SCHOOLS LEAVE OUT 14 MILLION CHILDREN IN EX-SOVIET UNION, EASTERN EUROPE EACH YEAR - UN

SCHOOLS LEAVE OUT 14 MILLION CHILDREN IN EX-SOVIET UNION, EASTERN EUROPE EACH YEAR - UN
New York, Sep 21 2007 1:00PM
The education systems in Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States comprising the now-independent former Soviet republics are excluding more than 14 million children each year in a region formerly known for its high-quality education, <" http://www.unicef.org/media/media_40929.html">according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

"This situation will lead to intergenerational cycles of poverty, and undermine the capacity of governments to develop globally competitive economies based on skilled labour rather than cheap labour," UNICEF's regional director Maria Calivis warned at this week's release of a new report – <" http://www.unicef.org/media/files/Regional_Education_Study_-.pdf">Education for Some, more than Others.

In spite of the economic recovery and increased public expenditure on education in many countries over the past decade, most national education systems are struggling to provide universal education, the study concludes. A key indicator was that there are an estimated 2.4 million 'missing children' of primary-school age and almost 12 million missing secondary-school children who should be in school but are not.

Ms. Calivis said that meant more than 14 million children entered adult life every year without any kind of formal education or school diploma and this in a region largely known for its former high levels of access, quality and equality in education.

The report found that public expenditure on education reinforced rather than counteracted social, ethnic and economic inequalities in access to and completion of basic education. Family background, mainly parents' income but also education, had increasingly become a determinant in enrolment and attendance, particularly at pre-school level.

Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Tajikistan, countries with low economic indicators, had the lowest attendance rates, less than 50 per cent for upper high school, and in some instances less than 30 per cent for pre-school.

The situation of the Roma children and gender inequality were also major issues in some countries. In three with the largest Roma communities – Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania – only a tiny proportion of Roma have any schooling beyond primary, compared to non-Roma. Roma educational attainment ranges from 10 per cent to 35 per cent in secondary school while only 1 per cent of Roma across the region attended higher education.

The report also shows that no country was achieving equal representation of girls in basic education but the numbers were close, 95 girls to 100 boys on average. The most striking aspect of the figures was the feminization of higher education throughout the region. Girls outnumbered boys, in most cases significantly, in all countries except Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey and Azerbaijan. Only Turkey and Tajikistan were in trouble to meet the Millennium Development Goal (<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals">MDG) of eliminating gender disparity at all levels of education by 2015.

The report calls for governments to substantially increase spending on education to at least 6 per cent of their gross domestic product as against a regional average of 3 to 4 per cent, and move from a distribution of public expenditure that reinforces inequality to one that counteracts inequality.
2007-09-21 00:00:00.000

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SUDDEN EXPULSION OF IRANIAN REFUGEES FROM TURKEY ALARMS UN AGENCY

SUDDEN EXPULSION OF IRANIAN REFUGEES FROM TURKEY ALARMS UN AGENCY
New York, Sep 21 2007 1:00PM
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said today that it has raised serious concerns with the Turkish Government about its expulsion last month of five Iranians to northern Iraq.

UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/46f3b3452.html">told reporters in Geneva that the agency had received confirmation that the five people were expelled on 22 August – even though they were recognized in Turkey by UNHCR under its mandate.

The Iranians were sent to the Iraqi city of Erbil, where they spent almost a month in detention. The refugees have just been released.

"UNHCR is concerned that no due process of law was followed prior to the expulsion and that UNHCR was not given any prior information of the authorities' intention to expel these persons or of the expulsion itself," Mr. Redmond said.

"To forcibly send persons to Iraq's northern governorates if they do not originate from there is contrary to UNHCR's guidelines. The security situation in northern Iraq, although relatively calm compared to the rest of Iraq, is still tense and unpredictable."

Mr. Redmond added that unless sufficient safeguards are taken, the expulsion of refugees under the mandate of UNHCR may breach the principle of non-refoulement, which is enshrined in the 1951 <"http://www.unhcr.org/protect/3c0762ea4.html">UN Refugee Convention. Non-refoulement refers to the right of a refugee or asylum-seeker whose case has not yet been fully assessed to not be sent to a country where his or her life or liberty could be at risk.
2007-09-21 00:00:00.000

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FIGHTING IN COLOMBIA DISPLACES MORE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, UN REPORTS

FIGHTING IN COLOMBIA DISPLACES MORE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, UN REPORTS
New York, Sep 21 2007 1:00PM
More than 1,000 indigenous Colombians have taken refuge in a school to escape fighting between the army and an irregular armed group, the latest victims of more than 40 years of conflict which has uprooted 3 million people and has recently had a disproportionate effect on the country's original inhabitants, the United Nations reported today.

"Armed combat, presence of irregular groups, targeted killings and landmines all contribute to the rising trend of forced displacement," UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Ron Redmond said of the latest incident involving 1,018 Awá in southern Colombia, almost half of them children under16.

The local authorities have delivered food for the past three days, a doctor is on site and UNHCR has offered to meet the needs in water, sanitation and accommodation, Mr. Redmond <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/46f3b2ea2.html">told a news briefing in Geneva.

The area is part of the department of Nariño, which in recent years has suffered some of the worst violence in Colombia. Since the start of 2007, there have been 18 cases of mass displacement involving more than 50 people moving at one time within Nariño, forcing more than 10,000 people out of their homes.

The four decades of conflict between Government forces, leftist guerrillas, rightist paramilitaries and criminal gangs has not only affected the south of the Andean country. Over the past year the violence has also uprooted indigenous communities in north-western Chocó region near the border with Panama.

UNHCR has repeatedly warned that some indigenous communities, displaced from land to which they are tied by their culture and traditions, are in danger of disappearing altogether.

Under the UN<" http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/7/b/principles.htm">Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, the State has a special duty to prevent the forced displacement of indigenous people and others with a special relation to the land and Colombia's Constitutional Court is holding a hearing today to seek more information from the Government on measures to protect indigenous people.

Indigenous representatives from all over Colombia, including the Awás, are to present the situation in each community, and at the Court's invitation UNHCR will take part.

Last year, the Court found that there were "persistent gaps" in specific attention to the rights of indigenous people, which could put at risk the cultural survival of displaced communities.

There are 87 different indigenous groups in Colombia, making up 3 per cent of the population of 42 million. They comprise one of the richest and most varied indigenous heritages in the world.
2007-09-21 00:00:00.000

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UN HEALTH AGENCY STRESSES NEED TO ENSURE SAFETY OF CHILDREN'S MEDICINES

UN HEALTH AGENCY STRESSES NEED TO ENSURE SAFETY OF CHILDREN'S MEDICINES
New York, Sep 21 2007 12:00PM
The lack of thorough and reliable clinical data on the way medicines affect children, particularly side effects, requires strengthened safety monitoring and vigilance of medicinal products, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) <" http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr51/en/index.html">warned today.

"We need to learn more about the way children's bodies react to medicines so we can improve global child health," WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals Howard Zucker said as the Agency released a new report – <"http://www.who.int/medicines/publications/essentialmedicines/Promotion_safe_med_childrens.pdf">Promoting Safety of Medicines for Children.

"That's why it's extremely important to keep track of potential side effects in child populations. Ultimately, this will save lives and build up a knowledge base for the future," he added of the study, which is intended for policy-makers, manufacturers, medicines control bodies and researchers.

It gives an overview of the problem and offers solutions on how best to address side effects from medicines in children through improved reporting systems and collaboration between governments, regulatory authorities, research institutions and the pharmaceutical industry, and is part of a broad effort WHO is initiating to expand children's access to quality-assured, safe and effective medicines.

A large proportion of side effects or adverse reactions to medicines in the adult population are due to irrational use or human error and are therefore preventable. In the case of children, even more factors come into play. The main challenge is the lack of clinical data, resulting in fewer medicines being developed, produced and marketed specifically for children. Often, children are given medicines that have only been tested in adults and are not officially approved for use in child populations.

Non-availability of appropriate paediatric formulations forces health care providers to resort to administering portions of crushed or dissolved tablets or the powder contained inside a capsule without any specific indication of the required dosage. For that reason, according to the report, potentially harmful medication errors may be three times more common in children than in adults.

An appropriate format or structure for a child's medicine is also important. Small children sometimes choke or asphyxiate while trying to swallow big tablets. For instance, earlier this year four children under 36 months died from choking on albendazole tablets during a de-worming campaign in Ethiopia.

In another example, side effects associated with antiretroviral medicines have been reported to occur in up to 30 per cent of HIV-infected children. Most of those side effects could be reversed by modifying the dosage or changing to an alternative medicine.

The study proposes that all countries establish national and regional monitoring systems for the detection of serious adverse reactions and medical errors in children. When such reporting systems exist, it is crucial that manufacturers follow up on adverse reactions to their products once they are on the market.

In addition, regulatory authorities need to make an effort to refine the science of clinical trials in children, create an active post-marketing surveillance programme and develop public databases of up to date information about efficacy and safety in paediatric medicines.

To assist countries, WHO will publish an official List of Essential Medicines for Children, continue to create awareness in countries and in the research community on the urgent need to monitor use of medicines in children, identify research gaps in children's medicines, and create protocols to monitor adverse effects for child-specific medicine.
2007-09-21 00:00:00.000

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FROM BELL RINGING IN NEW YORK TO BATTLE SCARRED AFGHANISTAN, UN MARKS PEACE DAY

FROM BELL RINGING IN NEW YORK TO BATTLE SCARRED AFGHANISTAN, UN MARKS PEACE DAY
New York, Sep 21 2007 12:00PM
From the ritual ringing of a bell at its stately Headquarters in New York to the furthest flung trenches of warfare across the world, where a record number of more than 100,000 peacekeepers are struggling to restore stability, the United Nations system today marked the annual International Day of Peace with fervent appeals for an end to violence.

"Peace is the highest calling of the United Nations - and for me personally," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2745">declared on the lawn in front of the towering UN Headquarters as he stood facing the Peace Bell, a gift from Japan cast from the pennies donated by children from 60 nations, before driving the ringing beam into it three times.

"Peace defines our mission. It drives our discourse. And it draws together all of our world wide work, from peacekeeping and preventive diplomacy to promoting human rights and development," he added.

The <"http://www.un.org/events/peaceday/2007/index.shtml">International Day of Peace was first established by the UN General Assembly in 1981 as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence. The General Assembly called for people around the world to use the Day as an opportunity to promote the resolution of conflict and to observe a cessation of hostilities during it. UN staff throughout the world are observing a minute of silence in the name of peace.

Three UN Messengers of Peace stood at Mr. Ban's side at the ceremony – Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas, wildlife researcher and conservationist Jane Goodall and holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel.

A half a world away in Afghanistan, which has seen an upsurge in violence, thousands of people rallied behind the country's biggest-ever peace effort, even as fighting continued in the south. From Kandahar to Kunduz, from Herat to Jalalabad, peace events were taking place, and on a scale never seen before in the country, the UN Assistance Mission in Afganistan (<"http://www.unama-afg.org/Index.htm">UNAMA) said.

"You can't hear about all that's happening and not feel moved by it," UNAMA Deputy Special Representative Bo Asplund said. "Today is an achievement for all people of this country. The demand for peace is overwhelming."

Although Peace Day is marked each year on 21 September, this year in Afghanistan it has been the special focus of a two-month campaign in which UNAMA teamed up with Jeremy Gilley, founder of Peace One Day, actor Jude Law, and the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org">UNICEF) to promote it. Scores of groups have joined in, including businesses, civil society, government, international donors, UN agencies, politicians, Afghan celebrities and performers, schools, municipal and regional authorities, and individual citizens.

Even warring factions promised to honour the Day by putting down their weapons so that 1.3 million children can be vaccinated against polio, with more than 10,000 vaccinators visiting areas in southern and eastern regions as part of the National Immunization Days organized by UNICEF, the UN World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en">WHO) and the Health Ministry.

In his speech, Mr. Ban referred to Afghanistan and other global crises. "In countless communities across the world, peace remains an elusive goal," he said. "From the displaced person camps of Chad and Darfur [Sudan] to the byways of Baghdad, the quest for peace is strewn with setbacks and suffering.

"Over the next few days [during the General Assembly annual General Debate], I will be convening high-level meetings on Darfur, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East, to seek to advance our quest for peace in those troubled lands. And I will be convening a high-level event on climate change. If we are to build enduring peace around the world, we need to protect the one and only planet we all share," he added.

Today was the first time Mr. Ban has presided over the International Day of Peace and ever since he took office on 1 January this year he has made mitigating and reversing the impact of global warming a priority of his stewardship as the world's top diplomat.

Following his speech and a minute of silence, the Japanese choir Tarumi Violinists performed and the UN Singers sang a "Song of Peace."

Mr. Ban then attended the annual Student Observance at UN Headquarters, where 700 middle and high school students, including refugees from Peru and Sudan, exchanged views on the theme "Peace: A Climate of Change" via video conference with young people at the UN missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon and Sudan.

"Around me, I can see the next generation of scientists, business leaders, politicians, journalists, artists and civil society activists – perhaps even a future Secretary-General of the United Nations," he told the youngsters. "In all of you, I can see the future of the United Nations, and of our world. Your energy and idealism make that future look bright.

"By participating in this International Day of Peace, you are demonstrating that you already know better that to repeat the mistakes of the past. You will choose to talk rather than fight. You will listen rather than shout. You will cooperate rather than condemn. You will protect our environment rather than over-exploit it."
2007-09-21 00:00:00.000

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UN REPORTS NEARLY 50 PER CENT INCREASE IN IRAQI ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD

UN REPORTS NEARLY 50 PER CENT INCREASE IN IRAQI ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD
New York, Sep 21 2007 11:00AM
Almost 20,000 Iraqis applied for asylum in industrialized countries in the first half of this year, up 45 per cent on the previous six months, reflecting the unrelenting violence in the strife-torn country, according to provisional statistics released by the United Nations refugee agency today.

If current trends are maintained, by the end of the year the number of Iraqi asylum seekers might reach the levels witnessed between 2000 and 2002, when an average of 40,000 to 50,000 Iraqis sought asylum each year in the 36 industrialized countries included in UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<" http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/46f3908b4.html">UNHCR) statistics.

An estimated 2.2 million Iraqis are currently outside their home country, primarily in neighbouring countries such as Syria and Jordan, which are not included in the industrialized country statistics.

UNHCR, using information provided by governments, said about 19,800 asylum claims were lodged in the 36 industrialized countries during the review period, compared to 13,600 in the second half of 2006. The 2007 figures are more than double those for the first six months of last year, when a total of 8,500 asylum applications were submitted.

Some 9,300 applications, or almost half of all requests, were submitted in Sweden. The large Iraqi community there and its strong social network might account for the high number. Greece registered some 3,500 asylum claims, compared to 1,400 during the whole of 2006, while Spain and Germany recorded 1,500 and 820 applications respectively.

When all nationalities are taken into account, the United States was by far the largest recipient of new asylum claims during the first six months of 2007 with an estimated 26,800, some 1,200 more than during the second semester of 2006. Sweden remained the second largest with a total of 17,700, a 14 per cent increase over the second half of last year.

Over the past few years, the overall number of asylum claims in the industrialized countries has decreased continuously, but the trend was reversed in the second half of last year when numbers started to rise. Assuming current patterns remain unchanged, it can be expected that asylum claims lodged in industrialized countries in 2007 might be between 290,000 and 320,000, the first annual increase since 2001.

The main countries of origin in the first six months of this year were Iraq (19,800), China (8,600), Pakistan (7,300), Serbia and Montenegro (7,200) and the Russia (6,500). Separate statistics for Serbia and the recently independent Montenegro are not available.
2007-09-21 00:00:00.000

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FROM BELL RINGING IN NEW YORK TO BATTLE SCARRED AFGHANISTAN, UN MARKS PEACE DAY

FROM BELL RINGING IN NEW YORK TO BATTLE SCARRED AFGHANISTAN, UN MARKS PEACE DAY
New York, Sep 21 2007 10:00AM
From the ritual ringing of a bell at its stately Headquarters in New York to the furthest flung trenches of warfare across the world, where a record number of more than 100,000 peacekeepers are struggling to restore stability, the United Nations system today marked the annual International Day of Peace with fervent appeals for an end to violence.

"Peace is the United Nations' highest calling," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared on the lawn in front of the towering UN Headquarters as he stood facing the Peace Bell, a gift from Japan cast from the pennies donated by children from 60 nations, before driving the ringing beam into it three times.

"It defines our mission. It drives our discourse. And it draws together all of our world wide work, from peacekeeping and preventive diplomacy to promoting human rights and development," he added.

The International Day of Peace was first established by the UN General Assembly in 1981 as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence. The General Assembly called for people around the world to use the Day as an opportunity to promote the resolution of conflict and to observe a cessation of hostilities during it. UN staff throughout the world are observing a minute of silence in the name of peace.

Three UN Messengers of Peace stood at Mr. Ban's side at the ceremony – Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas, wildlife researcher and conservationist Jane Goodall and holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel.

A half a world away in Afghanistan, which has seen an upsurge in violence, thousands of people rallied behind the country's biggest-ever peace effort, even as fighting continued in the south. From Kandahar to Kunduz, from Herat to Jalalabad, peace events were taking place, and on a scale never seen before in the country, the UN Assistance Mission in Afganistan (<"http://www.unama-afg.org/Index.htm">UNAMA) said.
2007-09-21 00:00:00.000

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MORE UN OFFICIALS VOICE CONCERN AT ISRAEL'S DECLARATION OF GAZA AS 'HOSTILE TERRITORY'

MORE UN OFFICIALS VOICE CONCERN AT ISRAEL'S DECLARATION OF GAZA AS 'HOSTILE TERRITORY'
New York, Sep 21 2007 10:00AM
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour has voiced grave concern over Israel's decision to declare the Gaza Strip a "hostile territory" and to announce military action, additional restrictions on the movement of people and goods to and from the area, and reductions in the supply of fuel and electricity.

"The implementation of such measures would impose an unbearable burden on the civilian population of Gaza, which has already paid a heavy price from daily violence, isolation and deprivation," Ms. Arbour <a href=" http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/8A389CD6C26F617EC125735C0077BB43?opendocument">said in a statement released last night.

She condemned once again the indiscriminate firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel and urged Israel to exercise restraint, recalling that it has the obligation under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect its population without employing disproportionate means. She also recalled that international law prohibits reprisals and collective punishment.

Ms. Arbour's statement was the latest expression of concern by UN officials. On Wednesday, when the Israel decision was announced, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the 1.4 million people in Gaza, including the old, the young and the sick, who are already suffering from the impact of prolonged closure, should not be punished for the unacceptable actions of militants and extremists.

Yesterday, the Bureau of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People voiced "great alarm" and called on Israel to reverse the move.

"We consider this decision to be a violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, and yet another form of collective punishment of the Palestinian people, which, if implemented, is bound to substantially worsen the already deplorable living conditions of the civilian population in the occupied Gaza Strip," it <" http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/gapal1064.doc.htm">said in a statement.

It reiterated its position condemning "the killing of innocent civilians by both sides, including Israeli military operations and the firing of rockets and mortar rounds by Palestinian groups. Such attacks by both sides must be stopped immediately, and those responsible must be brought to justice," it added.

It warned that the decision "may considerably complicate current efforts of the international community to revitalize the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and prevent the Palestinian Authority from promoting and marshalling public support for dialogue towards peace. Nobody, including the Israeli people, will benefit from such a scenario," it added.
2007-09-21 00:00:00.000

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UN PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION CALLS ON BURUNDIAN REBELS TO RE-ENGAGE WITH GOVERNMENT

UN PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION CALLS ON BURUNDIAN REBELS TO RE-ENGAGE WITH GOVERNMENT
New York, Sep 20 2007 11:00AM
The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission has <" http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/pbc21.doc.htm">called on the last major rebel hold-out group in Burundi to "resume promptly without condition" its participation in efforts to finally close the chapter on years of ethnic violence in the small Central African country.

In July the Palipehutu-FNL, which has not signed peace accords reached with other rebel groups, withdrew from the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM) set up to monitor a ceasefire it signed with the Government last year, and UN officials have since called on both sides to refrain from any actions that might lead to a resumption of hostilities.

The <" http://www.un.org/peace/peacebuilding/index.html">Commission, set up last year as part of major UN reforms to help prevent countries emerging from conflict from slipping back into violence through technical and other support, including financial aid from the UN <" http://www.unpbf.org">Peacebuilding Fund, yesterday urged the rebel group to constructively re-engage with the Government to resolve their differences.

At a meeting in New York, it also called on the Government to investigate "fully and immediately" recent governance issues and take steps to strengthen Government controls over its expenditures to stem misuse of public funds.

The Commission also asked the African Union to continue supporting regional peace initiatives and uphold its timetable for completing implementation of the ceasefire agreement by the end of the year.

Burundi, which was torn apart by 13 years of armed conflict between the Hutu majority and Tutsi minority, became the first focus of the Commission, along with Sierra Leone. Beyond the issue of the PALIPEHUTU-FNL, the country also faces challenges to peace stemming from regional developments, a fragile budgetary situation and a parliamentary deadlock preventing the passage of crucial legislation.

Burundian representative Joseph Ntakirutimana said the Government would make every effort to comply with the Commission's requests, but he voiced concern that the International Monetary Fund (<" http://www.imf.org/external/index.htm ">IMF) had not heard the Government's "cries of alarm" by recommending an increase in oil prices even while Burundi struggled with its finances.

Schools had been unable to open for the academic year even though education was a priority and a strike by magistrates was also threatened he said, adding that perhaps the IMF was not working hand-in-hand with the Commission.

He asked the Commission to do its utmost to ensure that the promised budgetary support reach the country by "tomorrow" as failure to receive such support could result in further serious difficulties for the country.
2007-09-20 00:00:00.000

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FORMER UN PEACE MESSENGER ANNA CATALDI JOINS CAMPAIGN TO CURB TB

FORMER UN PEACE MESSENGER ANNA CATALDI JOINS CAMPAIGN TO CURB TB
New York, Sep 20 2007 11:00AM
Italian author and journalist Anna Cataldi, a former United Nations Messenger of Peace, was today <" http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr50/en/index.html">appointed as an Ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership to raise awareness worldwide about the unfair burden of tuberculosis on refugees, migrants, people living in poverty and other disadvantaged groups.

In 2005 alone, the disease is estimated to have killed 1.6 million people.

The <"http://www.stoptb.org">Stop TB Partnership, whose secretariat is hosted by the UN World Health Organization (WHO), is a network of more than 500 international organizations, countries, donors from the public and private sectors, TB patients and nongovernmental and governmental organizations. Its goal is to eliminate TB as a public health problem worldwide.

"Anna Cataldi has an extraordinary track record of galvanizing people to confront issues that cause human suffering," Partnership Executive Secretary Marcos Espinal said. "She will be a strong voice calling for access to TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment as a human right."

Ms. Cataldi said she was "grateful to the Stop TB Partnership for giving me this opportunity to advocate on behalf of those suffering from this disease."

Welcoming the appointement, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan praised Ms. Cataldi for her tireless efforts and devotion. "She was an active, compassionate and productive Messenger," he said. "She travelled to difficult places, such as Afghanistan and Somalia, to bring support, encouragement and hope to the desperate and voiceless. I am delighted she will now devote her energies to the Stop TB campaign."

The Partnership's Global Plan to Stop TB (2006-2015) seeks to treat 50 million people for TB between now and 2015 and save about 14 million lives. It aims to halve TB prevalence and deaths compared with 1990 levels by 2015.

"Ms. Cataldi is sure to advance the global fight against TB. We welcome her appointment enthusiastically," said Mario Raviglione, Director of the Stop TB Department at WHO.

Ms. Cataldi is the author of Letters from Sarajevo, which chronicled the impact of war on Bosnia's children. In 1998, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, she initiated a project to create and distribute a passport-sized pamphlet version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for children. This March, she conceived and helped organize a photo exhibit focussing on TB at the UN's New York Headquarters that was viewed by more than 100,000 people.
2007-09-20 00:00:00.000

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UN TRIBUNAL FOR RWANDAN GENOCIDE URGES CONTINUED SUPPORT FROM MEMBER STATES

UN TRIBUNAL FOR RWANDAN GENOCIDE URGES CONTINUED SUPPORT FROM MEMBER STATES
New York, Sep 20 2007 3:00PM
The United Nations war crimes tribunal for the 1994 Rwandan genocide says it will not succeed in meeting the Security Council-imposed timetable for completing its work unless UN Member States help to arrest suspects still at large, accept the transfer of cases and provide enough funds for it to conduct the remaining trials.

In its annual report, covering July 2006 to June this year, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) says it is committed to doing all it can to meet the "completion strategy," the Council plan under which all trials, excluding appeals, are supposed to be finished by the end of next year.

But the strategy's success "will continue to depend on the assistance and cooperation of States."

The Tribunal states it has intensified its prosecutorial and judicial work, with 27 cases involving 33 accused people having so far completed the trial stage, while the trials of 22 accused in nine different cases remain in progress and eight other detainees await trial. One case was transferred to the Netherlands during the year, while 30 others were handed over to prosecutors in Rwanda's judicial system.

The annual report, released today, says the ICTR – which is based in Arusha in neighbouring Tanzania – will continue to try to improve the Rwandan judicial system and strengthen its capacity so that it can handle transferred cases.

"In the process of achieving its mandate, the Tribunal also contributes to bring justice to victims of the massive crimes that were committed, and is continuously establishing a record of facts that will aid reconciliation in Rwanda," the report notes in its conclusions.

"The Tribunal will leave a legacy of international jurisprudence that can guide future courts and deter the future commission of these grave crimes, and prevent impunity by potential perpetrators."

Some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were murdered, mostly by machete or club, across Rwanda in less than 100 days starting in early April 1994. Later that year the Security Council established the ICTR to deal with the worst cases.
2007-09-20 00:00:00.000

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AFGHAN CHILDREN FLY KITES FOR PEACE AS PART OF UN-BACKED CAMPAIGN

AFGHAN CHILDREN FLY KITES FOR PEACE AS PART OF UN-BACKED CAMPAIGN
New York, Sep 20 2007 4:00PM
On the eve of the International Day of Peace, some 100 Afghan street children flew kites adorned with doves and olive branches atop a hill overlooking Kabul today, marking the closing stages of a United Nations-backed campaign to halt violence in the war-torn nation.

Today's event, on Nader Khan hill, was one of many around the country in the final days of a two-month campaign launched by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the global campaign group Peace One Day. Kite flying was banned under the brutal Taliban regime which was ousted in 2001.

The initiative has grown to encompass scores of organizations, businesses, and institutions, as well as politicians and individual citizens – all urging a halting of violence in Afghanistan on and around 21 September, which is observed annually as the International Day of Peace.

Since the Taliban was ousted, kite flying has re-emerged as a popular past-time, particularly for Afghan children.

Those taking part in today's event belong to Kabul's Aschiana Foundation, a non-governmental group that looks after street children. Expressing the hopes of many of the children, 11-year-old Sweeta said, "We want our peace kites to fly as high as possible, so everybody can see how much we want peace."

Bo Asplund, the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative in Afghanistan, shared the hope of the children who wished for peace. "Far too many Afghans continue to live in the shadow of fear and insecurity. Let us today pledge to do more to remove the scourge of fear and insecurity from the lives of people across the country."

Earlier this week children from Aschiana travelled around Kabul visiting television stations to appeal by song for support. Kabul municipality joined in by opening the fabled gardens of Babur to a photo exhibition for peace. A city cleanup and advertising campaign has been launched, and telecoms companies Roshan and AWCC have issued thousands of bulk SMS messages for peace – a first in Afghanistan.

In addition, peace marches are planned in the cities of Herat and Jalalabad, and in the southern and southeastern provinces – areas directly affected by the insurgency – UNICEF and the UN World Health Organization, along with Afghan health authorities, have launched a polio vaccination campaign to coincide with Peace Day.
2007-09-20 00:00:00.000

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DR CONGO: TEAMS ON GROUND TO ALLOW FOR QUICKER DIAGNOSIS OF DISEASE - UN

DR CONGO: TEAMS ON GROUND TO ALLOW FOR QUICKER DIAGNOSIS OF DISEASE – UN
New York, Sep 20 2007 4:00PM
The United Nations World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/en/">WHO) and its partners now have substantial teams in the field in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where nine cases of the deadly Ebola virus has been confirmed, it was announced today.

"There will soon be two fully-functioning labs on the ground, which will allow for quicker diagnosis of disease," UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York.

Of some 400 cases of illness and 170 deaths reported since April in the western Kasai Province, nine cases of the haemorrhagic Ebola virus, which causes death in 50 to 90 per cent of cases, have been confirmed.

The Ebola virus is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected persons or animals such as chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys and antelopes, and it has an incubation period of two to 21 days.

Additionally, five cases of typhoid and one case of Shigella dysentery have been verified, Ms. Montas said. Results from the tests of 45 other samples are still pending.
2007-09-20 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL RENEWS INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCE IN AFGHANISTAN FOR 12 MONTHS

SECURITY COUNCIL RENEWS INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCE IN AFGHANISTAN FOR 12 MONTHS
New York, Sep 20 2007 5:00PM
Voicing its concern about increased violence and terrorism in Afghanistan, the Security Council has approved the extension of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in the country for another year, with the Russian Federation abstaining on the vote.

The other 14 Council members voted in favour of extending the mandate of the Force, which was established after United States-led forces ousted the Taliban regime in late 2001 to help Afghanistan's then-interim authorities maintain security across the impoverished nation.

In doing so, the 15-member body also called on Member States to contribute personnel, equipment and funding to strengthen the NATO-led Force and make it more effective.

The Council also stressed the importance of improving Afghan security services in order to provide long-term solutions to security in the country, and encouraged ISAF and other partners to sustain their efforts to train and empower the National Police and other Afghan forces.

Speaking before the vote, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin explained that while his delegation had traditionally supported ISAF and the continuation of its mandate, it could not support the current text because the new issue of maritime interception had yet to be clarified.

"I should like to note that during the agreement of the draft resolution no clarity was made about the proposed new wording about the maritime interception component of the coalition Force which did not appear in all of the previous resolutions of the Security Council on Afghanistan," he stated.

"The maritime component is necessary exclusively to combat terrorism in Afghanistan and should not be used for other purposes," he added.

He also noted that there had been plenty of time to clarify his delegation's concerns since the mandate of the Force did not expire until next month. "The unity of the Security Council has been sacrificed to undue haste."
2007-09-20 00:00:00.000

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WORKING GROUP MEETS AT UN TO PUT TEETH INTO PLAN TO BOOST AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT

WORKING GROUP MEETS AT UN TO PUT TEETH INTO PLAN TO BOOST AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT
New York, Sep 20 2007 5:00PM
Senior international development leaders met at United Nations Headquarters in New York today to forge an operational work agenda to boost Africa's as yet failing efforts to meet the ambitious goals the world has set itself to slash poverty, hunger, maternal and infant mortality, and other social ills, all by 2015.

The closed-door session, chaired by Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, was the first meeting of the Working Group of the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Millennium Development Goals (<"http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/">MDGs) Africa Steering Group launched by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last Friday.

Participants included leading economists from the African Union, African Development Bank, European Union, Islamic Development Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Economic Commission for Africa and the World Bank, as well as the Secretary-General Special Adviser on the MDGs, Jeffrey Sachs.

Today's meeting was called to carry out the Steering Group's recommendations in three areas: to identify effective mechanisms to implement commitments in the areas of health, education, infrastructure, agriculture and food security, and statistical systems; to improve aid predictability so that African governments can plan years ahead for additional hospitals, schools and train doctors, teachers and nurses; and to strengthen joint efforts at the country level.

Launching the initiative on Friday, Mr. Ban voiced concern that many African countries are off course for meeting the MDGs, particularly in sub-Saharan regions. "That is the only region in the world where not even a single country is on the track. We must help those countries so that they can join on the track," he said.

The areas for action the Steering Group identified comprise five of the eight MDGs: cutting by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day and suffering from hunger; ensuring that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling; slashing the mortality rate among children under five by two thirds; reducing the maternal mortality ratio by three quarters; and halting and beginning to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and the incidence of malaria and other major diseases.
2007-09-20 00:00:00.000

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UN CALLS FOR MORE OFFERS OF TROOPS, SPECIALIST UNITS FOR HYBRID FORCE IN DARFUR

UN CALLS FOR MORE OFFERS OF TROOPS, SPECIALIST UNITS FOR HYBRID FORCE IN DARFUR
New York, Sep 20 2007 5:00PM
The United Nations said today that it has still not received any offers for some essential units of the hybrid peacekeeping force it plans to deploy with the African Union in the war-wracked Sudanese region of Darfur.

Following a meeting with potential contributors yesterday, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) said that there have been no offers so far for the medium utility helicopter units or the medium heavy transportation companies in the force, which will be known as UNAMID.

Some of the countries that have pledged to contribute troops to UNAMID have also acknowledged that their contributions would not meet UN peacekeeping standards, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

"For these reasons, DPKO says it welcomes pledges for all units included in the UNAMID military component," said Ms. Montas.

When fully operational, UNAMID will become the largest peacekeeping force in the world, with almost 26,000 troops and police officers and nearly 5,000 civilian staff. It will have an initial mandate of 12 months and will incorporate the existing AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS).

The Security Council authorized the operation in late July amid mounting international concern at the situation inside Darfur, where fighting between rebels, Government forces and allied Janjaweed militia groups has led to the deaths of over 200,000 people and the displacement of at least 2.2 million others.

Ms. Montas said DPKO has received 19 firm offers for the 19 formed police units planned for UNAMID, and pledges of more than 2,500 police officers for the 3,772 individual positions.

The headquarters of UNAMID will be in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, with a series of sector headquarters and other deployment locations spread across the three states of Darfur, an arid and impoverished region nearly as large as France.

On Friday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and AU Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konaré will co-chair a high-level meeting on Darfur at UN Headquarters that is designed to map out the strategy for the peace talks between the Government and rebels that is scheduled to take place in Libya next month.

Ahead of that meeting, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Luis Moreno-Ocampo told journalists in New York today that justice must be a priority for Darfur.

"We must break the silence," he said, adding later that "there can be no political solution, no security solution and no humanitarian solution as long as the alleged war criminals remain free in the Sudan."

Two suspects, Ahmad Muhammad Harun and Janjaweed leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (also known as Ali Kushayb), are wanted to stand trial in the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity over attacks against four villages in West Darfur between August 2003 and March 2004, but they have not yet been arrested by Sudan.

Mr. Harun is currently Sudan's Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, with responsibility for Darfur's camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), and last month Mr. Moreno-Ocampo told the UN News Centre that it was "totally unacceptable" that he held that post.

"Ahmad Harun is not protecting the camps; he is controlling them," the Prosecutor said today. "He forced millions into those camps, and he still controls them. He must be stopped. He must be arrested. This is my goal. This is the Court's goal. This must be our shared goal."
2007-09-20 00:00:00.000

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'CALCULATED RISKS' CRUCIAL IN PUSHING MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS FORWARD - UN OFFICIAL

'CALCULATED RISKS' CRUCIAL IN PUSHING MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS FORWARD – UN OFFICIAL
New York, Sep 20 2007 5:00PM
The situation on the ground in the Middle East is volatile and "calculated risks" are necessary to achieve peace, the top United Nations political official told the Security Council today, ahead of a series of high-level meetings to be held this weekend.

On Sunday, 23 September, the Middle East Quartet – the diplomatic grouping that comprises the UN, the European Union, Russia and the United States – will meet in New York, and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will state his concerns for the welfare of Gaza's Palestinian population to his colleagues.

An "iftar" will be held afterwards with several Arab League members, which provides "an opportunity for the Quartet to convey its determination to work closely with its Arab Partners in an effort to realize the potential of the Arab Peace Initiative and to advance the cause of a comprehensive regional peace," B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, said.

"These meetings will only be as useful as the agreements and steps of implementation they help bring about, and the changes on the ground they help to catalyze," he said, noting that much is at stake in the coming months.

"There will be difficult and unpopular choices ahead. Calculated risks are required for peace," he added. "The risks of inaction or timidity are incomparably greater than the risks of action."

The Under-Secretary-General told the Council that the search for peace in the Middle East has reached a crucial juncture. "A new push for peace is being made, and holds genuine promise. However the situation on the ground remains of deep concern," he said.

<"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9124.doc.htm">Briefing the 15-member body on the latest events in the region, he voiced his worries at reports of increasing human rights abuses in Gaza – including the violent dispersal of demonstrations and the illegal detention of other Palestinians – perpetrated by paramilitary Hamas forces.

Mr. Pascoe also cited the continued closure of Gaza as another source of concern. The Karni and Rafah crossings have been sealed since Hamas took over in June, and although relief supplies are reaching the population, "this has caused severe personal and economic hardship," he said.

UN and <"http://www.worldbank.org/">World Bank programmes worth $200 million are at a standstill in Gaza, while one third of students have kicked off the school year without textbooks. In addition, food inflows are decreasing, and the UN World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/">WFP) said that only 60 per cent of food needs are being met by current imports.

"The continued division of the occupied Palestinian territory is a matter of deep political, security and socio-economic concern," the Under-Secretary-General said. "Obviously, the longer it continues, the harder it will be to overcome."

He also noted that no actions have been taken to remove obstacles to freedom of movement in the West Bank, and that the construction of settlements is continuing on both sides of the barrier in the majority of settlements.

Regarding Lebanon, Mr. Pascoe said that political tensions remain high in the lead-up to presidential elections, which must be held in accordance with the timeframe and procedures laid out in the Lebanese Constitution.

"This requires an open and genuine dialogue among the parties with a view to electing a President who enjoys the broadest support of the Lebanese people," he told the Council, adding that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been in contact with the country's leaders to encourage them to endeavour to agree on a President.
2007-09-20 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS DEADLY TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST LEBANESE LAWMAKER

SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS DEADLY TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST LEBANESE LAWMAKER
New York, Sep 20 2007 7:00PM
The Security Council today strongly condemned yesterday's terrorist attack in the Lebanese capital Beirut that killed at least seven people, including the parliamentarian Antoine Ghanem.

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9125.doc.htm">presidential statement read out by Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert of France, which holds the rotating presidency this month, the Council expressed its deepest sympathies to the victims' families, as well as to the people and Government of Lebanon.

The 15-member body reiterated its condemnation of all targeted assassinations of the country's leaders that have taken place, including those since October 2004, and appealed for an end to the use of intimidation and violence against representatives of the Lebanese people and institutions.

Any attempt to destabilize the country, such as through these targeted attacks, must not be allowed to impede or subvert Lebanon's constitutional process, Mr. Ripert said.

He said Council members called for the holding of free and fair presidential elections "in conformity with Lebanese constitutional norms and schedules and without any foreign interference."

The statement also commended "the determination and the commitment of the Government of Lebanon to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this and other assassinations."

Yesterday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11167.doc.htm">statement that he was "shocked by the brutal assassination" of Mr. Ghanem.

"Such acts of terrorism aim at undermining Lebanon's stability and are unacceptable," his statement said. "Lebanon has suffered far too many such attempts."

Mr. Ban urged all Lebanese to show "calm and restraint at this very critical time and to allow judicial procedures to take their course" and stressed the need for continued dialogue within the country.
2007-09-20 00:00:00.000

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COUNTRIES CAN DO MORE TO IMPLEMENT INTERNATIONAL TREATIES, SAYS UN OFFICIAL

COUNTRIES CAN DO MORE TO IMPLEMENT INTERNATIONAL TREATIES, SAYS UN OFFICIAL
New York, Sep 20 2007 7:00PM
More than 40 countries have now indicated they plan to sign, ratify or accede to at least one international treaty over the next two weeks as part of the annual campaign to promote such conventions during the opening of the General Assembly session, a United Nations official said today.

Annebeth Rosenboom, Chief of the Treaty Section in the UN Office of Legal Affairs (OLA), told reporters that although those figures are impressive, countries should and can do more to ensure they are putting into place all the provisions of the treaties and pacts under which they are now bound.

"While significant achievements have been made in the development of the multilateral treaty framework, domestic implementation still needs to be improved," she said, noting that this year's theme stressed both participation and implementation.

This year's treaty event, the ninth in the series, will be held on the sidelines of the General Assembly's General Debate at UN Headquarters in New York on 25-27 September and 1-2 October. The focus will be on 43 treaties that deal with peace, development and human rights.

Ms. Rosenboom said "an impressive total of 1,278 treaty actions have been undertaken" during the annual event since it was initiated in 2000, but she added that none of the treaties being featured this year yet enjoyed the participation of all States.

One of the featured treaties is the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is designed to protect the rights of the estimated 650 million people worldwide who have disabilities.

Although it has already garnered 102 signatories since March, the Convention will only take effect 30 days after the 20th country agrees to ratification. So far, five nations – Jamaica, Hungary, Croatia, Panama and Cuba – have ratified.

UN official Thomas Schindlmayr, from the Convention's Secretariat, told reporters that he was confident that the next 15 ratifications would be obtained soon and the treaty will be able to enter into force.

He stressed the importance of the Convention given that people with disabilities are often among the most marginalized groups in the world.

Several featured treaties this year focus on the need for nations to act decisively to prevent and mitigate violence against women.

Christine Brautigam, Chief of the Women's Rights Section of the Division for the Advancement of Women, warned that when States fail to hold the perpetrators of violence accountable, impunity persists and inequality and discrimination are reinforced.

She called for the universal ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women. Some 185 States are party to the Convention, but Iran, Nauru, Palau, Qatar, Tonga, Somalia, Sudan and the United States are not.
2007-09-20 00:00:00.000

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REVISION PLANNED FOR UN-BACKED SYSTEM TO INFORM PUBLIC OF SEVERITY OF NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS

REVISION PLANNED FOR UN-BACKED SYSTEM TO INFORM PUBLIC OF SEVERITY OF NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS
New York, Sep 20 2007 1:00PM
The United Nations-sponsored system to enhance international safety by promptly communicating to the public the significance of nuclear and radiological accidents and incidents is being <" http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2007/ines.html">upgraded to make it even more versatile and informative.

Originally developed in the 1990s by the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) aims to consistently communicate the severity of reported nuclear and radiological events, with a scale ranging for 1 (anomaly) to 7 (major accident).

"We've brought INES into the world of nuclear and radiological events surfacing in the 21st century," IAEA Incident Reporting Coordinator and INES officer Rejane Spiegelberg-Planer said. "Our aim is to consolidate the old INES manual and the additional guidance documents and clarifications that had been issued over the past 15 or more years."

Under the INES scale, the 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Soviet Union (now in Ukraine) had widespread environmental and human health effects and was classified as Level 7, while the 1979 Three Mile Island accident in the United States, with very limited off-site radioactivity although the reactor core was severely damaged, was rated as Level 5, based on the on-site impact.

The improvements are designed to better address areas such as the transportation of radioactive material, or human exposure to sources of radiation. The underlying methodology has not changed, but previous procedures were not detailed enough to consistently rate events related to radiation sources and transport. Terminology has also been standardized.

The criteria for rating radioactive sources and transport have been consolidated according to additional guidance which was in pilot use for almost two years and then approved by IAEA Member States in 2006.

The revision of INES is the culmination of a lengthy and complex process. Since the early 1990s, several additions have been made to the methodology originally developed for nuclear power plants, while the last complete INES manual was published in 2001.

The process has engaged IAEA experts, as well as the INES Advisory Committee and consultants in nuclear safety and radiological protection. Once reviewed by INES members, the target date for officially issuing the new and improved scale is the end of 2008.
2007-09-20 00:00:00.000

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BUSINESSES MUST SUPPORT EMISSIONS REDUCTION, TOP UN OFFICIAL SAYS

BUSINESSES MUST SUPPORT EMISSIONS REDUCTION, TOP UN OFFICIAL SAYS
New York, Sep 20 2007 2:00PM
The private sector must support industrialized countries' serious emission reduction commitments to curb climate change and maintain the momentum of the system of exchanging emissions on the 'carbon market,' the top United Nations climate change official said today.

"Without binding commitments and the resulting downward pressure on greenhouse gas emissions, there is no carbon market. What's worse, we might fail in our battle against climate change, and that would result in costs that are much higher than the cost of action now," UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (<"http://unfccc.int/2860.php">UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer <"http://unfccc.int/files/press/news_room/press_releases_and_advisories/application/pdf/070919_pressrel_chicago.pdf">said at this year's Carbon Finance World conference in Chicago.

Last year, the international carbon market – spawned by the 1997 UN-backed Kyoto Protocol – was worth more than $30 billion, triple its size in 2005, and is expected to grow significantly this year.

The carbon market "can help us achieve the necessary shifts to green investment and contribute to the additional hundreds of billions of dollars that are estimated to be needed to address this problem," Mr. de Boer noted.

Emissions trading and other Kyoto-inspired and market-based systems, such as the clean development mechanism (CDM), which allows projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries to earn certified emission reduction credits, engage the business world and create low-cost opportunities to cut back emissions.

The CDM has grown considerably, with nearly 800 projects in 48 developing countries. It has "provided developed countries with a degree of flexibility in how they meet their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol," the Executive Secretary said. "For the CDM to be truly effective, however, it must be scaled up substantially. This also applies to the carbon market as a whole, and for any other market mechanism Parties might choose to create as part of a post-2012 agreement."

In a related development, the head of the UN World Meteorological Organization (<"http://www.wmo.ch/pages/index_en.html">WMO) today said that the debate on combating climate change must not only focus on mitigation, but also on adaptation.

Speaking in advance of the high-level informal dialogue to be convened by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 24 September, WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud said that all socio-economic sectors – influenced in some way by weather and the climate – will be impacted by the frequency and intensity of extreme events such as droughts and floods brought on by global warming.

Mr. Jarraud also called on the international community to step up support for countries without the necessary technology or resources to allow them to make the most optimal decisions on infrastructure building possible given the most current and accurate weather information.

Next week's high-level meeting will set the stage for a major December summit in Bali, Indonesia, which will seek to determine future action on mitigation, adaptation, the global carbon market and financing responses to climate change for the period after the expiry of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012.
2007-09-20 00:00:00.000

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UNESCO ADDS 23 NEW SITES TO GLOBAL NETWORK OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES

UNESCO ADDS 23 NEW SITES TO GLOBAL NETWORK OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES
New York, Sep 20 2007 3:00PM
Remote cloud forests in Viet Nam, hundreds of atolls in Micronesia and mangroves in El Salvador are featured in the 23 ecosystems which were added today to a United Nations network set up to fight biodiversity loss and promote sustainable development that helps local communities.

The World Network of Biosphere Reserves now has 529 sites in 105 countries after the 23 sites were added by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (<"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=39480&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO) following a three-day meeting this week at its Paris headquarters.

At each reserve, local communities try to enhance their socio-economic development while promoting biodiversity conservation on a scientific basis. Community members contribute to governance, management, research, education, training and monitoring at the sites.

The sites approved today include habitats in three countries which until now have not had a reserve in the Network – El Salvador, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

In El Salvador, Xiriualtique Jiquitizco is the country's largest extension of mangroves, and home to communities that have been able to harvest crops, raise livestock and establish a tourist industry based on sustainable development. Apaneca-Llamatepec, consisting mainly of mountain vegetation over lava fields in the west of the country, is also used by local inhabitants to produce shade-grown coffee.

The Marawah biosphere reserve in the United Arab Emirates, which includes sea grass beds, coral reefs and mangroves, is home to the world's second largest population of dugongs. At Qatar's Al-Reem site, which includes limestone formations under which lies an oil field, locals have opened breeding centres to reintroduce native fauna – such as the Arabian oryx and desert gazelle – alongside modern oil and gas pumping stations.

The other approved sites include Viet Nam's Western Nghe An, which comprises lowland monsoonal evergreen forests and elfin cloud forests at high altitudes and is home to numerous ethnic minorities and the Federated States of Micronesia's And Atoll, where 607 islands and reefs spread over an area half the size of the United States to provide habitat for more than 1,000 species of fish, 350 species of coral and thousands of species of sponges.

Eight of the other new sites lie in either North, Central or South America: Manicouagan Uapishka (Canada), Fundy (Canada), Sierra de Alamos – Río Cuchujaqui (Mexico), Andino Norpatagonica (Argentina), Pereyra Iraola (Argentina), Bosques Templados Lluviosos de los Andes Australes (Chile), Agua y Paz (Costa Rica) and Podocarpus – El Condor (Ecuador).

The other new sites are: Cape Winelands (South Africa), Noosa (Australia), Jabal Al Rihane (Lebanon), Mongol Daguur (Mongolia), Chebaling (China), Xingkai Lake (China), Corvo Island (Portugal), Graciosa Island (Portugal) and Rio Eo, Oscos y Terras de Buron (Spain).

The Bureau of the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, which selected the new sites, also approved changes to two existing biosphere reserves.

The boundaries of Frontenac Arch in Canada (formerly known as Canadian Thousand Islands - Frontenac Arch) and the Great Volzhsko-Kamsky in Russia have been extended. Germany, meanwhile, has withdrawn the Bavarian Forest biosphere reserve from the Network because it no longer meets the criteria.
2007-09-20 00:00:00.000

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FLOODING HAMPERS UN HUMANITARIAN AID EFFORTS FOR REFUGEES IN CHAD

FLOODING HAMPERS UN HUMANITARIAN AID EFFORTS FOR REFUGEES IN CHAD
New York, Sep 20 2007 10:00AM
Heavy rainy season downpours have left areas of eastern Chad flooded and seriously <" http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/46f128d34.html">hampered efforts by United Nations and other aid agencies to help tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees and internally displaced persons (<" http://www.unhcr.org/protect/3b84c7e23.html">IDPs).

Although food is not a major problem because supplies were stockpiled in camps in April and May, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is having difficulty supplying needed goods such as new tents, while the agency and others have delayed or cancelled missions in the region.

Aid can only be transported to some outposts by air and even then the rain often makes airstrips unusable, UNHCR said in its latest update from Abeche in eastern Chad. Earlier this month, two flights to Goz Beida were cancelled for two days in a row because the airstrip could not be used.

"We haven't seen such flooding in the past two years. There was so much rain that the roads and wadis became almost impassable," UNHCR driver Khalil Ousmane said. Taking detours to avoid flooded areas meant that journeys took up to three times as long as normal, he added. Drivers always took bedding with them in case they had to sleep en route.

The rains have eased over the past week but flooding continues to cut land access to the Koukou Angarana region in the southeast and has forced locals and IDPs to head for higher ground. Goz Amir, one of 12 UNHCR-run camps housing some 230,000 Sudanese refugees fleeing the conflict in Darfur, is in the flooded area. There are also 170,000 Chadian IDPs in the area.

"UNHCR and its partners are helping several hundred displaced families and host communities who have been affected by the rains and sought shelter on higher ground," said Bryan Hunter, UNHCR protection officer in Goz Beida. UNHCR staff have been forced to rent carts from locals so that they can help those uprooted by the floods, he added.

Since the rains began in mid-June, flooded wadis have made it almost impossible to drive between the UNHCR logistics hub at Abeche, the main town in eastern Chad, and Farchana, the gateway to several refugee camps near the border with Sudan's Darfur region, with the floods cutting off some of the camps.

Exposure to the elements is causing physical discomfort and putting added logistical and financial pressure on aid agencies. "With most shelters in camps being in a poor state, the number of people asking for new tents grows during and after the rainy season," said Julien Sangtam, a UNHCR community services assistant in the town of Bahai. "Their concerns are real and justified, but we can't satisfy them because of logistical problems."
2007-09-20 00:00:00.000

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BAN KI-MOON CONDEMNS LATEST MURDER OF LEBANESE LAWMAKER

BAN KI-MOON CONDEMNS LATEST MURDER OF LEBANESE LAWMAKER
New York, Sep 19 2007 8:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned today's assassination of a Lebanese lawmaker, who was killed along with at least eight others after an apparent car bomb attack in the capital, Beirut.

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sgsm11167.doc.htm">statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban said he was "shocked by the brutal assassination" of Antoine Ghanem and offered his condolences to the families of all the people killed.

"Such acts of terrorism aim at undermining Lebanon's stability and are unacceptable," the statement said. "Lebanon has suffered far too many such attempts."

Mr. Ban urged all Lebanese to show "calm and restraint at this very critical time and to allow judicial procedures to take their course" and stressed the need for continued dialogue within the country.

The assassination took place the same day that the Security Council received a briefing from UN Legal Counsel Nicolas Michel on the progress being made towards establishing the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which is being set up to prosecute those responsible for the February 2005 assassination – also during a car bomb attack – of the country's former prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9119.doc.htm">statement to the press after the closed-door briefing, Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert of France, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, said members welcomed the progress achieved so far and encouraged Mr. Ban to continue to undertake the steps and measures necessary to formally establish the Special Tribunal.

Once it is established, it will be up to the judges to determine whether other political killings in Lebanon between October 2004 and December 2005 were connected to Mr. Hariri's assassination and could therefore be dealt with by the Special Tribunal.

Any political killings that have occurred since December 2005 could also be dealt with, but only with the consent of the Security Council, Mr. Michel later told reporters.

He said the UN was making good progress towards appointing the judges and prosecutors who will serve on the Special Tribunal, adding that this is extremely important as they will be "the public face" of the court.

According to the Tribunal's statute, the chambers will consist of one international pre-trial judge; three judges to serve in the trial chamber (one Lebanese and two international); five judges to serve in the appeals chamber (two Lebanese and three international); and two alternate judges (one Lebanese and one international).

The judges of the trial chamber and those of the appeals chamber will then each elect a presiding judge to conduct the proceedings in their chamber, with the presiding judge of the appeals chamber serving as president of the Tribunal.

Mr. Michel also said it was a priority to find a successor to Serge Brammertz, the head of the International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC), which is probing the Hariri assassination and other political killings after a UN mission found Lebanon's earlier investigations flawed.

Mr. Brammertz has indicated he does not plan to stay on beyond the end of the year, Mr. Michel noted, underscoring the need to assure continuity by appointing someone as commissioner who could then become the prosecutor of the Special Tribunal once it starts operations.

The Tribunal is forecast to cost $35 million to run in its first 12 months, followed by $45 million in its second year and $40 million in its third year. Some 51 per cent will be met by UN Member States, and the remaining 49 per cent from the Lebanese Government.

Mr. Michel said the UN has already received indications from several governments that they are ready and willing to contribute to the costs of operating the court. He also noted that the UN and the Netherlands, which has agreed to host the Tribunal, are examining several potential sites.

Asked whether the IIIC would investigate today's assassination, Mr. Michel said it was up to the Lebanese Prime Minister to send a request to Mr. Ban, who can then forward it to the Security Council, which determines whether the killing or attack should be included in the work of the Commission.
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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SECURITY COUNCIL URGES CONTINUED SUPPORT TO POST-ELECTION SIERRA LEONE

SECURITY COUNCIL URGES CONTINUED SUPPORT TO POST-ELECTION SIERRA LEONE
New York, Sep 19 2007 7:00PM
The Security Council today commended Sierra Leone on the recent holding of presidential elections and called for continued international support as the West African nation proceeds on its path to peace and security.

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9121.doc.htm">statement read out by Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert of France, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, the 15-member body "congratulated the people and institutions of Sierra Leone – particularly the National Electoral Commission and the Sierra Leone Police – on their conduct over the election period and the commitment that they demonstrated to the democratic process."

Ernest Bai Koroma of the All People's Congress Party was declared the winner of the run-off elections held on 8 September, after polls held on 11 August failed to produce an outright winner.

The presidential elections were the first since UN peacekeepers left in 2005 after helping to bring peace and stability to the country which was torn apart by a brutal 10-year civil war. Since then the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) has been engaged in assisting the fledgling democracy.

Echoing the Council's comments, the top UN envoy to Sierra Leone today expressed appreciation for the restraint demonstrated by the people since the announcement of the results on Monday.

The Secretary-General's Executive Representative Victor Angelo called on everyone to "remain within the rule of law, and to respect public order and private property" in a statement issued in the capital, Freetown.

Stressing that "constructive dialogue at this time in the history of Sierra Leone is crucial," he reaffirmed that the UN remains actively engaged to support national efforts to consolidate peace, democracy and development.
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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BETTER IT CONNECTIVITY CAN UNLEASH AFRICA'S ECONOMIC POTENTIAL, UN OFFICIALS SAY

BETTER IT CONNECTIVITY CAN UNLEASH AFRICA'S ECONOMIC POTENTIAL, UN OFFICIALS SAY
New York, Sep 19 2007 6:00PM
Better information technology links can help Africa to unleash its economic potential, United Nations and business leaders said today in New York.

African countries have registered the world's highest mobile phone growth, ranging from 50 to 400 per cent in the last three years, Hamadoun Touré, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (<"http://www.itu.int/net/home/index.aspx">ITU), told a press briefing.

Africa's goal should be to replicate that success in broadband capability, also achieving "Internet access in every village, every school, every university, every hospital."

Lack of Internet access is holding back growth, according to ITU figures. Less than 4 per cent of Africans have Internet access, broadband penetration is below 1 per cent and 70 per cent of all continental traffic goes outside Africa, driving up costs for consumers. The cost of Internet connectivity in Africa, says the World Bank, is the highest in the world – some $250-300 per month.

Africa needs a competitive information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, Mr. Touré said. "By bringing optical fibres in some of the networks, by just closing the loops, you will avoid excessive Internet transit costs, bringing down the cost by two thirds," he said.

China and India have increased both public and private investment in ICT in Africa, and other countries could do the same, he said. "Once the infrastructure is there, once you have the proper capacity building, you can have real growth, with exponential figures," he said.

Mobile telephone use in Africa will undoubtedly follow the general trends of other developing regions, said Craig Barrett, Chairman of the UN Global Alliance for ICT and Development and Chairman of the Board of Intel Corporation. In China, India and Latin America, "the private sector has gone in, and with spectrum allocation and with competition, has been able to bring inexpensive communications to all of the people. We expect to see that in Africa," he said.

Mr. Barrett said connectivity poses a challenge. The average monthly cost for a 256 kilobyte per second connection was more than the total hardware and software costs. Broadband connectivity costs should ideally fall by more than two-thirds by 2009, he said, adding that the gate to Africa's development would be "providing inexpensive connectivity over broad stretches of territory."

The success of Africa's telecom industry, said Mohsen Khalil, Director of Global ICT at the World Bank Group, had shown investors that in Africa they could "contribute to development and still make money." About $25 billion in foreign direct investment had been invested in African telecoms in the last 10 years, he said.

Two factors, he said, have contributed to the success of the telecom industry: technological innovation in the mobile area and the adoption of liberal policies. What was now needed for broadband expansion were regulations ensuring an even playing field, and public-private partnerships.

"When you give access to a human being, you unleash the power of human innovation and entrepreneurship," he said. "It is really so powerful – all they need is access."

A "Connect Africa" summit in October in Kigali, Rwanda, will focus on making ICT capabilities available for economic development and connectivity. "We will try to push as hard as we can to get the public and private sectors together to achieve this," Mr. Barrett said.

Walter Fust, Director-General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, voiced support for the Kigali summit to keep ICT for development high on the political agenda, to broaden the discussion to innovative financing mechanisms and local content, and to support "the mobilizing of the doers, not only of the talkers."
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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UN REPORTS WORSENING HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS IN ETHIOPIA'S SOMALI REGION

UN REPORTS WORSENING HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS IN ETHIOPIA'S SOMALI REGION
New York, Sep 19 2007 6:00PM
The humanitarian situation in Ethiopia's Somali regional state – one of the country's poorest areas and home to some 4.5 million people – has deteriorated substantially over the past several months due to ongoing security operations, according to a United Nations assessment team that recently visited the region.

Fighting between the Ethiopian National Defence Forces and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has led to the doubling of food prices, inadequate access to clean drinking water and shortages of drugs and other medical supplies, according to a press release from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The team observed that household food reserves are nearly exhausted among the communities it visited and food aid operations in the areas affected by fighting have been "seriously delayed." In addition, Government restrictions on commercial and livestock trade have aggravated an already fragile food security and livelihood situation.

"Given the clear suffering of the families in these zones, and the probable deterioration in their lot, I hope that the Government of Ethiopia and the ONLF will do everything in their power to ensure immediate, safe and full access for humanitarian organizations into the region," UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes said.

In its report, the team urged that emergency food aid be provided immediately for some 600,000 people for three months. It also called for the creation of conditions to allow a substantial increase in commercial food deliveries throughout the region as well as increased livestock trade. Drugs for health facilities and support to establish mobile health teams were also needed.

The team recommended that reports of a "worrying human rights and protection situation for the civilian population" be investigated and action taken to protect civilians, including women and children.

The report has been shared with the Ethiopian authorities and the UN stands ready to assist the Government in increasing the delivery of humanitarian assistance and in following up on the team's recommendations.

The inter-agency team included staff from <"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1080">OCHA, the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF), the Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO), World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP), World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/en/">WHO), the UN Department of Safety and Security and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (<"http://www.ohchr.org/english/">OHCHR).
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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CUTTING OFF ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO GAZA BREACHES ISRAELI OBLIGATIONS - BAN KI-MOON

CUTTING OFF ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO GAZA BREACHES ISRAELI OBLIGATIONS – BAN KI-MOON
New York, Sep 19 2007 6:00PM
Israel's decision to interrupt the provision of essential services, such as electricity and fuel, to the Gaza Strip contravenes its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights towards the territory's civilian population, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, voicing concern at the move.

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11165.doc.htm">statement Mr. Ban called on the Israeli Government to reconsider its decision, which also includes a declaration that the Gaza Strip is an "enemy entity."

"There are 1.4 million people in Gaza, including the old, the young and the sick, who are already suffering from the impact of prolonged closure," he said. "They should not be punished for the unacceptable actions of militants and extremists."

The statement noted that the United Nations has broad humanitarian responsibilities and is mandated to provide assistance to and meet the humanitarian needs of civilians in both Gaza and the West Bank.

Mr. Ban added that "the continued indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza into Israel is unacceptable and I deplore it. I call for it to stop immediately. I understand Israel's security concerns over this matter."

UN officials have expressed concern repeatedly in recent months that the closure of border crossings and other restrictions in Gaza have cut exports and forced factories to shut, leaving tens of thousands of Palestinians in the territory without jobs or income.
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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SCORES OF COUNTRIES REPORTING ON IRAN SANCTIONS, SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD

SCORES OF COUNTRIES REPORTING ON IRAN SANCTIONS, SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD
New York, Sep 19 2007 6:00PM
Over 80 countries have reported to the Security Council committee monitoring sanctions imposed against Iran, the chairman of that panel said today.

Since June, the committee has received 19 documents from Member States – 15 reported that they already have legislation in place regarding the sanctions while the remaining four gave details on measures that have been or will be taken to put the necessary legal framework into place, said Belgian Ambassador Johan C. Verbeke, the committee's chairman.

"This brings the total number of reports under resolution 1737 to 81 and the total number of reports under resolution 1747 to 67," he told the Council in an <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9118.doc.htm">open meeting.

Adopted last December, resolution 1737 banned trade with Iran in all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to the country's enrichment-related, reprocessing or heavy water-related activities, or to the development of nuclear-weapon delivery systems.

Resolution 1747 from this March further tightened the sanctions by imposing a ban on arms sales and expanding the freeze on assets.

Iranian authorities have stated that their nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, but other countries contend that it is driven by military ambitions.

Earlier this week, the head of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) noted that Tehran has not suspended enrichment related activities as called for by the Security Council, although it has agreed on a work plan with the Agency for resolving all outstanding verification issues.

"Naturally, Iran's active cooperation and transparency is the key to full and timely implementation of the work plan," stressed IAEA Mohamed ElBaradei.
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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UN HOSTS WORLD PREMIERE OF ANTI-TRAFFICKING FILM 'TRADE'

UN HOSTS WORLD PREMIERE OF ANTI-TRAFFICKING FILM 'TRADE'
New York, Sep 19 2007 5:00PM
United Nations Headquarters in New York will roll out the red carpet tonight as it hosts the world premiere of a new feature film spotlighting the horrors of human trafficking, a multi-billion dollar global industry whose primary victims are women and girls.

Tonight's premiere of <i>Trade</i> is being co-hosted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (<"http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/news_and_publications.html">UNODC), film distribution company Roadside Attractions and international human rights organization Equality Now.

Based on "The Girls Next Door," a 2004 <i>New York Times Magazine</i> article by Peter Landesman, the film features Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Kline as a police officer in Texas who becomes involved with a young Mexican boy who is looking for his 12-year-old sister who has been abducted.

The film is "gut-wrenching and alarming and disturbing," Mr. Kline told reporters at a press conference in New York today.

"The film depicts the inner workings, shines a light on the methodology of how these trafficking networks work, not only behind the scenes, but what actually happens in plain sight," he said.

<i>Trade</i>, which also tells the story of a young Polish girl who is brought to the United States under false pretences and raped, drugged and put to work, attempts to "put a human face on the problem."

He added that while the film "doesn't have blockbuster written all over it," he hoped it will succeed in raising awareness of the problem.

According to UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa, human trafficking is a $32 billion-a-year business with profits second only to drugs and arms. Calling it the "modern day version of slavery," Mr. Costa said the problem is everywhere and affects about 1 million people a year.

The lead UN agency fighting all forms of human trafficking, UNODC works with governments, the private sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to combat the scourge by raising public awareness, engaging in prevention activities and enhancing the skills of legal professionals and policymakers.

Six months ago, UNODC launched UN.GIFT (Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking) to raise awareness of the problem and to assist countries in implementing international agreements such as the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.

Mr. Costa said there was no better way of building public awareness than using the most popular media worldwide, that of television and movies.

Taina Bien-Aimé, Executive Director of Equality Now, said art has always been an integral part of her group's advocacy strategy. "<i>Trade</i> with its remarkably honest portrayal of the sheer horror and brutality faced by millions of trafficked women and girls embodies the power of art to raise awareness and inspire individuals to take action and initiate change."
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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UN OFFICIAL APPEALS FOR POLITICAL COMPROMISE IN NEPAL

UN OFFICIAL APPEALS FOR POLITICAL COMPROMISE IN NEPAL
New York, Sep 19 2007 5:00PM
Both the Government of Nepal and the Maoists have renewed their commitment to the country's peace process in conversations with the top United Nations political official, who today urged them to reach a political compromise in the broader interest of the peace deal, which ended a decade-long bloody civil war that killed some 15,000 people in the country.

B. Lynn Pascoe, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, called Prime Minister Giriji Prasad Koirala and Maoist Chariman Prachanda on behalf of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who "has been following the recent political developments in Nepal with concern," UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York.

In the telephone calls to the two leaders in the Himalayan country, Mr. Pascoe also stressed the need to press forward with the Constituent Assembly election as scheduled in November.

"Both leaders reiterated their commitment to the peace process, and also noted that 8-Party discussions were continuing positively with the goal of overcoming the current difficulties in the near future," Ms. Montas noted.

A comprehensive peace agreement was signed last November between Nepal's multi-party Government and the Maoists, and the UN Mission in Nepal (<"http://www.un.org.np/unmin.php">UNMIN) was established this January to support Nepal's peace process by helping to create conditions for the election to take place in a free and fair atmosphere.

Over 180 arms monitors are mandated to monitor the arms and armies of the former adversaries, the Maoist army and the Nepal Army, who are confined to cantonments and barracks in the lead-up to the election.
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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CAMBODIA: UN-BACKED TRIBUNAL CHARGES SENIOR KHMER ROUGE FIGURE

CAMBODIA: UN-BACKED TRIBUNAL CHARGES SENIOR KHMER ROUGE FIGURE
New York, Sep 19 2007 3:00PM
The United Nations-backed tribunal in Cambodia set up to try Khmer Rouge leaders accused of mass killings and other horrific crimes during the late 1970s today announced that a senior member of the group has been arrested and charged.

Nuon Chea, who press reports state was also known as "Brother Number Two" in the Khmer Rouge regime that ruled Cambodia between April 1975 and January 1979, was brought before the co-investigating judges of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) in the capital, Phnom Penh, after an arrest warrant was executed.

The co-investigating judges charged Nuon Chea with crimes against humanity and war crimes and placed him in provisional detention.

Under an agreement signed by the UN and Cambodia, the ECCC was set up as an independent new court using a mixture of Cambodian staff and judges and foreign personnel. It is designated to try those deemed most responsible for crimes and serious violations of Cambodian and international law between 17 April 1975 and 6 January 1979.
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY SEEKS 'STRATEGIC APPROACH' TO IMPACT OF DISASTERS ON WORLD TOURISM

UN AGENCY SEEKS 'STRATEGIC APPROACH' TO IMPACT OF DISASTERS ON WORLD TOURISM
New York, Sep 19 2007 3:00PM
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has allocated additional resources and realigned its work programme for the years 2008/2009 to help better face the challenges of natural and man-made disasters to a market that last year registered 842 million arrivals.

"The need for a more strategic approach to risk and crisis management has been confirmed by recent events such as the forest fires in Greece, hurricanes in Central America, and the earthquake in Indonesia," <"http://www.unwto.org/media/news/en/press_det.php?id=1336&idioma=E">UNWTO said in a news release today.

Although tourism authorities from Greece, Honduras and Indonesia informed UNWTO that recent events have not caused major changes in the schedules of travellers, reflecting the resilience of the travel and tourism industry, "it also underlines the need for a strategic and rapid response of the sector to the adversities," the Organization added.

UNWTO said it is drawing on "its rich experience and proven capability" in the work done so far for the recovery of tourism after the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the various efforts on bird and human flu pandemics.

Actions included appeals to the world's media to take care in its coverage of destinations hit by the tsunami so as not to slow the recovery of an important economic sector, avoiding a repeat of the "infodemic" that caused a slump in Asian tourism 2003 when Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) killed 774 people and infected more than 8,000 worldwide, the vast majority of them in China.

UNWTO then called on the press, and particularly the specialized travel press, to issue honest and balanced information on events and situations that could influence the flow of tourists.

Last year the agency unveiled a new Internet portal to provide round-the-clock tracking of emergencies and avoid over-reactions to potential crises, focusing initially on the bird flu scare of a potential pandemic.

"The close collaboration with other UN bodies and agencies such as the UN System Influenza Coordination (<"http://www.undg.org/index.cfm?P=21">UNSIC), the World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (<"http://www.icao.int/">ICAO), to name a few, should reinforce UNWTO in its future endeavours to tackle all forms of crises to the tourism industry as a whole," today's news release said.

In the aftermath of the 2005 tsunami, UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli stressed that the best way to help such devastated tourist havens as Sri Lanka, Maldives, Thailand and Indonesia, was to encourage tourists to return.
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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PHILIPPINES: UN AGENCY DONATES HEALTH KITS FOR REFUGEES FROM CONFLICT IN SOUTH

PHILIPPINES: UN AGENCY DONATES HEALTH KITS FOR REFUGEES FROM CONFLICT IN SOUTH
New York, Sep 19 2007 3:00PM
The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) is providing emergency medicines and supplies people displaced by the escalation of fighting between the Philippines army and the Moro National Liberation Front in the southern island of Mindanao.

The emergency kits will support a Government request to increase the supply of essential medicines that the medical teams are bringing to the temporary settlement of the displaced population, <"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO Country Representative Soe Nyunt-U said.

Thirty-four villages have been affected by the fighting, with more than 7,050 families displaced. Although relief goods, compact food, chlorine granules, vaccines and medicines have been provided to the affected areas, there is a serious lack of medicines and medical supplies such as instruments for treating trauma.

"WHO will support the Government's efforts to ensure access and availability of health services to the displaced population," said Hendrik Bekedam, Director, Division of Health Sector Development of WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.

A WHO regional and country office team visited Davao City in Mindanao to meet with the Secretary of Health of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Tahir Sulaik, to discuss the situation and plan further support for the emergency.

Provincial health officers present at the meetings with WHO reported on the difficulties of reaching communities affected by the conflict.
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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UNESCO TO CHOOSE SITES TO JOIN GLOBAL NETWORK OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES

UNESCO TO CHOOSE SITES TO JOIN GLOBAL NETWORK OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES
New York, Sep 19 2007 2:00PM
Experts from around the world are gathering this week at the Paris headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (<"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=39418&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO) to consider 33 new sites for inclusion into the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

The Bureau of the International Coordinating Council for UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme, comprising representatives from 34 Member States, is holding a three-day meeting starting today to consider proposals from 21 countries.

For the first time El Salvador, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are proposing sites to join the existing network of 507 reserves in 102 countries.

The Programme was launched in 1970 to promote sustainable development on a scientific basis with the active involvement of local communities and to reduce the loss of biodiversity around the world. The reserves in the network are ecological sites where those communities are involved in governance and management, research, education, training and monitoring, promoting both development and biodiversity conservation.
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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AFGHANISTAN: UN-BACKED IMMUNIZATION DRIVE STARTS AMID CALLS FOR END TO VIOLENCE

AFGHANISTAN: UN-BACKED IMMUNIZATION DRIVE STARTS AMID CALLS FOR END TO VIOLENCE
New York, Sep 19 2007 2:00PM
United Nations agencies have teamed up with Government health workers to carry out a polio immunization drive in insurgency-affected areas in southern and eastern Afghanistan, just days before the end of a nine-week campaign aimed at achieving an end to violence in the strife-torn nation on and around 21 September, Peace Day.

The three-day immunization drive aims to take advantage of the window of opportunity for accessing children in need created by the Peace Day campaign, which began on 19 July when the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (<"http://www.unama-afg.org/_latestnews/07sep19-un-mission-reiterates.html">UNAMA) teamed up with Jeremy Gilley, founder of Peace One Day, actor Jude Law and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) to promote the International Day of Peace – marked each year on 21 September.

"We call again upon the entire community, every woman, man and child, to support genuinely and in whatever way they can this effort for a real Peace Day in Afghanistan," UN Deputy Special Representative Bo Asplund said. "To save even a single life is a success."

Afghanistan is one of four countries, along with India, Nigeria and Pakistan, that still suffers endemic polio. Many districts in the southern part of the country have been missed in previous polio immunization drives due to insecurity.

According to <"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF and the UN World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/en/">WHO), five children have been paralyzed from this preventable disease in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, in the lead up to Peace Day, UNICEF and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (<"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=29008&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO) have urged that children and teachers at schools and literacy centres around the country be protected from all acts of violence.

The education programmes serving over 6 million children and the UN joint literacy programme for 120,000 people in Afghanistan are the "keys to empowerment of every Afghan child and family and necessary steps towards peacebuilding in a country that has experienced over two decades of conflict," the two agencies said in a joint statement issued today in Kabul.

Security incidents in schools and threats against students and teachers in Afghanistan have spiked in recent months, disrupting education in the country, which this year has seen some of the worst violence since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.

Over 30 attacks against schools, many involving the torching or blowing up of school premises, have been reported in all parts of the country in the first half of this year. In addition, deliberate attacks on girls and female teachers have resulted in at least four deaths and six injuries in the same period.

The UN will also mark Peace Day by declaring the Saighan district of Afghanistan's Bamiyan province a Peace District on Friday. As many as 70 different sorts of weapons and ammunitions are expected to be surrendered by some 13 commanders of local armed groups in the province, under an operation run by the Afghanistan New Beginnings Programme (ANBP).

The ANBP is a project of the UN Development Programme (<"http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/">UNDP) that was created in April 2003 to assist the Afghan Government in implementing disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR).
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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UN ATOMIC AGENCY CAN HELP ELIMINATE WORLD HUNGER, AGRICULTURE CHIEF SAYS

UN ATOMIC AGENCY CAN HELP ELIMINATE WORLD HUNGER, AGRICULTURE CHIEF SAYS
New York, Sep 19 2007 1:00PM
The United Nations atomic watchdog agency, best known seeking to combat nuclear proliferation and terrorism, has a major role to play in feeding the world's burgeoning population, the top UN agricultural official said today.

"We believe in the peaceful use of nuclear technology as applied to areas such as agriculture, crops, fighting disease, and soil and water management," UN Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/">FAO) Director-General Jacques Diouf said, citing his agency's 40 years of cooperation with the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (<"http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2007/foodagriculture.html">IAEA).

Addressing the IAEA's Scientific Forum in Vienna, Mr. Diouf described the millions of hectares of higher-yielding and disease-resistant crops gained through radiation-induced mutations, the improvement of livestock and agriculture by eradicating insect pests such as the screwworm, tsetse fly and the fruit fly with the sterile insect technique (SIT), and isotopic techniques to enhance water use efficiency and crop productivity.

With SIT, radiation is used to sterilize otherwise healthy insects, which are then released to mate without producing offspring, thus controlling and gradually eradicating the pest population. The tsetse fly carries trypanosomosis, also known as sleeping sickness, a parasitic disease that is a major constraint to sustainable development, affecting both humans and livestock.

"We obviously need to grow more food, and to do so in a sustainable manner and in full respect of plant and animal biodiversity," Mr. Diouf said, noting that with less than 10 years to go until the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which seek to slash global hunger and other social ills, the problems facing the world in the areas of food and agriculture remain enormous.

"There are 854 millions of hungry people presently in a world population of 6 billion, expected to reach 9 billion persons by 2050," he added, hailing the joint FAO/IAEA programme, Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, as one of the best examples of inter-agency cooperation in the UN family.

He said the MDGs could still be reached, "but only if we redouble our efforts and focus them in locations and on actions where they can make a concrete and significant difference in a relatively short period of time."

The two-day Forum coincides with IAEA's 51st General Conference. Wheat from Peru, tsetse fly traps from South Africa, and a sediment corer from the Caribbean were among the many hands-on-items at an exhibit showcasing the varied work of IAEA technical cooperation with countries and regions around the world.

The exhibit – Technical Cooperation: Delivering Results for Peace and Development – focuses "on concrete and tangible results" that Agency projects have delivered to people around the world, IAEA Technical Cooperation Head Ana Maria Cetto said. "It offers a snapshot of IAEA projects at both the national and regional level – projects which are making a difference in people's lives on a daily basis."
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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CIVIL AVIATION MUST ADJUST IN RESPONSE TO EMERGING THREATS - UN AGENCY

CIVIL AVIATION MUST ADJUST IN RESPONSE TO EMERGING THREATS – UN AGENCY
New York, Sep 19 2007 1:00PM
Global air transportation needs to adjust to face emerging challenges such as terrorist attacks and climate change, a top official of the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said today.

"Civil aviation, as an integral part of the global economy and a driving force for social development, must adapt to new realities," Roberto Kobeh González, President of the ICAO Council, <"http://www.icao.int/icao/en/pres/kobeh/20070918_A36_en.pdf">said at the opening of the Organization's thirty-sixth session in Montreal.

Although civil aviation continues to be the safest means of mass transportation, there are still numerous accidents in some of the world's regions and it is vulnerable to terrorist attacks, he noted.

"In spite of enormous progress, the sustained increase in traffic means that it will be even more difficult to minimize the impact of aviation on the environment," Mr. González told participants.

In addition, he noted ever-increasing numbers of flights are worsening congestion in many places that already operate at maximum capacity.

The ICAO "must respond to new conditions and new opportunities wisely, while remaining true to the raison d'être of this Organization – the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation," he said.

There are 190 members or Contracting States in the <"http://www.icao.int/icao/en/m_about.html">ICAO, which was established in 1944. The Council of the Organization, headquartered in Montreal, meets every three years.
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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UN RUSHING AID TO 1.5 MILLION FLOOD VICTIMS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

UN RUSHING AID TO 1.5 MILLION FLOOD VICTIMS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
New York, Sep 19 2007 11:00AM
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) teams are fanning out across a wide arc of sub-Saharan Africa, from Mauritania in the west to Kenya in the east, bringing in helicopters and boats where necessary to help an estimated 1.5 million people hit by some of the worst floods in decades.

"Funds, especially cash, are urgently needed," WFP <"http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/LSGZ-777CVH?OpenDocument">said today in its latest update on the situation. Just yesterday, the agency appealed for nearly $65 million to feed 300,000 flood victims as well as refugees and other displaced people in Uganda for the next six months.

<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=320">WFP is working together with Governments and other aid agencies to assess needs and respond swiftly throughout the region, drawing on emergency stocks.

West Africa is experiencing some of its worst floods in 10 years, affecting 500,000 people in 18 countries, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org">OCHA). WFP rapid assessment missions are currently evaluating needs in Ghana and Togo where heavy rains and flooding have caused widespread damage to crops and infrastructure and forced large numbers of people to flee their homes.

In Togo, 60,000 people are in need of urgent food assistance, according to preliminary assessments, but the figures could be higher as information from inaccessible areas is being collected. Heavy rainfalls in the north have washed away a significant portion of cultivated land and destroyed over 30,000 houses as well as six dams.

In Ghana, it is estimated that 75,000 people are in urgent need of aid including food, clothing, blankets, cooking utensils, canoes or boats, mosquito nets and water purification tablets. In Mauritania, floodwaters covered most of the city of Tintane in August, destroying public and private infrastructure. WFP has distributed food for 5,000 flood victims in Mali in August and over 4,500 in Niger.

In east and central Africa, flooding currently affects at least 300,000 people in Uganda.

In Sudan, 500,000 people have been directly affected by floods, at least 200,000 are homeless and 113 people have died. Since July, torrential rains have caused flash floods in the east and south, with many locals saying they are the worst in living memory. The UN and non-governmental organizations have provided clean water to more than 1 million people and emergency shelter to 200,000. WFP has delivered food to 89,000.

Across Ethiopia, food aid has started for more than 60,000 flood victims amid some overcrowding in temporary shelters and threats of an outbreak of water-borne diseases. Floods in the north, west and south have affected some 183,000 people.

In Rwanda, torrential rain in the northwest has killed 15, damaged homes in at least 10 villages and left 7,000 people homeless. The Government says it can meet food needs for the first two months but aid will be needed because people who have lost their homes and crops may need food for at least six months.

In Kenya, lowland floods in the west have reportedly displaced 1,700 families. In the arid and semi-arid lands served by WFP's emergency operation, heavy rains have cut road access in the Samburu region in the northeast. But flooding has not yet been reported.
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN NORTHERN IRAQ REMAINS MAJOR HEALTH THREAT, UN REPORTS

CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN NORTHERN IRAQ REMAINS MAJOR HEALTH THREAT, UN REPORTS
New York, Sep 19 2007 11:00AM
The cholera outbreak in northern Iraq continues to be a major threat to public health in the region with over 3.3 million people presumed to be exposed to the risk of an epidemic, according to an <"http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/LSGZ-777G4U?OpenDocument">update by the United Nations health agency.

Severe diarrhoea cases now top 24,500, although confirmed laboratory cases of cholera number about 1,050, with 10 deaths, the same mortality figure reported a week ago when the diarrhoea cases stood at 16,000.

"Case fatality remains very low (less than 1 per cent) which indicates good access as well as improved case management of cholera patients at all treatment centres in the affected area," the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said.

"Provision of safe water and food, establishment of adequate sanitation services for the community at risk and implementation of personal and community hygiene constitute the main public health interventions to contain the outbreak," it added.

The outbreak first unfolded in Kirkuk province on 14 August, spread to Sulemaniya governorate on 23 August and then to Erbil governorate on 6 September.

It is unclear what caused the outbreak, but initial investigations show some evidence that, in Sulemaniya, polluted water that residents were forced to rely on due to a shortage of drinking water may have been to blame. In Kirkuk, cracked water pipes allowed contamination by sewage, and because of the close geographic proximity the outbreak spread to Erbil.

The continuous movement of people and cargo, bad sanitary conditions and high temperatures may increase the possibility of spreading the disease rapidly to other areas such as Baghdad and the central provinces, health officials have warned.

<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs107/en/index.html">Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It causes watery diarrhoea that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment is not promptly given. About 80 to 90 per cent of cases are mild or moderate and are difficult to distinguish clinically from other types of acute diarrhoea. Less than 20 per cent of ill people develop typical cholera with signs of moderate or severe dehydration.
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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FIGHTING IN DR CONGO EXPOSES CHILDREN TO FORCED RECRUITMENT, EXPLOITATION - UN

FIGHTING IN DR CONGO EXPOSES CHILDREN TO FORCED RECRUITMENT, EXPLOITATION - UN
New York, Sep 19 2007 11:00AM
The situation of children in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has gone from bad to worse, with 60,000 people newly driven from their homes by fighting in North Kivu province, exposing youngsters to the dangers of forced recruitment and sexual exploitation, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (<" http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/drcongo_40899.html">UNICEF).

"Separation of children from the parents always puts children at risk," UNICEF's Chief of Field Operations for the DRC Julien Harneis said. "Then you've got the creation of spontaneous camps, which leads to measles, cholera and the recruitment of children into armed groups."

The challenges posed by forced child recruitment are vast, UNICEF said. "Children are taken by militias against their will and used as porters and fighters or, in the case of girls, for sexual exploitation. There is also great risk, of course, of injury and death from violence and battle," it added.

The agency has received a report of 54 cases of children recruited in northeast Kivu "and to the west we've heard that there's forced recruitment of all males over the age of 15," Mr. Harneis said. "In the last couple of weeks, we believe that hundreds of children have been recruited into militias, which brings the total number of cases to well over 1,000."

Upwards of 8,000 children have been separated from militias. In most cases, these former child soldiers are returned to their communities, but Mr. Harneis said that for many ex-soldiers the story does not end there. Many fall prey to re-recruitment or banditry.

"Eventually, they will get separated from the armed groups. But then they face issues related to alienation from their community. These children haven't been educated and their skills aren't appropriate to civilian life," he warned.

UNICEF is addressing these problems by supporting a comprehensive reintegration programme for 5,500 former child soldiers who have already returned to their community, but due to the current intense fighting between the army, renegade troops and rebels, the environment is too insecure in many parts of North Kivu to implement the programme.

The agency and its partners are also stepping up efforts to provide much needed vaccinations, nutritional supplements, water and sanitation aids and shelter to the newly displaced people now living in camps and makeshift shelters. It is currently impossible to be sure how many children are at risk for being re-recruited once they are removed from the armed groups.

"Several hundred children have been recruited in the last couple of weeks," Mr. Harneis said. "How many of them have been re-recruited? We don't have access to these areas, so we cannot ascertain at the moment the exact origin of these recruits. What we do know is that about 5,500 children in the area have previously been in armed groups – and they are all at risk for re-recruitment."
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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WRAPPING UP HIS TOUR OF DUTY, TOP UN OFFICIAL IN IRAQ PAYS FAREWELL VISIT TO NORTH

WRAPPING UP HIS TOUR OF DUTY, TOP UN OFFICIAL IN IRAQ PAYS FAREWELL VISIT TO NORTH
New York, Sep 19 2007 10:00AM
Wrapping up his three-year term as the top United Nations envoy in Iraq, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative Ashraf Qazi has completed a tour of the northern region of the strife-torn country, assuring Kurdish leaders there of continued UN cooperation and consultation.

Mr. Qazi, who has been named as the chief UN officer for Sudan and will be succeeded in Iraq by Staffan de Mistura, a veteran UN Middle East envoy, held talks with Kurdistan President Massoud Al-Barzani and Vice President Qosrat Rasul Ali, as well as Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh and other regional officials.

He reiterated UN commitments to Iraq and assured them that Mr. de Mistura would show "the same spirit of cooperation and consultation," the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (<"http://www.uniraq.org">UNAMI) said in a news release.

Mr. Qazi visited the Kalawa camp for internally displaced persons (<"http://www.unhcr.org/protect/3b84c7e23.html">IDPs) in Sulemaniya, and listened to the grievances of the camp residents, promising to raise their concerns with the proper national and regional authorities and set in motion available UN programmes for lessening their hardship.

He also spoke at the Sulemaniya Public Library before a large group of notables, highlighting his experience in Iraq and clarifying any misconception around an expanded UN role in the country.

Last month, the Security Council adopted resolution <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/res/1770(2007)">1770 extending and expanding UNAMI's mandate, including the promotion of national dialogue and reconciliation.
2007-09-19 00:00:00.000

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EX-GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT BECOMES FIRST PRIVATE DONOR TO PEACEBUILDING FUND

EX-GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT BECOMES FIRST PRIVATE DONOR TO PEACEBUILDING FUND
New York, Sep 18 2007 4:00PM
The former General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa has become the first individual donor to the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, set up last year to help countries emerging from conflict consolidate their gains and not slide back into war.

Sheikha Haya, who served as President of the General Assembly's sixty-first session, which ended yesterday, has made a private donation of almost $19,000, the Fund announced today.

Since its official launch in October last year, Sheikha Haya has championed the work of the Fund, which is a multi-year standing trust fund that has an initial funding target of $250 million and so far has collected deposits worth almost $144 million from donor countries.

To date, it has approved grants of more than $46 million to 21 projects in Burundi and Sierra Leone, the first two countries under formal consideration by the Peacebuilding Commission. It has also spent $700,000 in emergency funds to support dialogue between Côte d'Ivoire's opposing political forces and $800,000 to back mediation efforts in the troubled Central African Republic (CAR).

Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support Carolyn McAskie said she hoped that Sheikha Haya's "generous contribution will serve to inspire other individuals, organizations and governments to commit to the Fund in the interest of helping countries in the transition from war to lasting peace."

The first female General Assembly President since 1969 and the first Muslim woman to hold the post, Sheikha Haya was also one of the first two women to practise law in her home country, Bahrain.
2007-09-18 00:00:00.000

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UN'S FUTURE TO BE DECIDED ON TODAY'S ACTIONS, SAYS BAN KI-MOON

UN'S FUTURE TO BE DECIDED ON TODAY'S ACTIONS, SAYS BAN KI-MOON
New York, Sep 18 2007 5:00PM
The United Nations must continually endeavour to find new ways of solving the world's problems, as its future will evaluated on its efforts today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said.

"It is good that the world looks to the United Nations for solutions," he said in <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sgsm11162.doc.htm">remarks yesterday at a service held at the Holy Family Church in New York. "But it also means we must find new ways working."

He added, "Whatever we have achieved in the past, we will be judged in the future on the actions we take today."

Speaking on the eve of the start of the sixty-second session of the General Assembly, Mr. Ban said that the world body needs "strength and reassurance" to face the ever-growing demands placed on the UN.

"The world turns to us, increasingly to solve more and more problems," he noted. "And the problems seem to grow ever more complex – from the conflict in Darfur to the impact of climate change on our planet."
2007-09-18 00:00:00.000

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PEACE, DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS THE FOCUS OF ANNUAL UN TREATY EVENT

PEACE, DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS THE FOCUS OF ANNUAL UN TREATY EVENT
New York, Sep 18 2007 6:00PM
International pacts that deal with peace, development and human rights will be the focus of this year's annual campaign to promote the signature and ratification of international treaties during the opening of the General Assembly session.

Already 30 countries have signalled that they planned to sign, ratify or accede to at least one multilateral treaty deposited with the United Nations Secretary-General during this year's event, the ninth in the series.

The Focus 2007 Treaty Event, which will be held on the sidelines of the General Assembly's General Debate at UN Headquarters in New York on 25-27 September and 1-2 October, is set to highlight 43 treaties and pacts, including those that cover human rights, terrorism, organized crime, corruption, environmental issues, the law of the sea, disarmament and international trade.

Recently adopted treaties, such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and its Optional Protocol, as well as the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances, are expected to generate the greatest interest from UN Member States.
2007-09-18 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCIES LAUNCH $85-MILLION APPEAL TO AID 2.2 MILLION IRAQI REFUGEES

UN AGENCIES LAUNCH $85-MILLION APPEAL TO AID 2.2 MILLION IRAQI REFUGEES
New York, Sep 18 2007 2:00PM
United Nations humanitarian agencies today launched a joint $84.8-million appeal to meet the health and nutrition needs of an estimated 2.2 million Iraqis who have fled the ongoing violence and instability in their homeland to neighbouring countries.

The funds are required to support host governments in meeting the health and nutrition needs of the refugees until the end of next year.

The appeal emphasizes the basic health needs of displaced Iraqis in neighbouring countries, in particular Syria and Jordan which host about 1.5 million and 750,000 Iraqis respectively. The large numbers of people who have arrived over the past year put an enormous strain on the already overstretched public services and pose major challenges to host governments as well as local and international organizations.

"The health needs of more than 2 million displaced Iraqis should not be ignored," said the World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr48/en/index.html">WHO), which launched the appeal together with the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF), UN Population Fund (<"http://www.unfpa.org/news/news.cfm?ID=1033">UNFPA), UN High Commissioner for Refugee (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/46f0032b2.html">UNHCR) and World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP).

"Many are survivors of violence and have serious medical conditions. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi displaced children need to keep on track with their vaccination programme. This requires an enormous coordinated effort between governments, UN agencies and NGOs (non-governmental organizations), and significant financial support from the international community," it added in a news release.

In Syria alone, hundreds of Iraqi amputees need prostheses and thousands of cancer patients and trauma victims need specialized treatment. Access to hospital care is limited. Gaps have arisen in the national health information and disease surveillance systems, which increase the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.

The displaced population also needs reproductive and child health services, while the deteriorating purchasing power of Iraqis may also lead to rising malnutrition rates, the agencies said.

"Over the past year, the countries in the region have been very generous in keeping their borders open and have made a very substantial contribution to the health and nutrition needs of the displaced Iraqis," WHO said. "But the burden on their health systems has become overwhelming and requires immediate and urgent support from the international community."

A recent assessment in Syria found that 62 per cent of household heads were unemployed, while 35.8 per cent worked in private jobs, and that 45.4 per cent of Iraqi refugee families can be classified as poor or extremely poor. It also showed that the majority of families live in shared accommodation, leading to overcrowding with increased the risk of the spread of infection, especially among elderly and young.
2007-09-18 00:00:00.000

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NEW UN ENVOY FOR SOMALIA ARRIVES IN REGION, URGING EFFORTS TO REBUILD COUNTRY

NEW UN ENVOY FOR SOMALIA ARRIVES IN REGION, URGING EFFORTS TO REBUILD COUNTRY
New York, Sep 18 2007 1:00PM
The new United Nations envoy for Somalia has arrived in the region with a call to the conflict-torn country's political, business and religious elite both at home and abroad to rebuild a nation that has not had a functioning central government for 16 years.

"The humanitarian and human rights situations, the worst on the continent, are unacceptable," said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, who until this month headed the UN Office in West Africa. "Somalis are a great people with a long history, sharing the same culture, language and religion. Few countries in Africa can claim such an advantageous inheritance.

"Somalia does not deserve to be an international case study on how to manage conflict. On the contrary, it should become again a responsible and active member of the regional and international community."

He called on the elite to rise beyond personnel and other short-term considerations, and to come together to rebuild the country. "Somalis should find in their long history the strength and courage to consolidate the process that will lead to renewed unity and pride," he said.

This week, Mr. Ould Abdallah will meet with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and listen "to all Somalis without any preconceived ideas or views."

Hostilities in the Horn of Africa country flared up again last year, culminating in the expulsion in December from Mogadishu, the capital, of Islamist groups by the TFG, backed by Ethiopian troops. Since then hundreds of thousands of people have been uprooted by continued fighting.

According to recent UN figures, 340,000 people, or roughly one-third of Mogadishu's population, have fled the city.
2007-09-18 00:00:00.000

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RELIEF EFFORT STEPS UP IN NORTHERN GHANA AFTER FLOODS STRIKE REGION, SAYS UN

RELIEF EFFORT STEPS UP IN NORTHERN GHANA AFTER FLOODS STRIKE REGION, SAYS UN
New York, Sep 18 2007 1:00PM
United Nations emergency staff today set up a humanitarian coordination centre in northern Ghana to help with relief efforts in the wake of floods that have killed at least 20 people, destroyed numerous roads, bridges and schools, and inundated vital cropland.

The centre was established in Tamale, the capital of Northern region, soon after the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1414">UNDAC) team arrived in the town to assist the Government as it determines how best to respond to the flooding, which has struck across West Africa after a week of torrential rains late last month.

UN officials are also taking part in a three-day joint assessment mission with Government officials and representatives of national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to the most affected areas in Ghana's Upper East, Upper West and Northern regions.

The mission, which started yesterday, includes the UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana and staff from the UN Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/">UNICEF), the World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/">WFP), the UN Population Fund (<"http://www.unfpa.org/">UNFPA) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Today five teams are assessing areas of the Northern region by road and by air.

About 260,000 Ghanaians have been affected by the floods, according to <"http://ochaonline.un.org/News/tabid/1080/Default.aspx">OCHA, which reports that at least nine bridges have collapsed and the water supply systems in many areas have been destroyed, along with roads and schools. An unknown number of crops and livestock have also been lost.

OCHA reports that a major concern is the possible outbreak of waterborne diseases after cases of diarrhoea, dysentery and cholera were diagnosed in the Upper East region, close to the border with Burkina Faso and Togo.

The Ghanaian Government has declared a state of emergency in the three most affected regions and begun distributing relief items to the flood victims while deploying naval equipment and personnel to help with the ferrying of people and goods to and from those areas cut off by the high waters.

OCHA said UN humanitarian agencies were still evaluating the most effective means of ensuring the delivery and distribution of emergency supplies, including food, tents, blankets, tarpaulins, water purification supplies, generators, jerry cans, mosquito nets and mobile sanitary facilities.

In total, some 200 people have been killed and 650,000 others have lost their homes because of the West African floods, which have hit 17 countries.
2007-09-18 00:00:00.000

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UN-BACKED PROJECT TO BOOST SAFETY, SECURITY IN VITAL MALACCA SHIPPING LANE

UN-BACKED PROJECT TO BOOST SAFETY, SECURITY IN VITAL MALACCA SHIPPING LANE
New York, Sep 18 2007 12:00PM
The navigational safety, security and environmental protection of the Straits of Malacca, one of the world's most important shipping lanes in a region rife with piracy and fears of terrorism, are set to be enhanced by the first-ever type of cooperative mechanism envisaged by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The voluntary "Co-operative Mechanism," cemented at a meeting convened by the UN International Maritime Organization (<"http://www.imo.org/home.asp">IMO) and hosted by Singapore will enable the three littoral States (Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore), user States and the shipping industry to exchange views, jointly undertake projects and make monetary contributions.

"I view the Co-operative Mechanism as a milestone breakthrough in the efforts of all parties in enhancing safety and environmental protection through the Straits," IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos said.

At the same time, he said the mechanism's launch should not be viewed as the end of the road. "Rather, we should view it as an opportunity to maintain, even strengthen, the already established channel of communication among all parties concerned, thus facilitating a meaningful dialogue for the accomplishment of all objectives set."

Fears of terrorism at sea have risen in recent years. As for piracy, the IMO reported three such acts in the Straits of Malacca for the first quarter of 2007, down from five in the previous quarter. In the surrounding Indian Ocean there were 17 incidents, up from 14.

The Co-operative Mechanism consists of three components: a forum for regular dialogue; a committee to coordinate and manage specific projects; and a fund to receive and manage financial contributions.

The Singapore meeting saw widespread support for projects to enhance safety and environmental protection, including responding to incidents involving hazardous and noxious substances, equipping small ships with navigational transponders and establishing a tide, current and wind measurement system.

Other projects include replacement and maintenance of navigational aids damaged by the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004.
2007-09-18 00:00:00.000

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UN IRAQ ENVOY REVIEWS RECONSTRUCTION OPTIONS FOR BOMB-DEVASTATED SINJAR REGION

UN IRAQ ENVOY REVIEWS RECONSTRUCTION OPTIONS FOR BOMB-DEVASTATED SINJAR REGION
New York, Sep 18 2007 12:00PM
The top United Nations official in Iraq has taken a first-hand look at the devastation in the northern Sinjar region where coordinated bombings on a single day last month killed hundreds of people and left many more wounded, reviewing several long-term reconstruction options.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative Ashraf Qazi visited the town of Al Qahtaniyah to talk to the survivors. Accompanied by staff members from the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (<"http://www.uniraq.org">UNAMI) and UN agencies, he met with the Governor and Deputy Governor of Mosul, the town mayor and a large section of the Yezidi population that had been directly affected by the attacks.

He listened to their complaints, discussed their most urgent needs and examined ways in which the UN could help them. He then addressed a town hall meeting in the presence of the municipal council, tribal sheiks and notables representing the stricken areas.

Mr. Qazi discussed with them UN emergency humanitarian assistance that had already been distributed and long-term reconstruction options, including the possibility of relocating citizens back to their original villages from which they had been forcibly removed.
2007-09-18 00:00:00.000

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SLOVAKIA: UN REFUGEE AGENCY SIGNS AGREEMENT TO ASSIST ASYLUM SEEKERS

SLOVAKIA: UN REFUGEE AGENCY SIGNS AGREEMENT TO ASSIST ASYLUM SEEKERS
New York, Sep 18 2007 12:00PM
Pressing forward in efforts to ensure that asylum-seekers have access to European Union (EU) territory and asylum procedures, the United Nations refugee agency today announced that it has signed an agreement to monitor activities along Slovakia's land borders and at its airports.

The pact – signed with the Slovak Aliens and Border Police and the Bratislava-based Human Rights League earlier this month – formalized the collaboration, roles and working methodologies, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis today <" http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/46efab215.html">told a press briefing in Geneva.

UNHCR will fund regular missions to carry out the monitoring.

Late last year, a similar agreement was reached with Hungary, and negotiations are currently being held with Slovenia and Poland towards a similar arrangement.

"The countries which make up the EU's eastern frontier – Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia – face significant irregular migration, often facilitated by smuggling and trafficking networks," Ms. Pagonis noted. "While the region has traditionally served as a point of transit, certain countries are increasingly becoming destination countries for both migrants and asylum seekers."

She added that monitoring the EU's eastern border, which spans more than 2,600 kilometers, is one of UNHCR's main activities in the region.

In 2006, nearly 10,000 new asylum seekers were registered in the four eastern EU nations, compared with 14,600 in 2005 and 22,100 in 2004.

"With the mix of migrants and asylum seekers, as well as the criminal elements involved in the profitable human-smuggling racket, law enforcement bodies tend to focus on stopping illegal migration rather than assisting asylum seekers," the spokesperson said.

The new agreements that UNHCR is working on are devised to ensure that asylum seekers receive the help and protection that they are entitled to under international law.
2007-09-18 00:00:00.000

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MALTESE LAWYER WINS TOP UN REFUGEE AWARD FOR AIDING MEDITERRANEAN BOAT PEOPLE

MALTESE LAWYER WINS TOP UN REFUGEE AWARD FOR AIDING MEDITERRANEAN BOAT PEOPLE
New York, Sep 18 2007 11:00AM
A Maltese lawyer who has fought for the rights of boat people fleeing across the Mediterranean Sea, including victims of trauma or torture and survivors of sexual and gender based violence, sometimes in the face of great danger to herself, today <"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/46ee38792.html">won the most prestigious United Nations refugee award.

Katrine Camilleri, a 37-year old lawyer with the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), was given the 2007 <"http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/events?page=events&id=3fb359bd4">Nansen Refugee Award for her "tireless efforts" to lobby and advocate for refugees. "We are impressed by the political courage she has shown in dealing with the refugee situation in Malta," the Nansen Refugee Award Committee said.

Over the last year, JRS and Dr. Camilleri have faced a series of attacks. Nine vehicles belonging to the Jesuits were burned in two separate incidents and in April, arsonists set fire to Ms. Camilleri's car and her front door, terrifying her family trapped inside. The attacks shocked Maltese society and drew wide condemnation, including from the government.

The incident, she said, has shattered her own two children's sense of invulnerability, but has not altered her desire to help asylum seekers risking their lives in flimsy boats to reach safety.

"I'm always impressed by how much hope they have and how much capacity in a sense, not only to keep hoping against hope, but to really make things happen," she told the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Since 1997, Ms. Camilleri has provided legal advice to hundreds of persons kept in administrative detention centres in Malta, focusing her efforts on the most vulnerable.

"By making the award to Dr. Camilleri for her civic courage and for the inspiring example set by her actions, the Nansen Refugee Award Committee would like to honour all individuals who are working to improve the well-being of refugees," the citation said.

"Katrine Camilleri has worked courageously to protect refugees and asylum seekers," High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres noted. "Dr. Camilleri and JRS are key partners in helping UNHCR to fulfill its goal of assisting governments to identify refugees caught in migratory movements and responding to their needs."

The Nansen Refugee Award consists of a commemorative medal and a $100,000 monetary prize donated by the governments of Norway and Switzerland to support a refugee project of the laureate's choice. Mr. Guterres will present the award to Ms. Camilleri on 1 October.

After first helping to prevent the deportation of a Libyan asylum seeker who risked persecution if returned home, Ms. Camilleri's interest grew and in 1997 she started to work with the Malta office of JRS, first as a volunteer, then part-time and eventually full-time. JRS became the first organization to offer a professional legal service on a regular basis to detainees.

In 2002, the number of asylum seekers and economic migrants arriving in Malta by boat increased sharply, a problem faced by European countries around the Mediterranean. Believing asylum seekers in detention to be in the greatest need, JRS shifted its focus increasingly to the detention centres.

Ms. Camilleri leads the JRS Malta legal team of two lawyers and two case workers who, apart from handling asylum claims, challenges detention in individual cases and monitors the treatment of those in the centres. Conscious of the need for more lawyers trained in refugee law, she has helped set up a study unit for law students at the University of Malta in which students take cases, thus coming into contact with asylum seekers.
2007-09-18 00:00:00.000

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UN PURCHASES LOCAL PRODUCE TO FEED HUNGRY AFGHANS AND BOOST FARMING

UN PURCHASES LOCAL PRODUCE TO FEED HUNGRY AFGHANS AND BOOST FARMING
New York, Sep 18 2007 11:00AM
In a twin move to feed hungry Afghans and stimulate local production, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today <" http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2643">announced the $1.1 million purchase of 4,000 metric tons of locally grown wheat in the western Herat region as a way of overcoming continuing security problems hampering deliveries from further afield.

"When WFP can, and when a good harvest allows, it makes good sense to purchase locally grown cereals for our assistance programmes," the agency's Asia Regional Director Tony Banbury said. "This wheat purchase will bring food to vulnerable people in Afghanistan who really need our help, and WFP's payments will help local farmers recover their livelihoods, a critical step for Afghanistan."

The recent break in supply affected over 100,000 people in the western region, including Afghans recently deported from Iran, vulnerable men and women who carry out community work in exchange for food, and those enrolled in vocational and literacy courses under food-for-training schemes.

"Extended drought and conflict has had a devastating effect on Afghanistan's wheat crop in recent years. But this year, we have had a better harvest, and WFP can buy a significant quantity of wheat locally," WFP Afghanistan Country Director Rick Corsino said. "WFP makes every effort to buy wheat locally or regionally wherever it can do so without disrupting markets."

For the first time, WFP has also purchased 9,000 tons of wheat from Iran, which will be distributed in Badghis and Ghor provinces.

"The purchase of wheat from Herat has also been well timed," Mr. Corsino said. "Insecurity on the southern ring road means we have been unable to move food for well over two months. With seriously depleted stocks, poor and hungry people in the west of the country have been suffering."

Insecurity in many parts of Afghanistan, where WFP aims to provide food to 5.4 million people this year, presents a major obstacle to humanitarian deliveries and continues to threaten projects. Since June 2006, there have been 28 security incidents involving trucks carrying WFP food. The vehicles have been attacked and looted, seven people have died, and an estimated 750 tons of food has been lost.

WFP's current three-year $378 million Afghan operation is at present 64 per cent funded.
2007-09-18 00:00:00.000

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UN AGENCY SEEKS $65 MILLION TO FEED 1.7 MILLION VICTIMS OF FLOODS, CONFLICT IN UGANDA

UN AGENCY SEEKS $65 MILLION TO FEED 1.7 MILLION VICTIMS OF FLOODS, CONFLICT IN UGANDA
New York, Sep 18 2007 10:00AM
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) <" http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2642">appealed today for $64.6 million to feed up to 1.7 million people in Uganda until March to stave off hunger for victims of severe floods, refugees and others displaced by conflict and civil strife.

"We are struggling to meet both existing and new, growing needs in Uganda," WFP Country Director Tesema Negash said. "We particularly need cash now so that we can buy food locally and move it swiftly to those who need it most. Our teams are on the ground distributing food to flood victims, but access is difficult and without new funds, everything is in jeopardy."

While widespread flooding has recently affected at least 300,000 people, Uganda is trying to cope at the same time with an influx of several thousand potential asylum-seekers fleeing fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as with 1.4 million refugees and internally displaced persons (<"http://www.unhcr.org/protect/3b84c7e23.html">IDPs) within the country.

A September assessment underway in the north-eastern region of Karamoja may also recommend continued WFP assistance for 500,000 people affected by drought, straining resources even further and the number of those in need of food because of floods could rise beyond the current estimate of 300,000.

In addition to food, WFP needs funds for helicopters, boats and emergency repairs to bridges to reach people in villages cut off by rising waters. With rains forecast to continue through October, access could become even worse in the flooded Teso, Lango and Bugisu regions.

The $64.6 million shortfall until March also threatens to force WFP to cut food rations for displaced families in strife-torn northern Uganda as they head home at last after years in crowded camps. In August, WFP fed 122,600 people returning in Acholiland.

"Without new contributions we will have to stop giving returnee rations just when these people need support to rebuild their lives," Mr. Negash said. "If we can't deliver, it's like falling at the last hurdle and it would be a sad way to usher in peace."

In northern Uganda, WFP food rations are vital for more than 1.2 million people who were uprooted from their homes and forced into camps by the 20-year conflict between the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and Government forces.

Slow but steady security improvements over the past two years, coupled with peace talks between the parties have encouraged some families to leave the camps to go home or to nearby transit sites, from where they walk daily to their fields.
2007-09-18 00:00:00.000

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HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS IN DARFUR ARE DETERIORATING, SAYS UN REPORT

HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS IN DARFUR ARE DETERIORATING, SAYS UN REPORT
New York, Sep 17 2007 7:00PM
The humanitarian situation inside Darfur deteriorated further last month, with thousands of civilians fleeing their homes, camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) becoming increasingly crowded and recent heavy rains only adding to the misery of many locals in the war-ravaged Sudanese region, according to a United Nations report released today.

The August overview by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also finds that violence inside the IDP camps scattered across Darfur is worsening, making it harder for aid workers to reach people in need and carry out their work.

More than 240,000 Darfurians are newly displaced or have been re-displaced this year, which means over 2.2 million people have fled their homes since the conflict between rebels, Sudanese Government forces and allied Janjaweed militia groups began in 2003. At least 200,000 people have also been killed in that period.

At the end of July the Security Council authorized the creation of a hybrid UN-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur (to be known as UNAMID) of some 26,000 troops and police officers to quell the violence and improve humanitarian access.

The overview notes that armed elements are present in many of the IDP camps, sometimes conducting violent activities that force a shutdown of aid operations until security can be restored. All operations inside Kalma camp in South Darfur state were suspended for three days last month because of insecurity, while there was a two-day shutdown at Zalingei camp in West Darfur.

The ongoing violence in the Jebel Marra region of West Darfur has limited relief operations there as well, according to the report, which said the situation is being exacerbated by the annual rainy season that in turn is affecting sanitary conditions in the camps and promoting the spread of waterborne diseases.

Many aid workers are also coming under direct attack. During August seven vehicles belonging to the humanitarian community were hijacked or stolen and four convoys were attacked. In total, five aid workers were kidnapped or abducted, and three were beaten. So far this year five aid workers have been killed and the remaining workers have had to relocate more than 20 times.

"This has a direct and tangible impact on the quality and quantity of aid and results, in some cases, in the inability to reach those in need," the overview stated.

But <"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1080">OCHA said there were some positive signs, with humanitarian access improving in several areas of North Darfur state, including Korma, Kutun, northern Dar Zaghawa and Um Keddada.

Aid workers are bringing relief to an estimated 4.2 million people across Darfur, an arid and impoverished region in western Sudan, and about 3.1 million of those people received assistance in July from the World Food Programme (<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?n=31">WFP).

Food assistance is rising at the moment in a bid to bridge the annual "hunger gap" among Darfur's rural residents ahead of the harvest season.
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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NEW UN INITIATIVE LAUNCHED TO RECOVER ASSETS STOLEN BY CORRUPT LEADERS

NEW UN INITIATIVE LAUNCHED TO RECOVER ASSETS STOLEN BY CORRUPT LEADERS
New York, Sep 17 2007 7:00PM
The United Nations today launched a new partnership between the World Bank and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to help developing nations to recover assets stolen by corrupt leaders and invest those funds in development programmes.

"Corruption undermines democracy and the rule of law," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sgsm11161.doc.htm">said at the inauguration of the Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative. "It leads to violations of human rights. It erodes public trust in government. It can even kill – for example, when corrupt officials allow medicines to be tampered with, or when they accept bribes that enable terrorist acts to take place."

The proceeds from criminal activities, corruption and tax evasion worldwide is estimated to be between $1 trillion and $1.6 trillion, and one quarter of the gross domestic product of African States – or $148 billion – is lost to corruption yearly. Additionally, public officials from developing and transition countries collectively receive bribes worth between $20 billion and $40 billion every year, which is equivalent to 20 to 40 per cent of flows of official development assistance.

"Many developing countries are haemorrhaging money desperately needed to try to support the attack against poverty," said Robert B. Zoellick, president of the World Bank, an independent specialized agency of the UN. "Of course, the development impact of theft on such a massive scale is devastating."

He cited the example of former Nigerian President Sani Abacha, members of his family and accomplices who collectively stole between $3 billion and $5 billion of the country's public assets in five years. That sum exceeds the federal Government's 2006 expenditures on education and health, and could also have provided antiretroviral therapy for 2 million to 3 million Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS for a decade.

UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa underlined the importance of acting quickly to retrieve stolen funds. "Time is crucial. Stolen assets are more likely to be detected during the initial phase and therefore before they disappear in an international money laundromat," he said, noting that only 10-15 per cent of such funds are recovered a decade or so after the crime has taken place.

Mr. Costa pointed out his Office's experience in Nigeria – where some $5 billion of stolen monies has been recovered – to shrink fraud.

To both reclaim stolen funds and to prevent deter such crimes, the World Bank and <"http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/news_and_publications.html">UNODC believe that developed countries – often the source of bribes, kickbacks and other illegal incomes, as well as the location where stolen funds are kept – and developing countries must work in tandem.

The <"http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,pagePK:34382~piPK:34439~theSitePK:4607,00.html">World Bank and UNODC appealed for all countries to ratify the UN Convention against Corruption, which only half of the Group of Eight (G8) developed countries has done. Mr. Costa stressed that one of the Convention's breakthroughs is that banking secrecy is no longer an obstacle to money-laundering investigations, which could deal a serious blow to efforts to export stolen funds.

"Developing countries frequently lack the institutional capacity to locate and repatriate stolen assets, so this initiative will provide financial and technical assistance to strengthen the institutional capacity of government agencies to do so," Mr. Zoellick said. "And it will also help these countries bring their laws into compliance with the UN Convention against Corruption."

The StAR Initiative will endeavour to ensure that there is no safe haven for the proceeds derived from corruption, as well as to suppress the flow of these funds among countries.
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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CHINESE DOUBLES ACE TEAMS UP WITH UNESCO TO FIGHT GENDER INEQUALITY

CHINESE DOUBLES ACE TEAMS UP WITH UNESCO TO FIGHT GENDER INEQUALITY
New York, Sep 17 2007 6:00PM
China's Grand Slam-winning Zheng Jie today became the latest female tennis ace to join forces with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Educational Organization (<"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=29008&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO) to encourage the emergence of gender equality around the world.

Ms. Zheng is the third player on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour to be named a "Promoter of Gender Equality" and will be involved in campaigns to raise awareness, both in China and outside, of gender equality issues.

The partnership between UNESCO and the WTA Tour tries to raise awareness and funding through the named Promoters as well as through mentoring, scholarship and fellowship projects designed to create opportunities and the kind of environment for women and girls to succeed in all walks of life.

UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said today that he was delighted to announce the appointment of Ms. Zheng, who joins four-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams of the United States and the rising French top-20 player Tatiana Golovin as a Promoter of Gender Equality.

"These accomplished young women serve as leaders and role models for women and girls around the world, sending a singularly important message: gender equality is not an outdated, impossible dream, but a goal that can and must be realized in order for us to achieve peace and sustainable development," he said.

Ms. Zheng, 24, from Cheng Du, became one half of her country's first-ever Grand Slam champions when she teamed with compatriot Yan Zi to win the Australian Open and Wimbledon doubles titles last year. She has also won three singles titles since 2005.

After being appointed at a ceremony today in Beijing, Ms. Zheng said she was "truly honoured" to be named to the post.

"Not only through my efforts as a tennis player, but also because of my passion for women's rights, I hope that I can make a difference on this very important issue," she said.
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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OUTGOING GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT URGES MORE DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS

OUTGOING GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT URGES MORE DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS
New York, Sep 17 2007 6:00PM
As the United Nations General Assembly wrapped up its sixty-first session today, the outgoing president, Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa of Bahrain, urged greater focus in the years ahead on dialogue among civilizations before passing the gavel to her successor, Srgjan Kerim of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

"From my perspective, as the only woman President for a generation, and the first from the Arab world, I have come to see the United Nations as a global family – a family that is becoming ever more interdependent," said Sheikha Haya.

She acknowledged that differences will naturally arise but emphasized that "it is only in the spirit of collective responsibility that we can take further steps to build greater trust and cooperation."

The President called for all concerned to accept their shared responsibilities and work together for positive change. "More than ever before, we need to focus on the underlying lack of dialogue between civilizations, cultures and nations that is at the core of many of today's problems," she said.

"We must tackle these issues squarely and, in doing so, we will have to move beyond the outdated mindset that separates the world into donors and recipients – North and South."

Sheikha Haya, the first female General Assembly President since 1969 and the first Muslim woman to hold the post, has long emphasized the need to bridge the gap between Islam and the West. 'Civilizations and the challenge for peace' was the theme of one of several thematic debates she organized during the session to revitalize thinking on various issues.

On taking office last year, Sheikha Haya told reporters: "It does not matter that I am a Muslim or a Christian or Jewish. We are human beings and we have the same worries and we have the same problems."

In her speech today, Sheikha Haya thanked Assembly members for their support during the past year and welcomed her successor, the president-elect of the 62nd session of the General Assembly, Mr. Kerim.

The incoming president is "an accomplished academic, a captain of industry, and an experienced diplomat. He is also a great believer in the United Nations."

At the invitation of Sheikha Haya, Mr. Kerim, a former foreign minister and UN ambassador with international experience in academia, took the podium and received the presidential gavel from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

President Kerim will use this gavel for the first time tomorrow afternoon to officially open the Assembly's sixty-second session.

In recent interviews, he has stressed his plans to focus the session on five main themes: responding to climate change; financing for development; implementing the global counter-terrorism strategy; advancing on management reform; and following up on achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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DR CONGO GOVERNMENT FORCES COMMIT WORST OF WIDESPREAD ABUSES - UN REPORT

DR CONGO GOVERNMENT FORCES COMMIT WORST OF WIDESPREAD ABUSES – UN REPORT
New York, Sep 17 2007 5:00PM
Government soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remain responsible for the country's worst human rights abuses, carrying out arbitrary executions and raping, robbing or extorting civilians, according to the latest report by the United Nations peacekeeping mission.

The human rights assessment for July, released today, shows that Congolese police, soldiers and members of rebel groups fighting the Government have also perpetrated serious abuses, especially in the violence-wracked Kivu provinces in the far east of the vast country.

The UN mission, known as MONUC, reported that a widespread climate of impunity allows many of these abuses to go unpunished, even months after they were committed.

It cited a separate report by the UN Human Rights Office in the DRC indicating that Congolese soldiers and police officers used indiscriminate and excessive force – and in some instances carried out summary executions – in quelling protests in Bas-Congo province by an opposition movement in late January and early February. Six months after those events, the people responsible for the human rights violations have not been arrested.

Today's report details numerous instances of human rights abuses by the Congolese armed forces (FARDC), including at least 10 documented cases of arbitrary executions and one particularly gruesome case on 29 July in which a soldier in North Kivu province allegedly raped and then chopped to death a Hutu woman and her three-month-old baby.

It further outlines rights violations by the Congolese national police (PNC) and by armed rebel groups, including the murder and rape of villagers and the extortion and robbing of civilians.

The assessment also finds continued weaknesses and systemic failures in the administration of justice across the DRC and that prison inmates and family members who visit them in jail have been beaten by authorities.

Yakin Ertürk, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, conducted a 12-day visit in July to the DRC, where she met with Government officials, UN agencies, national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and victims of violence.

Ms. Ertürk denounced the shortcomings of the criminal justice system in dealing with cases of sexual violence, including the high number of alleged perpetrators who have been granted bail after being charged with serious crimes.

She described the patterns and level of sexual violence in South Kivu province as the worst she has ever seen in four years as a Special Rapporteur.
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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UN OFFICIALS SEE PROGRESS IN ELIMINATING LANDMINES BUT URGE FURTHER ACTION

UN OFFICIALS SEE PROGRESS IN ELIMINATING LANDMINES BUT URGE FURTHER ACTION
New York, Sep 17 2007 5:00PM
On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Anti-Personnel Mine-Ban Treaty, over a dozen United Nations officials have joined their voices to hail progress in reducing these weapons while urging greater action to eliminate them.

In a joint statement issued by the heads of UN departments, agencies, funds and programmes that are members of the UN Mine Action Team, 14 officials said the steady decline in casualty rates, the return of formerly mined areas to productive civilian use and the destruction of tens of millions of these indiscriminate weapons are "encouraging" developments.

"The Anti-Personnel Mine-Ban Treaty is a testament to what can be achieved when the international community works collectively to tackle a grave humanitarian and development challenge," the officials said.

The UN Mine Action Team of organizations collectively pledged to exert all possible efforts to assist mine-affected countries in meeting their obligations to clear mined areas, assist victims, destroy stockpiled mines, and educate all people about the dangers of mines and explosive remnants of war.

"Mine-affected countries themselves should also do everything in their power to meet their obligations. We call on those in a position to do so to support all aspects of mine action for as long as it takes to finish the job," the officials said.

Tomorrow's anniversary coincides with the opening of the General Assembly's sixty-second session, and the statement urges participants to "rise to the challenge of protecting the rights of the estimated 400,000 people who have survived mine and explosive remnant of war accidents."

They also called on all States to ratify the new Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to develop a legally binding instrument prohibiting cluster munitions "that cause unacceptable harm to civilians."

The statement was endorsed by Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO); Kemal Dervis, Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP); Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); High Representative Sergio de Queiroz Duarte of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs; Under-Secretary-General Jean-Marie Guéhenno of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations; António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees; John Holmes, Emergency Relief Coordinator; Jan Mattsson, Executive Director of the Office for Project Services; Rachel N. Mayanja, Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women; Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP); Ann M. Veneman, Executive Director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF); and Robert B. Zoellick, President of the World Bank.

"As the world reflects on the progress made by mine-affected countries in the past 10 years, we also look forward to the next decade, envisioning a world free from the suffering caused by anti-personnel mines," they said.

At a press conference earlier this year, Mr. Guéhenno estimated that up to 20,000 people each year are killed by landmines, some dating from conflicts that have long ended.

Officially known as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, the pact is also known as the Ottawa treaty for the city where it was signed on 18 September 1997.
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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NEPAL: UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL CONDEMNS KILLINGS, URGES HALT TO VIOLENCE

NEPAL: UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL CONDEMNS KILLINGS, URGES HALT TO VIOLENCE
New York, Sep 17 2007 3:00PM
Urging tolerance and calling on the population to desist from further violence, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.ohchr.org/english/">OHCHR) today condemned the killings of a local leader and a member of the Armed Police Force in south-central Nepal.

The police officer was killed in a wave of violence triggered by the death of Mohit Khan, a local leader in Kapilvatsu, and there have been unconfirmed reports of more murders and rising ethnic tensions. Shops have been attacked, cars and homes have been burned and at least one mosque was destroyed by fire.

"We appeal to the population to abide by the curfew imposed by local authorities and to respect places of worship while law enforcement agencies investigate the murder of Mr. Khan," said OHCHR-Nepal Representative Richard Bennett. "Cool heads are needed; violence simply undermines the genuine efforts to bring about durable peace during this transition period."

OHCHR-Nepal recommends that the authorities of the Himalayan nation take immediate steps to provide humanitarian assistance to the many people who have been uprooted by the violence.
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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UN TRIBUNAL ON RWANDAN GENOCIDE HEARS ARGUMENTS ON SENTENCING OF FORMER MAYOR

UN TRIBUNAL ON RWANDAN GENOCIDE HEARS ARGUMENTS ON SENTENCING OF FORMER MAYOR
New York, Sep 17 2007 3:00PM
Prosecutors at the United Nations war crimes tribunal for the Rwandan genocide today urged its judges to sentence to 12 years' imprisonment a former mayor who has pleaded guilty to a charge of extermination as a crime against humanity.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (<"http://69.94.11.53/ENGLISH/PRESSREL/2007/530.htm">ICTR), sitting in Arusha, Tanzania, heard closing arguments from both prosecutors and defence lawyers in the case of Juvénal Rugambarara, who served as mayor of Bicumbi commune in Kigali-Rural Prefecture from September 1993 to April 1994.

The prosecution said a prison sentence of not less than 12 years was appropriate, while the defence team argued for a more lenient sentence, calling five character witnesses to say that he had saved many Tutsis during the genocide. Judges Asoka de Silva (presiding), Taghrid Hikmet and Seon Ki Park will announce their decision at a date to be fixed.

In July Mr. Rugambarara made the guilty plea after two years of negotiations with prosecutors, who agreed to withdraw eight other charges that included genocide, torture and rape. During a hearing that month he also apologized for his actions in the genocide.

"I pay sincere tribute to all the innocent victims of the shameful cowardice and humbly bow and plead for forgiveness from the bottom of my heart… I solemnly pledge to join the rallying cry of those who say 'never again,'" he said at the time.

The ICTR found that Mr. Rugambarara – who worked as a medical officer for much of his adult life – failed as mayor to take the necessary and reasonable measures to establish an investigation into the killings committed in Bicumbi commune during the genocide or to apprehend and punish the perpetrators.

Some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were murdered, mostly by machete or club, across Rwanda in less than 100 days starting in early April 1994. Later that year the Security Council established the ICTR to deal with the worst cases.
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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PACIFIC OCEAN COUNTRIES TAKE PART IN UN MEETING ON TSUNAMI PREPARATIONS

PACIFIC OCEAN COUNTRIES TAKE PART IN UN MEETING ON TSUNAMI PREPARATIONS
New York, Sep 17 2007 3:00PM
Experts from countries bordering the Pacific Ocean are gathering in Ecuador this week for a United Nations-organized meeting to assess the state of preparations in the region, home to most of the world's tsunamis, to predict and deal with any future killer waves.

The four-day meeting of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System, starting today in Guayaquil, will hear reports from participating nations about what they are doing to be ready for a potential tsunami.

The group's members will also examine the progress – through improved seismic data, sea-level measurements and deep-ocean tsunami detection – towards strengthening the regional response to any tsunami and to reducing any public risks.

The Pacific Ocean, which covers a third of Earth's surface, is particularly vulnerable to tsunamis because it is surrounded by a series of mountain chains, deep-ocean trenches and arcs of islands that are known for the frequency and strength of earthquakes.

In 1979, the so-called Tumaco earthquake in South America triggered a tsunami that killed 200 people on the coast of Colombia.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning System (PWTS), which has been in place since 1965, now serves 26 countries with rapid information on approaching tsunamis, public awareness campaigns and advice on how to mitigate the impact of these natural disasters.

This week's meeting has been arranged by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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RECENT SURGE IN DARFUR VIOLENCE THREATENS PEACE TALKS, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL

RECENT SURGE IN DARFUR VIOLENCE THREATENS PEACE TALKS, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL
New York, Sep 17 2007 3:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed deep concern at the recent surge in fighting across the war-torn Darfur region in Sudan, warning that it jeopardizes the chances of success of the peace talks being held next month to try to end the conflict.

"The Secretary-General strongly urges all parties to show restraint and cease all military action in order to create a positive atmosphere for the envisaged political negotiations," his spokesperson said in a statement.

He cited last week's attacks in the town of Hashkanita when, according to reports of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), aerial bombardments involving helicopter gunships and military clashes on the ground caused the deaths of many civilians.

Mr. Ban also referred to the attacks last month that took place in Adilla, South Darfur, and Wad Banda, in the neighbouring Kordofan region.

"The Secretary-General is alarmed by the fact that the reported attacks took place in spite of the signing of a joint communiqué on 6 September, during the Secretary-General's visit to Sudan, in which the Government of Sudan committed to a full cessation of hostilities in Darfur in the lead-up to the political negotiations," the statement said.

Those negotiations between the Sudanese Government and the Darfur rebels, scheduled to begin in Libya on 27 October, will be led by the UN and AU envoys to Darfur, Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed Salim.

More than 200,000 Darfurians have been killed and at least 2.2 million others forced to flee their homes since 2003 because of the fighting between rebels, Government forces and allied Janjaweed militia groups.

In July the Security Council authorized the establishment of the first hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force (to be known as UNAMID) to take over from AMIS and try to quell the violence in Darfur, an arid and impoverished region on Sudan's western flank.

Today's statement by Mr. Ban's spokesperson was released as the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) reported that a vehicle belonging to a non-governmental organization (NGO) was carjacked by two armed men in North Darfur state over the weekend.

The armed men forced the driver and 10 other staff members of the NGO out of the vehicle.

In a separate incident in South Darfur state, two men stopped a three-vehicle UN-NGO convoy and robbed passengers in one vehicle of their satellite phones, mobile phones and money before allowing them to escape unharmed. The other two vehicles were able to turn around and escape.
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OF FOSSIL FUELS TO RECEIVE BOOST - UN

PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OF FOSSIL FUELS TO RECEIVE BOOST – UN
New York, Sep 17 2007 2:00PM
Projects boosting the burning efficiency of fossil fuels are now eligible to be registered under the United Nations-backed Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which allows projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries and contribute to sustainable development to earn certified emission reduction credits (CERs).

The CDM Executive Board, which made this decision, has also approved a way to monitor emissions from these types of projects.

"Fossil fuel will remain a big part of the world's energy mix for decades to come," said Hans Jürgen Stehr, the Board's chair. "It's essential that we burn that fuel as efficiently as possible."

In reaching its conclusion, the Board faced a challenge in finding a means to prevent these projects from inadvertently prolonging the use of fossil fuel or competing against renewable sources of energy.

The Board overcame this hurdle by establishing a feature limiting the number of CERs that can be earned and then by limiting the number of projects eligible for registration in a given country based on the percentage of fossil fuel covered by projects used.

There are now almost 800 CDM projects registered in nearly 50 countries. These projects, and the more than 1,300 others awaiting registration, will generate 2.2 billion CERs, each equivalent to one ton of carbon dioxide, by 2012.

That is also the year that the Kyoto Protocol, the current global framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, will expire. A major summit will be held in Bali, Indonesia, this December to determine future action on mitigation, adaptation, the global carbon market and financing responses to climate change for the period after the Protocol's conclusion.

In July, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed that countries must agree to a successor pact to Kyoto three years before its expiration to be ready for ratification to allow them to make it law in time.

In a related development, top UN climate change and environment officials underscored the ties between the international treaty protecting the world's climate, the Kyoto Protocol, and the global agreement to preserve the Earth's ozone layer.

"The Montreal Protocol is successfully assisting in the repair and recovery of the ozone layer. The Kyoto Protocol is tackling perhaps the greatest challenge of our generation – climate change," said UN Environment Programme (<"http://www.unep.org/">UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner. "However, what is also emerging in 2007, and emerging with ever greater clarity, is that both treaties are mutually supportive across several key fronts."

According to a new report by a Montreal Protocol panel to be released shortly, Kyoto's CDM is the only reliable means available currently to prevent emissions of the potent HFC-23 greenhouse gas in the short term.

It was agreed by those participating in the Kyoto Protocol in 2005 that the CDM should not result in an HCFC-22, which is a gas regulated under the Montreal Protocol.

"The Parties to the Kyoto Protocol have been guided by the dual objective of safeguarding the climate and protecting the ozone layer when shaping climate action," noted Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (<"http://unfccc.int/2860.php">UNFCCC).

Representatives from almost 200 governments are in Montreal, Canada, on the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol, and will discuss a recently-released UNEP report which details the benefits of accelerating the phase-out of HCFCs, chemicals used to replace chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are more damaging to ozone.

Under the Montreal Protocol, HCFCs – which are widely used in refrigeration systems and air conditioners – are scheduled to be eliminated in developing countries in 2030 and in developing ones in 2040.

But the new study points to the advantages of pushing the dates forward by a decade. Global greenhouse emissions could be slashed by more than 3.5 per cent, and the report notes that speeding up the transition to HCFC alternatives could stimulate technological advances as well as return ozone levels to health pre-1980 levels several years earlier.
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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SECRETARY-GENERAL PLEDGES UN SUPPORT TO SIERRA LEONE'S PRESIDENT-ELECT

SECRETARY-GENERAL PLEDGES UN SUPPORT TO SIERRA LEONE'S PRESIDENT-ELECT
New York, Sep 17 2007 2:00PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today pledged continuing support for Sierra Leone following the announcement of the opposition victory in presidential elections, the first since United Nations peacekeepers left in 2005 after helping to bring peace and stability to the West African country that was torn asunder by a brutal 10-year civil war.

In a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2737">statement issued by his spokesperson Mr. Ban commended all Sierra Leonean parties and their supporters "for exercising patience and restraint" during the tallying of votes in the 8 September poll, in which Ernest Bai Koroma of the All People's Congress Party received 54.6 per cent and incumbent Vice-President Solomon Berewa of the Sierra Leone People's Party obtained 45.4 per cent of the total valid votes cast. The final result was announced today.

Mr. Ban extended his warm congratulations to Mr. Koroma and also commended the National Electoral Commission and Sierra Leone's security agencies for the professional and efficient manner in which they performed their duties during the period, which saw two rounds of voting since neither of the top candidates received sufficient votes to be elected outright.

"The Secretary-General wishes to assure the newly elected government of Sierra Leone of the continued support of the United Nations as the country continues to move towards durable political stability and sustainable economic development," the statement concluded.

The presidential and parliamentary elections were Sierra Leone's second since the end of the civil war in 2002, and the first since the withdrawal of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).

Since then assistance has been channelled through the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL), which today announced one more example of UN aid with the handing over of audio-visual equipment and computers to the Voice of Children Project (VOC), managed by the Office.

Presiding at the hand-over ceremony, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador Fabrienne Demal, a Belgian pop star popularly known as Axelle Red, praised the children for their courage and enthusiasm and advised them to take their newly acquired journalistic skills seriously.

The Voice of Children project is regarded internationally as a highly successful communications tool for stimulating critical discussion among children in peace consolidation environments. It was launched as a non-profit public service radio facility for and by the children of Sierra Leone on the issues that affect their lives most intimately.
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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GREENHOUSE GASES COULD AGGRAVATE OZONE LOSS AND SLOW RECOVERY, UN AGENCY SAYS

GREENHOUSE GASES COULD AGGRAVATE OZONE LOSS AND SLOW RECOVERY, UN AGENCY SAYS
New York, Sep 17 2007 1:00PM
Increased atmospheric concentrations of global warming greenhouse gases (GHGs) could lead to more severe loss in the polar regions of ozone, the naturally occurring gas that filters out cancer- and cataract-causing ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, according to the United Nations meteorological agency.

While GHGs will lead to a warmer climate at the Earth's surface, at the altitude the ozone layer is found, the same increase is likely to lead to a cooling of the atmosphere, the UN World Meteorological Organization (<"http://www.wmo.ch/pages/mediacentre/press_releases/pr795_en.html">WMO) said in a paper marking the 20th anniversary of the UN-backed Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Lower temperatures enhance the chemical reactions that destroy ozone. At the same time, the amount of water vapour in the stratosphere has been increasing at the rate of about 1 per cent per year. A wetter and colder stratosphere means more polar stratospheric clouds, which is likely to lead to more severe ozone loss in both polar regions, WMO added.

A cooling of the winter stratosphere over the last decades has indeed been observed, both in the Arctic and in the Antarctic, the agency noted, adding that these changes could delay the expected recovery of the ozone layer.

WMO called on all nations with stratospheric measurement programmes to enhance them. It also urged funding agencies to support research on stratospheric ozone and harmful UV radiation.

In 2007, the ozone hole in the Antarctic appeared relatively early, and earlier than in 2006, when the largest and most severe Antarctic ozone hole on record occurred. During the last couple of weeks the growth of the hole has been quite similar to that observed in 2006, but it is still too early to determine how large it will be.

"Over the next 10 to 20 years, high quality global observations of ozone and ozone-depleting substances will be particularly critical in verifying the effectiveness of the actions taken under the <" http://ozone.unep.org/pdfs/viennaconvention2002.pdf">Vienna Convention in 1985, the <"http://ozone.unep.org/Ratification_status/montreal_protocol.shtml">Montreal Protocol of 1987 and its amendments and adjustments," WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud said.

The two pacts seek to phase chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons which deplete the ozone.

"As ozone-depleting substances reach a broad peak and slowly begin to decline, the search for recovery of ozone requires vigilance," Mr. Jarraud said. "The changes in [global climate] conditions may indeed have implications for ozone recovery."
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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SERBIAN TENNIS SENSATION ANA IVANOVIC NAMED UNICEF NATIONAL AMBASSADOR

SERBIAN TENNIS SENSATION ANA IVANOVIC NAMED UNICEF NATIONAL AMBASSADOR
New York, Sep 17 2007 1:00PM
Tennis superstar Ana Ivanovic has officially been<" http://www.unicef.org/media/media_40870.html"> named as a National Ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for her home country of Serbia, where she will advocate for children's rights, especially in the realms of education and child protection.

"This is a great honour for me to be invited to be UNICEF Ambassador," said Ms. Ivanovic, speaking at the Vladimir Rolovic elementary school in the capital Belgrade. "I love children, and I relish this opportunity to help them in some small way."

Ranked number six in the world, the tennis ace has contributed funds to allow three schools to implement the "School without Violence" programme.

"I'm looking forward to supporting UNICEF's 'child-friendly schools' concept," she said. "Serbia is already on a good way in this respect thanks to UNICEF's activities. I will give my contribution and hope that it will add up to the positive changes that are occurring for children in Serbia."

The schools benefiting from Ms. Ivanovic's generosity are the Vladimir Rolovic school, the Desanka Maksimovic primary school in Kovin and the Vera Radosavljevic primary school in Negotin.

Welcoming the star athlete to the UNICEF family, the agency's Acting Representative in Serbia, Maria-Luisa Fornara, said Ms. Ivanovic has "demonstrated power and potential of sports and to further UNICEF's mission in building a Serbia fit for children."

Fellow Serbian tennis ace Jelena Jankovic will also officially become a UNICEF National Ambassador when she returns to her country. They will join the ranks of two other UNICEF National Ambassadors in Serbia: Aleksandar Sasa Djordjevic, a national and international-caliber basketball player, who was appointed in 2005, and Emir Kusturica, a world-famous film director named in 2002.

Meanwhile, Martha Schteingart, the renowned Mexican urban thinker and lecturer, has been <" http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=5171&catid=5&typeid=6&subMenuId=0">named as the winner of this year's UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) Lecture Award.

As one of the most prominent urban researchers in Latin America, Professor Schteingart's research interests include urban land and housing, urban structure and social movements, urban development and transport, poverty and social policies, governance and local management, and the urban environment.

For over three decades, she has been a professor and researcher at the Center for Demographic and Urban Studies at El Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City, and is currently a visiting lecturer at the Urban & Regional Planning Program at the University of Michigan.

The Award, first bestowed last year, is organized by the Global Research Network on Human Settlements to recognize outstanding and sustained contribution to research and thinking in the human settlements field.
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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NUCLEAR TEST BAN PACT'S ANNIVERSARY SHOULD SPARK PUSH FOR RATIFICATION - BAN KI-MOON

NUCLEAR TEST BAN PACT'S ANNIVERSARY SHOULD SPARK PUSH FOR RATIFICATION – BAN KI-MOON
New York, Sep 17 2007 1:00PM
As the eleventh anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (<"http://disarmament.un.org/wmd/ctbt/index.html">CTBT) approaches, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on participants at a meeting in Vienna designed to foster its entry into force to intensify efforts toward this goal.

Next week's milestone "will not be a time for celebration, but for re-dedication to the noble work that lies ahead in achieving the Treaty's entry into force," Mr. Ban said.

"Persistent efforts on the part of States and civil society will be required in order to achieve that historic goal," he added in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11157.doc.htm">message to the Fifth Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the CTBT, which was delivered by Sergio Duarte, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs.

The Treaty, which would outlaw all nuclear tests, moves the international community "towards the larger goals of ridding the world of nuclear weapons and preventing their proliferation," he said.

Mr. Ban said the Treaty's Preparatory Commission has made "significant advances" in preparing for the establishment of the future CTBT Organization and the Treaty's verification regime. The pact has been signed by 177 States, with 140 ratifications, including 34 of the 44 States listed in Annex 2 to the Treaty, whose ratification is essential for its entry into force.

"I call upon those States that have not signed or ratified the CTBT to do so as soon as possible, especially States whose ratification is needed for the Treaty's entry into force. I also urge States to maintain their moratoria on all types of nuclear explosions and to refrain from acts that would defeat the object and purpose of the Treaty," the Secretary-General said.

The 44 States listed in Annex 2 to the Treaty and required for its entry into force all have nuclear power or research reactors. Of those, the 10 that have not ratified the CTBT are China, the United States, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), India, Pakistan, Egypt, Israel, Indonesia, Iran and Colombia.

The 34 key States which have already ratified CTBT are: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Romania, the Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Viet Nam.
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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MORE ACTION NEEDED TO CURB THREAT OF NUCLEAR TERRORISM, UN WATCHDOG WARNS

MORE ACTION NEEDED TO CURB THREAT OF NUCLEAR TERRORISM, UN WATCHDOG WARNS
New York, Sep 17 2007 11:00AM
Stepping up his fight to reinforce nuclear security and prevent nuclear terrorism, the head of the United Nations atomic watchdog agency today called on all countries to ratify an international agreement strengthening the protection of nuclear materials.

"Out of 128 States Parties, only 11 so far have accepted the amendment," UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamed ElBaradei <"http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Statements/2007/ebsp2007n014.html">told the Agency's annual General Conference in Vienna.

"I would urge all States Parties to do so," he said referring to an amendment to the <" http://untreaty.un.org/English/Terrorism/English_18_15.pdf">International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, aimed at preventing nuclear and radioactive materials from falling into the hands of terrorists. The Amendment on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material seeks to strenghtent hese safeguards.

"With the renewed interest in nuclear power generation, comparable attention and commitment must be given to ensuring the nuclear safety and security infrastructure that must go with it," Mr. ElBaradei added, noting that three strong factors are driving a renewed global interest in nuclear power – steady growth in energy demand, increasing concerns about energy security, and the challenge of climate change.

"In my view, the role of the Agency is not so much to predict the future as to do its utmost to plan and prepare for it," he stressed in a wide-ranging review of the Agency's work.

Although the IAEA's nuclear security work has clearly improved overall nuclear security, "much remains to be done in shaping the nuclear security framework, in building up-to-date security systems and in dealing with the legacy of past lax security," he said. "This is not a problem that can be solved overnight; it takes time and resources to achieve a sustainable, internationally acceptable level of nuclear security."

Mr. ElBaradei reiterated many of the points he made to the Agency's Board of Governors last week on Iran's nuclear programmes, noting that the IAEA has been able to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear materials and has been given additional information and access needed to resolve a number of long outstanding issues, such as the scope and nature of past plutonium experiments. Many countries see the programme as a means to obtain nuclear weapons but Iran's says it is solely for nuclear power generation.

But Iran has not suspended enrichment related activities as called for by the Security Council, although it has agreed on a work plan with the Agency for resolving all outstanding verification issues. "Naturally, Iran's active cooperation and transparency is the key to full and timely implementation of the work plan," he stressed.

"If the Agency were able to provide credible assurance about the peaceful nature of Iran's past and current nuclear programme, this would go a long way towards building confidence about Iran's nuclear programme, and could create the conditions for a comprehensive and durable solution."

Laying out a seven-point framework for the use of nuclear energy based on lessons learned and current reality, he called for:<ul>

<li>robust technological development and innovation in nuclear power and nuclear applications;</li>

<li>a new multinational framework for the fuel cycle to assure supply and curb proliferation risk; </li>

<li>universal application of comprehensive safeguards allowing for unannounced on site inspections; </li>

<li>recognition of the linkage between non-proliferation and disarmament with deep cuts in existing arsenals; </li>

<li>a robust international security regime; </li>

<li>an effective and universal nuclear safety regime, a cornerstone for any expansion in the use of nuclear power; </li>

<li>and sufficient funding for the Agency to meet its increasing responsibilities. </li></ul>

Mr. ElBaradei also dwelt on the Agency's other multi-faceted tasks, from helping to eradicate the disease-bearing tsetse fly in Zanzibar by using the sterile insect techniques and helping countries improve radiotherapy and nuclear medicine programmes to aiding Bangladesh in dealing with arsenic poisoned groundwater and enhancing various types of grain from North Africa to the Andes mountains of Peru.
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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TOP UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL 'VERY CONCERNED' OVER STATE OF EMERGENCY IN FIJI

TOP UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL 'VERY CONCERNED' OVER STATE OF EMERGENCY IN FIJI
New York, Sep 17 2007 11:00AM
The United Nations top human rights official has voiced deep concern over the re-imposition of a state of emergency in Fiji.

Under accepted rules of international law, "such far-reaching restrictions of rights may only be introduced in time of a public emergency when the life and existence of the nation is threatened," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour <"http://www.ohchr.org/english/press/media.htm">said in a statement issued in Geneva.

"Restrictions may only be applied to the extent and time strictly required by the situation and they may not be discriminatory in application. The impact of the measures imposed in Fiji is heightened by the increased pressure being placed on the independence of the country's judiciary," she added.

Six expatriate Court of Appeal judges in the South Pacific country resigned earlier this month to protest against the acting Supreme Court Chief Justice's handling of the administrative matters of the Court.

Extended delays are said to continue in the formation of an independent tribunal to hear the case of the removal of the Chief Justice in January, the statement said, noting that the ability of truly independent institutions to function effectively and vindicate rights is indispensable, particularly in the current circumstances.

Ms. Arbour underlined the need for the Fiji Human Rights Commission to play an effective and independent role in addressing current human rights challenges in the country, fully in line with the international standards applicable to national human rights institutions.
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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DRAMATIC CHANGES IN GLOBAL MEAT PRODUCTION COULD INCREASE RISK OF HUMAN DISEASES - UN

DRAMATIC CHANGES IN GLOBAL MEAT PRODUCTION COULD INCREASE RISK OF HUMAN DISEASES - UN
New York, Sep 17 2007 11:00AM
Global animal food production is undergoing a major transformation that could lead to a higher risk of disease transmission from animals to humans, and excessive concentration of animals in intensive production systems should be avoided, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (<" http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000660/index.html">FAO) warned today.

"The risk of disease transmission from animals to humans will increase in the future due to human and livestock population growth, dynamic changes in livestock production, the emergence of worldwide agro-food networks and a significant increase in the mobility of people and goods," FAO said in a policy brief – Industrial Livestock Production and Global Health Risks.

"There is no doubt that the world has to depend on some of the technologies of intensive animal food production systems," said FAO livestock policy expert Joachim Otte.

"But excessive concentration of animals in large scale industrial production units should be avoided and adequate investments should be made in heightened bio-security and improved disease monitoring to safeguard public health," he added.

To satisfy higher demand for meat as the world's population continues to rise, livestock production and densities have significantly increased, often close to urban centres. Industrial animal production has become more concentrated, using fewer but more productive livestock breeds.

"These developments have potentially serious consequences for local and global disease risks, which, so far, have not been widely recognized by policy makers," FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech said.

Globally, pig and poultry production are the fastest growing and industrializing livestock sub-sectors, with annual production growth rates of 2.6 and 3.7 per cent over the past decade. In industrialized countries, the vast majority of chickens and turkeys are now produced in houses with 15,000 to 50,000 birds. This trend can also be observed in developing countries in Asia, South America and parts of Africa.

Industrial pig and poultry production relies on a significant movement of live animals. In 2005, for example, nearly 25 million pigs, more than 2 million pigs per month, were traded internationally. This movement and the concentration of thousands of confined animals increase the likelihood of transfer of pathogens. Confined animal houses also produce large amounts of waste, which may contain substantial quantities of pathogens. Much of this waste is disposed of on land without any treatment, posing an infection risk for wild mammals and birds.

While the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus is currently of major global concern, the 'silent' circulation of influenza A viruses (IAVs) in poultry and swine should also be closely monitored internationally, FAO said. A number of IAVs are now fairly widespread in commercial poultry and to a lesser extent in pigs and could also lead to emergence of a human influenza pandemic.

The agency called on producers to apply basic bio-security measures. Production sites should not be built close to human settlements or wild bird populations, farms should be regularly cleaned and disinfected, the movements of staff and vehicles should be controlled, and employees should be trained in bio-security.

FAO, in association with the UN World Health Organization (<" http://www.who.int/en">WHO) and the intergovernmental World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), is tackling these global threats through surveillance and research networks for early detection of animal diseases and better scientific cooperation between countries.

FAO has also established an emergency management centre that supports countries in responding to animal disease outbreaks.
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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NEW THINKING NEEDED TO REBUILD AFGHAN AGRICULTURE, UN-SPONSORED BOOK SAYS

NEW THINKING NEEDED TO REBUILD AFGHAN AGRICULTURE, UN-SPONSORED BOOK SAYS
New York, Sep 17 2007 11:00AM
Efforts to rebuild the rural economy of Afghanistan must start with a better understanding of the country's complex history, social background and extraordinary resilience of the Afghan people in repeatedly rebuilding their livelihoods, according to a new United Nations-sponsored book.

"Reconstructing Agriculture in Afghanistan," co-published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (<"http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000661/index.html">FAO) and the British publishing house Practical Action Publishing, is an attempt to advance development theory for fragile states by putting food security at the heart of a twin-track approach that integrates short-term emergency response to longer-term food security interventions for sustainable development.

The impact of recent history is significant on a country where 85 per cent of people rely on agriculture and which witnessed the destruction of irrigation systems by the Soviet army occupying it from 1979-89 and the subsequent migration of rural workers, the emergence of the Taliban regime and a countrywide drought that blighted wheat yields as well as livestock, savings and land.

At the same time however, the book argues that the brutal state-building of the 19th century and the influence of empires then predominant in the region, chiefly Russia and Britain, have all helped shape the agricultural landscape, creating a diverse legacy of different ethnic and regional identities, local economies and administration, self-interest and illicit trade.

These provincial markets and networks help explain the "extraordinary resilience" of the Afghan people, in repeatedly rebuilding their livelihoods despite a historical backdrop of disruption and political instability, the book argues.

As an example of cultural traditions and their impact, one chapter discusses the often-misunderstood role of women in helping shape the agricultural landscape.

"The position of women has been a potent symbol of Afghanistan to the outside world," co-editor Adam Pain said. "There is a perception that women are completely powerless, but women are more powerful and are a lot more economically active than people give them credit for, in agriculture and elsewhere."

The book also examines the role of the opium trade, which dominates so much debate on a country that accounts for more than 90 per cent of the world's illegal output. Any approach to eradicating the trade needs to take into consideration local economies and power structures, where limited access to land and credit have left many farmers with little or no alternative to opium cultivation.

Development initiatives are taking place across the country, including an FAO project helping villagers set up their own businesses providing high-quality seed to farmers, and another developing a national agricultural information network that tracks food pricing, crop yields and weather warnings.

The book stresses that it is through long-term planning and good government, local and national, that Afghanistan can push forward, while education is also crucial.
2007-09-17 00:00:00.000

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UNICEF WELCOMES ADOPTION OF DECLARATION ON RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

UNICEF WELCOMES ADOPTION OF DECLARATION ON RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
New York, Sep 16 2007 2:00PM
Welcoming the General Assembly's adoption of a declaration outlining the rights of the world's estimated 370 million indigenous people, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has called for greater policies and programmes to tackle the poverty, discrimination and exclusion faced by indigenous children.

UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman issued a < http://www.unicef.org/media/media_40879.html>statement praising UN Member States after they voted in the Assembly on Thursday -- after more than 20 years of debate -- to approve the < http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/declaration.html>UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
A non-binding text, the Declaration sets out the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples, as well as their rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education and other issues.
The Declaration emphasizes the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions and to pursue their development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations.
It also prohibits discrimination against indigenous peoples and promotes their full and effective participation in all matters that concern them, and their right to remain distinct and to pursue their own visions of economic and social development.
The majority of the 370 million indigenous people worldwide are children or adolescents, Ms. Veneman said, noting that they are often among the most marginalized and vulnerable members of their societies.

"In particular, UNICEF welcomes the recognition in the Declaration that indigenous children sometimes need special assistance to realize the rights -- to an education and to protection from exploitation, discrimination and harm -- that all children possess," she said.

Ms. Veneman said it was vital that the Declaration is followed by the introduction and implementation of policies and programmes to increas
the opportunities available to indigenous children.

She added that she hoped the adoption of the Declaration would also build greater momentum towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the global agreed set of targets for reducing economic and social ills, all by 2015.

Ms. Veneman's remarks join similar statements from General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour welcoming the Declaration's adoption.

2007-09-16 00:00:00.000

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GLOBAL FIGHT TO RESTORE OZONE LAYER HAILED BY SECRETARY-GENERAL

GLOBAL FIGHT TO RESTORE OZONE LAYER HAILED BY SECRETARY-GENERAL
New York, Sep 16 2007 1:00PM
The battle to repair the ozone layer "represents one of the great success stories of international cooperation," with the use of ozone-depleting substances in both rich and poor countries reduced drastically during the past 20 years, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

In his <http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?ArticleID=5666&DocumentID=518&l=en>message to mark the International <http://www.uneptie.org/ozonaction/events/20thanniversary.htm>Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, Mr. Ban said that when the Montreal <http://ozone.unep.org/Publications/MP_Handbook/Section_1_The_Montreal_Protocol/index.shtml>Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed two decades ago, nearly 2 million tons of such substances were released annually. Today, the developed world has nearly phased out these substances entirely and their use in the developing world has decreased by over 80 per cent.

The Secretary-General noted that measures against ozone-depleting substances have yielded broader benefits, since many of the chemicals contribute to global warming. "Their dramatic reduction has helped bolster measures to counter climate change," he said.

While hailing these achievements, Mr. Ban cautioned against complacency. "Scientists are warning that the ozone layer will remain particularly vulnerable for some time. State Parties must continue to implement the agreement, and ensure that the production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in developing countries is completely phased out by 2010, the deadline imposed by the Montreal Protocol," he said.

The Montreal Protocol, which opened for signature on 16 September 2007, is an annex to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. Since the adoption of the two pacts, the international ozone regime has expanded to address almost 100 ozone-depleting chemicals for refrigeration, electronics, foam-making and other industries.

2007-09-16 00:00:00.000

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