United Nations Washington
In This Issue
UN Calendar
UN Headlines
Secretary-General urges restraint after day of deadly clashes across the Middle East
UN envoy visits Tripoli for talks with senior government officials
As Haiti swears in president, UN calls for news political, social and economic pact
Afghanistan: UN welcomes creation of anti-corruption panel
More than 1 billion tons of food lost of wasted every year, UN-backed report finds
Week in Review
UN Calendar

May 16

The Security Council receives briefings on the 1267 Committee (Al-Qaida and the Taliban and Associated Individuals and Entities), the 1373 Committee (Counter-Terrorism Committee), and the 1540 Committee (on prevention of proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons).

The Tenth Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues begins in New York through May 27.

The Sixty-fourth World Health Assembly (WHA) starts in Geneva through May 24.


The Conference on Disarmament Part II begins in Geneva through July 1.

May 17   

 

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is observed. The theme for this year is "Better life in rural communities with ICTs [Information and Communications Technology]."


The Security Council receives a briefing and holds consultations on the United Nations Office in Burundi (BNUB), followed by consultations on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea sanctions committee (1718 Committee).

World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan and Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, hold a press conference on health issues in Geneva.

May 18

The Security Council holds a debate on the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Fourth International Memory of the World Conference starts in Warsaw, Poland. The conference is organized in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

May 19

The Security Council receives a briefing on and holds consultations on the Middle East.

May 20

The UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, and John Prendergast, founder of "The Enough Project" and human rights activist, holds a conversation on genocide prevention, followed by an afternoon workshop for educators, organized by the Holocaust and United Nations Outreach Programme, at UN headquarters in New York.  


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Watch live coverage of the events listed above at www.un.org/webcast 

  

UN Headlines  

AFRICA

 

Rwanda: UNICEF welcomes plan to reduce mother-child transmission of HIV

 

Chad: Security situation improves in eastern Chad, but concerns remain, says UN official

 

East Africa: Refugee numbers in rise, as internal displacement declines slightly

 

C�te d'Ivoire: Ivorian pupils return to school, UN report finds critical equipment shortages

 

South Sudan: UN resumes food deliveries in two southern states after assurances

 

Sudan: Security Council issues warning over recent deadly violence in Sudan's Abyei area

 

Mauritius: Sexual exploitation of children on the rise in Mauritius, UN rights expert warns

 

DR Congo: UN envoy welcomes study into extent of sexual violence

 

Egypt/Tunisia: Ban sounds alarm at rising violence and renewed tensions in Egypt and Tunisia

 

Stronger cross-border economic ties will boost Africa, UN report finds

 

AMERICAS

 

Peru: UNESCO deplores killing of outspoken radio presenter

 

ASIA PACIFIC

 

Myanmar: UN envoy meets with leading government and opposition figures

 

Pakistan: Ban deplores deadly suicide bombing at military training centre

 

EUROPE

 

Kosovo: Heading towards phase of greater stability, UN envoy says

 

European cocaine market continues to rise, UN anti-drugs chief warns

 

WORLD

 

Without Security Council reform, UN will lose credibility, says General Assembly chief

   

Participants at UN disaster risk meeting pledge to improve preparedness

 

UN chief urges change in resource consumption patterns for sustainable development

 

Countries facing double burden with chronic and infectious diseases - UN report

 

As 'mobile miracle' transforms poorest nations, Internet use lags behind

 

UN summit adopts 10-year plan to help lift developing countries out of poverty

 

Humanity's voracious consumption of natural resources unsustainable - UN report

 

UN chief welcomes 100th ratification of UN disability convention as 'milestone'

 

UN climate change chief urges governments to accelerate talks on emissions reduction

   

UN agencies hail trial results showing anti-HIV drugs prevent transmission

 

Three cities win UN-backed award for innovation in disaster risk reduction

 

Global tourism continues to rebuild, UN data reveals

 

Ban urges balance between global resource use and environmental impact

 

UN report calls on countries to consider gender impact of trade policies

 

 

UN Reports   

Security-General's Reports

 

Children and Armed Conflict

 

Report of the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in Chad

 

Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo

 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

 

Special Report Renewable Energy Sources: Summary for Policymakers

 

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

 

Who is Benefiting from Trade Liberalization in Bhutan? A Gender Perspective

 

United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

 

Regional Integration and Development: A pathway for Africa

 

United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP)

 

Why a Green Economy Matters for the Least Developed Countries

 

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

 

Findings and Implications from a Coarse-Scale Global Assessment of Recent Selected Mega-Fires

 

Global Food Losses and Food Waste

 

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

 

Population Dynamics and Poverty in the LDCs: Challenges and Opportunities for Development and Poverty Reduction

 

For a complete listing of reports, please visit:   

 

UN Reports 


UN News Center - New York
UN News Centre

 

UNIFIL and Lebanese Officers Operate "Blue Barrel"

File Photo - Officers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and members of the Lebanese Armed Forces verify the exact position of the Blue Barrel BP-12 in Rumaysh, South Lebanon last October. Blue Barrels determine the Blue Line, or line of withdrawal, marked between Israel and Lebanon after the pull-out of Israeli forces from South Lebanon in 2000. UN Photo/Pasqual Gorriz

Secretary-General urges restraint after day of deadly clashes across the Middle East

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has led a chorus of United Nations calls for all sides in the Middle East to exercise maximum restraint after a day of clashes around the region in which at least a dozen people are reported to have died.

 

UNIFIL Peacekeeper Patrols Israel-Lebanon Border

File Photo - An Indonesian peacekeeper with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) looks out of an armored personnel carrier in front of the Israeli fence along the Blue Line (or Israel-Lebanon border) in Kafer Kela, South Lebanon. UN Photo/Pasqual Gorriz

Clashes took place on May 15 along the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon, in the occupied Golan after the breach of the disengagement line from the Syrian side, and in the occupied Palestinian territory.

 

The clashes followed demonstrations by Palestinians to mark the anniversary of Israeli independence in 1948.

 

"The Secretary-General is deeply concerned that a significant number of people have been killed or injured," his spokesperson said on May 15. "He calls on all concerned to show restraint and refrain from provocations so as to prevent escalation of tensions and ensure civilians are not killed or injured."

 

He reiterated calls to resume Israeli-Palestinian negotiations towards a resolution that would allow two states to live side by side in peace and security, and "advance the broader goal of a comprehensive regional peace in the Middle East."

 

Read more

 

Related Headlines

 

UN officials warn of escalating human rights violations across Middle East

 

UN chief calls on Syria to allow humanitarian access after deadly violence

 

Syria: UN official voices concern about lack of humanitarian access

 

UN envoy visits Tripoli for talks with senior government officials
  

The top United Nations envoy to Libya made a visit to Tripoli on Sunday and met top government officials as part of the world body's ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis and end the fighting in the North African country.

 

Secretary-General Speaks with Libyan Prime Minister

May 10, 2011 - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks on the phone with Al Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoudi, Prime Minister of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, as the violent standoff between government and opposition forces in that country continues. UN Photo/Evan Schneider

Abdel Elah al-Khatib, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Libya, met with the Foreign Minister, the Prime Minister, the Secretary-General of the Libyan Public Congress and the pro-Qadhafi tribal forum on May 15.

 

"Their discussions focused on the need to fully implement Security Council resolutions 1970 and 1973, to allow full humanitarian access, and to establish a ceasefire and political process," according to information released by a spokesperson for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

 

"The Special Envoy's interlocutors said they were open and ready to fully engage and to cooperate with his efforts."

 

Libya has been engulfed by fighting since a pro-democracy movement opposed to the regime of Muammar al-Qadhafi emerged in February following similar protests in Tunisia, Egypt and other countries across North Africa and the Middle East.

 

Read more 

 

Related Headlines

 

Survivors of Libyan boat tragedy give fresh accounts to UN refugee agency

 

Libya: UN official voices concern as fighting blocks aid delivery in west

 

Libya: Secretary-General urges immediate end to attacks against civilians

 

As hundreds feared drowned off Libya, UN agency urges better rescue methods

 

As Haiti swears in president, UN calls for news political, social and economic pact

 

Welcoming Haiti's first ever transfer of power from one democratically elected president to one from the opposition, the United Nations has urged the country's new leader, his government and the people to harness the political goodwill to "rebuild together a new Haiti."

 

Michel Martelly and wife

May 14, 2011 - Michel Martelly and his wife after being sworn in as president of Haiti at the parliament building in Port-au-Prince. UN Photo

Michel Martelly was sworn in May 14 as president of Haiti in a ceremony in Port-au-Prince, attended by Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy and UN Development Programme Associate Administrator Rebeca Grynspan.

 

In a press statement issued on May 14, the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) congratulated Mr. Martelly on his inauguration and the people of Haiti for a "lesson in civic maturity" during the lengthy election process.

 

"The day of May 14, 2011 is historic and carries with it all the hopes of change for the people of Haiti: hopes for reconstruction, progress, stability, social peace, rule of law [and] development," the statement noted.

 

The mission called on Mr. Martelly, his government, Haiti's politicians, civil society groups and wider citizenry to "make this historic moment their rallying point for sealing a new political, economic and social pact to rebuild together a new Haiti."

 

Read more  

 

Related Headlines

 

Haiti: UN mission calls for explanation on results of three disputed districts

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Mariano Fernandez of Chile as his special representative for Haiti and head of the MINUSTAH.  

 

Afghanistan: UN welcomes creation of anti-corruption panel
 

The United Nations has welcomed the inauguration of an independent committee in Afghanistan tasked with monitoring and evaluating corruption in Afghanistan, where the problem continues to hold back or slow the pace of economic development.

 

Afghan MapThe new expert committee, comprised of three Afghans and three international staff, "signals an important development in the fight against corruption," said the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in a press statement on May 11.

 

The committee is charged with drafting clear benchmarks for progress in fighting corruption and with preparing regular reports measuring efforts to defeat the scourge.

 

"We hope that today's inauguration marks the beginning of a strong commitment towards full cooperation by all to fight corruption," the mission said.

 

Afghanistan has long been plagued by corruption, and the non-governmental organization (NGO) Transparency International last year gave the country a global ranking of 176 - out of 178 countries studied - on the issue.

 

More than 1 billion tons of food lost or wasted every year, UN-backed report finds
 

About a third of all the food produced for human consumption each year - or roughly 1.3 billion tons - is lost or wasted, according to a new  

study commissioned by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

 

Food CrisisThe study, compiled by the Swedish Institute for Food and Biotechnology and unveiled on May 11, finds that food waste is more of a problem in rich countries and food loss during production is a bigger issue in poor countries because of poor infrastructure and technology.

 

Consumers and retailers in industrialized countries waste an estimated 222 million tons of food each year, mostly by throwing away perfectly edible food. Fruits and vegetables have the highest rates of wastage.

 

The average consumer in Europe and North America wastes 95 to 115 kilograms of food a year, while his or her counterparts in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia or South-East Asia wastes only six to 11 kilograms of food.

 

Read more 

 

Week in Review
  

Secretary-General and New York Mayor Launch Decade for Road Safety  

Secretary-General and New York Mayor Launch Decade for Road Safety

May 12, 2011 - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) chats with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at a Manhattan press event where Mr. Ban and Mr. Bloomberg launched the Decade of Action for Road Safety. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

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World Press Freedom Day in Afghanistan 

World Press Freedom Day in Afghanistan

May 10, 2011 - In recognition of World Press Freedom Day, citizens from Kandahar southern Afghanistan, attend a photographic exhibition and seminar organized by Kandahar-based media correspondents together with UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). UNAMA Photo/Mujeeb Rahman

 


UN Washington Online


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