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TOO FEW TEACHERS AND RESOURCES HINDERING STUDENTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA – UN
TOO FEW TEACHERS AND RESOURCES HINDERING STUDENTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA – UN
New York, May 31 2012 6:10PM
Primary school students in sub-Saharan Africa face numerous challenges in their education, including overcrowded classrooms, too few trained teachers, insufficient schoolbooks and few toilets, often without separation between boys and girls, according to a United Nations survey.
In the first study of its kind, data was collected from 45 countries in the region for the survey, which was conducted by the Institute for Statistics of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
It found that a child in sub-Saharan Africa is likely to study in an overcrowded classroom that can number as many as 67 pupils in Chad, for example, compared to fewer than 30 in member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Also, many classes in the region are multi-grade, grouping children of different levels of education, UNESCO stated in a news release. In most cases, classes tend to group two grades, but in Cape Verde, Chad, Congo, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali and Niger classes are reported to cover three or more grades.
"The first grades are usually the most overcrowded. This is a source of concern considering it has been established that these are the most crucial years for the future of pupils," <"http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/inadequate_school_and_teaching_resources_challenge_education_in_sub_saharan_africa/">stated the agency.
In Madagascar, Rwanda, Chad and Togo, there are at least 20 more pupils on average in the first grade than in the last. In Chad, first year classes number an average of 85 students.
"The situation found in Chad is of particular concern, since studies have shown that in the African context, classes exceeding 70 pupils have a negative effect on children's learning," according to the survey.
The survey also found that more than two million additional teachers will have to be recruited to meet growing demand in the region and replace teachers who retire or leave education.
In addition, the survey highlighted the insufficient supply of reading and mathematics textbooks which obliges pupils to share books. The situation is particularly bad in the Central African Republic, where eight pupils must share one reading and mathematics textbook. In Cameroon, there is on average one reading textbook for 11 pupils and one mathematics book for 13 children.
Another problem is that many schools in sub-Saharan Africa have limited, or no, access to basic services such as drinking water, toilets and electricity. The absence of clean, safe and separate toilets for boys and girls tends to discourage children, particularly girls, from attending school regularly, the survey added.
Shortages are particularly severe in five countries – Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, and Niger where at least 60 per cent of schools have no toilets. Schools in Mauritius and Rwanda, meanwhile, are well equipped with separate-sex toilets.
The survey also noted the fact that most primary schools are not connected to the electric grid. In Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Gambia, Guinea, Malawi, Niger and Togo, 80 per cent of school have no electricity.
May 31 2012 6:10PM
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New York, May 31 2012 6:10PM
Primary school students in sub-Saharan Africa face numerous challenges in their education, including overcrowded classrooms, too few trained teachers, insufficient schoolbooks and few toilets, often without separation between boys and girls, according to a United Nations survey.
In the first study of its kind, data was collected from 45 countries in the region for the survey, which was conducted by the Institute for Statistics of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
It found that a child in sub-Saharan Africa is likely to study in an overcrowded classroom that can number as many as 67 pupils in Chad, for example, compared to fewer than 30 in member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Also, many classes in the region are multi-grade, grouping children of different levels of education, UNESCO stated in a news release. In most cases, classes tend to group two grades, but in Cape Verde, Chad, Congo, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali and Niger classes are reported to cover three or more grades.
"The first grades are usually the most overcrowded. This is a source of concern considering it has been established that these are the most crucial years for the future of pupils," <"http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/inadequate_school_and_teaching_resources_challenge_education_in_sub_saharan_africa/">stated the agency.
In Madagascar, Rwanda, Chad and Togo, there are at least 20 more pupils on average in the first grade than in the last. In Chad, first year classes number an average of 85 students.
"The situation found in Chad is of particular concern, since studies have shown that in the African context, classes exceeding 70 pupils have a negative effect on children's learning," according to the survey.
The survey also found that more than two million additional teachers will have to be recruited to meet growing demand in the region and replace teachers who retire or leave education.
In addition, the survey highlighted the insufficient supply of reading and mathematics textbooks which obliges pupils to share books. The situation is particularly bad in the Central African Republic, where eight pupils must share one reading and mathematics textbook. In Cameroon, there is on average one reading textbook for 11 pupils and one mathematics book for 13 children.
Another problem is that many schools in sub-Saharan Africa have limited, or no, access to basic services such as drinking water, toilets and electricity. The absence of clean, safe and separate toilets for boys and girls tends to discourage children, particularly girls, from attending school regularly, the survey added.
Shortages are particularly severe in five countries – Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, and Niger where at least 60 per cent of schools have no toilets. Schools in Mauritius and Rwanda, meanwhile, are well equipped with separate-sex toilets.
The survey also noted the fact that most primary schools are not connected to the electric grid. In Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Gambia, Guinea, Malawi, Niger and Togo, 80 per cent of school have no electricity.
May 31 2012 6:10PM
________________
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UN TRIBUNAL CONVICTS FORMER RWANDAN MINISTER OF YOUTH FOR GENOCIDE
UN TRIBUNAL CONVICTS FORMER RWANDAN MINISTER OF YOUTH FOR GENOCIDE
New York, May 31 2012 3:10PM
The United Nations tribunal trying key suspects implicated in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda today <"http://www.unictr.org/tabid/155/Default.aspx?id=1281">convicted the country's former youth minister of genocide and crimes against humanity, and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Callixte Nzabonimana was convicted of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).
Based in the Tanzanian city of Arusha, the tribunal was set up after the Rwandan genocide, when at least 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus were killed during three months beginning in April 1994.
Mr. Nzabonimana was found to have instigated the killing of Tutsis taking refuge at the Nyabikenke commune office in April 1994, and to have directly and publicly incited the killing of Tutsis in three incidents. He was also found guilty of entering into two separate agreements to kill Tutsis in Gitarama prefecture.
Mr. Nzabonimana was arrested in February 2008 in Tanzania, and his trial began in November 2009.
Also today, the International Criminal Court (ICC) dismissed the Prosecutor's application for an arrest warrant for Sylvestre Mudacumura, a Rwandan rebel leader allegedly responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The application that was submitted on 15 May did not provide "proper counts or any other kind of accompanying description of the specific facts underlying the crimes" allegedly committed in the eastern Congolese provinces of North and South Kivu, said the Court.
It failed to "set out the specific references to the alleged crimes" as requested by the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC, it added.
Mr. Mudacumura is the supreme commander of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, also known by its French acronym FDLR, which has been involved in crimes in eastern DRC for some time.
Based in The Hague, the ICC is the first permanent international court set up to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.
May 31 2012 3:10PM
________________
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New York, May 31 2012 3:10PM
The United Nations tribunal trying key suspects implicated in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda today <"http://www.unictr.org/tabid/155/Default.aspx?id=1281">convicted the country's former youth minister of genocide and crimes against humanity, and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Callixte Nzabonimana was convicted of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).
Based in the Tanzanian city of Arusha, the tribunal was set up after the Rwandan genocide, when at least 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus were killed during three months beginning in April 1994.
Mr. Nzabonimana was found to have instigated the killing of Tutsis taking refuge at the Nyabikenke commune office in April 1994, and to have directly and publicly incited the killing of Tutsis in three incidents. He was also found guilty of entering into two separate agreements to kill Tutsis in Gitarama prefecture.
Mr. Nzabonimana was arrested in February 2008 in Tanzania, and his trial began in November 2009.
Also today, the International Criminal Court (ICC) dismissed the Prosecutor's application for an arrest warrant for Sylvestre Mudacumura, a Rwandan rebel leader allegedly responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The application that was submitted on 15 May did not provide "proper counts or any other kind of accompanying description of the specific facts underlying the crimes" allegedly committed in the eastern Congolese provinces of North and South Kivu, said the Court.
It failed to "set out the specific references to the alleged crimes" as requested by the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC, it added.
Mr. Mudacumura is the supreme commander of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, also known by its French acronym FDLR, which has been involved in crimes in eastern DRC for some time.
Based in The Hague, the ICC is the first permanent international court set up to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.
May 31 2012 3:10PM
________________
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WITH NEEDS RISING, UN REFUGEE AGENCY ISSUES FRESH APPEAL TO ASSIST UPROOTED MALIANS
WITH NEEDS RISING, UN REFUGEE AGENCY ISSUES FRESH APPEAL TO ASSIST UPROOTED MALIANS
New York, May 31 2012 2:10PM
The United Nations refugee agency today appealed for $153.7 million to assist Malians uprooted by insecurity and taking refuge in neighbouring countries in West Africa's Sahel region, sharply revising the funding request made earlier this year.
"The sharp degeneration of the situation in Mali, which has led to the flight and continued forced displacement of a huge number of Malians in such a short time, is totally unexpected," UNHCR's deputy director for West Africa, Central Africa and the Great Lakes region, Liz Ahua, said in a <"http://www.unhcr.org/4fc77f729.html">news release.
The new appeal will cover operations this year in Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, according to a news release issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). It replaces the $35.6 million appeal issued in February to cover the period up to July 2012.
Nearly 320,000 Malians have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries or seek refuge in safer parts of Mali as a result of fighting that resumed in January in the country's north between Government forces and Tuareg rebels, the proliferation of armed groups in that region, and a deepening crisis due to a coup d'état in March.
The increased funding will enable the agency to assist 240,000 refugees and 200,000 internally displaced Malians until the end of the year.
According to UNHCR, the majority of the refugees are settled in remote locations where the local communities are already facing food insecurity and severe water shortages due to years of drought in the Sahel region.
Acute malnutrition rates among children under five years old are "alarming," particularly in refugee sites in Mauritania and Niger, and there is an urgent need to increase water supply and improve sanitary conditions, the agency stated.
UNHCR has only received 13 per cent of the $153.7 million needed.
"UNHCR is grateful to donors for the support received so far. However, our current funding level is woefully inadequate," the agency stated. "We desperately need more funds now, ahead of the rainy season, which starts in June and is often marked by flooding."
Humanitarian organizations estimate that there are currently 15 million people facing food insecurity in Africa's Sahel region, which stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, and also includes Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and the northern regions of Cameroon and Nigeria.
May 31 2012 2:10PM
________________
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New York, May 31 2012 2:10PM
The United Nations refugee agency today appealed for $153.7 million to assist Malians uprooted by insecurity and taking refuge in neighbouring countries in West Africa's Sahel region, sharply revising the funding request made earlier this year.
"The sharp degeneration of the situation in Mali, which has led to the flight and continued forced displacement of a huge number of Malians in such a short time, is totally unexpected," UNHCR's deputy director for West Africa, Central Africa and the Great Lakes region, Liz Ahua, said in a <"http://www.unhcr.org/4fc77f729.html">news release.
The new appeal will cover operations this year in Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, according to a news release issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). It replaces the $35.6 million appeal issued in February to cover the period up to July 2012.
Nearly 320,000 Malians have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries or seek refuge in safer parts of Mali as a result of fighting that resumed in January in the country's north between Government forces and Tuareg rebels, the proliferation of armed groups in that region, and a deepening crisis due to a coup d'état in March.
The increased funding will enable the agency to assist 240,000 refugees and 200,000 internally displaced Malians until the end of the year.
According to UNHCR, the majority of the refugees are settled in remote locations where the local communities are already facing food insecurity and severe water shortages due to years of drought in the Sahel region.
Acute malnutrition rates among children under five years old are "alarming," particularly in refugee sites in Mauritania and Niger, and there is an urgent need to increase water supply and improve sanitary conditions, the agency stated.
UNHCR has only received 13 per cent of the $153.7 million needed.
"UNHCR is grateful to donors for the support received so far. However, our current funding level is woefully inadequate," the agency stated. "We desperately need more funds now, ahead of the rainy season, which starts in June and is often marked by flooding."
Humanitarian organizations estimate that there are currently 15 million people facing food insecurity in Africa's Sahel region, which stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, and also includes Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and the northern regions of Cameroon and Nigeria.
May 31 2012 2:10PM
________________
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NEGLECTED INDIGENOUS FOOD CAN BE IMPORTANT TOOL TO FIGHT HUNGER – UN OFFICIAL
NEGLECTED INDIGENOUS FOOD CAN BE IMPORTANT TOOL TO FIGHT HUNGER – UN OFFICIAL
New York, May 31 2012 2:10PM
Indigenous foods which have been neglected by the food industry and urban consumers can be an important tool to alleviate hunger and malnutrition, a United Nations official said today.
"The focus of research and crop improvement on a few widely consumed crops has helped meet the food needs of the rapidly growing world population, but it has narrowed dramatically the number of species upon which global food security and agricultural incomes depend," the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Hiroyuki Konuma, said at a UN-backed symposium in north-eastern Thailand.
The two-day meeting – which brings together scientists and experts from 38 countries and includes 12 food exhibition stalls – is focussed on the role of local and indigenous foods, with FAO and partners encouraging a revaluation of forgotten and neglected foods which are often largely underutilized.
According to FAO, globalization has reduced the number of plant species used for food and other purposes from roughly 100,000 to about 30. With the global population expected to reach nine billion by 2050, FAO is concerned that the world may not be able to produce enough food to meet demand.
Indigenous and traditional foods, which are sometimes undervalued and classified as 'foods of the poor' or 'forgotten foods' can play an important role in helping the estimated 925 million people who suffer from hunger and malnutrition worldwide, 60 per cent of whom live in the Asia-Pacific region, FAO noted in a <"http://www.fao.org/asiapacific/rap/home/news/detail/en/?news_uid=146414">news release.
It added that among neglected traditional foods in Asia that could help meet the needs of local populations are forest fruits, sago palm, medicinal wild plants and edible insects.
"Go local. Enhance local food security; and maximize the utilization of locally available foods,'' Mr. Konuma told the symposium's 150 attendees, which included representatives of governments, UN agencies, the private sector, academic and research institutions, civil society and experts in agriculture, environment, health and nutrition.
Symposium participants have called for more research and development into neglected food sources, and for the promotion of a greater diversity of sources of nourishment.
The symposium, which ends on Saturday, is jointly organized by the University of Khon Kaen, the Thailand National Council for Science, the Japanese International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, the Crop for the Future Initiative, and FAO.
May 31 2012 2:10PM
________________
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New York, May 31 2012 2:10PM
Indigenous foods which have been neglected by the food industry and urban consumers can be an important tool to alleviate hunger and malnutrition, a United Nations official said today.
"The focus of research and crop improvement on a few widely consumed crops has helped meet the food needs of the rapidly growing world population, but it has narrowed dramatically the number of species upon which global food security and agricultural incomes depend," the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Hiroyuki Konuma, said at a UN-backed symposium in north-eastern Thailand.
The two-day meeting – which brings together scientists and experts from 38 countries and includes 12 food exhibition stalls – is focussed on the role of local and indigenous foods, with FAO and partners encouraging a revaluation of forgotten and neglected foods which are often largely underutilized.
According to FAO, globalization has reduced the number of plant species used for food and other purposes from roughly 100,000 to about 30. With the global population expected to reach nine billion by 2050, FAO is concerned that the world may not be able to produce enough food to meet demand.
Indigenous and traditional foods, which are sometimes undervalued and classified as 'foods of the poor' or 'forgotten foods' can play an important role in helping the estimated 925 million people who suffer from hunger and malnutrition worldwide, 60 per cent of whom live in the Asia-Pacific region, FAO noted in a <"http://www.fao.org/asiapacific/rap/home/news/detail/en/?news_uid=146414">news release.
It added that among neglected traditional foods in Asia that could help meet the needs of local populations are forest fruits, sago palm, medicinal wild plants and edible insects.
"Go local. Enhance local food security; and maximize the utilization of locally available foods,'' Mr. Konuma told the symposium's 150 attendees, which included representatives of governments, UN agencies, the private sector, academic and research institutions, civil society and experts in agriculture, environment, health and nutrition.
Symposium participants have called for more research and development into neglected food sources, and for the promotion of a greater diversity of sources of nourishment.
The symposium, which ends on Saturday, is jointly organized by the University of Khon Kaen, the Thailand National Council for Science, the Japanese International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, the Crop for the Future Initiative, and FAO.
May 31 2012 2:10PM
________________
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UN OFFICIALS URGE NATIONAL LEADERS TO FIGHT INDUSTRY’S ATTACKS IN WAR AGAINST TOBACCO
UN OFFICIALS URGE NATIONAL LEADERS TO FIGHT INDUSTRY'S ATTACKS IN WAR AGAINST TOBACCO
New York, May 31 2012 2:10PM
Top United Nations officials today called on governments to resist the increasingly aggressive steps taken by the tobacco industry to undermine efforts to reduce this global scourge, which kills almost six million people every year.
"The interests of the tobacco industry and of public health are directly opposed," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his <"http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=6096">message for <em>World No Tobacco Day</em>, observed annually on 31 May. 12
"While governments and the international health community try to implement effective measures to contain tobacco use and protect the health of people, their efforts are being aggressively opposed by an industry whose products kill people," he added.
The World Health Organization's (WHO) theme for this year's <"http://www.who.int/tobacco/wntd/2012/en/index.html">World No Tobacco Day is 'tobacco industry interference.' It focuses on the need to expose and counter the tobacco industry's "brazen and increasingly aggressive attempts" to undermine global tobacco control efforts.
In his message for the Day, the UN chief noted that tobacco takes a "pervasive, heavy toll," hindering development and worsening poverty: "Tobacco and poverty create a vicious circle since it is the poor who smoke most and bear the brunt of the economic and disease burden of tobacco use."
He added that money spent on tobacco cannot be used to pay for food, education and health care. And tobacco use is growing fastest in low-income countries that are least equipped to deal with its consequences.
"Tobacco control is essential to achieving our global development goals," he said. "If we do not step up our efforts to control it, tobacco could kill up to one billion people this century."
Among the tools the world has at its disposal to fight tobacco use and protect public health is the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. With 175 parties, it became one of the most rapidly embraced treaties in UN history after it entered into force in 2005.
"I urge all governments and civil society to prevent the tobacco industry from derailing the implementation of the Framework Convention," the Secretary-General said. "Let us resist the industry's attacks and pursue our vision of a tobacco-free world."
According to WHO, more countries are moving to meet their obligations under the Framework Convention, with governments working to create 100 per cent smoke-free, enclosed work and public places; to inform the public of tobacco harms through large and strong pictorial warning on tobacco packages; and to ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
Meanwhile, the tobacco industry is working to undermine the treaty, including taking governments to court, the UN health agency noted. Currently, the Governments of Australia, Norway and Uruguay are battling tobacco industry law suits in their national courts.
WHO's Director-General, Margaret Chan, called on national leaders to be "extra vigilant" against the attacks by the industry which undermine policies that protect people from the harms of tobacco – one of the leading preventable causes of illness and death worldwide.
"In recent years, multinational tobacco companies have been shamelessly fuelling a series of legal actions against governments that have been at the forefront of the war against tobacco. The industry is now stepping out of the shadows and into court rooms," she stated in a news release.
"We must now stand together with these governments that have had the courage to do the right thing to protect their citizens," she added.
In line with the Framework Convention, WHO recommends that countries should limit interactions and disclose all meetings with the tobacco industry; reject partnerships and non-binding agreements with the industry; refuse funds and other support; and reject industry endorsement and participation in youth initiatives, among other steps.
May 31 2012 2:10PM
________________
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New York, May 31 2012 2:10PM
Top United Nations officials today called on governments to resist the increasingly aggressive steps taken by the tobacco industry to undermine efforts to reduce this global scourge, which kills almost six million people every year.
"The interests of the tobacco industry and of public health are directly opposed," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his <"http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=6096">message for <em>World No Tobacco Day</em>, observed annually on 31 May. 12
"While governments and the international health community try to implement effective measures to contain tobacco use and protect the health of people, their efforts are being aggressively opposed by an industry whose products kill people," he added.
The World Health Organization's (WHO) theme for this year's <"http://www.who.int/tobacco/wntd/2012/en/index.html">World No Tobacco Day is 'tobacco industry interference.' It focuses on the need to expose and counter the tobacco industry's "brazen and increasingly aggressive attempts" to undermine global tobacco control efforts.
In his message for the Day, the UN chief noted that tobacco takes a "pervasive, heavy toll," hindering development and worsening poverty: "Tobacco and poverty create a vicious circle since it is the poor who smoke most and bear the brunt of the economic and disease burden of tobacco use."
He added that money spent on tobacco cannot be used to pay for food, education and health care. And tobacco use is growing fastest in low-income countries that are least equipped to deal with its consequences.
"Tobacco control is essential to achieving our global development goals," he said. "If we do not step up our efforts to control it, tobacco could kill up to one billion people this century."
Among the tools the world has at its disposal to fight tobacco use and protect public health is the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. With 175 parties, it became one of the most rapidly embraced treaties in UN history after it entered into force in 2005.
"I urge all governments and civil society to prevent the tobacco industry from derailing the implementation of the Framework Convention," the Secretary-General said. "Let us resist the industry's attacks and pursue our vision of a tobacco-free world."
According to WHO, more countries are moving to meet their obligations under the Framework Convention, with governments working to create 100 per cent smoke-free, enclosed work and public places; to inform the public of tobacco harms through large and strong pictorial warning on tobacco packages; and to ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
Meanwhile, the tobacco industry is working to undermine the treaty, including taking governments to court, the UN health agency noted. Currently, the Governments of Australia, Norway and Uruguay are battling tobacco industry law suits in their national courts.
WHO's Director-General, Margaret Chan, called on national leaders to be "extra vigilant" against the attacks by the industry which undermine policies that protect people from the harms of tobacco – one of the leading preventable causes of illness and death worldwide.
"In recent years, multinational tobacco companies have been shamelessly fuelling a series of legal actions against governments that have been at the forefront of the war against tobacco. The industry is now stepping out of the shadows and into court rooms," she stated in a news release.
"We must now stand together with these governments that have had the courage to do the right thing to protect their citizens," she added.
In line with the Framework Convention, WHO recommends that countries should limit interactions and disclose all meetings with the tobacco industry; reject partnerships and non-binding agreements with the industry; refuse funds and other support; and reject industry endorsement and participation in youth initiatives, among other steps.
May 31 2012 2:10PM
________________
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UN CALLS FOR BETTER CIVILIAN PROTECTION AS DR CONGO VIOLENCE UPROOTS TENS OF THOUSANDS
UN CALLS FOR BETTER CIVILIAN PROTECTION AS DR CONGO VIOLENCE UPROOTS TENS OF THOUSANDS
New York, May 31 2012 1:10PM
With close to 100,000 people uprooted from their homes by the recent wave of violence in the province of North Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN humanitarian agency today renewed its call for better measures to protect civilians and more aid for distressed families.
"The chaotic situation families are facing is disastrous – many of them have been displaced many times before. We call on all parties to the conflict to respect human rights and international law and to spare civilians from the violence," the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for DRC, Fidele Sarassoro, said in a <"http://reliefweb.int/node/500458">news release.
"It is essential that this crisis be resolved quickly because families need peace and protection. UN agencies and NGOs are ready to help, but we urgently need unimpeded access to the people," he added.
Since the beginning of April, thousands of families in the volatile province have fled violence stemming from desertions from the national army as well as ongoing military operations to bring under control illegal armed groups, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
It is estimated that some 74,000 people are now displaced in the Masisi, Lubero and Rutshuru territories, and several thousand more have found refuge in and around Goma, the provincial capital. More than two million people are believed to be currently displaced in the DRC.
In addition, the crisis in North Kivu has spilled over into neighboring province of South Kivu where some 33,000 people have fled in recent weeks.
Earlier this week, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that close to 21,000 have crossed into neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda. The displaced people face many pressing needs: how to feed their children; where to find enough clean water; how to avoid contagious diseases such as cholera and measles.
Since the beginning of the North Kivu crisis, much of the humanitarian assistance provided has been delivered to the more easily accessible internally displaced persons in camps around Goma and to refugees living in Rwanda and Uganda, OCHA said.
The agency noted that these refugees are only the most visible victims of the current conflict, but thousands have sought refuge in remote and difficult-to-reach areas, such as forests, and have not yet received aid.
"There is no shortage of capacity, the issue for us is access and money so that we can roll out more aid," Mr. Sarassoro said.
Earlier this year, the United Nations and partners appealed for $718 million to respond to humanitarian needs in DRC in 2012 – however, aid organizations estimate that current funding levels will not allow a sustained response if the crisis persists.
In the wake of the latest outbreak of violence in North Kivu, peacekeepers serving with the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) have stepped up civilian protection measures in the area, which is also the location a mutiny of national army troops last month, instigated by a former rebel leader.
MONUSCO forces have so far not been engaged in any frontline offensive action. The Mission is staying in close contact with the DRC national army and authorities, as well as taking coordinated measures to help protect locations.
May 31 2012 1:10PM
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New York, May 31 2012 1:10PM
With close to 100,000 people uprooted from their homes by the recent wave of violence in the province of North Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN humanitarian agency today renewed its call for better measures to protect civilians and more aid for distressed families.
"The chaotic situation families are facing is disastrous – many of them have been displaced many times before. We call on all parties to the conflict to respect human rights and international law and to spare civilians from the violence," the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for DRC, Fidele Sarassoro, said in a <"http://reliefweb.int/node/500458">news release.
"It is essential that this crisis be resolved quickly because families need peace and protection. UN agencies and NGOs are ready to help, but we urgently need unimpeded access to the people," he added.
Since the beginning of April, thousands of families in the volatile province have fled violence stemming from desertions from the national army as well as ongoing military operations to bring under control illegal armed groups, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
It is estimated that some 74,000 people are now displaced in the Masisi, Lubero and Rutshuru territories, and several thousand more have found refuge in and around Goma, the provincial capital. More than two million people are believed to be currently displaced in the DRC.
In addition, the crisis in North Kivu has spilled over into neighboring province of South Kivu where some 33,000 people have fled in recent weeks.
Earlier this week, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that close to 21,000 have crossed into neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda. The displaced people face many pressing needs: how to feed their children; where to find enough clean water; how to avoid contagious diseases such as cholera and measles.
Since the beginning of the North Kivu crisis, much of the humanitarian assistance provided has been delivered to the more easily accessible internally displaced persons in camps around Goma and to refugees living in Rwanda and Uganda, OCHA said.
The agency noted that these refugees are only the most visible victims of the current conflict, but thousands have sought refuge in remote and difficult-to-reach areas, such as forests, and have not yet received aid.
"There is no shortage of capacity, the issue for us is access and money so that we can roll out more aid," Mr. Sarassoro said.
Earlier this year, the United Nations and partners appealed for $718 million to respond to humanitarian needs in DRC in 2012 – however, aid organizations estimate that current funding levels will not allow a sustained response if the crisis persists.
In the wake of the latest outbreak of violence in North Kivu, peacekeepers serving with the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) have stepped up civilian protection measures in the area, which is also the location a mutiny of national army troops last month, instigated by a former rebel leader.
MONUSCO forces have so far not been engaged in any frontline offensive action. The Mission is staying in close contact with the DRC national army and authorities, as well as taking coordinated measures to help protect locations.
May 31 2012 1:10PM
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UN REFUGEE AGENCY WARNS OF WORSENING GLOBAL DISPLACEMENT OVER NEXT TEN YEARS
UN REFUGEE AGENCY WARNS OF WORSENING GLOBAL DISPLACEMENT OVER NEXT TEN YEARS
New York, May 31 2012 1:10PM
The number of displaced persons worldwide will significantly grow over the next ten years due to factors such as conflict, natural disasters and climate change, <"http://www.unhcr.org/4fc731db6.html">according to the flagship publication of the United Nations refugee agency, launched today, which stresses that international solidarity is needed to address the issue.
"The world is creating displacement faster than it is producing solutions, and this means one thing only: More people trapped in exile over many years, unable to return home, to settle locally, or to move elsewhere," said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, in relation to the report.
"Global displacement is an inherently international problem, and as such needs international solutions – and by this I mainly mean political solutions," he added.
With its last version published in 2006, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) <em><"http://www.unhcr.org/publications/unhcr/sowr2012">The State of the World's Refugees: In Search of Solidarity</em> provides a fresh, in-depth analysis of the plight of the world's millions of displaced people.
The 2012 publication notes that there are currently 43 million people who have been forced to flee their homes due to a combination of causes. These include conflict, climate change, population growth, urbanization, food insecurity, water scarcity and resource competition. Eighty per cent of 43 million live in the developing world.
Among the notable changes in global displacement since 2006, the new publication notes the increase in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) which now amount to 26 million, more than half of the world's displaced population. In comparison, around 15-16 million of the displaced persons are refugees and a further million are asylum-seekers.
The publication points out that more people are displaced annually by natural disasters than by conflict and warns of a gap in international protection when it comes to people who flee across borders to escape the impact of climate change or natural disasters as they are not recognized as refugees under international law.
<em>The State of the World's Refugees: In Search of Solidarity</em> also describes the challenges that arise when tackling displacement, such as increased threats to the safety of humanitarian workers, and the need to strengthen international cooperation.
It notes how for humanitarian workers, a further implication is that helping the displaced is becoming more costly and dangerous, citing countries such as Somalia, Afghanistan, Yemen, or Iraq, where getting help to internally displaced populations means working in environments where access is difficult and conflict or criminality can present deadly risk.
Mr. Guterres stressed that development and resettlement policies for refugees can help them integrate locally, but that political will and a shift in mentality from developed countries is needed for this to occur.
"Pressures on the international protection system are clearly growing. In some industrialized countries in particular we see fortress mentalities that serve only to shift responsibility and compassion elsewhere," the UN refugee chief said. "In a world where societies are becoming multicultural and multiethnic, it is essential to promote the values of tolerance and to fight the manifestation of xenophobia."
May 31 2012 1:10PM
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New York, May 31 2012 1:10PM
The number of displaced persons worldwide will significantly grow over the next ten years due to factors such as conflict, natural disasters and climate change, <"http://www.unhcr.org/4fc731db6.html">according to the flagship publication of the United Nations refugee agency, launched today, which stresses that international solidarity is needed to address the issue.
"The world is creating displacement faster than it is producing solutions, and this means one thing only: More people trapped in exile over many years, unable to return home, to settle locally, or to move elsewhere," said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, in relation to the report.
"Global displacement is an inherently international problem, and as such needs international solutions – and by this I mainly mean political solutions," he added.
With its last version published in 2006, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) <em><"http://www.unhcr.org/publications/unhcr/sowr2012">The State of the World's Refugees: In Search of Solidarity</em> provides a fresh, in-depth analysis of the plight of the world's millions of displaced people.
The 2012 publication notes that there are currently 43 million people who have been forced to flee their homes due to a combination of causes. These include conflict, climate change, population growth, urbanization, food insecurity, water scarcity and resource competition. Eighty per cent of 43 million live in the developing world.
Among the notable changes in global displacement since 2006, the new publication notes the increase in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) which now amount to 26 million, more than half of the world's displaced population. In comparison, around 15-16 million of the displaced persons are refugees and a further million are asylum-seekers.
The publication points out that more people are displaced annually by natural disasters than by conflict and warns of a gap in international protection when it comes to people who flee across borders to escape the impact of climate change or natural disasters as they are not recognized as refugees under international law.
<em>The State of the World's Refugees: In Search of Solidarity</em> also describes the challenges that arise when tackling displacement, such as increased threats to the safety of humanitarian workers, and the need to strengthen international cooperation.
It notes how for humanitarian workers, a further implication is that helping the displaced is becoming more costly and dangerous, citing countries such as Somalia, Afghanistan, Yemen, or Iraq, where getting help to internally displaced populations means working in environments where access is difficult and conflict or criminality can present deadly risk.
Mr. Guterres stressed that development and resettlement policies for refugees can help them integrate locally, but that political will and a shift in mentality from developed countries is needed for this to occur.
"Pressures on the international protection system are clearly growing. In some industrialized countries in particular we see fortress mentalities that serve only to shift responsibility and compassion elsewhere," the UN refugee chief said. "In a world where societies are becoming multicultural and multiethnic, it is essential to promote the values of tolerance and to fight the manifestation of xenophobia."
May 31 2012 1:10PM
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AT ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS MEETING, BAN CALLS FOR TOLERANCE AND COOPERATION
AT ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS MEETING, BAN CALLS FOR TOLERANCE AND COOPERATION
New York, May 31 2012 12:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the need for tolerance and cooperation amidst the global economic crisis and the political transitions taking place in several Arab countries, and called on countries to strengthen their partnerships and engage in dialogue.
"This is an era of great transitions, and by their very definition, transitions bring forth tensions and expose hidden fault lines," Mr. Ban said in his remarks at the Partners Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, taking place in Istanbul, Turkey.
Launched in 2005 through the initiative of Spain and Turkey, under the auspices of the UN, the Alliance seeks to promote better cross-cultural relations worldwide. The forum, which is being convened by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, seeks to broaden public and private support for the initiative.
In his speech, the UN chief emphasized that the need
for unity in the international community is particularly urgent in Syria, which has seen renewed violence over the past week resulting in the deaths of more than 100 civilians, including children.
"In these difficult times, in the face of humankind's terrible capacity for inhumanity, it is all the more important for those of us here today to take a clear and principled stand," he said. "To speak out, and more, to act in the cause of peace, tolerance and harmony among people."
Mr. Ban underlined that the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) -- made up of close to 300 unarmed military observers on the ground, as well as civilian staff -- represents the eyes and ears of the international community, while at the same time it is helping to bring about a ceasefire.
"The more the international community knows, the more likely it is that we can advance on our most important goal: to help find a political solution, a solution that safeguards the lives and interests of all the Syrian pe
ople," he said.
"Let me state plainly, however: the UN did not deploy in Syria just to bear witness to the slaughter of innocents. We are not there to play the role of passive observer to unspeakable atrocities," he added, warning that the massacre of civilians such as the one which took place in Houla last weekend could plunge the country into a "catastrophic civil war," and called on the international community to remain united in demanding that the Syrian Government act on its responsibilities to its people.
The Secretary-General also emphasized d that, at a time of growing unemployment, members of the Alliance of Civilizations must work together to be able to deliver results to their citizens.
"This is a time of budget difficulties. There is growing competition for scarce financial resources," Mr. Ban said. "Our ultimate test is not how we talk of noble aspirations but how we deliver to the people who need our support."
In his remarks to the gathering, the President of the
General Assembly, Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, said the Alliance today has a "more daunting task than ever before" in dealing with intolerance, xenophobia and incitement, and stressed that it must be strengthened so it can effectively diffuse tensions, prevent misunderstandings and build networks for peace.
"Through the Alliance of Civilizations, we are given a chance to elevate our consideration of issues of peace and security to a high level of universality, and I hope, to a high level of effectiveness," Mr. Al-Nasser said, adding that partnerships will be crucial for the Alliance to be able to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security.
President Al-Nasser has previously called for the strengthening of the role of the Alliance as a global tool to mediate international disputes and promote cultural understanding and tolerance.
May 31 2012 12:10PM
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New York, May 31 2012 12:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the need for tolerance and cooperation amidst the global economic crisis and the political transitions taking place in several Arab countries, and called on countries to strengthen their partnerships and engage in dialogue.
"This is an era of great transitions, and by their very definition, transitions bring forth tensions and expose hidden fault lines," Mr. Ban said in his remarks at the Partners Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, taking place in Istanbul, Turkey.
Launched in 2005 through the initiative of Spain and Turkey, under the auspices of the UN, the Alliance seeks to promote better cross-cultural relations worldwide. The forum, which is being convened by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, seeks to broaden public and private support for the initiative.
In his speech, the UN chief emphasized that the need
for unity in the international community is particularly urgent in Syria, which has seen renewed violence over the past week resulting in the deaths of more than 100 civilians, including children.
"In these difficult times, in the face of humankind's terrible capacity for inhumanity, it is all the more important for those of us here today to take a clear and principled stand," he said. "To speak out, and more, to act in the cause of peace, tolerance and harmony among people."
Mr. Ban underlined that the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) -- made up of close to 300 unarmed military observers on the ground, as well as civilian staff -- represents the eyes and ears of the international community, while at the same time it is helping to bring about a ceasefire.
"The more the international community knows, the more likely it is that we can advance on our most important goal: to help find a political solution, a solution that safeguards the lives and interests of all the Syrian pe
ople," he said.
"Let me state plainly, however: the UN did not deploy in Syria just to bear witness to the slaughter of innocents. We are not there to play the role of passive observer to unspeakable atrocities," he added, warning that the massacre of civilians such as the one which took place in Houla last weekend could plunge the country into a "catastrophic civil war," and called on the international community to remain united in demanding that the Syrian Government act on its responsibilities to its people.
The Secretary-General also emphasized d that, at a time of growing unemployment, members of the Alliance of Civilizations must work together to be able to deliver results to their citizens.
"This is a time of budget difficulties. There is growing competition for scarce financial resources," Mr. Ban said. "Our ultimate test is not how we talk of noble aspirations but how we deliver to the people who need our support."
In his remarks to the gathering, the President of the
General Assembly, Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, said the Alliance today has a "more daunting task than ever before" in dealing with intolerance, xenophobia and incitement, and stressed that it must be strengthened so it can effectively diffuse tensions, prevent misunderstandings and build networks for peace.
"Through the Alliance of Civilizations, we are given a chance to elevate our consideration of issues of peace and security to a high level of universality, and I hope, to a high level of effectiveness," Mr. Al-Nasser said, adding that partnerships will be crucial for the Alliance to be able to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security.
President Al-Nasser has previously called for the strengthening of the role of the Alliance as a global tool to mediate international disputes and promote cultural understanding and tolerance.
May 31 2012 12:10PM
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LONG-TERM INVESTMENT CRUCIAL FOR SOMALIA'S RECOVERY, DEVELOPMENT -- UN ENVOY
LONG-TERM INVESTMENT CRUCIAL FOR SOMALIA'S RECOVERY, DEVELOPMENT -- UN ENVOY
New York, May 31 2012 12:10PM
The top United Nations official for Somalia today called for greater investment in the Horn of Africa nation, as international partners gathered to renew their commitment to the country's recovery and development and to support the ongoing political transition.
"Somali people need sustained long-term investments," the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Augustine Mahiga, told the second international conference on Somalia, being held in Istanbul, Turkey.
"A paradigm shift in international assistance will allow partners of Somalia build the resilience of Somali households, communities and local institutions against crises in the medium and long-term," he added. "This will take real partnerships, strategic vision and integrated multi-sectoral approaches and reliable multi-year funding."
Known as Istanbul II, the two-day conference brings together the private sector, do
nors, Somali authorities, the UN and civil society to focus on the country's recovery and development as well as support for its political transition.
After decades of warfare, Somalia has been undergoing a peace and national reconciliation process, with the country's Transitional Federal Institutions currently implementing the roadmap, devised in September last year, that spells out priority measures to be carried out before the current transitional governing arrangements end on 20 August.
The conference features four partnership forums being held today that will set priorities for resilience, energy, water and roads.
"To move onto a new development trajectory, we need to invest in Somalia's considerable potential in both productive and service sectors," Mr. Mahiga said.
He added that expanding access to cheaper and sustainable energy is a top priority for Somalia and its partners, as improved access to affordable energy will lift the constraints on economic growth and allow t
he Somali private sector to expand and flourish.
Efficient use of scarce water is essential for the well-being and economic development of the population, he continued, while investment in the right roads can deliver employment, enable equitable development and bolster the much needed investment in resilience.
"Across all the four themes, good governance principles to promote a business-conducive environment should be applied by the authorities, the development partners and the private sector," said the envoy. "Transparency and accountability by all stakeholders will help build the confidence that large-scale investments will translate quickly to improvements in the lives of ordinary Somalis."
May 31 2012 12:10PM
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New York, May 31 2012 12:10PM
The top United Nations official for Somalia today called for greater investment in the Horn of Africa nation, as international partners gathered to renew their commitment to the country's recovery and development and to support the ongoing political transition.
"Somali people need sustained long-term investments," the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Augustine Mahiga, told the second international conference on Somalia, being held in Istanbul, Turkey.
"A paradigm shift in international assistance will allow partners of Somalia build the resilience of Somali households, communities and local institutions against crises in the medium and long-term," he added. "This will take real partnerships, strategic vision and integrated multi-sectoral approaches and reliable multi-year funding."
Known as Istanbul II, the two-day conference brings together the private sector, do
nors, Somali authorities, the UN and civil society to focus on the country's recovery and development as well as support for its political transition.
After decades of warfare, Somalia has been undergoing a peace and national reconciliation process, with the country's Transitional Federal Institutions currently implementing the roadmap, devised in September last year, that spells out priority measures to be carried out before the current transitional governing arrangements end on 20 August.
The conference features four partnership forums being held today that will set priorities for resilience, energy, water and roads.
"To move onto a new development trajectory, we need to invest in Somalia's considerable potential in both productive and service sectors," Mr. Mahiga said.
He added that expanding access to cheaper and sustainable energy is a top priority for Somalia and its partners, as improved access to affordable energy will lift the constraints on economic growth and allow t
he Somali private sector to expand and flourish.
Efficient use of scarce water is essential for the well-being and economic development of the population, he continued, while investment in the right roads can deliver employment, enable equitable development and bolster the much needed investment in resilience.
"Across all the four themes, good governance principles to promote a business-conducive environment should be applied by the authorities, the development partners and the private sector," said the envoy. "Transparency and accountability by all stakeholders will help build the confidence that large-scale investments will translate quickly to improvements in the lives of ordinary Somalis."
May 31 2012 12:10PM
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UN-ARAB LEAGUE ENVOY DISCUSSES SITUATION IN SYRIA WITH KING OF JORDAN
UN-ARAB LEAGUE ENVOY DISCUSSES SITUATION IN SYRIA WITH KING OF JORDAN
New York, May 31 2012 10:10AM
The Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League for the Syrian Crisis, Kofi Annan, today met with King Adbullah II Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, for talks on developments in neighbouring Syria.
"They discussed the complexity of the crisis in Syria and its potential impact on the region," Mr. Annan's spokesperson said in statement. "The Joint Special Envoy briefed him on his recent visit to Damascus and on his efforts to push for full implementation of the six-point plan. They agreed on the importance of ending the violence and finding a political solution."
Earlier this week, the Joint Special Envoy had been in Damascus where he met President Bashar al-Assad. He then travelled to Jordan where he met, yesterday, its Prime Minister Fayez al-Tarawneh and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, with whom he also discussed the situation in Syria.
The UN estimates that more than 9,
000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Syria and tens of thousands displaced since the uprising against President al-Assad began some 15 months ago. Jordan has received Syrian refugees who have fled the violence in their country.
The six-point plan -- put forward by Mr. Annan in March this year -- calls for an end to violence, access for humanitarian agencies to provide relief to those in need, the release of detainees, the start of inclusive political dialogue that takes into account the aspirations of the Syrian people, and unrestricted access to the country for the international media.
May 31 2012 10:10AM
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New York, May 31 2012 10:10AM
The Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League for the Syrian Crisis, Kofi Annan, today met with King Adbullah II Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, for talks on developments in neighbouring Syria.
"They discussed the complexity of the crisis in Syria and its potential impact on the region," Mr. Annan's spokesperson said in statement. "The Joint Special Envoy briefed him on his recent visit to Damascus and on his efforts to push for full implementation of the six-point plan. They agreed on the importance of ending the violence and finding a political solution."
Earlier this week, the Joint Special Envoy had been in Damascus where he met President Bashar al-Assad. He then travelled to Jordan where he met, yesterday, its Prime Minister Fayez al-Tarawneh and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, with whom he also discussed the situation in Syria.
The UN estimates that more than 9,
000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Syria and tens of thousands displaced since the uprising against President al-Assad began some 15 months ago. Jordan has received Syrian refugees who have fled the violence in their country.
The six-point plan -- put forward by Mr. Annan in March this year -- calls for an end to violence, access for humanitarian agencies to provide relief to those in need, the release of detainees, the start of inclusive political dialogue that takes into account the aspirations of the Syrian people, and unrestricted access to the country for the international media.
May 31 2012 10:10AM
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SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES LESOTHO FOR HOLDING OF PEACEFUL ELECTIONS
SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES LESOTHO FOR HOLDING OF PEACEFUL ELECTIONS
New York, May 31 2012 9:10AM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulates the people of Lesotho for conducting peaceful elections recently for the African country's National Assembly, his spokesperson said overnight.
"The Secretary-General acknowledges that this is an important step for Lesotho in the consolidation of peace following the two-year mediation process that concluded in 2011," the spokesperson said in a statement. "He further encourages all political parties to move forward in the democratic process peacefully and in accordance with the constitution."
According to media reports, in the parliamentary elections held on 26 May, the Democratic Congress party won 41 of 80 seats, while the All Basotho Convention, the main opposition, secured 26 seats.
Mr. Ban's spokesperson added that the Secretary-General welcomes the professional work of the Independent Electoral Commission as well as the internat
ional and local electoral observer missions.
In April 2011, a two-year mediation process to peacefully resolve grievances stemming from disputed earlier polls in Lesotho successfully came to an end. The dispute followed the February 2007 general elections -- the fifth elections to be held in the small African nation since it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 -- regarding the allocation of the seats in the Parliament based on proportional representation.
May 31 2012 9:10AM
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New York, May 31 2012 9:10AM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulates the people of Lesotho for conducting peaceful elections recently for the African country's National Assembly, his spokesperson said overnight.
"The Secretary-General acknowledges that this is an important step for Lesotho in the consolidation of peace following the two-year mediation process that concluded in 2011," the spokesperson said in a statement. "He further encourages all political parties to move forward in the democratic process peacefully and in accordance with the constitution."
According to media reports, in the parliamentary elections held on 26 May, the Democratic Congress party won 41 of 80 seats, while the All Basotho Convention, the main opposition, secured 26 seats.
Mr. Ban's spokesperson added that the Secretary-General welcomes the professional work of the Independent Electoral Commission as well as the internat
ional and local electoral observer missions.
In April 2011, a two-year mediation process to peacefully resolve grievances stemming from disputed earlier polls in Lesotho successfully came to an end. The dispute followed the February 2007 general elections -- the fifth elections to be held in the small African nation since it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 -- regarding the allocation of the seats in the Parliament based on proportional representation.
May 31 2012 9:10AM
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Wednesday, May 30, 2012
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MOLDOVA MUST IMPLEMENT LAWS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION BASED ON GENDER – UN EXPERTS
MOLDOVA MUST IMPLEMENT LAWS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION BASED ON GENDER – UN EXPERTS
New York, May 30 2012 7:10PM
A group of United Nations independent human rights experts today urged the Government of Moldova to ensure the implementation of the country's non-discrimination legislation to accelerate progress on gender equality and ensure the protection of women's rights.
"We call on the Moldovan authorities to strengthen institutional and financial mechanisms to ensure coherent and effective implementation of the legal framework on equality between men and women," the head of the UN Working Group on discrimination against women in law and practice, Kamala Chandrakirana, said in a <"http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=12199&LangID=E">news release.
The group spent ten days in the country, where it met with Government officials, representatives of the legislative and judicial branches, the national human rights institution, civil society organizations and religious institutions, as well as women of the Roma community.
The experts stressed that there are critical gaps between the law and its implementation. For example, the group found obstacles to enforce legislation properly in cases of domestic violence and trafficking. Eleonora Zielinska, another group member, said there is "a gender bias in the way rape and other sexual offences are investigated and prosecuted."
The experts also drew attention to employers' preferences for hiring women without family responsibilities and under the age of 45, the existence of a de facto wage gap between men and women, and various cases of unfair dismissal linked to pregnancy, including in the police force.
"In light of Moldova's economic situation, it is regrettable that discriminatory practices continue to be perpetuated and impede women's full and equal participation in the labour market," Ms. Chandrakirana said.
The experts urged the Government to conduct gender-sensitive periodic monitoring and review the situation of Moldova's workers, inside and outside the country.
"Special measures should be taken to overcome the under-representation of women in decision-making positions at all levels, including the regional, district and local levels," said Ms. Chandrakirana, warning that Moldovan women active in political and public life face stigmatization and discrimination based on gender stereotypes.
"These discrepancies are discriminatory in practice, and measures should be taken to address them," she added.
The rights experts also noted a void in the national human rights mechanisms to address violations of women's rights, and stressed that women who face multiple forms of discrimination – such as women members of religious minority groups, women with disabilities, Roma women, migrant women and women who are lesbian, bisexual and transgender – require an effective mechanism to monitor their situation.
The Working Group will present its final conclusions and recommendations of the visit in its report to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2013.
The UN Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice is composed of five independent experts from all regions of the world: Kamala Chandrakirana of Indonesia, Emna Aouij of Tunisia, Mercedes Barquet of México; Frances Raday of Israel and the United Kingdom and Eleonora Zielinska of Poland.
May 30 2012 7:10PM
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New York, May 30 2012 7:10PM
A group of United Nations independent human rights experts today urged the Government of Moldova to ensure the implementation of the country's non-discrimination legislation to accelerate progress on gender equality and ensure the protection of women's rights.
"We call on the Moldovan authorities to strengthen institutional and financial mechanisms to ensure coherent and effective implementation of the legal framework on equality between men and women," the head of the UN Working Group on discrimination against women in law and practice, Kamala Chandrakirana, said in a <"http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=12199&LangID=E">news release.
The group spent ten days in the country, where it met with Government officials, representatives of the legislative and judicial branches, the national human rights institution, civil society organizations and religious institutions, as well as women of the Roma community.
The experts stressed that there are critical gaps between the law and its implementation. For example, the group found obstacles to enforce legislation properly in cases of domestic violence and trafficking. Eleonora Zielinska, another group member, said there is "a gender bias in the way rape and other sexual offences are investigated and prosecuted."
The experts also drew attention to employers' preferences for hiring women without family responsibilities and under the age of 45, the existence of a de facto wage gap between men and women, and various cases of unfair dismissal linked to pregnancy, including in the police force.
"In light of Moldova's economic situation, it is regrettable that discriminatory practices continue to be perpetuated and impede women's full and equal participation in the labour market," Ms. Chandrakirana said.
The experts urged the Government to conduct gender-sensitive periodic monitoring and review the situation of Moldova's workers, inside and outside the country.
"Special measures should be taken to overcome the under-representation of women in decision-making positions at all levels, including the regional, district and local levels," said Ms. Chandrakirana, warning that Moldovan women active in political and public life face stigmatization and discrimination based on gender stereotypes.
"These discrepancies are discriminatory in practice, and measures should be taken to address them," she added.
The rights experts also noted a void in the national human rights mechanisms to address violations of women's rights, and stressed that women who face multiple forms of discrimination – such as women members of religious minority groups, women with disabilities, Roma women, migrant women and women who are lesbian, bisexual and transgender – require an effective mechanism to monitor their situation.
The Working Group will present its final conclusions and recommendations of the visit in its report to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2013.
The UN Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice is composed of five independent experts from all regions of the world: Kamala Chandrakirana of Indonesia, Emna Aouij of Tunisia, Mercedes Barquet of México; Frances Raday of Israel and the United Kingdom and Eleonora Zielinska of Poland.
May 30 2012 7:10PM
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UN REPORTS DROP IN CIVILIAN CASUALTIES IN AFGHANISTAN IN 2012
UN REPORTS DROP IN CIVILIAN CASUALTIES IN AFGHANISTAN IN 2012
New York, May 30 2012 7:10PM
The number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan in the first four months of 2012 is 21 per cent lower than during the same period last year, the top United Nations envoy in the country <"http://unama.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1741&ctl=Details&mid=1882&ItemID=17021">reported today, while adding that deaths continued to occur at "unacceptable" levels.
A study conducted by the human rights section of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) found there were 579 civilian casualties and 1,216 injuries from 1 January to 30 April this year – the first time that civilian casualty figures have dropped since UNAMA began compiling these figures in 2007.
The vast majority of the deaths this year – 79 per cent – were attributed to actions by anti-government elements. Pro-government forces accounted for nine per cent of the deaths, and 12 per cent of the casualties were unattributed.
"Civilian casualties continue to occur at unacceptable levels," the Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of UNAMA, Ján Kubiš, told a <"http://unama.unmissions.org/Portals/UNAMA/Press%20Statements/May_30_2012_SRSG_Press_Conference_Transcript.pdf">news conference in Kabul.
"Regretfully, the anti-government forces don't show respect for civilians," he added, noting that the use of landmines and suicide bombers by these forces is "totally unacceptable."
The annual report on protection of civilians in armed conflict, prepared by UNAMA and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and released in February, recorded 3,021 civilian deaths in 2011 – an increase of eight per cent on the previous year's total of 2,790.
Since 2007, at least 11,860 civilians have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan between the Government, backed by international forces, and the Taliban and other insurgent groups.
May 30 2012 7:10PM
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New York, May 30 2012 7:10PM
The number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan in the first four months of 2012 is 21 per cent lower than during the same period last year, the top United Nations envoy in the country <"http://unama.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1741&ctl=Details&mid=1882&ItemID=17021">reported today, while adding that deaths continued to occur at "unacceptable" levels.
A study conducted by the human rights section of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) found there were 579 civilian casualties and 1,216 injuries from 1 January to 30 April this year – the first time that civilian casualty figures have dropped since UNAMA began compiling these figures in 2007.
The vast majority of the deaths this year – 79 per cent – were attributed to actions by anti-government elements. Pro-government forces accounted for nine per cent of the deaths, and 12 per cent of the casualties were unattributed.
"Civilian casualties continue to occur at unacceptable levels," the Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of UNAMA, Ján Kubiš, told a <"http://unama.unmissions.org/Portals/UNAMA/Press%20Statements/May_30_2012_SRSG_Press_Conference_Transcript.pdf">news conference in Kabul.
"Regretfully, the anti-government forces don't show respect for civilians," he added, noting that the use of landmines and suicide bombers by these forces is "totally unacceptable."
The annual report on protection of civilians in armed conflict, prepared by UNAMA and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and released in February, recorded 3,021 civilian deaths in 2011 – an increase of eight per cent on the previous year's total of 2,790.
Since 2007, at least 11,860 civilians have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan between the Government, backed by international forces, and the Taliban and other insurgent groups.
May 30 2012 7:10PM
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HUNGER ERADICATION ESSENTIAL TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – UN FOOD AGENCY
HUNGER ERADICATION ESSENTIAL TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – UN FOOD AGENCY
New York, May 30 2012 6:10PM
Sustainable development will not be achieved unless hunger and malnutrition are eradicated, the United Nations food agency warned today in a new report.
"We cannot call development sustainable while this situation persists, while nearly one out of every seven men, women and children are left behind, victims of undernourishment," said the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), José Graziano da Silva, in a <"http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/146179/icode/">news release.
In the <"http://www.fao.org/docrep/015/an894e/an894e00.pdf">report – entitled <em>Towards the future we want: end hunger and make the transition to sustainable agricultural and food systems</em> – prepared for the UN Sustainable Development Conference (Rio+20), which will be held in Brazil next month, FAO stresses the need to address the flaws in the current food system so that hundreds of millions of people in developing countries have the means to produce or purchase the food they need for their own consumption and income.
"The quest for food security can be the common thread that links the different challenges we face and helps build a sustainable future," Mr.Graziano da Silva said. "At the Rio Summit we have the golden opportunity to explore the convergence between the agendas of food security and sustainability to ensure that happens."
The report urges governments to establish and protect rights to resources, incorporate incentives for sustainable consumption and production into food systems, promote fair and well-functioning agricultural and food markets, and invest public resources in public goods, especially innovation and infrastructure, among other measures.
The report also provides recommendations to help farmers who operate 500 million small farms in developing countries and whose resources are limited due to insufficient access to food and nutrition.
In addition, it notes the need to change consumption patterns in the developed world to reduce food waste. FAO estimates that global food losses and waste amount to 1.3 billion tonnes per year, which represents roughly one-third of the world food production for human consumption.
To be able to feed the expected global population of nine billion people in 2050, an improved governance of the food an agricultural system is required, the report stresses.
"Unless purposeful action is taken, the increase in food production of 60 per cent needed to meet effective demand will still leave behind over 300 million people who are expected to suffer from chronic hunger in 2050 because they will remain without the means to access food," FAO noted.
May 30 2012 6:10PM
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New York, May 30 2012 6:10PM
Sustainable development will not be achieved unless hunger and malnutrition are eradicated, the United Nations food agency warned today in a new report.
"We cannot call development sustainable while this situation persists, while nearly one out of every seven men, women and children are left behind, victims of undernourishment," said the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), José Graziano da Silva, in a <"http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/146179/icode/">news release.
In the <"http://www.fao.org/docrep/015/an894e/an894e00.pdf">report – entitled <em>Towards the future we want: end hunger and make the transition to sustainable agricultural and food systems</em> – prepared for the UN Sustainable Development Conference (Rio+20), which will be held in Brazil next month, FAO stresses the need to address the flaws in the current food system so that hundreds of millions of people in developing countries have the means to produce or purchase the food they need for their own consumption and income.
"The quest for food security can be the common thread that links the different challenges we face and helps build a sustainable future," Mr.Graziano da Silva said. "At the Rio Summit we have the golden opportunity to explore the convergence between the agendas of food security and sustainability to ensure that happens."
The report urges governments to establish and protect rights to resources, incorporate incentives for sustainable consumption and production into food systems, promote fair and well-functioning agricultural and food markets, and invest public resources in public goods, especially innovation and infrastructure, among other measures.
The report also provides recommendations to help farmers who operate 500 million small farms in developing countries and whose resources are limited due to insufficient access to food and nutrition.
In addition, it notes the need to change consumption patterns in the developed world to reduce food waste. FAO estimates that global food losses and waste amount to 1.3 billion tonnes per year, which represents roughly one-third of the world food production for human consumption.
To be able to feed the expected global population of nine billion people in 2050, an improved governance of the food an agricultural system is required, the report stresses.
"Unless purposeful action is taken, the increase in food production of 60 per cent needed to meet effective demand will still leave behind over 300 million people who are expected to suffer from chronic hunger in 2050 because they will remain without the means to access food," FAO noted.
May 30 2012 6:10PM
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CHIEF UN OBSERVER 'DEEPLY DISTURBED' AFTER MORE BODIES FOUND IN SYRIA
CHIEF UN OBSERVER 'DEEPLY DISTURBED' AFTER MORE BODIES FOUND IN SYRIA
New York, May 30 2012 3:10PM
The head of the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) said today he was "deeply disturbed" after the discovery of 13 more bodies last night, just days after UN observers confirmed the killing of over 100 men, women and children in the village of Houla.
UN observers reported that the 13 bodies were discovered in the area of Assukar, 50 kilometres east of the city of Deir Ez-Zor, in eastern Syria. All the bodies had their hands tied behind their backs and some appear to have been shot in the head from a short distance, according to UNSMIS.
Major-General Robert Mood is "deeply disturbed by this appalling and inexcusable act," said an UNSMIS statement, adding that "he calls on all parties to exercise restraint and end the cycle violence for the sake of Syria and the Syrian people."
The UN estimates that more than 9,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Syria
and tens of thousands displaced since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began some 15 months ago.
The massacre in Houla last weekend, which was strongly condemned by the Security Council and a host of UN officials, will be the subject of a special session of the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council on Friday. This will be the Council's fourth special session on Syria since the crisis in the Middle Eastern country began some 15 months ago.
Following a briefing by video-conference to the Security Council on the latest developments, the Deputy Joint Special Envoy of the UN and the Arab League for the Syrian Crisis, Jean-Marie Guehenno, today told reporters in Geneva that it is important that Member States and the Human Rights Council discuss the situation in Syria.
"Particularly on the Houla massacre, it's important that the truth, the facts be established in a way that nobody can challenge," Mr. Guehenno said. "That is essential."
He said he told the Council that the
parties need to re-commit to a full cessation of violence: "The Government of Syria needs to take steps to convince, I would say, not only the international community but more importantly the Syrian people that it is ready for a new course."
This needs to be demonstrated through "concrete and significant" gestures on the cessation of violence, as well as on the issue of detainees and humanitarian access, he added.
"Most importantly, all Syrians must convince themselves that guns cannot be the solution," Mr. Guehenno noted. "Only political negotiations, as envisioned in the six-point plan, can restore genuine peace and stability to the country."
The six-point plan -- put forward by Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan in March this year -- calls for an end to violence, access for humanitarian agencies to provide relief to those in need, the release of detainees, the start of inclusive political dialogue that takes into account the aspirations of the Syrian people, and unrestricted acces
s to the country for the international media.
May 30 2012 3:10PM
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New York, May 30 2012 3:10PM
The head of the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) said today he was "deeply disturbed" after the discovery of 13 more bodies last night, just days after UN observers confirmed the killing of over 100 men, women and children in the village of Houla.
UN observers reported that the 13 bodies were discovered in the area of Assukar, 50 kilometres east of the city of Deir Ez-Zor, in eastern Syria. All the bodies had their hands tied behind their backs and some appear to have been shot in the head from a short distance, according to UNSMIS.
Major-General Robert Mood is "deeply disturbed by this appalling and inexcusable act," said an UNSMIS statement, adding that "he calls on all parties to exercise restraint and end the cycle violence for the sake of Syria and the Syrian people."
The UN estimates that more than 9,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Syria
and tens of thousands displaced since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began some 15 months ago.
The massacre in Houla last weekend, which was strongly condemned by the Security Council and a host of UN officials, will be the subject of a special session of the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council on Friday. This will be the Council's fourth special session on Syria since the crisis in the Middle Eastern country began some 15 months ago.
Following a briefing by video-conference to the Security Council on the latest developments, the Deputy Joint Special Envoy of the UN and the Arab League for the Syrian Crisis, Jean-Marie Guehenno, today told reporters in Geneva that it is important that Member States and the Human Rights Council discuss the situation in Syria.
"Particularly on the Houla massacre, it's important that the truth, the facts be established in a way that nobody can challenge," Mr. Guehenno said. "That is essential."
He said he told the Council that the
parties need to re-commit to a full cessation of violence: "The Government of Syria needs to take steps to convince, I would say, not only the international community but more importantly the Syrian people that it is ready for a new course."
This needs to be demonstrated through "concrete and significant" gestures on the cessation of violence, as well as on the issue of detainees and humanitarian access, he added.
"Most importantly, all Syrians must convince themselves that guns cannot be the solution," Mr. Guehenno noted. "Only political negotiations, as envisioned in the six-point plan, can restore genuine peace and stability to the country."
The six-point plan -- put forward by Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan in March this year -- calls for an end to violence, access for humanitarian agencies to provide relief to those in need, the release of detainees, the start of inclusive political dialogue that takes into account the aspirations of the Syrian people, and unrestricted acces
s to the country for the international media.
May 30 2012 3:10PM
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UN REPORT: HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN IRAQ REMAINS FRAGILE
UN REPORT: HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN IRAQ REMAINS FRAGILE
New York, May 30 2012 2:10PM
The human rights situation in Iraq remains fragile as the country continues its transition to peace and democracy after years of violence, according to a United Nations report released today, noting that Government efforts to protect and promote the rights of its citizens need to be increased.
"This report highlights a number of shortcomings, some of which are of serious concern and need to be urgently addressed by the Iraqi authorities. There is no democracy without respect for human rights," the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq, Martin Kobler, said in a news release.
The report is a periodic once on the Middle Eastern country's human rights situation, prepared by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) -- which Mr. Kobler heads -- in cooperation with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The report recognizes that the Government has made progr
ess in implementing measures to improve the situation, but notes that the impact of these measures is still limited.
"Steps have been taken to improve the human rights record of Iraq, including the establishment of the much needed Independent Human Rights Commission on 9 April 2012, but a lot more needs to be done," Mr. Kobler said. "Human rights, including social and economic rights, need to be enforced, respected and protected for all Iraqis everywhere in Iraq."
The report indicates that the overall human rights situation in the Kurdistan Region has improved, in particular due to legislative reforms undertaken by the Kurdistan regional government. However, there remain concerns about deficiencies in respect for freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and the protection of journalists.
In a news release, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, noted that the report highlights serious concerns about the administration of justice and the lack of respect for due
process rights in Iraq.
"Individuals continue to be arrested and detained for prolonged periods without being charged and without access to legal counsel. Prisoner and detainee abuse and torture are also occurring across the country," Ms. Pillay said. "I urge the Iraqi authorities to prioritise the firm establishment of the rule of law and human rights in Iraq and bring an end to such abuses."
The human rights chief also called on the authorities to ensure that journalists and human rights defenders are able to perform their work without fear of harassment and violence.
May 30 2012 2:10PM
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New York, May 30 2012 2:10PM
The human rights situation in Iraq remains fragile as the country continues its transition to peace and democracy after years of violence, according to a United Nations report released today, noting that Government efforts to protect and promote the rights of its citizens need to be increased.
"This report highlights a number of shortcomings, some of which are of serious concern and need to be urgently addressed by the Iraqi authorities. There is no democracy without respect for human rights," the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq, Martin Kobler, said in a news release.
The report is a periodic once on the Middle Eastern country's human rights situation, prepared by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) -- which Mr. Kobler heads -- in cooperation with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The report recognizes that the Government has made progr
ess in implementing measures to improve the situation, but notes that the impact of these measures is still limited.
"Steps have been taken to improve the human rights record of Iraq, including the establishment of the much needed Independent Human Rights Commission on 9 April 2012, but a lot more needs to be done," Mr. Kobler said. "Human rights, including social and economic rights, need to be enforced, respected and protected for all Iraqis everywhere in Iraq."
The report indicates that the overall human rights situation in the Kurdistan Region has improved, in particular due to legislative reforms undertaken by the Kurdistan regional government. However, there remain concerns about deficiencies in respect for freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and the protection of journalists.
In a news release, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, noted that the report highlights serious concerns about the administration of justice and the lack of respect for due
process rights in Iraq.
"Individuals continue to be arrested and detained for prolonged periods without being charged and without access to legal counsel. Prisoner and detainee abuse and torture are also occurring across the country," Ms. Pillay said. "I urge the Iraqi authorities to prioritise the firm establishment of the rule of law and human rights in Iraq and bring an end to such abuses."
The human rights chief also called on the authorities to ensure that journalists and human rights defenders are able to perform their work without fear of harassment and violence.
May 30 2012 2:10PM
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IMPACT OF JOBS CRISIS ON YOUTH AMONG ISSUES ON AGENDA OF UN LABOUR CONFERENCE
IMPACT OF JOBS CRISIS ON YOUTH AMONG ISSUES ON AGENDA OF UN LABOUR CONFERENCE
New York, May 30 2012 1:10PM
Nearly 5,000 delegates today kicked off a United Nations forum in Geneva focusing on the global jobs crisis and its impact on youth, as well as social protection and rights at work.
The <"http://www.ilo.org/ilc/ILCSessions/101stSession/lang--en/index.htm">101st International Labour Conference comes at a time when around 30 million people have been added to the unemployed since the 2008 financial crisis, and nearly 40 million more have stopped looking for employment, according to the UN International Labour Organization (ILO).
"We know that it's time for a policy rethink," ILO's Director-General, Juan Somavia, <"http://bit.ly/JVex4N">told the opening session, noting that some 45-50 million new jobs are needed each year, over the next five years, just to get back to the pre-crisis job situation.
Mr. Somavia highlighted, in particular, the impact of the crisis on the world's young people, noting that "we have been failing our young women and men for some time now."
"Generally, youth jobless rates are nearly three times that of adults. This is without the many millions worldwide who have become discouraged and stopped looking for work. Furthermore, those who do get a job are likely to be working part time, on temporary contracts, in the informal economy, or precarious work," he said. "There is little intergenerational solidarity when the adult generation who formulates policy, lets the young generation carry a heavy share of the burden of the crises."
To involve youth in the ILO conference discussions, the agency held 46 consultations with some 5,000 youth representatives across regions, culminating in the World Youth Forum held last week in Geneva, ahead of the conference.
"This is innovation at work," said Mr. Somavia. "The several thousands who assembled in these forums and online are the beginnings of an ILO youth network to connect us with the ideas and needs of young women and men."
Discussions over the next two weeks will also focus on the elaboration of a recommendation on the issue of social protection. Only 20 per cent of the world's population has adequate social security coverage and more than half lack any coverage at all, according to the ILO, which actively promotes policies and provides assistance to countries to help extend adequate levels of social protection to all members of society.
"Establishing social protection floors, respecting the diversity of country situations, is about promoting human dignity," said Mr. Somavia. "It is a basic contribution to reduce poverty, to empower people and to expand aggregate economic demand. It is a commitment to a decent society, a platform that enables hundreds of millions of women, men and children to progress on a strong footing."
Also on the agenda is promoting fundamental principles and rights at work, which the Director-General said takes on even greater significance amid a "weak and fragile" global recovery.
The discussions will be "critical" in securing more effective action for their realization, he stated, adding that "greater respect for what are today universally accepted basic 'rules of the game' for the world of work is urgently needed."
Mr. Somavia, who will step down as ILO chief in September, reminded delegates to keep in mind how much their discussions over the next two weeks make a difference to the world.
"I call on you to visualize the expectations of youth struggling for quality jobs, of people living in poverty for social protection, of workers' demand for fundamental rights," he said.
The 101st International Labour Conference will also discuss the situation in Myanmar and hear an address by Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel laureate and Chairperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Myanmar, on 14 June.
May 30 2012 1:10PM
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New York, May 30 2012 1:10PM
Nearly 5,000 delegates today kicked off a United Nations forum in Geneva focusing on the global jobs crisis and its impact on youth, as well as social protection and rights at work.
The <"http://www.ilo.org/ilc/ILCSessions/101stSession/lang--en/index.htm">101st International Labour Conference comes at a time when around 30 million people have been added to the unemployed since the 2008 financial crisis, and nearly 40 million more have stopped looking for employment, according to the UN International Labour Organization (ILO).
"We know that it's time for a policy rethink," ILO's Director-General, Juan Somavia, <"http://bit.ly/JVex4N">told the opening session, noting that some 45-50 million new jobs are needed each year, over the next five years, just to get back to the pre-crisis job situation.
Mr. Somavia highlighted, in particular, the impact of the crisis on the world's young people, noting that "we have been failing our young women and men for some time now."
"Generally, youth jobless rates are nearly three times that of adults. This is without the many millions worldwide who have become discouraged and stopped looking for work. Furthermore, those who do get a job are likely to be working part time, on temporary contracts, in the informal economy, or precarious work," he said. "There is little intergenerational solidarity when the adult generation who formulates policy, lets the young generation carry a heavy share of the burden of the crises."
To involve youth in the ILO conference discussions, the agency held 46 consultations with some 5,000 youth representatives across regions, culminating in the World Youth Forum held last week in Geneva, ahead of the conference.
"This is innovation at work," said Mr. Somavia. "The several thousands who assembled in these forums and online are the beginnings of an ILO youth network to connect us with the ideas and needs of young women and men."
Discussions over the next two weeks will also focus on the elaboration of a recommendation on the issue of social protection. Only 20 per cent of the world's population has adequate social security coverage and more than half lack any coverage at all, according to the ILO, which actively promotes policies and provides assistance to countries to help extend adequate levels of social protection to all members of society.
"Establishing social protection floors, respecting the diversity of country situations, is about promoting human dignity," said Mr. Somavia. "It is a basic contribution to reduce poverty, to empower people and to expand aggregate economic demand. It is a commitment to a decent society, a platform that enables hundreds of millions of women, men and children to progress on a strong footing."
Also on the agenda is promoting fundamental principles and rights at work, which the Director-General said takes on even greater significance amid a "weak and fragile" global recovery.
The discussions will be "critical" in securing more effective action for their realization, he stated, adding that "greater respect for what are today universally accepted basic 'rules of the game' for the world of work is urgently needed."
Mr. Somavia, who will step down as ILO chief in September, reminded delegates to keep in mind how much their discussions over the next two weeks make a difference to the world.
"I call on you to visualize the expectations of youth struggling for quality jobs, of people living in poverty for social protection, of workers' demand for fundamental rights," he said.
The 101st International Labour Conference will also discuss the situation in Myanmar and hear an address by Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel laureate and Chairperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Myanmar, on 14 June.
May 30 2012 1:10PM
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UN CHIEF WELCOMES WITHDRAWAL OF SUDANESE TROOPS FROM BORDER FLASHPOINT AREA
UN CHIEF WELCOMES WITHDRAWAL OF SUDANESE TROOPS FROM BORDER FLASHPOINT AREA
New York, May 30 2012 1:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes the full withdrawal of Sudan's military from the disputed Abyei area yesterday and calls on its Government to withdraw all remaining armed police forces, his spokesperson said today.
"He urges the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to immediately establish the Abyei Area Administration to provide the governance needed for civilians in the area to live in peace, as well as the other bodies provided under the 20 June 2011 Agreement on Temporary Security Arrangements for Abyei," Mr. Ban's spokesperson added in a statement, noting that the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNIFSA) had confirmed the withdrawal.
South Sudan became independent from Sudan in July last year, six years after the signing of a peace agreement that ended decades of warfare between the north and south. However, the peace between the two countries has been threa
tened by clashes along their common border and outstanding post-independence issues, including the ownership of the Abyei area which straddles the two countries.
Established by the Security Council in June 2011, following an outbreak of violence after Sudanese troops took control of the area weeks before South Sudan became independent, UNIFSA is charged with monitoring the situation on the ground. It is also authorized to use force in protecting civilians and humanitarian workers.
Mr. Ban's spokesperson noted that the Secretary-General welcomes the resumption of post-secession negotiations between the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan under the auspices of the African Union (AU) High-Level Implementation Panel.
The UN chief also encourages the two Governments to display the "leadership necessary to resolve all outstanding issues within the time frame proposed by the African Union Peace and Security Council Communiqué of 24 April 2012 and the UN Security Council resolution 2046
of 2 May 2012," the spokesperson said.
The AU communiqué contained a roadmap, for implementation by both Sudan and South Sudan, as well as a time-frame, aimed at helping ease tensions, facilitate the resumption of negotiations on post-secession relations and normalizing their relations.
The Security Council's resolution 2046 called on the two countries to immediately end hostilities and resume negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues -- including Abyei. It also voiced the 15-member body's intention to take "appropriate measures" if the parties do not comply.
In his statement, Mr. Ban's spokesperson added that the Secretary-General calls upon both Governments to activate the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism to help ensure the security of their common border.
May 30 2012 1:10PM
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New York, May 30 2012 1:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes the full withdrawal of Sudan's military from the disputed Abyei area yesterday and calls on its Government to withdraw all remaining armed police forces, his spokesperson said today.
"He urges the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to immediately establish the Abyei Area Administration to provide the governance needed for civilians in the area to live in peace, as well as the other bodies provided under the 20 June 2011 Agreement on Temporary Security Arrangements for Abyei," Mr. Ban's spokesperson added in a statement, noting that the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNIFSA) had confirmed the withdrawal.
South Sudan became independent from Sudan in July last year, six years after the signing of a peace agreement that ended decades of warfare between the north and south. However, the peace between the two countries has been threa
tened by clashes along their common border and outstanding post-independence issues, including the ownership of the Abyei area which straddles the two countries.
Established by the Security Council in June 2011, following an outbreak of violence after Sudanese troops took control of the area weeks before South Sudan became independent, UNIFSA is charged with monitoring the situation on the ground. It is also authorized to use force in protecting civilians and humanitarian workers.
Mr. Ban's spokesperson noted that the Secretary-General welcomes the resumption of post-secession negotiations between the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan under the auspices of the African Union (AU) High-Level Implementation Panel.
The UN chief also encourages the two Governments to display the "leadership necessary to resolve all outstanding issues within the time frame proposed by the African Union Peace and Security Council Communiqué of 24 April 2012 and the UN Security Council resolution 2046
of 2 May 2012," the spokesperson said.
The AU communiqué contained a roadmap, for implementation by both Sudan and South Sudan, as well as a time-frame, aimed at helping ease tensions, facilitate the resumption of negotiations on post-secession relations and normalizing their relations.
The Security Council's resolution 2046 called on the two countries to immediately end hostilities and resume negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues -- including Abyei. It also voiced the 15-member body's intention to take "appropriate measures" if the parties do not comply.
In his statement, Mr. Ban's spokesperson added that the Secretary-General calls upon both Governments to activate the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism to help ensure the security of their common border.
May 30 2012 1:10PM
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ICC UPHOLDS DECISION TO DROP WAR CRIMES CHARGES AGAINST RWANDAN REBEL LEADER
ICC UPHOLDS DECISION TO DROP WAR CRIMES CHARGES AGAINST RWANDAN REBEL LEADER
New York, May 30 2012 12:10PM
Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) today dismissed the Prosecution's appeal against the decision to drop war crimes charges against a Rwandan rebel leader for his alleged role in deadly fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2009.
The unanimous decision by the Appeals Chamber comes more than five months after the Pre-Trial Chamber decided not to confirm the charges against Callixte Mbarushimana and ordered that he be released from the custody of the ICC, which is based in The Hague.
Mr. Mbarushimana, the head of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (known by their French acronym FDLR), was accused of murder, torture, rape, attacks against civilians, the destruction of property, inhuman treatment and persecution.
FDLR forces fought against DRC Government forces, Rwandan Government forces and UN peacekeepers in North Kivu and South Kivu throughout 2009. In the decision handed down last December, ICC judges said there were substantial grounds to believe FDLR soldiers had committed several war crimes in various villages during that period.
However, they added that, while acts amounting to war crimes were likely to have been committed on five of the 25 occasions outlined by prosecutors, there was not enough evidence to show that such acts were part of a course of conduct equalling "an attack directed against the civilian population," as defined under the law for crimes against humanity.
They further found that Mr. Mbarushimana did not provide any contribution to the commission of the alleged crimes.
In a news release, the Prosecution said it took note of the Appeals Chamber's decision today and is "evaluating the decision to see whether it is possible to present a new case against Mr Mbarushimana presenting additional evidence, in accordance with the Judges' ruling.".
The ICC is an independent, permanent court that investigates and prosecutes persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes if national authorities with jurisdiction are unwilling or unable to do so genuinely.
In addition to DRC, the Office of the Prosecutor is currently carrying out investigations in six other situations: northern Uganda, the Darfur region of Sudan, the Central African Republic, Kenya, Libya and Côte d'Ivoire.
May 30 2012 12:10PM
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New York, May 30 2012 12:10PM
Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) today dismissed the Prosecution's appeal against the decision to drop war crimes charges against a Rwandan rebel leader for his alleged role in deadly fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2009.
The unanimous decision by the Appeals Chamber comes more than five months after the Pre-Trial Chamber decided not to confirm the charges against Callixte Mbarushimana and ordered that he be released from the custody of the ICC, which is based in The Hague.
Mr. Mbarushimana, the head of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (known by their French acronym FDLR), was accused of murder, torture, rape, attacks against civilians, the destruction of property, inhuman treatment and persecution.
FDLR forces fought against DRC Government forces, Rwandan Government forces and UN peacekeepers in North Kivu and South Kivu throughout 2009. In the decision handed down last December, ICC judges said there were substantial grounds to believe FDLR soldiers had committed several war crimes in various villages during that period.
However, they added that, while acts amounting to war crimes were likely to have been committed on five of the 25 occasions outlined by prosecutors, there was not enough evidence to show that such acts were part of a course of conduct equalling "an attack directed against the civilian population," as defined under the law for crimes against humanity.
They further found that Mr. Mbarushimana did not provide any contribution to the commission of the alleged crimes.
In a news release, the Prosecution said it took note of the Appeals Chamber's decision today and is "evaluating the decision to see whether it is possible to present a new case against Mr Mbarushimana presenting additional evidence, in accordance with the Judges' ruling.".
The ICC is an independent, permanent court that investigates and prosecutes persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes if national authorities with jurisdiction are unwilling or unable to do so genuinely.
In addition to DRC, the Office of the Prosecutor is currently carrying out investigations in six other situations: northern Uganda, the Darfur region of Sudan, the Central African Republic, Kenya, Libya and Côte d'Ivoire.
May 30 2012 12:10PM
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