May 2013
20 posts
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International Day for Biological Diversity 22 May
22 May is the International Day for Biological Diversity. The United Nations General Assembly, by its resolution 55/201 of 20 December 2000, proclaimed 22 May as The International Day for Biological Diversity, to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. T
This year theme is Water and Biodiversity which was chosen to coincide with the United Nations designation of 2013 as...
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The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue...
The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/57/249 in December 2002 and celebrated on 21 May, provides an opportunity for mobilization on the part of all actors (governments, policy makers, civil society organizations, communities, cultural professionals to promote culture in its diversity and in all its forms:...
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Twelfth Session of the Permanent Forum
The twelfth session of the Permanent Forum of Indigenous Peoples is being held in New York between 20 - 31 May 2013.The Forum is an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.
According to its mandate, the Permanent Forum will:
provide...
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21 May is International Day of Forests
The International Day of Forests and the Tree is held annually on 21 March to raise awareness of sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/67/200 of 21 December 2012, which declared that starting in 2013, 21 March of each year was to be...
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The Situation in Syria
In an expression of grave concern at the continuing escalation of violence in Syria, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a fifth resolution A/RES/67/262 on the situation in Syria, reiterating its call for rapid progress on a political transition. The council expressed outrage at the “rapidly increasing death toll” in Syria, which the UN estimates to be in the tens of thousands.
The...
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WHO/UNICEF Progress Report on Sanitation &...
Some 2.4 billion people will remain without access to improved sanitation in 2015, according to a new joint WHO/UNICEF report.According to the report, the world remains off track to meet the Millennium Development goal (MDg) sanitation target.
Key findings
Among the key findings from the latest 2011 data, the report highlights:
Almost two-thirds (64%) of the world’s population had access to...
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International Conference on Forests for Food...
The International Conference on Forests for Food Security and Nutrition started today, and will run for 3 days. The conference proceeding are webcast live.
According to FAO , the conference will increase understanding of the crucial role that forests, trees on farms and agroforestry systems can play in improving the food security and nutrition of rural people, especially in developing...
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UNESCO REPORT 2012
The UNESCO 2012 report focused much of its energy on Education. Highlights in 2012 included the Shanghai International TVET Congress, the first Africa Forum on Science and Technology and Innovations in Nairobi, The celebration of the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention.
Search UNESCO catalogue for Previous reports:
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Economic Report on Africa 2013
This years report discussed amongst other topics , making the most of Africa’s commodities, industrializing for growth, jobs and economic transformation
Download in English- Fulltext PDF
Previous reports
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New Report on Human Rights Violation in Kivu
Report of the UN Joint Human Rights Office on Human Rights Violations from 15 November to 2 December 2012
According to a new report by the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office in the Democratic republic of the Congo, serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law were committed during November 2012 fighting.
The report details victim and witness accounts of mass...
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Security Council meetings on the Middle East today
Wednesday, May 8th 2013
The Security Council is meeting this morning in its 6962nd meeting, for a meeting on the situation in Libya.
This afternoon, there is a closed consultation on the seventeenth semi-annual report of the Secretary-General to the Security Council on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1559 (2004), (S/2013/234) related to Lebanon.
Additional resources:
...
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Security Council briefing by the OSCE
Tuesday, May 7th 2013
The Security Council is meeting this afternoon in its 6961st meeting, for a briefing by the Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Additional resources:
Reports of the Secretary-General on Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations
Resolutions/Decisions (OSCE)
Meeting Records (OSCE)
...
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Progress report on peacebuilding in Liberia
A second progress report on peacebuilding in Liberia (PBC/7/LBR/1) has been issued today.
The present report, which reviews progress in the implementation of the outcome document (PBC/6/LBR/2) and the priorities identified in it, covers the period from 1 August 2011 to 30 September 2012, and focuses on the main advancements and challenges that emerged during that period. Efforts to fulfill...
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The situation concerning the Democratic Republic...
Monday, May 6th 2013
The Security Council is meeting this morning in its 6960th meeting, to discuss the situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Additional resources:
Previous reports
Security Council meeting records
Security Council resolutions
Non-UN resource:
What’s in blue: insights on the work of the Security Council on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
...
Development Evaluation in Times of Turbulence :...
Development Evaluation in Times of Turbulence
The transformational nature of the ‘Arab Spring’ is just one arena in which it is clear that a business as usual approach to evaluation is entirely inappropriate. This book is a collection of papers from the 2011 Global Assembly of the International Development Evaluation Association (IDEAS). Nearly 350 development evaluators from...
Global Monitoring Report 2013: Monitoring the MDGs
Global Monitoring Report 2013: Rural-Urban Dynamics and the Millennium Development Goals provides an in-depth analysis on urbanization as a force for poverty reduction and progress towards the MDGs in the developing world. With less than 1,000 days to go before the MDGs expire, the report highlights the need to accelerate efforts to improve the lives of the poor in both rural and urban areas.
...
UNHCR Position on Returns to the Central African...
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) released a new Position on Returns to the Central African Republic. Conflict and insecurity have a grave impact on the civilian population. The humanitarian access is extremely limited. Targeted killings, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, recruitment of children, rape and other forms of sexual violence, disappearances and kidnappings, as...
New report on Prevention of Occupational Diseases
The Prevention of Occupational Diseases report released by International Labour Organization (ILO) highlights occupational safety and health (OSH) as an integral part of the promotion of the prevention of occupational diseases.
Occupational diseases cause huge suffering and loss in the world of work. With the collaborative effort of governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations, the...
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UN POPULATION AWARD
According to UNFPA, An academic institution affiliated with the Al-Azhar University in Egypt and a public health advocate from Uganda were announced yesterday as winners of the 2013 United Nations Population Award.
Each year, the Committee for the United Nations Population Award presents an award to an individual(s) and/or institution(s) in recognition of outstanding contributions to...
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Human Rights Situation in Myanmar
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Mr Tomás Ojea Quintana welcomed what he called “some forward thinking recommendations” from the Rakhine Investigation Commission report. The 27-member Commission was set up in 2012 by President Thein Sein.
Resources
Report of the Special Rapporteur - Myanmar
Report of the Secretary-General -...
April 2013
34 posts
New Report on child labour
The International Labour Organization (ILO) released a new report “World Report on Child Labour: Economic vulnerability, social protection and the fight against child labour”.
This new report brings together research on child labour and social protection, identifying policies that are designed to achieve multiple social goals. The report distils a broad range of research in economic...
Arms Embargo on Cote d’Ivoire extended by UN...
Through Resolution S/RES/2101 (2013), dated 25th April 2013, the UN Security Council at its 6953rd meeting, decided thus:
“for a period ending on 30 April 2014, that all States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to Côte d’Ivoire, from their territories or by their nationals, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of arms and any...
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CAMEROON-NIGERIA MIXED COMMISSION
The 31st meeting on demarcation of the boundary between Nigeria and Cameroon ended on 26 April 2013, in the Cameroonian capital Yaoundé. These discussions are facilitated by United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA).
Following a ruling of the International Court of Justice of 10 October 2002 on the land and maritime boundary between these two countries,the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission...
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World Intellectual Property Day - April 26, 2013
The theme of this year’s World Intellectual Property Day is “Creativity – the next generation”. According to WIPO this theme “honors the talented and ingenious creators and innovators who are imagining how the world will look tomorrow.
Resources
Message from Director General Francis Gurry
WIPO website
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New disarmament publications available
The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) has produced some new publications. The Institute generates ideas and promotes action on disarmament and security. Based in Geneva, UNIDIR is centrally positioned to assist the international community in developing the practical, innovative thinking needed to find solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow.
New publications...
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New UN PeaceKeeping Mission in Mali approved by...
On 25 April 2013, the UN Security Council approved a 12,600-strong UN peacekeeping operation to take over from the African-led mission in Mali on 1st July 2013.The council unanimously adopted S/RES/2100 establishing the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
Essentially the Resolution authorized the mission “to use all necessary means” to carry out...
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High-level thematic debate on “The peaceful...
The General Assembly will hold a thematic debate at 10a.m. today, 25 April, on “The peaceful resolution of conflicts in Africa”. His Excellency Jean-Pierre Buyoya, High Representative of the African Union for Mali and the Sahel will deliver the keynote address. This will be followed by a high-level meeting and 2 panel discussions:
Panel discussion 1: “Fostering AU-UN cooperation...
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World Malaria Day, 25 April, 2013
On World Malaria Day, 25 April, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes significant accomplishments in preventing and controlling malaria, including in high-burden countries in sub-Saharan Africa, but highlights the threat of antimalarial drug resistance in south-east Asia’s Greater Mekong subregion, where an emergency response is now being launched.
In sub-Saharan Africa, Malaria kills...
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Report of the Security Council Mission to Africa
On 19-26th May 2013, the United Nations Security Council Representatives went on a mission to Africa. The mission covered the following countries;
Ethiopia
Kenya
Sudan
The President of the Security Council informed the Secretary-General of the Council’s decision, through a letter S/2011/319, dated 18th Many 2012.
The full mission report S/2013/221 is available here in A/F/R/C/S
...
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Regional synthesis report of Component II:...
UNESCO in conjunction with StartReal Foundation published the regional synthesis report on Component II of the regional project on entrepreneurship education in the Arab States. StartReal is an NGO which signed a partnership agreement with UNESCO on 12 December 2008, to cooperate in the field of Entrepreneurship Education in the Arab States Region.
According to UNESCO “The regional...
Understanding social conflict in Latin America
UNDP has issued a new report on Latin America. The report – entitled Understanding Social Conflict in Latin America – points out that social, institutional, and cultural tensions in Latin America are numerous compared to other regions and tend to be complemented by a high degree of citizen participation.
Download:
English Version
Spanish Version
Related information
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Security Council Meeting on Situation in Côte...
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
The Security Council is meeting this morning, at its 6947th meeting, to discuss the situation in Côte d’Ivoire and the Special Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operations in Côte d’Ivoire (S/2012/196).
The present report is submitted pursuant to paragraph 22 of Security Council resolution 2062 (2012), by which the Security Council requested an...
UNICEF report on nutrition shows progress in...
15 April 2013 – A United Nations nutrition report released today shows that progress has been made in recent years in addressing stunting in children, and calls for increased efforts to accelerate a response to a condition that affects some 165 million children across the world.
Related stories
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Security Council Meeting on Peace and Security in...
Monday, 15 April 2013
The Security Council will have its 6946th meeting on peace and security in Africa this morning. They will discuss the letter dated 2 April 2013 from the Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General (S/2013/204).
UN Resources
Reports of the Secretary-General
Security Council resolutions/draft resolutions
Resolutions,...
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19th Commemoration of the Rwanda Genocide - 15...
The Outreach Programme on the Rwanda Genocide and the United Nations is an information and educational outreach programme run by the United Nations Department of Public Information.
The programme was established by the General Assembly on 23 December 2005 (A/RES/60/225) to “mobilize civil society for Rwanda genocide victim remembrance and education in order to help prevent future acts...
The situation in Mali
The United Nations top political official told the Security Council today that nearly one year after a military coup threw the country into turmoil, “concerted, broad-based” measures were needed to tackle its serious and closely linked challenges. The council discussed Secretary-General’s latest report on Mali (document S/2013/189 and outlined options for a possible United Nations stabilization...
United Nations News Centre - UN says $81 million... →
12 April 2013 – The United Nations food relief agency today said it urgently needs $81 million to assist 2.5 hungry people inside Syria and one million refugees in neighbouring countries until June, and warned that without funding it would have to stop many of its current aid programmes.
United Nations News Centre - In Oval Office... →
On 11 April 2013, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon conferred with President Barack Obama in Washington today on a host of issues ranging from the conflict in Syria and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process to tensions on the Korean peninsula and climate change.
United Nations News Centre - Ban appeals to Syrian... →
Noting the Syrian Government’s reported rejection of his proposals on arrangements for a United Nations probe of the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria,Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today appealed the authorities to extend their fullest cooperation and allow the investigation to proceed.
United Nations News Centre - Iraq: UN condemns... →
Iraq: UN condemns deadly mosque attack, calls for peaceful coexistence
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United Nations News Centre - The majority of poor... →
According to the ‘Child and Adolescent Poverty and Social Rights in Mexico’ study, produced by UNICEF and the national social policy evaluation agency CONEVAL, children are overrepresented among the poor.
According to 2010 figures, 46.2 per cent of Mexico’s residents lived in poverty – a figure that rises to 53.8 per cent among children.
International investment disputes hit record in...
A new UNCTAD report, “Recent Developments in Investor–State Dispute Settlement (ISDS)”, has been issued. The report shows that 62 new cases were filed in 2012, of which 68 per cent of respondents were from developing or transition economies.
More UNCTAD Reports
New Research Guides
In honour of the 60th anniversary of the appointment of Dag Hammarskjöld as Secretary-General, the Library has prepared several new research guides, including:
a research guide about Dag Hammarskjöld
a guide to online UN information resources
a guide to our subscription e-resources
In addition, a new UN Documentation Research Guide has been launched with expanded and updated information.
UNESCO Policy Guidelines for Mobile Learning -...
UNESCO believes that mobile technologies can expand and enrich educational opportunities for learners in diverse settings.
Today, a growing body of evidence suggests that ubiquitous mobile devices – especially mobile phones and, more recently, tablet computers – are being used by learners and educators around the world to access information, streamline administration and facilitate learning in...
UNESCO launches a new generic and open source...
UNESCO launched a new version of OpenEMIS, a generic and open source Education Management information System (EMIS) software package issued without conditions or restrictions for use by countries.
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UN Forum on Forests: 8 April - 19 April 2013
The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) is holding its 10th session, from 8-19 April 2013, Istanbul, Turkey. UN Documents Resources:
Annual Report of the Forum
Previous Sessions- Documents
Milestone-Documents
News and Videos
UN Forum on Forests opens in Istanbul (News video - 1:53 min)
International Forest Short Film Festival - Winners (1:00 min)
All archived webcast videos of UNFF...
UN chief urges DPR Korea to refrain from ‘further’...
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to refrain from taking “any further provocative measures” following reports that the country is planning a new missile launch.
Related Resolutions
SG’s Reports
Letters
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#MDGmomentum : 1,000 days and counting
The United Nations today called for accelerated action in the next 1,000 days from governments, international organizations and civil society groups to reach the eight anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by their deadline at the end of 2015.
“The MDGs are the most successful global anti-poverty push in history,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said from...
