UN Pulse from U.N. Dag Hammarskjöld Library

The Human Development Report 2011, “Sustainability and Equity:  A Better Future for All” will be launched on Wednesday, 2 November 2011.  The Human Development Report has been examining the living standards in most countries for  more than 20 years.  The 2011 Report projects a disturbing reversal of past trends if environmental deterioration and social inequalities continue to intensify, and calls for new approaches to global development financing and environmental controls.

The 2011 Report will also feature the:

• 2011 Human Development Index (HDI) and
• Inequality-Adjusted HDI, 
• Gender Inequality Index, 
• Multidimensional Poverty Index.

Live webcast from Copenhagen - 2 November - 11am GMT

Live Twitter chat about the 2011 Report with UNDP Administrator Helen Clark 1:30pm GMT on 2 November @HelenClarkUNDP or #HDR2011

Related UN Resources

• Human Development Report 2011
• Human Development Reports Website

This is the sixteenth global report on tuberculosis (TB) published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in a series that started in 1997. It provides a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the TB epidemic and progress in implementing and financing TB prevention, care and control at global, regional and country levels using data reported by 198 countries that account for over 99% of the world’s TB cases.

Download:

• Full report (pdf, 4.09Mb)
• Latest data and profiles for all countries
  
• Maps
• TB facts

The environmental changes that have swept the planet over the last twenty years are spotlighted in a new compilation of statistical data by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), released today in a report entitled “Keeping Track of our Changing Environment: From Rio to Rio+20”.

The report is produced as part of UNEP’s “Global Environmental Outlook-5” (GEO -5) series, the UN’s most authoritative assessment of the state, trends and outlook of the global environment. The full GEO-5 report will be launched next May, one month ahead of the Rio+20 Conference taking place in Brazil.

Additional Resources:

• Global Environmental Outlook website
• Download the report: Keeping Track of our Changing Environment: From Rio to Rio+20
• United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)

This present report,A/66/292, covering the period from August 2009 to July 2011, is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 64/84, in which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Assembly at its sixty-sixth session on the implementation of that resolution and on follow-up to previous resolutions on assistance in mine clearance and mine action, including on relevant United Nations policies and activities.

The report also outlines the achievements made since the previous report of the Secretary-General (A/64/287) in the implementation of the four strategic objectives identified in the United Nations Inter-Agency Mine Action Strategy 2006-2010. In recognition of the evolving mine action landscape, the report outlines a series of recommendations, including enhanced cooperation among United Nations mine action partners in the area of ammunition stockpile management, to address the increased threats posed by improvised explosive devices and the vast circulation of illicit small arms and light weapons.

UN Resources:

• Previous  Reports of the SG.
•  Reference to landmines, explosive remnants of war, cluster munitions and/or mine action. 

Photo source:UN Library, Photo # 16369 by Robel Mockonen, Chitwan, Nepal.

Today, 31 October 2011, the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) voted to admit Palestine as a Member State of the Organization.  The vote was carried by 107 votes in favour of admission and 14 against, with 52 abstentions.

Including Palestine’s entry, UNESCO will have 195 members. 

Related Entries

• Palestine Statehood and the United Nations-Security Council refers Palestinian application to UN membership committee

Related Resources

• UNESCO News Release
• UN News Story

This report,S/2011/656 is submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution S/RES/1991 (2011), by which the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo(MONUSCO) until 30 June 2012. 

UN Resources:

• Reports of the SG on the perfomance, budget and Financing
• References to the Reports of the Fifth Committee.
• References to meeting records, resolutions and presidential statements.
• Map
• Facts and Figures.

NB:To view full text of the above reference reports, please refer to the UN Official Document System(ODS), copy and paste the symbol on to the symbol field and click search.

UN Member State on the Record:

Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Photo Source: UN Photo, Photo # 28140. People in Bunia respond to arrival of French peacekeepers. 06 June 2003.Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo

On Thursday October 28th at its 6640th meeting, the Security Council adopted resolution S/RES/2016(2011) to end the NATO mission in Libya and the protection of civilians.

The Security Council will hold another meeting today at 3pm on  the Situation in Libya.

UN Resources:

• A list of Security Council Resolutions on the Situation in Libya.
• Reports of the Secretary General.

NB:To view full text of the above report, go to the ODS, copy and paste the symbol on the symbol field and click search.

Other Sources:

Whats in the Blue.

Photo source:UN Photo Library #466616/OCHA by David Ohana.

The UN Security Council will hold an open debate on Friday, 28 October 2011, in connection with the agenda item “Women and peace and security”. Two documents have been issued in relation to this meeting:

1. Report of the Secretary-General on women and peace and security (S/2011/598).
2. A concept note prepared by Nigeria as President of the Security Council titled “Women’s participation and role in conflict prevention and mediation” (S/2011/654).

Other UN Resources:

• Reports of the Secretary-General
• Security Council meeting records
• Resolutions

Non-UN resource:

• What’s in blue: insights on the work of the Security Council on the issue.

The “Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific 2011” was launched by Dr Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP on 12 October 2011, United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok (Link to speech and presentation).

The publication presents comparable, cross-sectoral statistical data and analyses on population, the environment, the state of the economy and connectivity for the Asia-Pacific region, including subregional, regional and global aggregates which help place regional developments in a global context.

The full publication, an accompanying online booklet, The region@your fingertips, and a database of indicators are available for access through the website.

The 2011 Global Study on Homicide has been conceived to provide a unique overview of the ultimate crime. The picture it paints is of a phenomenon marked by large disparities in distribution, demographics, typologies and mechanisms.

At one extreme, where homicide rates are high and firearms and organized crime in the form of drug trafficking play a substantial role, 1 in 50 men aged 20 will be murdered before they reach the age of 31. At the other, the probability of such an occurrence is up to 400 times lower.

• Full report (PDF, 7.04 MB)
• Press release - English, Spanish
• Key findings
• UNODC Homicide Statistics

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has issued a number of publications this year. Some of the latest titles include:

 

People Living with HIV Stigma Index: Asia Pacific Regional Analysis 2011
This report provides findings from the rollout of the People Living with HIV Stigma Index (PLHIV Stigma Index) in nine countries in Asia and the Pacific (Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand). It provides the first large-scale regional comparison of standardized human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related stigma indicators. The findings and interpretation represent an extraordinary effort by people living with HIV, organizations of people living with HIV, and supporting domestic and international agencies.

HIV in Asia and the Pacific: Getting to zeroThis report provides the most up to date information on the HIV epidemic in the region in 2011. While the region has seen impressive gains—including a 20% drop in new HIV infections since 2001 and a three-fold increase in access to antiretroviral therapy since 2006—progress is threatened by an inadequate focus on key populations at higher risk of HIV infection and insufficient funding from both domestic and international sources.Treatment 2.0: Is this the future of treatment?

Imagine treatment 2.0. A radically simplified treatment platform that’s good for HIV prevention too!

Securing the Future Today – Synthesis of Strategic Information on HIV and Young People
This report shows that these global commitments will be achieved only if the unique needs of young women and men are acknowledged, and their human rights fulfilled, respected, and protected. In order to reduce new HIV infections among young people, achieve the broader equity goals set out in the MDGs, and begin to reverse the overall HIV epidemic, HIV prevention and treatment efforts must be tailored to the specific needs of young people.

Maximizing returns on investment: UNAIDS support to countries to make Global Fund money work
This publication describes how the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) partners with country partners and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) to strengthen the global response to AIDS and to accelerate progress towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

This year’s State of World Population report, People and Possibilities in a World of 7 Billion, looks at the the dynamics behind the numbers. It explains the trends that are defining our world of 7 billion and documents actions that people in vastly different countries and circumstances are taking in their own communities to make the most of their—and our—world.

Download the full report in various languages.

Related resources:

• Press Summary
• Featured Stories
• Graphs and Tables
• Photographs

After 17 rounds of voting in the General Assembly, Azerbaijan was finally elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council having acquired the necessary two thirds majority votes. Azerbaijan will join Guatemala, Morocco, Pakistan and Togo as non-permanent members in the Security Council from 2012-2013. 

Read the UN News story.

On Friday, 21st October 2011, the General Assembly held an election for  the five non-permanent members of the Security Council, under sub-item (a) of item 113 of the Agenda (A/66/251).

Guatemala, Morocco, Pakistan and Togo will serve as non-permanent members of the 15-member Security Council in 2012-13 after winning their seats during the first round of elections held earlier today.
UN Source

These newly elected countries will will replace Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Gabon, Lebanon, and Nigeria on the Security Council and will serve as non-permanent members for two-year terms starting on 1 January 2012.

UN Resources

• Previous election records
• Membership of the Security Council

Member States on Record

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Brazil
• Gabon
• Lebanon
• Nigeria

Non-UN Resources

• Security Council Report - Special Research Report No. 4, Security Council Elections 2011

*Photo:  Assembly Elects Five New Non-Permanent Members of Security Council (12 October 2010) - UN Photo/Evan Schneider

The present report is submitted pursuant to paragraph 13 of Security Council resolution 2003 (2011), by which the Council requested the Secretary General to report every 90 days  on progress made towards implementing the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID)

UN Resources:

• Previous Reports of the SG
• Resolutions
• Financing of the Mission-Reports of the Fifth Committee
• Security Council Presidential Statement
• Letters between the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council

UNAMID Website.

Photo: UN Photo Library, Photo # 480283 by El Fasher, Sudan. UNAMID Observes Nelson Mandela International Day.

Today, the  UN Security Council unanimously adopting resolution 2015 (2011) on piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia.The text of this resolution can be found in this Press Release.

UN Resources:

• Previous Resolutions.
• Reports of the Secretary General
• Meeting Records.

Member State on the Record:

• Somalia

Photo: UN Photo Library,Photo # 445404 by Rick Bajornas. Security Council Discusses Somalia Situation. September 2010.

UN Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being.

24 October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly recommended that the day be observed by Member States as a public holiday.

As part of the commemoration, UN staff — from senior to junior levels, representing a diverse range of departments, agencies and programmes — travel to high schools in all five boroughs of New York City to speak to students about the work of the Organization. 

UN4U 2011 takes place during the week of 17-21 and 25-28 October and will focus on ‘Ways the UN Makes a Difference in Our Everyday Life’ with five focal areas:

1. Humanitarian Relief
2. Poverty and Sustainable Development
3. Climate Change
4. Education
5. HIV/AIDS

Additional resources:

• UN Day website
• Secretary-General’s message

The Information Economy Report 2011: ICTs as an Enabler for Private Sector Development (PSD)  is the sixth in the flagship series published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The Report shows that the potential of leveraging information and communication technologies (ICTs) to develop the private sector is far from fully exploited.It finds that many national and donor strategies related to PSD currently fail to take adequate account of the ICT potential, which has greatly expanded thanks to changes in the global ICT landscape. The Report then makes policy recommendations on how to remedy this situation.

The Information Economy Report 2011 identifies four facets of the ICT-PSD interface and argues that policy interventions should take into account this holistic approach.

1. ICT infrastructure as a factor in the investment climate.
2. ICT use as a factor to improve the performance of the private sector.
3. The ICT producing sector as a strategic component of the private sector.
4. ICT use as a component of interventions aimed at facilitating PSD.

Executive Summary:

• Spanish.
• French.
• English.

The present report, S/2011/598, is submitted pursuant to the presidential statement of the Security Council dated 26 October 2010 S/PRST/2010/22, which was made in connection with the tenth anniversary of Security Council resolution S/RES/1325 (2000) on women and peace and security.

UN Resources:

• Previous Reports of the SG.
• Resolutions.
• Security Council Presidential Statements
• Study by the Secretary General

UN Website on Women

• Women Watch
• Inter Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality
• UN Women
• Global Issues Women

Other Sources:

Peace and Women

Photo Source: UN Photo Library,Photo #Photo # 140514

The Conference on Disarmament has submitted to the sixty-sixth session of the 

United Nations General Assembly its annual report on its 2011 session, A/66/27.

UN Resources:

• Previous Annual Reports
• Resolutions.
• Meeting Records

Websites:

• UNODA
• Conference on Disarmament.