United Nations Daily Highlights, 05-11-25

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

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Friday, November 25, 2005

[There was no noon briefing today, but the following are highlights of developments in the UN system]

DETLEV MEHLIS CONFIRMS AGREEMENT REACHED WITH SYRIA

ON QUESTIONING OF OFFICIALS IN CONNECTION WITH HARIRI PROBE

In response to queries about the Syria's announcement to allow UN investigators to question its officials in Vienna, the Deputy Spokeswoman said Secretary-General Kofi Annan spoke with Detlev Mehlis, who heads the investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Mehlis confirms he had reached agreement with the Syrian authorities on Vienna as a venue for the questioning of five Syrian officials at the UN office in that city.

The Secretary-General is very pleased at the outcome of Mr. Mehliss discussions with the Syrian authorities, and he expects their cooperation to continue throughout Mr. Mehlis investigation.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

The Secretary-General today said that violence against women is the most atrocious manifestation of the systemic discrimination and inequality women continue to face, in law and in their everyday lives, around the world.

In a message sent to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women the Secretary-General said the violence occurs in every region, country, and culture, regardless of income, class, race or ethnicity.

He called for leadership in showing, by example, that when it comes to violence against women and girls, there are no grounds for tolerance and no tolerable excuses.

On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, let us rededicate ourselves to that mission, he said.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS WIDESPREAD

The first-ever World Health Organization (WHO) study on domestic violence reveals that intimate partner violence is the most common form of violence in womens lives - much more so than assault or rape by strangers or acquaintances.

The study reports on the enormous toll physical and sexual violence by husbands and partners has on the health and well-being of women around the world and the extent to which partner violence is still largely hidden.

"This study shows that women are more at risk from violence at home than in the street and this has serious repercussions for women's health," said Dr LEE Jong-wook, Director-General of WHO at the study release in Geneva. "The study also shows how important it is to shine a spotlight on domestic violence globally and treat it as a major public health issue."

UNITED NATIONS STANDS READY TO HELP CHINA COPE WITH CHEMICAL SPILL

In response to reports that unknown quantities of benzene, aniline, nitrobenzene and xylol spilled into the Songhua River, following a large explosion that took place on 13 November at a petro-chemical plant in Chinas Jilin Province, the Joint UN Environment Programme (UNEP)/Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Environment Unit has offered assistance to both the Chinese and Russian authorities.

The Unit is on standby to deploy experts to conduct any activities that may be required, including an environmental assessment, or to provide technical support to Government authorities. However, to date, no official request for international assistance has been received.

The Unit continues to monitor the situation and remains in close contact with a number of potential donor Governments and other relevant partners, including the UN Development Programme in China, OCHA Moscow, the World Health Organization and UNEP.

DONORS SHOULD NOT FORGET URGENT RELIEF NEEDS OF QUAKE SURVIVORS

The top UN official coordinating

earthquake relief in Pakistan, Jan Vandemoortele, has called on donors not to neglect the urgent relief needs of the 3.5 million people affected by the 8 October earthquake, amid concerns that focus and support may be shifting away from such needs to long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres is currently in Pakistan to

express his solidarity with earthquake survivors and to discuss the future of Afghan refugees in the country.

Arriving in Islamabad yesterday morning, he flew off immediately for Muzaffarabad, one of the worst-hit areas. There, he met the top official of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, as well as UN agencies and non-governmental organizations working with the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the area.

Guterres and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie held a joint press conference in Islamabad this morning. The High Commissioner then left to visit Katcha Gari camp in Peshawar, from where he will leave for Iran tomorrow.

UNESCO NAMES NEW HERITAGE MASTERPIECES:

The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today

proclaimed 43 new Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritages of Humanity.

This is UNESCOs third such proclamation of the distinction aimed at to raising public awareness of the value of heritages, which include popular and traditional oral forms of expression, music and dance, rituals and mythologies, knowledge and practices concerning the universe, know-how linked to traditional crafts, as well as cultural spaces.

Fridays masterpieces included traditional Indian performances of the Ramayana, Japans Kabuki theatre, the Zambian Makishi Masquarade and the Samba of Roda, Brazil. A complete list is on the UNESCO web page.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

YELLOW FEVER VACCINATIONS ARRIVING IN SUDAN: A WHO expert had already arrived in South Kordofan to help the work of the Federal Ministry of Health of Sudan. WHO reports that there were only 100,000 vaccination doses against yellow fever in Sudan, while there were 1.7 million persons in the state who should be vaccinated. The Government had asked for vaccines from the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization emergency vaccine stockpile and the vaccinations should be arriving today.

THREE MILLION GIRLS UNDERGO GENITAL CUTTING ANNUALLY: An estimated three million girls in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East undergo genital mutilation/cutting every year, according to a UNICEF report. Yet the study says that with adequate commitment and support, this millennium-long custom could be eliminated within a single generation.

SWEDEN IS THE FIRST STATE TO RATIFY CONVENTION AGAINST DOPING IN SPORT: Sweden has become the first country to ratify the International Convention Against Doping in Sport, the UN

Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization announced today. . This Convention, adopted unanimously by UNESCOs General Conference last October, is the only legally binding universal instrument aimed at eradicating doping in sport, the agency said. UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said. It would be ideal if the Convention could enter into force in time for the Winter Olympics in Turin next February.

A WIDE RANGE OF ENDANGERED ANIMALS GIVEN CONSERVATION BOOST: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) today

announced that several dozen endangered animals have been added to the list of those protected under the UNEP Convention on Migratory Species. The expanded list includes aquatic, avian and terrestrial species. A full list is on the UNEP website.

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS

Monday, November 28

Troop-contributing countries to the UN Operation in Burundi will hold a private meeting this morning. The Security Council will also hold morning consultations on Burundi.

The General Assembly will hold a plenary meeting to consider two issues: oceans and law of the sea; and Afghanistan.

Tuesday, November 29

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will host an informal briefing for interested correspondents on how to use the Financial Tracking System, at 4:30 p.m. in S-3627B.

The General Assembly President will be speaking in the Trusteeship Council Chamber in the morning to observe the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

The Assembly will meet in plenary during the afternoon on the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East.

Wednesday, November 30

The Secretary-General will officially launch the Humanitarian Appeal 2006 in the Economic and Social Council Chamber. Under-Secretary-General Jan Egeland will host the event, which lasts from 10:00 - 10:30 a.m, and other speakers include Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Cote d'Ivoire, and Raymond Johansen, Norways State Secretary. Egeland will brief the press at 11:00 a.m.

There will be a formal meeting this morning in the Security Council to adopt a resolution on the UN Operation in Burundi. Also in the Council this morning will be an open briefing and consultations on the Middle East. Following that, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari will brief the press on the Middle East.

The General Assembly plenary will hold informal consultations, which will kick off intensive negotiations on the Human Rights Council. Those consultations will also be held all day Friday.

Thursday, December 1

The United Kingdom takes over the Presidency of the Security Council.

Friday, December 2

Antonio Maria Costa, head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, will brief on human trafficking at the noon briefing.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162 - press/media only

Fax. 212-963-7055

All other inquiries to be addressed to (212) 963-4475 or by e-mail to: inquiries@un.org

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