AT START OF LANDMARK DARFUR TALKS, TOP UN OFFICIALS URGE DIALOGUE TO SPUR PEACE

AT START OF LANDMARK DARFUR TALKS, TOP UN OFFICIALS URGE DIALOGUE TO SPUR PEACE
New York, Oct 27 2007 6:00PM
At the start of historic United Nations-backed talks to bring peace to Sudan's war-ravaged Darfur region, top officials from the world body underscored that dialogue -- not war -- is the only means to find a sustainable and comprehensive solution to the crisis.

"This will neither be easy nor will it be necessarily quick," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said to the delegates gathered in Sirte, Libya, in a message delivered by Jan Eliasson, his Special Envoy. "Painful compromises will need to be made by all sides."

However, he stressed that "violence has continued for far too long, and further delays would be dangerous," adding that the current state of affairs could deteriorate rapidly.

Mr. Eliasson also underlined that "choosing dialogue and negotiations over war and confrontation is our only option. There is no military solution to the crisis of Darfur."

Reminding participants that more than a year has elapsed since the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) was signed by the Sudanese Government and part of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), the Secretary-General said the Sirte talks represent an opportunity to bring an end to the conflict in Darfur.

"The eyes of the world are on you, and hopes of the people of Darfur rest with you," Mr. Ban said. "Your responsibility and your obligation is to deliver on these expectations."

He also urged all sides to agree to an immediate cessation of hostilities to demonstrate their commitment to bring an end to the suffering of Darfurians.

Since 2003, over 200,000 people have been killed and at least 2.2 million others forced to flee their homes in the violence-wracked region because of fighting among rebels, Government forces and allied militia known as the Janjaweed.

Both officials expressed disappointment that several rebel forces are not in attendance at the landmark talks.

"To them, I wish to say that the door remains open, but that if they continue to s
"Peace is a process, and any problems or issues should be discussed in Sirte, not elsewhere. We, the international community, will stay the course."

Emphasizing that the responsibility for bringing peace to Darfur lies with the leaders and people of the region, Mr. Eliasson encouraged those not participating in the Sirte talks to join the process.

"We understand that some of the movements' representatives need time to consult among yourselves in order to finalize your positions. We know there are efforts on-going to unify your movements," he said.

Nevertheless, all sides must "be held accountable for their decisions," the Special Envoy noted.

"There are those who may want to harm the process. We must not fall into this trap. We must all work together to chart the road to peace."

The Sirte talks are being chaired by Mr. Eliasson and his African Union (AU) counterpart, Salim Ahmed Salim.

Earlier this week, the Security Council issued a presidential statement calling on all parties to engage fully and constructively in the talks and to first agree to a cessation of hostilities.

"The Council underlines its willingness to take action against any party that seeks to undermine the peace process, including by failing to respect such a cessation of hostilities or by impeding the talks, peacekeeping or humanitarian aid," the statement noted.

It added that the 15-member body was deeply concerned about delays in the deployment of the AU-UN hybrid peacekeeping force, to be known as UNAMID, and urged Member States to make available the aviation and ground transport units still required for the mission.
2007-10-27 00:00:00.000

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DPR KOREA STILL RESTRICTING BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS, SAYS UN MONITOR

DPR KOREA STILL RESTRICTING BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS, SAYS UN MONITOR
New York, Oct 26 2007 7:00PM
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has made some constructive attempts to engage with the outside world, but it remains a controlled, non-democratic State in which basic freedoms are restricted and severe food shortages are common, the United Nations human rights expert monitoring the country said today.

Vitit Muntarbhorn, the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the DPRK, told the General Assembly's social, humanitarian and cultural (third) committee that the North Asian nation's authorities repress the local population, despite a series of recent legislative improvements.

"There are continuing reports of violence… such as torture, public executions, persecutions of political dissidents and sub-standard prison conditions," he said in his statement to the committee, while noting that re-education camps and forced labour programmes also exist.

"Freedom of expression and association and access to information are impeded by the closed nature of the State and rigid State control over the information flow and media. Despite official claims that religious freedom is allowed, reports indicate the contrary. Indeed, any imputed liberalization on this front tends to be due to the lure of money."

Professor Muntarbhorn has not been allowed to visit the DPRK since he became Special Rapporteur to the country, but he said he had met staff of UN agencies operating there, travelled to several neighbouring countries, and held discussions with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and conducted interviews with refugees to build up a picture of the situation.

He said it was positive that Pyongyang is now a party to a handful of human rights treaties and recently allowed the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to visit, while progress has also been made on the Six-Party Talks concerning the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and an inter-Korean summit was held earlier this month.

But the ruling elite, including the military, continue to receive a disproportionate share of resources, creating budgetary distortions and leading to shortfalls and deprivations for the rest of the population.

That situation has worsened, he said, because of a combination of natural disasters and mismanagement in the past decade. Most recently, in August, the country was hit by devastating floods, particularly in the south, where the rice and crop basins are located.

He told reporters later that there will be severe food shortfalls inside the DPRK over the next year.

Professor Muntarbhorn also noted that civil society is increasingly agitating for senior figures in the DPRK Government to face personal responsibility for the worst human rights violations carried out by authorities, and that some groups are suggesting that what has taken place may constitute crimes against humanity.

"It remains to be seen how that advocacy will gather momentum, the Special Rapporteur said.

He called on Pyongyang to: increase access for humanitarian relief; to meet its international human rights obligations; to protect particularly vulnerable groups, such as women and children; reform its prison system; promote the rule of law and due process; and spell out a clear policy to not punish anyone who leaves the country without permission.
2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF CHILDREN OUT OF CHAD 'ILLEGAL AND IRRESPONSIBLE' - UNICEF

ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF CHILDREN OUT OF CHAD 'ILLEGAL AND IRRESPONSIBLE' – UNICEF
New York, Oct 26 2007 7:00PM
An attempt to separate more than 100 young Chadian children from their parents and then take them to France for adoption was an "illegal and totally irresponsible move," the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said today.

<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF spokesperson Veronique Taveau told journalists in Geneva that the agency and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news">UNHCR) are now helping to provide relief to the 103 children, who were prevented from flying out of the country by Chadian authorities in the eastern town of Abeche yesterday.

Ms. Taveau said UNICEF had distributed high-protein biscuits and toys to the children, while investigations continue in a bid to find the family members of the children, who range in age from one to eight years old.

She stressed that what happened had violated international rules, such as The Hague Convention on international adoption and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

When children are separated from their parents and their communities through natural catastrophes or armed conflicts, it should not be assumed that they no longer have a close relative living, she said.

Ms. Taveau said the case was not an isolated incident but one that was highly visible because of the size of the group of children.

Tracing the families of the children will be extremely difficult, she added, because of the children's ages and the fact that they have no identifying papers. It was also not clear yet whether some children may originate from Sudan.
2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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MIGIRO URGES BETTER COORDINATION OF EFFORTS TO ADVANCE GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH

MIGIRO URGES BETTER COORDINATION OF EFFORTS TO ADVANCE GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH
New York, Oct 26 2007 6:00PM
Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro has called for all those working to make inroads in global public health to pool their efforts, stating that the world already has the resources and the know-how to enable people to lead long, healthy lives.

Despite the unprecedented involvement of health agencies and partnerships, the global health sphere is increasingly complex and fragmented, with no systemic approach, Ms. Migiro said yesterday at a meeting on global health with international leaders and top-level experts from academia, philanthropy, civil society, the private sector and United Nations entities.

"We need to work in a more coordinated manner, each according to our comparative advantage, to strengthen health systems," she said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11242.doc.htm">message, delivered on behalf of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "We must move from building silos to building systems. And systems that work for the poorest and most vulnerable."

The Deputy Secretary-General called global public health "one of the greatest challenges of our time, but with an enormous scope for solutions."

"We know what works. We know how to help women deliver babies safely; we can help children live well beyond their fifth birthday; we can prevent the spread of HIV, malaria and tuberculosis," she stated.

Ms. Migiro welcomed the "unprecedented attention" global public health was currently receiving from an array of actors. National governments are working to direct health assistance more effectively to some of the world's poorest countries and most vulnerable populations. At the same time, donors and philanthropists are working with experts on targeted diseases and thematic areas.

All of this heightened activity carries some risks, she pointed out, emphasizing the need to better coordinate efforts among all those involved.

She also highlighted the need to address a number of issues, such as how countries can work together better on diseases that cross borders and threaten everyone, as well as how to ensure that the many initiatives and foundations supporting global health are accountable to not only those who finance them but also to those who are meant to benefit from their efforts.
2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL LIKELY TO EXTEND UN'S MISSION IN NEPAL - ENVOY

SECURITY COUNCIL LIKELY TO EXTEND UN'S MISSION IN NEPAL – ENVOY
New York, Oct 26 2007 6:00PM
The Security Council is likely to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (<"http://www.un.org.np/unmin.php">UNMIN), the head of the operation said today, one day after the 15-member body held closed consultations on the issue.

Briefing reporters in New York, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative for Nepal, Ian Martin, said the Government and the leaders of the seven parties, including the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), have indicated their support for an extension of UNMIN.

"Security Council members in discussion yesterday made very clear that they would give sympathetic consideration to a request from the Government if such a formal request is made," he said.

Mr. Martin also discussed key concerns expressed by the Secretary-General in his latest report on Nepal, which says the country is at a crossroads.

Nepal's Constituent Assembly election, scheduled for 22 November, was recently postponed to an as-yet undetermined date. Mr. Martin explained that the immediate cause was demands by the Maoists that Nepal's Legislature – not the Constituent Assembly to be elected – immediately declare the country a Republic, and that the electoral system be fully proportional, both in contradiction of previous agreements.

"Negotiations are continuing amongst political leaders to try to reach a compromise," he said.

"This crisis is not just the consequence of those two demands but also stems from growing mistrust amongst the parties to the peace agreement that we have seen in recent weeks," he said, blaming failures on both sides to make good on commitments and agreements that have been made within in the peace process.

The envoy noted that the current cantonment of Maoists and restriction of army to their barracks were intended to be temporary measures but these have now continued for some 11 months with no end in sight. "A prolonged stay in cantonments of thousands of mainly young people living under difficult conditions and lacking clarity about their future is not sustainable," he said.

"It also leaves UNMIN with no exit strategy from its arms monitoring role."

He emphasized the need to safeguard the Seven Party Alliance, which includes the Maoists, and its members' common commitment to the peace process. That requires setting a date for Constituent Assembly election together with a roadmap for future steps, including addressing issues related to public security, he said.

Mr. Martin repeated a call in the Secretary-General's report for the parties to take stock of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and its implementation with a view to strengthening it.

"When I met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala just before I left Kathmandu, I was encouraged to be told that he intends that there should indeed be a review of implementation of agreements," Mr. Martin said.

"Expectations among Nepalis are high as to what UNMIN can do," he said. "While I do my best to encourage the parties to keep the overall process on track and offer UNMIN's advice as requested, we do feel constrained by an expectation that we should interpret our mandate narrowly and we ask ourselves – as concerned Member States ask us – whether Nepal is making full use of the supportive capacity of the United Nations."

He added that if the Government and the parties desired it, the UN could provide greater support in implementation of the peace process; assisting a discussion on the future of the country's security sector, including a managed transition from the currently temporary cantonments and arms management to long-term solutions; and providing greater advisory support on promoting public security towards the Constituent Assembly election.
2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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MIGRANTS ENDURE INCREASING VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION, SAYS UN RIGHTS EXPERT

MIGRANTS ENDURE INCREASING VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION, SAYS UN RIGHTS EXPERT
New York, Oct 26 2007 6:00PM
Migrants are increasingly subject to violence and discrimination, from prolonged detention to ill-treatment from authorities, in countries of both destination and transit, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants said today.

Jorge Bustamante told the General Assembly's third committee (social, humanitarian and cultural issues) that his field visits during the past year have confirmed the rising attacks and other pressures that migrants are enduring.

"I received numerous reports of repeated cases of the detention of non-citizens, many times unlawfully for long periods," he said in his statement to the committee. "A number of detained migrants suffer from ill-treatment, lack of medical attention, and abuse. Often, they lack access to justice, as many detained migrants are not granted access to lawyers for their defence."

Professor Bustamante expressed particular concern at migrants who are subject to administrative, rather than judicial, proceedings in transit or destination countries.

"Legal grounds for administrative detention of migrants are often too broad and discretional and time limits are not always legally determined or respected.

"This is often coupled with the absence of automatic mechanisms for judicial or administrative review and with a lack of other procedural safeguards, such as access to interpreters and lawyers and limitations on the right to be informed of the grounds for detention, appeal mechanisms, and the right to have consular or embassy representatives.

"All these elements result in administrative detention that is not subject to control, disproportionate powers being exercised by immigration authorities, and incidents of discrimination and abuse."

Professor Bustamante also highlighted what he said was an increasing trend of States to launch police raids on private homes in migrant neighbourhoods and arrest anyone who cannot show documents of legal residence.

This leads "to separation of children from their arrested parents, including children born in such countries."

He noted that for many countries "migration carries with it the spectre of the abuse of national borders – by traffickers and people-smugglers – and prevailing fears about threats to ways of life or standards of living in host communities."

Yet, rather than focusing on the negative perceptions of migrants, destination countries should also consider the positive contributions that migrant workers and their families provide.
2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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UN INDEPENDENT RIGHTS EXPERT DECRIES EXECUTIONS OF JUVENILES IN IRAN

UN INDEPENDENT RIGHTS EXPERT DECRIES EXECUTIONS OF JUVENILES IN IRAN
New York, Oct 26 2007 5:00PM
An independent United Nations human rights expert today criticized Iran's use of the death penalty against juveniles, saying it is probably the only country in the world that does this systematically.

Speaking to reporters after briefing a General Assembly committee, Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, estimated that there are at least 75 juveniles in prison "on death row basically" in Iran now.

The Government "never responds to any communications I send them," he said.

In addition, he said at least 173 people have been executed for offences such as adultery, unlawful sexual relations and homosexuality, while laws that allow for stoning to death in these cases are "barbaric by any standards."

He also spoke out against the use of the death penalty in Singapore, pointing out that the more than 400 people executed there since 1990 – the highest per capita rate in the world – had been executed based on a "mandatory" death penalty that took no account of extenuating circumstances.

Asked about a trip he plans to take to the United States, he said it was too early to give details beyond the fact that the visit has been agreed to and was expected to take place in the northern spring.

"I am very interested in question relating to military justice, for example – in other words the response to alleged extrajudicial executions by members of the US military, particularly in places like Iraq and Afghanistan."

He added that during the meeting of the Assembly's Social, Humanitarian and Cultural (Third) Committee, delegations had raised the question of non-State actors and military contractors. "That's clearly an issue I would want to look at insofar as executions are involved and obviously in the Blackwater case they are," he said, adding that issues relating to use of the death penalty in the US would also be of interest.

Mr. Alston said he had told Committee about difficulties he has had in visiting countries, including Security Council members such as China and the Russian Federation, as well as several members of the Human Rights Council: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. In addition, he sought to visit Myanmar, Kenya, El Salvador, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.

In other rule of law and human rights news, Leandro Despouy, the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, yesterday voiced concern about Sudan's lack of cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In an address to the Assembly's third committee, Mr. Despouy welcomed recent ratifications of the Court's Statute and its detention of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo in connection with crimes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). But he said "by contrast Sudan's lack of cooperation with the Court is worrying."

He also stressed the need for the Government of Uganda and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) to reach agreement excluding any amnesty for war crimes, crimes against humanity, grave violations of human rights achieving a balance between the need for justice and the need to establish lasting peace.
2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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UN RIGHTS EXPERT WARNS AGAINST USE OF RELIGION AS EXCUSE FOR CRIMINAL ACTS

UN RIGHTS EXPERT WARNS AGAINST USE OF RELIGION AS EXCUSE FOR CRIMINAL ACTS
New York, Oct 26 2007 5:00PM
Religious belief should never be accepted as a legitimate excuse for carrying out criminal actions that encroach on the rights of others, a United Nations independent human rights expert warned today.

Speaking before the General Assembly's Social, Humanitarian and Cultural (Third) Committee, Asma Jahangir, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, said religious intolerance remains on the rise and the voices of moderation are often marginalized.

"The freedom in pursuing one's religion or belief must be protected and respected," she said in her statement to the Committee. But, "on the other hand, the rights of individuals have also to be protected from being violated on the premise of religion or belief.

"No impunity should be awarded when criminal acts which infringe on the human rights of others are given a religious label. At the same time, all governmental actions should be proportionate, abide by the rule of law and respect the applicable international human rights standards."

Ms. Jahangir urged governments worldwide to avoid knee-jerk responses and to try to focus on tackling the underlying problems instead.

"Wise and balanced decision-making at all governmental levels, as well as non-discriminatory legislation, are crucial for addressing the delicate issues involved. Furthermore, an independent and non-arbitrary judiciary is a prerequisite for safeguarding freedom of religion or belief."

Protection must be complemented by prevention efforts, she said, calling for pro-active strategies to deter acts of intolerance and discrimination.

"However, specific legislation should be introduced in a cautious manner since any compulsory overregulation may be counterproductive."
2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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UN ENVOY AND JAPANESE OFFICIALS URGE MYANMAR TO BEGIN TALKS WITH OPPOSITION

UN ENVOY AND JAPANESE OFFICIALS URGE MYANMAR TO BEGIN TALKS WITH OPPOSITION
New York, Oct 26 2007 5:00PM
In Tokyo today, the United Nations Special Envoy for Myanmar joined senior Japanese officials in calling on authorities in the South-East Asian nation to begin a genuine dialogue with the opposition to resolve the ongoing crisis there.

"The Government and the opposition must sit down together and discuss the future of their country," Ibrahim Gambari told reporters in the Japanese capital, the current stop on a six-nation tour of Myanmar's regional partners.

While in Tokyo, the Special Envoy held meetings with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura, Vice-Foreign Minister Osamu Uno, and Deputy Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka.
They discussed the need for the Myanmar Government to seize the current window of opportunity generated by the recent crisis to start dialogue with the opposition without delay and pursue an inclusive process of national reconciliation, according to a UN spokesperson.

They also discussed Japan's readiness to contribute to international efforts to assist Myanmar in meeting the humanitarian and socio-economic needs of its people as the country takes concrete steps to accelerate its transition to democracy.

Prior to arriving in Japan, Mr. Gambari met with officials in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and China. He is expected to return to Myanmar in the first week of November, his second visit to the country since Government forces began using force to respond to peaceful protesters in August.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who dispatched his Special Envoy to consult with regional leaders on Myanmar, has also called on the Government to "seize the opportunity to take bold actions towards democratization and respect for human rights."

"Unless the Government decides to open up and broaden the process that is to define Myanmar's future, the demands for greater inclusiveness, participation and transparency in order to accelerate the transition to democracy and civilian rule are likely to continue," he says in a report released today on the human rights situation in the country.

The Secretary-General adds that recent events constituted a "serious setback" for the country, as the Government's repressive response to the demonstrations comes at a time when Myanmar is striving to move forward towards national reconciliation and the restoration of democracy.

Mr. Ban remains deeply concerned about reports of continued human rights violations, particularly the excessive use of force and arbitrary detentions in the wake of the demonstrations, and the large number of individuals arrested without due process, according to the report.

The Secretary-General's Special Representative on the situation of human rights defenders has also expressed her concerns about the ongoing situation in Myanmar, calling it "the most glaring illustration of the suppression of the freedom to protest."

"Exercise of the right to protest plays an important role both for the promotion and the protection of human rights," Hina Jilani told the General Assembly committee dealing with social, humanitarian and cultural issues, known as the Third Committee, yesterday.

"Where States have enabled the realization of this right, values of democracy, pluralism and tolerance have gained support," she added.

In addition, the UN Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, will make an official visit to the country to look into recent events there.
2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN DR CONGO AMOUNTS TO WAR CRIME: UN EXPERT

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN DR CONGO AMOUNTS TO WAR CRIME: UN EXPERT
New York, Oct 26 2007 4:00PM
The scale and brutality of the sexual violence currently faced by women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity, an independent United Nations human rights expert has told the General Assembly.

Yakin Ertürk, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, told the Assembly's Social, Humanitarian and Cultural (Third) Committee yesterday that the international community needs to intervene urgently to stem the widespread sexual violence.

Ms. Ertürk spent 12 days in the DRC in July, speaking to Government officials, UN agency staff, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and many female victims of violence.

She said she found that the perpetrators include armed militiamen, members of the Congolese armed forces, national police officers and, increasingly, civilians.

"The situation is most acute in South Kivu, where non-State armed groups, particularly foreign militia, commit sexual atrocities that are of an unimaginable brutality and aim at the complete physical and psychological destruction of women with implications for the entire society," she said.

"In many cases, the scale and brutality of the violence amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity."

The Special Rapporteur said the problem was not confined to the far east, which has been the most unstable and violent part of the DRC in recent years and the scene of mass displacement this year because of renewed clashes between the Government, breakaway sections of the military and armed militia.

In Equateur province, near the centre of the DRC, soldiers and police officers have also carried out systematic reprisals against local civilians, including mass rape.

Ms. Ertürk said a climate of impunity for crimes against women predominated across the country.

"Security and the justice system fall short of addressing the problems of sexual violence and women survivors of rape lack sufficient care. Survivors are often also socially stigmatized and they are systematically denied the compensation to which they are entitled under international and Congolese law."
2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON TO FOCUS ON BETTER BUSINESS PRACTICES AT MEETING OF TOP UN OFFICIALS

BAN KI-MOON TO FOCUS ON BETTER BUSINESS PRACTICES AT MEETING OF TOP UN OFFICIALS
New York, Oct 26 2007 4:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will push for greater harmonization and realignment of business practices at the United Nations when he participates in the two-day meeting starting today of the Chief Executives Board (<"http://www.unsystemceb.org/">CEB) of top officials from across the UN system.

Mr. Ban will focus on such areas as improving procurement, human resources, audits and accounting and reducing transaction costs during the discussions in New York, his spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

Ms. Montas said the Secretary-General viewed this CEB meeting as the start of a process to make the entire UN system more effective and coherent in its business practices and to save money.

"This includes the issue of internal audits," she said. "Most of the members of the CEB have their own governing bodies – made up of Member States – who ultimately take the decision" on whether to release them "so the aim of this meeting is to decide on the best path to follow to try to harmonize practices within the UN system when it comes to the handling of internal audits and deciding what gets released. The same goes for issues relating to the Ethics Office."

Aside from management issues, the Board is also slated to take up a series of programme issues, including climate change, African development and the pilot "One UN" programme aimed at streamlining UN operations in each country.

Mr. Ban plans to push UN agencies, funds and programmes to follow the efforts of the Secretariat to make the UN building 'climate neutral' during the planned overhaul known as the Capital Master Plan, the spokesperson said.
2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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UN INDEPENDENT RIGHTS EXPERT CALLS FOR FIVE-YEAR FREEZE ON BIOFUEL PRODUCTION

UN INDEPENDENT RIGHTS EXPERT CALLS FOR FIVE-YEAR FREEZE ON BIOFUEL PRODUCTION
New York, Oct 26 2007 3:00PM
An independent United Nations human rights expert today called for a five-year moratorium on biofuels.

Jean Ziegler, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, told reporters in New York that converting crops such as maize, wheat and sugar into fuels was driving up the prices of food, land and water.

Noting that the price of wheat has doubled in one year, Mr. Ziegler warned that if the prices of food crops continued to rise, the poorest countries will not be able to import enough food for their people.

While the arguments for biofuels is legitimate in terms of energy efficiency and combating climate change the effect of transforming food crops such as wheat and maize into agricultural fuel is "absolutely catastrophic" for hungry people and will negatively impact the realization of the right to food, he said.

"It is a crime against humanity to convert agricultural productive soil into soil which produces food stuff that will be burned into biofuel."

Mr. Ziegler argued that biofuels will only lead to further hunger in a world where an estimated 854 million people – 1 out of 6 – already suffer from the scourge; 100,000 people die from hunger or its immediate consequences every day; and every five seconds, a child dies from hunger.

All of this takes place, he added, in a world that already produces enough food to feed every child, woman and man and could feed 12 billion people, double the current world population, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

"All causes of hunger are man-made, it's a problem of access, not overpopulation or underproduction, and can be changed by human decision," he stated.

Mr. Ziegler also called for measures to protect refugees who flee hunger, famine and starvation in their own countries, and are treated like criminals when they attempt to cross into other countries.

He noted that from 1972 to 2002, the number of gravely undernourished people in Africa increased from 81 million to 202 million, and every day hundreds of Africans "take to the sea" fleeing from hunger.

He called on the UN Human Rights Council "to declare a new human right" to protect those who flee from hunger.

The right to food is defined as "the right to have regular, permanent and unrestricted access, either directly or by means of financial purchases, to quantitatively and qualitatively adequate and sufficient food corresponding to the cultural traditions of the people to which the consumer belongs, and which ensures a physical and mental, individual and collective, fulfilling and dignified life free of fear," Mr. Ziegler explained.

"This human right is gravely violated in many, many parts of the world."
2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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NEW UN-BACKED WEBSITE PROVIDES VITAL HUMANITARIAN INFORMATION IN SPANISH

NEW UN-BACKED WEBSITE PROVIDES VITAL HUMANITARIAN INFORMATION IN SPANISH
New York, Oct 26 2007 3:00PM
A new website will provide Spanish-speakers with easy access to information on natural disasters and complex emergencies in the Latin American and Caribbean region previously available only in English, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today.

The website is part of the Regional Humanitarian Information Network Project (Redhum), launched at the Global Symposium on Humanitarian Information, which concluded its weeklong session in Geneva today.

Lead by the <"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1080">OCHA Regional Office in Panama, Redhum seeks to provide easy and organized access to quality and updated humanitarian information from the region, through a website in Spanish – <"http://www.redhum.org/">www.redhum.org – with up-to-date situation reports, maps, and contact information that will allow for better preparation and response in the event of a disaster.

Organizers said the project grew out of the realization that whenever there was a humanitarian disaster in Latin America all the information was often available only in English, and that some 60 to 80 per cent of the information necessary to manage those emergencies was already available.

Gerard Gomez, Head of the OCHA Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, said the programme was a two-pronged one – it was both a website and a network of partners, including OCHA, the civil defence services of Central American countries, the Coordination Centre for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America, the Regional Interagency Group for Disasters, the Red Cross, and others.

During the Global Symposium, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and keynote speaker John Holmes highlighted the need to have quick access to accurate and timely information in the midst of humanitarian emergencies.

"We have to be able to assess quickly and credibly the seriousness of a hurricane in Central America versus a flood in Africa and a drought in Africa. We have to be able to distinguish the gravity for the victims of the media-worthy conflict in an easily accessible and 'sexy' part of the world from the long running and media-neglected, but possibly much more devastating drama in some other remote part of the globe," he said.

"We have to share information and analysis because they are essentially common to us all, what binds us together despite our differences," Mr. Holmes added.

The Symposium – which brought together 250 representatives from the UN, government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), scientists, academics, the media and the private sector – also addressed new and innovative technology being used in humanitarian operations such as satellite imagery, blogging and the use of mobile phones in the field.
2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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ON EVE OF DARFUR PEACE TALKS, UN ENVOY STRESSES NEED FOR COMPROMISES

ON EVE OF DARFUR PEACE TALKS, UN ENVOY STRESSES NEED FOR COMPROMISES
New York, Oct 26 2007 2:00PM
The parties to the milestone Darfur peace talks starting tomorrow must be flexible and willing to make concessions if they want to reach durable and practical solutions, the United Nations and African Union envoys who will be chairing the talks warned today.

In an op-ed article published in <i>The International Herald Tribune</i>, the UN's Jan Eliasson and the AU's Salim Ahmed Salim said it was unrealistic for the Sudanese Government, the rebel forces and other groups to expect that all the provisions in previous attempts at peace deals for Darfur can be transplanted into any agreement reached at these talks.

"Parties will have to show flexibility and make concessions to reach compromise solutions that work in today's and tomorrow's environments," they wrote.

Delegates are already gathering in Sirte, Libya, for the talks, which aim to bring together representatives of the Government, rebels and other armed groups, and Darfurian civil society, as well as regional partners and members of the wider international community.

Mr. Eliasson and Mr. Salim are holding bilateral meetings with some of the attendees today, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

In their newspaper column, the two envoys described the Sirte talks as "a milestone in the re-invigorated political process… [and] indeed a moment of truth and hope for the people of Darfur."

But they warned that the negotiations will not immediately solve all of the most serious problems in Darfur, where more than 200,000 people have been killed and at least 2.2 million others left homeless by fighting between the Government, allied militia, the rebels and tribal groups since 2003.

"Some issues, like security and compensation, will be dealt with expeditiously. For others, the talks will provide an opportunity to agree on interim solutions and on a framework for long-term arrangements."

The envoys emphasized that the talks will have to be as inclusive as possible to ensure the broadest support from the people of Darfur and thus the greatest chance of being fully implemented. Although the Government struck a peace agreement last year, only one of Darfur's many rebel groups signed and the region continues to be wracked by violence and suffering.

The mediators also stressed that all parties to the conflict must commit to an immediate cessation of hostilities, both to improve the situation on the ground and to demonstrate their commitment to the process of negotiations.

In addition, Mr. Eliasson and Mr. Salim said it was vital for the Government to establish a credible dialogue with the rebel movements early in the talks and for those opposition groups to build more internal consensus on the issues up for discussion.

"We have both been struck by the dignity, integrity and courage of the ordinary people we have met during our travels and discussion throughout Darfur. While they had no hand in causing or shaping the conflict, we are committed to providing them with a say in stopping the conflict and shaping the peace.

"The courage of the people we have seen must be reciprocated by the participants at the negotiations by choosing dialogue over war."
2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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UNICEF MOURNS THE DEATH OF HUMANITARIAN EVE CURIE LABOUISSE

UNICEF MOURNS THE DEATH OF HUMANITARIAN EVE CURIE LABOUISSE
New York, Oct 26 2007 8:00AM
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) today mourned the death of Eve Curie Labouisse, a widow of the agency's former Executive Director and staunch humanitarian who supported the agency throughout her long life.

Mrs. Labouisse was 102 at the time of her death on 22 October. Her late husband, former UNICEF chief Henry Labouisse, passed away in 1987. During his leadership, which spanned 17 years from 1965 when UNICEF received the Nobel Peace Prize to 1979, Eve Labouisse was known as the 'First Lady of UNICEF' and travelled to many developing countries that were receiving the agency's assistance at that time.

"While her husband headed UNICEF, she played a very active role in the organization, traveling with him to advocate for children and to provide support and encouragement to UNICEF staff in remote and difficult locations," said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said. "Her energy and her commitment to the betterment of the world should serve as an inspiration to us all."

Mrs. Labouisse was a journalist and a humanitarian, and was also well-known for her biography of her mother, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist Marie Curie. Born in Paris in 1904, she was hailed as an accomplished pianist at a young age and performed across Europe. During the Second World War she reported from various fronts as a war correspondent.

2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCIES TEAM UP TO HELP SOMALI RAPE VICTIMS

UN AGENCIES TEAM UP TO HELP SOMALI RAPE VICTIMS
New York, Oct 26 2007 8:00AM
Amid the chaos of fighting and displacement in Somalia, United Nations agencies are working to address the growing problem of sexual violence in the country, which has not had a functioning government since 1991 and where an upsurge in violence has forced thousands to flee their homes.

In Galkayo, host to an estimated 50,000 internally displaced persons hosts internally displaced persons (IDPs), victims told personnel from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) of atrocities they endured.

"After years of war, rape has become a threat to women in Somalia when they move along roads, due to the presence of militia at illegal roadblocks. They are also at risk in IDP settlements located on the outskirts of towns such as Galkayo, which are too isolated to be secure," the agency said in a news release.

It pointed out that in Somali society, where rape is taboo, perpetrators are rarely brought to justice. "Cases are usually dealt with through traditional means, with the attacker having to pay compensation to the victim's father or husband, but never to her."

To ensure survivors of sexual violence receive support, a network of UN agencies -- including UNHCR, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) -- has launched a "sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response plan."

Designed to be carried out with local partners, such as medical providers and civil society organizations, the initiative aims to strengthen health-care capacities, train local psycho-social counsellors and raise awareness about sexual violence in Galkayo, UNHCR said.

2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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UNDP, JAPAN BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO SUPPORT IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION

UNDP, JAPAN BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO SUPPORT IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION
New York, Oct 26 2007 8:00AM
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) have signed a landmark agreement for the provision of loans aimed helping reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

"In accordance with this new agreement, UNDP will establish a facility to support the provision of $150 million in soft loans from JBIC to Iraq, which will primarily support the Ministry of Electricity of the Kurdistan Regional Government in its efforts to reconstruct electricity networks in Northern Iraq," the agency said in a news release.

These soft loans mark the first installment of a $3.5 billion pledge made by the Government of Japan at a 2003 donor's conference held in Madrid.

The agency said the agreement will "serve as a model allowing UNDP and JBIC to explore opportunities for similar agreements around the globe."

2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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6 DISPLACED MEN KILLED BY ARMED GROUPS IN COLOMBIA, UN REFUGEE AGENCY REPORTS

6 DISPLACED MEN KILLED BY ARMED GROUPS IN COLOMBIA, UN REFUGEE AGENCY REPORTS
New York, Oct 26 2007 8:00AM
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today raised the alarm about conditions in the Chocó region on Colombia's Pacific coast, where six displaced Afro-Colombian men were killed last week by members of an irregular armed group.

"UNHCR Colombia has expressed its concern over this very serious incident, the latest in a series of grave abuses committed against the population by irregular armed groups in this part of Chocó," said agency spokesman Ron Redmond. Civilians, including displaced communities, have been suffering from threats, intimidation, violence and killings. The Diocese of Istmina reports 23 targeted killings in the city alone since the beginning of September.

"UNHCR is very concerned that the deteriorating humanitarian situation will cause more forced displacement from the area, which is home to both Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities," said Mr. Redmond.

He said a team from the agency just back from the north-west of Colombia reported "a very worrying deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Chocó region."

The team from Bogota went to the area after six displaced men were killed on 16 October by members of an irregular armed group. Four other men, also displaced, were wounded in the same incident.

The six victims, displaced by armed conflict, had recently accepted work in a goldmine but were shot dead two days after starting by members of an irregular armed group who arrived at the mine armed and in uniforms.

The region is a rainforest, with one of the richest biodiversity in the world, rare minerals, precious woods and rivers providing direct access to the Pacific Ocean. It is strategic territory that has been fought over by irregular armed groups for years and has seen more new fighting in recent months, the agency said.

The murders of the six displaced Afro-Colombians came the same week as Colombia's Constitutional Court sat in special hearing to re
measures taken by the government to protect Afro-Colombian communities from forced displacement. The court had found last year they were "persistent gaps" in specific attention, both in prevention and assistance.

Colombia has some 2.2 million people officially registered as internally displaced -- independent figures put the figure at more than 3 million -- while there are at least 500,000 Colombian refugees in the region.

2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS WITCHCRAFT ALLEGATIONS PLAGUE CAMPS IN SOUTHERN CHAD

UN REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS WITCHCRAFT ALLEGATIONS PLAGUE CAMPS IN SOUTHERN CHAD
New York, Oct 26 2007 8:00AM
Allegations of witchcraft are swirling around camps for internally displaced persons in Chad are causing further confusion and violence in the already chaotic atmosphere, according to the United Nations refugee agency, which has organized initiatives to combat accusations and confusion on the matter.

When 11 refugees fell ill and died within a single week earlier this year at the Dosseye camp, host to over 5,500 of the 45,000 Central African Republic refugees in Chad, suspicions of witchcraft led to cases of assault and arson, the Geneva-based UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a news release.

The problem stems from the fact that two-thirds of the refugees are ethnic Fulbé/Peul, "who recognize both the existence of witches and the role of the traditional healer and exorcist," UNHCR said.

In one incident, after three siblings died within an hour, a widowed mother of eight in the camp who is an ethnic Peul was attacked by 15 others who accused her of cursing the children.

Josiane Nguerebaye, from UNHCR's community services team, said after the 11 deaths -- mostly from diarrhoea, malaria and malnutrition -- "other refugees really lost faith in their ability to recover from illnesses and lost faith in modern medicines." Many went exclusively to the traditional healers in the camps for treatment, and if they succumbed to their illnesses it was often explained as witchcraft.

"People had stopped drinking the well water and started getting their water from the swamps and rivers around the camp. Others were either not going to the health clinic or were going there too late," said the UNHCR official. "It caused huge [health] problems."

In response, the agency and its partners organized seven awareness sessions to try to end this vicious circle that had refugees turning away from modern medicine.

"The sessions weren't about the existence of witches or witchcraft, but instead focused on health, sani
of accusing people without evidence," explained Dosseye's camp manager, Gatsia Tounakissia, who works for UNHCR's partner, CARE International.

2007-10-26 00:00:00.000

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ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING SCHEMES MUST CONSIDER RIGHTS OF POOR, SAYS UN EXPERT

ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING SCHEMES MUST CONSIDER RIGHTS OF POOR, SAYS UN EXPERT
New York, Oct 25 2007 8:00PM
International financial institutions and wealthy States imposing structural reform programmes on poor countries or executing debt repayments should ensure that when doing so they do not undermine basic cultural, social and economic rights, an independent United Nations human rights expert said today.

Bernard Mudho, the Human Rights Council's Independent Expert on the effects of economic reform policies and foreign debt on the full enjoyment of all human rights, unveiled draft guidelines at the General Assembly for financial institutions and industrialized States to follow when pursuing economic restructuring programmes in developing countries.

He told the Assembly's third committee that the draft guidelines include a provision calling on institutions demanding repayment of foreign debts to ensure that a debtor country is not prevented from fulfilling its human rights obligations to its citizens as a result.

Moreover, whenever major economic reform programmes are being considered, including macroeconomic stabilization, trade liberalization and social sector reform, social, cultural and economic impact assessments should be conducted first.

Human rights obligations should also play a vital role during international trade negotiations, Mr. Mudho said.

Loan performance should be monitored by both creditors and borrowers, he added, while the agreements should allow for the review of loan conditions.

The Independent Expert also said the global lending economy should also agree on common lending principles.

The guidelines are now being circulated among Member States and others and Mr. Mudho said he hoped the draft would serve as a basis for constructive discussions on issues of economic management.
2007-10-25 00:00:00.000

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PROMOTING THE RULE OF LAW CENTRAL TO UN'S MISSION, SAYS MIGIRO

PROMOTING THE RULE OF LAW CENTRAL TO UN'S MISSION, SAYS MIGIRO
New York, Oct 25 2007 7:00PM
Advancing the rule of law at both the national and international levels is at the very heart of the United Nations' mission, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said today, appealing to Member States to support the world body's efforts in that regard.

"The principle that everyone – from the individual right up to the State itself – is accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, is a driving force behind much of the UN's work," Ms. Migiro told delegates in the General Assembly's legal group, also known as the Sixth Committee.

Respect by States for the rule of international law is crucial to the maintenance of international peace and security, to the peaceful settlement of disputes, to the promotion and protection of human rights, and to sustainable development and prosperity, she said.

This is equally true at the national level, she added, noting that respect for the rule of law is fundamental to achieving a durable peace in the aftermath of conflict, to the effective protection of human rights, and to sustained economic progress and development.

She pointed to the large number of rule of law activities carried out by the UN system, as well as by non-UN actors, both governmental and non-governmental.

"This is a crowded field where a lack of strategic planning and coordination has to date produced duplication and a less than optimal use of scarce financial resources," she said, stressing the need to strategically plan rule of law activities in partnership with recipient States and coordinate their execution among all actors.

It was to achieve coordination, and in response to calls made at the 2005 World Summit, that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon established a Rule of Law Coordination and Resource Group, which Ms. Migiro chairs and is supported by a small substantive Rule of Law Assistance Unit.

Since the full range of rule of law issues can only be addressed collectively by the UN system, and not by any individual department or agency, the role of a central unit is essential to ensure that the UN assists Member States in the most coordinated and efficient manner possible, she said.

The Unit, which is functioning on an interim basis, has started working with the various departments and agencies to develop a joint UN system work plan to reduce overlap and duplication, and is also working on developing UN system-wide guidance and best practices. It has also begun to develop partnerships with non-UN rule of law actors, both governmental and non-governmental, to maximize resources.
2007-10-25 00:00:00.000

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT URGES MORE INCLUSIVE GLOBALIZATION

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT URGES MORE INCLUSIVE GLOBALIZATION
New York, Oct 25 2007 7:00PM
The United Nations should lead efforts to foster a new global environment where partnerships can flourish, the President of the General Assembly said today, advocating a greater role for businesses and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to achieve this goal.

The UN and multilateral financial institutions agree that globalization must be inclusive and that "for economic development to be sustainable the benefits need to be shared by all," Srgjan Kerim said in an address at the Harvard Business School.

He noted that today's globalized world requires some degree of global governance, but cautioned that this should not take the form of a world government. "Nothing is less desirable. The very notion of centralizing hierarchies is itself an anachronism in our fluid, highly dynamic and extensively networked world," he said.

"But, effective global governance should put more responsibility on States and international institutions, but also non-State actors – the private sector and civil society."

Mr. Kerim acknowledged the need for Member States to make the United Nations more effective to "strengthen its central position in the multilateral system," including by reforming the Security Council.

"The UN needs be at the forefront of building a new culture of international relations based on greater trust and mutual cooperation and fairer economic consensus. To achieve this we will need to bring in private sector and NGOs into the policy-making process."

He told the future business leaders present that they can play a role in this effort. "There are huge opportunities to use capital to realize profit and promote global public goods, job creation and sustainable development."

President Kerim described a two-way process of mutual gain. "It is very important for future 'global' businessmen to understand the nature of international cooperation and the UN system – but also for the international system to bring the private sector and other non-State actors into a closer policy dialogue."

The President emphasized that joint efforts can ensure that economic growth, social justice and environmental care advance hand-in-hand.

"Individuals will need to accept greater responsibility for their actions and their global implications," he said. "Only then will we be able to pass our world on safely and securely to the generations that will come after us."
2007-10-25 00:00:00.000

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UN RIGHTS EXPERT UNVEILS DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR DRUG COMPANIES ON VITAL MEDICINES

UN RIGHTS EXPERT UNVEILS DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR DRUG COMPANIES ON VITAL MEDICINES
New York, Oct 25 2007 7:00PM
Noting that nearly two billion people worldwide lack access to essential medicines, a United Nations independent expert on health today introduced into the General Assembly draft human rights guidelines for pharmaceutical companies to expand that reach.

Paul Hunt, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/gashc3894.doc.htm">told the Assembly's third committee that the guidelines are designed to help both the companies and those monitoring their activities.

Using non-binding language, the 48 guidelines – which are being circulated for comment until the end of the year – deal with specific issues regarding access to medicines, such as pricing, ethical marketing, clinical trials, corruption, and research and development for neglected diseases.

Professor Hunt said he expected to finalize the guidelines for release next year.

"I have tried to be practical and constructive," he said, stressing that the draft does not suggest that pharmaceutical companies are legally bound by international human rights law.

An estimated two billion people worldwide, but overwhelmingly in developing countries, do not have access to essential medicines, Professor Hunt said in a press statement that was also released today.

"Improving access to existing medicines could save 10 million lives each year. Access to medicines is characterized by profound global inequality: 15 per cent of the world's population consumes over 90 per cent of the world's pharmaceuticals."

Although individual States have the main responsibility for expanding access to medicines, he said that pharmaceutical companies also have a profound impact, good and bad, on this process.

"It is time to identify what pharmaceutical companies should do to help realize the human right to medicine. How can we expect pharmaceutical companies to respect human rights if we fail to explain what they are expected to do?"

In his statement to the Assembly committee, Professor Hunt also detailed a new international initiative to try to reduce maternal mortality. Every year more than 500,000 women die in childbirth or from complications resulting from a pregnancy, and most of these deaths are preventable through simple and inexpensive interventions.

The Special Rapporteur said the initiative, which was formally launched last week, aims to use human rights to strengthen existing efforts to reduce maternal mortality and to improve the performance of health-care systems in poor countries. It is also designed to encourage maternal health workers to use human rights analysis, advocacy and networks to further their goals.

Professor Hunt proposed that the Human Rights Council convene a special session focused on maternal mortality, inviting key UN agencies and Member States to share their insights and expertise.

"This would be a unique opportunity for the Council to tell the world that preventable maternal mortality is a human rights issue of enormous gravity."

He added that the Indian Government has asked him to undertake a formal visit next month to look at the issue.
2007-10-25 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON PRESENTS $4.2 BILLION BUDGET FOR NEXT TWO YEARS TO UN ASSEMBLY

BAN KI-MOON PRESENTS $4.2 BILLION BUDGET FOR NEXT TWO YEARS TO UN ASSEMBLY
New York, Oct 25 2007 6:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today proposed a $4.2 billion budget for the United Nations for the next two years, <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11237.doc.htm">telling a General Assembly committee that the half percentage point growth in some areas is balanced by reallocations in others and urging Member States to support a stronger world body.

"Never has the world so needed a strong United Nations," Mr. Ban told delegates in the Assembly's Fifth Committee, which tackles administrative and budgetary matters. "Yet never have our resources been stretched so thin."

The Committee is currently examining the proposed programme budget of $4.2 billion for 2008-2009, which represents a real growth of $23 million over the previous biennium, or half a percentage point. Mr. Ban said the proposals reflect strict budgetary discipline, balancing growth in some areas with reallocations in others.

Noting that the year ahead will be "among the most challenging in our history" – with, among initiatives, the deployment of a major peacekeeping operation in the Darfur region of Sudan and diplomatic challenges in a number of countries – the Secretary-General pledged to strengthen the Organization so it can do the job that is expected of it.

This will require careful fiscal management, balancing varied and sometimes conflicting priorities, and, above all, making the UN "faster, more flexible and more efficient in delivering better results with the limited assets at our disposal," he stated.

"This is a year of immense opportunity – to build a stronger UN for a better world," Mr. Ban said. "You on this Committee are the key to our transformation."

He noted that, last year, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations was reorganized in order to better execute the UN's many peacekeeping mandates. Now, the focus is on the Department of Political Affairs, with a new emphasis on anticipating crises and proactive preventive diplomacy.

To that end, he asked the Committee to authorize $18 million to support the strengthening of DPA, arguing that boosting the UN's capacity to prevent and resolve conflicts is "among the smartest investments we can make." The proposed funds also include stable financing for the newly created Peacebuilding Support Office, which is separate from the political affairs department.

Mr. Ban cited the need for fresh thinking and for bolstering research and monitoring capacities to address the needs of the poorest of the world's poor, the "bottom billion" left behind by global economic growth – working with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the UN's regional commissions.

In addition, he proposed re-organizing the Secretariat to better serve the interests and needs of the least developed, landlocked and small island nations.

Mr. Ban noted that the proposed budget also reflects the decision by Member States to double the resources earmarked for human rights, a key component of the UN's work.

As part of the UN's ongoing reform efforts, he emphasized that the Secretariat should continue to improve its working methods to avoid duplication and save costs, so that it can be faster, more flexible and modern. "This requires us to streamline rules and work patterns, in line with the best public and private practices."

In that connection, Mr. Ban has set up a new change-management task force, which will focus on human resources, budget and finance, and procurement. He noted that the proposed budget also provides for "stiffer" internal oversight, and the Committee is examining proposals for a comprehensive revision of the UN system of administrative justice.

He called for extending the work of the Procurement Task Force – the body which was set up following revelations about widespread corruption in the UN procurement system and is credited with promoting accountability – for another year, as the Organization works toward more permanent independent auditing and investigative capabilities.

Mr. Ban added that the budget is not only a financial document, but a "compact of understanding" between the Secretary-General and the UN's Member States. "It details in concrete terms how we intend to realize the goals of the United Nations, and how I intend to exercise the authority you have entrusted to me," he said.

Clarifying aspects of the proposed budget, the Under-Secretary-General for Management told reporters that after taking account of inflation and exchange rates (re-costing) and possible budgetary "add-ons" resulting from legislative mandates or resolutions of the General Assembly, the budget will increase.

"We are presenting the Member States the proposed budget for 2008-2009 which is almost $4.4 billion, and then we are presenting to them a set of revised estimates that belong to legislative mandates and another set of add-ons that we are presenting, to bring the budget up to $4.6 billion," Alicia Bárcena said at a press briefing this afternoon.

Elaborating on the $18 million requested to strengthen the political affairs department, Ms. Bárcena said it would go towards building more regional capacities, including in Central Asia and in Africa, and to better equipping the Department to work on mediation, conflict prevention and conflict resolution.

The funds would also contribute to enhancing support to the UN's special political missions, creating a number of new posts within the Department, and strengthening and restructuring the six existing regional divisions.
2007-10-25 00:00:00.000

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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: BAN KI-MOON URGES POLITICAL LEADERS TO SHOW RESTRAINT

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: BAN KI-MOON URGES POLITICAL LEADERS TO SHOW RESTRAINT
New York, Oct 25 2007 6:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina to show restraint and support the work of the High Representative who is charged with overseeing implementation of the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement which ended years of brutal conflict in the country.

"The Secretary-General is concerned about recent political developments that could hinder the functioning of central institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, thus undermining the implementation of the Dayton Agreement and affecting stability in the region," a spokesperson for Mr. Ban said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2819">statement.

The Dayton Peace Agreement established Bosnia and Herzegovina as a State comprising two entities, each with a high degree of autonomy: the Republika Srpska (RS) and the Federation (FBiH).

"The Secretary-General encourages political leaders and officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina to exercise maximum restraint, continue to engage in the inter-ethnic dialogue and constructively cooperate with the High Representative," the spokesperson said.

The High Representative, Miroslav Lajcák, told the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Permanent Council meeting in Vienna today that tensions are rising in the country.

"The recent failure to forge a political agreement on police reform was merely the last, albeit crucial, confirmation of the worsening political dynamic that we have witnessed in Bosnia and Herzegovina since April 2006, when the first modest but mould-breaking package of reforms to the Dayton constitution narrowly failed to win adoption," he said.

"Since then, there has been a poisonous election campaign, characterized by intransigent and destabilizing rhetoric; a prolonged process of government formation, leading to the unavoidable cohabitation in power of the more radical and intransigent parties; and a virtual halt to European Union-compatible reforms and normal government activity."

He said some citizens accept the country as their common homeland, but "there is as yet no consensus on how this common state should be organized."

The Secretary-General reiterated his support for Mr. Lajcák, emphasizing that the High Representative "acts in the interest of all entities and constituent nations of Bosnia and Herzegovina."
2007-10-25 00:00:00.000

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FLOODS IN BURKINA FASO SPARK UN FLASH APPEAL FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

FLOODS IN BURKINA FASO SPARK UN FLASH APPEAL FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
New York, Oct 25 2007 6:00PM
The United Nations humanitarian wing announced today that it is launching a flash appeal for $5.4 million to help 93,000 people in Burkina Faso, which was hit recently by its worst floods in decades.

At least 46 people have been killed and 76 others hurt since the floods began during the northern summer, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA).

Nearly 9,000 homes, 50 bridges, 2,300 cereal warehouses and 18,000 hectares of crops have also been destroyed because of the inundations, which have swept across much of West Africa since July. Burkina Faso, along with its neighbours Mali and Niger, is one of the worst affected countries.

OCHA said that while immediate humanitarian needs had been met in the wake of the floods, many Burkinabe needed help in regaining their livelihoods and rebuilding basic services in their communities.

The funds raised in the appeal will be used to provide or improve food security, agriculture, health care, education, access to safe water and sanitation, basic shelter and supplies.

OCHA said UN agencies would work with the Government of Burkina Faso and with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to carry out any projects paid for by appeal funds.

The Central Emergency Response Fund (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?alias=ochaonline.un.org/cerf">CERF), set up by the UN in late 2005 to speed up relief operations for emergencies, make funds available quickly after a disaster and finance under-funded emergencies, has already released $878,000 to prevent child malnutrition in Burkina Faso and support household food security after the floods.
2007-10-25 00:00:00.000

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GUINEA: UN HUMANITARIAN FUND ALLOCATES $1 MILLION IN FLOOD RELIEF PROJECTS

GUINEA: UN HUMANITARIAN FUND ALLOCATES $1 MILLION IN FLOOD RELIEF PROJECTS
New York, Oct 25 2007 6:00PM
The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?alias=ochaonline.un.org/cerf">CERF) has allocated just over $1 million in aid to health, water purification and food security projects in Guinea, where hundreds of thousands of households are trying to recover from the effects of widespread flooding and avoid deadly cholera epidemics.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA) announced the grant today in response to the floods, part of wider inundations that have swept across most of West Africa since July.

More than $400,000 has been allocated to the World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/en/">WHO) to fund efforts to control potential outbreaks of cholera. The programme will strengthen the capacity of local health workers, promote public awareness about health and hygiene and include follow-up monitoring of people affected, OCHA said. Nearly 6,000 people have been infected.

The UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF) will receive almost $300,000 to help an estimated 975,000 households in two of Guinea's four regions undertake a series of measures to prevent cholera from spreading, such as by systematically disinfecting homes and wells, treating drinking water and encouraging good hygiene practices.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO) will use over $360,000 to provide seeds for a variety of crops, such as tomatoes, peppers and aubergines, and agricultural equipment, including watering cans and hoes, to some 3,200 households.

In all three cases the UN agencies will be working with Guinean Government ministries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

CERF was approved by the General Assembly in December 2005, and was created to speed up relief operations for emergencies, make funds available quickly after a disaster and finance under-funded emergencies. Its funds are also made available to address the existing imbalance in global aid distribution which results in millions of people in so-called neglected or forgotten crises remaining in need.
2007-10-25 00:00:00.000

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DR CONGO: BAN KI-MOON URGES WARRING FACTIONS TO ALLOW AID EFFORT IN NORTH KIVU

DR CONGO: BAN KI-MOON URGES WARRING FACTIONS TO ALLOW AID EFFORT IN NORTH KIVU
New York, Oct 25 2007 6:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on conflicting parties clashing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) troubled North Kivu province to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians, who have been forced to flee their homes amid rapes and other atrocities associated with the fighting.

"The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the increased displacement, human suffering, and sexual violence in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a result of fighting in the area between Congolese forces, dissident troops and armed militias, as well as elements of the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR)," a spokesperson for Mr. Ban said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11239.doc.htm">statement.

The UN's efforts to help civilians caught up in the conflict are being hampered by prevailing insecurity, the Secretary-General said, calling on all belligerents "to ensure total and unrestricted access of humanitarian actors to civilians affected by the conflict, in accordance with international humanitarian law."

The Secretary-General urged all dissidents to immediately and unconditionally join the "brassage" retraining programme for ex-combatants to become part of integrated DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) brigades.

He also called on the DRC Government to ensure the protection of all civilians in the region.

"These are essential first steps towards bringing an end to the suffering of the civilian population and towards resolving the root causes of the conflict, in particular the continued presence in the DRC of the FDLR and other foreign armed groups."

Preliminary figures from a joint assessment mission by UN humanitarian agencies released yesterday indicate that over 33,000 people have now been displaced by recent fighting in the North Kivu region. This figure includes the more than 8,000 civilians who fled into Uganda over the past weekend.
2007-10-25 00:00:00.000

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UN REPORT FINDS ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS INADEQUATE, URGES STEPPED UP ACTION

UN REPORT FINDS ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS INADEQUATE, URGES STEPPED UP ACTION
New York, Oct 25 2007 6:00PM
While political attention to environmental issues is increasing, this has not sufficed to achieve significant progress on climate change, loss of biodiversity and other challenges which face the planet and threaten humanity, according to the views of 390 scientists synthesized in a major new United Nations report on the issue.

"The fact that we are in the year 2007, with all the knowledge that we have and with all the capacity to do things differently – to present to the world at this point a report that essentially says that our response has been woefully inadequate is a very sobering realization," said Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (<"http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=519&ArticleID=5688&l=en">UNEP), at the launch in New York of the agency's report, Global Environment Outlook: environment for development (GEO-4).

The report notes that environmental concerns are much closer to mainstream politics everywhere today than when they were first addressed by the Brundtland Commission in its landmark report "Our Common Future" two decades ago. But it warns that despite these advances, problems persist which, if not addressed, may undo progress and threaten humanity's survival.

"Over the past 20 years, the international community has cut, by 95 per cent, the production of ozone-layer damaging chemicals; created a greenhouse gas emission reduction treaty along with innovative carbon trading and carbon offset markets; supported a rise in terrestrial protected areas to cover roughly 12 per cent of the Earth and devised numerous important instruments covering issues from biodiversity and desertification to the trade in hazardous wastes and living modified organisms," Mr. Steiner noted.

At the same time, persistent problems include the decline of fish stocks; loss of fertile land through degradation; unsustainable pressure on resources; dwindling amount of fresh water; and risk that environmental damage "could pass unknown points of no return," UNEP said.

Climate change, the destruction caused by forest fires and floods and other problems demonstrate "the cost of humanity trying to cope with the scale of environmental impacts," said Mr. Steiner.

The report acknowledges that technology can help to reduce people's vulnerability to environmental stresses, but says there is sometimes a need "to correct the technology-centred development paradigm." It argues that the future will be largely determined by the decisions individuals and society make now. "Our common future depends on our actions today, not tomorrow or sometime in the future," it cautions.

Widely considered the most comprehensive UN report on the environment, GEO-4 was prepared by some 390 experts and reviewed by more than 1,000 others across the world.

"The cost of inaction greatly exceeds the cost of action," said Olav Kjorven, Director of the UN Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org/">UNDP) Bureau for Development Policy, pointing out that local efforts around the world demonstrate the potential for change.
2007-10-25 00:00:00.000

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ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT HAILS 'ACTIVE CONTRIBUTION' TO FINANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT MEETING

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT HAILS 'ACTIVE CONTRIBUTION' TO FINANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT MEETING
New York, Oct 25 2007 6:00PM
The "active contribution" by more than 90 delegations at a three-day United Nations meeting augured well for a major conference on financing for development next year, General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim said today at the conclusion of the <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/ga10647.doc.htm">meeting.

Closing the General Assembly High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development, Mr. Kerim, who had chaired the event, said continued engagement by all partners was "crucial in the road to Doha," the Qatari capital where the second Financing for Development conference is to be held in the second half of 2008.

Summing up the debate, Mr. Kerim said that many speakers had expressed concern at growing economic inequalities, both between countries and within countries, particularly in the context of the current instability in global financial markets.

While regretting that the official development assistance (ODA) target of 0.7 per cent of gross domestic product had not been achieved, many delegates were encouraged by the current trends in foreign direct investment (FDI) in developing countries, Mr. Kerim said. But the challenged remained of promoting FDI in low-income countries or those with less stable governance.

For their part, various developing country delegates had acknowledged that "good domestic governance, effective and transparent regulatory mechanisms and the rule of law" were preconditions for attracting investment.

In the view of several participants, much had been done to increase debt relief, but long-term debt sustainability remained a significant issue, particularly for least developed countries.

Various speakers stressed the need to enhance tax revenues and create more distributive tax systems. This would not only help to reduce disparities, but also permit to increase public spending on basic infrastructure and services.

"Finally, delegates stressed that adapting to climate change was the emerging issue that needed to be linked to the financing for development process," Mr. Kerim said.

The General Assembly would now begin consultations to set out the modalities for the Doha Conference, Mr. Kerim said, calling on Member States to give their full support and cooperation towards an agreement to be presented to the General Assembly in December. "Once the modalities of the Doha Conference are agreed, we can move to substantive discussion on the six chapters of the Monterrey Consensus," he said.

The High-Level Dialogue was scheduled to conclude on Wednesday, but the very high number of countries that asked to speak made a third day necessary. On Wednesday, an interactive dialogue and six round tables promoted exchanges of ideas among governments, the private sector, civil society and international financial institutions.

The meeting addresses six main areas – mobilizing domestic financial resources, mobilizing international resources, international trade, international development cooperation, external debt, and the coherence of the international monetary, financial and trading systems.

These areas emerged at the first International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, in 2002.
2007-10-25 00:00:00.000

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UN ENVOY CONCLUDES TALKS WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS ON MYANMAR CRISIS

UN ENVOY CONCLUDES TALKS WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS ON MYANMAR CRISIS
New York, Oct 25 2007 4:00PM
The United Nations Special Envoy for Myanmar today wrapped up his consultations in Beijing, as he continues his six-nation tour of regional capitals ahead of a planned return to the South-East Asian nation in early November.

Dispatched by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to consult with regional leaders on how to address the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari has met so far with officials in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and India.

While in Beijing he had detailed and extensive discussions with State Councillor Tang Jianxuan and Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as well as with Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York.

Mr. Gambari delivered a personal message from the Secretary-General to State Councillor Tang, thanking the Chinese Government for its active support to the UN's good offices and encouraging China to intensify its constructive engagement in support of UN efforts.

"Mr. Gambari and his Chinese counterparts discussed the need for the Government of Myanmar to move forward by starting a dialogue with the opposition without delay and pursuing a more inclusive national reconciliation process in order to address the legitimate concerns of the Myanmar people," she stated.

They also discussed the need for the international community to find new ways of encouraging Myanmar to make concrete progress in this regard, she added.

Following the meetings, the Chinese Government issued a statement of support for the UN's good offices and Mr. Gambari's efforts on behalf of the Secretary-General.

The Special Envoy is now in Tokyo where he is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura.

Mr. Gambari's upcoming trip to Myanmar is set to be followed by a visit from the UN Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, before the middle of next month.

Mr. Pinheiro said yesterday that he would use the visit to try to verify allegations of abuses during the recent Government crackdown on peaceful demonstrators, determine the numbers and whereabouts of those detained or killed, and collect testimony about what happened.
2007-10-25 00:00:00.000

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UN RELIEF CHIEF WARNS ON DETERIORATING CONDITIONS FACING PALESTINIANS

UN RELIEF CHIEF WARNS ON DETERIORATING CONDITIONS FACING PALESTINIANS
New York, Oct 25 2007 4:00PM
The humanitarian situation inside the occupied Palestinian territory is deteriorating every day, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator said today, warning that Israel's threat to cut electricity and fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip if rocket attacks continue will only worsen the situation.

John Holmes, who is also Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, told journalists in Geneva that restrictions in Gaza and the West Bank were making it harder and harder for normal economic activity to be maintained, especially in Gaza.

"The squeeze was tightening all the time," he said, noting that while the UN had been able to get more than 3,000 truckloads of humanitarian aid into Gaza in July, only 1,508 truckloads made it through last month.

The main crossing point into Gaza for goods, Karni, has been closed since June, he said, with only one conveyor belt available twice a week. One of the two smaller crossing points for goods, Sufa, is also expected to be closed by the end of this month. The major crossing point for people, Rafah, has also been closed since June.

Mr. Holmes also said the number of Palestinian patients allowed to cross into Israel for health care had fallen from 40 a day in July to less than five a day in September.

"Denial of freedom of movement for medical reasons would appear to be a breach of international humanitarian law," he said.

The Under-Secretary-General said that while the UN condemned ongoing rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel, he was concerned that Israel was threatening to cut off electricity and fuel supplies if they continued.

"It did not appear to be an appropriate response to those rocket attacks to punish the population of Gaza."

He called on Israel to lift its economic blockade on Gaza and relax its restrictions on humanitarian aid, in part to improve the chances of progress at Israeli-Palestinian talks scheduled to take place in the United States next month.

Given the conditions inside both Gaza and the West Bank, the population increasingly depends on outside aid to survive, he said.

"That is not a good situation for their livelihoods, their dignity and the possibility of their participating in any kind of peace process."

Mr. Holmes' warning comes a day after the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe told the Security Council about the humanitarian situation that Palestinians face and the potential impact of further Israeli restrictions.
2007-10-25 00:00:00.000

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