UN-AU PEACEKEEPERS AID DARFUR VILLAGERS ATTACKED BY SUDANESE FORCES

UN-AU PEACEKEEPERS AID DARFUR VILLAGERS ATTACKED BY SUDANESE FORCES New York, May 3 2008 11:00AM The United Nations-African Union hybrid peacekeeping operation has evacuated North Darfur villagers wounded in recent attacks by Sudanese forces that have left three dead and at least eight injured.

The joint operation -- known as UNAMID -- said it carried out successfully airlifted wounded civilians, "following SAF [Sudanese forces] air attacks on the village of Umm Sidir in North Darfur" on Thursday, according to a statement issued yesterday in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur and the mission's headquarters.

A UNAMID medical team flew to Umm Sidir to provide initial medical care to the victims of the attack -- which left two men dead and eight seriously injured. In El Hashim and Heles, one woman was killed, while property and live-stock were destroyed.

The wounded, ranging in age from 17 to 40, were later flown by UNAMID forces to El Fasher where they were admitted to hospital. "One man, who has suffered severe head injuries from shrapnel, is said to be in a critical condition, another is awaiting surgery," the mission said. The other men are in a stable condition.

The evacuation was conducted at the request of humanitarian organizations and in coordination with Sudanese authorities.

Initial reports suggest that the area, which is controlled by the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), "has witnessed repeated aerial attacks and possible fighting between government and rebel forces during the course of the last few days."

Condemning attacks against civilians, UNAMID urged all parties to the Darfur conflict -- which have claimed more than 200,000 lives and displaced nearly 2.5 million others since 2003 -- to adhere to international humanitarian laws, which prohibit military attacks against civilians.

A UNAMID fact-finding mission is currently conducting an investigation on the ground, while the peacekeeping forces continue to monitor the situation, the mission noted.

2008-05-03 00:00:00.000

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FREE PRESS, ACCESS TO INFORMATION VITAL FOR DEVELOPMENT, TOP UN OFFICIALS STRESS

FREE PRESS, ACCESS TO INFORMATION VITAL FOR DEVELOPMENT, TOP UN OFFICIALS STRESS New York, May 3 2008 11:00AM Marking the annual World Press Freedom Day, top United Nations officials have stressed the role of a secure and independent media, and access to information, in empowering individuals and advancing development.

"When information flows freely, people are equipped with tools to take control of their lives," noted Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11542.doc.htm">message for the Day, observed each year on 3 May. "When the flow of information is hindered -- whether for political or technological reasons -- our capacity to function is stunted."

Mr. Ban stressed that a free, secure and independent media is one of the foundations of peace and democracy. Attacks on freedom of the press are attacks against international law, humanity, and freedom itself -- everything the UN stands for, he said.

Alarmed at the increasing targeting of journalists around the world, and the failure to thoroughly investigate and prosecute such crimes, the Secretary-General called on all societies to spare no effort in bringing to justice the perpetrators of such attacks. He also paid tribute to all who work in difficult and dangerous conditions to provide the world with free, unbiased information.

The theme for this year's World Press Freedom Day, which was established by the UN in 1993, is "access to information and the empowerment of people."

In his <"http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=25876&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">message on the occasion of the Day, the head of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) -- the body tasked with protecting freedom of expression -- stressed that press freedom and access to information feed into the wider development objective of empowering people by giving people the information that can help them gain control over their own lives.

"This empowerment supports participatory democracy by giving citizens the capacity to engage in public debate and to hold governments and others accountable," said UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura.

Access to information is primordial to the exercise of the basic human right of freedom of expression, Mr. Matsuura added. To be free, the media need to have access to information. Such access is also indispensable in fighting corruption, which has been defined as the primary obstacle to development.

The winner of this year's UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize is a Mexican reporter who has been a target of death threats, sabotage and police harassment because of her work uncovering prostitution and child pornography networks.

Freelance investigative journalist Lydia Cacho Ribeiro will receive the award today at a World Press Freedom Day ceremony in Maputo, Mozambique, organized by UNESCO.

General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim <"http://www.un.org/ga/president/62/statements/wpfd010508.shtml">stressed the importance of press freedom, noting that "it is access to information that truly empowers the individual to become more active and more responsible. In this free press is a crucial ally."

He said the media contributes to the process of democratization, to the strengthening of the rule of law and ultimately to institution building by asking the "right and often difficult" questions, providing access to information and representing all views impartially.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights marked the Day by <"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/52D2354733DF692FC125743D006D3FAC?opendocument">noting that harassment and secrecy laws are weakening press freedom. "It is a sad fact that many governments across the world persist in undermining the freedom of the press to report facts and opinions and, by extension, the right of people in general to be informed about events and policies that are shaping our world," Louise Arbour said.

Ms. Arbour noted that governments are becoming more secretive and offering propaganda disguised as objective information -- especially when alleged security-related issues are on the table.

The proliferation of new or strengthened secrecy laws means that the media are forced to resort to speculation, which can then be used against them to further undermine their credibility, or even as a justification for initiating legal proceedings against them, she added.

Echoing her comments, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression marked the Day by calling on governments to end censorship, protect a free and independent media and guarantee their right to criticize.

"Freedom of the press cannot be applicable exclusively for those with whom we agree," stated Ambeyi Ligabo. "On the contrary, the key to freedom of expression is to respect the rights of those with whom we disagree to voice their own opinion. Without this right, democracy itself cannot flourish."

In Afghanistan, Norah Niland, Chief Human Rights Officer for the UN Assistance Mission there, underlined the importance of press freedom as the country prepares for a fresh round of presidential and parliamentary elections next year.

"In the run-up to Afghanistan's elections in 2009 and 2010 press freedom will be more vital than ever, people can only make informed decisions about the political future of their country if they are empowered with balanced objective information," said Ms. Niland. "The media has a crucial role to play in this respect."

2008-05-03 00:00:00.000

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LANDMARK UN TREATY ON RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ENTERS INTO FORCE

LANDMARK UN TREATY ON RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ENTERS INTO FORCE New York, May 3 2008 11:00AM The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities entered into force today, one month after the required twentieth country ratified the landmark treaty which guarantees the rights of some 650 million people worldwide.

The Convention -- which Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called "a powerful tool to eradicate the obstacles faced by persons with disabilities" -- was adopted by the General Assembly on 13 December 2006, and was opened for signature and ratification on 30 March 2007.

Since then it has been signed by 127 countries and ratified by 25. Jamaica was the first country to ratify the Convention, and on 3 April, Ecuador ratified, providing the sufficient number of parties for the Convention to enter into force.

The Convention does not create any new rights, but aims to ensure that the benefits of existing rights are fully extended and guaranteed.

"It had been argued that persons with disabilities were covered by existing human rights treaties, but the reality was very different," says Akiko Ito, the UN Focal Point on Disability. "Persons with disabilities have routinely suffered discrimination in the job market, in schools and in receiving public services. This Convention will make sure that these people will no longer be ignored."

The treaty asserts the rights of people with disabilities to education, health, work, adequate living conditions, freedom of movement, freedom from exploitation and equal recognition before the law for persons with disabilities.

It also addresses the need for persons with disabilities to have access to public transport, buildings and other facilities and recognizes their capacity to make decisions for themselves.

The convention's Optional Protocol, which will also be binding starting today, allows individuals to petition an international expert body with grievances.

By ratifying the Convention, States commit themselves to enact laws and other measures to improve disability rights, and also abolish legislation, customs and practices that discriminate against persons with disabilities.

John Flanagan, Officer-in-Charge of the UN Mine Action Service, said the new treaty is particularly relevant for survivors of accidents with landmines and explosive remnants of war.

"Too often, landmine victims are excluded from their communities," he stated. "For example, child survivors of landmine incidents are often removed from school. Landmine victims are entitled to all the same human rights as every other member of their societies, and this new Convention will help level the playing field in terms of access to services and opportunities."

The Convention establishes a new body to monitor its implementation -- the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as a Conference of States Parties, which is expected to be convened within six months.

The UN will mark the treaty's entry into force with a special ceremony in New York on 12 May with participants from governments, UN agencies and civil society.

2008-05-03 00:00:00.000

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CLIMATE CHANGE COULD IMPERIL POVERTY GOALS, ECOSOC HEARS

CLIMATE CHANGE COULD IMPERIL POVERTY GOALS, ECOSOC HEARS New York, May 2 2008 6:00PM The Economic and Social Council (<"http://www.un.org/ecosoc/">ECOSOC) should send a strong message that efforts to achieve the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs) could be reversed if climate change is not addressed, its President Léo Mérorès told Council members today.

In a discussion aimed at exploring the relationship between the development goals and climate change, Mr. Mérorès noted that several countries are off track in achieving the MDGs and said that climate change could further hamper countries' efforts to make headway.

ECOSOC's high-level ministerial session this summer will focus on climate change and development, and Mr. Mérorès said ministers should take action on development and climate change.

"In order to achieve the MDGs by the 2015 target date," he said, "we do not only need to step up our efforts particularly targeted at specific MDGs, but also need to step up our efforts to address the challenge of climate change. Otherwise, we risk seeing hard earned fragile economic and social progress reversed by the negative effects of climate change."

"Climate change is, fundamentally, a sustainable development challenge," said Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Sha Zukang, which involves not only environmental protection but also economic and social development.

"While the list of challenges might seem daunting," Mr. Sha said, "we should firmly reject a 'gloom and doom' approach. Today, we have the tools to tackle poverty and climate change in an integrated and balanced way."

He added that to move forward, it will be necessary "to bridge the divide between actors on the environment and on development which, despite our past efforts, continues to exist."

Ogunlade Davidson, a co-chair of one of the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, asserted that there was no question that climate change was occurring, and that despite the claims of climate sceptics, the evidence showed that the cause of climate change was due to human activity, not natural causes.

But he said it was possible to mitigate the emissions that cause climate change, although "not if we continue to do what we are doing." He said climate policy alone will not solve the climate change policy and that many other policies must be considered, including taxes, subsidies, trade policies, access to modern energy, bank lending policies and insurance policies.
2008-05-02 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL URGES INCLUSIVE AND CREDIBLE MYANMAR REFERENDUM, ELECTIONS

SECURITY COUNCIL URGES INCLUSIVE AND CREDIBLE MYANMAR REFERENDUM, ELECTIONS New York, May 2 2008 5:00PM The Security Council today <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sc9320.doc.htm">stressed the need for the upcoming referendum and elections in Myanmar to include the full participation of all political actors and respect for fundamental political freedoms.

In February authorities in the South-East Asian nation announced that a draft constitution will be put to voters in a national referendum in May, ahead of multi-party elections scheduled for 2010.

The Council underlined the need for the Government of Myanmar "to establish the conditions and create an atmosphere conducive to an inclusive and credible process," in a statement read out by Ambassador John Sawers of the United Kingdom, which holds the Council's rotating presidency for May.

"It further notes the commitment by the Government of Myanmar to ensure that the referendum process will be free and fair," the statement added.

The Council also expressed its appreciation for the work of the Secretary-General's Special Adviser, Ibrahim Gambari, who has visited the country three times since last summer's crackdown by the authorities on peaceful protesters, and is spearheading UN efforts to promote democratization and national reconciliation in Myanmar.

Mr. Gambari recently stated that it is in Myanmar's interest to ensure that its upcoming referendum and elections are as credible and inclusive as possible and to engage without delay in dialogue with the detained pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Mr. Sawers later told reporters that although today's statement does not refer to Ms. Suu Kyi, it does reaffirm previous statements by the Council in which it mentions the need for Myanmar's authorities to engage in a genuine dialogue with her and all concerned parties.

Briefing the press on the Council's work for the month, he noted that the "centrepiece" of the UK presidency will be an open debate on post-conflict peacebuilding, to be chaired by Foreign Secretary David Miliband on 20 May.

"In the period immediately after peace agreement is achieved, there isn't sufficient change in the lives of ordinary people, there's not a re-establishment of security and far too many countries after conflict lapse back into conflict within five years of a peace agreement being reached," he stated. "That's partly because the international community does not have the capacity to quickly implement and follow through on peace agreements when they are reached."

Mr. Sawers added that Council members will embark on 31 May for a 10-day visit to Africa, with scheduled stops in Kenya, Sudan, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Côte d'Ivoire.
2008-05-02 00:00:00.000

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UN HANDS OVER REFURBISHED MINISTRY BUILDING TO LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT

UN HANDS OVER REFURBISHED MINISTRY BUILDING TO LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT New York, May 2 2008 5:00PM The United Nations has handed over a newly-refurbished Ministry of Internal Affairs building to the Liberian Government, calling the hand-over a crucial step in the country's post-war recovery.

Speaking at the hand-over ceremony, the UN Deputy Envoy in Liberia, Jordan Ryan, said on Wednesday that the Ministry was "a crucial arm of government in consolidating peace and fostering development," after the end of the country's civil war.

The UN provided $200,000, or nearly three-quarters of the cost, to rehabilitate the building.

Meanwhile, the UN Envoy to Liberia, Ellen Margrethe Løj, called on the country's parents to make some sacrifice to send their children to school.

Presenting school and sporting supplies to residents in Brewerville, close to the capital Monrovia, Ms. Løj said: "I know it is sometimes difficult to send your children to school. You may need them around the house to help you with some household tasks, but you need to make a little sacrifice today. By doing so you are building a better future or your children and your country."

The supplies were donated by the Jordanian medical contingent serving with the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).
2008-05-02 00:00:00.000

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UN SAYS HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN SOMALIA IS DETERIORATING

UN SAYS HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN SOMALIA IS DETERIORATING New York, May 2 2008 5:00PM Soaring food prices and a worsening drought are causing a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Somalia, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO).

About 2.6 million Somalis now need assistance – more than a third of the country's population, representing a rise of 40 per cent since January. An additional 600,000 people in urban areas either do not have enough food to sustain their households, or have been forced to sell assets to buy food, leaving them vulnerable to further deterioration.

Adding to the problems, cereal prices, both for commercial imports of rice, and for locally produced maize and sorghum, have increased by up to 375 per cent in the last year and are now at record levels.

The UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP) has signed an agreement with the Danish Refugee Council to continue providing cooked meals to 50,000 people a day in 10 districts in Mogadishu.

In the last week of April, WFP supplied food aid to nearly 400,000 people in Puntland, Somaliland and south-central Somalia.

CARE International also distributed food to nearly 90,000 people in Galgaduud and South Mudug.
2008-05-02 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY DEPLORES MURDER OF AID WORKER IN EASTERN CHAD

UN REFUGEE AGENCY DEPLORES MURDER OF AID WORKER IN EASTERN CHAD New York, May 2 2008 4:00PM The United Nations refugee agency today voiced its sadness at the killing of a senior aid worker in eastern Chad and warned that humanitarian staff operating in the region must endure an increasingly insecure environment in which to carry out their work.

Pascal Marlinge, the Country Director for the non-governmental organization (NGO) Save The Children, was shot yesterday by bandits while travelling in a three-vehicle convoy on the road between the towns of Farchana and Adre.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis told reporters today in Geneva that "this shocking incident underscores the highly insecure environment that humanitarian workers face in delivering protection and assistance" in eastern Chad.

More than 240,000 refugees from the neighbouring Darfur region of Sudan and 180,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) live in 12 camps across eastern Chad run by UNHCR.

This week's attack was the second targeting an aid worker in Chad in less than a year. A driver for UNHCR was shot and killed by gunmen late last year.
2008-05-02 00:00:00.000

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UN EXPERT CALLS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO EXAMINE GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS

UN EXPERT CALLS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO EXAMINE GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS New York, May 2 2008 4:00PM The Human Rights Council should convene to discuss the current global food crisis because it is important to view the problem of soaring prices as "a massive violation of the right to adequate food," a United Nations expert on the subject <"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/BC54DEAD8AED3B95C125743D0051778A?opendocument">said today.

Speaking in New York, the newly appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier de Schutter, called for a special session of the HRC so that the Council can "speak with one single voice."

Mr. de Schutter said the right to adequate food had been "for the moment totally absent" from the debate about economic and humanitarian aid to meet the current crisis.

"If we had 100 million persons arrested in a dictatorial regime [or] if we had 100 million persons beaten up by police, of course we would be marching on the streets and we'd be convening special sessions of the Human Rights Council," Mr. de Schutter said. "Every single of these 100 million individuals deserves the same degree of attention from the international community as if the person had been arbitrarily arrested or detained for his or her political opinions."

The Special Rapporteur, who took over the role yesterday from his predecessor, Jean Ziegler, added that "governments cannot remain passive in the current crisis," and called for a range of measures to tackle the issue.

He said that States should increase their support to humanitarian agencies and provide cash transfers to the neediest segments of populations in food-insecure countries. In the longer-term he called for greater financial support for small-scale farmers, action to combat climate change, and the phasing out of "market-distorting" agricultural subsidies.

Mr. de Schutter said that the world needed to do much more "not only to respond to this crisis but to prevent further similar crises from occurring. I would not want in 10 years' time to see another crisis of this amplitude. This is not a natural disaster. It's not an earthquake. It's a crisis which is man-made," he said.

Earlier this week the UN announced that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had assembled an international task force which would prepare a global plan of action to tackle the global rise in food prices.
2008-05-02 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN OFFICIAL OFFERS CONDOLENCES AFTER PLANE CRASH IN SOUTHERN SUDAN

TOP UN OFFICIAL OFFERS CONDOLENCES AFTER PLANE CRASH IN SOUTHERN SUDAN New York, May 2 2008 3:00PM The senior United Nations official in Sudan has offered his condolences to the Government of Southern Sudan after learning of the death today of one of its ministers and other military officials in a plane crash.

Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, also offered his deepest sympathies on behalf of the UN Mission in Sudan (<"http://www.unmis.org/english/en-main.htm">UNMIS) and the wider Organization to the bereaved families of the crash victims, according to a statement issued by the mission in Khartoum.

Media reports state that the aircraft was flying from the town of Wau to the regional capital of Juba when it crashed, killing everyone on board. Around 20 people are thought to have lost their lives, including Dominic Dim Deng, a Government minister.

The UNMIS statement said it is making its helicopters available to bring aviation safety officials from the Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan – established in the wake of the January 2005 comprehensive peace agreement ending the long-running north-south civil war – to the scene of the accident so they can conduct their investigations.
2008-05-02 00:00:00.000

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KOSOVO: UN PEACEKEEPING CHIEF HEADS TO REGION FOR FACT-FINDING TOUR

KOSOVO: UN PEACEKEEPING CHIEF HEADS TO REGION FOR FACT-FINDING TOUR New York, May 2 2008 2:00PM The United Nations peacekeeping chief travels today to the Balkans for a fact-finding mission on Kosovo, which earlier this year declared its independence from Serbia.

Jean-Marie Guéhenno, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, will be holding talks with all stakeholders in both Pristina and Belgrade about the future of the international civil presence in Kosovo, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters today.

The UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (<"http://www.unmikonline.org/">UNMIK) has been in place since mid-1999 after NATO forces drove out Yugoslav troops amid inter-ethnic fighting, and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said it will continue to exercise its authority until the Security Council decides otherwise.
2008-05-02 00:00:00.000

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AHEAD OF SLATED ELECTIONS IN MALDIVES, UN TEAM TO CONDUCT FACT-FINDING VISIT

AHEAD OF SLATED ELECTIONS IN MALDIVES, UN TEAM TO CONDUCT FACT-FINDING VISIT New York, May 2 2008 2:00PM An inter-agency United Nations fact-finding mission heads to the Maldives on Sunday for a six-day visit to determine whether the world body should provide assistance to forthcoming elections in the Indian Ocean island chain.

The mission, which is being led by the UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA), is expected to meet with a broad range of people in the Maldives during the visit which follows a request from the Government, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters.

These include senior Government officials, political leaders, diplomats, members of civil society, representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other important national actors.

Multi-party presidential elections are expected to be held in the Maldives by October this year, with parliamentary polls likely to be held by early next year.
2008-05-02 00:00:00.000

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UN WELCOMES PRESIDENT BUSH'S CALL FOR US$770 TO FIGHT FOOD CRISIS

UN WELCOMES PRESIDENT BUSH'S CALL FOR US$770 TO FIGHT FOOD CRISIS New York, May 2 2008 2:00PM The head of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has thanked United States President George Bush "for his urgent call to action to combat the advance of hunger among the world's most vulnerable," after Mr. Bush asked the US Congress to provide an additional $770 million for food aid and development work.

Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of <"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2826">WFP, said yesterday that "urgent consideration by the US Congress will help prevent wide-scale human suffering due to soaring food prices." She added that, "today, for those living on less than US$1 a day, the impact of soaring food prices is catastrophic."

The President of the <"http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,pagePK:34382~piPK:34439~theSitePK:4607,00.html">World Bank Group, which provides funding for development around the globe, also welcomed the announcement by Mr. Bush.

"These funds will help put food in the mouths of millions of people who are struggling to survive as prices rise," Robert B. Zoellick said. "Importantly, US action goes beyond the critical short-term needs and aims to deal with the causes of the crisis so millions will not suffer again."

Mr. Zoellick also welcomed the fact that the announcement came after Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had assembled an international task force to tackle the global food crisis.

"By combining emergency support for the neediest, with support for agricultural production, and international action on trade, the US package takes us closer to the integrated international response needed to build sustainable solutions," he said.
2008-05-02 00:00:00.000

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MIDDLE EAST QUARTET BACKS CONTINUING ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATION EFFORTS

MIDDLE EAST QUARTET BACKS CONTINUING ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATION EFFORTS New York, May 2 2008 2:00PM The <"http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=70&Body=Palestin&Body1=">Middle East diplomatic Quartet, which includes the United Nations, today expressed its strong support for ongoing Israeli-Palestinian negotiations aimed at reaching a settlement by the end of 2008 that will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state in West Bank and the Gaza Strip and an end to the long-running conflict.

In a statement issued in London, after a meeting there of its principals, the Quartet – which comprises the UN, the European Union, Russia and the United States – commended both sides "for their continuous and intensive negotiations" and emphasized that there was an urgent need for more progress.

Chaired by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Quartet meeting stressed the importance of visible signs of progress on the ground to both build confidence and create an atmosphere among Israelis and Palestinians that is supportive of negotiations.

While noting there have been positive steps recently, such as the removal of some roadblocks and an outpost by Israel and an improved security performance by the Palestinian Authority, the statement said a lot more was necessary to keep the political process on track and to boost daily living conditions in the West Bank.

Quartet members voiced deep concern at Israel's continued settlement activity and called on the country to freeze all such activity, including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001.

They also called on the Palestinian Authority to fulfil its commitments to fight terrorism and to accelerate measures to rebuild and restructure its security apparatus.

Condemning the ongoing rocket attacks from Gaza into southern Israel, and the terrorist attack on a Jerusalem seminary on 6 March, as well as recent Palestinian civilian casualties, the statement called for an end to violence and terror and urged both sides "to take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of affected civilians."

It also called for continued emergency and humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the provision of essential services to Gaza without obstruction.

In addition, the statement emphasized the need for international donors to follow through on pledges made at the Paris Donors' Conference in December last year to support Palestinian institutional capacity building and economic development.

"Underlining the crucial role of Arab States in support of the peace process, and the importance of the Arab League peace initiative, the Quartet encouraged the Arab States to fulfil both their political and financial roles in support of the Annapolis process," it said, referring to the peace process launched in the US city of that name late last year.

After the Quartet meeting, Mr. Ban chaired an ad hoc meeting of Quartet members and the group's representative, the former United Kingdom prime minister Tony Blair, as well as representatives from Norway and Arab participants in the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee.

Mr. Ban also held a number of bilateral meetings today in London before heading back to UN Headquarters in New York.

The other participants at the Quartet meeting were Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the High Representative for European Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Dimitrij Rupel, the Foreign Minister of Slovakia, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency.
2008-05-02 00:00:00.000

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LACK OF FUEL, RISING FOOD PRICES HAMPERING UN AID EFFORTS IN GAZA, WEST BANK

LACK OF FUEL, RISING FOOD PRICES HAMPERING UN AID EFFORTS IN GAZA, WEST BANK New York, May 2 2008 2:00PM Fuel shortages and rising food prices are placing heavy burdens on the lead United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees and forcing it to cut back on life-saving activities in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, its spokesperson said today.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (<"http://www.un.org/unrwa/english.html">UNRWA) is currently facing a shortfall of more than $117 million in its General Fund, hampering efforts to provide emergency and regular food aid to nearly one million refugees in the West Bank and Gaza alone, spokesperson Matthias Burchard told reporters in Geneva.

Regarding the fuel situation, he said that although the Agency has received enough fuel to allow it to resume food aid distribution in Gaza, the haphazard supply is making it impossible to carry out any planning. And it is worried that it is again running out of fuel today.

According to UNRWA, the streets of Gaza are virtually empty of cars and public transportation has stopped. As a result, enrolment in UNRWA schools – which provides education to nearly 200,000 children – is now basically limited to those who are able to walk to school.

"Apart from all the other hardships, it is particularly heart-wrenching that education, once the trump card of Palestine refugees, proudly referred to also by its donors, is now reduced to who can still walk to school," Mr. Burchard told reporters in Geneva.

UNRWA's Director of Operations in Gaza has called the humanitarian situation in Gaza "shocking and shameful," and said the solution to reverse the current trend of human misery and violence is access for people and supplies to get into and out of Gaza.
2008-05-02 00:00:00.000

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UN THROWS SPOTLIGHT ON PNEUMONIA, WORLD'S BIGGEST KILLER OF CHILDREN

UN THROWS SPOTLIGHT ON PNEUMONIA, WORLD'S BIGGEST KILLER OF CHILDREN New York, May 2 2008 1:00PM A new <"http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/86/5/08-053348/en/index.html">report from the United Nations says that pneumonia kills more children than AIDS, malaria and measles combined, and calls for greater coverage of vulnerable populations.

The report, prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO), was also welcomed by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Peter Salama, Chief of UNICEF's Health Section, <" http://www.unicef.org/media/media_43753.html">said yesterday that "pneumonia remains a significant problem in many countries but in particular in communities with a high rate of under-five mortality." He added that, "pneumonia control is therefore essential in achieving the Millennium Development Goal [<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/index.html">MDG] Four, which calls for a reduction by two-thirds in the under-five mortality rate by 2015."

WHO says that much more needs to be done to raise the profile of pneumonia and that the control of the disease in young children has been neglected.

Important underlying causes of childhood pneumonia are poverty, malnutrition and poor household environments, including overcrowding, poor hygiene and smoke.

WHO, UNICEF and other organizations have proposed a global action plan for pneumonia to increase awareness of the disease and to scale up interventions that have proven to be effective.

The organizations called on countries to develop plans for controlling pneumonia based on their existing child survival strategies and to focus on using vaccines, increasing breastfeeding rates, using zinc supplementation to manage diarrhoea, reducing indoor air pollution and preventing HIV infection.
2008-05-02 00:00:00.000

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VIRUS OUTBREAK CLAIMS LIVES OF 20 YOUNG CHILDREN IN CHINA - UN HEALTH AGENCY

VIRUS OUTBREAK CLAIMS LIVES OF 20 YOUNG CHILDREN IN CHINA – UN HEALTH AGENCY New York, May 2 2008 1:00PM Twenty infants and young children have died in eastern China in an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) caused by enterovirus infection and the number of cases may still not peak for another two months, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) <" http://www.who.int/csr/don/2008_05_01/en/index.html">reports.

All 20 deaths occurred in the city of Fuyang in Anhui province, WHO said in an update released yesterday, with a total of 1,884 cases of enterovirus (EV-71) infection reported as of Tuesday.

WHO said Chinese authorities have introduced a series of measures, including enhanced monitoring of drinking water quality, increased training of health-care workers and greater surveillance, to try to curtail the spread of the outbreak.

The authorities are also keeping the UN agency and health officials in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Province of Taiwan informed of test results, which last week confirmed that EV-71 is the cause of the outbreak.

Cases started to emerge in early March but the number of people hospitalized has jumped since 19 April, WHO said, and public health experts have predicted the number of cases will not peak until June-July.

Non-polio <"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs174/en/index.html">enteroviruses are common worldwide, with young children most susceptible to infection and no vaccine currently available. The virus is contagious and can be transmitted through direct contact with the mucus, saliva or faeces of an infected person.
2008-05-02 00:00:00.000

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NEPAL'S NEW CONSTITUTION MUST ENSHRINE PRESS FREEDOM, STRESSES UN OFFICIAL

NEPAL'S NEW CONSTITUTION MUST ENSHRINE PRESS FREEDOM, STRESSES UN OFFICIAL New York, May 2 2008 11:00AM Enshrining guarantees of freedom of expression and access to information in Nepal's new constitution will be crucial tasks for the recently elected Constituent Assembly, the top United Nations human rights official in the country said today, on the eve of the worldwide observance of <" http://www.un.org/events/pressday/2008/ ">World Press Freedom Day.

"However journalists, and all Nepalis, will be empowered only when those written guarantees are translated into real access to information on the ground," said Richard Bennett of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (<"http://nepal.ohchr.org/en/index.html ">OHCHR) in Nepal, as he addressed a gathering in the capital, Kathmandu, to mark the Day, observed annually on 3 May.

He stressed the important role of the media in a country such as Nepal, which is recovering from a decade-long civil war that claimed an estimated 13,000 lives until the Government and Maoist rebels signed a peace accord in 2006.

"In a post-conflict society such as Nepal, where tensions are sometimes high and challenges remain to human rights, governance, development and durable peace, the media plays an even more central role where accuracy and depth of reporting is especially crucial," stated Mr. Bennett, who also heads the human rights unit of the UN Mission in Nepal <" http://www.unmin.org.np/">(UNMIN).

OHCHR plans to conduct training for journalists next month on the media's role in reporting on the Constituent Assembly, including the drafting of a new constitution that will enshrine respect for human rights, including freedom of expression.

Mr. Bennett noted that while the activities of the media "are not without controversy," as the 10 April polls demonstrated, in general the media did its job of reporting in a balanced and responsible manner.

He also voiced concern about the incidents against journalists that were reported during the election process. According to the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), these included 20 cases of physical attacks, a dozen cases of threats and intimidation, and numerous other attempts to stifle freedom of expression.

In addition, a report released today by the Federation of Development Journalists (FODEJ) reveals that the number of incidents in which media workers were targeted jumped in the past year, from 294 to 474.

Mr. Bennett pledged the assistance of OHCHR to help ensure that the right to freedom of expression and information is respected by all in Nepal.
2008-05-02 00:00:00.000

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LARGEST-EVER EASTERN EUROPE/CENTRAL ASIA AIDS CONFERENCE KICKS OFF - UN

LARGEST-EVER EASTERN EUROPE/CENTRAL ASIA AIDS CONFERENCE KICKS OFF – UN New York, May 2 2008 11:00AM The United Nations is taking part in the largest-ever AIDS conference covering Eastern Europe and Central Asia which kicks off tomorrow in Moscow.

Some 2,000 participants from 50 countries will gather for three days to assess regional achievements, share results and determine how to tackle the challenge of curbing the epidemic's regional impact.

Focusing on the theme "Accelerating Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment and Care for All," the event will be hosted by the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (<"http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/FeatureStories/archive/2008/20080502_second_EECA_AIDS_Conference.asp">UNAIDS); the UN-backed <" http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/">Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the International AIDS Society; and the Federal Service on Surveillance Protection of Consumer Rights and Wellbeing of the Russian Federation.

"Eastern Europe and Central Asia is at a critical turning point in the epidemic," <"http://data.unaids.org/pub/PressRelease/2008/20080502_eecaac_opening_pr_en.pdf">said UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot, noting that governments, civil society and communities are displaying indications of enhanced leadership and cooperation.

"However, HIV-related stigma and discrimination continues to hamper HIV prevention efforts in the region and renewed political action is needed if real progress is to be achieved."

Efforts to tackle the HIV/AIDS challenge have borne fruit in the region, with the estimated number of new HIV infections dropping from 230,000 in 2001 to 150,000 in 2007.

But the number of people living with the epidemic continues to grow, according to UNAIDS and the UN World Health Organization (<" http://www.who.int/en/">WHO).

The gathering will examine the feminization of the epidemic, which is affecting an ever-larger number of women; the impact of HIV/AIDS on young people; and increased heterosexual transmission.

This is the second Eastern Europe and Central Asia AIDS Conference (<" http://www.eecaac.org/en/index.phtml"> EECAAC II), following the inaugural session held in May 2006.
2008-05-02 00:00:00.000

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WOMEN HOLD KEY TO BREAKING OUT OF GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS, STRESSES MIGIRO

WOMEN HOLD KEY TO BREAKING OUT OF GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS, STRESSES MIGIRO New York, May 1 2008 6:00PM Not only do women suffer the most from global problems, such as the current crisis arising from the surge in food prices, but they can also contribute the most to its solutions, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said today.

In a keynote address to the Women's Foreign Policy Group in New York, Ms. Migiro pointed out that the world is faced with an "unprecedented" rise of food prices, plunging many developing countries into a crisis that threatens to thwart efforts to achieve the global anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

"The advances we have seen in achieving this collective vision for a better world could all be undermined by rising food prices," she said.

Highlighting some of the effects of the crisis, Ms. Migiro noted that families that do not have enough to eat are being forced to make terrible choices, such as deciding between food or medicine, or choosing whether to send their children to school or to the fields where they might earn money to help the family.

"And it's women who are hit the hardest," she said. "The development emergency engulfing whole communities is taking its heaviest toll on women."

The crisis has prompted Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to form a new UN Task Force, bringing together heads of UN bodies along with international financial institutions, experts and leading global authorities to address the issue. He has also pointed out that the crisis offers an opportunity to re-invest in agriculture in Africa.

"Helping African farmers can have a decisive impact on women's lives," Ms. Migiro said, noting that for the most part it is women – who make up 80 per cent of Africa's farmers – that are out there under the hot sun, tending the fields and harvesting crops.

"But the same women hit hardest by the food crisis are ready to hit back," she added, stressing that with the right support, they can move their communities from subsistence farming to commercial farming and even industry. This is crucial not only for the continent but for the world, which is just not producing as much food as it consumes.

"We need to do much more… to empower women. Women can drive the Green Revolution in Africa. They hold the key to breaking out of the food crisis; to educating the young; to peace, progress and prosperity," the Deputy Secretary-General stated.
2008-05-01 00:00:00.000

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AHEAD OF MIDDLE EAST QUARTET TALKS, BAN KI-MOON MEETS WITH OFFICIALS IN LONDON

AHEAD OF MIDDLE EAST QUARTET TALKS, BAN KI-MOON MEETS WITH OFFICIALS IN LONDON New York, May 1 2008 5:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met today in London with senior officials who will take part in tomorrow's meeting of the Middle East diplomatic Quartet – comprising the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United States – being held as part of efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Mr. Ban held talks with Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commission for External Relations, and with Salam Fayad, Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority.

Later today and tomorrow, he plans to hold discussions with other officials, including Quartet envoy Tony Blair and European Union (EU) High Representative Javier Solana.

Tomorrow's Quartet meeting, which Mr. Ban will chair, will review all aspects of the peace process launched in the US city of Annapolis late last year and the situation on the ground.

While in London, the Secretary-General is also scheduled to take part in a session of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Palestinian Authority, a Norwegian initiative set up in 1992 to ensure that development assistance is used efficiently in relation to the peace process and to contribute to the development of Palestinian society.

Meanwhile in New York, General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim held talks yesterday with Slovakian Deputy Foreign Minister Olga Algayerova.

The Minister "expressed her Government's support for the work of the President during the current General Assembly session, especially regards his efforts to advance on reforms related to the work and composition of the Security Council and to UN management practices," according to a statement issued by Mr. Kerim's spokesperson.

The two officials conferred on the Central European nation's involvement in UN activities, including its status as a newly emerging development donor, and also discussed the appointment of Miroslav Jenca, a Slovak diplomat, to head the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

Next week, Mr. Kerim will travel to London to participate in a special private sector meeting convened by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight anti-poverty targets with a 2015 deadline.

The President will then make stops in Turkey and Egypt for official visits.
2008-05-01 00:00:00.000

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UN HUMANITARIAN CHIEF CONDEMNS KILLING OF SENIOR AID WORKER IN CHAD

UN HUMANITARIAN CHIEF CONDEMNS KILLING OF SENIOR AID WORKER IN CHAD New York, May 1 2008 4:00PM The United Nations humanitarian chief today strongly condemned the killing of Pascal Marlinge, Country Director of Save the Children-UK in Chad, and extended his condolences to the agency and to Mr. Marlinge's family.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said that "the targeting of humanitarian workers who are in Chad to help those suffering from civil strife is an inexcusable crime."

Mr. Marlinge, a French national who was based in the town of Abeché in Chad, was killed when a three-vehicle humanitarian convoy was stopped by two armed men in uniform. The incident happened about 20 kilometres east of Farchana, on the road to the town of Adre in eastern Chad.

Mr. Holmes said "the UN welcomes assurances by the Government of Chad that this crime will be investigated," and added that, "this despicable act is likely to exacerbate already challenging conditions in which humanitarian workers continue to provide much-needed relief to those in need."

The attack was the second targeting a humanitarian worker in Chad in less than a year. Gunmen shot and killed a driver working for the UN refugee agency (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home">UNHCR) late last year.
2008-05-01 00:00:00.000

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INDIGENOUS PEOPLES MOST AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT SAYS

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES MOST AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT SAYS New York, May 1 2008 2:00PM Indigenous peoples are "most directly affected by environmental degradation caused by climate change," and are "the stewards of some of the most precious biologically diverse regions of the world," the President of the General Assembly said today.

In a statement Srgjan Kerim said he was encouraged that the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, which is currently meeting in New York, has chosen climate change as the special theme of this year's session.

He added that indigenous issues are inextricably linked to progress toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and that there was a "need to draw attention to what has been described as a 'development emergency', which is being exacerbated by rising high food and energy prices."

Mr. Kerim also welcomed the fact that this was the first session of the Forum since the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007.

He said "the Declaration marks a milestone in the recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples worldwide. More than that, it is an important call for justice and to put an end to social exclusion and marginalization of approximately 370 million people worldwide and to ensure that their identity will be preserved."

He stressed that "indigenous people are affected in a disproportionate manner by a high level of poverty and extreme poverty as well as the lack of access to health and education services."

Some 3,300 delegates have gathered in New York for the seventh session of the Permanent Forum, a subsidiary of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which is wrapping up tomorrow after two weeks.
2008-05-01 00:00:00.000

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UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL GRANTS LEAVE TO FORMER SENIOR BOSNIAN CROAT FIGURE

UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL GRANTS LEAVE TO FORMER SENIOR BOSNIAN CROAT FIGURE New York, May 1 2008 2:00PM The United Nations tribunal set up to deal with the worst war crimes committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s has <"http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2008/pr1246e.htm">granted temporary provisional release to a former senior Bosnian Croat figure who is currently on trial.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (<"http://www.un.org/icty/">ICTY), which sits in The Hague, ruled on Tuesday that Bruno Stoji&#263; be granted leave on humanitarian grounds until 5 May, when the defence case in his trial is scheduled to begin.

Mr. Stoji&#263; and five other co-accused, all former high-level leaders in the Bosnian Croat wartime entity known as Herceg-Bosna, stand accused of war crimes committed in 1992 and 1993 against Bosnian Muslims and other non-Croats in south-western and central Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially the municipalities of Prozor, Gornji Vakuf, Jablanica, Mostar, Ljubuški, Stolac, Capljina and Vareš.

The many charges include murder, rape, unlawful deportation, imprisonment, cruel treatment, unlawful labour, the wanton destruction of cities, towns and villages, and persecutions on political, racial or religious grounds.
2008-05-01 00:00:00.000

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MEETING BASIC FOOD NEEDS 'PROBLEMATIC' FOR MILLIONS OF AFGHANS, SAYS UN OFFICIAL

MEETING BASIC FOOD NEEDS 'PROBLEMATIC' FOR MILLIONS OF AFGHANS, SAYS UN OFFICIAL New York, May 1 2008 2:00PM Rising food prices in Afghanistan have left millions of people struggling and in need of assistance, a senior official from the United Nations World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=3">WFP) said today, after assessing the food security situation in the country.

"Right now meeting basic food needs is extremely problematic for millions of Afghans," Anthony Banbury, WFP's Regional Director for Asia, told a news conference in Kabul today.

Mr. Banbury noted that inflation in food costs hit 30 per cent in February, with wheat prices rising by 50 to 100 per cent in some parts of the country.

"Many people are able to endure these higher prices and perhaps even benefit from them," he stated. "But for millions of Afghans, the poorer segments of society, who spend up to 70 per cent of their meagre income on food, these food price rises put the basic necessities simply out of their reach."

He credited the Afghan Government for being one of the first in the world to identify the problems associated with the rising prices of food and to take action to address it. In January, the Government and the UN appealed for $79 million to deal with the humanitarian impact of the surge in prices.

The WFP portion of that appeal – $77 million – is fully funded and is being used to provide food assistance to 2.5 million Afghans.

UN agencies have already taken several measures to deal with the global crisis, and earlier this week Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced that he will lead a high-powered task force to coordinate the Organization's efforts in this area.

Meanwhile, Kai Eide, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, is meeting today in Ottawa with Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier and Defence Minister Peter Gordon MacKay, as part of his continuing consultations with concerned countries on ways to increase assistance for the strife-torn nation.

Mr. Eide arrived in Ottawa from Washington D.C., where he met with United States officials, including President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates.

The new envoy will be in New York tomorrow to talk to Secretariat officials about the conference to be held in Paris in June in support of the Afghan Government. He will also be discussing stepping up coordination efforts with Afghanistan's international partners.
2008-05-01 00:00:00.000

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JAMAICAN CHILDREN NEED HOPE TO RESIST VIOLENCE, SAYS EX-SOLDIER AND UN ADVOCATE

JAMAICAN CHILDREN NEED HOPE TO RESIST VIOLENCE, SAYS EX-SOLDIER AND UN ADVOCATE New York, May 1 2008 1:00PM Jamaican children need more opportunities, support and hope to resist and rise above violence, former child soldier and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Advocate for Children Affected by War Ishmael Beah <" http://www.unicef.org/media/media_43749.html">said at the end of a two-day visit to the Caribbean nation.

The 27-year-old Beah, who was forced as a child to fight in Sierra Leone's civil war, and was assisted with his rehabilitation by UNICEF, met with children in districts of Jamaica's capital, Kingston, which have been marred by violence. He discussed ways to stay away from gangs and to navigate difficult situations without resorting to violence.

"My life was all about weapons, drugs and violence," he said during his visit. "Now I teach people to resist violence and to use that energy to do other positive things with their lives. I encourage them to see that it is possible to have a life outside of violence."

Violence is a major threat to children in Jamaica, where 87 per cent of those aged 2 to 14 are subjected to at least one form of psychological or physical punishment. Only 28 per cent of children think their communities are safe. Children are pressed into gang warfare, where they are used as spies and look-outs and are often forced to conceal and use guns.

"Every child has the capacity to do great things," Mr. Beah said at a presentation to the University of the West Indies. "No one wants to take up a gun. It is circumstances that push children into violence. What you provide and how you engage with children is what makes the difference. It is possible to refocus and reshape their lives."
2008-05-01 00:00:00.000

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SISTER UN AGENCIES BOOST TIES TO BETTER SERVE WORLD'S VULNERABLE

SISTER UN AGENCIES BOOST TIES TO BETTER SERVE WORLD'S VULNERABLE New York, May 1 2008 1:00PM The United Nations agencies tasked with assisting refugees and promoting sexual and reproductive health rights have bolstered their partnership to tackle common challenges such as combating sexual and gender-based violence and addressing the needs of internally displaced persons (<" http://www.unhcr.org/protect/3b84c7e23.html">IDPs).

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) António Guterres and UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/481880224.html">signed a joint letter in Geneva yesterday formalizing the strengthened ties between the two bodies which have been working together for many years on issues of mutual concern.

"The newly signed letter is an attempt to broaden the cooperation between the agencies," said Karl Steinacker, head of UNHCR's field information and coordination support section.

The two agencies have collaborated to ensure that refugees and IDPs can enjoy their rights to good health, including in the preparation of health manuals, and to provide training, guidelines and resources to combat sexual and gender-based violence, particularly in refugee communities.

In addition, <" http://www.unfpa.org">UNFPA supplies UNHCR with items, including male and female condoms, to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections in conflict zones.

They have also worked together on a photographic and video project – "Positive Living, an exhibition for refugee settings" – designed to help de-stigmatize HIV/AIDS by showing that people living with HIV can lead a normal existence, which has toured refugee camps all over Africa.

Other areas where the two agencies stand to benefit from closer cooperation include obtaining accurate information on displaced populations, which will help to ensure that the vulnerable receive the assistance they need. Also, UNFPA's expertise in carrying out population censuses can help in identifying the world's stateless people.
2008-05-01 00:00:00.000

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AT UN GATHERING, ASIA-PACIFIC NATIONS AGREE TO COOPERATE ON RENEWABLE ENERGY

AT UN GATHERING, ASIA-PACIFIC NATIONS AGREE TO COOPERATE ON RENEWABLE ENERGY New York, May 1 2008 10:00AM Asia-Pacific countries reached an agreement at a United Nations meeting in Bangkok to boost their collaboration on developing renewable energy in a bid to decrease their reliance on fossil fuels and enhance their long-term energy security.

The decision to share experiences and disseminate developing renewable energy technologies was taken yesterday before the closing of the annual session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), which this year focused on the theme of energy security and sustainable development.

A recent ESCAP study showed that the region cannot rely on ongoing increases in the energy supply to spur economic growth. If the region's energy needs continue growing at the current rate, it will account for half of the world's energy demand by 2030, 80 per cent of which will be for oil, coal and other fossil fuels, which will result in massive carbon emissions.

Some 1.7 billion people in the region rely on traditional biomass fuels -- the largest number of victims from indoor air pollution caused by burning these fuels is in the Asia-Pacific -- and 1 billion do not have access to electricity.

At the meeting, Asia-Pacific countries asked ESCAP to collaborate with multilateral funding agencies, research institutions and public-private partnerships, among others.

Representatives from roughly 50 countries attended the session, which also adopted resolutions on boosting resilience to disasters, transport and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight anti-poverty targets to be met by 2015.

"Sustainable agriculture and food security" was selected as next year's session focus.

"The new theme reflects the serious concern that many delegates have expressed over the rocketing food prices," ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer said in her closing remarks to the gathering.

2008-05-01 00:00:00.000

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MARGINALIZED GROUPS MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN IN RESPONSE TO FOOD CRISIS -- UN RIGHTS CHIEF

MARGINALIZED GROUPS MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN IN RESPONSE TO FOOD CRISIS -- UN RIGHTS CHIEF New York, May 1 2008 10:00AM Solutions to the current food crisis spurred by soaring global food prices must include marginalized groups, the top United Nations human rights official said today, joining the call issued by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the international community to respond to the problem.

While acknowledging that addressing the crisis is fundamentally humanitarian in nature, High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour stressed in a statement issued in Geneva that it is also an obligation, thus requiring non-discriminatory food distributions and analysis of communities' needs.

"More fundamentally, and for the more medium and longer term, the underlying inequalities and inabilities to access food must be addressed by a comprehensive solution," she noted. "When we focus on those most in need, we must include not only the poorest but also those that are particularly vulnerable to discrimination on any other grounds, including gender, ethnicity, or disability."

Ms. Arbour underscored that all voices must be heard -- directly or through representative organizations -- in tackling the food crisis.

She also pointed out that food-related social unrest could potentially threaten other human rights, such as freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Yesterday, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes announced that the UN is aiming to have a comprehensive plan to tackle the global food crisis in place by the beginning of June "around which the institutions and leaders around the world can coalesce."

Mr. Holmes is one of two coordinators, along with UN System Influenza Coordinator David Nabarro, of a new high-powered task force that was announced yesterday by the Secretary-General to organize responses to the global rise in food prices.

Speaking at a news conference today in Geneva, Mr. Holmes, who also serves as Emergency Relief Coordinator, said that although the breadth and complexity of the issue needed to be recognized, there was no need to panic.

"I think it is clear we can fix these problems," he said. The solutions can be found; the solutions are there. They are very difficult, some of them, in the short term, but they can be done."

2008-05-01 00:00:00.000

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ERITREA UNDERMINED BASIS OF UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION'S MANDATE -- SECURITY COUNCIL

ERITREA UNDERMINED BASIS OF UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION'S MANDATE -- SECURITY COUNCIL New York, May 1 2008 9:00AM Recalling its prior condemnation of Eritrea's hindrances, the Security Council said the country's ongoing obstruction of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) has dealt a blow to the blue helmets' mandate.

The restrictions posed by Eritrea have induced UNMEE to relocate temporarily, according to a statement read out last night by Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo of South Africa, which held the rotating presidency of the Council for April.

"The Security Council will, in the light of consultations with the parties, decide on the terms of a future UN engagement and on the future of UNMEE," he noted.

The 15-member Council said that it is prepared to help the sides break the stalemate, but warned that -- as it has in previous statements -- the two countries are responsible for reaching a "comprehensive and lasting settlement" of their border dispute and for normalizing their relations.

Calling on the Horn of Africa neighbours "to show maximum restraint and to refrain from any threat or use of force against each other," the statement urged Ethiopia and Eritrea to follow up on commitments made in the 2000 Algiers Agreements, which ended the war between the countries.

Last week, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno told reporters following a closed Security Council meeting on the situation between the parties that "now we are reaching the end of what peacekeeping can achieve," given Eritrea's announcement that it no longer supports the UN peacekeeping presence.

He noted that peacekeeping can only make a difference if the countries involved have made a political commitment.

2008-05-01 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UN MISSION IN WESTERN SAHARA FOR ANOTHER YEAR

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UN MISSION IN WESTERN SAHARA FOR ANOTHER YEAR New York, May 1 2008 2:00AM The Security Council today extended until 30 April 2009 the mandate of the United Nations mission in Western Sahara (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minurso/index.html">MINURSO), tasked with monitoring the ceasefire between Morocco and the Frente Polisario and organizing a referendum on self-determination.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council called on the parties to enter into "a more intensive and substantive phase of negotiations" to resolve their long-running dispute.

Morocco holds that its sovereignty over Western Sahara should be recognized, while the Frente Polisario's position is that the Territory's final status should be decided in a referendum that includes independence as an option.

In his recent report on the issue, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wrote that while he welcomed the commitment of the two parties -- outlined in a communiqué issued after UN-led talks held in March -- to continue their negotiations, so far there was no sign of any breakthrough in the dispute.

"Momentum can only be maintained by trying to find a way out of the current political impasse through realism and a spirit of compromise from both parties," he stated, a view endorsed by the Council in the resolution adopted today.

UN-sponsored talks on the issue are facilitated by Peter van Walsum, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, and include representatives of neighbouring States, Algeria and Mauritania.

The Council called on the parties to continue with negotiations without preconditions and in good faith, "with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution."

2008-04-30 00:00:00.000

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UN MISSION SUPPORTING SOUTHERN SUDAN PEACE ACCORD EXTENDED FOR ONE YEAR

UN MISSION SUPPORTING SOUTHERN SUDAN PEACE ACCORD EXTENDED FOR ONE YEAR New York, Apr 30 2008 11:00PM The Security Council today voted to extend the United Nations mission set up to support a 2005 accord that ended the long-running civil war between north and south Sudan, and called on the parties to fully their commitments to achieve lasting peace.

In a resolution passed unanimously, the Council stressed the importance of "full and expeditious" implementation of all elements of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) -- signed by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) -- as it extended the UN mission in the country (<"http://www.unmis.org/english/en-main.htm">UNMIS) until 30 April 2009.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a recent report, stated that the parties deserve credit for striving to overcome their tensions and problems through dialogue, but tangible progress has not been made in key areas, jeopardizing the agreement's implementation.

He noted in particular that recent clashes and tensions in the Abyei area, an oil-rich region which remains disputed by the two sides, are a potential threat to the agreement.

The Council today urged the parties to "address and find a mutually agreeable solution to the Abyei issue," and urged them to redeploy their forces away from the disputed 1 January 1956 border and fully establish an interim administration in Abyei in accordance with the CPA.

In addition, the 15-member body "calls for all parties to immediately accept full unrestricted UNMIS monitoring and verification in the Abyei region, without prejudice to the final agreement on the actual borders between the two sides." It also urged the Mission to consult with the parties and to deploy personnel to the Abyei region.

Resolution of that issue is just one of many which the report says must be overcome if the CPA is to be fully implemented, Mr. Ban noted in his report. The others include border demarcation; the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants; the formation of joint integrated units involving the two sides; and appropriate preparations for the current national census and next year's scheduled elections.

"Those issues are interlinked. Progress must be made in parallel; delay or confrontation in one area will affect implementation in the other areas," he warned.

To this end, the Council urged the Government of National Unity to carry out an inclusive, national census and to prepare for the holding of free and fair elections. It also urged UNMIS to prepare to support the national elections, and the international community to provide technical and material assistance for electoral preparations.

2008-04-30 00:00:00.000

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DARFUR: HEAD OF UN/AU PEACEKEEPING FORCE VOICES 'IMPATIENCE' FOR POSITIVE CHANGE

DARFUR: HEAD OF UN/AU PEACEKEEPING FORCE VOICES 'IMPATIENCE' FOR POSITIVE CHANGE New York, Apr 30 2008 7:00PM The head of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/index.html">UNAMID, said today that he is just as anxious as people on the ground are for progress.

"It has almost been 3 months into the launch of the joint peacekeeping mission in Darfur: The people of Darfur have endured enough," UN/AU Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada told reporters in Khartoum. "They are impatient to see positive change and I am just as impatient as they are."

At full deployment, UNAMID is expected to have some 26,000 troops and police officers, making it the world's largest peacekeeping operation, but to date, only 10,000 unformed personnel have been deployed.

According to the UN, as many as 300,000 people are now estimated to have died in Darfur since early 2003, when rebels began fighting Government forces and allied militiamen. This figure includes deaths from disease, malnutrition and reduced life expectancy, as well as from direct combat.

Aside from the death toll, more than 2.7 million Darfurians have been displaced by the fighting, the vast majority still living within the arid region on Sudan's western flank. Around 260,000 refugees have had to flee to the east of neighbouring Chad.

"Underdevelopment and poverty are among the root causes of the problem and they need to be addressed," Mr. Adada noted.

While calling on the international community to provide assistance, he stressed that Darfurians, too, must play their part "by upholding the rule of law, stopping banditry and committing to a peaceful solution."

On the political front, the Representative urged all sides to reach a ceasefire.

"UNAMID is a peacekeeping mission," he said. "And peacekeepers need a peace to keep."

However, Mr. Adada emphasized that despite its challenges, UNAMID is endeavouring to help Darfurians by protecting vulnerable groups and training community policing volunteers, among other efforts.

Addressing the Security Council last week, he said it was disturbing that while the region has remained near the top of the international agenda, this attention had not been matched with the necessary action to provide UNAMID with the means to accomplish the tasks assigned to it.
2008-04-30 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL TO HOST UPCOMING MIDDLE EAST QUARTET MEETING

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO HOST UPCOMING MIDDLE EAST QUARTET MEETING New York, Apr 30 2008 6:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will chair a meeting of the diplomatic Middle East Quartet – comprising the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United States – later this week in London.

The 2 May gathering will review all aspects of the peace process launched in the US city of Annapolis late last year and the situation on the ground.

While in the United Kingdom's capital, he is also scheduled to take part in an expanded Quartet meeting with Arab foreign ministers.

He will then participate in a meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Palestinian Authority, a Norwegian initiative set up in 1992 to ensure that development assistance is used efficiently to the peace process and to contribute to the development of Palestinian society.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates are expected to participate in the Committee's meeting, which will assess progress in Palestinian institutional and economic development since it met in New York last September.

Yesterday in Geneva, Mr. Ban launched a new lecture series on the topic "opportunity in crisis," where he underscored how the current food crisis threatens to undo all the recent efforts to lift people out of poverty around the world and could spark related economic, social and political crises.

Following his lecture, he fielded questioned on development, human rights, UN reform, the situation in Zimbabwe and this summer's Olympic Games.

In a related development, the Secretary-General today stated that he does not want to indicate his preference for any candidate contesting the two non-permanent seats in the Security Council for the 2009-2010 period.

The two seats are being contested by Austria, Iceland and Turkey. Mr. Ban "recognizes that they are all eminently qualified for the seats and wishes each of them success in their effort to secure the support of Member States of the Organization," according to a statement issued in Geneva by his spokesperson.
2008-04-30 00:00:00.000

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IRAQ MUST SPEND MORE ON BASIC SERVICES, PARTICULARLY FOR CHILDREN, SAYS UN ENVOY

IRAQ MUST SPEND MORE ON BASIC SERVICES, PARTICULARLY FOR CHILDREN, SAYS UN ENVOY New York, Apr 30 2008 5:00PM The Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict has called on the Iraqi Government to spend more on basic services, noting that a large portion of the strife-torn nation's children are going to school or receiving proper care.

"The government of Iraq must use a large portion of its budget – that is the surplus – to deal with the provision of basic services to its population," Radhika Coomaraswamy told reporters in New York today, after a six-day visit to Iraq.

She said the "situation is quite intolerable for children, especially in central and south Iraq."

The Iraqi Government is dealing with large-scale reconstruction, but "there is just no attention to these basic services, and if there is, it is on a sectarian emphasis," she added.

Citing figures from the UN Children's Fund (<"www.unicef.org">UNICEF), she said that only half of Iraq's children are currently going to school, and that "the issue of psychosocial services remains extremely problematic with surveys in Basra and other places showing 80 per cent with psychological symptoms."

Ms. Coomaraswamy called for "diplomatic and political initiatives to secure humanitarian access for the major humanitarian actors. Supplying them with US military security is just not enough. There is a need to actually do the work, to try and get humanitarian access."

Saying that over 1,500 children are being held in detention by the Multinational Forces in Iraq (MNF) and by the Iraqi Government, she commented that both must "respect international norms and standards with regard to children in detention."

Although the MNF had made progress since the end of last year on family visits, education and recreation for the children in its custody, Ms. Coomaraswamy said that children "should not be held in military detention," without access to outside legal counsel. Of the more than 1,000 children in Iraqi detention, she said that "there is no education, no recreation – nothing being given to these children."

Citing anecdotal and eyewitness evidence, the UN envoy also said that "since the Samara bombing of 2006 a large number of children were being recruited by the militias and the insurgent groups, that in some cases payment is given as inducement and that there was a general belief among the various groups that children should be mobilized to protect the particular group – a total mobilization of the community."

She called on religious and community leaders to make sure that children "are not included in the conflict, to make the appeals and to raise awareness about this issue – so that they can be sent back to school."
2008-04-30 00:00:00.000

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GAZA POWER SUPPLIES CRITICALLY LOW, WARNS UN

GAZA POWER SUPPLIES CRITICALLY LOW, WARNS UN New York, Apr 30 2008 5:00PM Due to disruptions at the Nahal Oz fuel crossing – which was attacked earlier this month by Palestinian militants – fuel supplies for Gaza are critically low, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) warned today.

"Without additional fuel deliveries before Friday, the power plant could be forced to shut down this weekend," UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters in New York.

The Nahal Oz depot is the sole overland conduit into the Gaza Strip.

In a related development, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (<"http://www.un.org/unrwa/english.html">UNRWA) reported that it has no benzene and is running dangerously low in diesel fuel due to distribution issues.

Passenger cars are grounded, while vehicles used for food distributions that rely on diesel will be inoperable again next week if no new supplies are provided.

<"http://www.unsco.org/Default.asp">UNSCO underscored the need for all sides to ensure that UNRWA has the necessary benzene and diesel it needs to carry out its work.
2008-04-30 00:00:00.000

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UN TO DRAW UP COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADDRESS WORLD FOOD CRISIS

UN TO DRAW UP COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADDRESS WORLD FOOD CRISIS New York, Apr 30 2008 3:00PM The United Nations is aiming to have a comprehensive plan to tackle the global food crisis in place by the beginning of June, "around which the institutions and leaders around the world can coalesce," Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said today.

Mr. Holmes is one of two coordinators, along with UN System Influenza Coordinator David Nabarro, of a new high-powered task force that was announced yesterday by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to organize responses to the global rise in food prices.

Speaking at a <"http://www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpNewsByYear_en)/FFA37D18A12FD182C125743B0052953E?OpenDocument">news conference today in Geneva, Mr. Holmes said that although the breadth and complexity of the issue needed to be recognized, there was no need to panic. "I think it is clear we can fix these problems. The solutions can be found; the solutions are there. They are very difficult, some of them, in the short term, but they can be done."

On the role of biofuel production in the current crisis, Mr. Holmes said: "It is something that needs a new look in present circumstances without wanting to fall in any sense into knee-jerk reactions of saying all biofuels are bad or good. We need to look at it in a careful, sophisticated and differentiated way, between different regions of the world and between different products."

The Under-Secretary-General also said the crisis was not affecting every country in the same way. "For many countries and population groups it is inconvenient, a problem for their daily budget and their purses, but it is not a matter of life and death. In some places and for some groups, particularly those living on less than a dollar a day, that quickly could become a matter of life and death, or certainly of increased suffering and malnutrition."

The UN's action plan is to be in place in time for a meeting of UN agencies in Rome at the beginning of June. The task force is chaired by Mr. Ban and consists of the heads of the <"http://www.worldbank.org/">World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (<"http://www.imf.org/external/index.htm">IMF), the World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/">WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (<"http://www.ifad.org/">IFAD), the World Trade Organization (<"http://www.wto.org/">WTO), and other organizations which will be invited to join.
2008-04-30 00:00:00.000

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SMALL ARMS THWART STABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT, SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD

SMALL ARMS THWART STABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT, SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD New York, Apr 30 2008 3:00PM The threat to international peace and security posed by the uncontrolled trade in small arms and their excessive accumulation and proliferation cannot be overemphasized, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today.

"We have all witnessed how these weapons have been used to maim and kill; plunder and rape; instil fear and insecurity; block humanitarian aid; hold communities at ransom; destroy the social fabric of entire countries; and how their excessive accumulation and misuse has hindered stability and development in every way possible," said Hannelore Hoppe, Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs.

Opening today's <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sc9316.doc.htm">debate, which heard from dozens of speakers, Ms. Hoppe presented Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's first-ever report on small arms to the Council.

In that document, Mr. Ban observed that currently most conflicts are fought using mainly small arms and light weapons, being widely used in inter-State conflicts as well as in civil wars, terrorism, organized crime and gang warfare.

The report stressed the need for collaboration between the Council and the General Assembly to curb the illicit flows of arms and ammunition to crisis and conflict areas.

Additionally, it presents several recommendations directly involving the Council, including strengthening ties between its arms embargoes and its disarmament, demobilization and reintegration efforts, as well as to further apply its practice of tying arms embargo exceptions to security sector reform.

Ms. Hoppe told the debate that the "Secretary-General is committed to further improving coordination within the UN system with a view to strengthening its action regarding small arms issues."

As a result, one of his disarmament priorities for this year will be reviving the Coordinating Action on Small Arms (CASA), which was established in 1998 as a consultative mechanism, she pointed out.
2008-04-30 00:00:00.000

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NEW UN ENVOY DISCUSSES AFGHANISTAN WITH UNITED STATES OFFICIALS

NEW UN ENVOY DISCUSSES AFGHANISTAN WITH UNITED STATES OFFICIALS New York, Apr 30 2008 2:00PM The new United Nations envoy to Afghanistan has just wrapped two days of meetings with United States officials in Washington, D.C., during which they expressed their full support for the world body's efforts in the strife-torn nation.

Kai Eide, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (<"http://www.unama-afg.org/">UNAMA), met with President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Mr. Eide and President Bush discussed the upcoming Paris conference in support of the Afghan Government, the importance of the upcoming elections and Mr. Eide's key coordination role.

"They agreed that this is a crucial moment for Afghanistan," UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told journalists.

The past several days have witnessed an escalation in terrorist attacks in the country, including a suicide bombing yesterday that killed a number of civilians in the country's eastern Nangarhar province, and an attack on a parade in Kabul on Sunday that was attended by President Hamid Karzai and other dignitaries.

Mr. Karzai – who has survived three assassination attempts in recent years – escaped uninjured in the attack, which claimed the lives of two Parliament members and injured nine others, including two Afghan National Police officers.

Mr. Eide now heads to Ottawa, where he will meet with senior Canadian officials to discuss support for UN activities in Afghanistan ahead of the Paris conference.
2008-04-30 00:00:00.000

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COLOMBIA: UN EXPERTS CALL FOR ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

COLOMBIA: UN EXPERTS CALL FOR ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS New York, Apr 30 2008 1:00PM A group of independent United Nations experts have called for urgent measures to protect those defending human rights in Colombia, following a recent surge in violence that includes killings, harassment and intimidation of civil society activists, trade union leaders and lawyers representing victims.

"We are deeply concerned by recent developments in Colombia indicating the deteriorating situation of human rights defenders in recent months," the experts said in a <"http://www.unog.ch/unog/website/news_media.nsf/(httpNewsByYear_en)/170D9CEF62BB1414C125743B005846D4?OpenDocument">statement issued today in Geneva.

The group reports that so far this year there have been 21 killings of trade unionists and civil society leaders and dozens of reports of death threats against activists and defenders allegedly perpetrated by new illegal armed groups.

The recent escalation in violence against human rights defenders "confirms the need for a vigorous and immediate reaction from the Government for the protection of defenders in Colombia," they added.

While recognizing the measures taken by the Government to improve the security of human rights defenders, the group called for "more effective and consistent protection measures for defenders at risk as a matter of urgency."

These include effective protection of defenders at risk, more efficient investigations and conclusive prosecutions of perpetrators, and more open and firm cross-party political support and recognition to defenders and their work.

"Concrete and concerted action is needed to stop the endemic impunity for the crimes and violations committed against human rights defenders," said the experts, all of whom report to the Geneva-based UN <"http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/">Human Rights Council.

The statement was signed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, Hina Jilani; the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston; and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Leandro Despouy.

In a related development, Margaret Sekaggya will begin her duties as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders on 1 May. Ms. Sekaggya, who has been the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission since 1996, succeeds Ms. Jilani who has been responsible for this mandate since 2000.
2008-04-30 00:00:00.000

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