UN AGENCY LAUNCHES SCHEME TO PROTECT BEES, BIRDS AND OTHER POLLINATORS

UN AGENCY LAUNCHES SCHEME TO PROTECT BEES, BIRDS AND OTHER POLLINATORS New York, Aug 8 2008 6:10PM The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced today that it will implement a new initiative to better protect bees, bats, birds and others that are essential to global crop production and biodiversity.

The five-year, $26 million scheme is designed to tackle the recent decline – and, in some cases, near collapse – of important pollinator populations around the world, such as honey bees. Disease, pesticides, habitat loss and the introduction of exotic species are all thought to be responsible in part.

Pollinators such as bees, as well as bats, butterflies, birds and even mosquitoes, play a vital role in food production because they transfer pollen between seed plants, affecting more than a third of the world's agricultural crops. Farmers and consumers are thus dependent on healthy pollinator populations.

Under the initiative, best management practices for maintaining and protecting pollinator species will be introduced worldwide and countries and regions will be given assistance to help them protect pollinators.

The scheme is being funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and also coordinated by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
2008-08-08 00:00:00.000

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NEW STRING QUARTET PIECE TO MARK ANNIVERSARY OF UN BAGHDAD TERRORIST ATTACK

NEW STRING QUARTET PIECE TO MARK ANNIVERSARY OF UN BAGHDAD TERRORIST ATTACK New York, Aug 8 2008 4:10PM A new classical music work called <i>Songs without Borders</i>, composed in memory of United Nations personnel who have perished in the line of duty, will be performed on the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attack against the world body's Baghdad office which claimed 22 lives.

The four-part, 15-minute-long piece for a string quartet has been composed by Emmy Award winner Steve Heitzeg and will be performed by the Daedalus Quartet at the 19 August ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York.

The ceremony will be attended by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and survivors of the attack, the deadliest against the UN's civilian personnel ever.

Over 150 people were injured in the bombing of the Canal Hotel, and among those killed was Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq and head of the UN mission in the country.

The piece's four movements are <i>Universal Declaration, Blue Meditation</i> (in remembrance of members of the UN family killed in the pursuit of peace), <i>Unfinished Assignments</i> (for Mr. Vieira de Mello and the people of the world) and <i>Peaceful Resolution</i>.

Mr. Heitzeg, who has composed over 100 pieces for orchestras, choruses, chamber ensembles and films, offered to create a work for the fifth anniversary of one of the UN's darkest days.

Currently the quartet-in-residence at Columbia University, the Daedalus Quartet won the 2001 Grand Prize of the Banff International String Quartet Competition.

Last year alone, 42 UN staff members lost their lives around the world. Since the first peacekeeping operation was set up in 1948, over 700 personnel in these missions have been killed as a result of attacks, bombings and landmines, among other malicious acts.
2008-08-08 00:00:00.000

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UN APPEALS FOR ASSISTANCE FOR DROUGHT-STRICKEN DJIBOUTI

UN APPEALS FOR ASSISTANCE FOR DROUGHT-STRICKEN DJIBOUTI New York, Aug 8 2008 1:10PM The United Nations and Djibouti's Government have launched an appeal for nearly $32 million to help the Horn of Africa nation, which is reeling from years of drought and insufficient rain, along with surging fuel and food prices.

The funds would help nearly 150,000 people, including refugees and asylum seekers, in danger of going hungry for six months.

A joint Government-UN evaluation found that in rural Djibouti, there has been a catastrophic loss of livestock and soaring malnutrition, with over half the population living in extreme poverty. The urban poor have been hit just as hard by the steep increases in food and fuel prices, with many families reduced to one or two meals a day.

Deteriorating food security in Somalia has also driven many across the border into Djibouti.

The new call will also help children under the age of five at risk of malnutrition by doubling the number of children in remote areas reached to 25,000. It will also provide full food rations for 80,000 rural people and food or cash vouchers for 55,000 in urban and semi-urban regions.

The funds will improve water and sanitation facilities and protect over 400,000 animals from disease.

In a related development, the UN hopes that a $30 million boost will help to ease the suffering of millions of people in the one dozen countries most devastated by the global food crisis.

The funding from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) will be put towards humanitarian programmes in Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Lesotho, Madagascar, Niger, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

"Millions of people in these 12 countries are on the margins of survival because of the combination of drought, crop failure, and rising fuel and food prices," said Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes.

This latest round of funding comes from the $100 million that the CERF sets aside to take immediate life-saving action – such as providing food aid and agricultural support – in priority countries.

The Fund is the UN's central donation facility, collecting contributions from Member States and other donors year round so that funds are on hand for immediate humanitarian relief in emergencies.

"The CERF has been an integral part of the emergency response to the global food crisis," said Mr. Holmes, who also serves as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.

Since it was launched in 2006, it has made nearly $900 million available for rapid disaster relief, helping UN agencies, funds and programmes to save tens of thousands of lives in 62 countries struggling with disasters, armed conflicts or both.

Nearly $60 million has already been earmarked for food projects under the CERF's regular rapid response window.

The Fund has some $12 million left to react to new emergencies until the end of this year, but the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/">OCHA) warns that demands caused by the food crisis are continuing to rise. Unless the <"http://ochaonline.un.org/cerf/CERFHome/tabid/1705/Default.aspx">CERF is replenished, many of them will have to be addressed through bilateral funding from donors. So far, over $430 million of the Fund's $450 million target has been pledged by donors.
2008-08-08 00:00:00.000

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BAN PRESSES BOLIVIANS TO ENSURE RECALL REFERENDUM IS CARRIED OUT PEACEFULLY

BAN PRESSES BOLIVIANS TO ENSURE RECALL REFERENDUM IS CARRIED OUT PEACEFULLY New York, Aug 8 2008 1:10PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on all sides in Bolivia to ensure that Sunday's recall referendum on the President, Vice-President and regional governors is conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban said he was closely following the political developments in the Andean country, where the referendum concerns the mandates of President Evo Morales, Vice-President Álvaro García and eight regional authorities, or prefectos.

Media reports say two people were killed and several more were injured during demonstrations this week related to the referendum.

"In the interest of strengthening democracy and human rights in Bolivia, the Secretary-General calls on all political and social actors to ensure a peaceful climate throughout the electoral process and its aftermath," today's statement said.

"The Secretary-General reaffirms the commitment of the United Nations system to work with the Government and society as a whole towards generating an environment of tolerance, respect and dialogue in Bolivia."
2008-08-08 00:00:00.000

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FIVE-YEAR DEVELOPMENT ROAD MAP AGREED BY UN AND TIMOR-LESTE

FIVE-YEAR DEVELOPMENT ROAD MAP AGREED BY UN AND TIMOR-LESTE New York, Aug 8 2008 1:10PM The United Nations and Timor-Leste's Government have embarked on a five-year programme to reduce poverty, consolidate democracy and provide basic social services for the people of the nation which the UN helped shepherd to independence in 2002.

The UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for 2009-2013, signed by the Government and the UN in Dili today, will guide the support provided by the UN Country Team towards further peace and stability in the country and includes programmes worth some $314 million.

"Timor-Leste is moving towards a consolidated peace and stability. The UNDAF is the road map that will guide our direction over the next five years," said Finn Reske-Nielsen, the UN's Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Timor-Leste.

"It shows that Timor-Leste is moving into a more stable phase that enables it to address the need for strong, efficient and effective institutions and improve the lives of its citizens throughout the country," added Mr. Reske-Nielsen, who is also the deputy head of the UN peacekeeping mission there, known as UNMIT.

In a recent report to the Security Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that "despite the best efforts of the Government and its partners, Timor-Leste has not experienced significant progress in poverty alleviation or in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals" – the set of anti-poverty targets world leaders pledged to achieve by 2015 – since gaining independence in 2002.

The UNDAF programmes will pay particular attention to poverty reduction, especially among vulnerable groups such as youth, women, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and disaster-prone communities.

They will also focus on strengthening State institutions such as the courts, Government ministries and local administration. In addition, the UNDAF includes programmes to promote education, health, nutrition, water and sanitation, social welfare and social protection.

"At the end of the five years, we would expect that the courts and Government institutions are stronger and trusted. We would also expect to see more and better schools, health facilities, infrastructure and social protection," Mr. Reske-Nielsen stated.
2008-08-08 00:00:00.000

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SRI LANKA: UN AGENCY CONCERNED FOR OVER 10,000 FAMILIES ESCAPING VIOLENCE

SRI LANKA: UN AGENCY CONCERNED FOR OVER 10,000 FAMILIES ESCAPING VIOLENCE New York, Aug 8 2008 12:10PM The United Nations refugee agency expressed concern today over the safety of thousands of families fleeing escalating violence in northern Sri Lanka between Government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

"We call on both parties to take immediate steps to ensure the protection of those affected; to allow freedom of movement for those seeking safety from the ongoing operations; and to ensure that the internally displaced are neither targeted nor located near military targets," Ron Redmond, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told reporters in Geneva.

He warned that supplies of food, shelter, water and sanitation equipment and fuel to transport civilians are running "dangerously low." Stringent restrictions on the movement of goods into the region are preventing aid workers from replenishing the stocks.

"UNHCR calls upon the authorities to allow unhindered passage for essential supplies as soon as possible," Mr. Redmond stated.

Some 12,000 families are reported to have escaped the conflict in July alone, with people trying to keep ahead of the fighting's moving frontlines to stay out of the crossfire. The UN's access to most of the 10,000 internally displaced families in Karachchi has been cut off due to humanitarian workers' security concerns.
"UNHCR is urging all parties to allow humanitarian access to the affected population so they can be provided with much-needed assistance in a timely manner and in line with international humanitarian law and practices," said Mr. Redmond.
Most of the displaced families are staying out in the open, and some areas can no longer accommodate those forced to flee due to military operations are closing in on them. UNHCR, in concert with local authorities and other agencies, are trying to locate additional sites to shelter the internally displaced persons (IDPs).
2008-08-08 00:00:00.000

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UN VOICES SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT US EXECUTION OF MEXICAN NATIONAL

UN VOICES SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT US EXECUTION OF MEXICAN NATIONAL New York, Aug 8 2008 11:10AM The United Nations human rights office has voiced serious concerns about the execution of a Mexican national by United States authorities in defiance of an order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

José Ernesto Medellín was executed by the authorities in the US state of Texas by lethal injection on 5 August. This despite the fact that the ICJ, also known as the World Court, ordered the US last month to delay the executions of Mr. Medellín and four other Mexican nationals on death row in its prisons until the court issues a final ruling on the matter.

"The United States has an international legal obligation to comply with decisions of the International Court of Justice, an obligation which cannot be set aside because of domestic constitutional arrangements," Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), told a news conference in Geneva today.

A 2004 ruling by the ICJ, which is based in The Hague, Netherlands, on the same issue found that the US had been in breach of its international obligations because authorities did not inform 51 Mexican nationals of their right to contact their consular representatives "without delay" after being arrested.

"Mr. Medellín had been found guilty of very serious crimes," stated Mr. Colville. "However, at the time of his arrest, he was not informed of his right to consular assistance in accordance with international treaty obligations under the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations."

The Court had ordered that the US take all measures necessary to ensure that Mr Medellín, and others, not be executed until he received a review and reconsideration of his case to determine whether the breach of the Vienna Convention prejudiced his defence. Judgments of the ICJ are binding and cannot be appealed.

OHCHR notes that the ICJ orders remain valid for another 50 Mexican nationals on death row in the US whose situation is similar to that of Mr. Medellín.

"The finality of the death penalty makes it essential that it is applied with scrupulous attention to safeguards set down international law," noted Mr. Colville. "One of those safeguards is that foreign nationals should have access to consular services.

"This is crucial for the protection of all individuals who travel abroad. It is imperative that all States take every possible action to ensure reciprocal compliance of this safeguard, not least for the sake of their own nationals," he said.
2008-08-08 00:00:00.000

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BAN PLEDGES UN COMMITMENT TO TACKLE DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND CLIMATE CRISES

BAN PLEDGES UN COMMITMENT TO TACKLE DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND CLIMATE CRISES New York, Aug 7 2008 8:10PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today pledged to "marshal the forces" of the United Nations behind efforts to solve three related emergencies that he said are causing profound disquiet around the world – the crises over food, climate and development.

In a message to the Ministerial Meeting of the Movement of Non-Aligned Nations (NAM), held in Tehran, Mr. Ban said he would count on the "commitment, leadership and partnership" of NAM in the battle to overcome the crises.

"These three crises are not isolated problems," he said in the message, which was delivered on his behalf by Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG). "They are inter-related, affect both rich and poor, and require all of us to do our part."

Turning first to the development crisis, Mr. Ban noted that many countries – especially in sub-Saharan Africa – lag behind in their attempts to achieve the anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

"We need to uphold the trust that was forged in first agreeing to the MDGs. Developed and developing countries made commitments to each other, as did governments and their citizens. Failure to meet these pledges, or at least to improve significantly on the gains to date, would be a terrible blow, with widespread implications for our shared humanity."

He stressed that the food crisis is exacerbating the problem by "already turning back the clock on development gains," particularly for the world's poorest, such as hundreds of millions of small-scale farmers.

"Over the long term, we need to reduce agricultural subsidies in developed countries; reverse the deplorable downward trend in agriculture's share of official development assistance; reverse years of under-investment in agriculture and rural development; and successfully conclude the Doha round of global trade negotiations."

The crisis caused by global warming is also severely undermining food security and progress towards the MDGs, the Secretary-General noted, calling for concrete outcomes at an international meeting slated for Poznan, Poland, later this year to build on commitments made in Bali, Indonesia, last December.

"We also need enlightened leadership, in particular from the industrialized countries, based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities."
2008-07-29 00:00:00.000

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UN RIGHTS EXPERT WRAPS UP VISIT TO MYANMAR

UN RIGHTS EXPERT WRAPS UP VISIT TO MYANMAR New York, Aug 7 2008 7:10PM The independent United Nations expert on the situation of human rights in Myanmar has wrapped up a four-day visit to the South-East Asian nation, his first since taking up the post in May.

Special Rapporteur Tomás Ojea Quintana, who was appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council, had constructive meetings with the Government, including with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Home Affairs, according to a news release issued today in Yangon.

He also met with the Chief of the Myanmar Police Force, as well as representatives of the national human rights body, the National Convention and the Referendum Holding Commission.

The Special Rapporteur met with the Tripartite Core Group (TCG) and travelled to areas affected by Cyclone Nargis, including Laputta, Kyaukalat, Pyinsalu and Kyet Shar, where he took note of the progress made in the recovery phase in the aftermath of the disaster. A planned visit to Kayin State was cancelled due to bad weather.

While at the Insein Prison, Mr Quintana was able to speak privately with U Win Tin, Thurein Aung, Kyaw Kyaw, Su Su Nway and U Gambira. Meetings were also held with representatives of political parties, including the National League of Democracy – the party led by Nobel laureate and detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi – and the 88 Generation Student Youth (Union of Myanmar).

Meetings were also held with representatives of national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including the Myanmar Red Cross, Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association and Myanmar Women's Federation. He also met with members of the diplomatic community and the UN Country Team.

Mr. Quintana has already discussed with the Myanmar authorities the possibility of a second mission before reporting to the Human Rights Council next March. He is also expected to present his findings and recommendations to the General Assembly.

Meanwhile, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today that it has wrapped up distribution of some 600 buffaloes to farming households in areas struck by Cyclone Nargis.

Households in the Yangon and Ayeyarwady Divisions received a pair of buffaloes from the FAO thanks to funding from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

The animals, which received veterinary care and vaccination against major diseases, are aimed at helping small-scale rice farmers prepare their paddy fields in time for the planting season.

FAO veterinary expert Ye Tun Win said the buffaloes will indirectly benefit as many as 1,500 households and not just those who directly received the animals.

"Traditionally, farmers share not only their animals, but also their labour to help one another in preparing their land," the expert said.
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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BAN HAILS UPCOMING NIGERIA-CAMEROON TRANSFER OF PENINSULA AS 'LANDMARK EVENT'

BAN HAILS UPCOMING NIGERIA-CAMEROON TRANSFER OF PENINSULA AS 'LANDMARK EVENT' New York, Aug 7 2008 7:10PM Next week's final transfer of authority from Nigeria to Cameroon of a once disputed peninsula will be "a landmark event" for the United Nations, which shepherded the peaceful negotiation process between the two countries, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

Mr. Ban is following the preparations for the final transfer of the Bakassi Peninsula, slated to take place on 14 August, "with interest and anticipation," according to a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11736.doc.htm">statement issued by his spokesperson.

The transfer of authority will implement both the 2002 ruling on the matter by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the 2006 Greentree Agreement between the two countries that emerged after a mediation process led by the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, which was set up by the UN.

"In his capacity as Facilitator of that Agreement, the Secretary-General intends to send a senior official to lead his delegation at the transfer ceremony," the statement noted.

Under the agreement, Nigeria recognized Cameroonian sovereignty over the Bakassi Peninsula, an oil-rich region on the Gulf of Guinea that had been the subject of intense and sometimes violent disputes between the African neighbours for decades.

Today's statement described the upcoming ceremony as a landmark event for the UN, "culminating in the peaceful resolution of a potentially dangerous boundary dispute through respect for international law and good-neighbourly cooperation. It is an example that should serve as a model for the negotiated settlement of border disputes elsewhere."
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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WOMEN'S VOICES MUST BE HEARD IN TACKLING HIV/AIDS - UN STUDY

WOMEN'S VOICES MUST BE HEARD IN TACKLING HIV/AIDS – UN STUDY New York, Aug 7 2008 7:10PM Women's voices are still being left out in the battle against HIV/AIDS, despite frequent calls for their increased participation in determining resource allocation over the disease, according to a new United Nations-backed study.

"This is particularly true for women who are most affected by the epidemic as for far too long HIV-positive women have been invited only after agendas have been set out or policy decisions taken," said the publication, produced by the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the ATHENA Network and presented yesterday at the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City.

The conclusion was reached after nine months of extensive global research and interviews, and the new study advocates a road map for action which calls for advancing women's leadership and participation by tackling the obstacles they face.

"It is necessary to fulfil the commitments made to ensuring women's and girls' voices, concerns and perspectives are incorporated in the decision-making processes that affect their lives," said Teresa Rodriguez, <"http://www.unifem.org/campaigns/aids2008/">UNIFEM Regional Programme Director for Mexico, Central America, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

"HIV-positive women and other key populations need to be more than bystanders or advisors in the formation of the content and direction of the AIDS response; they must be supported to be leaders."
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY WRAPS UP SEED DISTRIBUTION SCHEME IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

UN AGENCY WRAPS UP SEED DISTRIBUTION SCHEME IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC New York, Aug 7 2008 6:10PM The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has just completed one of its largest-ever seed distribution operations in the Central African Republic (CAR), handing out supplies to more than 12,500 farmers in one of the impoverished country's most critical regions.

Working in conjunction with Mercy Corps, a non-governmental organization (NGO), the <"http://www.fao.org/">FAO distributed the seeds in Nana-Mambéré prefecture in the west of the CAR, next to the border with Cameroon, according to an update issued by the agency yesterday.

Nana-Mambéré is bisected by a road that serves as a crucial lifeline for the CAR, enabling supplies from the Cameroonian port of Douala to reach its landlocked neighbour and providing the only real possibility for trading timber or agricultural exports internationally.

FAO said the seed distribution scheme was designed to tackle three issues: food insecurity, hunger and chronic poverty, which are problems across the strife-torn CAR.

Each seed kit given to a farmer consisted of 4 kilograms of peanut seeds and 10 kilograms of corn seeds. Mercy Corps also trained local communities in farming techniques so they can boost their yields and expand beyond subsistence farming.
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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UN FETES VOLUNTEERS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO BEIJING OLYMPICS

UN FETES VOLUNTEERS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO BEIJING OLYMPICS New York, Aug 7 2008 6:10PM The United Nations and the Organizing Committee of the Beijing Olympics, which kick off tomorrow, have celebrated the work of volunteers to help prepare for the Games and their contributions to development in China.

"No matter who wins the most medals at the Games, one thing is clear – these volunteers will win the hearts and minds of visitors to Beijing," Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (<"http://www.unep.org/">UNEP), said at today's festivities.

He voiced hope that the volunteers can inspire millions of others to contribute to their communities.

The celebrations heard from four volunteers – ranging in age from 15 to 87 years old – who have been making a difference by leading environmental programmes, mentoring migrant youth living in cities and helping victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Sichuan province in May.

"By dedicating their time and talents in the service of others, these Olympic volunteers illustrate the powerful role that volunteers can play in assisting vulnerable groups of society," said Khalid Malik, UN Resident Coordinator and the Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org/">UNDP) in China, said in a message from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

It is hoped that skills, such as recruiting, training, motivating and managing volunteers, honed in the run-up to the Games will be transferred to post-Olympics volunteer programmes in development fields including environmental awareness and education.

Also in attendance at today's celebrations were Shen Qianfan, Deputy Director of the Volunteer Department of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG); former Olympic champion Yang Yang; Zhou Xun, an award-winning actress and UNDP China National Goodwill Ambassador; and Tessa Jowell of the United Kingdom, who serves as Minister of London and the Olympics, which are being held in the UK capital in 2012.
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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UN HELPS 30,000 LIBERIANS FIND WORK THROUGH ROAD REPAIR PROJECTS

UN HELPS 30,000 LIBERIANS FIND WORK THROUGH ROAD REPAIR PROJECTS New York, Aug 7 2008 6:10PM More than 30,000 women and men across Liberia have found short-term work this year in road rehabilitation projects supported by the United Nations.

"The jobs created have had a positive impact, engendering a feeling of security in the communities and have promoted cohesion, as people from different groups participated jointly," Andrea Tamagnini, Director of Reintegration, Rehabilitation, and Recovery with the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), said today.

The initiative, which took place during Liberia's dry season, focused on the main roads from Voinjama in the northwest to Fishtown in the southeast, and generated more than 1.3 million working days from September 2007 through May 2008.

The projects were carried out by Liberia's Ministry of Public Works, <"http://unmil.org/">UNMIL, the <"http://www.worldbank.org/">World Bank, the UN Development Programme (<"http://www.undp.org/">UNDP), the UN International Labour Organization (<"http://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm">ILO), and the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/">WFP).

Mr. Tamagnini pointed out that incidents of petty crime declined considerably during and after the projects, since the projects provided legal income-generation opportunities for war-affected youth.

During his recent visit to Liberia, Dmitry Titov, UN Assistant Secretary-General with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), said that "the combination of infrastructure and employment and the contributions these interventions make to recovery and rehabilitation should be seen as a microcosm of peacebuilding."

With massive unemployment and underemployment affecting all parts of the country, Liberia's Minister for Public Works, Loseni Dunzo said that "the number one priority in Liberia's Poverty Reduction Strategy programme is roads – a priority that is due to the major role played by road rehabilitation in the political stability of Liberia."
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN RELIEF OFFICIAL 'ALARMED' AT CIVILIAN CASUALTIES IN SOMALIA

TOP UN RELIEF OFFICIAL 'ALARMED' AT CIVILIAN CASUALTIES IN SOMALIA New York, Aug 7 2008 5:10PM The top United Nations humanitarian official today expressed his growing alarm at the continuing abuses and civilian casualties in the conflict in Somalia, as well as the challenges faced by humanitarian workers who are increasingly the target of violence.

"All parties to this conflict have an obligation under international law to protect civilians and to refrain from indiscriminate attacks," John Holmes, the UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs, <"http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EDIS-7HAM5W?OpenDocument&rc=1&cc=som">said. "Yet it seems at every turn, the death toll of ordinary Somalis is growing. Far too many of them are women, children or aid workers who have no part in this conflict."

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that dozens of civilians have died in bomb and mortar attacks in Mogadishu in the past week. The deaths, along with the current massive displacement of civilians by fighting in Belet Weyne and the latest killing of an aid worker, underline the toll conflict is taking on civilian populations and the relief operation.

On Sunday, 20 women participating in a food-for-work street-cleaning programme were killed when a roadside bomb was detonated. Forty other civilian bystanders were injured. The following day, at least 10 civilians were killed when a mortar shell landed on a residence in Mogadishu.

Outside Mogadishu, recent fighting between Ethiopian forces and insurgents in the town
of Belet Weyne, 300 kilometres north of the capital, has displaced at least 70,000 civilians. The displaced are scattered in villages and rural areas along the Shabelle River where they are reported to be living in dire conditions and in urgent need of food, water, medical care and shelter.

This military confrontation also resulted in significant civilian casualties and destruction of property, including the office of an international non-governmental organization (NGO) which was hit by artillery shells. OCHA says that international humanitarian and human rights norms appeared to have been disregarded by all sides to the conflict during the fighting, with at least 20 civilians killed and more than a dozen injured. Reports indicate that civilians were also subject to arbitrary arrest, detention and even execution.

OCHA stresses that aid workers, who have been subjected to attacks in increasing numbers, are more and more challenged to reach people with the assistance they require. Yesterday, the manager of an orphanage in the Afgooye corridor, where more than 300,000 displaced people have fled, was shot and murdered by unknown gunmen. Twenty-one aid-related workers have been killed in Somalia since January.

"The humanitarian situation has deteriorated steadily in the 18 months that I have been
Emergency Relief Coordinator," Mr. Holmes added, "and has now reached
unprecedented desperate levels, even in the context of Somalia over the last 18 years."

Mr. Holmes urged all parties to allow unhindered humanitarian access wherever
assistance is required by populations in need and to respect the neutrality and safety of
humanitarian workers.

Nearly 2.6 million people in Somalia need humanitarian assistance, a 40 per cent increase in the number of vulnerable people since January 2008. Some 3.5 million Somalis, or almost 50 per cent of the total population, could require help by the end of the year, according to OCHA.
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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GEORGIA: BAN VOICES ALARM AT GROWING VIOLENCE IN SOUTH OSSETIA

GEORGIA: BAN VOICES ALARM AT GROWING VIOLENCE IN SOUTH OSSETIA New York, Aug 7 2008 5:10PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed serious concern about the mounting violence in South Ossetia, Georgia, where nearly two dozen people have reportedly been wounded or killed in recent clashes.

"He urges the parties to refrain from any action that could further escalate the situation and threaten the stability of the region," his spokesperson said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/sgsm11735.doc.htm">statement.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/home.html">UNHCR) reported earlier this week that almost 1,100 people – including many children – have arrived in North Ossetia-Alania, Russia, by bus from South Ossetia.

The sudden displacement followed clashes over the weekend, including sniper and mortar fire, between Georgian Government and South Ossetian forces.

Some of the arrivals have found shelter in public buildings, such as schools and summer camps, or in private accommodation with friends and relatives, UNHCR said.
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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SENIOR UN OFFICIAL NAMED AS NEW PEACEBUILDING CHIEF

SENIOR UN OFFICIAL NAMED AS NEW PEACEBUILDING CHIEF New York, Aug 7 2008 5:10PM Assistant Secretary-General in the Department of Field Support (DFS) Jane Holl Lute has been tapped to head the United Nations office tasked with assisting countries around the world to stabilize and rebuild their economies and societies after armed conflicts, it was announced today.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Ms. Holl Lute, who will serve as Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support in her new capacity, to replace Carolyn McAskie, who has led the Peacebuilding Support Office since its creation in 2006.

Ms. Holl Lute, a United States national, joined the world body in 2003 as Assistant Secretary-General in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and oversaw the creation of DFS from 2007 until this May.

Her "background puts her in a unique position to ensure that the PBSO will continue to grow in addressing the challenges of a convenor within the UN system, drawing on development, security, political, humanitarian and human rights actors in support of the recently established Peacebuilding Commission," Mr. Ban said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sga1148.doc.htm">statement.

Furthermore, Ms. Holl Lute's experience will help her in managing the growth of the Peacebuilding Fund and supporting UN efforts to help countries emerging from conflict, he added.

Prior to taking up service with the UN, she worked as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the UN Foundation and the Better World Fund, two entities created by philanthropist Ted Turner.

The new peacebuilding chief's extensive résumé also includes positions at the Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict, the Woodrow Wilson Centre for International Scholars and the National Security Council of the White House.

Ms. Holl Lute, who also had a distinguished career in the US Army, has a Ph.D. in Political Science from Stanford University as well as a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University.
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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TIMOR-LESTE: UN MISSION WELCOMES TRUTH PANEL'S FINDINGS ON RIGHTS ABUSES

TIMOR-LESTE: UN MISSION WELCOMES TRUTH PANEL'S FINDINGS ON RIGHTS ABUSES New York, Aug 7 2008 3:10PM The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste today welcomed a recent report on human rights abuses that took place during the country's bloody struggle for independence in 1999.

The mission, known as UNMIT, also urged the Governments of Timor-Leste and Indonesia to follow up on the recommendations in the report put out last month by the Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF), established by the two countries in 2005.

"But a Truth and Friendship Commission is only one mechanism for addressing past atrocities," UNMIT spokesperson Allison Cooper told reporters today in Dili.

She expressed the UN's support of the Serious Crime Unit (SCU) and the Prosecutor-General's efforts, as well as steps taken to address crimes committed in the past.

In the popular consultation held in August 1999, virtually the entire electorate voted overwhelmingly for a transition towards independence.

Following the announcement of the result, pro-integration militias, at times with the support of elements of the Indonesian security forces, launched a campaign of violence, looting and arson throughout the entire territory.

Despite their obligations, the Indonesian authorities did not effectively respond, and many East Timorese were killed – including nine local UN personnel – and up to half a million displaced from their homes.

The Organization boycotted the Commission since its terms of reference into the 1999 violence did not preclude it from recommending amnesty for gross abuses.

Last month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced hope that the CTF report "will be the first step towards achieving justice and reconciliation," and encouraged both Governments to take concrete steps to ensure full accountability, to end impunity and to provide reparations to victims, adding that the UN stands ready to extend its technical assistance in that regard.
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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UN MISSION IN IRAQ 'REGRETS' FAILURE OF PARLIAMENT TO PASS AN ELECTORAL LAW

UN MISSION IN IRAQ 'REGRETS' FAILURE OF PARLIAMENT TO PASS AN ELECTORAL LAW New York, Aug 7 2008 3:10PM The United Nations Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) says it regrets that an opportunity was missed yesterday when the country's parliament adjourned without reaching agreement on a new provincial elections law.

Last week UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned in his quarterly report on Iraq that, unless a new electoral law was passed in time, Iraqis would be deprived of the chance to vote this year, which he said could alienate various communities in the country.

In today's statement, <"http://www.uniraq.org/">UNAMI says it hopes that the Iraqi leaders will reach an agreement on outstanding issues through dialogue as soon as possible to enable elections, adding that this was the wish of the vast majority of the Iraqi people.

UNAMI stresses it has been doing all it can to encourage the Iraqis to reach a compromise so that election preparations can move forward as soon as possible.

It says that it stands ready to continue to assist the parties in finding an agreement through the work of the parliamentary committee, as requested by the Iraqi parliament.

Briefing the Security Council yesterday on Mr. Ban's report, B. Lynn Pascoe, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, warned that the security situation remained fragile and any recent gains could be lost unless they are consolidated with political progress.

"Efforts must now focus on achieving the political gains necessary to build trust and confidence across community lines, and to improve the quality of life for all Iraqis, including the delivery of basic services and generating employment," he said.

The situation in the city of Kirkuk had also become more tense and violent in the past week, he reported, in part because of the discord over the proposed electoral laws.

Mr. Pascoe stressed that the bloodshed illustrated "how the lack of dialogue and compromise could easily lead to renewed violence."
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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SENIOR UN OFFICIAL CONVENES TWO DAYS OF ROUND-TABLE TALKS ON CHAD

SENIOR UN OFFICIAL CONVENES TWO DAYS OF ROUND-TABLE TALKS ON CHAD New York, Aug 7 2008 2:10PM The top United Nations official in Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) is convening two days of international talks starting today that are aimed at finding ways to help support the nascent UN peacekeeping mission being deployed to the strife-torn African countries.

The round-table discussions, which are being held in Stockholm, were initiated by the Secretary-General's Special Representative in the CAR and Chad, Victor Angelo, according to a press release issued today by the mission, known as MINURCAT.

The mission, authorized by the Security Council in September last year, includes a multi-dimensional UN presence and a European Union military force (EUFOR) that are jointly trying to bring stability to eastern Chad and north-eastern CAR, which have been beset by widespread fighting and civilian displacement in recent years.

Under the resolution establishing MINURCAT, a special unit known as the Détachement intégré de sécurité (DIS) is being created to carry out a series of tasks, including the maintenance of law and order in camps for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The DIS is also tasked with promoting human rights protection, creating a corridor to safely deliver humanitarian assistance to those in need and protecting any civilians in danger.

The Stockholm talks will examine "the peace and security dividends to be reaped if Chadian issues are properly addressed" by the parties and the wider international community, the press release <"http://appablog.wordpress.com/category/chad/">said.

"The discussions should pave the way for a productive Security Council meeting slated for September 2008 with a particular emphasis on a result-oriented international approach to the resolution of the Chadian conflict."

Envoys and representatives from Chad, the African Union, the European Union, the Community of Sahel-Saharan States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, La Francophonie and key individual States are slated to participate in the Stockholm talks.
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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INDIA: UN ENVOY LAUDS $520 MILLION BOOST FROM WORLD BANK TO FIGHT MALARIA

INDIA: UN ENVOY LAUDS $520 MILLION BOOST FROM WORLD BANK TO FIGHT MALARIA New York, Aug 7 2008 1:10PM The Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Malaria today welcomed the World Bank's recent announcement that it would supply over $500 million to help India combat malaria and other diseases.

The new $520.75 million scheme – designed by the Indian Government, the UN World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO) and the <"http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/">Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – will provide prevention services through bed nets and spraying and treatment to over 100 million people in India.

More than 2 million cases of the disease are reported yearly in the South Asian nation, causing India to lose nearly 80 million days in productivity annually.

In a statement, Special Envoy Roy Chambers congratulated both the <"http://www.worldbank.org/">World Bank and the Indian Government for their "tremendous commitment" to combating malaria.

The funding provided by the World Bank – which comes in the form of a credit from its concessionary lending branch, the International Development Association – is the body's largest-ever project for malaria control in any one country.

"Malaria continues to be a major threat to the lives of millions of poor Indians through premature death, disability, and unnecessary suffering," said Isabel Guerrero, the World Bank's Vice President for South Asia, when the body's new initiative was announced on 31 July.

Falciparum malaria, a severe form of the disease which is often fatal, is on the rise in India due to increased resistance to chloroquine treatment, which was previously the primary anti-malaria drug.

"This project uses the latest science on malaria control, including a new highly effective drug regimen, to effectively address this problem," Ms. Guerrero noted.
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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FIVE COMMUNITY GROUPS HONOURED WITH UN-BACKED PRIZE FOR AIDS ACTIVISM

FIVE COMMUNITY GROUPS HONOURED WITH UN-BACKED PRIZE FOR AIDS ACTIVISM New York, Aug 7 2008 12:10PM Five community organizations from Ghana, India, Iran, Malawi and Mexico have received special recognition as winners of the Red Ribbon Award, a United Nations initiative that honours outstanding local leadership and action in responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Of the more than 550 organizations from 147 countries that were nominated, 25 were awarded $5,000 and were invited to participate in the XVII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008), which is taking place in Mexico City this week.

The winners of the Award – which is presented every two years – were announced in June by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and were honoured at an awards ceremony last night in Mexico City.

Five of the 25 winners received special recognition in the following categories: providing access to treatment, support and care; supporting children orphaned by AIDS; promoting human rights; empowering women and girls; and providing HIV prevention programmes and services.

They are Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights, Ghana; Sanghamitra, A Women's Collective, India; Consol Homes, Malawi; Fortalecidendo la Diversidad, Mexico; and Hamyaran Mosbat – The Mashhad Positive Club, Iran. They will each receive an additional $15,000.

"These are extraordinary organizations helping to meet the needs of their own communities in often very difficult circumstances," Rebecca Grynspan, Director of UNDP's Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, said during the awards ceremony. "In doing so they have shown extraordinary creativity, courage and leadership in responding to the epidemic and achieving tangible results with limited resources."

"All the Red Ribbon participants at this conference are winners," said As Sy, Director of Partnerships and External Relations at UNAIDS. "We hope that the knowledge and resources gained from AIDS 2008 will help inspire you in your own communities in taking your work to the next level. I know all of us have learned from you and your experiences. This knowledge is truly what the Red Ribbon Awards are about."

The 25 winning organizations are also participating in AIDS 2008, where they are hosting the Community Tequio in the heart of the Global Village, a space for participants share their experiences and best practices on HIV/AIDS issues.
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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ISRAEL AND PALESTINIANS TO BOOST POSTAL SERVICES WITH HELP FROM UN AGENCY

ISRAEL AND PALESTINIANS TO BOOST POSTAL SERVICES WITH HELP FROM UN AGENCY New York, Aug 7 2008 11:10AM Israeli and Palestinian postal authorities have agreed to start direct mail exchanges between the Palestinian Authority and the 191 member countries of the United Nations Universal Postal Union (UPU), with mail transiting through Jordan.

It was announced yesterday at the UPU's 24th Universal Postal Congress in Geneva that the Israeli and Palestinian postal authorities had been discussing solutions aimed at improving the operations and quality of the Palestinian Authority's postal services "with the aim of strengthening international postal cooperation."

Both parties pledged to start facilitating direct exchanges between the Palestinian Authority and UPU members as of now, in a joint declaration read out by UPU Director General Edouard Dayan.

Welcoming the spirit of dialogue and cooperation shown by both parties, Mr. Dayan described the declaration as "an important development" in the UPU's efforts to improve the quality of the Palestinian postal service and to help it become "better integrated into the world postal community."

"The technical and operational solutions that are envisaged will enable the Palestinian postal services to launch direct mail exchanges, and will establish the rights and duties associated with terminal dues and the UPU Quality of Service Fund," he stated.

Terminal dues are the compensation countries receive for handling international mail arriving from other countries.

Mr. Dayan <"http://www.upu.int/press/en/2008/palestinian_authority_to_exchange_mail_directly_with_upu_member_countries_en.pdf">called on the international postal community to lend its support to the Palestinian Authority's postal services.

The UPU, based in the Swiss city of Berne, is the primary forum for cooperation among the world's postal services. Among other things, it sets the rules for international mail exchanges among its members and makes recommendations to stimulate mail volume growth and to improve the quality of service for customers.
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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CHAD: UN PROVIDES $1.2 MILLION TO REPLACE BURNT AND LOOTED AID SUPPLIES

CHAD: UN PROVIDES $1.2 MILLION TO REPLACE BURNT AND LOOTED AID SUPPLIES New York, Aug 7 2008 10:10AM After aid supplies were burnt and looted during fighting in eastern Chad in mid-June, a United Nations emergency fund has stepped in to replace the supplies with a grant of $1.2 million.

The supplies include blankets, mats, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, plastic sheeting, tents, and soap.

"This loss of humanitarian supplies is yet one more example of the difficulties that continued insecurity poses for our work to save lives in eastern Chad," <"http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LSGZ-7HAGE8?OpenDocument">said Eliane Duthoit, head of the local Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

"Through this grant, we will be able to supply emergency household items to refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in need, by replacing those lost. But I must call on all belligerent parties to respect humanitarian assets and supplies," she added.

The grant, which was provided by the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), will partly fund a project by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which has primary responsibility for humanitarian assistance, managing camps and protecting IDPs.

"These funds will enable us to provide essential household items covering some of the needs of the refugee and IDP population in the Goz Beida region, affected by the events on 15 June," said Serge Malé, representative of UNHCR in the landlocked African nation.

Since its launch in 2006, the CERF has made available over $890 million for rapid disaster relief, helping the UN save tens of thousands of lives in 62 countries struggling with disasters, armed conflicts, or both.

Last week an additional CERF allocation of $6.8 million was supplied to Chad through reserves held for under-funded emergencies.
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN ENVOY URGES SUDAN TO REVIEW DEATH SENTENCES AGAINST DARFUR REBELS

TOP UN ENVOY URGES SUDAN TO REVIEW DEATH SENTENCES AGAINST DARFUR REBELS New York, Aug 7 2008 10:10AM The top United Nations envoy to Sudan has called for a review of the death sentences passed by the country's counter-terrorism courts against 30 members of a Darfur rebel group found guilty of participating in an attack near the capital in May, amid concerns that they did not receive a fair trial.

"The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has concerns that the judicial process may not have met international standards," Ashraf Qazi, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Sudan, said in a statement issued today.

"It would appear that the accused were only given access to lawyers after the trials began; confessions were obtained while the accused were held incommunicado and in the absence of legal counsel and the court did not investigate allegations of ill treatment," according to information available to UNMIS, which is headed by Mr. Qazi.

The 10 May attack against the Sudanese Government was carried out by members of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in Omdurman, on the outskirts of Khartoum.

Mr. Qazi said that while the Government has the right and the responsibility to prosecute and sentence those who committed criminal offences, it must ensure compliance of proceedings with international legal standards.

"In capital punishment cases especially, the Government has an obligation to rigorously observe all fair trial guarantees set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Sudan is a State party," he stated.

The UN mission encouraged Sudan to abolish capital punishment, and, in the meantime, establish a moratorium on executions as called for by the General Assembly in November 2007.

Insecurity and unrest continue to plague Darfur, an arid and impoverished region on Sudan's western flank, and attempts to broker a peace deal have also been hampered by the splintering of the many rebel movements.

An estimated 300,000 people have been killed there since 2003, either through direct combat or disease, malnutrition and reduced life expectancy, while another 2.7 million people have been displaced from their homes.
2008-08-07 00:00:00.000

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HUMAN RIGHTS OUTLOOK IN TOGO IS IMPROVING, UN AND AFRICAN EXPERTS SAY

HUMAN RIGHTS OUTLOOK IN TOGO IS IMPROVING, UN AND AFRICAN EXPERTS SAY New York, Aug 6 2008 7:10PM The prospects for protecting and promoting human rights in Togo are improving, but defenders of rights still face serious obstacles to carrying out their work, experts with the United Nations and African Union (AU) have <"http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/572692643D0A809BC125749C00784B1A?opendocument">said after visiting the West African country.

Margaret Sekaggya, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, and Reine Alapini-Gansou, the AU Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders in Africa issued a joint statement on Monday that voiced optimism after a week-long visit and offered preliminary recommendations.

Mrs. Sekaggya and Mrs. Alapini-Gansou said "a conducive environment in which human rights defenders can operate has progressively emerged" since the violence that followed the death of the then president Eyadema Gnassingbé in February 2005.

The two rapporteurs said the Government now acknowledges past human rights violations and is pledging to address them; attacks and acts of intimidation against rights defenders have "significantly reduced in number"; judicial reforms have begun; and the national human rights ministry has conducted a series of activities to promote and protect rights.

But they said many defenders face ongoing stigmatization by authorities, especially if they are seen as belonging to the political opposition.

"This misperception, more acute outside the capital [Lomé], generates a climate of mistrust between the State authorities and human rights defenders," according to the joint statement. "In addition, civil society at large is fragmented and lacks coordination."

Past human rights abuses should be dealt with through a truth, justice and reconciliation commission, and the National Human Rights Commission should also receive greater funding, the rapporteurs stressed.

In addition, Mrs. Sekaggya and Mrs. Alapini-Gansou recommend that the Government speed up the process of registration of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) so they can carry out their work.

During their visit the rapporteurs met with President Faure Gnassingbé, Prime Minister Komlan Mally and other senior Government officials, as well as members of the National Assembly, the main political parties and the judiciary.

They also held talks with human rights defenders, representatives of NGOs, journalists, trade union activists, lawyers and diplomats.
2008-08-06 00:00:00.000

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UN-BACKED GUIDE SEEKS TO PREVENT GIRLS' HIV INFECTION

UN-BACKED GUIDE SEEKS TO PREVENT GIRLS' HIV INFECTION New York, Aug 6 2008 6:10PM With some 7,000 young women becoming HIV-positive on a daily basis, a new United Nations-backed guide released today aims to curb the spread of the virus among girls.

At the publication's launch in Mexico City against the backdrop of the XVII International AIDS Conference, Purnima Mane of the UN Population Fund (<"http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1175">UNFPA) said that "girls and young women face double vulnerability, and double efforts are needed to protect them."

The guide, "Make it Matter" was produced by UNFPA, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and Young Positives.

It centres around three goals recognized as key components of a successful response to HIV/AIDS: enhancing access to sexual and reproductive health services for girls and young women; increasing socio-economic opportunities for them; and bringing an end to child marriage.

"Make it Matter" drawing on successful national programmes for HIV prevention in such countries as Viet Nam, South Africa and India.
2008-08-06 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN OFFICIAL IN DR CONGO IN PUSH TO IMPROVE PEACEKEEPER CONDUCT

TOP UN OFFICIAL IN DR CONGO IN PUSH TO IMPROVE PEACEKEEPER CONDUCT New York, Aug 6 2008 6:10PM The top United Nations official in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today pledged to intensify his efforts to ensure that peacekeepers operating in the African country observe the UN Code of Conduct.

Alan Doss, the Secretary-General's Special Representative in the DRC and the head of the peacekeeping mission known as MONUC, said he is seeking the advice of an soon-to-be established independent, high-level panel of experts on how MONUC can further strengthen its efforts to prevent misconduct by its personnel.

The panel, comprising both Congolese and international members, will also advise on how to ensure that those responsible for unacceptable behaviour are held accountable.

In a statement issued today Mr. Doss stressed his commitment to maintaining the respect and trust of the Congolese people who he said deserve "the highest standards of conduct from civilian and military peacekeepers alike."

Mr. Doss <"http://www.monuc.org/News.aspx?newsID=17867">travelled to the eastern city of Goma, the capital of the troubled North Kivu province, accompanied by senior MONUC officials, for meetings on the peace process in a region of the country that continues to be beset by militia and inter-ethnic violence.
2008-08-06 00:00:00.000

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TIME FOR IRAQIS TO MAKE POLITICAL PROGRESS, UN POLITICAL CHIEF SAYS

TIME FOR IRAQIS TO MAKE POLITICAL PROGRESS, UN POLITICAL CHIEF SAYS New York, Aug 6 2008 6:10PM Iraqis must focus on political dialogue, reconciliation and bread-and-butter economic issues now that they are seeing improved security, the top United Nations political official told the Security Council today.

<"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sc9415.doc.htm">Briefing the Council on the latest <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2008/496">report on the work of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), B. Lynn Pascoe, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, warned that the security situation remains fragile and any recent gains could be lost unless they are consolidated with political progress.

"Efforts must now focus on achieving the political gains necessary to build trust and confidence across community lines, and to improve the quality of life for all Iraqis, including the delivery of basic services and generating employment," he said.

Mr. Pascoe said the UN believed the best way to build trust was to tackle the issues "at the heart of each community's competing visions for the future of Iraq," such as the federal framework of the country, the handling of the status of the northern city of Kirkuk and other disputed areas and revenue-sharing agreements.

"The potential is there, and it is ultimately up to the Iraqi people to make sound choices that will allow them to build a sustainable and lasting peace."

The Under-Secretary-General noted that discussions within the Iraqi parliament about the adoption of new electoral laws remains unresolved, although the UN was doing all it could to promote practical compromises.

"A failure to come to agreement on a law at this time would be a major setback – not only for the prospects of elections this year but for the larger process of national reconciliation in Iraq."

The situation in Kirkuk has also become more tense and violent in the past week, in part because of the discord over the proposed electoral laws, and Mr. Pascoe stressed that the bloodshed illustrated "how the lack of dialogue and compromise could easily lead to renewed violence."

Strengthening the Iraqi economy must also be a top priority, the Under-Secretary-General added, observing that the spike in oil prices this year has not yet translated into improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens.

"Unemployment rates remain stubbornly high, and the same governorates rate consistently low on key socio-economic indicators, such as unemployment, malnutrition and illiteracy. It is estimated that 60 per cent of Iraqis do not have access to one or more essential social services and 15 per cent lack food security."

Ambassador Alejandro Wolff of the United States, speaking on behalf of the Multinational Force (MNF) operating in Iraq, informed the Council that for the past three months the total number of security incidents had reached their lowest level in four years.

Since June last year, overall attacks had decreased by 84 per cent and the number of civilian deaths from violence had dropped by 65 per cent. He attributed the gains to the work of both Iraqi and coalition security forces.
2008-08-06 00:00:00.000

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MARKING HIROSHIMA ANNIVERSARY, BAN SEES HOPE FOR NUCLEAR-FREE FUTURE

MARKING HIROSHIMA ANNIVERSARY, BAN SEES HOPE FOR NUCLEAR-FREE FUTURE New York, Aug 6 2008 4:10PM Commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the first-ever atomic bomb attack, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed optimism for a world free of nuclear weapons.

"From sadness and grief can emerge new hope for progress in our common journey to a new age of peace and security," he <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3339">said in a message to the Peace Memorial Ceremony delivered by Sergio Duarte, United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. "I see many grounds for such hope."

Mr. Ban stressed that support for nuclear disarmament spans the globe, with many – including educators, religious leaders, current and former government officials, journalists and individuals – proactively taking steps to achieve the goal.

He lauded the participation of schoolchildren in the annual ceremony, nothing that "their generation will soon take on their own responsibilities for remembering the past while continuing collective efforts towards a nuclear-weapon-free world."

The Secretary-General also paid tribute to the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki for promoting the "Mayors for Peace" initiative. "They understand that there is no more reliable way to achieve this than through the elimination of such weapons."
2008-08-06 00:00:00.000

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EMINENT IRISH JURIST APPOINTED UN'S FIRST FEMALE LEGAL CHIEF

EMINENT IRISH JURIST APPOINTED UN'S FIRST FEMALE LEGAL CHIEF New York, Aug 6 2008 3:10PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Patricia O'Brien of Ireland as the new United Nations legal chief, making her the first woman in the Organization's history to hold that post.

Since 2003, Ms. O'Brien has been serving as Legal Adviser to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland, during which time she provided counsel on legal issues arising in Irish foreign policy, particularly public international law, human rights law and European Union law.

The new Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel brings to the job "an extensive experience of legal and international affairs to integrate the legal dimension in the internal decision-making processes, to promote the rule of law in international relations, and to contribute to the strengthening of the culture of the end of impunity," UN spokesperson Michele Montas said today, as she announced Ms. O'Brien's appointment.

The new UN legal chief, who replaces Nicolas Michel of Switzerland, previously served as Senior Legal Adviser to the Irish Attorney General and as Legal Counsellor at the Irish Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels.

She has also advised the Irish Government in legal proceedings before the International Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice, as well as participated in expert legal meetings in the UN, the EU and the Council of Europe.

Ms. O'Brien, 51, holds an LL.B. from the University of Ottawa, Canada, and an M.A. and B.A. from Trinity College, Dublin.
2008-08-06 00:00:00.000

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BAN VOICES DEEP REGRET AT COUP D'ÉTAT IN MAURITANIA

BAN VOICES DEEP REGRET AT COUP D'ÉTAT IN MAURITANIA New York, Aug 6 2008 2:10PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced his deep regret at today's overthrow by military leaders of the Mauritanian Government led by President Sidi Mohamed Ould Chiekh Abdallahi.

"The Secretary-General calls for respect for the rule of law and for the immediate restoration of constitutional order in the country," Mr. Ban's spokesperson <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3338">said in a statement.

Mr. Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was elected President after multi-party democratic elections last year.
2008-08-06 00:00:00.000

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WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT KEY TO ACHIEVING DEVELOPMENT TARGETS, UN FORUM TOLD

WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT KEY TO ACHIEVING DEVELOPMENT TARGETS, UN FORUM TOLD New York, Aug 6 2008 1:10PM Women's empowerment is critical for countries in Asia and the Pacific to advance towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS, all by 2015, according to participants at a United Nations forum held in the Thai capital.

"Where's the Power in Women's Empowerment?" – organized by the Bangkok-based UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) – examined issues related to women's empowerment and the achievement of the gender-related MDGs, as well as power relations and violence against women.

The forum heard that while advances in policies and legislation were needed to enable women to take up their roles in society, real change and progress will only occur when obstacles to empowerment are removed. These include entrenched structures, values and power relations which shape local policies, communities and cultural beliefs and women's daily lives.

Development goals in Asia and the Pacific will be endangered if unequal power relations are not challenged and transformed, ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer told the forum.

A group of experts that addressed the forum, including Yakin Ertürk, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, cautioned that laws supportive of women, improvements to women's access to resources, and political participation do not, by themselves, change relations of power. Culture and religion continue to be used by a privileged few to legitimize gendered power structures, they added.

Ms. Ertürk noted that violence, which was often used as "a tool to keep women in their place," impairs women's abilities, influences their daily decisions, and has long flourished in the protected private sphere.

"Silence and secrecy are a shelter for power and its abuses," she said, noting that the fact that the issue of violence against women is now on the global agenda is a sign that the silence has been broken.

The forum was part of a regular seminar series organized by Ms. Heyzer to provide a platform for debating and discussing issues relevant to the Asia-Pacific region.
2008-08-06 00:00:00.000

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UN HELPING TO PUT SHOES ON RWANDAN REFUGEES' FEET

UN HELPING TO PUT SHOES ON RWANDAN REFUGEES' FEET New York, Aug 6 2008 12:10PM A United Nations-backed campaign is helping to put shoes on the feet of over 4,000 Rwandan refugees.

A Canadian non-profit organization called Sole Responsibility has collected over 4,000 pairs of shoes in collaboration with schools and running clubs, and shipping costs are covered by cash donations. The Ottawa-based group focuses on providing footwear to displaced people worldwide.

The gently-worn running and walking shoes are being distributed by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Rwandan camps.

"It will certainly be of great help to our refugees since it's now the rainy season and the refugees are in the wet and mud with no shoes," <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4899a11b4.html">said Annette Nyekan, the agency's Representative in Rwanda.

Her counterpart in Canada, Abraham Abraham, said that "the shoes will allow and encourage refugee children to go to school, play and feel dignified and cared for."

Sole Responsibility began collecting footwear in 2005, and since than has collected nearly 15,000 pairs of shoes, working with UNHCR to send them to places where refugees need them most.

"People here are eager to help and are very appreciative of UNHCR's work in the field," said Jennifer North, a representative of the organization. "We really enjoy doing this project and we think we can expand it, both geographically and with items that we are collecting."
2008-08-06 00:00:00.000

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NEPAL: UN AGENCY SAYS 2.5 MILLION IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE FOOD AID

NEPAL: UN AGENCY SAYS 2.5 MILLION IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE FOOD AID New York, Aug 6 2008 11:10AM Around 2.5 million people in rural Nepal are in immediate need of food assistance and an additional 3.9 million are at risk of becoming food insecure because of rising prices, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said in a report released today.

An additional 500,000 people in urban areas are also at risk, the agency <"http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/KKAA-7H98ZG?OpenDocument">said, with the country as a whole facing low economic growth, high unemployment and rising prices, all of which pose a serious threat to the ongoing peace process.

In the past six months the highest price increases have been for cooking oil (26 per cent), coarse rice (19 per cent) and kerosene (13 per cent). Supplies in basic commodities have also decreased, by as much as 44 per cent for kerosene, 30 per cent for coarse rice, and 20 per cent for lentils, cooking oil and fine rice.

WFP says Nepal is facing a serious fuel shortage, heavily affecting transportation costs which have risen by 27 per cent.

Although wage rates for unskilled labour have risen, the purchasing power of households for food has gone down because of the rise in commodity prices. People in Nepal are buying smaller quantities and buying cheaper food items, according to WFP, which says higher malnutrition rates may be on the way.

The UN agency concludes that Nepal's farmers are unlikely to overcome in the near future the challenges posed by limited irrigation coverage, limited use of fertilizers and improved seed varieties, and increasing input costs.

In a separate development, the representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) has called for a commitment by those in authority to implement laws banning torture.

Referring to Nepal's recent civil conflict, Richard Bennett said: "Ill-treatment and torture of detainees were systematically used during the conflict, but it would be wrong for us to think that their use ceased after the conflict ended, or even that it did not occur before the conflict. In many parts of the country, these violations of human rights continue in places of detention. Thus, ending ill-treatment and torture remains as important today as it has ever been."

Mr. Bennett was speaking at the launch of a practical guide to detention monitoring, which took place yesterday in the capital, Kathmandu.

"The State has an obligation to make torture a criminal offence and to encourage investigation and prosecution of acts of torture. However, it is not enough to have a good legal framework – the law must be implemented, and established patterns of behaviour have to be changed. This requires commitment from those in positions of authority, and the tireless efforts of civil society," he added.
2008-08-06 00:00:00.000

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AFGHAN LAWYERS GROUP MAJOR STRIDE FOR YOUNG DEMOCRACY, SAYS UN AGENCY

AFGHAN LAWYERS GROUP MAJOR STRIDE FOR YOUNG DEMOCRACY, SAYS UN AGENCY New York, Aug 6 2008 10:10AM The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has welcomed the newly-established Afghan Independent Bar Association, which it called an important step in promoting justice and due process in the fledgling democracy.

Christina Gynna Oguz, UNODC Representative in Afghanistan, <"http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/KKAA-7H9A58?OpenDocument">congratulated the authorities, in particular the Ministry of Justice, and the Afghan people for taking a major stride towards "promoting meaningful access to legal representation and justice for all persons regardless of their ethnic, economic or social condition."

Ms. Oguz also urged the representatives of the newly-established body "to increase public understanding of and respect for the law, the legal process, and the role of the legal profession and to preserve the independence of the legal profession and the judiciary, which is fundamental to a democratic society."

The Afghan Independent Bar Association has the distinction of being one of the only bar associations in the world with mandatory pro bono requirements for criminal cases and a quota for women on the leadership and all committees.

UNODC, in cooperation with the International Bar Association (IBA) and with the financial support of the Government of Italy, assisted the Afghan Ministry of Justice in organizing and hosting the group's first General Assembly meeting in late July.

The gathering brought together registered lawyers and advocates from all over the country and was tasked with adopting the by-laws and electing the President as well as other representatives of the Association.

UNODC has also developed a database that will contain relevant information about registered lawyers in Afghanistan, and plans to conduct a training course on its use for the Association's administrative staff.
2008-08-06 00:00:00.000

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SYRIA: UN SPARKS HOPE AMONG IRAQI REFUGEE SCHOOLCHILDREN

SYRIA: UN SPARKS HOPE AMONG IRAQI REFUGEE SCHOOLCHILDREN New York, Aug 5 2008 6:10PM The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/48984ce12.html">UNHCR) is reaching out to Iraqi schoolchildren in the Syrian capital Damascus by distributing school supplies before the start of the school year next month.

The agency – working in concert with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) – hopes to reach 30,000 children by the time the new school year kicks off on 7 September in Syria, where education is both free and compulsory until the age of 15.

Last year, some 20,000 children received supplies from the UNHCR distribution, and this year, the agency expects that number to grow to 30,000.

"The Syrian Government has been very accommodating towards refugee children, but there are obstacles to their attendance, and additional costs, such as buying school materials, are a major problem," said Carole Rigaud, UNCHR Education Officer in Damascus.

Iraqi families taking refuge in the country who hope to see their children attend school face such barriers as not having the proper documents or being unable to afford transportation costs. Meanwhile, some Iraqi refugee children also have trouble adjusting to the Syrian curriculum which is different from that in their home country.

Through the programme, UNHCR hopes to encourage Iraqi refugees to send their children to school by curbing their financial burden and providing information on the available education options.

"Without education, a person is ignorant, and even though the schooling of some of my children was interrupted, it is essential that they continue their studies," said Abu Zaidoon, whose family arrived in Syria in 2005.

His four sons and one daughter are all enrolled in school, but he said the increasingly high cost of living is making this difficult. "At least this distribution is sparing us some of the expenses," he said.

Each school kit – worth between $46 and $79 depending on the school grade – being handed out includes a school bag containing dozens of stationary items, a uniform, shoes and sports clothes.

UNCHR estimates that over 2 million Iraqis have fled the country, with most of them currently living in Syria and Jordan.

More than 33,000 Iraqi children were in school in the 2006-2007 school year, according to the Syrian Ministry of Education, which also said that the number surged to nearly 50,000 last year.
2008-08-05 00:00:00.000

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MONTENEGRO: UN AGENCY HELPS REFUGEES ESCAPE STATELESSNESS

MONTENEGRO: UN AGENCY HELPS REFUGEES ESCAPE STATELESSNESS New York, Aug 5 2008 5:10PM The United Nations refugee agency is helping thousands of refugees who fled to Montenegro from Kosovo to get legal representation.

More than 4,000 Roma, Ashkaelia and Egyptian refugees fled Kosovo in 1999 and a recent study in one camp found that almost half of them are at risk of statelessness since they have no legal documents to establish their identity.

Through a regional European Union Roma project in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo, and working with Catholic Relief Services/Legal Centre, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/489856432.html">UNHCR) is helping Roma, Ashkaelia and Egyptian refugees obtain legal documents and register their children at school.

"In addition to extreme poverty and generally low levels of education, the lack of personal documents and/or civil registration represents a serious obstacle to the integration of Roma, Ashkaelia, and Egyptian refugees into mainstream Montenegrin society," UNHCR's Representative in Montenegro, Serge Ducasse, said today.

"Many of their children are denied school registration and they can't get proper jobs or full social services. Without proper documents Roma, Ashkaelia, and Egyptian refugees are not recognized as persons before the law and are often in effect stateless. This statelessness can be carried down to future generations."

According to UNHCR, Roma people often fail to register their children's births. Not having one document leads to a "chain reaction" where individuals are unable to secure other documents and end up without any basic rights. Population movements over decades of conflicts in the Balkans have exacerbated this problem, as documents were lost and families were separated.

"We hope that by assisting a large number of cases, we will help bring about systemic changes and make it easier for others to carry out these tasks in the future without lawyers," Mr. Ducasse explained.

Seven-year-old Adnan Behuli, who lives in Konik refugee camp in Podgorica, has finally obtained a birth certificate, a move that will allow him to enrol in elementary school in September.

"I'm so happy now," said his father, Behrim, who lost an older son during the war in Kosovo and has no desire to go back. Unlike the other children who attend the branch school in the camp, Adnan will now get the chance to go to a local school outside the camp, where the quality of education is much higher, and he will therefore have more opportunities to integrate into wider Montenegrin society.

"I've been feeling guilty all these years," added Behrim. who struggles to support his nine children on the $311 he earns every month as a street cleaner. But now my son will start school and will be able to have an education and hopefully get a proper job, not like his father."

In total, 24,000 refugees from other parts of the former Yugoslavia still live in Montenegro.
2008-08-05 00:00:00.000

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UN REFUGEE AGENCY HERALDS NEW GEORGIAN ACTION PLAN FOR DISPLACED PERSONS

UN REFUGEE AGENCY HERALDS NEW GEORGIAN ACTION PLAN FOR DISPLACED PERSONS New York, Aug 5 2008 5:10PM The United Nations refugee agency today welcomed Georgia's adoption of an action plan to strengthen the country's efforts to alleviate the plight of tens of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in the Caucasus country.

The new plan, the result of months of consultations, includes a series of concrete measures which the Government will carry out to ease the housing situation and to improve the access of IDPs to education and social services, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Ron Redmond told reporters at a briefing in Geneva.

Under the plan UNHCR will also be active in finding durable solutions to the shortage of suitable housing for some of the estimated 273,000 IDPs in Georgia.

Meanwhile, almost 1,100 people – including many children – have arrived in North Ossetia-Alania, Russia, by bus from the breakaway region of South Ossetia in Georgia, Mr. Redmond said.

The sudden displacement followed clashes over the weekend, including sniper and mortar fire, between Georgian Government and South Ossetian forces that have led to the deaths of at least six people and injuries to 13 others.

Staff at UNHCR's office in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia, say none of the arrivals are seeking asylum and have said the move by bus is a precautionary measure and they hope to return to their homes by the end of the northern summer.

Some of the arrivals have been sheltered in public buildings, such as schools and summer camps, or in private accommodation with friends and relatives. Mr. Redmond added that UNHCR and other agencies are consulting with Russian authorities on the issue.
2008-08-05 00:00:00.000

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GERMAN APPOINTED AS JUDGE ON UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL FOR FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

GERMAN APPOINTED AS JUDGE ON UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL FOR FORMER YUGOSLAVIA New York, Aug 5 2008 4:10PM Christoph Flügge has been appointed to serve on the United Nations war crimes tribunal dealing with the worst offences committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s after the Security Council indicated its support for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's intention to select the German jurist.

In an exchange of letters made public today, Ambassador Le Luong Minh of Viet Nam, which held the Council presidency last month, said he had consulted the 15-member panel and it had backed the appointment of Mr. Flügge to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Mr. Flügge, 61, will replace Judge Wolfgang Schomburg, also of Germany, who has resigned from the ICTY, effective 18 November.

The incoming judge has a lengthy professional history that includes a stint as a criminal judge in Berlin between 1983 and 1989. Most recently he has served as an expert in criminal matters for the Council of Europe and for the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation, specializing in reform of the prison system in Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Estonia and Lithuania.
2008-08-05 00:00:00.000

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SENIOR UN OFFICIAL DEPARTS FOR TALKS ON ZIMBABWE'S POLITICAL CRISIS

SENIOR UN OFFICIAL DEPARTS FOR TALKS ON ZIMBABWE'S POLITICAL CRISIS New York, Aug 5 2008 4:10PM A senior United Nations political official is heading to South Africa today for talks on the mediation process to resolve the political crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Haile Menkerios is going to Pretoria in his capacity as the UN's high-level representative to the Reference Group, which was set up by South African President Thabo Mbeki to support the mediation effort to end the ongoing dispute between President Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, who heads the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The other members of the Group are the African Union and the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Mr. Menkerios will also visit Zimbabwe – which has been beset by violence and a worsening humanitarian situation since the first round of elections in March – later in the week before returning to New York over the weekend, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

Last month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the announcement by Mr. Mugabe and Mr. Tsvangirai that they have signed an agreement paving the way for talks to end instability in the country.
"The Secretary-General welcomes the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the parties in Zimbabwe, which provides a framework for formal talks to end the political crisis in the country," according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.
2008-08-05 00:00:00.000

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NEW UN SCHEME SEEKS TO BOOST RESPONSE OF NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEMS TO HIV/AIDS

NEW UN SCHEME SEEKS TO BOOST RESPONSE OF NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEMS TO HIV/AIDS New York, Aug 5 2008 4:10PM The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today launched a package of priority interventions designed to help low- and middle-income countries move towards universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support.

The package, unveiled at the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, includes everything from how to expand condom programming to the latest in treatment recommendations, guidelines and standards.

"This document responds to a long-standing country need," <"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2008/pr25/en/index.html">says Kevin De Cock, Director of WHO's HIV/AIDS Department. "In one place it captures WHO's best guidance on what the global HIV/AIDS health sector response needs to deliver."

The document, which will be available on a CD-ROM, in hard copy and on the web, is intended to help countries with limited resources meet the commitment made two years ago at the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS to provide universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010.

Readers will find descriptions of priority health-sector HIV/AIDS interventions that are needed to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care, as well as a guide to selecting and prioritizing these interventions.

The document will also direct readers to key WHO resources and references containing the best available information on the health sector response to HIV/AIDS.

Also today in Mexico City, WHO and the World Bank announced that they are joining forces, along with several other partners, to gather evidence and provide technical guidance relating to global health initiatives.

There are now more than 80 such initiatives, ranging from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR.

WHO notes that global health initiatives have helped to bring new resources, partners, technical know-how and commitment to tackling various health issues. At the same time, some say that disease-specific initiatives are eroding already weak health systems, while others assert that weak health systems are holding back progress in disease-specific initiatives.

The WHO-World Bank effort seeks to examine the issues in the debate and provide governments with sound technical guidance to enhance health systems without diminishing the benefits of disease-specific initiatives.

"It is not about choosing between health systems strengthening on the one hand and disease-specific programmes on the other," said Carissa Etienne, WHO Assistant Director-General, Health Systems and Services, told reporters at the AIDS Conference.

"It is about working together to generate added value. The time has come to move from observing the intentional and unintentional impacts of health investments, to actively managing better outcomes that can be sustained," she said.

The International AIDS Conference is the largest event of its kind in the world. It is held every two years and is taking place in Latin America for the first time this year.
2008-08-05 00:00:00.000

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