United Nations Daily Highlights, 06-10-11

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

ANNAN LAUNCHES U.N. PEACE-BUILDING FUND

Secretary-General Kofi Annan this morning launched the Peace-building Fund, which is set to play a critical role in supporting countries emerging from conflict.

In his remarks at the official launching event, the Secretary-General said that, with the new Fund, the international community now has at its disposal a new and well-designed peace-building platform. Used well, it can help countries avoid a relapse into conflict, and enable them to regain or find for the first time -- the path to peace.

ANNAN URGES SECURITY COUNCIL TO SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE

ON DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA

The Secretary-General spoke to reporters this morning following the launching of the Peace-building Fund, and he was asked about the announcement by the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) of a nuclear test.

He noted that the Security Council had determined that the Governments action was unacceptable, and he urged the Council to come together and speak with one voice to take firm action on the DPRK.

Asked about DPRK leader Kim Jong-il, the Secretary-General said that what is clear is that he has not paid attention to the will of the international community and all the appeals that have been made to him. He urged the DPRK Government not to escalate the situation any further.

SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DISCUSS DPR KOREA DRAFT RESOLUTION

There were no meetings or consultations of the Security Council scheduled for today.

Security Council members continue to discuss at experts level a draft resolution on the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

ANNAN IS PLEASED WITH STUDY ON VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN

The Secretary-General is pleased with the conclusion of the UN Study on Violence against Children, led by his Independent Expert, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro. The report will be presented this afternoon to the Third Committee of the General Assembly.

The Study provides a sobering picture of violence against children and proposes recommendations for prevention and response. It brings together disturbing data on the incidence of various types of violence that children experience within the family, schools, alternative care institutions and detention facilities, the workplace and communities. The report is accompanied by a book which provides a more detailed account of the Study.

WINTER WEATHER WILL MAKE DE-MINING MORE DANGEROUS IN LEBANON

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reports that, since the 14 August cessation of hostilities, UNIFILs Chinese Battalion has surveyed over 140,000 square metres of areas suspected of having unexploded ordnance and cluster bomb units and destroyed over 3,800 such items. Additional de-mining activities are conducted by the French, Italian and Spanish battalions.

UNIFILs de-mining experts are worried about the worsening weather during the winter months, when the soil becomes softer because of the rain. The cluster bomb units then might sink into the ground.

Spokesman Alexander Ivanko said, This will make the job more dangerous since it becomes difficult to detect and clear the suspected contaminated areas. The UNIFIL teams are trying to remove as many explosives as they can before the winter season.

SUDAN IS STILL ARMING JANJAWEED, VIOLATING ARMS EMBARGO

The final report of the Panel of Experts dealing with sanctions on Sudan says blatant violations of the arms embargo by all parties operating in Darfur continue unabated.

It adds that Chadian insurgents are contributing to the conflict by reportedly joining government forces and the Janjaweed in operations against rebels; and that Government of Sudan continues to support the Janjaweed through the provision of weapons and vehicles.

The Chairman of the Security Council Committee dealing with sanctions on Sudan says the Committee will consider the recommendations made in the report and then present the Committees views on the report to the Security Council.

IRAQ VIOLENCE OUT OF CONTROL: U.N. HUMANITARIAN CHIEF

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland is in Geneva, where tomorrow he will take part in the second annual meeting of the Central Emergency Response Funds Advisory Group.

Today, in remarks to the press, Egeland drew attention to Iraq, saying that the violence there had spiraled totally out of control and that all of those who can influence it must do their utmost to stop it. He also called for more funding for vital UN humanitarian programmes in Iraq.

Asked about civil war, Egeland rejected "labels such as genocide for Darfur or civil war for Iraq." He added that Iraq was bigger than any contemporary war; it was criminal violence.

Egeland also spoke about northern Uganda and Darfur, where, he said, the nightmare was continuing.

Asked about a new report suggesting that more than 600,000 people have been killed during the fighting in Iraq, the Spokesman said that the United Nations was aware of that report, and noted that the Human Rights Office of the UN Mission in Iraq comes out with its own bimonthly report that includes casualty figures. The figures in all those reports, he said, are devastating.

The Spokesman said that the heavy toll shows the need for all sides in Iraq to come together to bring the situation under control. For its part, Dujarric said, the United Nations is working with Iraq bilaterally and through the International Compact with Iraq to help deal with the situation.

NEW LOCUSTS INFESTATIONS POSSIBLE IN NORTHWEST AFRICA

The Food and Agriculture Organization has warned Algeria, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco and Senegal about new desert locust infestations, which have recently been detected in northwest Mauritania.

Two years ago, a desert locust upsurge caused heavy damage to agriculture in several parts of West Africa, forcing the international community to spend more than $400 million to fight the upsurge and deal with its aftermath.

SIMPLE SIGHT TESTS COULD HELP MILLIONS IN DEVELOPING WORLD

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), simple sight tests, eyeglasses or contact lenses could make a dramatic difference to the lives of more than 150 million people who are suffering from poor vision.

Sightedness errors can be easily diagnosed, measured and corrected, yet millions of people in low and middle income countries do not have access to these basic services.

CHILDREN CAN BE AGENTS OF CHANGE IN DISASTER REDUCTION

Today is the International Day for Disaster Reduction, and the theme of this year's observance is Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School.

In a message to mark the occasion, the Secretary-General says that while children are especially vulnerable to the threats posed by natural hazards, they can also be powerful agents of change, provided they are well armed with knowledge about how to prepare in advance and how to act on warnings.

Therefore, he says, it is essential to make disaster risk education a component of national school curricula, and to ensure that children understand how natural hazards interact with the environment.

On this same topic, speaking at an event last night held by the UN Association of the USA, the Secretary-General spoke of Ted Turners financial contributions to the United Nations. He said these represent in a sense a grand investment in risk reduction and that his actions sent a message to businesspeople around the world; namely, that the United Nations and its work are worthy of support and that an individual can make a difference.

Former President Bill Clinton, the Secretary Generals Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery, was also at the event, and he called for a transformation in international disaster assistance from donors to ensure generous support for disaster prevention.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNAN HOSTS ANOTHER IN LECTURE SERIES: The Secretary-General hosted another lecture in his Lecture Series. Stephen Schlesinger, director of the World Policy Institute at New School University in New York and a former Director at UN-Habitat, spoke on "Act of Creation: The founding of the United Nations" in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium at 1:30 pm.

RELATIVES OF SECRETARIAT STAFF MAY WORK IN FUNDS, AGENCIES: Asked whether it was acceptable that the daughter of South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon works for UNICEF, if Ban becomes Secretary-General, the Spokesman noted that he could speak for only one Secretary-General at the time. He added that, as a general rule, UN staff rules do not prohibit staff working for agencies, funds and programmes from having relatives in the UN Secretariat. Those entities, he said, are separate as far as this issue is concerned.

D.R. CONGO SHOULD UPHOLD NORMS ON CHILD SOLDIERS: Asked about the inclusion of people believed to have used child soldiers or committed other crimes in the Army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Spokesman said that was an issue for the Congolese Government and Army. He said that the United Nations has made its position clear against the use of child soldiers, and expects the DRC to ensure that all its officers abide by international norms.