Buenos Aires conference advances efforts to adapt to climate change and meet Kyoto targets 27 December 2004
The
tenth-anniversary UN Conference on Climate Change concluded after adopting a
package of measures aimed at helping countries to prepare for climate change.
The Buenos Aires conference was attended by some 6,200 government officials, UN
and NGO observers and journalists.
Eliminating iodine deficiency worldwide is within reach 24 December 2004 | WHO
The number of countries where iodine deficiency is a public health problem
has halved over the past decade, says the World Health Organization (WHO) in a
new global report on iodine status. Iodine deficiency is a significant cause of
mental developmental problems in children. The main strategy - universal salt
iodization - has been successful. However, 54 countries are still
iodine-deficient and sustained efforts are required to strengthen salt
iodization programs, according to the report, Iodine status
worldwide.
UN nuclear watchdog launches new project for peaceful use of technology 23 December 2004
Furthering its mission to harness nuclear technology for peaceful uses, the UN watchdog entrusted with preventing the spread of nuclear weapons has launched a pilot project for collaboration with distinguished institutions around the world for research on such issues as plant breeding and genetics.
New UN publication advises how to reduce deaths from cervical cancer 22 December 2004 | WHO
Many of the quarter of a million deaths a year from cervical cancer worldwide could be avoided if women got affordable early screening and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions, according to a new manual endorsed by the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO).
Cereal stocks rise for first time in five years Global cereal output hits 20 December 2004
A significant surplus in cereal stocks is expected, for
the first time since 1999/2000 as global cereal production hits a record
2.04 billion tonnes in 2004, says FAO today in Food Outlook.9 December
2004, Rome - Global cereal production is expected to hit a record 2.04
billion tonnes in 2004, which would lead to an increase in cereal stocks
for the first time in five years, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) said today in the December issue of Food Outlook.
According to the FAO report: "With this level of production, even after
allowing for an expected increase in global cereal utilization in 2004/05,
a significant surplus is expected, for the first time since 1999/2000."
The Olympic family and the United Nations work together to combine sport and development in the field 17 December 2004
Field representatives of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United Nations met for the first time on 15 and 16 December in Switzerland on the eve of the International Year of Sport and Physical Education, to work together on a series of joint activities aimed at taking up the major development challenges facing the world today.
Gender equality: a lot more needs to be done 16 December 2004
Ten years after the Beijing Platform for Action was adopted the situation of women in the UNECE region has only partly improved and a lot more needs to be done for its implementation, especially in the socio-economic sphere. This is one of the halftone conclusions, which emerged from the Regional Preparatory Meeting for the 10-year Review of Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, on 14-15 December 2004.
FAO provides information on impact of natural disasters, animal diseases and pests on food security 14 December 2004
United Nations humanitarian agencies and partners of the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC), a body that fosters enhanced interagency collaboration on humanitarian policy and operations, launched today a new humanitarian early warning service Web site, HEWSweb.
This Web site displays the latest forecasts, reports and alerts on drought, floods, tropical storms, locust infestation, El Nino, earthquakes and volcanic activity. It has dedicated pages for each of these natural hazards, including additional references and resources. In the near future, HEWSweb will also offer the opportunity to access and share information on sociopolitical crises.
UNFPA re-affirms its commitment to the family as the basic unit of society 13 December 2004
The 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) underscored the importance of families as “central to human societies.” The family is the “basic unit that reproduces and generates norms, values and regulations enabling societal life and creating wealth and knowledge that contribute to the collective well being,” according to Aminata Toure, advisor on gender, culture and human rights at UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.
10 December - Human Rights Day. Human Rights education 10 December 2004
Human
Rights Day 2004 is dedicated to human rights education. On 10 December, the
United Nations General Assembly is devoting a special plenary session to mark
the end of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2004). At
the meeting, the General Assembly is expected to proclaim a World Programme for
Human Rights Education. The first phase of the Programme, to run from 2005 to
2007, is to be devoted to human rights education in the primary and secondary
school systems.
Message of the UNDP Administrator Mark Malloch Brown for the Human Rights Day, 10 December 2004 10 December 2004 | UNDP
As we mark International Human Rights Day we remember the many improvements that have been made in human rights and recognize the countless efforts of human rights defenders worldwide.
It is also an opportunity when we are forced to recognize that violations of human rights are still frighteningly common. Recent reports from Dafur, Sudan
and many other parts of the world bear witness to terrible abuses, where human
rights protection is failing miserably. And as we consider specific instances of
human rights violations, we too recall that global poverty is also in itself an
infringement of human rights, exposing millions of people to a life where human
dignity is difficult to uphold.
Record-high pledges received for UNHCR's 2005 budget 10 December 2004
A record
number of states have pledged the highest-ever amount in advance – $405 million
– to UNHCR's operations in 2005, allowing the refugee agency to better plan its
work in the coming year.
2005 critical to reforming UN to face HIV/AIDS, genocide, terrorism – Annan 09 December 2004
The
coming year is critical for the United Nations to make the necessary reforms to
deal effectively with a new globalization of threats, from HIV/AIDS, nuclear
proliferation and genocide to terrorism capable of killing hundreds of thousands
of people, Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the General Assembly.
9 December 2004 - UN marks the first anti-corruption day 09 December 2004
On the first anniversary of the signing of the United Nations
Convention against Corruption, the UN anti-crime office said it would help two
developing countries recover whatever amounts were exported of the nearly $11
billion looted from both governments.
UN General Assembly adopts resolution on World Commission report on fair globalization 09 December 2004
The International Labour Office (ILO) welcomed the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a resolution on the report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization as a means of providing further impetus to the pursuit of a fair globalization. The General Assembly resolution described the report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization – “A Fair Globalization: Creating Opportunities for All” – as a major contribution “to international dialogue towards a fully inclusive and equitable globalization”.
ILO says new policies for promoting productivity growth and decent jobs could improve outlook for working poor 08 December 2004 | ILO
Half the
world’s workers – some 1.4 billion people – are trapped in grinding poverty
unable to earn enough to lift themselves and their families above the US$2 a day
poverty line, but this figure could be reduced if policies zero in on improving
labour productivity and creating jobs, says a new study by the International
Labour Office (ILO).
Landmines pose gravest risk for children 06 December 2004
Millions of antipersonnel landmines and other explosive remnants of war across the globe pose a vicious threat to children, who are being injured, killed and orphaned by them long after wars are over, UNICEF said.
UN human rights institutions appeal to countries to eradicate all forms of slavery 03 December 2004
The Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, the United Nations Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights make the following appeal to the global community on the occasion of the United Nations International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December 2004.
Panel to release plan to address 21st century threats, make the world more secure and strengthen the United Nations 02 December 2004
A panel
appointed last year by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to propose
ways of strengthening international security will officially announce its
recommendations on 2 December, urging the adoption of new, far-reaching ground
rules to help the world face new and evolving threats in the 21st century, and
to strengthen the United Nations.
Flagship UN air pollution treaty turns 25 02 December 2004
For 25 years the Parties to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) have worked to control air pollution. Over this time the Convention has been one of the main means of protecting public health and the environment from the harmful effects of air pollution.
Millions of people worldwide are still being enslaved, sold as chattels - Annan 02 December 2004
Millions of men, women and children are still being bought and sold as chattels, forced into bonded labour, held as slaves for ritual or religious purposes, or trafficked across borders, often to be sold into prostitution, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a message marking International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.
Message of the UNDP Administrator Mark Malloch Brown for the World AIDS Day, 1 December 2004 01 December 2004
Despite concerted efforts by governments, civil society, and international agencies, HIV/AIDS is still devastating societies at an alarming rate. In 2004 alone, 3.1 million people died of AIDS and an estimated 5 million people were newly infected with HIV, bringing the total of those affected to about 40 million worldwide.
The UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan message on the World AIDS Day, December 1, 2004 01 December 2004
This year's
World AIDS Day is an occasion to recognize the burden that women and girls bear
in the age of HIV/AIDS, but equally, to celebrate their achievements in the
fight against the epidemic. Women are our most courageous and creative champions in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Third Committee of the UN General Assembly completed its work 30 November 2004
November 26, 2004, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly completed its work. Under the chair of Mr. Valery Kuchinskiy, the Ukraine's Permanent Representative, the Committee approved about 70 Resolutions in the area of human rights, social development, and combating drugs and crime. Traditionally, the hottest debates took place in regards of human rights Resolutions on particular countries.
Migration impact strongest in developed countries 29 November 2004
The number of people living outside the country of their birth continued to expand in the 1990s, reaching 175 million people in 2000, according to a United Nations study issued today. The trend is strongly toward the developed world, the UN reports. Migration to these countries increased by 3 per over the course of the 1990s, in contrast to no net immigration among the developing countries.
The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is observed on November 29, 2004 29 November 2004
Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977, the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is observed
annually. The Day commemorates the adoption, on 29 November 1947, by the General
Assembly, of resolution 181 (II), which partitioned Palestine. The observance
takes place at Headquarters, at the United Nations offices at Geneva and Vienna
and elsewhere.
Number of women living with HIV increases in each region of the world 24 November 2004 | WHO
A new
UNAIDS/WHO report shows that the number of women living with HIV has risen in
each region of the world over the past two years, with the steepest increases in
East Asia, followed by Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In East Asia, there was
a 56% increase over the past two years, followed by Eastern Europe and Central
Asia with 48%. Close to half of 37.2 million adults living with HIV are women,
according to new report.
Record opium cultivation in Afghanistan is a threat to Central Asia and CIS countries 23 November 2004
According to the Afghanistan Opium Survey 2004, just released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), opium cultivation in Afghanistan grew by 64 per cent in 2004, a statistic which promises increased trafficking and a steady supply of high-grade heroin for Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Despite progress, children’s rights far from universal 22 November 2004
On the
15th anniversary of the international adoption of the Convention on the Rights
of the Child (CRC), UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy said that despite
major advancements for children that include the creation of new laws in many
countries, the rights of millions of children remain forgotten or ignored. “Too many children are growing up without basic health care, education and protection from abuse and exploitation.”
Human Rights Day 2004 a tribute to human rights educators 22 November 2004
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNESCO are dedicating Human Rights Day 2004 on 10 December to human rights education and encouraging other agencies and programmes of the United Nations System and relevant governmental and non-governmental actors to do the same.
Active labour market policies enhance workers' labour market security, says new ILO study 19 November 2004 | ILO
According
to a new ILO report, active labour market policies, which comprise an array
of training and job creation measures, enhance the security of workers and
contribute to fair globalization. The report sees a clear relationship between
workers’ subjective perception of employment security and government expenditure
on active labour market policies.
Landmark report could influence the future of medicines in Europe and the world 19 November 2004 | WHO
The World
Health Organization (WHO) releases a groundbreaking report which recommends ways
in which pharmaceutical research and innovation can best address health needs
and emerging threats in Europe and the world. Priority Medicines for Europe and the World, commissioned by the Dutch Government as current president of the European Union (EU), identifies a priority list of medicines for Europe and the rest of the world, taking into account Europe's ageing population, the increasing burden of non-communicable illnesses in developing countries and diseases which persist in spite of the availability of effective treatments.
UNESCO and Microsoft sign cooperation agreement to help bridge the digital divide 18 November 2004
Microsoft joined the coalition of major private sector partners supporting
UNESCO’s global strategy to draw on information and communication technologies
(ICT) to improve education, social and economic development worldwide. The
Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, and Bill Gates, Microsoft’s
Chairman and Chief Software Architect, signed a cooperation agreement at
Organization Headquarters in the presence of Hans-Heinrich Wrede, Chairman of
the Executive Board, and Ambassador Louise Oliver, Permanent Delegate of the
United States of America to UNESCO.
Towards the development of Euro-Asian land transport routes 17 November 2004
Trade and transport between Asia and Europe have been sharply increasing in recent years. So far, such trade has been following maritime routes, since maritime transport was found more reliable and competitive than land routes. However, Governments of the countries in the Euro-Asian region have started to consider possible Euro-Asian land routes that might become credible alternatives to maritime routes.
Fight childhood obesity to help prevent diabetes, say WHO & IDF 15 November 2004 | WHO
Worldwide, it is estimated that more than 22 million children under five years old are obese or overweight, and more than 17 million of them are in developing countries. Each of these children is at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (which used to be known as mature-onset diabetes), say the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).
New analysis calls for increased integration of reproductive health and HIV prevention services 11 November 2004
Providers of reproductive health services
are in a strategic position to make significant contributions to closing the global HIV
prevention gap, according to a new analysis published jointly by The Alan
Guttmacher Institute (AGI) and the Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS
(UNAIDS) with the collaboration of UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) and the
International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).
United Nations establishes Working Group on Internet Governance 10 November 2004
Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced last week the establishment of the Working Group on Internet Governance. The Working Group will prepare the ground for a decision on this issue by the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, to be held in Tunis in November 2005.
Quality of Education insufficient to achieve Education For All by 2015 10 November 2004
More
children are going to school than ever before, but many drop out before grade 5
of primary school or graduate without mastering even a minimum set of cognitive
skills, concludes the 2005 Education for All Global Monitoring Report launched
in Brasilia (Brazil).
EU needs fair and efficient asylum system, says Lubbers 08 November 2004
As European Union leaders meet today to set Europe's asylum and migration agenda for the next five years, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers has urged them to shun political expediency in favour of a reliable system that is fair and efficient.
WHO Global Forum on chronic diseases focuses attention on worldwide prevention efforts 07 November 2004 | WHO
The Fourth World Health Organization (WHO) Global Forum on Chronic Disease Prevention and Control opened in Ottawa, Canada. The Forum brings together senior level country officials, international agencies and non-Governmental organizations, as well as chronic disease and public health experts from around the world to focus on the growing global burden of chronic diseases.
UN to launch International Year of Sport and Physical Education on 5 november 05 November 2004
Swiss
tennis great Roger Federer and Kenyan ING New York City Marathon record-holder
Margaret Okayo are joining forces with the United Nations to unveil plans for a
year-long push highlighting the power of sport to bridge cultural and ethnic
divides and improve the quality of people’s lives.
WHO announces theme of World Health Day 2005 01 November 2004 | WHO
Highlighting an invisible health crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) is making maternal and child health the focus of World Health Day on 7 April 2005. The WHO is also launching the World health report - also dedicated to maternal and child health - on World Health Day for the first time ever.
Media leaders commit to fight AIDS in Eastern Europe And Central Asia 01 November 2004
MOSCOW, 27
October 2004 – Media executives from Russia, Ukraine, and other countries of the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have committed to fight HIV/AIDS in
their countries, many of which are experiencing some of the fastest-growing
epidemics in the world.
Working together to reduce the risk of industrial accidents 30 October 2004
Meeting in Budapest this week (27-29 October), the Parties to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), have launched an assistance programme for the countries of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia to help them put the Convention into practice.
Basel Convention Conference: Meeting the Global Waste Challenge 29 October 2004
IMG alt="" border=0 height=62 hspace=10 src="/ii/uneplogo.gif" width =60>Ministers and senior officials met to discuss how to invigorate national efforts to achieve the goals of the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal.
Global health leaders join the World Health Organization to announce accelerated efforts to improve patient safety 28 October 2004 | WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners announced a series of key actions to cut the number of illnesses, injuries and deaths suffered by patients during health care, with the launch of the World Alliance for Patient Safety. WHO, ministers of health and senior officials, academics and patients' groups have come together from all corners of the globe to advance the patient safety goal of "First do no harm"1 and reduce the adverse health and social consequences of health care.
IDEP 2004 spotlights Youth: a new voice for the Millennium Development Goals 25 October 2004 | UNDP
UNDP
marked IDEP 2004 by presenting the Poverty Eradication Awards at the United
Nations in New York in recognition of young leaders making the greatest impact
towards meeting MDGs. A winner from each of the five world regions received an
award. On 22 October 2004, UNDP held its 8th annual Poverty Eradication
Awards ceremony at United Nations headquarters.
Parliamentarians urge countries to promote and defend reproductive health and rights 21 October 2004
Lawmakers from around the
world called for greater action by countries to “defend the sexual and
reproductive health and rights of all individuals” at a conference here. Over
130 parliamentarians and ministers from 90 countries reaffirmed their
responsibility to uphold the right of individuals to decide the number and
spacing of their children, to empower women and to eliminate all forms of
violence against them.
Partner agencies call for better immunization to reduce risks of infectious disease 21 October 2004 | WHO
Last week health experts and partner agencies discussed immunization programmes in the 52 countries in the WHO European Region, and the measles outbreaks that may result from decreases in immunization rates, at a meeting of the Interagency Immunization Coordinating Committee organized by WHO and held in Rogaska Slatina, Slovenia.
World Health Organization supports global effort to relieve chronic pain 18 October 2004 | WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) co-sponsors the first Global Day Against Pain, which seeks to draw global attention to the urgent need for better pain relief for sufferers from
diseases such as cancer and AIDS. The campaign, organised by the
International Association on the Study of Pain (IASP) and the European
Federation of the IASP Chapters (EFIC), asks for recognition that pain
relief is integral to the right to the highest attainable level of physical
and mental health.
Population growth is slowing but development challenges remain, says Frechette 18 October 2004
Rapid
population growth is starting to come to an end around much of the world, but
many regions are still struggling against the problems of poverty and pollution,
Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette told a General Assembly meeting held
to mark the 10th anniversary of the landmark population and development
conference in Cairo.
Visit new UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors web site 18 October 2004 | UNDP
They are
at the top of their field, whether it's broadcasting, the literary world or the
football stadium. UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors share a deep concern for the poor
and a commitment to making the planet a better place, ridding it of poverty,
combating HIV/AIDS, ensuring environmental sustainability, protecting human
rights, empowering women, thus helping to achieve the Millennium Development
Goals.
As women's rights convention turns 25, no country in the world has achieved 14 October 2004
Twenty five years since theadoption of the international women's rights convention, no country in the world has achieved full equality for women both in law and in practice.
Actual implementation of its principles remains inconsistent with
commitments, and reservations by States Parties to key parts of the
Convention continue to undermine its effectiveness.
Life or death is a political decision, stress lawmakers 13 October 2004
About 250 leading parliamentarians, ministers and other participants from over 90 countries will meet to discuss ways to mobilize funds and influence national laws and policies on population and reproductive health at the second International Parliamentarians’ Conference on the Implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action (IPCI/ICPD), to be held in Strasbourg, France on 18-19 October.
Wood production in Europe will shift further to the east in the next decade 11 October 2004
Countries in Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will play a greater role in European forest products markets over the next two decades, according to a statement by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
Children face higher risks from pesticide poisoning 11 October 2004 | WHO
Children face higher risks from pesticides than adults and need greater protection against these chemicals, particularly in developing countries, according to a joint report published by FAO, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Pesticide poisoning is a serious health problem that disproportionately affects infants and children, the UN report, called "Child Pesticide Poisoning: Information for Advocacy and Action", said.
UNHCR: refugee protection a necessity, not a policy choice 08 October 2004
UNHCR's top refugee protection official reminded governments that "refugees are people, not statistics or global trends" and that their protection is "a humanitarian necessity, not a policy choice."
Reporting on refugee protection concerns at the annual meeting of UNHCR's 66-nation Executive Committee, Director of International Protection Erika Feller presented a mixed picture of declining overall numbers amid an increasingly hostile environment for refugees and asylum seekers and those trying to help them.
World falling short on promise to reduce child deaths 07 October 2004
New country-by-country data reveals alarmingly slow progress on reducing child deaths despite the availability of proven, low-cost interventions, a UNICEF survey revealed today. UNICEF said that while 90 countries are on track to meet the target of reducing child deaths by two-thirds by 2015, 98 countries are considerably off track, and globally the pace of progress is far too slow.
Annan says UN working on new tools to foster rule of law and transitional justice 06 October 2004 | UNDP
The
United Nations is working on developing "important new tools" to strengthen its
support for the rule of law and transitional justice in States that are either
still facing or just emerging from conflict, Secretary-General Kofi Annan told
the Security Council.
In Europe and Central Asia, reducing premature deaths among adults is key to achieving health goals 05 October 2004
Global health goals concentrating on reducing deaths among young children and mothers do not address fully the main causes of poor health in Europe and Central Asia, where high burdens of heart disease, lung cancer and injuries reduce life expectancy in many countries.
A new World Bank study released today, Millennium Development Goals for Health in Europe and Central Asia, explores the fourth and fifth Millennium Development Goals agreed by world leaders in 2000 and analyzes their appropriateness for the countries of the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region.
International Children's Painting Competition on the Environment - 2004 04 October 2004
The majesty and misery of the world's cities will be at the heart of this year's International Children's Painting Competition on the Environment, sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and
Environment (FGPE) and Bayer AG, a German-based chemical and health-care
company.
New ILO programme to tackle discrimination, integration of migrant workers in Europe 04 October 2004 | ILO
The
International Labour Office (ILO), with the support of the European Union,
launched a new programme designed to tackle on the job discrimination that in
some countries afflicts up to a third of migrant workers. The new project will
also seek ways of helping such migrant workers, who number some 27.5 million in
Europe, integrate into the societies where they work.
China hosting global experts at IAEA Nuclear Safety Conference 03 October 2004
The world´s leading experts in nuclear safety are seeking to drive home lessons learned about the safe operation of nuclear installations, and how to keep improving it. The venue is an IAEA Conference on Topical Issues in Nuclear Safety hosted by China and opening 18 October in Beijing. Mr. Richard Meserve, former head of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Chairman of the International Nuclear Safety Group, is serving as president of the Conference.
UNEP launches new sustainable finance initiative in Central and Eastern Europe 01 October 2004
The rapidly expanding finance sector in Central and Eastern European is slowly waking-up to the need to incorporate sustainability issues into their business practice, according to a new report prepared for the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI).
The Central and Eastern Europe Sustainable Finance Report says almost 80 per cent of banks in the region believe that sustainability issues will become more important for the finance sector in the next five years.
The message of the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons, 1 October 2004 30 September 2004
The theme of this year’s International Day of Older Persons -- “Older Persons in an Intergenerational Society”-- recognizes the important role that older persons play in their families, communities and societies. On this 10th anniversary of the International Year of the Family, the theme also recognizes that the youth of today, who constitute the largest group of young people ever, will be the older persons of the year 2050. They will make up the largest group of older persons ever.
World Development Report 2005: A Better Investment Climate for Everyone 29 September 2004
The World Development Report 2005 argues that improving the investment climates of their societies should be a top priority for governments. This Report offers practical insights for policymakers, executives, scholars, and all those with an interest in economic development.
Taking early childhood nutrition to heart 27 September 2004
UNICEF welcomes new studies linking good nutrition in first five years of life to reduced risk of heart disease.
Healthy hearts begin in childhood, according to new studies linking good nutrition for children under the age of five to reduced risk of heart disease later in life.
As the world prepares to celebrate World Heart Day on 26 September, recent research is indicating that early infant feeding, especially exclusive and continued breastfeeding, is associated with less obesity and reduction in other heart risk factors throughout childhood and into adulthood.
Foreign investment keeps falling but outlook healthier, UN report says 23 September 2004
Total
foreign investment fell worldwide in 2003 for the third consecutive year, driven
mainly by a slump in the industrialized world, but Africa and the Asia-Pacific
region enjoyed healthy rises in outside spending, a major United Nations report
has found.
World leaders call for fair globalization to achieve millennium development goals 23 September 2004
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, noting that too many people - particularly in developing countries - feel excluded and threatened by globalization, called on world leaders Monday to summon the political will to better manage the economic and social effects of globalization.
Address of the UN Secretary-General to the General Assembly, New York, 21 September 2004 21 September 2004
"Indeed today, more than ever, the world needs an effective mechanism through which to seek common solutions to common problems. That is what this Organization was created for. Let’s not imagine that, if we fail to make good use of it, we will find any more effective instrument."
UN redoubles efforts to protect world’s cancer-preventing ozone layer 20 September 2004
As part of
the global effort to repair the ozone layer which filters out ultraviolet solar
rays that cause skin cancer and other ills, the United Nations environmental
agency today called on world governments to monitor an ozone-damaging chemical
still being used to kill pests on several important commodity crops.
Giving a new dimension to human settlement policies in the UNECE region to improve their implementation 20 September 2004
The Committee on Human Settlements of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) will hold its 65th session in Geneva from 20 to 22 September 2004.
Effective implementation of the Committee’s work hinges on interaction with all stakeholders in housing, urban planning and land administration, including local governments, the private sector, professional bodies and non-governmental organizations. To foster this interaction the Committee has decided to organize this year’s in-depth discussion jointly with the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP), a unique outreach to the professional civil society.
Civilian protections highlight annual UN push to boost treaty ratifications 17 September 2004
With the recent string of violent terrorist attacks and last year’s deadly bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Iraq showing that civilians are increasingly the main victims of armed conflicts, treaties that protect the rights of civilians will be the focus this year of the annual push to boost ratification of global conventions, UN officials said.
Governments urged by UN to take action against HIV/AIDS in Europe 17 September 2004
Alarmed by the rise of HIV/AIDS infection rates in Europe and Central Asia, two United Nations agencies urged governments in the region to take practical actions to protect their populations from the epidemic.
Kofi Annan has called the states to save the ozone layer for future generations 16 September 2004
September
16, the humankind marks the World Ozone Layer Protection Day. This year's topic
of the Day is worded as follows: "Preserving our sky: our aim is an
ozone-friendly planet." It is well known that the ozone layer protects the Earth
from hard effects of radiation.
By 2030, sixty percent of global population will live in cities 15 September 2004
Over 3000 delegates from all over the world are taking part in the Second World Forum of Cities, held now in Barcelona within the framework of the United Nations Programme on Dwelling Settlements. Addressing the Forum on behalf of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Mervat Tallaui, the Executive Secretary of the UN's Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, made a statement that in today's globalized world, overburdened by conflicts and intolerance, cities should become an example of how various cultures can enrich and supplement each other and promote preservation of the diversity.
General Assembly opens new session with call to action to solve world's ills 14 September 2004
The United Nations General Assembly opened its 59th session in New York with a clarion call from its new President for urgent and effective action as the world body approaches its 60th anniversary amid multiple threats and challenges ranging from wars and terrorism to disease and poverty.
World Health Organization launches new initiative to address the health needs of a rapidly ageing population 13 September 2004 | WHO
More
than one billion people will be over 60 years old by 2025 and, as populations
age, the burden of chronic diseases will increase. To help tackle the public
health implications of ageing, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched
Towards Age-Friendly Primary Health Care, new general principles that will serve
as guidelines for community-based Primary Health Care (PHC) centres.
FAO warns of pesticide waste time bomb in poor countries 09 September 2004
High quantities of toxic chemical waste from unused or obsolete pesticides are posing a continuing and worsening threat to people and the environment in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, FAO warned.
The theme of
this year’s International Literacy Day, gender and literacy, highlights the
obstacle of gender inequality in our work for literacy for all. In this second
year of the United Nations Literacy Decade, more than 500 million women make up
the majority of adult illiterates around the world, while girls constitute the
majority of children who are not in school.
Marc Danzon nominated to second term as WHO Regional Director for Europe 07 September 2004 | WHO
Dr Marc
Danzon has been nominated to a second five-year term as the World Health
Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe at this week's session of the
WHO European governing body of 52 Member States. Dr Danzon, a French national
and the first representative of France to lead a WHO region, announced in
February this year that he would run again. No candidate opposed him.
Health ministers to map out a pan-European strategy on noncommunicable diseases by 2006 06 September 2004 | WHO
The WHO European Region is to have a sustainable strategy to face the large and growing problem of noncommunicable diseases. This was announced today by the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, the Region's governing body. Over 300 delegates representing the 52 Member States of the Region1 have decided to give high priority to noncommunicable diseases and to develop a comprehensive European strategy by the end of 2006.
Doctors, Patients Caught in Global Security Web Medical Isotopes More Frequently Denied International Shipment 06 September 2004
Doctors
and their patients in many countries are facing increasing problems receiving
lifesaving isotopes for treating a range of illnesses. The isotopes are used in
nuclear medicine for diagnosis and therapy. A meeting of experts at the IAEA
recently reviewed the situation, finding a growing incidence of denials or
delays in international shipments of needed radioactive material, including
short-lived isotopes used for medical diagnosis and treatment. Security and
economic issues are among concerns driving the problems.
Economic security strengthens tolerance and happiness as well as growth and development 02 September 2004 | ILO
GENEVA (ILO News) –A new study by the International Labour Office (ILO) highlights that people’s economic security promotes personal well being, happiness and tolerance, while benefiting growth and development.
The report, “Economic Security for a Better World ,” includes estimates for countries representing more than 85 percent of the world’s population, and says such economic security—coupled with democracy and government spending on social security—not only benefits growth but can also promote social stability.
World facing silent emergency as billions struggle without clean water and basic sanitation 30 August 2004 | WHO
More than 2.6 billion people – over 40 per cent of the world's population – do not have basic sanitation, and more than one billion people still use unsafe sources of drinking water, warns a major report released today by WHO (the World Health Organization) and UNICEF.
Forest products markets climb to new records in the UNECE region 24 August 2004
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) just released the UNECE/FAO Forest Products Annual Market Review, 2003-2004. It covers forest products market and policy developments in the UNECE region of Europe, North America and the CIS countries.
UNICEF Executive Director tells pediatricians they have key role in advocating child survival 23 August 2004
UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy told leading pediatricians gathered in Mexico that they are crucial to efforts to improve child survival, saying that they must advocate for action that goes beyond traditional health initiatives to address the more complex causes underlying entrenched child mortality.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Issues Annual Report, World Reviews of Safety, Technology 16 August 2004
Annual reports issued recently by the IAEA take stock of global nuclear developments, while highlighting issues heavily influencing the Agency's agenda. The reports are issued annually in advance of the IAEA General Conference of Member States, which this year opens 20 September in Vienna.
Youth unemployment at all time high 11 August 2004 | ILO
Youth unemployment has skyrocketed worldwide over the past decade to some 88 million, according to a new study by the International Labour Office (ILO), reaching an all time high with young people aged 15 to 24 now representing nearly half the world's jobless.
World breastfeeding week was held during August 1-6 09 August 2004
On the eve of World Breastfeeding Week UNICEF said
that by expanding the number of women who exclusively breastfeed during
their child's first six months, at least 1.3 million infant lives could be
saved this year. UNICEF also called for greater global commitment to
protect, and promote breastfeeding.
The Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan will report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 03 August 2004
The 65-th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination started August 2-d, 2004 at the United Nations Office at Geneva. During three weeks the experts of The Committee will examine the reports from the governments of Belarus, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Argentina, Mauritania, Slovakia, Madagascar and Portugal on the undertaken legislative, judicial, administrative and other measures aimed at eliminating racial discrimination
Living with risk: a hundred positive examples of how people are making the world safer 19 July 2004
Last week
the Inter-Agency Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster
Reduction (UN/ISDR) launched its 2004 version of “Living with Risk: A global
review of disaster reduction initiatives.” The publication is an unprecedented
compilation of concrete examples of what people are doing to make the world a
safer place.
Expert meeting discussed legislative guide on United Nations Convention against Corruption, 10 – 12 July 13 July 2004
In an effort to assist Member States of the United Nations in ratifying and implementing the first United Nations Convention against Corruption, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) hosted the first expert meeting for the elaboration of the Legislative Guide on the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
In Bangkok, Annan confers with special envoys on HIV/AIDS 13 July 2004
As he
continued his visit to Bangkok, Thailand, where a global conference on HIV/AIDS
is taking place this week, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today
conferred with his regional special envoys dealing with the disease.
ILO issues first global analysis of HIV/AIDS impact on the world of work 13 July 2004 | ILO
An
estimated 36.5 million people of working age have HIV and by next year the
global labour force will have lost as many as 28 million workers due to AIDS
since the start of the epidemic, according to a new global report (Note 1) by
the International Labour Office (ILO).
Failure to act to stem the HIV/AIDS epidemic risks endangering hard-won development gains 12 July 2004
The significant economic and social progress achieved by some of the world's most successful developing countries over the past few decades could be jeopardized unless they increase their efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic, a senior World Bank official warns.
XV International AIDS Conference (11-16 July 2004) 08 July 2004
"Access for
all" is the theme of the upcoming XV International AIDS Conference. The
conference will focus on improved access to HIV-related prevention, treatment
and resources, particularly among women and youth.
The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on track to become law by the end of the year 06 July 2004 | WHO
The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) closed for signature last week, with nearly 90% of countries having signed and over half of the required ratifications, keeping the Convention on track to become binding international law by the end of 2004. The WHO FCTC has become one of the most rapidly embraced United Nations' conventions, with 167 WHO Member States and the European Community (EC) signing, and 23 countries ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to the Convention, just one year after it opened for signature in Geneva.
Louise Arbour starts work as new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 05 July 2004
Louise Arbour, a Canadian Supreme Court Justice and ex-prosecutor of
United Nations war crimes tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, today
takes up her duties as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in succession to
Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was killed in a terrorist attack in Baghdad last
August.
European Commission and UNDP agree on strategic partnership for conflict zones and democratic governance 01 July 2004
The European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today announced
agreement on a unique strategic partnership to strengthen both organizations’
ability to deliver efficient, high quality aid to developing countries,
particularly in the areas of governance, conflict prevention and post-conflict
reconstruction.
June 28, the Economic and Social Council opened its annual session in New York 30 June 2004
The four-week session started with a high-level dialogue focusing on the current developments in the world economy and international economic cooperation, as well as development challenges confronting the world’s 50 poorest nations. The event is part of a three-day high-level segment on the theme: “Resources mobilization and enabling environment for poverty eradication in the context of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010”.
UNHCR becomes tenth cosponsor of UNAIDS 29 June 2004
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has joined UNAIDS as the tenth
Cosponsor. Together with the nine existing Cosponsors, UNHCR will help broaden
and strengthen the UN’s response to the global AIDS epidemic.
Countries committed to population issues and reproductive health, new Global Survey shows 27 June 2004
Reproductive health and rights are becoming an integral part of national agenda in an increasing number of countries, and more policy makers are committed to safe motherhood. Family planning policies are well established around the world, and the use of modern family planning methods is on the rise. Population and gender issues are becoming more institutionalized, and stakeholders, especially women, are getting more involved in development programmes and policies. However, financial and other obstacles still impede national development efforts.
Economic and Social Council to hold annual session in New York, 28 June – 23 July 25 June 2004
The 2004 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), scheduled from 28 June through 23 July, will open with a high-level policy dialogue on current developments in the world economy and international economic cooperation, featuring a keynote address by Mathieu Kérékou, President of Benin, after opening remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Sharp drop in refugees and others of concern in 2003, says UNHCR 24 June 2004
The UN refugee agency announced that the global number of refugees and persons of concern to UNHCR dropped dramatically to 17.1 million in 2003 – the lowest in at least a decade – thanks to concerted efforts to end protracted refugee situations and find durable solutions.
UN Secretary-General convenes summit with CEOs, NGOs and Labour 23 June 2004
More than 400 CEOs and representatives of international civil society will discuss a range of issues key to corporate leadership and responsibility at a meeting called by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, to take place at United Nations Headquarters on 24 June.
Assessment of proposed changes to international wildlife trade rules issued by UNEP 22 June 2004
The
publication of a preliminary review assessing proposals for amending
international wildlife trade rules marks the start of a debate on the
conservation and sustainable use of wild plants and animals that will conclude
with important regulatory decisions at a major conference in Bangkok, Thailand
from 2 to 14 October.
UNCTAD opened its eleventh session in Sao Paolo (Brazil) 14 June 2004
The conference is UNCTAD´s highest decision-making body. It meets every four years to set priorities and guidelines for the organization, and provides an opportunity to debate key economic and development issues. UNCTAD XI will be held from 13 till 18 June in Brazil.
UNEP launches International Photographic Competition on Environment 14 June 2004
Professionals and amateurs alike are being urged to unclip their dust caps and load up their cameras for the world's biggest environmental photo competition.
As part of the annual World Environment Day celebrations in Barcelona, Spain, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is launching its fourth International Photographic Competition on the Environment, sponsored once again by Canon Inc.
World Day Against Child Labour 14 June 2004 | ILO
Two years ago the International Labour Organization (ILO) declared 12 June the World Day Against Child Labour - to mark and support the worldwide movement for the elimination of child labour.
ILO Director-General cites four key challenges for building a fair globalization 10 June 2004 | ILO
The International Labour
Organization (ILO) faces a “defining moment” in its quest for a fair
globalization, Director-General Juan Somavia said in an address to tripartite
delegates representing 177 member States at the 92nd International Labour
Conference. Following a special session during which heads of state and
government, and representatives of workers and employers, hailed the report of
the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization as a platform for
new, more coherent policies on globalization, Mr. Somavia presented what he
called a series of key challenges to the tripartite delegates for their
consideration and guidance.
Married adolescents ignored in Global agenda, says UNFPA 08 June 2004
“Married adolescents have
been largely ignored in the development and health agenda because of the
perception that their married status ensures them a safe passage to adulthood,”
said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations
Population Fund. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”
ILO releases 93 country survey on labour migration 07 June 2004 | ILO
The International Labour Office published a comprehensive new survey on labour migration that provides, for the first time, detailed information on migration laws, policies and practices in 93 countries.
Information from the new compendium, entitled “ILO Migration Survey 2003: Country summaries”, will be an important reference for the general discussion on migration being held during the 92nd International Labour Conference with a view to developing a new programme of action on global migration.
Message of the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the occasion of the World Environment Day, 5 June 2004 05 June 2004
The marine
environment is facing challenges that, if not addressed immediately and
effectively, will have profound implications for sustainable development. The
theme of World Environment Day 2004 -- Wanted! Seas and Oceans: Dead or Alive?
-- emphasizes that society can no longer view the world’s seas as a convenient
dumping ground for our waste, or as an unlimited source of plenty.
WHO report finds most serious mental health disorders are untreated 04 June 2004 | WHO
Serious mental health disorders remain largely untreated around the world, with developing countries faring worst but even relatively affluent countries in North America and Western Europe unable to help up to half of their sufferers, according to the findings of a first in a series of studies by the United Nations health agency.
ILO opened its 92nd annual International Labour Conference 02 June 2004 | ILO
Making globalization fair, creating jobs as a means of reducing poverty and promoting development through providing decent work are the foundations for global stability, the Director-General of the International Labour Office, Juan Somavia, declared as the ILO opened its 92nd annual International Labour Conference. The ILO can build a “foundation for the future” on the basis of “the decent work agenda as a development tool, employment as the main route out of poverty and achieving a fair globalization as a source of global stability”.
International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers to be observed as demands for new peace operations surge 31 May 2004
The second observance of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on 29 May comes at a moment of increased demands around the world for United Nations peacekeepers.
Currently, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) is fielding 15 missions on three continents and is in the process of deploying new missions to Haiti and Burundi while planning a large operation for the Sudan.
ILO marks 150th ratification of 1999 Convention on the worst forms of child labour 31 May 2004 | ILO
The world's fundamental international standard for combating the worst forms of child
labour, International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 182, has received
its 150th ratification, putting it within sight of achieving universal
ratification by all of the Organization's 177 Member States.
On 1-17 June 92nd International Labour Conference will be held in Geneva 28 May 2004 | ILO
Heads of States and
government, ministers of labour and senior representatives of workers and
employers will meet here on 1-17 June at the annual Conference of the
International Labour Organization (ILO) to craft a new role for the tripartite
labour body in shaping a fair and equitable globalization for all.
Ice hockey champion Vyacheslav Fetisov to be named UNESCO Champion for Sport 27 May 2004
Russian ice hockey champion Vyacheslav Fetisov, who heads the Russian Federation’s Federal Agency for Sport, Physical Education and Tourism, was named UNESCO Champion for Sport by UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura in a ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters on May 26.
United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice concludes thirteenth session in Vienna 25 May 2004
The United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice concluded its thirteenth session in Vienna. Over 600 delegates reviewed the activities of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) focusing on the rule of law and development, the session’s main theme; terrorism; the ratification of the Conventions against Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) and against Corruption; standard norms in crime prevention and criminal justice; and other forms of crime related matters.
FAO launches campaign in favour of biodiversity - World Food Day/TeleFood 2004 25 May 2004
"Biodiversity for Food Security" is the theme of this year's World Food Day, to be celebrated on 16 October 2004, FAO announced last week.
This year's World Food Day/TeleFood campaign will emphasize the importance of biodiversity for agriculture, food security and rural livelihoods, and especially for those populations living in marginal and harsh environments.
Biological diversity comprises countless plants that feed and heal people, many crop varieties and aquatic species with specific nutritional characteristics, livestock species adapted to harsh environments, insects that pollinate fields and micro-organisms that regenerate agricultural soils.
Global support for information society targets in ITU survey 24 May 2004
Targets set for improving access and connectivity to information and communication technologies (ICTs) by 2015 at the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) have received strong support in a global International Telecommunication Union (ITU) survey.
General Committee recommends inclusion in General Assembly AGENDA OF items on Year of Physics 24 May 2004
The General Committee recommended that an item entitled “International Year of Physics, 2005” and a sub-item entitled “Appointment of a member of the International Civil Service Commission” be included in the agenda of the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly.
ILO report sees encouraging trends in fundamental rights at work 20 May 2004 | ILO
Despite
continued threats to workers and employers seeking to organize – including
killings, detention and violence – the broad, global picture of respect for
fundamental rights at work is on balance improving and more encouraging than it
was four years ago, says a new report issued by the International Labour Office
(ILO). The report says “positive and encouraging” developments in the quest for
fundamental rights at work, including freedom of association and the right to
collective bargaining, have occurred since the last assessment in 2000 which
said “we are still a long way from universal acceptance of these fundamental
principles and rights in practice.”
Message of the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity, 22 May 2004 19 May 2004
Biological
diversity provides the basic goods and ecological services on which all life
depends and is now recognized as crucial to sustainable development, the
eradication of poverty and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
The theme of this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity --
Biodiversity: Food, Water and Health for All -- underlines biodiversity’s
importance in ensuring food security and adequate supplies of water, and in
protecting the wide array of traditional medicines and modern pharmaceuticals
that are based on the world’s biological riches.
Optimism and opportunity in Europe and Central Asia 17 May 2004
Hosted by the Governments of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of Germany, this Second Intergovernmental Conference on Making Europe and Central Asia Fit for Children, 13-15 May, was focused on five areas for priority action: investing in children; children moving across borders; violence against children; social exclusion; and cities fit for children.
HIV/AIDS, SARS, the global strategy on diet, physical activity and health and road safety amongst issues for countries at 57th meeting of the Assembly 17 May 2004 | WHO
The World Health Assembly, bringing the 192 Member States of the World Health Organization
together, is set to consider several critical health issues next week. The
Assembly is the supreme decision-making body for WHO, and runs this year from 17
- 22 May. It will discuss actions needed to fight HIV/AIDS, to increase safety
on the world's roads, a proposed strategy on diet, physical activity and health,
a proposed strategy for reproductive health, a resolution on family health, and
will receive updates on progress in eradicating polio, controlling measles and
SARS.
World at 'critical moment' in fight against HIV/AIDS 12 May 2004 | WHO
With more money, more political will and more attention being paid to HIV/AIDS than ever before, the world has reached a crucial moment in the history of the pandemic and now has an unprecedented opportunity to alter its course, according to a new report released by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Significant differences exist in poverty and food security across Europe – UN 06 May 2004
Although Europe includes some of the world’s most advanced nations and the poverty and food insecurity level is lower than in most other regions, significant differences exist among the various states and poverty based on a line of less than $2 per day stands at 21 per cent, a United Nations food agency said. Five per cent of Europeans are affected by food insecurity. Factors fuelling poverty in the past 15 years include the difficulties associated with moving from a centrally planned economy to a market economy, declining production in agriculture and the agrifood sector and resulting unemployment.
Latest Global Education Indicators released 04 May 2004
Children everywhere are spending more time in school than ever before, but there remain substantial differences between countries and regions, according to UNESCO's Global Education Digest 2004. This new edition of the Digest, published by UNESCO's Institute for
Statistics and available online, presents the latest global
education indicators, one example of which is school life expectancy
(SLE), or the number of school years that a child, on average, is likely
to spend in the education system.
Jailed Cuban journalist Raul Rivero Castañeda awarded World Press Freedom Prize 2004 03 May 2004
The jailed Cuban journalist Raúl Rivero Castañeda was awarded the
UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize for 2004 by UNESCO
Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura, on the recommendation of an international
jury. The jury was chaired by Jamaica’s Oliver Clarke, Chairman of Gleaner Company Limited, who declared: “I hope that the international attention the Prize generates, will encourage the Cuban authorities to respect individuals’ basic human right to express their views freely.”
Press briefing on world youth 2003 30 April 2004
The world’s youth were better off today than previous generations, although many were still severely hampered by a lack of education, poverty, problems of health, unemployment and the impact of conflict, Johan Schölvinck, the Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, told correspondents at a Headquarters briefing.
The message of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2004 (2004) 29 April 2004
Information is, undoubtedly, a source of power. Those who have access to a free and independent media have more options, as well as the information they need to take better advantage of them. World Press Freedom Day is an important reminder of the contribution that journalists play in the information age, especially in the protection of human rights and the promotion of development.
World Press Freedom Day 2004 29 April 2004
Every year, May 3rd is a date, which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
Workers, employers around the world to mark World Day for Safety and Health (2004) 29 April 2004
Workers,
employers, governments and safety and health departments around the world, in
collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), will observe the
World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April in an effort to highlight
the need for a new “safety culture” to reduce or prevent occupational accidents
and disease that take an average of 6,000 working lives every day of the
year.
Earth Day 2004: World Bank calls for concerted action on environmental health 27 April 2004
The World
Bank called for speeding up global action to fight diseases caused by outdoor
and indoor air pollution, and unsafe water – conditions which are affecting the
health and lives of millions of children in poor and middle-income countries.
Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General 26 April 2004
"Eighteen years ago today at the Chernobyl power plant, the world suffered
the worst nuclear accident in its history. Thousands of people were displaced from their homes, their livelihoods lost, traumatised by a disaster they could scarcely understand or defend themselves against."
Chernobyl: needs great 18 years after nuclear accident 26 April 2004 | UNDP
On
the 18th anniversary of the accident at the Chernobyl power plant, Mr. Jan
Egeland, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, is urging
the international community not to turn its back on the people still affected by
the world’s worst nuclear accident.
New take-off predicted for FDI, says joint UNCTAD-corporate location survey 20 April 2004
More than four out of five international location experts from around the world believe that FDI is about to take off again, following three years of continuous decline in global foreign direct investment.
For the period 2004-2005, 77 per cent of the experts are predicting an improvement in the overall investment environment, 9 per cent say it will worsen and 14 per cent say it will remain the same. For 2006-2007, the level of optimism rises to 81 per cent, while only 6 per cent anticipate that things will get worse and just 13 per cent say they will remain the same.
UNICEF launches new Voices of Youth website 16 April 2004
UNICEF has launched the new Voices of Youth (VOY) website, upgraded and redesigned with new interactive features, on 19 April at the International Forum for Adolescents, which took place in conjunction with the 4th World Summit on Media for Children and Adolescents in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The new VOY represents a unique opportunity to ensure that children and adolescents can make their voices heard and that UNICEF is well positioned to hear them.
UN urges reducing number of people killed by road crashes annually 15 April 2004
Although
fatalism is being encouraged by use of the word "accidents" for vehicular
collisions, people must be made aware that the crashes, now causing 1.2 million
deaths per year, can be reduced or prevented, United Nations Deputy
Secretary-General Louise Fréchette said.
Global road safety crisis claims 1.2 million lives per year 13 April 2004
Secretary-General Kofi Annan will address a plenary session of the General Assembly on the global road safety crisis on 14 April. This meeting and the stakeholders’ meeting to follow on 15 April are an important step in a coordinated global effort to slow and then stop a growing crisis of death and disability on roads and highways, especially in developing countries.
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control now signed by 100 countries 29 March 2004 | WHO
Ãëàáàëüíû ôîíä, Ñóñâåòíû áàíê ³ ÞͲÑÅÔ àá'ÿäíî¢âàþöü íàìàãàíí³ ç Ôóíäàöûÿé Êë³íòàíà ïà ïðàäñòà¢ëåíí³ ðàçâ³âàþ÷ûìñÿ êðà³íàì íåäàðàã³õ ïðýïàðàòࢠäëÿ ëÿ÷ýííÿ ÑͲÄó ³ äûÿãíàñòû÷íàãà àáñòàëÿâàííÿLast week,
with the signatures of Ecuador and the Republic of Congo, a total of 100
countries and the European Community have so far signed the World Health
Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
UN report says world urban population of 3 billion today expected to reach 5 billion by 2030 25 March 2004
The Population Division released its new estimates and projections of urban and rural populations for major areas, regions and countries of the world, large urban agglomerations and capital cities. The results have been issued as two wall charts, Urban and Rural Areas 2003, and Urban Agglomerations 2003, and as a highlights report containing first analyses and detailed tables on the Population Division’s Web site (http://www.unpopulation.org). The full report containing a detailed analysis of the results will be issued by the United Nations later this year.
Climate change: UN marks treaty's anniversary by hailing savings of going green 23 March 2004
Fighting climate change makes economic sense in the long run because using energy more efficiently will ultimately produce enormous financial and green benefits, the head of the United Nations' environmental agency said in a message marking the 10th anniversary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which came into force in March 1994.
Poor sanitation a huge killer of children, UNICEF says on World Water Day 22 March 2004
More than 5,000 children die every day from diarrhoeal diseases, often in areas hit by man-made or natural disasters, the head of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says in a message to mark World Water Day, whose theme this year is water and disasters.
Carol Bellamy, UNICEF's Executive Director, says children suffering from poor diets and the effects of other diseases are the first to get sick when a major disaster strikes a community and its clean-water and sanitation systems.
The Fourth Road Safety Week in the UNECE Region will be held from 5-11 April 2004 22 March 2004
In the framework of this event, member States of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)1/ will organize national road safety campaigns with a common target and a common slogan. This time the common target will be "Aggressive behaviour" and the common slogan "Respect is Safety".
Drug resistant tuberculosis levels ten times higher in Eastern Europe and Central Asia 18 March 2004 | WHO
Tuberculosis patients in
parts of Eastern Europe and Central Asia are 10 times more likely to have
multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) than in the rest of the world, according to a
World Health Organization (WHO) report into the deadly infectious disease.
China, Ecuador, Israel and South Africa are also identified as key
areas.
Online forum on Internet governance launched 15 March 2004
Secretary-General Kofi Annan was asked by the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (Geneva, 10-12 December 2003), to set up a working group on Internet governance. The mission of this working group will include developing a working definition of Internet governance, identifying the relevant public policy issues, and developing a common understanding of the respective roles and responsibilities of governments, international organizations, the private sector and civil society. The working group is to report before the next phase of the Summit in Tunis in November 2005.
A new international instrument to enhance the protection of cultural property in times of war 15 March 2004
“It is, unfortunately, more important than ever today to protect cultural property in times of war. Given its deeply symbolic value, belligerents too often make it a deliberate target for acts of pillaging, destruction and vandalism,” said UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura, who encouraged those Member States that have not yet ratified the Convention and its two Protocols to do so.
UN and European experts meet to chart future course of counter-terrorism measures 12 March 2004
Bolstering the joint efforts of international organizations in the global fight against terrorism is the focus of a United Nations conference in Vienna, which opened on 11 March against the backdrop of this morning's multiple bomb explosions at three train stations in Spain.
UN health agency launches photo contest to fight pregnancy and abortion deaths 11 March 2004 | WHO
Against
a backdrop of over half a million pregnancy and childbirth deaths, 5 million new
cases of HIV infection, and nearly 70,000 fatal abortions each year, a United
Nations agency launched a photographic contest as part of its efforts to
highlight the importance of sexual and reproductive health. The UN World Health
Organization (WHO) is inviting photographers from around the world, both amateur
and professional, to submit images that capture four key stages in the “River of
Life” – as the exhibition is called – Love, Life, Illness and Death.
The Dag Hammarskjol Library recognizes the World Day for Water, 22 March 2004 11 March 2004
World Day for Water, estabished by the General Assembly's resolution 47/193 of 22 December 1992, is a unique occasion to remind everybody that concrete efforts to provide clean drinking water and increase awareness world-wide of the problems and of the solutions, can help make the difference.
ILO Governing Body's 289th session to discuss "fair globalization" and other issues 10 March 2004 | ILO
Worker, employer and government representatives are holding a wide-ranging debate on the social dimension of globalization at the 289th session of the ILO Governing Body, from 11-26 March. The ongoing session is the first to be held under the second mandate of ILO Director-General Juan Somavia who was re-elected for another five-year term in 2003.
UN activities on sustainable tourism for development to be discussed in Lisbon 08 March 2004
Tourism officials from more than 50 countries worldwide gather at Lisbon's Congress Centre from 8 to 11 March to share experiences and best practices in sustainable tourism as a tool for development. The meeting is being organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) as part of its efforts to help developing countries take advantage of the growth in international tourism.
UN expert panel urges governments to do more to reduce demand for drugs 03 March 2004
In a bid
to cut the nexus between drug abuse and violent crime, a United Nations expert
panel called on governments across the world to introduce more comprehensive
policies to reduce public demand for illegal narcotics.
Internet Governance issues discussed at ITU workshop 02 March 2004
The Workshop on Internet Governance, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and held on 26-27 February was a follow-up to the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (Geneva, 10-12 December), where Internet governance had been one of the most complex and contentious issues.
Europe’s Economic Growth Threatened by AIDS 01 March 2004 | UNDP
“HIV/AIDS is a
growing challenge for the entire continent of Europe, from Dublin to Moscow,”
Kalman Mizsei, Regional Director for Europe and the CIS of the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), warned European leaders gathered here to discuss a
regional response to the epidemic.
UN Economic Commission launches 2004 Survey of Europe, says global recovery under way, but clouded by important risks 27 February 2004
Economic growth in the Economic
Commission for Europe (ECE) region is forecast to accelerate in 2004, but there
are significant differences in the expected growth performance of the major
countries and subregions. Forecasts are for robust and strengthening growth in
North America and eastern Europe and even for a continuing boom in the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This contrasts with only moderate
growth prospects for the aggregate of western European countries, especially the
euro area.
Rotterdam Convention on trade in hazardous chemicals and pesticides enters into force 26 February 2004
"This
treaty will enable developing countries to avoid many of the mistakes made in
the richer countries, where the misuse of chemicals and pesticides has too often
harmed or killed people and damaged the environment", said Klaus Töpfer,
Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). "In this
way all countries will be able to reap the benefits that chemicals and
pesticides can offer while ensuring that their development is environmentally
sustainable", he said.
WHO releases new report on global problem of oral diseases 24 February 2004 | WHO
Oral
diseases such as dental caries (tooth decay), periodontitis (gum disease) and
oral and pharyngeal cancers are a global health problem in both industrialized
and increasingly in developing countries, especially amongst poorer communities,
the World Health Organization (WHO) said today. Announcing the findings of the
World Oral Health Report, WHO said that an estimated five billion people
worldwide had experienced dental caries.
Governing body of Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to hold first meeting 23 February 2004
More than 1,000
delegates representing governments and relevant organizations will convene in
the Malaysian city of Kuala Lumpur, from 23 to 27 February 2004, for the first
meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties
to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, or COP-MOP 1.
New Guidelines for Including HIV Counselling and Testing in Sexual and Reproductive Health Programmes 20 February 2004
Addressing a critical need in responding to HIV/AIDS, the
International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and UNFPA, the United Nations
Population Fund, have published new guidelines for programme planners, managers
and service providers on Integrating HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT)
Services into Reproductive Health Settings.
New Report Warns East European and CIS Policy Makers about the Risks of a Generalized HIV/AIDS Epidemic 17 February 2004 | UNDP
Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States have some of the fastest growing rates of HIV/AIDS infection in the world. The impact is compounded by still insufficient public awareness, frequent stigmatization and lack of adequate policy instruments to cope with the disease. Nonetheless, the region also has success stories, from which valuable lessons should be taken.
Science for all Nations 16 February 2004
In the
world of the 21st century, critical issues related to science and technology
(S&T) confront every nation. How can we stimulate growth in an information
economy? How can we prevent global and regional environmental damage? What is
the best way to introduce beneficial new technologies, thwart acts of terrorism,
or respond quickly to the rapid spread of new diseases? Today, no nation that
wants to shape informed policies and take effective action on such issues can
afford to be without its own independent capacity in S&T.
Global troubles took toll on tourism in 2003, growth to resume in 2004 10 February 2004
Battered by a series of problems, international tourism arrivals fell 1,2 per cent in 2003, the biggest annual drop ever. However, the outlook for this year is much brighter, the World Tourism Organization (WTO) announced at a news conference...
World economic growth for 2004 expected to be 3.5 per cent, Economic and Social Council told 09 February 2004
The economic recovery in the world, with expected growth of 3.5 per cent this year, was led by the United States, but also by the growing importance of the Chinese economy, Jose Antonio Ocampo, Under-Secretary-General, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, told the Economic and Social Council this morning as it continued its 2004 organizational session.
Reducing vitamin deficiency can improve world economy 26 January 2004
A new report from UNICEF and the Micronutrient Initiative finds that lack of basic vitamins and minerals in the diet is damaging the health of one-third of the world’s people and holding back the economic development of virtually every country in the southern hemisphere.
Recovery of forest products markets in the UNECE region in 2002: 26 January 2004
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) just released the final version of the UNECE/FAO Forest Products Annual Market Analysis, 2002-2004. It covers forest products market and policy developments in the UNECE region of Europe, North America and the CIS countries.
Worldwide unemployment sets new record, UN labour agency reports 23 January 2004 | ILO
Global unemployment rose in 2003 to a record of over 185 million, or just over 6 per cent of the labour force, but the worldwide economic recovery in the second half of the year may have helped to improve the situation, the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) says in its annual jobs report, released on 22 January 2004.
Plan to improve diet and health habits to be on agenda of UN agency’s annual meeting 22 January 2004 | WHO
A strategy for dealing with major risk factors responsible for the growing worldwide burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer and obesity will be on the agenda of the United Nations health agency’s annual meeting later this year.
World Health Organization scaling up measures to help those with both HIV and TB 21 January 2004
With some 14 million people worldwide suffering from both HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today issued guidelines to increase collaboration between national TB and HIV/AIDS programmes.
Global economy set to expand in 2004 under present policies, UN says 16 January 2004
In an upbeat assessment of the global economy, the United Nations says growth in many countries improved in the latter half of last year and should strengthen further in 2004, though it warned that economic imbalances would also increase.
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