United Nations Daily Highlights, 07-02-06

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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 MICHELE MONTAS

SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

BAN KI-MOON BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON DARFUR

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with the Security Council in closed consultations, to discuss his recent meetings with African Union leaders at their summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last week, and in particular the focus in those meetings on the developments in Darfur.

The Secretary-General noted the urgency of obtaining a cessation of hostilities and reinvigorating the peace process.

To that end, Jan Eliasson, the Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for Darfur, and Salim Ahmed Salim, the Special Envoy for Darfur for the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, will conduct a joint mission to Khartoum and Darfur from 12 to 17 February, as part of the effort to re-energise the peace process.

The Secretary-General, in his briefing to the Security Council, said that follow-up on the situation in Darfur, as well as in neighbouring Chad and the Central African Republic, has to be pursued vigorously.

Unacceptable delays are preventing help from reaching millions of victims, and slow progress is not tolerable, the Secretary-General said. No more time can be lost. The people of Darfur have waited for far too long.

In his briefing, the Secretary-General also mentioned recent developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote dIvoire and Somalia.

He spoke to reporters on his way out from consultations.

SECOND CONVOY TO BRING HOME 5,000 DISPLACED SUDANESE

A second convoy of Sudanese internally displaced persons, following the one that traveled over the weekend, was to leave Khartoum today to bring home 5,000 displaced persons by the end of the month. The convoys are being organized by the International Organization for Migration.

Meanwhile, the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) reports fighting that took place between two Arab tribes yesterday in North Darfur, west of El Fasher. In West Darfur on Sunday, armed men ambushed two UN-contracted trucks carrying UN supplies.

URGENT HELP NEEDED FOR BURUNDI FLOOD SURVIVORS

The World Food Programme (WFP) warned today that two million flood survivors in Burundi need urgent assistance to avert a food crisis.

A recent assessment of flood-hit areas, by WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization, showed that some people have been cutting down to one meal a day and resorting to so-called famine foods, such as cassava leaves or bitter banana.

WFP says it needs $12 million to cover food aid requirements in Burundi until July.

COUNTRIES MEET TO END USE OF CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT

Representatives of 58 countries meeting in Paris today committed themselves to putting an end to the unlawful recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts.

The conference, hosted by UNICEF and the Government of France, unveiled the Paris Principles, a detailed set of guidelines for protecting children from recruitment and for providing effective assistance to those already involved with armed groups or forces.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO APPOINT NEW ENVOY FOR NEPAL

The Secretary-General has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Ian Martin of the United Kingdom as his Special Representative for Nepal and Head of the UN Political Mission in Nepal.

Martin has been serving as the Secretary-Generals Personal Representative in Nepal since last August, and was previously the Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal.

The Security Council is expected to respond to the Secretary-Generals letter.

UNHCR CHIEF CAMPAIGNS TO HELP IRAQI REFUGEES

High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres is in Kuwait today on the second leg of his weeklong mission to the Middle East. He started his visit to the region in Saudi Arabia over the weekend. Later today he is expected to travel to Jordan before heading to Syria.

In his meetings, Guterres has emphasized the suffering faced by hundreds of thousands of displaced people in and around Iraq, as well as the increased pressure on countries like Syria and Jordan, which together host more than one million Iraqis. In that context, he urged Saudi Arabia to take an active part in his agencys conference on the Iraqi humanitarian crisis, due to be held in Geneva in mid-April.

He also stressed the plight of some 15,000 Palestinians in Iraq, calling on Saudi leaders to use their influence to help find a solution for that problem.

NEW TREATY OUTLAWING ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES

IS OPENED FOR SIGNATURE

A new international treaty, which outlaws enforced disappearances and upholds the right of victims to know the truth about the circumstances and fate of those disappeared, was officially opened for signature at a ceremony in Paris today.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour was in Paris today to participate in that ceremony.

MORE EFFORT NEEDED TO STOP FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

In commemoration of the International Day against Female Genital Mutilation, the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) today called for an end to female genital mutilation and urged for intensified efforts to stop the practice in all its forms.

The UNFPA also stresses the need for stronger government commitment to fund and implement programmes to prevent female genital mutilation.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL SESSION BEGINS

Tomorrow the Commission on Social Development will open its annual session, which will last until 16 February.

The keynote speaker at tomorrow's opening is Les Kettledas, Deputy Director-General of South Africa's Department of Labour.

During the session, participants from around the world will discuss youth employment, ageing, disability and other social issues.

Tomorrow, at 1:15 pm, there will be a press briefing on the occasion of the 45th session of the Commission on Social Development. The Chairman of the Commission and the Governor of the Barbados Central Bank we will be here to update you on that subject.

SECRETARY-GENERAL MOURNS THE DEATH OF ANGELA KING

The Secretary-General was saddened to learn of the death of Ms. Angela E.V. King, the former Secretary-Generals Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women. He extends his condolences to Ms. Kings family.

Angela King led the United Nations efforts for the empowerment of women with knowledge, passion and courage as the UN worked to translate into practice the Beijing Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. A fervent champion of the equality of women and men, and womens enjoyment of their human rights, she knew that all parts of the UN had a responsibility to uphold those principles -- including in the area of peace and security. Ms. Kings advocacy and partnership with civil society paved the way for the Security Councils landmark resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security -- the Councils first recognition of womens essential role in peacebuilding, peacemaking and peace negotiations. She was equally committed to championing the cause of women staff members in the United Nations, and their equal opportunities in the work place. Her work for gender equality crowned an almost 40-year career with the United Nations, during which she also served as Chief of the UN Observer Mission in South Africa at the time of the countrys first democratic, non-racial elections. She will be mourned with profound affection and respect by many friends and allies around the world.

BELUGA CAVIAR EXPORT BAN IS LIFTED

The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has published today the pending export quotas for sturgeon caviar for 2007, in particular the beluga sturgeon, a move that officially lifts a year-old ban on the export of beluga caviar, which is harvested by Caspian Sea countries and is considered the most expensive and most endangered variety of the delicacy.

The CITES Secretariat further informs us that Caspian Sea countries have agreed to reduce the catch quota for beluga caviar by 29 % this year and to limit its export in the course of the year.

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

United Nations, S-378

New York, NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162

Fax. 212-963-7055

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