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United Nations Daily Highlights, 97-04-22United Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgDAILY HIGHLIGHTSTuesday, 22 April 1997This document is prepared by the Central News Section of the Department of Public Information and is updated every week-day at approximately 6:00 PM. HEADLINES
The Transitional Administrator for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium, Mr. Jacques Klein on Tuesday certified the recent elections in the region. In a statement, Mr. Klein said the decision was based on the available information, including reports of UNTAES monitors and other international observers as well as the comments of Croatian authorities and local political leaders. "Inspite of the challenges inherent in holding elections in a post- conflict environment, the electoral campaign in the region was largely incident-free and accorded all political parties free opportunity to present their political platforms to the electorate," he stated. The Transitional Administrator said the final results were not expected to change the provisional results provided by the Local Electoral Commissions and announced by UNTAES and the Croatian State Electoral Commission on 19 April. According to UNTAES, some 126, 000 people voted. Of these, over 70, 000 voted inside the region at 193 polling stations, including at 30 polling stations for the 1 600 displaced persons who registered in their 1991 addresses. "This high turn-out was beyond expectations. Over 56, 000 persons displaced from the region cast absentee ballots in 75 polling locations elsewhere in Croatia," Mr. Klein said. Managerial reform in the United Nations is expected to yield savings of $100 million this year and improve the world body's effectiveness, according to a report released at United Nations Headquarters on Monday. The report was prepared by the Management Reform Group of the Department of Administration and Management under the direction of Under- Secretary- General Joseph E. Connor. The Group, along with corresponding groups in each United Nations department, fund and programme, was established by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to serve as a network of innovators and to support broad organisational reform and Steering Committee for Reform, chaired by Maurice Strong, Executive Coordinator for United Nations Reform. Among reforms cited in the report are those that have helped make the United Nations Home Page a top-rated Internet site, consulted more than a million times a week as of February, up from about 200, 000 a week in June 1996. Out of 450 efficiency projects already under way, 213 have been completed as of March, the report states. Other examples of the many organisational efficiency gains listed in the report include a Department of Political Affairs saving of $188, 000 by a reduction of meetings, a $1.7 million savings by the Department of Peace-keeping Operations through improved selection and training of Police Monitors, as well as a revitalised Commission on Population and Development which, with no additional resources, made a two-fold increase in demand for service. The Commission on Human Rights has recommended that the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly authorise the holding, no later than the year 2001, of a World Conference on Racism and Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. It further suggested that the Commission play the role of preparatory committee for such a Conference. In a revised omnibus resolution on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, the Commission also expressed unequivocal condemnation of such acts and reaffirmed the request of the Assembly to the Centre for Human Rights, in cooperation with other relevant United Nations agencies, to organise a seminar aimed at assessing the role of the Internet with regard to the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has called on African Leaders to help rescue children in eastern Zaire. The Executive-Director of UNICEF, Carol Bellamy issued a call for action on Tuesday as the situation in eastern Zaire deteriorated further into tragedy. "As the world watches and waits, hundreds of children are at death's door," Ms. Bellamy said, adding that food and medicine were close at hand. Noting that the innocent children can be saved, Ms. Bellamy appealed to African leaders to use their influence with the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire. In particular, she urged South African President, Nelson Mandela, to intercede directly with Laurent Kabila, to ensure the care and protection of refugee children and the immediate evacuation of the most vulnerable unaccompanied children. The agency said that more than 5, 000 unaccompanied children, the first group in an operation to evacuate 80, 000 to 100, 000, were to be airlifted from Kisangani to Goma beginning last Friday. However, local authorities delayed the evacuation, first saying that there was a risk of spreading cholera to other cities, and then arguing that the airlift would congest the airports, according to UNICEF. Meanwhile, the World Food Programme, (WFP) has strongly deplored the theft of some 200 tons of relief food from a WFP train and depot in the Kisangani area. It said the food was sufficient to feed the 100, 000 refugees for four full days. On Tuesday, the agency received confirmation that virtually the entire load of relief food on a train en route to the refugee camps was looted by Zairian villagers during a violent overnight attack seven kilometres from Kisangani. An estimated 119 tons were stolen from a total of 120 tons aboard the train wagons, it said. Children as perpetrators and as victims of international organised criminal activity, such as sexual abuse, paedophilia, organ trafficking and illegal adoption, are the focus of a draft action programme aimed at creating a framework for cooperation in the filed of juvenile justice. The draft programme will be among the documents to be discussed by the upcoming sixth session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, to be held from 28 April to 9 May. Recognising the fact that by the year 2000 more than half of the world's population will be under the age of 18 and the fact that the specific justice related problems, needs and rights of children are not sufficiently addressed, even in developed countries, the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division, together with the Government of Australia, organised a meeting of experts in Vienna, 23 to 25 February, to speed up the implementation of the relevant international conventions and agreements that deal with juvenile justice issues. The Joint Selection Committee of the United Nations Fellowship Programme in International Law has awarded 18 fellowships to candidates from several countries. For the third consecutive year, self-funded observers have also been selected. The Fellowship Programme will take place at The Hague from 7 July to 15 August. The Programme was launched in 1965 under the United Nations Programme of Assistance for the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law. The aim of the Programme is to enable qualified professionals from developing countries, and countries in socio-economic transition, in particular mid-level government officials and university professors of international law, to acquire additional knowledge about international law and the legal work of the United Nations and its associated bodies. The Disarmament Commission on Monday began its 1997 session. During the meeting, which will conclude on 13 may, the Commission will consider among other things, the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones; the proposed fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament; and guidelines on conventional arms control/limitation and disarmament. The Commission was established by the General Assembly as a deliberative body with universal membership, and with a mandate to make recommendations on disarmament issues. Over the years, it has developed a number of confidence and security-building measures, including the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. For information purposes only - - not an official record From the United Nations home page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.orgUnited Nations Daily Highlights Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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