INNOVATION IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS KEY TO RECOVERY FROM ECONOMIC CRISIS – UN REPORT

INNOVATION IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS KEY TO RECOVERY FROM ECONOMIC CRISIS – UN REPORT
New York, Feb 17 2009 7:10PM
The global financial crisis could provide entrepreneurial opportunities for budding information and communication technology (ICT) businesses, which in turn can power economic recovery, according to a new United Nations report.

The report, <i>Confronting the Crisis: Its Impact on the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Industry</i>, highlights some harsh realities for the industry and explains how it can position itself for recovery in the future.

"Despite difficult times, there are reasons to be optimistic," said Hamadoun Touré, Secretary-General of the UN International Telecommunication Union (<"http://www.itu.int/net/home/index.aspx">ITU) at the launch of his agency's report yesterday.

Speaking at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Mr. Touré added that innovation is the key to recovery, stressing that "having contributed consistently as a high-growth sector in its own right, ICTs can now power economic recovery across all sectors.

"Along with stimulus packages put together by Governments, the ICT industry must continue to invest in infrastructure and the roll out of cost-effective services, such as next-generation networks (NGNs)."

The report noted that although credit is now more difficult to come by and more expensive, with financing costs on average 3 to 4 per cent higher year-on-year, savvy businesses can take advantage of the economic turmoil to reposition their services for the upturn.

Funding is still available for firms with sound business models, established demand and early projected cash flows, according to the report. But it stressed that alternative sources of financing are now needed, with a growing role for government and economic stimulus packages.

Responding to the financial pressure facing the private sector, some Governments have stepped in to diminish the impact on the transition to NGNs, which can carry voice, data and media services simultaneously.

Several administrations have also announced commitments to invest in their national infrastructure, while others, such as the European Union, have included the roll-out of broadband networks in their economic stimulus packages.

The report highlighted the soaring growth in the mobile telephone business in developing countries, especially in large emerging markets, including Brazil, India and Nigeria, which registered record additional subscribers in September and October 2008, as an example of opportunity for growth.
Feb 17 2009 7:10PM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

‘GREEN REVOLUTION’ CAN ENSURE ENOUGH FOOD FOR ENTIRE WORLD – UN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

'GREEN REVOLUTION' CAN ENSURE ENOUGH FOOD FOR ENTIRE WORLD – UN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
New York, Feb 17 2009 6:10PM
Unless major changes are made – including the way food is produced, handled and disposed of around the world – last year's food crisis which plunged millions back into hunger may foreshadow an even bigger crisis in the years to come, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a new report.

<i>The Environmental Food Crisis: The environment's role in averting future food crises</i>, released at the 25th session of the <"http://www.unep.org/GC/GC25/">UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum in Nairobi, outlines a plan to reduce the risk of hunger and rising food insecurity for this century.

The agency predicts that food prices may increase 30 to 50 per cent within decades, forcing those living in extreme poverty to spend 90 per cent of their income on food.

The report, compiled by a wide group of experts from both within and outside UNEP, stressed that changing the ways in which food is produced, handled and disposed of across the globe – from farm to store and from fridge to landfill – can both feed the world's rising population and help the environmental services that are the foundation of agricultural productivity in the first place.

"We need a Green Revolution in a Green Economy but one with a capital G," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

"We need to deal with not only the way the world produces food but the way it is distributed, sold and consumed, and we need a revolution that can boost yields by working with rather than against nature," added Mr. Steiner

He noted that over half of the food produced today is lost, wasted or discarded as a result of inefficiency in the human-managed food chain.

"There is evidence within the report that the world could feed the entire projected population growth alone by becoming more efficient while also ensuring the survival of wild animals, birds and fish on this planet," said Mr. Steiner.

The report also underscored the fact that over one-third of the world's cereal harvest is being used as animal feed and by 2050 the ratio will rise to 50 per cent.

"Continuing to feed cereals to growing numbers of livestock will aggravate poverty and environmental degradation," UNEP warned in its press statement.

Among the key points in its plan, the report suggested that recycling food wastes and deploying new technologies, aimed at producing biofuels, to produce sugars from discards such as straw and nutshells could be a key environmentally-friendly alternative to increased use of cereals for livestock.

The amount of unwanted fish currently discarded at sea – estimated at 30 million tons a year – could alone sustain more than a 50 per cent increase in fish farming, a rise needed to maintain per capita fish consumption at current levels by 2050 without increasing pressure on an already stressed marine environment.

The report highlights a number of other measures, including the reorganization of food market infrastructure to regulate prices, a micro-financing fund to boost small-scale farming, the removal of agricultural subsidies, managing and better harvesting extreme rainfall and adopting more diversified and ecologically-friendly farming systems.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appealed to environment ministers gathered in Nairobi to help promote a green economy to tackle climate change and wasteful resource consumption, as well as re-energize economies, creating opportunities for new and better livelihoods.

"Soaring food prices brought intense focus not just on the issues of agriculture and trade but on the inflationary role of biofuel production," Mr. Ban said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3714">message to the weeklong meeting.

"Wildly fluctuating crude oil costs illustrated once again our dependence on the fossil fuels that are causing climate change, and the short-sighted economic vision that has precipitated the current financial turmoil is also bankrupting our resource base," he stated.

"UNEP has been instrumental in developing the concept of the green economy, and is now identifying the tools for achieving it, but UNEP needs your support," Mr. Ban stressed.

During the Forum, UNEP and technology giant Microsoft signed an agreement to work together using information and communication technology (ICT) solutions to help address today's environmental challenges.

The partnership focuses on helping environmental organizations, such as UNEP, Governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and researchers, work more effectively by making use of new technologies.

"We view our partnership with Microsoft as key to delivering solutions on a scalable level to a community of more than 190 nations and the UN system as a whole," said Mr. Steiner.

"Without equitable access to information and the capacity for developing countries to engage on an equal level in negotiating key agreements like the climate change treaty or the biodiversity convention, we will not make much progress," he added.
Feb 17 2009 6:10PM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

ONE-THIRD OF UN MEMBER STATES SCRUTINIZED ON HUMAN RIGHTS SO FAR, SAYS OFFICIAL

ONE-THIRD OF UN MEMBER STATES SCRUTINIZED ON HUMAN RIGHTS SO FAR, SAYS OFFICIAL
New York, Feb 17 2009 6:10PM
Having completed the review of another 16 countries, the United Nations Human Rights Council is now one-third of the way through to reviewing the human rights records of all 192 Member States of the Organization, according to the President of the Geneva-based body.

"This also brings us a step closer to achieving the overall goal of the Universal Periodic Review – that is, to improve the human rights situation in every country and address human rights violations wherever they occur," Council President Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi told a news conference following the conclusion of the fourth session of the UPR Working Group on 13 February.

The UPR – a mechanism to examine the record of every Member State – is one of the reforms differentiating the Council from its predecessor, the Commission on Human Rights.

"The UPR process has great potential to shed light in the darkest corners of the globe," noted the President, adding that while there is always room for improvement, the Review has made significant progress beyond the conference rooms.

"Several States who have undergone their review have already begun implementing recommendations posed to them by States and have adopted new polices, programmes and measures aimed at improving the human rights in their countries for the benefit of their citizens," he stated.

This includes the commitments from the 16 States who have just completed their reviews during the just concluded two-week session – Germany, Djibouti, Canada, Bangladesh, Russia, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, China, Nigeria, Mexico, Mauritius, Jordan and Malaysia.

The Working Group will hold its next session from 4 to 15 May during which it will examine the records of Central African Republic, Monaco, Belize, Chad, Congo, Malta, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Chile, Viet Nam, Uruguay, Yemen, Vanuatu, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Comoros and Slovakia.

The Council replaced the Commission on Human Rights, which had been dogged by accusations of bias and politicization, in 2006 as part of ongoing UN reform.
Feb 17 2009 6:10PM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

NEW UN ENVOY FOR WESTERN SAHARA HEADS TO REGION FOR CONSULTATIONS

NEW UN ENVOY FOR WESTERN SAHARA HEADS TO REGION FOR CONSULTATIONS
New York, Feb 17 2009 4:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara is on his way to the region for consultations with the parties, Morocco and the Frente Polisario, as part of United Nations efforts to help broker a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution regarding the Territory's status.

This will be the first visit to the area for Christopher Ross since taking up the post last month. It follows meetings he held in New York last week, including with Mr. Ban and members of the Security Council, as well as with Morocco and the Frente Polisario.

He will be in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, tomorrow, followed by Tindouf and Algiers. He will then travel to Madrid and Paris, the capitals of two of the members of the Group of Friends, from 25 to 27 February.

Mr. Ross, who replaced Peter van Walsum, is expected to return to New York following the trip for further consultations at UN Headquarters.

Several rounds of UN-led talks, bringing together representatives from Morocco and the Frente Polisario, held last year resulted in the parties agreeing to continue negotiations in good faith towards a solution to the issue.

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.
Feb 17 2009 4:10PM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

PAKISTAN: UN CALLS AGAIN FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ABDUCTED STAFF MEMBER

PAKISTAN: UN CALLS AGAIN FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ABDUCTED STAFF MEMBER
New York, Feb 17 2009 4:10PM
The United Nations today once again appealed to those holding John Solecki, a staff member kidnapped in Pakistan two weeks ago, for his immediate and safe release.

Mr. Solecki, the representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home">UNHCR) in the city of Quetta, was kidnapped during a 2 February attack in which his driver, Syed Hashim, was killed.

Last week the UN <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3712">said it is seeking information on a group called the Balochistan Liberation United Front, which on 7 February claimed in local media reports that it is holding Mr. Solecki.

In a statement issued today in Islamabad, the UN encouraged the Balochistan community leaders' continued engagement and once more asked those keeping Mr. Solecki to initiate direct contact so that dialogue can be started for his immediate safe recovery.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke over the weekend with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, and they agreed on the need to secure the safe and immediate release of Mr. Solecki, who has a medical condition requiring regular medication.

Mr. Ban, in a statement issued on Saturday, underscored the importance of the humanitarian work being undertaken by Mr Solecki and stressed that no cause can be served by prolonging his abduction.
Feb 17 2009 4:10PM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

DARFUR: UN EXPERTS ARE SHOWN MASS GRAVES AFTER RECENT FIGHTING

DARFUR: UN EXPERTS ARE SHOWN MASS GRAVES AFTER RECENT FIGHTING
New York, Feb 17 2009 3:10PM
United Nations experts have been sent to the scene of recent fighting between Government forces and armed groups in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region, where local residents showed them mass graves in which they said they had buried 45 people, while many others were still unaccounted for.

An assessment team sent by the UN-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) to Wada'ah, 90 kilometres south of El-Fasher in North Darfur, which has been under the control of the Sudan Liberation Army/Minni Minawi faction (SLA/MM) for the past few years, said the damage did not seem to have been caused by combat but rather deliberately inflicted.

"Numerous buildings and equipment – houses, shops, huts, generators – were burnt to the ground as well as the market place, which was allegedly looted and where granaries set on fire were still smouldering when the UNAMID team visited the place," the mission said in a news release, adding that residents indicated that a large number of people, many reported as having fled the fighting, were still unaccounted for.

"According to the local population, medical supplies at a local dispensary, water pump equipment, goods and food, were allegedly stolen, as well as more than 2,000 cattle herded out of the area."

At the same time, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed an agreement of "goodwill and confidence-building" signed in Doha, Qatar, today by the Sudanese Government and one of the rebel groups, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), for the settlement of the conflict in Darfur, where more than six years of fighting between the Government, allied militia and rebel groups have led to over 300,000 deaths and uprooted over 2.7 million people.

"The Agreement represents a constructive step in the ongoing efforts to negotiate a peaceful conclusion to this long-running conflict," a statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson said. "The Secretary-General underscores that until the parties renounce hostilities, the situation in Darfur cannot improve."

Neither a precise casualty toll nor the number of possible wounded at Wada'ah could be obtained. Teams of UNAMID humanitarian, civil affairs and human rights experts have been sent to provide emergency aid, determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incidents, and stabilize the situation by engaging local leaders from all groups to resolve conflicts.

UNAMID Force Commander General Martin Luther Agwai expressed grave concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation and for the lives and welfare of civilians there. He also strongly condemned the fighting and called on all parties to refrain from further violence and destruction, urging them to resolve their conflicts peacefully and protecting civilians.

Meanwhile Mr. Ban has reported that grave violations continue to be perpetrated against children throughout Sudan by State and non-State parties, including child recruitment and systematic and widespread rape and sexual violence, with children and women in and around refugee and internally displaced persons' (IDP) camps especially vulnerable.

In a report to the Security Council on children and armed conflict in Sudan, he calls on the Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan, where a peace accord four years ago ended 20 years of civil war, as well as all armed groups in the country to end the recruitment and use of children in their forces and release to the UN those children already in their ranks.

He voices deep concern at the killing and maiming of children and other civilians in the course of military operations, including aerial bombardments, as well at the systematic sexual violence against girls and women that continues with impunity, especially in Darfur.

He also condemns the widespread targeting of humanitarian workers and facilities, which has resulted in the killing of humanitarian workers in Darfur and calls upon the Government to facilitate unhindered and safe access by humanitarian organizations working on child protection issues to affected populations in Darfur.

The Secretary-General notes some limited progress in establishing child protection dialogue with parties and highlights important ongoing initiatives by the Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan in areas such as adoption of national legislation for the protection of children, establishment of child protection modalities in the national police and a focus on children in the national disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process.
Feb 17 2009 3:10PM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF SHRIMP FISHING NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, WARNS UN REPORT

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF SHRIMP FISHING NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, WARNS UN REPORT
New York, Feb 17 2009 2:10PM
A new United Nations report released today urged countries to increase efforts to halt the economic and environmental threats posed by shrimp fishing, a major source of income for many developing countries.

Rampant overfishing, harmful trawling practices and poor management of fishing sites are causing significant damage to seabeds and endangering important fish stocks, warned the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report.

Shrimps and prawns are among the most important internationally-traded fishery products, with a value of $10 billion, or 16 per cent of global industrial fishing exports, and shrimp fisheries generate substantial economic benefits, especially for many developing countries.

The Global Study of Shrimp Fisheries reviews current problems and solutions of shrimp fishing in ten countries: Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kuwait, Madagascar, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States.

"For millions of poor vulnerable households, shrimp fishing is an important source of cash and employment," said Jeremy Turner, Chief of the <"http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/10126/icode/">FAO Fishing Technology Service.

"But shrimp fishing is also associated with overfishing, capture of juveniles of ecologically important and economically valuable species, coastal habitat degradation, illegal trawling, the destruction of seagrass beds and conflicts between artisanal and industrial fisheries," added Mr. Turner.

Trawling in tropical regions can result in large amounts of unwanted catch that is either discarded or kept on board, further threatening endangered species and already heavily exploited fish stocks. Bycatch often includes juveniles of important commercial fish species, such as cod, rockfish, red snapper, croaker, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel and weakfish, as well as sea turtles.

FAO estimates that shrimp trawl fisheries are the single greatest source of bycatch, accounting for over 27 per cent or 1.86 million tons of discarded fish.

The report recommends that bycatch reduction efforts should focus on medium and large-scale shrimp fisheries, where significant cutbacks have already been achieved by applying modifications to fishing gear, catch quotas, discard bans and improvements in bycatch handling and marketing.

Many of the problems caused by shrimp fishing can also be mitigated by promoting sustainable, fishing management schemes, reducing fishing capacity and addressing the issue of open access according to Mr. Turner.

The report cites Australia's prawn fisheries and some cold-water shrimp fisheries as some of the best managed in the world, based on fishers' participation, managed bycatch, reduced discards and the use of property rights in management. The report also urges countries to make agencies more effective and to provide legislation protecting access to fisheries.
Feb 17 2009 2:10PM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

BAN PLEASED US TAKING PART IN PREPARATORY TALKS AHEAD OF UN ANTI-RACISM SUMMIT

BAN PLEASED US TAKING PART IN PREPARATORY TALKS AHEAD OF UN ANTI-RACISM SUMMIT
New York, Feb 17 2009 1:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the United States' decision to participate in preparatory talks for an upcoming review meeting of the landmark 2001 United Nations anti-racism conference which the US, along with Israel, had withdrawn from citing concerns the forum was being used by some to push an anti-Israel agenda.

The Durban Review Conference, scheduled for 20-24 April in Geneva, will assess progress in implementing the measures adopted at 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in South Africa eight years ago.

A working group made up of UN Member States has begun negotiations in Geneva on a draft outcome document, use a 38-page text as the basis for their negotiations.

"The Secretary-General welcomes the United States' decision to send a delegation to engage in the preliminary negotiations to finalize the draft outcome document of the Durban Review Conference," his spokesperson said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3713">statement.

Mr. Ban "urges all Member States to engage constructively on all the outstanding issues of the outcome document to ensure a successful outcome of the Conference," the statement added.

Israel indicated last November that it does not plan to take part in the April review conference.
Feb 17 2009 1:10PM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

JORDAN’S QUEEN PRAISES UN’S VITAL LIFELINE FOR GAZA

JORDAN'S QUEEN PRAISES UN'S VITAL LIFELINE FOR GAZA
New York, Feb 17 2009 1:10PM
Queen Rania of Jordan today urged all donors to honour their pledges to the United Nations agency responsible for helping millions of Palestinians amid warnings that a shortfall could force it to stop paying thousands of staff such as teachers and doctors.

Saying she could not imagine how the people of Gaza would have survived the recent Israeli military offensive without the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (<"http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/releases/pr-2009/jor_17feb09.html">UNRWA), the Queen told an emergency session of the Agency's Advisory Commission in Amman, Jordan, that a halt to payments was "unthinkable." The current shortfall in UNRWA's General Fund is $52 million.

The Agency had offered the people of Gaza a "glimmer of hope" during and after the war, she said, describing it as a "teacher, doctor and food provider" which worked with "incredible resourcefulness" to offer a lifeline to the people of Gaza.

Queen Rania paid tribute to Agency staff, calling them "real heroes" who had worked with "remarkable bravery and dedication," adding that it was her ambition following the conflict to go to Gaza "and shake each and every UNRWA staff member by the hand."

UNRWA, which tends to the needs of 900,000 Palestinian refugees in the Strip, has already unveiled a $345 million "Quick Recovery Plan" for Gaza, which has so far received nearly $145 million in confirmed pledges.

The European Commission today announced an additional 41 million euro contribution to the Agency.

"Support for our General Fund has never been so important in light of our human development and relief work in the wake of the Gaza conflict," UNRWA Commissioner General Karen AbuZayd told the meeting. "These funds will contribute towards UNRWA's Social Safety Net Programme."
Feb 17 2009 1:10PM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

SRI LANKA: GROWING UN CONCERN AS CIVILIANS IN ‘SAFE ZONE’ COME UNDER FIRE

SRI LANKA: GROWING UN CONCERN AS CIVILIANS IN 'SAFE ZONE' COME UNDER FIRE
New York, Feb 17 2009 12:10PM
The United Nations has called on Sri Lankan Government forces and rebels to refrain from fighting in areas of civilian concentration, following reports that weekend clashes in a so-called safe zone in the northern Vanni region has led to more deaths and injuries.

"The UN calls on both sides to find an orderly and humane solution so that civilians – and children in particular – can be spared further bloodshed and loss of life due to both disease and the fighting," the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement issued yesterday in Colombo.

Ongoing fighting in the north of the South Asian island nation between Government forces and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has trapped some 250,000 civilians.

A new "safe zone" was set up recently along the western boundary of the Mullaitivu Lagoon, which includes areas where UN staff and their dependents are staying.

"The designation of the new safe zone has provided some respite for the tens of thousands of civilians trapped for weeks by heavy fighting which has killed and injured many people," the statement noted.

However, reports from Sunday indicated that there was some fighting inside the zone, which "led to the deaths and injury to yet more civilians."

The LTTE continues to actively prevent people leaving, and reports indicate that a growing number of people trying to leave have been shot and sometimes killed, the statement said, adding that there are indications that children as young as 14 are being recruited into the ranks of the LTTE.

In addition, 15 UN staff and 75 of their dependents, 75 of whom are women and children, remain in the same area, having also been prevented from leaving by the LTTE. OCHA noted that 15 of the 40 children in that group have contracted respiratory diseases, a serious indicator for a population which is now in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

"We are acutely aware that the suffering of our own UN staff and dependents is just one part of a much larger picture. However, their release would be a good gesture and would strengthen the capacity of the UN to assist the tens of thousands of people both inside the Vanni pocket, and the approximately 30,000 IDPs [internally displaced persons] who have left for Government-held areas."

OCHA said that many of these staff played an important role in helping with the distribution of 8,400 of tons of food to the civilians of the Vanni over the past four months. Tens of thousands of civilians in the area are facing serious shortages of food, medicine, and clean water, and as a result increasing numbers are becoming ill.

The statement also voiced concern that one staff member was reported forcibly recruited into the LTTE on Sunday. "The UN calls on the LTTE to immediately release him, to desist from further recruitment of civilians, and to permit passage for people who wish to leave, especially the women and children."
Feb 17 2009 12:10PM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

IMPUNITY FOR ABUSES IN NEPAL ENCOURAGES THOSE WHO SEEK TO USE VIOLENCE – UN

IMPUNITY FOR ABUSES IN NEPAL ENCOURAGES THOSE WHO SEEK TO USE VIOLENCE – UN
New York, Feb 17 2009 12:10PM
United Nations human rights officials have called on the Nepalese Government to ensure full army cooperation with police and judicial authorities in bringing to justice the former royal army personnel who tortured and killed a 15-year-old girl five years ago.

"The lack of progress in the case of Maina Sunuwar is emblematic of the overall lack of accountability for human rights violations which occurred both during and after the conflict in Nepal between 1996 and 2006," the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) said in a <"http://nepal.ohchr.org/en/resources/Documents/English/pressreleases/Year%202009/Feb%202009/2009_02_16,%20maina_%20impunity.pdf">news release issued yesterday, referring to the decade-long war between the then Royal Nepalese Army and Maoist guerrillas.

"The case of Maina Sunuwar is not only about the torture and killing of one person. The continued impunity for conflict-related violations sends a message that political violence carries with it no consequences and thus emboldens those who seek to use violence to further their criminal and political agendas today."

The office "encourages the Government, once again," to ensure that the army cooperate fully, including turning over court-martial documents and making two of the alleged perpetrators who continue to serve available for investigation and arrest by the relevant authorities.

Justice has also been denied to the families of five students in Dhanusha District and hundreds of persons in Bardiya abducted and disappeared during the conflict, and to the families of more recent victims, the office said.

"OHCHR-Nepal encourages the Government to take prompt action to investigate and prosecute these incidents, to ensure that police and prosecutors' offices have sufficient resources and receive all necessary cooperation," it added.

OHCHR-Nepal Representative Richard Bennett stressed that the country has made remarkable strides since the beginning of the peace process, which ended the conflict and subsequently replaced the monarchy with a republic.

"However, lack of accountability and a widespread perception that human rights violators are not subject to the rule of law threatens to undermine the many successes of the process so far," he said. "The successful prosecution of human rights violators, including in the case of Maina Sunuwar, will demonstrate to all Nepalis, and to the world, that the Government is fully committed to justice as an integral component of durable peace and stability."
Feb 17 2009 12:10PM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

NUMBER OF AFGHAN CIVILIAN DEATHS IN 2008 HIGHEST SINCE TALIBAN OUSTER, SAYS UN

NUMBER OF AFGHAN CIVILIAN DEATHS IN 2008 HIGHEST SINCE TALIBAN OUSTER, SAYS UN
New York, Feb 17 2009 11:10AM
The number of Afghan civilian casualties in 2008 – at total of 2,118 – is the highest recorded since the ouster of the Taliban in 2001, the United Nations says in a new report, which calls on all parties to ensure the protection of innocents.

The number of those killed last year represents an almost 40 per cent increase over 2007, when 1,523 people lost their lives due to conflict, according to the report, prepared by the Human Rights Unit of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (<"http://www.unama-afg.org/">UNAMA).

Of the 2,118 casualties reported between 1 January and 31 December 2008, 55 per cent of them – or 1,160 deaths – were attributed to anti-government elements (AGEs) and 39 per cent – 828 deaths – to pro-government forces.

The remaining six per cent – 130 deaths – could not be attributed to any of the parties since some of them died as a result of crossfire or were killed by unexploded ordinance, for example, says the Mission.

"The 2008 civilian death toll is thus the highest of any year since the end of major hostilities which resulted in the demise of the Taliban regime at the end of 2001," says the Mission. "This disquieting pattern demands that the parties to the conflict take all necessary measures to avoid the killing of civilians."

According to the report, the majority of the casualties, some 41 per cent, occurred in the country's volatile southern region, which saw heavy fighting in several provinces.

The 1,160 civilians killed by anti-government elements represent an increase of 65 per cent over 2007 figures. The vast majority – 85 per cent – of them died as a result of suicide and improvised explosive devises.

Meanwhile, air-strikes were responsible for the largest percentage, some 64 per cent, of civilian deaths attributed to pro-government forces last year, with night-time raids, which sometimes result in death and injury to civilians, a continuing concern, according to the report.

"While pro-government forces have instituted a number of changes to tactical directives, more needs to be done to avoid the loss of innocent lives. Afghans are, rightly, calling for greater accountability as well as precautionary measures to safeguard the lives of civilians," UNAMA said in a <"http://www.unama-afg.org/news/_pr/2009/English/09feb17-Protection-of-civilians.pdf">press release.

The report also notes that the deteriorating security situation and drastically reduced humanitarian access intensified the challenge for the humanitarian agencies to address the growing needs of vulnerable Afghans. "By the end of 2008, 'humanitarian space' had shrunk considerably."

The Mission adds that staff from the UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have also become victims of violence and have been killed, kidnapped or received death threats on many occasions. Schools, particularly those for girls, have come under increasing attack thereby depriving thousands of students, especially girls, of their right of access to education.

According to the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF), attacks on schools and educational facilities rose by 24 per cent, from 236 incidents reported in 2007 to 293 in 2008.

In addition, 38 aid workers, almost all from NGOs, were killed, double the number in 2007, and a further 147 abducted.
Feb 17 2009 11:10AM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

UN-BACKED COURT OPENS TRIAL AGAINST KHMER ROUGE OFFICIAL FOR CAMBODIAN ATROCITIES

UN-BACKED COURT OPENS TRIAL AGAINST KHMER ROUGE OFFICIAL FOR CAMBODIAN ATROCITIES
New York, Feb 17 2009 11:10AM
The first trial of a Khmer Rouge official got underway today at a United Nations-backed tribunal, three decades after hundreds of thousands of Cambodians died as a result of atrocities committed by the regime.

Kaing Guek Eav, whose alias is "Duch", faces charges of crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, in addition to the offences of homicide and torture under Cambodian criminal law.

Duch has been indicted by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (<"http://www.eccc.gov.kh/english/">ECCC) in Phnom Penh in relation to alleged offences committed while he was chief of the notorious S-21 camp, also known as Toul Sleng, where numerous Cambodians were unlawfully detained, subjected to inhumane conditions and forced labour, tortured and executed in the late 1970s.

"The Cambodian people have waited 30 years for this day, to find justice for the suffering in which over a third of the population perished," said Tony Kranh, the ECCC's acting Director of Administration.

Estimates vary but as many as two million are thought to have died during the rule of the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1979, which was then followed by a protracted period of civil war in the impoverished South-East Asian country.

"This is an historic moment and an important step towards bringing about accountability for crimes and providing justice for the accused and victims of atrocities committed during the Democratic Kampuchea regime in the late 70s," added Knut Rosandhaug, the Deputy Director of the ECCC, and Coordinator of the UN Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials (<"http://www.unakrt-online.org/01_home.htm">UNAKRT).

Today's initial hearing signals the formal commencement of Kaing Guek Eav's trial, which will be followed by a hearing on the substance of the allegations made against him. It also finalized the scheduling of witnesses and experts to be heard at the trial.

The ECCC, established in 2003 under an agreement between the UN and Cambodia, is tasked with trying senior leaders and those most responsible for serious violations of Cambodian and international law committed during the Khmer Rouge rule. It is staffed by a mixture of Cambodian and international employees and judges.
Feb 17 2009 11:10AM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

UN AGENCY TO COOPERATE WITH EUROPE ON STANDARDISED PROTECTION FOR REFUGEES

UN AGENCY TO COOPERATE WITH EUROPE ON STANDARDISED PROTECTION FOR REFUGEES
New York, Feb 17 2009 11:10AM
The United Nations refugee agency hopes that a new European Union (EU) asylum system due to be announced tomorrow will ensure more consistent decision-making across the 27-nation block, where asylum-seekers of similar backgrounds now have widely varying chances of finding protection in different member states.

The European Commission is due to publish proposals to set up a European Asylum Support Office for the bloc, where UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) research has shown that asylum-seekers from countries such as Iraq, Somalia or Afghanistan face prospects from as low as zero to over 90 per cent depending on the state in which they lodge their application.

"In some cases, people in need of protection are not recognized as such, due to the narrow approach taken by some states to key issues, such as protection needs faced by people in situations of generalized violence," UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond told a news briefing in Geneva today.

"UNHCR believes that a European Asylum Support Office would strengthen practical cooperation and the sharing of good practice among member states. This should help to narrow differences between member states' approaches to the application of EU asylum legislation and ultimately result in more consistent, fair and effective asylum systems across the EU."

Mr. Redmond said possible UNHCR cooperation with the new office could include providing the services of experts, contributing to comparative analysis of the practice of states, or offering expertise regarding conditions in asylum seekers' countries of origin or countries through which they travelled.

"Based on UNHCR's supervisory responsibility regarding implementation of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, we are well placed to help the EU and the future support office to ensure that the Common European Asylum System develops in line with international refugee law and high standards of protection," he added.
Feb 17 2009 11:10AM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE MUST BE USED TO LAUNCH LONG-TERM ‘GREEN’ REVOLUTION – BAN

ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE MUST BE USED TO LAUNCH LONG-TERM 'GREEN' REVOLUTION – BAN
New York, Feb 17 2009 10:10AM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former United States Vice-President Al Gore today called on the world to use the coordinated economic stimulus urgently needed to tackle the global economic crisis to launch a long-term 21st century revolution of green growth.

Such a stimulus package would not only jump-start the economy on a path that leads away from the use of global warming fossil fuels by eliminating their subsidies in developed countries, but would also help poor nations develop social safety nets and culminate in a new deal to curb climate change at a meeting in Copenhagen at the end of the year.

"What we need is both stimulus and long-term investments that accomplish two objectives simultaneously with one global economic policy response – a policy that addresses our urgent and immediate economic and social needs and that launches a new green global economy," they wrote in a joint <"http://www.un.org/sg/articleFull.asp?TID=92&Type=Op-Ed>opinion piece in the Financial Times of London. "In short, we need to make 'growing green' our mantra."

Warning that continuing to pour trillions of dollars into carbon-based infrastructure and fossil-fuel subsidies would be like investing in sub-prime real estate, the trigger for the present crisis, all over again, the two statesmen said eliminating the $300 billion in annual global fossil fuel subsidies would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as six per cent and would add to global gross domestic product.

"Leaders everywhere, notably in the US and China, are realising that green is not an option but a necessity for recharging their economies and creating jobs," they said, urging all governments to adopt coordinated green stimulus elements, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, mass transit, new smart electricity grids and reforestation.

They noted that in much of the developing world, governments do not have the option to borrow or print money to cushion the devastating economic blows, and industrialised nations must therefore reach beyond their borders and invest immediately in those cost-effective programmes that boost the productivity of the poorest.

"This means increasing overseas development assistance this year. It means strengthening social safety nets. It means investing in agriculture in developing countries by getting seeds, tools, sustainable agricultural practices and credit to smallholder farmers so they can produce more food and get it to local and regional markets," they wrote.

As the third plank of the programme it is essential that a robust climate deal be reached in Copenhagen in December to replace the Kyoto Protocol limiting the greenhouse gas emissions of industrialized nations, which expires in 2012.

"A successful deal in Copenhagen offers the most potent global stimulus package possible. With a new climate framework in hand, business and governments will finally have the carbon price signal businesses have been clamouring for, one that can unleash a wave of innovation and investment in clean energy," they declared.

"Copenhagen will provide the green light for green growth. This is the basis for a truly sustainable economic recovery that will benefit us and our children's children for decades to come," they concluded.

"With so much at stake, governments must be strategic in their choices. We must not let the urgent undermine the essential. Investing in the green economy is not an optional expense. It is a smart investment for a more equitable, prosperous future."
Feb 17 2009 10:10AM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

OVER 15,000 CONGOLESE FLEEING UGANDAN REBEL ATTACKS POUR INTO SUDAN, UN REPORTS

OVER 15,000 CONGOLESE FLEEING UGANDAN REBEL ATTACKS POUR INTO SUDAN, UN REPORTS
New York, Feb 17 2009 10:10AM
More than 15,000 Congolese have fled to South Sudan since the Ugandan rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) began launching attacks in north-east Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United Nations refugee agency reported today.

"It is critical to move all of these refuges away from border areas both for security reasons and to facilitate distribution of aid," UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Ron Redmond told a news briefing in Geneva. "Access to the refugees will soon become impossible when the seasonal rains begin in April and roads become impassable."

The LRA, which has been accused of committing atrocities including mutilations and the recruitment of child soldiers in its long fight in northern Uganda, has spilled over into southern Sudan and north-east DRC, where Congolese, Ugandan and Sudanese forces have launched a joint operation to oust them and force them to accept a peace agreement.

Since then the group has been reported to have launched a series of brutal attacks on local villages. "The level of casual brutality, the callous disregard for life and the treatment of women and children in particular are truly horrifying," UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said on a visit to the area earlier this month.

Mr. Redmond said refugees interviewed in Lasu, in Sudan's Central Equatoria State, reported that the DRC town of Aba, with an estimated population of 100,000, was deserted following an LRA attack. Unconfirmed reports from local residents indicate that the LRA is also active in South Sudan, looting property and abducting 21 people in a village near Lasu.

The 6,000 refugees in Lasu are generally reported to be in good health but are in need of emergency aid, living in the open, with only one well to share with the local population and no food. There are dozens of unaccompanied and separated children, split from their parents during flight, Mr. Redmond said. Aid agencies are coordinating assistance, including the provision of clean water and the emergency construction of latrines.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is sending food and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is helping with water and sanitation.

In South Sudan's Western Equatoria State the registered population of Congolese refugees who fled LRA attacks in the Dungu area of north-western DRC in January has reached over 9,100.

Further south in eastern DRC, an increasing numbers of Rwandan civilians are approaching UNHCR for assistance in repatriating following a new escalation of violence sparked by the launch of a joint Rwandan/DRC offensive against the rebel Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

In the first six weeks of this year, UNHCR assisted the return of 3,000 Rwandans, mainly women and children, compared to 8,000 Rwandans who returned voluntarily during the whole of last year. "We expect the return of thousands more Rwandan civilians, some of whom fled to the DRC after the Rwandan genocide in 1994," Mr. Redmond said.

"Some say they were told by their leaders it is time to return home. Others say they feared being caught in crossfire. They also fear reprisals by the FDLR rebels. Many said their host Congolese families had run out of resources and were asking them to return to their country."

UNHCR has increased its fleet of trucks and set up 13 assembly points in North and South Kivu provinces to transport the Rwandans to repatriation transit centres where they receive an aid package of a one-month food ration and various other items.

Former FDLR combatants wanting repatriation are presenting themselves to the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC (MONUC) that is responsible for their disarmament, demobilisation, repatriation, reinsertion, and reintegration.

Meanwhile, a steady flow of Congolese refugees is crossing into Uganda from North Kivu. With some 180 new arrivals a day, UNHCR has registered nearly 7,000 since the start of the year. According to latest estimates, some 47,000 Congolese refugees have crossed into Uganda since new fighting among the DRC army and various groups broke out in North Kivu in August.
Feb 17 2009 10:10AM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

GLOBAL FISCAL STIMULUS FUNDS COULD JUMP-START WORLD ECONOMY -- UN REPORT

GLOBAL FISCAL STIMULUS FUNDS COULD JUMP-START WORLD ECONOMY -- UN REPORT
New York, Feb 16 2009 2:10PM
Investing one-third of the roughly $2.5 trillion planned stimulus funds in "greening" the global economy will give a large boost to efforts to lift the world out of recession, according to a new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released today.

The estimated $750 million -- or some 1 per cent of current global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) -- could spur significant returns, including stimulating innovation and job growth, slashing greenhouse gas emissions and making strides towards curbing poverty.

The 154-page "Global Green New Deal" report -- written in consultation with experts from over two dozen UN and external organizations, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank -- was released today as more than 100 Environment Ministers have converged in Nairobi, Kenya, for UNEP's four-day Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum, which
began today.

"Spent wisely and creatively [the stimulus funds] offer the chance to deal with the today''s immediate crises and begin focusing and framing a response to those on the horizon from future food shortages, natural resource scarcity, energy security and climate change," said the agency's Executive Director Achim Steiner.

The new publication "represents an opportunity to accelerate towards innovation-led, low carbon, low waste Green Economy societies with decent employment prospects for many more millions of people," he added.

The Republic of Korea is putting nearly $40 billion -- or 3 per cent of its GDP -- towards its Green New Deal, which could generate almost 1 million new jobs, the report said.

For its part, China is expected to spend close to $600 billion on a fiscal stimulus package, of which it will dedicate $140 billion -- just under 2 per cent of its GDP -- for green investments, adding to its $17 billion renewable energy sector which already employs some 1
million people.

The United States will direct almost 1 per cent of its stimulus funds towards environmental restoration, making federal office buildings more energy-efficient, creating a smart power grid and other green measures.

Also issued today at the Nairobi gathering was the UNEP Year Book 2009, which stresses the critical need for switching to a low-carbon green economy, spotlighting worrying trends, such as over 2 billion tonnes being generated worldwide annually and the number of cars on the road forecasted to double to 1.3 billion by 2050.

But the Year Book also pointed out green progress being made, including the projected 30-40 per cent drop in emissions in the construction industry.

Feb 16 2009 2:10PM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

TOP UN SPORTS ENVOY ATTENDS SPECIAL OLYMPICS

TOP UN SPORTS ENVOY ATTENDS SPECIAL OLYMPICS
New York, Feb 16 2009 2:10PM
The United Nations envoy tasked with promoting sport for development attended the Special Olympic World Winter Games, holding talks with United States Vice-President Joseph Biden on the role of sport in promoting peace.

Wilfried Lemke, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser, met with Mr. Biden in Boise, Idaho, on 12 February, where they discussed the part that sport can play in peacekeeping operations in conflict areas.

Prior to their meeting, the two mean, along with former US and world figure skating champion Michelle Kwan, handed out the medals for this year's skating portion of the Winter Games.

Before arriving in Boise, Mr. Lemke visited a rehabilitation centre in Cairo, Egypt, of the non-governmental organization CARITAS International, which aims to reintegrate people with mental disabilities into society.

"Through sport the children are gaining confidence about their abilities, strengths and co
mpetencies," the Special Adviser, who played soccer, basketball and handball during his visit, said. "This makes them proud and self-confident, a fundamental precondition for successful reintegration into society."

Feb 16 2009 2:10PM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

UNESCO CHIEF DEPLORES DEATHS OF JOURNALISTS IN REPUBLIC OF CONGO, MADAGASCAR

UNESCO CHIEF DEPLORES DEATHS OF JOURNALISTS IN REPUBLIC OF CONGO, MADAGASCAR
New York, Feb 16 2009 2:10PM
Stressing the importance of freedom of expression, the head of the United Nations agency tasked with upholding press freedom today condemned the deaths of journalists in the Republic of the Congo and in Madagascar.

Bruno Ossébi, a columnist for the online newspaper Mwinda who was known for writing about alleged high-level corruption, died in a military hospital in Brazzaville on 2 February.

The 43-year-old journalist was reportedly recovering from injuries from a suspicious fire that broke out in his home in late January, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of the UN Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), called on authorities to "spare no effort" in investigating the tragedy.

"It is important to remember that the work of journalists is essential not only if we are to uphold the basic human right of
freedom of expression but for democracy and good governance, issues that concern societies everywhere," he said.

The Director-General also condemned the killing of a Malagasy reporter for Radio et Télévision Analamanga (RTA), who was shot while covering an anti-government demonstration outside the presidential palace in Antananarivo on 7 February.

Ando Ratovonirina, 25, "died in the line of duty, while reporting on events that are important for the whole of Malagasy society," Mr. Matsuura said, urging authorities to ensure the safety of media professionals, even in times of unrest.

Feb 16 2009 2:10PM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/

NEPAL: HOMEMADE BOMB THROWN INSIDE UN COMPOUND

NEPAL: HOMEMADE BOMB THROWN INSIDE UN COMPOUND
New York, Feb 15 2009 3:10PM
An improvised explosive device (IED) was thrown into the United Nations regional human rights office in south-western Nepal on the evening of 13 February, but no injuries or material damage were reported.

No staff members of the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) were in the building at 8:10pm when the bomb exploded.

Police arrived shortly after the incident and began their investigation.

"Information available so far indicates no specific intention to target OHCHR," the Office said in a press release issued yesterday.

Feb 15 2009 3:10PM
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/