PROSECUTOR TO ASK INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT TO PROBE KENYAN VIOLENCE

PROSECUTOR TO ASK INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT TO PROBE KENYAN VIOLENCE
New York, Nov 7 2009 8:10PM
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced that he will ask the tribunal to open an investigation into the deadly post-election violence in Kenya in December 2007 and January 2008.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo, speaking after a meeting this week in Nairobi with President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, said he would make a formal request to the ICC next month.

"There is a reasonable basis to believe that the attacks against Kenyan civilians during the post-election violence constitute crimes against humanity under the ICC''s jurisdiction," he said yesterday.

Article 7 of the Rome Statute, under which the ICC operates, defines a crime against humanity as "a widespread or systematic attack directed against the civilian population."

Mr. Moreno-Ocampo said Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga, who agreed to serve in a power-sharing administration following the vio
lence, had promised to cooperate with any investigation.

The ICC also announced yesterday that it has assigned three judges to a pre-trial chamber to deal with the Kenyan issue.

Ethnic violence engulfed the East African country after disputed elections at the end of 2007 and, following an inquiry, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan submitted sealed materials about possible crimes to Mr. Moreno-Ocampo earlier this year.

Under the ICC''s complementarity principle, the tribunal only intervenes if there are no national proceedings against those responsible for the crimes.

Once Mr. Moreno-Ocampo makes a formal request to the ICC''s pre-trial chamber, the court can agree to allow a case to go ahead, reject it or ask for more information.

In a press release yesterday the prosecution said that "ICC proceedings should go hand in hand with complementary investigations and prosecutions at the national level as well as healing and reconciliation processes.

"These three tracks would comp
lement each other. Kenyans could provide an historic example for the world in how to address and prevent massive crimes."

The ICC is an independent, permanent court that investigates and prosecutes persons accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. It is based in The Hague in the Netherlands.
Nov 7 2009 8:10PM
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BAN WELCOMES POWER-SHARING DEAL IN MADAGASCAR

BAN WELCOMES POWER-SHARING DEAL IN MADAGASCAR
New York, Nov 7 2009 8:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the power-sharing agreement reached by Madagascar''s current and former leaders and urged them to implement the deal to resolve months of political wrangling in the Indian Ocean country.

Madagascar''s four past and present leaders -- Andry Rajoelina, Marc Ravalomanana, Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy -- struck the power-sharing deal today following talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mr. Ban "urges the Malagasy leaders to speedily inaugurate the Government of National Unity and to put in place the transitional institutions foreseen in the Maputo agreement," his spokesperson said in a statement.

In early August the four leaders reached a separate power-sharing deal in Maputo, Mozambique, but were subsequently unable to agree on the composition of a transitional government.

Mr. Ban''s spokesperson said the UN would continue to support Madagascar "through the transit
ion and beyond," led by former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano, who has been working with the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the International Organization of the Francophonie to mediate a solution to the political tensions.

For almost a year Madagascar has been engulfed by political problems that culminated in the resignation in March of Mr. Ravalomanana as president. He was replaced as national leader by Mr. Rajoelina, the former mayor of the capital, Antananarivo.
Nov 7 2009 8:10PM
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UN ‘S ASIA-PACIFIC GATHERING WRAPS UP WITH CALL FOR BETTER TRADE DEAL FOR POORER STATES

UN 'S ASIA-PACIFIC GATHERING WRAPS UP WITH CALL FOR BETTER TRADE DEAL FOR POORER STATES
New York, Nov 6 2009 7:10PM
Exports from the world's poorest countries should be granted duty- and quota-free access to markets, according to government officials, economists and academics attending a regional United Nations trade meeting as they warned against a turn towards protectionist policies.

More than 100 participants at the first session of the Committee on Trade and Investment of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (<"http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2009/nov/g89.asp">ESCAP), which wrapped up today in Bangkok, said protectionism could undermine the multilateral trading system and delay recovery from the global economic crisis.

They called for the poorest States, classified as least developed countries (LDCs), to be granted better export rights, even without waiting for the completion of the so-called Doha round of negotiations on reducing international trade barriers.

ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer told the gathering that they were enormous opportunities for growth in South-South trade and investment, but high tariffs and procedural obstacles were the biggest stumbling blocks to that goal.

Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), said the Asia-Pacific region must not let the recovery from the current economic crisis be a jobless one.

"This financial crisis has turned into a social crisis for some countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with job losses and deterioration in social well-being," he said.
Nov 6 2009 7:10PM
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ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT CALLS ON ISRAEL, PALESTINIANS TO IMPLEMENT RESOLUTION ON GAZA CONFLICT

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT CALLS ON ISRAEL, PALESTINIANS TO IMPLEMENT RESOLUTION ON GAZA CONFLICT
New York, Nov 6 2009 7:10PM
General Assembly President Ali Treki today urged Israel and the Palestinians to heed the body's call to conduct credible investigations into charges that both sides were guilty of serious human rights violations during the conflict in the Gaza Strip at the start of the year.

Mr. Treki noted that the 192-member Assembly yesterday adopted a resolution on the report of the United Nations fact-finding mission on the Gaza conflict, which found that Israeli forces and Palestinian militants had committed serious war crimes and breaches of humanitarian law, possibly amounting to crimes against humanity, during the conflict in December 2008 and January 2009. Assembly resolutions are non-binding.

"This vote was an important declaration against impunity, it was a call for justice and accountability," Mr. Treki told reporters in New York, calling for both the Israelis and Palestinians to carry out independent inquiries within three months as required in the resolution.

"While the General Assembly has fulfilled its responsibility and will remain seized over the matter, it is vital that all concerned now devote efforts to implement the resolution and ensure follow up," he added.

Mr. Treki also voiced pleasure at the "smooth" and cooperative discussions in the General Assembly on the Goldstone report, as well as recent reports from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Court (ICC) the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Nov 6 2009 7:10PM
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UN AGENCIES LAUNCH CAMPAIGN LIFTING THE LID ON THE DAMAGING IMPACT OF CORRUPTION

UN AGENCIES LAUNCH CAMPAIGN LIFTING THE LID ON THE DAMAGING IMPACT OF CORRUPTION
New York, Nov 6 2009 6:10PM
A United Nations campaign kicked off today aimed at stopping the rot of corruption and exposing the corrosive effect it has on the economic and social well-being of people around the world.

Through a series of six posters and online information on a range of issues from vote rigging and embezzlement of funds to subverting the judicial system and obstructing access to education, the UN initiative raises awareness of how corruption blocks progress towards internationally agreed anti-poverty targets for poor countries, known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (<"http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2009/November/corruption-is-a-crime-against-development-says-new-un-campaign-.html">UNODC) and the UN Development Fund (<"http://www.undp.org/">UNDP) launched the campaign – "Your NO Counts" which calls on individuals to take a stand against corruption – ahead of next week's gathering of countries signed up to a legally-binding anti-corruption treaty.

The week-long meeting of over two-thirds of the 192 UN Member States which have ratified the Convention against Corruption will be held in Doha, Qatar, to discuss the implementation of the treaty.

The Convention, overseen by UNODC, helps countries ensure judicial integrity, improve legislation and develop strategies to fight corruption effectively.
Nov 6 2009 6:10PM
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UN CALLS FOR STRENGTHENING OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS IN ARMED CONFLICT

UN CALLS FOR STRENGTHENING OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS IN ARMED CONFLICT
New York, Nov 6 2009 6:10PM
Environmental protection laws in times of conflict should be clarified, strengthened and enforced o better protect States' natural assets during times of war, according to a report released today by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

The report, drawing on the expertise of 20 legal specialists, underlines the need to modernize international law regulating warfare, and include a new legal instrument that will "demilitarize" and protect ecosystems such as groundwater aquifers, agricultural and grazing lands, parks, national forests and habitats of endangered species.

International law regulating warfare was developed in an era of State-against-State conflicts, but today the overwhelming majority of conflicts are internal, meaning that many environmental provisions are not applicable.

"I call on Member States to clarify and expand law on environmental protection in times of war," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a message released today.

"Existing legal instruments should be adapted to reflect the predominantly internal nature of today's armed conflicts."

While the Geneva Convention addresses environmental protection, experts deem its wording too "stringent and imprecise," and recommend that the threshold for environmental damage be defined as severe environmental impacts over several hundred square kilometers and damage that persists for a period of several months or over a season.

At the outset of any conflict, critical natural resources and areas of ecological importance would be delineated and designated as "demilitarized zones," according to the report, entitled Protecting the Environment during Armed Conflict: An Inventory and Analysis of International Law.

"Destroying and damaging the natural assets and ecological infrastructure of a country or community should be an issue of highest humanitarian concern," said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director.

"The loss of freshwaters and grazing lands to croplands and forests not only leads to direct suffering, but also undermines the survival, the livelihoods and the opportunities for people to recover during and after a conflict," he added.

The report calls on the General Assembly to request the International Law Commission to carry out a review of the existing laws relating to the environment and conflict, and to create a UN body to monitor violations and process compensation for environmental damage.
Nov 6 2009 6:10PM
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BAN REJECTS REPORTS OF UN WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN

BAN REJECTS REPORTS OF UN WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN
New York, Nov 6 2009 6:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today rejected any notion that the United Nations is leaving Afghanistan, amid reports that the world body is pulling out of the country following the announcement that it will temporarily relocate some of its staff owing to security concerns.

"Let me be crystal clear: we are not evacuating. We will not, cannot and must not be deterred. Our work will continue," Mr. Ban told reporters after briefing the Security Council in a closed-door meeting about the situation in Afghanistan.

The world body announced yesterday that it is taking immediate steps to strengthen security for UN employees in Afghanistan, in light of the 28 October attack on a guest house in Kabul that killed five UN staff members and injured nine others as well as "further ongoing threats."

The measures include the short-term relocation of some of the roughly 1,100 international staff to safer sites within Afghanistan, as well as to duty stations in the region. The UN has around 6,000 staff working across the country in total.

The Secretary-General, who visited Kabul on Monday in a show of solidarity, stated that no critical staff will be moved, and that the UN's work on humanitarian and development needs will continue as before.

"I was able to see for myself that the determination and commitment of our staff in Afghanistan remains strong," he stated, while adding that colleagues there will have to manage, temporarily, with less administrative support.

Mr. Ban said he plans to provide the General Assembly in the coming days with specific proposals regarding additional resources for strengthening security for UN staff and premises.

While in Kabul, the Secretary-General also met with President Hamid Karzai and former presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah. Both Mr. Ban and his Special Representative, Kai Eide, have emphasized the need for the formation of new Government that is composed of competent, reform-oriented personalities that can move the country forward, he said.

In a statement read out to the press by Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting of Austria, which holds the rotating Council presidency for this month, Council members congratulated the Afghan people on their active engagement and participation in the elections and commended the efforts of those who worked to ensure a credible process.

"They called for the new Afghan Government to effectively address the issues facing the country, including security, good governance and the fight against corruption as well as economic recovery, improving the livelihood of its people, and the cross-cutting issue of counter-narcotics," said the statement.
Nov 6 2009 6:10PM
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UN LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN HARNESSING SUPPORT TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

UN LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN HARNESSING SUPPORT TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
New York, Nov 6 2009 5:10PM
The United Nations kicked off a campaign today mobilizing people around the world to take part in a drive to stop the pandemic of violence suffered by women at the hands of men.

The UN Development Fund for Women (<"http://www.unifem.org/">UNIFEM) launched a <"http://www.saynotoviolence.org/">website to inspire individual efforts aimed at eradicating violence against women, such as reaching out to school students, volunteering at local shelters, advocating for legislation or donating funds for programmes that protect women and girls.

The Say NO – Unite to End Violence against Women initiative's website also aims to showcase the widespread problem – estimates say around 70 per cent of all women have been victim to some kind of violence – and demonstrate the groundswell of support by counting the number of deeds performed to combat the scourge.

"We know that violence against women is a problem with solutions," said UNIFEM Executive Director Inés Alberdi after visiting patients at a one-stop health clinic for women victims of sexual violence in Nairobi, Kenya, to jump-start the international effort.

"What I have seen first-hand today in Kenya is the impact of effective work at the grassroots level, yet there is an urgent need for governments to make this issue a top priority and take decisive action," said Ms. Alberdi.

Counting efforts by individuals, governments and civil society groups, the campaign has targeted 100,000 actions by March 2010 and 1 million by this time next year.

As an incentive, the luxury watch manufacturer OMEGA has pledged $50,000 to the scheme for the first 50,000 actions registered on the website, thanks to efforts by UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman.

Throughout November, the multi-lingual broadcaster Euro News will air a public service announcement with Ms. Kidman, which calls on every individual to say no to all forms of violence.
Nov 6 2009 5:10PM
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UN AGENCY HELPS OFFICIALS IN CAPE VERDE TACKLE OUTBREAK OF DENGUE FEVER

UN AGENCY HELPS OFFICIALS IN CAPE VERDE TACKLE OUTBREAK OF DENGUE FEVER
New York, Nov 6 2009 4:10PM
Officials from the United Nations World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO) are at work in the Atlantic Ocean archipelago of Cape Verde to help local authorities battle the country's first <"http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/AMMF-7XGUAC?OpenDocument">reported epidemic of dengue fever.

Almost 6,000 suspected cases of dengue fever, a flu-like illness that is spread by mosquitoes, have been reported in four of Cape Verde's islands – Santiago, Brava, Fogo and Maio – since the start of October, WHO <"http://www.who.int/wer/en/">reported today.

The Pasteur Institute in Dakar, Senegal, which is a partner member of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), confirmed the existence of the outbreak from the first series of samples sent to the laboratory.

The Cape Verdean Government has set up a committee to spearhead its efforts to tackle the epidemic, and WHO is helping health officials and the public information technology agency maintain a rapid surveillance and reporting system by text message.

Last week officials from WHO's regional office and from its inter-country support team, as well as staff from the Pasteur Institute, arrived in Cape Verde to help authorities.

The team will provide laboratory, entomological and epidemiological support and set up laboratory diagnostics at one hospital, and it will also initiate activities to try to control the disease's spread.

Dengue fever outbreaks often occur when mosquitoes are able to breed in large numbers in artificial containers and improperly managed garbage, and the virus spreads through the bite of the female of the species.

Often persons infected with dengue suffer from mild flu-like symptoms, and may not realize they have the disease. Aside from joint pain, dengue victims experience rashes, nausea and headaches.
But some also suffer a potentially fatal form called dengue haemorrhagic fever, which causes internal bleeding and circulatory failure. Aspirin should be avoided in cases of dengue fever as it is known to increase the tendency to bleed. No vaccine has yet been found for any of the four strains of the virus, and none of the four confer immunity from the others.
Nov 6 2009 4:10PM
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LITTLE PROGRESS IN OVERCOMING DEADLOCK IN NEPAL’S PEACE PROCESS, SAYS UN ENVOY

LITTLE PROGRESS IN OVERCOMING DEADLOCK IN NEPAL'S PEACE PROCESS, SAYS UN ENVOY
New York, Nov 6 2009 3:10PM
The top United Nations envoy to Nepal today lamented the fact that there has been limited progress in overcoming the political impasse that emerged in the country earlier this year, and little movement on the remaining tasks of the peace process.

Around 13,000 lives were lost during Nepal's decade-long civil war, which came to an end in 2006 with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government and Maoists.

Presenting Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's latest report on the UN Mission in Nepal (<"http://www.unmin.org.np/">UNMIN), Karin Landgren told the Security Council that the peace process in recent months has "faced protracted deadlock, with the added risk of confrontation."

Ms. Landgren, the Secretary-General's Representative and head of UNMIN, reported that the impasse that emerged following the events of May – when the President revoked the Army Chief's dismissal, and consequently the United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) stepped down from the Government – remains unresolved.

"Despite continuing efforts, the level of trust among the major parties has continued to dwindle," she stated.

Mr. Ban, in his report, voiced concern that key commitments in the peace process have not been implemented, and that persistent mistrust among the parties and their "absorption in day-to-day politics and internal party issues" are impeding talks.

Ms. Landgren noted that while much of the past three months has offered "the semblance of calm" in the country, the past few days have seen low-level clashes between the Maoist-affiliated Yong Communist League and the Unified Maoist-Leninist Youth Force in some eastern districts.

"In the current climate, these protest actions carry a significant risk of confrontation and violence," she said. "There is an urgent need to de-escalate the tensions and to find a framework for taking the peace process forward."

She added that the mandate of UNMIN – originally designed for supporting the election of the Constituent Assembly, and due to expire in less than three months time – cannot go on indefinitely.

During the next 11 weeks, she said, the parties need to "arrest the loss of momentum, and invest goodwill, realism and rigour" in their pursuit of sustainable peace in Nepal.

"Until the parties establish a clearer framework for cooperation, and find ways of moving forward on major elements of the peace process, it is difficult to plot a structured exit for UNMIN."

The Representative also said that, three years on, a review of the progress in the implementation of the major peace agreements may be overdue, and the principal parties should also be encouraged to take stock of the state of the peace process.

"The parties themselves have repeatedly underlined their continued commitment to this process, and their intention to see it through to a positive end," she stated. "It would be tragic if the successes so far were permitted to unravel."

Following closed-door discussions on Nepal, Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting of Austria, which holds the rotating Council presidency for this month, told reporters that the 15-member body "urged the Government of Nepal and all parties to work together in a spirit of compromise and in a forward-oriented manner to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and take the necessary decisions that will allow UNMIN to complete its tasks within its current mandate."
Nov 6 2009 3:10PM
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