SECRETARY-GENERAL REPORTS 'GRAVE VIOLATIONS' OF CHILDREN'S RIGHTS IN MYANMAR

SECRETARY-GENERAL REPORTS 'GRAVE VIOLATIONS' OF CHILDREN'S RIGHTS IN MYANMAR
New York, Nov 23 2007 5:00PM
Grave child rights violations, including recruitment into armed groups, continue in Myanmar, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report, calling on the Government to take measures to address the problem which is common to both State and non-State actors.

"Although there has been progress in terms of dialogue with the Government of Myanmar and two non-State actors, the report notes that State and non-State actors continue to be implicated in grave child rights violations," Mr. Ban writes in a summary of his report to the Security Council.

He notes progress in a number of areas, including the commitment by the Government that no child under the age of 18 will be recruited and the signing by two non-State actors – the Karen National Union and the Karenni National Progressive Party – of Deeds of Commitment to cease the recruitment and use of children.

The report documents "patterns of underage recruitment" by the Government, including those involving "poor and unaccompanied street children who are vulnerable to promises of food and shelter." Other children picked up by the police for not having a national identification card are offered the "choice" of either being arrested or going into the army.

"Also of grave concern are the reliable reports of a number of incarcerated children/minors who have been convicted of desertion and sentenced to prison terms of up to five years," Mr. Ban writes, noting that international practice and principles stipulate that children who have been unlawfully recruited or used by armed forces should not be treated as deserters.

Other actors cited in the report in connection with the recruitment of children include the United Wa State Army; the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation National Progressive Party/Karenni Army; Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army; Karenni National People's Liberation Front; Democratic Karen Buddhist Army; Shan State Army-South and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army; and the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council.

The UN has received "credible but unverified reports of rape perpetrated by Government forces and armed groups, which the country task force on monitoring and reporting is not in a position to confirm owing to limited access to conflict-affected areas."

The Secretary-General recommends that the Government of Myanmar to take into account its responsibilities to ensure that all armed groups with which it shares a ceasefire accord are made accessible to monitoring.

He urges the Government to continue taking disciplinary action against those responsible for aiding and abetting the recruitment of children, and to systematize and institutionalize this disciplinary process.

The Government of Myanmar is encouraged to accede to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and to adjust national legislation accordingly.

Mr. Ban also recommends that the Myanmar Government allow international and humanitarian organizations access for delivery of humanitarian services, and to accept the proposal of the UN refugee agency's Assistant High Commissioner for Operations for an inter-agency humanitarian needs assessment in the country.
2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON URGES CALM AFTER LEBANON POSTPONES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AGAIN

BAN KI-MOON URGES CALM AFTER LEBANON POSTPONES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AGAIN
New York, Nov 23 2007 5:00PM
Reacting to the fifth postponement of the Lebanese presidential election beyond the term of the current incumbent, Emile Lahoud, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged all parties to maintain calm and further intensify efforts to reach a compromise as soon as possible.

"The Secretary-General urges all parties to live up to their responsibilities and to act within the constitutional framework as well as in a peaceful and democratic manner," a spokesperson for Mr. Ban said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11298.doc.htm">statement released in New York voicing regret at the postponement of the election, which was to have been held tomorrow.

"The Secretary-General is deeply concerned at the fragility of the situation in Lebanon and is following events very carefully."

Mr. Ban and his Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Geir O. Pedersen, are in close touch with key players in the country, the region and beyond, according to the statement.
2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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UN RELEASES ANOTHER $6 MILLION IN EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR CYCLONE-HIT BANGLADESH

UN RELEASES ANOTHER $6 MILLION IN EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR CYCLONE-HIT BANGLADESH
New York, Nov 23 2007 3:00PM
The United Nations today announced that it would disburse an additional $6 million to support relief efforts for hundreds of thousands of cyclone survivors in Bangladesh, as UN agencies continued rushing aid to the affected population.

The new disbursement comes atop $9 million already granted by the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (<"http://ochaonline2.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=7480">CERF) after the disaster hit on 15 November, said the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1080">OCHA).

The UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_41907.html">UNICEF), meanwhile, today reported that a recent mission to the hardest-hit areas in Bangladesh showed that damage was worse than expected.

"The cyclone has predisposed thousands of children and women to the increased risk of illness and death due to malnutrition," said Dr. Iyorlumun Uhaa, Chief of Health and Nutrition for UNICEF Bangladesh. "Of the estimated 5 million people affected, half are children and one eighth or 600,000 are under the age of five. The cold weather and vulnerability to cold, hunger, trauma, diarrhoea and other communicable diseases will increase many times over unless urgent life-saving assistance is provided to children and women immediately."

The agency is procuring 100,000 blankets, 60,000 articles of children's clothes, 60,000 family kits, and 60,000 plastic sheets for use in cyclone-stricken areas, and has moved two mobile water treatment plants to hard-hit districts.

UNICEF is also working with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to identify separated, unaccompanied and distressed children who are being registered with the local government authorities.

"Separated and unaccompanied children are living without care, security and support facilities," said Aissa Sow, UNICEF Child Protection Officer. These children are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. In other cases, it is hard for the affected families that lost everything to adequately care for children."

The World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2699">WFP) is continuing to distribute food, including high-energy biscuits, by helicopters, boats and trucks. A second distribution to 465,000 survivors has taken place, and WFP will now start distributing 750 tons of rice to more than 2 million people.

"WFP is working very closely with the Bangladesh Air Force to ensure ready-to-eat foods get to those people who need our help the most," said Douglas Broderick, WFP Country Representative.

"In addition to high energy biscuits which continue to be air-delivered by Air Force helicopters, today we have begun the road and boat transport of 750 tons of rice for the five worst-affected districts."

Following the present and continuing distribution of dry, ready-to-eat foods to hundreds of thousands of Cyclone victims, WFP will provide longer term monthly food rations including rice, lentils and oil to more than 2.3 million persons in the nine worst affected districts in Southern and coastal Bangladesh.

"From the biscuits to the rice to more balanced food rations for entire families, we are working urgently to provide the critical food assistance needed by the most vulnerable people living in the Cyclone-hit areas," said Mr. Broderick.

The World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO) is helping to prepare a needs assessment of emergency drugs that would be required for the next six months, while the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org">FAO) has established an emergency coordination and rehabilitation unit in Bangladesh, where agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors in the southern part of the country have suffered enormous losses.
2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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UN, AFRICAN MEDIATORS CONTINUE PRESSING FOR PROGRESS IN DARFUR PEACE PROCESS

UN, AFRICAN MEDIATORS CONTINUE PRESSING FOR PROGRESS IN DARFUR PEACE PROCESS
New York, Nov 23 2007 3:00PM
Mediators from the African Union and the United Nations aiming to advance the Darfur peace process have wrapped up a two-day visit to North Darfur after holding a meeting with the Sudan Liberation Army-Unity leadership there.

The AU's Sam Ibok and the UN's Tayé-Brook Zerihoun briefed the leadership about the Sirte peace process, which began last month in the Libyan city.

Commending the SLA-Unity for their unification efforts, the mediators encouraged the Movement to engage in the peace process, according to a UN spokesperson.

Mr. Zerihoun said the objective of the Sirte Talks is to stop the killings in Darfur, and to help allow the people organize their lives and live in peace. "To obtain peace, you have to negotiate," he told them.

The Chief Mediators also said that they were encouraged by the efforts that the Movements are making to unite, because any form of unification will make the mediators' tasks easier, according to the spokesperson.

The UN Special Envoy for Darfur, Jan Eliasson, is scheduled to be in New York next week to brief the Security Council and for internal consultations.
2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY WARNS THAT VIRAL DISEASE COULD SPREAD IN SUDAN

UN AGENCY WARNS THAT VIRAL DISEASE COULD SPREAD IN SUDAN
New York, Nov 23 2007 3:00PM
Rift Valley Fever, a viral disease affecting people and animals, could spread in Sudan amid preparations for the Eid Al Idha Muslim holiday, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) warned today.

The disease, transmitted by mosquito bites, could escalate as millions of animals are moved around the country as part of traditions to mark the holiday.

More than 160 people have died so far of the disease, mainly in White Nile, Sennar and Gazeera states, according to the UN World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO).

The complex situation of the disease in livestock needs urgent monitoring, <"http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000714/index.html">FAO said. The agency has offered to send a team of animal health experts to the Sudan for in-depth field investigations.

"We are ready to assist the veterinary authorities in developing a comprehensive monitoring and control programme," said FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech. "FAO could also assist in improving border quarantine and laboratory facilities for monitoring livestock exports."

In response to recent Rift Valley Fever outbreaks, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have banned livestock imports from Sudan.

People become infected through mosquito bites or direct contact with infected meat and blood during the time of slaughter, or other biological material and body fluids. Uncooked milk of infected animals may also pose a risk, according to FAO.
2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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APPOINTMENT OF SOMALI PRIME MINISTER SHOULD SPUR RECONCILIATION - BAN KI-MOON

APPOINTMENT OF SOMALI PRIME MINISTER SHOULD SPUR RECONCILIATION – BAN KI-MOON
New York, Nov 23 2007 1:00PM
The appointment of a Colonel Nur Hassan Hussein as Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia should spur efforts to promote reconciliation in the country, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

In a <"http://secint12/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2878">statement released by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban applauded the concerted efforts of members of the Transitional Federal Institutions that led to appointment and voiced hope that it would "increase the momentum among Somalis to unite their efforts and complete the implementation of the key tasks of the Transitional Federal Charter."

"This will be an important step towards making reconciliation and reconstruction a reality," the spokesperson said. Somalia, which has lacked a functioning government since 1991, has been wracked by violence in recent months which has displaced a total of 1 million people.

Mr. Ban welcomed Mr. Nur Hussein's background and experience in humanitarian operations in Somalia and "thus his unique understanding of the challenges confronting his country."

He pledged the UN's continued assistance in promoting "an inclusive political process and reconciliation in Somalia."

Approved by a 2004 National Reconciliation Conference, the Transitional Federal Charter envisages an all-inclusive political process in Somalia producing broad-based and representative institutions and calls for the drafting of a new constitution to be adopted by popular referendum.
2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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UN AND PARTNERS URGE STEPPED-UP EFFORTS TO FOSTER RECONCILIATION IN SIERRA LEONE

UN AND PARTNERS URGE STEPPED-UP EFFORTS TO FOSTER RECONCILIATION IN SIERRA LEONE
New York, Nov 23 2007 1:00PM
The United Nations and Sierra Leone's Human Rights Commission have teamed up with civil society groups to urge the country's Government and the international community to intensify efforts to carry out recommendations made by a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

In a communiqué issued following a two-day consultation held in Freetown earlier this week, participants also called for the formulation of a comprehensive strategy with clear allocation of responsibilities to achieve this – and pointed out that the full support of donor countries is required for it to succeed.

The UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (<"http://www.uniosil.org/">UNIOSIL) said participants in the consultations encouraged civil society groups to raise public awareness about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's recommendations which "are critical for peace consolidation in Sierra Leone."

In 2004, the seven-member Commission made a number of recommendations to deal with past abuses and violations and foster reconciliation in Sierra Leone, which is consolidating peace following a brutal, 11-year conflict.

They included the payment of reparations by the Government to amputees and other wounded victims, those who were sexually violated, and the widows and children who suffered deprivation, displacement, or worse between 1991 and 2002.
2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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UN'S TOP ENVOY TO CÔTE D'IVOIRE DISCUSSES PEACE PROCESS WITH PRESIDENT

UN'S TOP ENVOY TO CÔTE D'IVOIRE DISCUSSES PEACE PROCESS WITH PRESIDENT
New York, Nov 23 2007 1:00PM
The new United Nations envoy to Côte d'Ivoire and the country's president have held their first talks on the peace process healing the divide between rebel-held north and government-controlled south.

"We discussed the peace process and the elections," said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative, Y.J. Choi, following his meeting with Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo at the Presidential Palace on Thursday.

Elections are planned for 2008 in Côte d'Ivoire under a peace accord signed by leaders of the Government and rebel Forces Nouvelles in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Mr. Choi, who arrived in Côte d'Ivoire earlier this week, later discussed the same issues with the President of the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire, Henri Konan Bédié, at the latter's residence, according to the UN Mission in the country (<"http://www.un.org/depts/dpko/missions/unoci/">UNOCI).

In another development, UNOCI's Abidjan-based Jordanian battalion recently organized a medical day in Marcory town hall, where five doctors, a dentist and six nurses provided health care to more than 500 patients, about 300 of whom received free medication to the value of several million CFA francs.

Speaking at the 20 November event, Jordanian Contingent Commander Colonel Mohammad Mahasneh explained that the humanitarian operation was within the framework of the "directives of the Jordanian command and the support of UNOCI, which encourages actions aimed at alleviating the suffering of the neediest populations."
2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY CAUTIOUS ABOUT RETURNS TO IRAQ

UN REFUGEE AGENCY CAUTIOUS ABOUT RETURNS TO IRAQ
New York, Nov 23 2007 1:00PM
Responding to recent public reports about refugees returning to Iraq in limited numbers, a spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today cautioned against an organized effort to send civilians back to the war-ravaged country.

"We welcome improvements to the security conditions and stand ready to assist people who have decided or will decide to return voluntarily. However, UNHCR does not believe that the time has come to promote, organize or encourage returns," agency spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis <" http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4746da102.html">told a press briefing in Geneva.

"That would be possible only when proper return conditions are in place – including material and legal support and physical safety," she said, pointing out that there is currently "no sign of any large-scale return to Iraq as the security situation in many parts of the country remains volatile and unpredictable."

UNHCR staff in Syria who surveyed over 100 Iraqi families said most of the refugees report that they are returning because they are running out of money and/or resources, face difficult living conditions, or because their visas have expired.

Recent visa restrictions are preventing a number of Iraqis from shuttling back and forth between Iraq and Syria to get additional resources, make money or collect food distributions or pensions.

The incentives offered by the Iraqi government of some $700-$800 to return home, as well as free bus and plane rides, have also played a role in returns, according to the UNHCR survey, which noted that Iraqi refugees are discussing return for the first time in years.

Returnees in Baghdad, interviewed by the agency's staff, cited economic difficulties caused by their long displacement as a major reason for going home. "Many had run out of or nearly depleted their savings. Some returned as it was the last chance to get their children back into Iraqi schools before the end of the first term," said Ms. Pagonis.

"Some were indeed encouraged by the reports regarding improvement of security, but many expressed concern about longer-term security, citing the fact that militias are still around and many areas remain insecure," she added. "People have mainly been returning to areas where they feel that local security forces are working properly and are maintaining control."

Although the agency cannot monitor borders full-time, it has noted more returns to Iraq than arrivals in Syria, with a fluctuating average of 1,500 departures to Iraq and 500 arrivals in Syria per day.

Inside Iraq, the number of internally displaced people (<"http://www.unhcr.org/protect/3b84c7e23.html">IDPs) increased slightly over the last few months, Ms. Pagonis said, citing figures received by UNHCR from its partners estimating that over 2.4 million Iraqis are displaced inside Iraq.

"Reasons for the increase include better registration of the displaced, but also recent visa restrictions in Syria, which meant more people moved inside Iraq rather than seeking refuge outside," Ms. Pagonis said.

Some displaced people are returning home, in part because of financial incentives.
Displaced Iraqis say access to shelter, food, work, water/sanitation and legal aid remain the most common needs.

According to government estimates, some 2.2 million Iraqis live outside Iraq - with some 500,000 to 700.000 in Jordan and up to 1.5 million in Syria.
2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY URGES KENYA TO GRANT ACCESS TO DETAINED SOMALIS

UN REFUGEE AGENCY URGES KENYA TO GRANT ACCESS TO DETAINED SOMALIS
New York, Nov 23 2007 1:00PM
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4746dba82.html">UNHCR) is urging the Kenyan authorities to grant the agency access to over two dozen Somalis being detained in Nairobi after a group nearly that size were forcibly returned to war-torn Mogadishu.

Spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis today in Geneva voiced concern about the fate of at least 26 Somalis being held at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport from among at least 49 Somalis, mainly women and children, who reportedly flew from Mogadishu to Nairobi and then on to Kampala, Uganda, but were returned to Kenya.

The remaining 23 were "forcibly returned to Mogadishu on Tuesday without being given the opportunity to request asylum as provided for under international and Kenyan laws," she said.

Ms. Pagonis pointed out that Kenya's own laws require the Government to refrain from forcibly returning people to a place where their lives are in danger – and grant the right to present their claim for asylum.

UNHCR had repeatedly requested access to the initial group of 49 but still has not received it.

All of the Somalis of the group expressed fear of persecution were they to be returned to Somalia, according to reliable sources, the agency said.

"We are now extremely concerned that the remaining group of 26 Somali nationals at the airport will be returned to the Mogadishu area, where continuing unrest and fighting would put them at extreme risk," Ms. Pagonis said.

"We are urging the Government of Kenya to grant UNHCR teams access to the Somalis at the airport in order to determine their international protection needs and to halt their possible forced return to Mogadishu."
2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY INCIDENTS DRIVE MORE SRI LANKANS TO FLEE THEIR HOMES - UN AGENCY

SECURITY INCIDENTS DRIVE MORE SRI LANKANS TO FLEE THEIR HOMES – UN AGENCY
New York, Nov 23 2007 1:00PM
Security incidents in eastern Sri Lanka are driving recently returned displaced people to flee their homes once again, a spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) <" http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4746daed2.html">said today, calling on the Government to take measures in response.

"We are seriously concerned about the deteriorating security situation and various incidents reported from return areas in eastern Sri Lanka," Jennifer Pagonis told a press briefing in Geneva.

"We urge the Government to strengthen the return process and build confidence among the returnees. We warn against any further moves towards premature return until these issues are resolved."

The agency estimates that some 250 displaced people, who returned to their villages of origin in the Trincomalee district a few weeks ago after fleeing escalating violence in 2006, fled their homes again this week back to welfare centres in Batticaloa district after "serious security incidents" in their villages.

Ms. Pagonis cited reports of "a number of killings, abductions, incidents of harassment and general insecurity in these areas" which have prompted those who have fled to decide against any return to their villages of origin. "They said their homes have been looted and damaged, and they now have nothing to return to."

The agency also drew attention to incidents of involuntary returns to Chenkalady in Batticaloa West, where the authorities reportedly told internally displaced people (<"http://www.unhcr.org/protect/3b84c7e23.html">IDPs) who were unwilling to return that their assistance would be withdrawn if they opted to stay behind.

"We reiterate our call to the Government to ensure that the returns are voluntary, safe and in line with international standards," said Ms. Pagonis.

Emphasizing that UNHCR should be fully engaged in the process, she urged the Government to work with experts in this field to ensure the rights of IDPs, as stated in international humanitarian law, are safeguarded at all times.
2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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UN TRAINS CONGOLESE TRAFFIC POLICE IN ITURI

UN TRAINS CONGOLESE TRAFFIC POLICE IN ITURI
New York, Nov 23 2007 12:00PM
Aiming to reduce traffic accidents and foster respect for the rules of the road, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (<"http://www.monuc.org/News.aspx?newsID=16120">MONUC) has completed training of nearly 50 police officers in Ituri province.

The group of 49, including four women, earned certificates after completing a training programme in road traffic policing which covered human rights, ethics, gender, child welfare and key legislation.

The training, held from 30 October to 22 November, was organized by the MONUC Ituri senior police officers and their colleagues in Kinshasa, with support from the mission's Human Rights Division and the local Red Cross.

"More work needs to be accomplished with our local partners," said Ndzie Ngoumou, head of MONUC police. "It is important that they understand the need for good co-operation with police officers by the installation of traffic lights and traffic control measures on the principal crossroads."

Over 100 Congolese police have also recently received training in law and order and professional intervention techniques, according to MONUC.
2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY REGISTERS REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS IN MALAWI

UN REFUGEE AGENCY REGISTERS REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS IN MALAWI
New York, Nov 23 2007 12:00PM
The United Nations refugee agency is working with the Government of Malawi on a registration exercise aimed at improving the protection, management and assistance to refugees and asylum seekers in the country.

"This registration is a vital part of helping refugees," said Matewos Beraki, acting head of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4745bbc74.html">UNHCR) office in Malawi. "It will provide us not just with numbers but with the details about the people in the camp that would help us to find permanent solutions to their situation."

The joint exercise covers the Dzaleka camp, where almost all of the country's thousands of refugees and asylum seekers live, said UNHCR, which is planning a subsequent registration of refugees who are allowed by the authorities to live in the nearby capital, Lilongwe, and elsewhere in Malawi.

"We are realizing during this registration that the existing data were poor – often incomplete and inaccurate," said Andrew Hopkins, UNHCR registration officer for southern Africa, who directed the exercise. "The questions we are asking now should lead to profiling that allows us to understand each individual better and lead to solutions."

Individuals needing special protection, such as unaccompanied children who had been staying with other families, have been identified. There have also been divorces, marriages and births that had gone unrecorded since the last time the data was checked in 2004.

The household profiling information being entered into the UNHCR database this time includes job skills, education, languages spoken and many details of local connections like work permits, marriage and bank accounts.

The agency said this could strengthen a case for local integration – an option currently unavailable for refugees in Malawi.

UNHCR is conducting similar registrations across southern Africa.
2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES DECISION BY TOURISM MEETING TO FOCUS ON CLIMATE CHANGE

BAN KI-MOON WELCOMES DECISION BY TOURISM MEETING TO FOCUS ON CLIMATE CHANGE
New York, Nov 23 2007 12:00PM
As preparations build for next month's landmark conference on climate change in Bali, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the decision by the World Tourism Organization's General Assembly to focus on the issue.

In a video <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2877">message to the Assembly's meeting in Cartagena, Mr. Ban pointed out that tourism is becoming increasingly important to the world economy and global community. "It is more and more connected with issues at the top of the United Nations agenda, from terrorism and conflict to natural disasters, epidemics, poverty and climate change."

He commended the Assembly for the themes it has chosen to discuss during its session, including adapting to the impact of climate change, and limiting tourism's own contribution to greenhouse-gas emissions. "I particularly welcome this focus as we prepare for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali next month."

Delegates at the Bali <"http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_13/items/4049.php">conference are expected to negotiate a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol, a legally binding pact limiting greenhouse gas emissions which is set to expire in 2012.

Mr. Ban also welcomed the Assembly's decision to discuss risk prevention and crisis management, including preparing for the possibility of a flu pandemic, and sustainable tourism as a tool for reaching the Millennium Development Goals (<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs) – a set of eight antipoverty targets adopted by a 2000 UN summit.
2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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INDONESIA: UN EXPERT HAILS PROGRESS IN COMBATING TORTURE, URGES FURTHER MEASURES

INDONESIA: UN EXPERT HAILS PROGRESS IN COMBATING TORTURE, URGES FURTHER MEASURES
New York, Nov 23 2007 9:00AM
Indonesia has made progress in addressing torture but the practice persists and must be criminalized, an independent United Nations expert just back from the country said today.

The Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Manfred Nowak, was able to hold meetings in Jakarta and visit correctional institutions, pre-trial detention houses, police and military detention facilities as well as social rehabilitation centres during his visit from 10 to 25 November.

In a statement issued in Geneva, he voiced appreciation to the Government for having invited him but said in a number of instances, his unimpeded access to places of detention was compromised, including his ability to carry out private interviews with detainees.

Despite this, he was able to reach the broad conclusion "that given the lack of legal and institutional safeguards and the prevailing structural impunity, persons deprived of their liberty are extremely vulnerable to torture and ill-treatment."

The Government said that the process of including the crime of torture in Indonesia's Penal Code is under way, but Mr. Nowak voiced regret that this has not yet been done "in spite of many recommendations to this effect by both national and international observers."

He stressed that torture must be criminalized with several years of imprisonment without further delay, "as a concrete demonstration of Indonesia's commitment to combat this problem."

Pointing out that "bringing perpetrators to justice is the strongest signal that torture and ill-treatment is absolutely unacceptable," the Special Rapporteur said Government officials "could not cite one instance in which a public official was sentenced by a criminal court for committing torture or ill-treatment."

Legal safeguards for detainees, in particular at the pre-trial stage, "are virtually non-existent, in violation of applicable internation
norms and standards to which Indonesia has subscribed," he said, voicing particular concern about the prolonged period of police custody allowed under the law -- at times up to several months and during which many detainees have no or very restricted access to courts.

Only very few detainees appear to have access to a defense lawyer, he said, noting that in this context, "given the lack of legal safeguards and doubts as to how confessions might have been obtained in a number of these instances," use of the death penalty is inappropriate.

He also noted that the secrecy with which executions are handled violates international human rights standards.

Mr. Nowak, who serves in an unpaid, personal capacity, said he was not informed of any effective mechanism for determining the legality of detention or for evaluating a complaint about ill-treatment or torture. "On the contrary, several interlocutors from the penitentiary system, the Attorney General's office and also medical doctors indicated to the Special Rapporteur that if persons with marks of torture or ill-treatment are transferred to their authority, they normally hand them back to the police, apparently in order to avoid any additional administrative troubles."

The Special Rapporteur commended the National Human Rights Action Plan, which foresees the ratification in 2008 of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture, which requires the establishment of an independent body to regularly monitor places of detention, with the authority to conduct unannounced visits.

The expert said detainees are more vulnerable to abuse while in police custody than in prison. "The problem of police abuse appears to be sufficiently widespread as to warrant immediate attention by the Government," he added, citing reports, corroborated by expert medical analysis, of beatings by fists, rattan or wooden sticks, cable, iron bars and hammers.

In some cases, police officers had shot detainees in their legs from close range, or electrocuted them, according to the st
detainees alleged to have had heavy implements placed on their feet. "In most instances, it appears that the purpose of this violence was to extract confessions," Mr. Nowak observes.

The statement does note that he received only a limited number of allegations of ill-treatment and corporal punishment in both pre-trial detention houses and prisons, but cautions that there were allegations and evidence of several cases of beatings by guards.

Many of the prisons were very spacious, clean and well-maintained, and below maximum capacity. The Special Rapporteur welcomed the relative openness of detention places, most of which allow several visits per week by relatives and friends. He also commended the system for treating youth (persons between 18 and 21) as a separate category and holding them apart from adults when possible.

"Another best practice is the fact that pregnant women are often temporarily released from custody to be able to deliver their baby, and that women in police custody as well as in prisons can live together with their babies and are allowed to maintain very close contact with their older children," he said.

At the same time, the Special Rapporteur said he is "extremely concerned that criminal responsibility in Indonesia starts at the age of eight and that therefore small children are put in detention facilities and prisons, very often mixed with much older children and adults." Minors and children are at greater risk of corporal punishment and ill-treatment in detention.

While recognizing that positive steps taken by Indonesia to address problems, the expert recommended a series of steps, including official public condemnation of torture and ill-treatment and its criminalization. He also called for measures against impunity and the introduction of confidential complaints mechanisms. The Government, he said, should raise the age of criminal responsibility in accordance with international standards and abolish the death penalty.

The Special Rapporteur will submit a comprehensive report
to the UN Human Rights Council.

2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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UN URGES COMMUNIST PARTY OF NEPAL-MAOIST TO COOPERATE ON MINORS

UN URGES COMMUNIST PARTY OF NEPAL-MAOIST TO COOPERATE ON MINORS
New York, Nov 23 2007 9:00AM
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal has voiced concern at growing reports that the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) and associated organizations have coerced or forced persons who were under 18 years old at the time of their recruitment to return to cantonment sites of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) after they had voluntarily left.

"Forcing or pressuring young people under 18 to return to cantonment sites violates the rights of children, as well as the commitment made by the CPN-M, and the Government of Nepal, in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to immediately release minors who had been associated with a fighting force, and to provide 'necessary and proper cooperation' for their rehabilitation and reintegration," the Office said in a statement.

In one of the cases documented by OHCHR-Nepal, two minors who left a cantonment site in Chitwan in May and returned to their homes in Makwanpur District were pursued by CPN-M cadres in order to force them to return, according to the statement.

The UN and local non-governmental organizations intervened, and "the girls were not returned to the cantonment" but on 19 November, CPN-M cadres returned to the girls' home and abducted one of them, while the other escaped.

Police officers were unable or unwilling to prevent her abduction when informed by CPN-M cadres that she would be taken to the cantonment site in Chitwan for the verification process, which is due to start within one week.

In other cases reported to OHCHR-Nepal, pressure on minors to return to cantonments has also coincided with verification exercises.

The Office also voiced concern that CPN-M cadres have threatened human rights defenders and others working to reintegrate into society minors formerly associated with armed forces and armed groups.

The Nepal Police have displayed "an unwillingness to compel the CPN-M to respect the law, despite OHCHR's interventio
district and regional levels."

The CPN-M must abide by its peace agreement commitments, respect the rights of minors who have voluntarily started the reintegration process and not force them to return to cantonments, said the Office's Nepal Representative, Richard Bennett.

"The CPN-M must also speed up the process of formally releasing all minors still inside the cantonments so they can return to their families and civilian life," he added. "It is also essential that the Nepal Police fulfil its obligation to protect minors who have voluntarily started the process of reintegrating into society, and to ensure security for organizations and persons working to assist the reintegration of these minors."

2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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DR CONGO: UN REFUGEE AGENCY OPENS NEW OFFICE IN NORTH KIVU AMID FIGHTING

DR CONGO: UN REFUGEE AGENCY OPENS NEW OFFICE IN NORTH KIVU AMID FIGHTING
New York, Nov 23 2007 9:00AM
The United Nations refugee agency has opened a new field office to help displaced Congolese in the volatile province of North Kivu amid a fresh outbreak of fighting in the area.

The clashes close to the centre of Rutshuru town forced thousands of people to flee their homes in search of safety and hampered plans by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to launch new camp management and coordination operations in the area.

The new office will oversee assistance and protection operations for the estimated 45,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Rutshuru area, the agency said. About half of them live in five camps while the rest stay in community buildings or with family and friends.

"It has been difficult to operate from Goma and provide regular assistance and protection to the IDPs in Rutshuru," Masako Yonekawa, head of the UNHCR office in the provincial capital Goma, which is located some 70 kilometres to the south of Rutshuru.

The agency warned that fighting Wednesday would delay the launch of a UNHCR operation to move some 2,000 displaced people from several schools and a local stadium to the a new site.

This group fled their villages in October to escape fighting between government forces and renegade troops. Many sleep in classrooms, which they must vacate in the morning when pupils arrive for their lessons. The planned transfer aims to "relieve IDPs from the stress of having to move out of their temporary shelters on a daily basis and normalize community life," the UNHCR official said.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) North Kivu province in recent weeks. Many of the IDPs are living in precarious conditions without regular humanitarian assistance, including food, health care, clothing, potable water and shelter materials such as plastic sheeting and blankets.

Recent UNHCR assessment missions to Rutshuru have
the proximity of IDP sites to military bases, which they say could expose females to the risk of sexual abuse.

Germaine Bationo, head of UNHCR's emergency team in North Kivu, said there were other obstacles to aid and protection operations, noting that some of the IDP sites are in rebel-controlled areas. "This will seriously restrict our movements and will require the use of military escorts from the UN peacekeeping mission," which is known as MONUC.

The build-up of military forces and repeated clashes in North Kivu since December 2006 have led to the worst internal displacement in the area since the end of the civil war in 2003, according to UNHCR. Some 375,000 Congolese have been forced to leave their homes in the province since last December, including more than 160,000 in the last two months alone. There are some 800,000 IDPs in the province.

The agency is urging all parties to refrain from attacks on internally displaced people and civilians, and to find a negotiated solution for the prolonged violence that continues to plague North Kivu and its population.

2007-11-23 00:00:00.000

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IRAQ: UN BACKS CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL SOCIETY

IRAQ: UN BACKS CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL SOCIETY
New York, Nov 23 2007 12:00AM
Human rights and civil society in Iraq took centre stage at a conference attended by representatives from the country's Government, Iraqi civil society, dignitaries from Jordan, the European Commission and the United Nations, held in Amman.

Hosted by the EC and the UN Office for Project Services, the event capped an initiative aimed at promoting a culture of human rights in Iraq by strengthening Iraqi civil society organizations.

"Achievements of the project were presented and highlighted the successful and courageous work of Iraqi human rights defenders," the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) said in a news release.

"The crucial role played by Iraqi civil society in establishing an effective human rights system in Iraq, and the relationship of civil society organizations with the Iraqi Government were debated, and the conference recognized the need for the international community to continue its support, both financially and technically to build on these achievements."

The project focused on the rehabilitation of torture victims, the protection of detainees' rights and boosting the ability of civil society organizations to promote human rights education in Iraq, according to UNAMI.

2007-11-22 00:00:00.000

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UN AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT FUND SUPPORTS MICROFINANCE IN PAKISTAN

UN AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT FUND SUPPORTS MICROFINANCE IN PAKISTAN
New York, Nov 23 2007 12:00AM
The United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has announced that it will provide a $35 million loan to a new $46 million programme making microfinance services available to about 160,000 new clients -- at least half of them women.

"It is a pivotal time for microfinance in Pakistan," says Nigel Brett, IFAD's country programme manager for Pakistan. "Future growth in this sector will depend partly on microfinance institutions and commercial banks forging successful financing partnerships. This programme will work to build such partnerships."

The IFAD-supported programme will work with small farmers, livestock owners, traders and microentrepreneurs; women and households headed solely by women; and vulnerable rural households living below the poverty line.

In another development, IFAD announced an over $14 million project to boost the market value of Bolivia's millions of llamas, alpacas and undomesticated vicuñas in products like meat, hides and wool-based handicrafts, as well as eco-tourism. The agency will contribute a loan of $7.2 million for the initiative.

"The project will give poor rural people better access to financial services and provide them with technical assistance, knowledge and information, so that they can start small businesses," said Roberto Haudry de Soucy, IFAD's country programme manager for Bolivia.

Bolivia is the poorest country in South America. Although GDP per capita grew during the 1990s, it was insufficient to reduce poverty, inequality and social exclusion, IFAD said. Poverty in rural areas is almost double the rate it is in capital cities, and extreme poverty is nearly triple.

2007-11-22 00:00:00.000

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SEOUL GIVES OVER $4 MILLION TO FIRST ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT BETWEEN TWO KOREAS

SEOUL GIVES OVER $4 MILLION TO FIRST ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT BETWEEN TWO KOREAS
New York, Nov 23 2007 12:00AM
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Republic of Korea today agreed to set up a Trust Fund that addresses key environmental issues in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Seoul will contribute $4.4 million for the project, which UNEP said was the first venture of its kind on the environment between the two Koreas aiming to tackle forest depletion, declining water quality, air pollution, land degradation and biodiversity in the DPRK.

It will also support eco-housing initiatives as well as conservation and management of the Taedong watershed, environmental education, integrated environmental monitoring system, clean development mechanism and renewable energy technology, UNEP said.

"This multilateral cooperation with UNEP is of great significance for both South and North Korea and a huge step forward in addressing pressing environmental issues in DPR Korea," said Lee Kyoo-Yong, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Korea.

"This agreement will build on the momentum that the DPRK has begun," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner. "It will also go a long way in strengthening the spirit of cooperation between the two countries."

2007-11-22 00:00:00.000

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SOMALIA: UN ENVOY HAILS NOMINATION OF NEW PRIME MINISTER

SOMALIA: UN ENVOY HAILS NOMINATION OF NEW PRIME MINISTER
New York, Nov 22 2007 11:00AM
Welcoming the nomination of Nur Hassan Hussein as the new Prime Minister of Somalia, the senior United Nations envoy to the country today voiced hope that this move would pave the way for unity.

In a statement, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah praised the concerted efforts of members of the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) that led to the decision and said he was pleased that the process was carried out in a peaceful manner.

"I want to thank all those who contributed to this exercise being done peacefully," Mr. Ould-Abdallah said. "I hope that this appointment will prepare the ground for a united approach."

The new Prime Minister was nominated by President Abdullahi Yusuf.
2007-11-22 00:00:00.000

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STATES MUST ARREST INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT SUSPECTS, OFFICIAL SAYS AT UN

STATES MUST ARREST INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT SUSPECTS, OFFICIAL SAYS AT UN
New York, Nov 21 2007 6:00PM
The International Criminal Court (<"http://www.icc-cpi.int/home.html&l=en">ICC) has created a working body of law since its inception and the onus is now on States Parties to enforce the court's decisions, especially its arrest warrants, and bring in war crimes suspects so they can face trial, Deputy Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said today.

Ms. Bensouda <"http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2007/071121_ICC.doc.htm">told journalists at United Nations Headquarters in New York that six arrest warrants – relating to four senior members of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army in northern Uganda and two figures accused of war crimes in the Darfur region of Sudan – remain outstanding.

She said that even though continuing conflicts present obstacles to the arrest of suspects, the interests of peace and justice demand that States take assertive action.

"Arresting criminals in the context of ongoing conflicts is a difficult endeavour," she said. "Individuals sought by the court are often enjoying the protection of armies or militias. Some of them are members of governments who are eager to shield them from justice, and this is why we precisely need a very strong commitment from the international community."

Ms. Bensouda warned: "If States Parties do not actively support the Court, in this area as well as in others, then they are actively undermining the Court."

The Deputy Prosecutor noted that the ICC's first trial – that of the Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga Dyilo – will begin at the end of March next year.

"The Rome system today is in motion," she said, referring to the treaty signed in the Italian capital in 1998 which led to the establishment of the tribunal. "The Court has made this body of law… operational, and it has transformed ideas and concepts into a working system. The States Parties which committed to the new law are now facing a difficult challenge: this is the challenge of enforcing the Court's decisions."

Ms. Bensouda also said the ICC's existence was having an important deterrent effect against recurring violence, citing several examples. In Colombia, laws and proceedings against paramilitary groups were influenced by the Rome Statute, she said, while in Côte d'Ivoire "the prospect of prosecution of those using hate speech is deemed to have kept the main actors under some level of control."
2007-11-21 00:00:00.000

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LIBERIA: UN ENVOY URGES MORE PATROLS BY POLICE

LIBERIA: UN ENVOY URGES MORE PATROLS BY POLICE
New York, Nov 21 2007 6:00PM
The senior United Nations envoy to Liberia today called for stepped up anti-crime patrols to keep communities safe in the West African country.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative, Alan Doss, stressed that officers with Liberia's National Police (LNP) should fully engage in night-time patrols with their counterparts in the UN Police and Military.

The UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) is providing armed support and transport for these anti-crime patrols "and the consistent presence of the Liberian police in this effort is essential," he added at a ceremony honouring Nepalese peacekeepers serving with the operation.

"The people of Liberia expect no less," said Mr. Doss, calling for continued support for the LNP to curb crime in the country, which is consolidating peace following a 14-year civil war.
2007-11-21 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL TO ATTEND MIDDLE EAST PEACE CONFERENCE NEXT WEEK

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO ATTEND MIDDLE EAST PEACE CONFERENCE NEXT WEEK
New York, Nov 21 2007 5:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced plans to attend next week's Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, United States, voicing hope that the talks will provide the impetus for final status negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

But in a briefing to an informal meeting of the General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Ban said he remained concerned by the prevailing humanitarian situation inside the Gaza Strip, where the economy has deteriorated since many border crossings into Israel were closed earlier this year in response to intra-Palestinian fighting.

The Secretary-General also plans to participate in a meeting in Washington on Monday of the Middle East Quartet, the diplomatic grouping that comprises the UN as well as the European Union, Russia and the US, his spokesperson Michele Montas said.

Mr. Ban used his address to the General Assembly meeting today to brief Member States on a wide range of issues, from climate change to the UN budget and from the situation in the war-torn Sudanese region of Darfur to the recent cyclone in Bangladesh.

"Last week could be called a moment of epiphany on climate change – for me personally, as I visited South America and Antarctica, and for the international community, with the launch of the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)," he said.

Warning of the perils of global warming, he said: "In the ice shelves of Antarctica, the glaciers of Torres del Paine and the rainforests of the Amazon, I saw up close how some of the most delicate and precious treasures of our planet are being threatened by the actions of our own species."

Turning to the Capital Master Plan (CMP), the blueprint for renovating UN Headquarters, he reassured Member States that the entire process will be conducted to ensure maximum transparency, visibility and adherence to the existing UN rules on procurement.

Mr. Ban voiced hope that the General Assembly's fifth committee, which deals with budgetary matters, would find agreement on a resolution supporting the revised strategy for the CMP.

He also stressed that his approach to strengthening the UN Secretariat would focus equally on the three pillars of peace and security, development and human rights, and not on one pillar at the expense of the other two.

"I am making it a priority to scale up efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) around the world, in Africa in particular," Mr. Ban added, referring to the set of ambitious anti-poverty targets which world leaders agreed to strive to reach by 2015.
2007-11-21 00:00:00.000

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WORLD BANK OFFERS $250 MILLION TO CYCLONE-HIT BANGLADESH

WORLD BANK OFFERS $250 MILLION TO CYCLONE-HIT BANGLADESH
New York, Nov 21 2007 5:00PM
As United Nations agencies continue their efforts to assist the over 3 million Bangladeshis affected by Cyclone Sidr, the <"http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:21558238~menuPK:34463~pagePK:34370~piPK:34424~theSitePK:4607,00.html">World Bank announced today that it will make available up to $250 million to aid recovery and strengthen mitigation efforts in the wake of the deadly storm.

The funds will be used to provide food, medical supplies and cash grants, as well as for infrastructure rehabilitation and flood mitigation, the Bank said in a press release.

Cyclone Sidr, the second strongest of three major storms in recorded history to have struck Bangladesh, made landfall on 16 November, wreaking death and destruction in its path.

The Government estimates that over 2,400 people are dead and nearly 1,500 missing. In addition, the storm is responsible for the destruction of some 273,000 homes and over 760,000 acres of crops.

UN agencies on the ground, including the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), are currently providing essential supplies such as high-energy biscuits, water purification packets and shelter materials to tens of thousands of families. A UN team is also assessing the damage and the needs in some of the worst affected districts.

World Bank Country Director Xian Zhu commended Bangladesh for the progress that the disaster-prone country has made in dealing with the impact of periodic floods and cyclones.

"In 1970, over 500,000 people died following the impact of a cyclone," said Mr. Zhu. "As responses to disasters have improved and as some shelter infrastructure has been put in place, death tolls have become smaller but Bangladesh remains extremely vulnerable, the more so as climate change adds to its burden."

The Bank said the funds announced today will complement existing commitments made in response to massive floods in Bangladesh in August and September.
2007-11-21 00:00:00.000

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INDIA AND UN NUCLEAR WATCHDOG TO START TALKS ON SAFEGUARDS AGREEMENT

INDIA AND UN NUCLEAR WATCHDOG TO START TALKS ON SAFEGUARDS AGREEMENT
New York, Nov 21 2007 5:00PM
The United Nations atomic watchdog and the Indian Government have agreed to start consultations on framing a safeguards agreement that would place the South Asian country's civilian nuclear programme under UN observation.

The agreement was reached after Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), met with Anil Kakodkar, Chairman of India's Atomic Energy Commission, in Vienna today.

Members of the IAEA Secretariat will hold technical meetings later this week in Vienna, where the agency is based, with an Indian Government team to start the consultations.

In March this year, Dr. ElBaradei welcomed the announcement that India – which is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) – and the United States had reached a deal on nuclear cooperation.
2007-11-21 00:00:00.000

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BROMIDE SUSPECTED AS CAUSE OF MYSTERY ILLNESS IN ANGOLA, SAYS UN AGENCY

BROMIDE SUSPECTED AS CAUSE OF MYSTERY ILLNESS IN ANGOLA, SAYS UN AGENCY
New York, Nov 21 2007 4:00PM
Toxicological tests carried out on blood samples from victims of an outbreak of a mystery illness in Angola have detected very high levels of bromide, the United Nations World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/csr/don/2007_11_21/en/index.html">WHO) reported today.

The tests, conducted in Germany, found the high bromide levels in five of the six samples taken from patients, and additional samples are now being sent to the United Kingdom for further analysis to determine whether the hypothesis can be confirmed.

WHO said in a statement that bromide intoxication was already one of the working hypotheses explored by authorities as they try to find the cause of the outbreak, which began last month. The symptoms include extreme drowsiness and loss of muscle control and, although most patients recover slowly over a number of days, many are still unable to walk without assistance. Children suffer the most extreme symptoms.

As of Monday, the number of patients treated in hospital in Cacuaco municipality – which is located in the suburbs of the capital, Luanda – has passed 390, with children comprising almost two-thirds of all cases.

WHO is stepping up its support to Angolan health authorities, providing staff and equipment as they carry out more epidemiological studies, environmental investigations and public awareness campaigns about risk management. The extra staff include a field coordinator, a clinician, two epidemiologists, a food safety expert, a laboratory specialist and a logistician.
2007-11-21 00:00:00.000

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UN LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL YEAR TO DRAW ATTENTION TO GLOBAL SANITATION CRISIS

UN LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL YEAR TO DRAW ATTENTION TO GLOBAL SANITATION CRISIS
New York, Nov 21 2007 3:00PM
The United Nations today kicked off the International Year of Sanitation in a bid to accelerate progress for the 2.6 billion people around the world who do not enjoy the basic right to proper sanitation facilities.

Speaking at the official launch at UN Headquarters in New York, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said access to sanitation is one of the most "overlooked, and underserved human needs."

International efforts to deliver on this basic right have proved "lacklustre," with an estimated 42,000 people dying every week from diseases related to low water quality and an absence of adequate sanitation, he stated. "This situation is unacceptable."

The Secretary-General stressed that investments in sanitation are among of the most important allocations any nation can make. "For every dollar spent on improving sanitation it is estimated that at least nine dollars are saved in costs related to health, education, and social and economic development."

He called on the international community, national governments and civil society to take up the cause of sanitation with "unprecedented vigour" to accelerate progress towards the global target to reduce by half the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation by 2015 -- one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set at a 200 UN summit.

According to the UN, although more than 1.2 billion people worldwide have gained access to improved sanitation between 1990 and 2004, an estimated 2.6 billion people -- including 980 million children -- still lag behind.

If current trends continue, there will be 2.4 billion people without basic sanitation in 2015, with children continuing to pay the price in lost lives, missed schooling, in disease, malnutrition and poverty.

The International Year will include major regional conferences on sanitation, including one focusing on school sanitation. It will also encourage public and private partnerships to bring real
billions who bear the brunt of the crisis.

"Today, we go from a stage of planning to one of implementation," said His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Chairperson of the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation. "It is vital that progress is accelerated if we are to reach the Millennium Development Goal target on sanitation, and indeed the other development goals."

2007-11-21 00:00:00.000

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UN'S ROLE IN RESOLVING MYANMAR CRISIS SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED, SAYS ENVOY

UN'S ROLE IN RESOLVING MYANMAR CRISIS SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED, SAYS ENVOY
New York, Nov 21 2007 3:00PM
The United Nations Special Envoy for Myanmar said today that the good offices role of the Secretary-General would need to be "beefed up in terms of its effectiveness," in case dialogue between the Government and the opposition in the troubled South-East Asian nation intensifies.

"The Myanmar authorities have said that they preferred to work with the UN. Now we have to test that to its limits in the high interest of the Myanmar people," Ibrahim Gambari told reporters in Singapore.

Mr. Gambari added that those who support the Secretary-General's good offices role should encourage the Government of Myanmar to cooperate "fully, regularly and substantively" with the UN.

While in Singapore, the Special Envoy has been meeting with regional leaders who have gathered for the annual summit of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN). He said that his visit had been "extremely worthwhile" and had provided a tremendous opportunity to meet so many delegations and leaders.

Today he met with the Prime Ministers of Singapore, Thailand and New Zealand, the Foreign Ministers of Japan and Australia and the European Union Commissioner for External Relations.

Mr. Gambari, who has visited Myanmar twice since the Government began its crackdown against demonstrators a few months ago, will now travel to Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam for further consultations before returning to New York.
2007-11-21 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY HOLDING VIDEO CONTEST TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT GLOBAL HUNGER

UN AGENCY HOLDING VIDEO CONTEST TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT GLOBAL HUNGER
New York, Nov 21 2007 2:00PM
The United Nations World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2698">WFP) is inviting filmmakers, students and other Internet users to take part in a new international competition called "Hunger Bytes" in which contestants are asked to make the best short "viral video" that raises awareness about the subject of global hunger.

The five most compelling video clips of between 30 and 60 seconds in length that are submitted to WFP will be highlighted on YouTube, and the video that enjoys the most views by World Food Day on 16 October next year will be deemed the winner and then given the chance to visit and film one of the agency's relief operations.

Participants will be encouraged to boost their chances of winning by sharing the web links on blogs and on social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace.

To give filmmakers an idea of what they can do, WFP has also produced its own 30-second video in which participants at a competitive eating contest are shown in slow motion wolfing down hot dog after hot dog before a message reminds viewers that "850 million go to bed hungry every night… Share."

Launching the contest today at WFP headquarters in Rome, the agency's Director of Communications and Public Policy Strategy Nancy Roman said the concept was borne out of concern about how global hunger is often an ignored crisis.

"For those of us doing the day-in, day-out, backbreaking work of getting food to hungry people, it's sometimes discouraging how few people understand that hunger stalks and kills a child every five seconds," Ms. Roman said.

The agency is also calling on the world's Internet users to help it in another way during the Thanksgiving holiday period in the United States, by clicking on an increasingly popular game in which a website donates the cash equivalent of 10 grains of rice to WFP for every vocabulary question answered correctly by participants.

Since FreeRice.com began on 7 October, more than 3 billion grains of rice have been donated, enough to feed more than 150,000 people for one day. Yesterday it set a one-day record when over 218 million grains were donated. An Internet monitor also found that FreeRice was the most popular humanitarian website for the week ending Saturday, capturing one of every eight visitors to websites in that category.

The website's creator, the US fundraising pioneer John Breen, has already been able to give WFP a cheque for $100,000 that will be used to provide food rations for an estimated 26,000 refugees from Myanmar who are currently living in Bangladesh.

FreeRice relies on payments from companies that place advertisements on the site to underwrite its donations to WFP, the world's largest humanitarian agency. Last year the agency provided food to 88 million people, mainly women and children, in 78 countries.
2007-11-21 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS EU FORCE IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA FOR ANOTHER YEAR

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS EU FORCE IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA FOR ANOTHER YEAR
New York, Nov 21 2007 2:00PM
The Security Council today extended for another year the mandate of the European Union Stabilization Force (EUFOR) tasked with ensuring continued compliance with the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement ending the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The European Union has assumed responsibility for the peacekeeping operation since 2004 when it took over from the NATO-led stabilization force (SFOR).

As it unanimously adopted resolution 1785, the Council also authorized the continued presence of a NATO headquarters through which the bloc assists in the implementation of the Dayton Agreement in conjunction with EUFOR.

In addition, the 15-member body authorized Member States to take all measures to defend the EUFOR and NATO presence and to assist both organizations in carrying out their missions. It also recognized the right of both EUFOR and the NATO presence to defend themselves from attack or threat of attack.

Also by the text, the Council reiterated that "the primary responsibility for the further successful implementation of the Peace Agreement lies with the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina themselves," and underlined the need for their full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), including the surrender for trial or apprehension of all persons indicted by the court.
2007-11-21 00:00:00.000

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PROMOTING TOURISM FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FOCUS OF UN FORUM IN BANGKOK

PROMOTING TOURISM FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FOCUS OF UN FORUM IN BANGKOK
New York, Nov 21 2007 1:00PM
Removing barriers and making tourism accessible to the 650 million persons with disabilities around the world who represent a huge untapped market for the travel industry will be the focus of a three-day United Nations gathering set to begin tomorrow in Bangkok.

The meeting, organized by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (<"http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2007/nov/n66.asp">ESCAP) in cooperation with Thai authorities and Disabled People International Asia-Pacific, brings together representatives of the travel industry, policymakers and people with disabilities to examine the growing market for accessible tourism in the region.

The recently adopted UN <" http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/convtexte.htm">Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities promotes accessibility of persons with disabilities and their participation in leisure and sport as a matter of right.

According to ESCAP, a significant portion of the world's 650 million people with disabilities are travellers with special needs. There are also 600 million older persons around the world – a number that is expected to double by 2025.

For those with special needs, tasks such as getting on and off airplanes, finding an accessible bus, taxi, hotel room, bathroom, or restaurant could all be a challenge.

The Commission notes that a growing number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region are paying attention to accessible tourism. "In the ESCAP region, there are at least 400 million people with disabilities and a growing number of older persons. It is reported that 400,000 people used wheelchair rental services at the Hong Kong International Airport in 2006," said Aiko Akiyama, Social Affairs Officer at ESCAP.

But more attention needs to be paid to removing the different kinds of barriers that inhibit people with disabilities and reduce their mobility, and as a result prevent them from enjoying travel.

"American adults with disabilities or reduced mobility currently spend an average of $13.6 billion a year on tourism," noted Scott Rains, an expert on disability issues who will be one of the main speakers at the meeting. "Creating accessible cruise ships, accessible ship terminals, accessible ground transportation, and accessible tourist destinations is not charity. It is good business."
2007-11-21 00:00:00.000

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FIRST OFFICERS FROM UN SPECIALIZED POLICE UNIT DEPLOY FOR CHAD TO START KEY TRAINING ROLE

FIRST OFFICERS FROM UN SPECIALIZED POLICE UNIT DEPLOY FOR CHAD TO START KEY TRAINING ROLE
New York, Nov 21 2007 1:00PM
The first officers from the United Nations Standing Police Capacity will depart for Chad today to start training recruits for a specialized Chadian police unit responsible for providing security to the 300,000 or so internally displaced persons and Sudanese refugees affected by the conflict in neighbouring Darfur.

"This is the first operation for the Standing Police Capacity (SPC) and five officers will leave for Chad today, while the 11 others will join them in December. Initially they will be based in the capital N'Djamena but as soon as the security conditions permit they will set up headquarters in the eastern city of Abeché," said SPC Chief Walter Wolf.

"There are already three UN Police (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/police/index.shtml">UNPOL) officers in the Chadian capital and on 30 November another 32 will arrive, and all these together with the SPC will help prepare the way for an eventual deployment of up to 300 UNPOL officers as mandated by the Security Council."

The main UNPOL objective in Chad will be to enhance the capabilities of the Chadian police and gendarmes to protect the population in the east by helping to recruit and train a force of around 850 national officers responsible for providing security to local civilians, including internally displaced persons (<"http://www.unhcr.org/protect/3b84c7e23.html">IDPs), Sudanese refugees and humanitarian workers, all affected by the crisis in Darfur.

"This deployment is very significant not only for Chad but for helping to stabilize the whole region. There are more than 230,000 Sudanese refugees in UN-managed camps and more than 170,000 IDPs in the east and south-east of Chad and these poor people continue to be the victims of armed groups, even inside these camps," said UN Police Adviser Andrew Hughes.

"With proper UN policing and European Union military deployment along with the recruitment and training of the Chadian police service this extremely unstable situation for these poor people can and must be improved."

The Security Council <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/res/1778(2007)">established a new UN peacekeeping mission to Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR), to be known as MINURCAT, in September with the mission also involving European Union military forces as well as UNPOL and SPC officers. This mission will complement the UN-African Union hybrid force planned for <"http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=88&Body=Sudan&Body1=">Darfur itself.
2007-11-21 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES DR CONGO-RWANDA AGREEMENT ON THREATS TO PEACE

SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES DR CONGO-RWANDA AGREEMENT ON THREATS TO PEACE
New York, Nov 21 2007 1:00PM
The Security Council today commended the recent agreement of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda to work together against threats to peace and stability in the region, it "an important milestone towards the definitive settlement of the problem of illegal armed groups" operating in the turbulent far east of the DRC.

Ambassador Marty Natalegawa of Indonesia, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, read out a statement calling on authorities in the DRC and Rwanda to now implement fully the commitments they made in their joint communiqué, which was signed in Nairobi on 9 November.

Council members also voiced thanks for the role played by Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Haile Menkerios, who facilitated the process and signed the communiqué as a witness for the UN, and said it looked forward to his continuing consultations with governments in the Great Lakes region and with the wider international community.

"The Security Council recalls that the continued presence of illegal armed groups, in particular the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR), ex-FAR/Interahamwe and the dissident militia of Laurent Nkunda, is one of the root causes of conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and constitutes a threat to regional stability," the presidential statement said.

"The Council reiterates its demand that these groups lay down their arms and engage voluntarily and without preconditions in their demobilization, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration, as appropriate."

Some 800,000 people have been displaced by the fighting in the eastern DRC this year, which has flared at a time when other regions of the vast African nation are rebuilding after years of war or misrule. The fighting has been greatest in North Kivu, but other provinces have also been affected.

Today's statement, which follows a similar statement from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last week, stresses that Council members remain fully committed to the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, known by its French acronym MONUC.
2007-11-21 00:00:00.000

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MIGIRO CALLS FOR BOOSTING TIES BETWEEN UN AND RED CROSS, RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES

MIGIRO CALLS FOR BOOSTING TIES BETWEEN UN AND RED CROSS, RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES
New York, Nov 21 2007 12:00PM
Hailing the more than 60-year partnership between the United Nations and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the <" http://www.un.org/sg/deputysg.shtml">Deputy Secretary-General has called for strengthening the ties between the two bodies to address development, climate change and other pressing issues.

"Climate change reminds us that we are a single, interdependent human family sharing one planet," Asha-Rose Migiro said today in Geneva in her address to the Federation's General Assembly.

"There are many other such reminders – health threats, volatility in the global economy, regional conflicts and instability," she added. "In our increasingly globalized world, we must work together to tackle these complex, inter-linked challenges."

Ms. Migiro called for strengthening the partnership between the two organizations "so that we can better serve humanity," taking advantage not only of the commonalities between them but also the differences. "We need to complement and amplify each others efforts, taking into account our relative strengths and constraints," she stated.

In particular, she highlighted the crucial role the Federation plays in the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (<" http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs) – the ambitious set of global targets to slash poverty, disease, illiteracy and other social ills by 2015.

She noted that the millions of people mobilized through the Red Cross and Red Crescent show how volunteers can achieve tremendous development results. "Volunteering is about empowering individuals and communities at the grass-roots level. It is about giving them a voice and letting them take the lead. And it is the foundation upon which rests the achievement of the MDGs."

The Federation is well-placed to help mobilize more volunteers for peace and development, she said, adding that "as the clock to the 2015 target ticks louder every day, now is the time to do everything possible to harness voluntary action by people around the world."

The Deputy Secretary-General also pointed out that through its global reach and community health-care expertise, the Federation can help provide the impetus needed to reach the health MDGs – reducing maternal mortality, improving child health, and combating AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases.

In addition, Ms Migiro drew attention to the key role played by the Federation in helping States reduce their vulnerabilities to disasters which are one of the key factors holding back progress towards the MDGs in many nations.
2007-11-21 00:00:00.000

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NEW UN ENVOY ARRIVES IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE

NEW UN ENVOY ARRIVES IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE
New York, Nov 21 2007 8:00AM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's new Special Representative for Côte d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, has arrived in Abidjan with a pledge to help the people of the country solidify progress and meet the challenges posed by elections planned for 2008.

The envoy, who heads the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), made remarks at the airport to the Ivorian people. "I would like to say to them that UNOCI is here to serve them and we shall stand side by side with them until peace finally returns."

He pledged to work impartially with all political actors and to engage civil society "which has an essential contribution to make to efforts to accelerate the resolution of the crisis."

Mr. Choi also hailed progress achieved by the peace process. Côte d'Ivoire had been divided between the Government-controlled south and the rebel Forces Nouvelles-held north since 2002, but the leaders of the two sides signed a peace accord in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, earlier this year aimed at ending the deadlock and leading to elections by 2008.

Pointing out that "a huge task awaits us all," the envoy urged all players involved in the search for solutions to exert all possible efforts "to make Côte d'Ivoire what it was before: the cornerstone of stability and economic prosperity in West Africa."

Appointed in mid- October, Mr. Choi succeeded outgoing envoy Pierre Schori.

2007-11-21 00:00:00.000

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MORE THAN $400 MILLION NEEDED TO CLEAR LANDMINES NEXT YEAR - UN ANALYSIS

MORE THAN $400 MILLION NEEDED TO CLEAR LANDMINES NEXT YEAR – UN ANALYSIS
New York, Nov 20 2007 7:00PM
Proposed initiatives to remove landmines and explosive remnants of war in some 30 countries and three territories around the world are expected to cost $404 million next year, according to a report jointly published by three United Nations agencies and released today.

The Portfolio of Mine Action Projects, an annual analysis by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations' Mine Action Service, the UN Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org/">UNDP) and the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF), notes that countries planning those initiatives have already secured $40 million from international donors.

Maxwell Gaylard, the Director of the UN Mine Action Service, said that level of donor support augurs well for mine action next year.

"However, the remaining funding gap for next year still totals $365 million, and it is hoped that the donor community will again rally to the formidable challenges of mine action," he said.

The Portfolio focuses only on mine action programmes that are supported or managed by the UN.
2007-11-20 00:00:00.000

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UN SHOULD EXTEND PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN DR CONGO FOR A YEAR - BAN KI-MOON

UN SHOULD EXTEND PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN DR CONGO FOR A YEAR – BAN KI-MOON
New York, Nov 20 2007 7:00PM
Citing ongoing security challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has recommended extending the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping operation in the vast country for one more year, suggesting that a drawdown could commence following the holding of local elections.

In a new report to the Security Council, Mr. Ban paints a mixed picture of progress in the DRC, which has shown signs of good governance and stability but still faces long-standing security challenges in its volatile eastern region.

In the east's North Kivu province, clashes have increased between elements loyal to renegade commander Laurent Nkunda and Government troops, known as FARDC, Mayi-Mayi groups and other armed militias, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). North and South Kivu host the majority of DRC's 1.2 million displaced persons, according to the report.

"In addition to precipitating a humanitarian crisis, the fighting in North Kivu has raised serious human rights concerns," the Secretary-General writes. These include confirmed reports of mass graves and continuing evidence of the recruitment of children into armed groups.

Mr. Ban notes that the rule of law and respect for human rights, "in particular by security services," must be strengthened.

He emphasizes the need to fight impunity within the security services and calls on the Government to take advantage of the assistance offered by MONUC and other international partners to ensure justice for crimes and rights abuses.

The many challenges facing the country require the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) "to maintain a robust capacity in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and a continued police, rule of law, human rights, political and civil affairs presence throughout the country."

The Secretary-General recommends renewing MONUC's mandate for one year with the current level of uniformed personnel – now nearly 18,400 troops and police, in addition to a full complement of civilian staff – at least until the end of local elections expected to be held in the second half of 2008.

A gradual drawdown of the mission's strength would be subject to progress towards broad benchmarks, including the successful completion of the local elections "and, most importantly, towards ensuring the security of the population."

At the same time, the report points out that the problems in the eastern DRC must be addressed through a regional approach. Mr. Ban has designated Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Haile Menkerios to address the issue, in close coordination with the top UN envoy to the DRC, William Lacy Swing.
2007-11-20 00:00:00.000

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