| Calendar |
October 10
World Mental Health Day is observed.
The Secretary-General attends the "Energy for All - Financing Access for the Poor" conference and participate in a high-level panel on the theme, "Energy and the Road Towards Rio+20" in Norway.
A panel discussion on the theme, "The role of governments in protecting conflict-affected children" takes place at UN headquarters.
A panel discussion on the theme, "Women's access to justice," takes place at UN headquarters. It is organized by UN-Women.
October 11
David Scharia, Legal Officer at the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, speaks at a Capitol Hill event on the UN's counter-terrorism efforts beginning at 12:30 p.m in B-339 Rayburn House Office Building. The event is hosted by the Better World Campaign. RSVP to: coo@unausa.org
The Better World Campaign, U.S. Council for International Business, and National Foreign Trade Council host a Oktoberfest reception to highlight how U.S. businesses and UN agencies and programs work together to strengthen American national security. The event takes place at 2168 Rayburn House Office Building beginning at 5 p.m. R.S.V.P. to: BWC_RSVP@unfoundation.org
The Secretary-General attends the 3G Global Green Forum, a high-level public-private partnership which brings together leaders from government, business, finance and civil society in Denmark.
A high-level roundtable on the "Role of Regional Organizations and Institutions on the Protection of Children from Violence" takes place at UN headquarters. (UNICEF).
October 12
The Security Council adopts a resolution on the authorization of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and holds an open debate on security sector reform.
A Women's International Forum meeting on "The Arab awakening: Promise and challenges," takes place at UN headquarters.
October 13
International Day for Disaster Reduction is observed.
World Sight Day (World Health Organization) is observed.
October 14
The Security Council adopts a resolution on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and will be briefed by the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) in consultations.
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Watch live coverage of many of the events listed above at www.un.org/webcast
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File Photo: Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf following announcement of her election as Liberian President in 2005.
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UN Secretary-General applauds Nobel Peace Prize award recipients
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today hailed the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to three women's activists, describing it as "a testament to the power of women's leadership."
 Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first female elected head of State; Leymah Gbowee, a Liberian peace activist; and Tawakkul Karman, a pro-democracy activist from Yemen are the joint winners of this year's prize.
Ms. Sirleaf served as the United Nations Development Programme's Africa Bureau Director from 1992-97.
"I believe that women's human rights and their economic, social and political opportunities should be promoted. The eradication of sexual violence in conflict and the full inclusion of women in building peace and democracy is not an option. It is a necessity for creating a better future for all of the world's people," Mr Ban said in a statement.
Speaking to members of the press, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today's announcement provided encouragement to not only women but to all people around the world.
"This award to three inspirational women of courage and vision and commitment underscores my own determination to help advance the cause of women across the full spectrum of the United Nations. I really congratulate all three winners from the bottom of my heart," Mr. Ban said.
The Secretary-General has led the cause of women with the creation UN Women, a UN agency dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
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Secretary-General condemns Syrian violence, encourages Security Council to act
China and Russia vetoed a draft resolution in the Security Council on October 4 that had strongly condemned Syrian authorities for their violent crackdown against pro-democracy protesters this year and called for an immediate end to human rights abuses.
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October 4, 2011, United Nations New York - A view of the Security Council as Li Baodong, Permanent Representative of China to the UN, on behalf of his Government, vetoes a draft resolution strongly condemning the violence perpetrated by Syrian authorities against civilian protesters. The draft resolution was also vetoed by the Russian Federation, received nine votes in favor and four abstentions. UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras
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Nine of the Council's 15 members voted in favor of the draft text, there were two vetoes, and four countries abstained. A veto by any one of the Council's five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States - means a resolution cannot be adopted.
The draft resolution had voiced deep concern over the recent violence in Syria and strongly condemned "the continued grave and systematic human rights violations and the use of force against civilians by the Syrian authorities.
Mr. Ban's spokesperson said the Secretary-General "believes the violence in Syria is unacceptable, and cannot continue like this. He has been calling on the international community to speak and act in a coherent manner."
"The Secretary-General regrets that the Security Council has not been able to agree and hopes it will overcome its divisions and find a collective way to address the situation. He believes we have a moral obligation to prevent further bloodshed and help the people of Syria out of this dangerous crisis" the spokesperson added.
Read more
Related headlines
Death toll from Syrian violence tops 2,900, UN human rights office says
Related press releases
Security Council Fails to Adopt Draft Resolution Condemning Syria's Crackdown on Anti-Government Protestors, Owing to Veto by Russian Federation, China
Security Council, in Statement, Condemns Syrian Authorities for 'Widespread Violations of Human Rights, Use of Force against Civilians'
Calling Events in Syria 'Brutally Shocking', Secretary-General Welcomes Security Council Statement, Urging Compliance with Demand for Full Humanitarian Access
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Security Council calls for increase in African peace force in Somalia to 12,000
The Security Council has called on the African Union (AU) to urgently increase the strength of its peacekeeping force in Somalia (AMISOM) to its mandated level of 12,000 to enable it to better carry out its United Nations-authorized mandate to stabilize the war-torn country.
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African Union troops in Somalia empty Al-Shabaab munitions cache in Mogadishu.
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In a unanimously adopted resolution on September 30, the 15-member body extended AMISOM's authorization until October 31, 2012, and called on member states and regional and international organizations to provide additional equipment, technical aid and funding to the enlarged force, which since 2007 has been trying to bring peace to a country that has had no functioning central government for the past 20 years, during which it has been torn apart by factional fighting.
AMISOM currently has some 8,000 troops on the ground and early last month Al-Shabaab Islamist militants withdrew from Mogadishu, the capital, under pressure from the force in what UN officials have called an "extraordinary moment" of opportunity for progress to strengthen the transitional authorities as they prepare to set up a permanent democratic government by next August.
Read more
Related press briefings
Press Conference by Special Representative of Secretary-General for Somalia
Press Conference on Somalia Famine by United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator
Press Conference on Meeting of Contact Group on Piracy off Coast of Somalia
Related press releases
Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia Announces Launch of Website
Security Council Press Statement on Somalia
Security Council Extends Mandate of African Union Mission in Somalia until 31 October 2012, Adopting Resolution 2010 (2011)
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Humanitarian assistance must continue in Haiti, says UN aid chief
The United Nations relief chief has stressed the need for continued humanitarian assistance in Haiti, alongside development and reconstruction work, saying that the 600,000 people still living in camps following last year's massive earthquake remain in need of basic services.
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September 29, 2011, Port-au-Prince, Haiti - Valerie Amos (right), Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, speaks with residents of Accra camp, displaced since the earthquake that rocked Haiti in January 2010. UN Photo/Marco Dormino
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Valerie Amos, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, who visited Haiti, said she had gone to a camp housing 25,000 people and found that water and sanitation services had deteriorated because of a lack of resources.
"I was very concerned when I visited the camp - water and sanitation facilities have deteriorated over the last few months because of that lack of resources and many of our NGO [non-governmental organization] partners have left.
"We have to help those remaining people while at the same time working with the government on the longer-term sustainable development," said Ms. Amos, who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, in an interview with UN Radio.
"One of the major concerns I have is that the humanitarian appeal for Haiti is only half funded because there is a lot of focus for longer-term development, which I think is absolutely right - I don't think we want to stay doing humanitarian work for longer than we need to."
Read more
Related stories
Clean water, sanitation and food remain relief priorities in Haiti - UN official
Haitian camp populations decline, but residents still in need - UN official
Related press briefings
Press Conference on Haiti by Emergency Relief Coordinator
Press Conference by United Nations Development Programme on Haiti's Earthquake Risk Reduction Plans
Press Conference by Secretary-General's Special Representative for Haiti
Related press releases
Special Representative Stresses Need to Extend Mandate of United Nations Mission in Haiti, Citing 'Calm but Fragile' Security Situation
Security Council Press Statement on Haiti
Secretary-General Appoints Mariano Fernández of Chile as Special Representative for Haiti and Head of Stabilization Mission There
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Week in Pictures
UN Team Visits Remote Villages in Timor-Leste
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October 4, 2011 - A team from the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) is shown on a four-hour walk from Turiscai to the village of Lesuata, Timor-Leste, where they will conduct interviews with locals and speaks with the suco (village) chief. This type of visit is conducted two to three times a year by UNMIT staff, usually to villages that are very remote and inaccessible by car. UN Photo/Martine Perret |
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UN Special Representative for Liberia Briefs Press on Elections Preparations
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October 6, 2011, Monrovia, Liberia - Ellen Margrethe Løj, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Liberia, briefs journalists on preparations in place for the presidential and parliamentarian elections being held in Liberia on October 11, 2011. UN Photo/Staton Winter
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As the United Nations office in Washington, D.C, the UN Information Center serves as the focal point for UN news and information to advance understanding of the UN and its work, and to serve as a resource for United States government officials, NGOs, civil-society organizations and the American people.
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