ROLL-OUT OF UN PEACE MISSION IN DARFUR – BAN KI-MOON
New York, Oct 10 2007 4:00PM
The timeline for implementing the hybrid United Nations-African Union peacekeeping operation in Darfur is being delayed because of difficulties in obtaining land to house the mission offices and staff accommodations and problems relating to the list of troop-contributing countries, says Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

In his latest progress <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2007/596">report on the mission, which is known as UNAMID, Mr. Ban writes that the UN is waiting for feedback from the Sudanese Government on the list of troop-contributing countries.

"It is of critical importance that the Government extend the support and cooperation necessary to resolve the issues pertaining to land, landing rights for United Nations aircraft and the finalization of the list of troop-contributing countries for UNAMID," he says.

The Security Council authorized the creation of UNAMID earlier this year to try to quell the violence in Darfur, where more than 200,000 people have been killed and at least 2.2 million others forced to flee their homes since 2003 because of fighting between rebels, Government forces and allied Janjaweed militia.

Later this month, the UN and AU are co-convening peace negotiations in neighbouring Libya between the Sudanese Government and the rebels to try to reach a political solution to the conflict.

In his report Mr. Ban expresses concern about the continuing violence across Darfur, particularly the recent spike in attacks, which he warns "is not contributing to an atmosphere conducive to the peace talks" in Libya.

He also voices concern about the fragmentation of the rebel groups and their lack of unity ahead of the Libya talks, adding that is paramount that all parties enter the negotiation process well prepared and seriously committed to trying to reach a final settlement to the conflict as soon as possible.
2007-10-10 00:00:00.000

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DARFUR: UN ENVOY HOLDS TALKS IN KHARTOUM TO PREPARE FOR PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

DARFUR: UN ENVOY HOLDS TALKS IN KHARTOUM TO PREPARE FOR PEACE NEGOTIATIONS
New York, Oct 10 2007 4:00PM
The United Nations Special Envoy for Darfur held talks today with senior officials from the Sudanese Government and neighbouring countries to finalize preparations for major peace negotiations later this month that will try to end the conflict that has ravaged the region in western Sudan since 2003.

Jan Eliasson met with Sudanese presidential adviser and chief negotiator Nafie Ali Nafie in the capital, Khartoum, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

The negotiations, which are scheduled to take place in Libya on 27 October, are designed to find a solution to the conflict between rebels, Government forces and allied Janjaweed militia groups. Mr. Eliasson and his African Union counterpart Salim Ahmed Salim will convene those talks.

Ms. Montas said Mr. Eliasson also chaired a high-level meeting today with representatives of the regional partners to the talks, including Ali Triki, Libya's Minister for African Affairs.

During his current visit to the region Mr. Eliasson has also met the leaders of some Darfurian Arab tribes to brief them on the preparations. Earlier this week in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Mr. Salim and Mr. Eliasson co-chaired a two-day meeting with the Joint AU-UN Mediation Support Team.

More than 200,000 people have been killed and another 2.2 million forced to flee their homes across Darfur, an arid and impoverished region, because of fighting that has raged since 2003. Some 4 million Darfurians now depend on humanitarian aid.

Earlier this year the Security Council authorized the creation of a hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force (known as UNAMID) to try to quell the violence. The operation is scheduled to take over from the existing AU mission by the start of next year.

Mr. Eliasson's meetings this week are taking place amid mounting concern from senior UN officials about the recent spike in violence in Darfur, particularly in South Darfur state.

The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) reported that on Monday about 6,000 villagers and internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in and around the South Darfur town of Muhajariya fled to the north of the settlement to seek refuge at an AU mission site after an attack between a faction of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and tribal militia.

Other residents fled to neighbouring villages and countryside, leaving Muhajariya – which had an estimated population of 20,000 – deserted. A large number of homes and several shops in the local market were burned to the ground.

The mission said reports indicate that tens of civilians were killed or wounded or have gone missing. The UN has relocated 29 staff members of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to the state capital of Nyala.
2007-10-10 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON CONCERNED BY 'SLACKENING OF MOMENTUM' IN IVORIAN PEACE PROCESS

BAN KI-MOON CONCERNED BY 'SLACKENING OF MOMENTUM' IN IVORIAN PEACE PROCESS
New York, Oct 10 2007 3:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has warned that the failure to achieve key benchmarks set out in a March peace agreement has led to a "slackening of momentum" which threatens the overall peace process and security conditions in Côte d'Ivoire.

In his latest <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2007/593">report to the Security Council on the work of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unoci/index.html">UNOCI), Mr. Ban says the overall peace process and the improved security situation "will remain fragile and vulnerable to reversals" unless it is underpinned by concrete progress in carrying out the accord reached between the country's rival political leaders.

The Ouagadougou agreement, struck in the capital of neighbouring Burkina Faso, sets out a series of measures to deal with the crisis which first divided Côte d'Ivoire between the Government-controlled south and the rebel Forces Nouvelles-held north in 2002.

They include creating a new transitional government; organizing free and fair presidential elections; merging the Forces Nouvelles and the national defence and security forces through the establishment of an integrated command centre; dismantling the militias and disarming ex-combatants; and replacing the so-called zone of confidence separating north and south with a green line to be monitored by UNOCI.

In his report, Mr. Ban notes that difficulties in unifying the army have delayed the disarmament programme and the redeployment of State administration throughout the country. This, in turn, has placed serious strains on preparations for general elections, including a nationwide identification scheme. In addition, he views the continuing human rights abuses as "extremely disturbing."

He stresses the need to adhere to the timelines in the agreement relating to these tasks and calls on President Laurent Gbagbo and Prime Minister Guillaume Soro to "give added impetus" to making concrete progress.

Specifically, he calls for reverting to specific timelines, providing requisite resources to the integrated command centre and mixed units, resolving the military ranks issue, unifying the two forces, dismantling the militias and achieving disarmament, and rendering the new National Human Rights Commission operational.

Since the country's international partners have provided funding for carrying out the agreement, he emphasizes that "the onus is now on the Government of Cote d'Ivoire to do its part and accelerate the implementation process."

Despite a June attack on an aircraft carrying Prime Minister Soro, the Secretary-General describes the general security situation as calm. At the request of President Gbagbo for an independent international inquiry into the attack, Mr. Ban dispatched an exploratory mission to the country earlier this month.
2007-10-10 00:00:00.000

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PEACEBUILDING BODY SHOWS PROGRESS BUT NEEDS MORE SUPPORT - ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT

PEACEBUILDING BODY SHOWS PROGRESS BUT NEEDS MORE SUPPORT – ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT
New York, Oct 10 2007 1:00PM
The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, set up to prevent countries that have emerged from conflict from sliding back into war, has achieved solid results since it began operations just over a year ago but needs more international support to boost its impact on the ground, the President of the General Assembly said today.

"We all have a duty to ensure that the <"http://www.un.org/peace/peacebuilding/">Peacebuilding Commission works well – that the decision to create it is translated into practical action for the well-being of millions of people trapped in post-conflict situations," Srgjan Kerim said at the opening of the Assembly's first debate on the body it created in December 2005.

The Peacebuilding Commission brings together key actors, including international donors, international financial institutions, national governments from focus countries, troop contributor countries, UN bodies and civil society representatives, to promote a common approach to helping a country emerge from conflict.

The Commission has "made a good start," the President said, while cautioning that "this is just the beginning of a longer process."

Looking ahead, he said the Commission should continue to refine its strategies, develop its advocacy role, and become more effective at marshalling resources.

"The main challenge now facing the Commission is to maximize its impact on the ground," he stressed, calling for the $250 million target for the Peacebuilding Fund, a multi-year standing trust fund that has so far collected deposits worth almost $144 million from donor countries, to be reached.

"The evidence shows that half of countries that emerge from conflict will lapse back into violence within five years," Mr. Kerim said. "To break this vicious cycle it is critical that the international community provide sustained practical support and resources to assist national efforts."

In its first year, the Commission focused on Burundi and Sierra Leone. Currently, Dutch Ambassador Frank Majoor, who chairs the Peacebuilding Commission's Sierra Leone meetings on that country, is in Freetown for talks with officials and a first-hand look at conditions there.
2007-10-10 00:00:00.000

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UN ENVOY CALLS ON NEPALESE TO TURN ELECTION DELAY TO THEIR ADVANTAGE

UN ENVOY CALLS ON NEPALESE TO TURN ELECTION DELAY TO THEIR ADVANTAGE
New York, Oct 10 2007 1:00PM
Nepal's political parties should use the delay to the holding of Constituent Assembly elections to bolster the peace process by tackling its weaknesses and agreeing on a road map for ensuring that credible polls can take place, the senior United Nations official in the Himalayan country said today.

Ian Martin, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, told a press conference in Kathmandu, the capital, that the postponement should not be viewed as a disaster, but as an opportunity for the political parties, civil society and other Nepalese to try to bridge their differences and work more closely together.

"This requires dialogue not only among the seven parties [in the interim Government], but with marginalized groups, civil society and all democratic forces," he said.

The elections were to be held on 22 November, but last week the interim Government announced that they were being delayed because of ongoing disputes between the Seven-Party Alliance and the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M).

Once elected, the Constituent Assembly will draft a new constitution for Nepal, where an estimated 13,000 people were killed during the decade-long civil conflict that came to a formal end when the Government and the Maoists signed a peace accord late last year.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council have both voiced disappointment at the delay and its impact on the political aspirations of the Nepalese.

Mr. Martin added today that there needs to be greater cooperation at the local level to ensure more effective governance and public security and reduce communal tensions, a renewed commitment by all to non-violent and democratic political activity, an independent monitoring of peace process commitments, and a concerted effort to address the future of Maoist combatants and the security sector.

"The United Nations is playing and will play the roles that are asked of it," he said, stressing the importance of the Seven-Party Alliance sticking together.

Asked by a reporter about who deserved blame for the election postponement, the Special Representative said: "It's not for the UN to blame anyone and indeed I hope that others, the political parties, will concentrate not so much on deciding who is to blame as on deciding what is to be done now, and, as I said, sustaining their Alliance in order to go forward."

Mr. Martin said he believed "the current crisis has come about… as a reflection of deeper differences in perception and approach, and as a result of weaknesses in the overall management of the peace process."

He cited the lack of progress within the Government in discussing the future of Maoist combatants, ensuring adequate commitments in the cantonments and starting serious talks on security sector reform as all contributing to Maoist concern that the Government is not fulfilling its commitments.

The reluctance of the Maoists to ensure that its Young Communist League stops using intimidation and violence is eroding public confidence in the CPN-M's willingness to enter a democratic process.

"Meanwhile, many of Nepal's traditionally marginalized groups remain concerned that commitments made to them are not being fulfilled. There is frustration by all communities in the Terai, and indeed across Nepal, about the poor state of public security… and without greater cooperation among the parties and civil society at the local level, the risk of communal tension and violence remains considerable."
2007-10-10 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON CALLS FOR SCALING UP RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

BAN KI-MOON CALLS FOR SCALING UP RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
New York, Oct 10 2007 12:00PM
More than 60 per cent of people globally who suffer from mental disorders are not receiving treatment, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, urging an increase in resources devoted to mental health care.

"We have a pressing obligation to scale up care and services for mental disorders, especially among the disadvantaged, while stepping up efforts to protect the human rights of those affected," Mr. Ban said in his <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11193.doc.htm">message for <"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/2007/world_mental_health_day/en/index.html">World Mental Health Day, observed each year on 10 October.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most middle and low-income countries devote less than 1 per cent of their health expenditure to mental health.

The agency defines mental health as a state of well-being in which individuals can cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and is able to contribute to the community.

Mental disorders comprise a wide range of problems with different symptoms but are generally characterized by some combination of abnormal thoughts, emotions, behaviour and relationships with others, says WHO.

Touching on this year's theme for the Day which focuses on the impact of culture and diversity on mental health, Mr. Ban noted that in today's culturally interconnected world, people are competing for the same resources as they struggle to maintain their own cultures or fit into new ones.

"Dislocation from native communities, rejection by the host community and difficulties in adapting to the cultural norms of the host society are intensely stressful, and can contribute to mental illness in those who are vulnerable," he stated. This makes it all the more important to develop "culturally competent mental health care services."

The challenges in this regard include the fact that resources for mental health are "scarce," Mr. Ban said, adding that the treatment gap – the proportion of those who need but do not receive care – is more than 60 per cent.

In addition, the rate of mental disorders and the need for care is highest among disadvantaged people, who are also the groups with the lowest access to appropriate services. The fear of stigma leads many to avoid seeking care, he added.

As to how culture and diversity influence many aspects of mental health, he observed that culture not only determines what is seen as "normal" and "abnormal" within a given society, but it also affects how individuals manifest and communicate symptoms, styles of coping, family and community support and willingness to seek treatment.

To overcome these barriers, he advocated approaches that incorporate cultural backgrounds and beliefs, address language barriers and create culturally sensitive forms of dialogue, as well as incorporating cultural sensitivity in training, social policy and service provision.
2007-10-10 00:00:00.000

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UN OPENS 'CARBON-NEUTRAL' ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE IN BELGRADE

UN OPENS 'CARBON-NEUTRAL' ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE IN BELGRADE
New York, Oct 10 2007 10:00AM
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), which services the Environment for Europe Conference that <"http://www.unece.org/env/efe/wgso/Belgrade/welcome.html">opened today in Belgrade, is working to cancel the event's effects on global warming by funding projects that offset emissions of greenhouses gases.

UNECE has asked the CarbonNeutral Company to identify possible renewable energy projects, being funded by the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union, that would result an equivalent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

"Ministers and other high-level representatives will discuss environmental policy, including measures to tackle global warming. But they will not have contributed to climate change by meeting in Belgrade," the Commission said in a news release.

Preliminary estimates show that the Conference will emit about 3,000 tons of greenhouse gases, not only through air travel but also local transport, energy consumed and waste generated.

"Making the Conference carbon neutral is also intended to raise public awareness of how individuals and others can take responsibility for the greenhouse gases emitted as a result of their daily activities," UNECE said.

Addressing the Conference's opening session, UNECE Executive Secretary Marek Belka, said challenges in the region include "environment-related health concerns caused by poor air quality; inadequate water supply and drinking water quality; soil degradation; risks posed by hazardous chemicals; adverse impacts of climate change; continuing biodiversity loss; overuse of marine resources; and the current unsustainable patterns of production and consumption."

He emphasized the need for an economic development model which would save environmental resources on a sustainable basis and which would be accompanied by various forms of cooperation for sharing the transition costs.

"The costs of reversing environmental degradation later on are always lar
all environmental degradation is reversible," he said.

2007-10-10 00:00:00.000

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RECOVERY EFFORT IN QUAKE-HIT PARTS OF PAKISTAN CAN SERVE AS MODEL -- UN-HABITAT

RECOVERY EFFORT IN QUAKE-HIT PARTS OF PAKISTAN CAN SERVE AS MODEL -- UN-HABITAT
New York, Oct 10 2007 8:00AM
Two years a devastating earthquake in Pakistan Administered Kashmir, UN-HABITAT said the reconstruction effort, which has included the rebuilding of more than 150,000 houses in a manner that makes them more resilient to future shocks, can serve as a model for other response efforts.

In order to "re-build smarter and safer" following the disaster, UN-HABITAT helped to establish a dozen housing reconstruction centers in the quake zone in Pakistan Administered Kashmir and North Western Frontier Province.

The agency also helped train over 12,000 people to run the centres and ensure that new homes and buildings are more resistant to seismic activity and better adapted to cold weather conditions.

At a recent ceremony in Islamabad, officials from the agency described this as "one of the world's most successful reconstruction operations ? and a model for the response to future disasters," UN-HABITAT said in a news release.

The agency's Executive Director, Anna Tibaijuka, emphasized the importance of adopting early warning systems to prepare and reduce the impact of disasters. "This could contribute towards safeguarding livelihoods, human settlements and associated basic services, which are easily destroyed when such disasters strike," she said.

During post reconstruction "special attention should be paid to women's secure tenure, rights to land and adequate housing," she added.

The earthquake in Pakistan claimed more than 75,000 lives, including them some 17,000 children killed in collapsing schools, and left more than 3 million homeless, according to the Nairobi-based agency.

2007-10-10 00:00:00.000

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CHILDREN MUST BETTER EDUCATED TO MINIMIZE DISASTER RISKS - UN

CHILDREN MUST BETTER EDUCATED TO MINIMIZE DISASTER RISKS – UN
New York, Oct 9 2007 6:00PM
On the eve of the International Day for Disaster Reduction, a top United Nations official today stressed the necessity of improving children's disaster preparedness and bolstering their safety in the classroom.

"Too many children are dying because they are not educated to live with disasters or because they are attending classes in unsafe buildings. Making schools safer must be the priority of every government in a disaster-prone country," said Sálvano Briceño, Director of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (<"http://www.unisdr.org/">ISDR).

"Disaster risk reduction has no cost compared to the loss of a school full of children buried alive in a mudslide or crushed by a falling building."

Speaking to reporters in New York, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes said that the Day is especially timely since "more people are threatened by these natural hazards and disasters and extreme weather events than at any time in history."

In the past three decades, the number of disasters triggered by natural hazards – increasingly a result of climate change – has tripled, he said.

"The number of people affected has roughly been doubling every ten years, and that's a trend which is now accelerating, and this means in effect that five times more people are likely to be affected in any one year than a generation ago."

The ISDR today issued a new publication – entitled "Towards a Culture of Prevention: Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School" – which gives 35 practical examples of how to improve school safety.

Good examples of projects to prepare children for natural hazards can be found in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mozambique, Costa Rica, France Madagascar, the Philippines, Iran, Tanzania and Peru, while India, Japan and Nepal's safety initiatives can be replicated globally.

"Teaching our children today is empowering the next generation to address disaster risk more effectively tomorrow," Mr. Briceño said.

To introduce children to basic concepts in disaster risk reduction, the French, Spanish, Chinese and Russian language versions of "Stop Disaster," an online game, were launched today.

In the game, which was released in English last year, players are presented with disaster scenarios and must reduce its risk with a given budget.

ISDR's efforts to educate children are part of its larger "Disaster Risk Education Begins at School" campaign focusing on improving the safety of school buildings and integrating disaster risk reduction into school curricula.

The campaign kicked off last year with the support of UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the non-governmental organization (NGO) ActionAid International and other partners.

To commemorate the Day, ISDR is convening a roundtable discussion in Geneva to identify how to build on the campaign's results.

Other events celebrating the Day will take place in Brussels, Belgium; Kobe, Japan; Bangkok, Thailand; Dushanbe, Tajikistan; and Panama.
2007-10-09 00:00:00.000

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TWO FORMER MILITIA LEADERS JAILED BY UN-BACKED TRIBUNAL IN SIERRA LEONE

TWO FORMER MILITIA LEADERS JAILED BY UN-BACKED TRIBUNAL IN SIERRA LEONE
New York, Oct 9 2007 6:00PM
The United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone (<"http://www.sc-sl.org/">SCSL) today <"http://www.sc-sl.org/Press/pressrelease-100907.pdf">sentenced two former leaders of a pro-Government militia to jail over war crimes they committed during the country's prolonged civil war in the 1990s.

Moinina Fofana, who was convicted on 2 August on charges of murder, cruel treatment, pillage and collective punishments, was given a six-year prison term by the SCSL, which sits in the capital, Freetown.

Allieu Kondewa, who was convicted on the same charges and also on a count of recruiting child combatants, received an eight-year sentence.

At the trials, prosecutors said Mr. Fofana served as National Director of War for the Civil Defence Forces (CDF) while Mr. Kondewa acted as the militia's "High Priest." The case against a third accused CDF leader, Sam Hinga Norman, ended after he died in February.

During Sierra Leone's civil war the CDF, comprised of various tribally-based traditional hunters, supported the Government against rebel groups, including the Revolutionary United Front and the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC).

Prosecutors had asked for longer terms of imprisonment for Mr. Fofana and Mr. Kondewa but Justice Benjamin Itoe, the presiding judge, said today that several mitigating factors meant shorter terms were warranted.

These included the efforts of the CDF to restore the democratically elected government of Sierra Leone, which the court said had contributing to re-establishing the rule of law in the West African nation.

The SCSL is mandated to try those bearing the greatest responsibility for serious violations of international humanitarian and Sierra Leonean law within the country's borders since 30 November 1996. It is the second international war crimes tribunal established in Africa.
2007-10-09 00:00:00.000

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DARFUR: UN ENVOY MEETS SUDANESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AHEAD OF PEACE TALKS

DARFUR: UN ENVOY MEETS SUDANESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AHEAD OF PEACE TALKS
New York, Oct 9 2007 5:00PM
The United Nations Special Envoy for Darfur is in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, for talks with Government officials, civil society groups and other players ahead of major peace negotiations later this month that will try to end the conflict that has torn apart the impoverished region.

Jan Eliasson, who will convene those negotiations with his African Union counterpart, Salim Ahmed Salim, returned to Khartoum for the meetings this week, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York today.

The negotiations, which are scheduled to take place in neighbouring Libya on 27 October, are designed to find a solution to the conflict between rebels, Government forces and allied Janjaweed militia groups.

More than 200,000 people have been killed and another 2.2 million forced to flee their homes because of fighting that has raged since 2003. Some 4 million Darfurians now depend on humanitarian aid.

Earlier this year the Security Council authorized the creation of a hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force (known as UNAMID) to try to quell the violence. The operation is scheduled to take over from the existing AU mission by the start of next year.

This week's talks in Khartoum are taking place amid mounting concern from senior UN officials about the recent spike in violence in Darfur, particularly in South Darfur state.

The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) said it has received reports that the Minni Minawi faction of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) clashed yesterday around the South Darfur town of Muhajariya with forces suspected to be tribal militia. There is no word so far on the number of casualties.
2007-10-09 00:00:00.000

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