United Nations Daily Highlights, 98-10-28

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

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Wednesday, 28 October, 1998

Latest Developments

HEADLINES

• AIDS epidemic is devastating world population, especially in Africa, according to new UN estimates.
• United Nations special envoy set to begin high-level meetings in Africa to revive Angolan peace process.
• United Nations human rights official recommends probe into deaths of two men imprisoned in Myanmar.
• Head of Office of Internal Oversight Services says it has saved United Nations some $21.2 million.

Joseph Chamie, the head of the United Nations Population Division, told reporters on Wednesday that there would be "many more deaths than we earlier anticipated, and life expectancy will drop substantially." He said in Botswana life-expectancy would drop by some 20 years as a result of the country's high HIV prevalence -- one out of four people are infected. Still, the country's growth rate would remain positive, and by 2050 Botswana's population would double. "Populations will continue growing, but there will be a heavy, heavy death toll," he added.

If there had been no AIDS, South Africa's population was projected to grow to 52 million by 2015, but because of the epidemic, the country's population would reach only 43 million, said Mr. Chamie.

According to the new statistics, in the 29 hardest hit African countries, the average life expectancy at birth is estimated at forty-seven years, seven years less than it would have been in the absence of AIDS.

World population is expected to reach the 6 billion mark in 1999, according to the new United Nations estimates. From 1804, when the world passed the 1 billion mark, it took 123 years to reach 2 billion people in 1927, 33 years to attain 3 billion in 1960, 14 years to reach 4 billion in 1974, 13 years to attain 5 billion in 1987 and 12 years to reach 6 billion in 1999.

The revised population estimates prompted the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to announce Wednesday that the "Day of Six Billion," will be marked on 12 October, 1999 instead of 16 June of that year, as earlier projected.

UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Nafis Sadik welcomed the revised estimates, but pointed out that world population was still increasing by 78 million people a year. "Ninety-seven per cent of that increase is in developing countries, where access to family planning and reproductive health services is limited and where pregnancy and childbirth are still a risk to the lives and health of women."

Dr. Sadik pointed out that UNAIDS is leading the way in combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic. "We need to increase the availability of quality reproductive health care to stop this epidemic and enable women in particular to protect themselves and their families against HIV/AIDS," she said.

Issa Diallo, who is presently at the United Nations Office in Geneva, is conducting consultations in preparation for the tour as the stalemate in the Angolan peace process continues. His mission in Geneva is aimed at implementing the Security Council resolution adopted on 15 October 1998 which extended the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) until 3 December 1998.

According to the resolution, the extension of the mandate of MONUA provided the Special Representative with an additional opportunity to revive the stalled peace process in Angola.

In its resolution, the Security Council called on the Government of Angola and National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) to cooperate fully with the Special Representative and to facilitate his contacts with the key players in the peace process. The Council also encouraged the Special Representative to coordinate his efforts with regional and subregional organizations.

On the basis of the results of the efforts of the Special Representative, the United Nations Secretary will present a comprehensive report to the Security Council no later than 23 November 1998 to enable the Council to consider the future role of the United Nations in Angola.

In an interim report to the General Assembly, Rajsoomer Lallah, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights, said the probe would look into the circumstances of the deaths of James Leander Nichols in 1996 and U Thein Tin this year.

The Special Rapporteur said he made the recommendation as the Government of Myanmar continued to refuse to cooperate with him and to allow him to visit the country more than two years after his appointment.

Mr. Rajsoomer Lallah said that the human rights situation in Myanmar had not improved and the Government had so far ignored the resolutions of both the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights. He said that although he had hoped that a dialogue would finally begin between the Government and the National League for Democracy, (NLD) including leaders of minorities, "his hopes have not been fulfilled."

The Special Rapporteur said he remained deeply concerned about the continued harassment of political leaders and the detention of many political prisoners. He also said that he was seriously concerned about the virtual blockade of the General-Secretary of the NLD in her compound, her continued vilification and the inability of her party to organize normal political meetings and functions.

The Special Rapporteur added that the armed forces continued to commit serious violations of human rights in the ethnic minority areas. These violations included extrajudicial and arbitrary executions (not sparing women and children), rape, torture, inhuman treatment, forced labour and denial of freedom of movement.

In a related development, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Alvaro de Soto, who is visiting Myanmar, has met with a number of senior government officials including the Foreign Minister. He is also expected to meet with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi before the end of his visit on Friday.

"Functioning internal oversight is proof of a better, healthier United Nations," Karl Paschke, the Under-Secretary- General for Internal Oversight Services, told reporters on Wednesday. "OIOS is doing its job, and we have become a useful and important element of the management culture of the United Nations," he stressed.

A new report published by the OIOS says that the Office has helped to recover some $10.2 million, and has prevented overpayment totalling about $500,000. In addition, expenditures had been reduced by $2.9 million through the efforts of OIOS.

In a cover note attached to the report, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says that internal oversight within the Organization has matured since its inception in 1994. The working methods of OIOS, he said, "have become part of the management culture of the United Nations."

According to Mr. Paschke, the emphasis by OIOS on the full implementation of its auditing, inspection, evaluation and investigation recommendations has instilled a sense of responsibility throughout the United Nations. This, he said, would help to further reduce the occurrence of abuse and to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of management.

From the United Nations home page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

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