United Nations Daily Highlights, 10-08-31

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

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

MARTIN NESIRKY, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE

SECRETARY-GENERAL

U.N. HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR COORDINATED APPROACH TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The

Secretary-General

spoke today at the launch the

Global Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons at UN Headquarters.

Describing the Plan of Action as a clarion call, he said that, despite steps taken to stop human trafficking, a common, coordinated and consistent approach much be taken. The Plan of Action will help to achieve exactly that.

The Plan will engage governments and criminal justice systems, civil society, the private sector, the media, and concerned citizens. Under the Plan, the fight against human trafficking will become part of all the UNs broader development and security policies and programmes.

The Secretary-General urged Member States, the private sector and philanthropists to contribute generously to the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for those who are trafficked, especially women and children.

He also called on Member States to increase technical assistance to countries that support the fight against trafficking, but lack financial resources and expertise. He noted that often, these are countries from which people are trafficked, so their needs are especially urgent.

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN FOLLOWING PAKISTAN FLOODS

An estimated half a million women affected by the floods in

Pakistan are expected to give birth during the coming six months, according to the

World Health Organization. One month after the gradual onset of the devastating floods, reproductive health remains a significant concern across Pakistans flooded areas. After conducting assessments of maternal, neonatal, and child health, the

UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has established labour rooms in selected areas. Also, UNFPA teams have assisted in approximately 5,600 safe deliveries so far.

Pakistans floods have so far affected an estimated 17.6 million people, 70 per cent of whom are estimated to be women and children, according to the

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Also, the Executive Directors of the

UN Childrens Fund, and the

World Food Programme,

Anthony Lake and

Josette Sheeran, respectively, have

called on the international community to step up their support for the victims of the floods in Pakistan. The pair made their call following a joint visit to one of the worst affected parts of the country.

U.N. MISSION: THREE ABDUCTED AIR CREW IN DARFUR RELEASED UNHARMED

The

UN-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) reports that the three Russian aircrew members who were abducted on Sunday in Nyala,

South Darfur, were safely released today.

The Mission adds that, on Monday, a UNAMID team met with several community leaders at the Kalma camp for displaced persons, to discuss reconciliation among opposing sides following the violent incidents in the camp in July.

During the meeting, UNAMID called upon all camp leaders to reconcile their differences in the interest of the displaced people, to live in peace and receive humanitarian assistance.

Asked who the Russian pilots worked for, the Spokesperson explained that they were employed by a private company, Badr Airlines, which in turn was contracted by a company that supplies UN peacekeepers.

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF U.N. MISSION IN LEBANON

On Monday afternoon, the

Security Council extended the mandate of the

UN Interim Force in Lebanon by one year, until the end of August 2011.

Today is the last day of the Russian Presidency of the Security Council. On Wednesday, Turkey will assume the Councils rotating

presidency for the month of September.

CYPRIOT LEADERS TO HOLD INTENSIVE TALKS NEXT WEEK

The leaders of Cyprus Greek and Turkish communities, Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias, will hold intensive talks next week as part of United Nations-led reunification negotiations,

according to the Secretary-Generals Special Adviser for Cyprus,

Alexander Downer.

They met today to work out the dates for upcoming talks, Downer said.

The issue of property will be the focus of the talks, which is scheduled to run all day on both 7 and 10 September. That aspect of the talks tries to resolve numerous complex claims between the two sides on property seized decades ago.

The meetings began in 2008 after the then-leaders of the two communities committed themselves to working towards a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions.

Noting that negotiating the settlement is a very difficult process, Downer told reporters after todays talks that the leaders have made strides in the key area of governance and power-sharing, as well as in issues pertaining to the economy and the European Union.

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES CONFERENCES FOCUS ON GLOBAL HEALTH

The UN Department of Public Information is holding a conference with non-governmental organizations that is underway in Melbourne, Australia.

In a video message to the conference, the

Secretary-General thanked the participants for coming together to advance global health and the achievement of the

Millennium Development Goals. He told the gathered NGOs, We at the United Nations not only value your activism we depend on it.

He particularly welcomed the conferences focus on womens and childrens health. The Secretary-General said that was the area where we are most behind, although evidence shows it is also where we can get the biggest return on our investment.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

RWANDAN CONTRIBUTION TO U.N. PEACEKEEPING GREATLY APPRECIATED: Asked about reports that Rwanda is threatening to pull out peacekeepers from UN operations, the Spokesperson said that

UN peacekeeping operations very much appreciate Rwandas troop contribution as well as their performance under UN command. Rwanda currently contributes (as of 31 July) 3,485 soldiers, 143 police officers and 24 staff officers to UN operations. He added, in response to further questions, that there was no fixed date for the issuance of a report on the

Democratic Republic of the Congo, which will come out soon.

NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN FINAL STATUS ISSUES: Asked about the

Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the Spokesperson said that the

Secretary-General believes that negotiations are the only way for the parties to resolve all final status issues and he calls upon both sides to show leadership courage, and responsibility to realize the aspirations of both peoples. We should all be aware that this is an opportunity that must not be wasted, Nesirky added.

U.N. MISSION CONFIRMS EXPLOSIONS IN KANDAHAR CITY: Asked about reports of explosions in Afghanistan, the Spokesperson later said that the

UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirms that there were a number of explosions in

Kandahar city at around 8:00 p.m. in the evening of 30 August. It is not clear what the targets were. The UNAMA compound was not hit by any explosions, and no staff were hurt.