UN CHIEF ENCOURAGES CONSOLIDATION OF DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA AHEAD OF ELECTIONS

UN CHIEF ENCOURAGES CONSOLIDATION OF DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA AHEAD OF ELECTIONS
New York, Apr 1 2011 8:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said he was encouraged by the progress achieved by Nigeria in consolidating democracy and expressed hope that the forthcoming elections will meet the high expectations of the people of the West African country and the international community.

Nigerians will tomorrow begin three successive weekends of nationwide elections when they will cast ballots for a new house of representatives and the senate, a national president and state assemblies and governors. The elections are Nigeria's fourth since the restoration of constitutional rule in 1999.

Mr. Ban noted that bold electoral reforms have been undertaken in Nigeria, including significant investments in a new voter registry and other measures designed to promote credible and transparent elections.

"The Secretary-General calls on Nigeria's authorities to uphold their commitment to violence-free elections and to a level playing field that enhances public trust in the electoral process," said a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=5180">statement issued by his spokesperson.

He encouraged the political parties to respect the electoral code of conduct they willingly adopted, and to uphold their commitment to tolerance, inclusiveness and peace during the electoral process.

Mr. Ban stressed that the successful conduct of the elections will strengthen Nigeria's democracy, advance its socio-economic development, and enable the country to continue to play its leading role in the promotion of regional peace, security and economic integration.
Apr 1 2011 8:10PM
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UN COPYRIGHT AGENCY REPORTS SHARP RISE IN CYBERSQUATTING DISPUTES

UN COPYRIGHT AGENCY REPORTS SHARP RISE IN CYBERSQUATTING DISPUTES
New York, Apr 1 2011 7:10PM
Disputes over the practice of cybersquatting rose sharply last year, with nearly 2,700 cases filed for arbitration with the United Nations agency charged with protecting inventions, trademarks, industrial designs and copyright.

The number of arbitration and mediation cases filed represented a 28 per cent increase over the previous year, according to a <"http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2011/article_0010.html">press release issued yesterday by the UN World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Cybersquatting general refers to the practice of registering, offering for sale or using a domain name with the aim of profiting from a trademark that belongs to someone else. It can also involve buying up domain names that use the names of existing businesses with the intention of selling the same names to those to those firms.

Parties filing cases with WIPO last year took advantage of user-friendly online facilities such as the paperless procedure initiated by the entity's Arbitration and Mediation Centre.

"The WIPO Centre is the leading provider of domain name dispute services and provides a rich range of resources for users and the general public," said Francis Gurry, the WIPO Director General.

"The just-released major update to the WIPO Overview is an excellent illustration of these resources and reflects the long experience of the WIPO Centre. The revised WIPO Overview distils panel findings in thousands of domain name cases filed with WIPO since its launch," he added.

The cases – which involved some 4,370 domain names – were decided by 327 panellists from 49 countries in 13 different languages, namely English, Spanish, French, Dutch, German, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Italian, Turkish, Romanian, Swedish, and Japanese. In 91 per cent of the cases, panels found evidence of cybersquatting, deciding in favour of complainants.

The top five areas of WIPO complainant activity were retail, banking and finance, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, Internet and information technology, and fashion. WIPO's 2010 caseload featured well-known names from business and public interest sectors, and most of those concerned registrations in the .com domain.

Arbitration requests related to country code domains rose to 15 per cent, while national registries designating WIPO to provide domain name dispute resolution services increased to 65 in 2010 from 62 in 2009.

Based in Geneva, the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Centre was established in 1994 to offer Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) options for the resolution of international commercial disputes between private parties.

Arbitration, mediation and expert determination procedures offered by the WIPO Centre are widely recognized as appropriate for technology, entertainment and other disputes involving intellectual property.
Apr 1 2011 7:10PM
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IMPUNITY A MAJOR ISSUE AS MEXICO ADDRESSES ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES – UN EXPERTS

IMPUNITY A MAJOR ISSUE AS MEXICO ADDRESSES ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES – UN EXPERTS
New York, Apr 1 2011 7:10PM
Impunity is still a major concern when it comes to tackling enforced disappearances in Mexico, a group of United Nations human rights experts said today as they outlined <"http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=10907&LangID=E">recommendations to the Government on the prevention, investigation, punishment and reparation of this crime.

Following their two-week visit to the country, which concluded yesterday, members of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances noted that victims of enforced disappearances lack confidence in the judicial system, police and armed forces.

"Impunity is a chronic and present pattern in cases of enforced disappearances and no sufficient efforts are being carried out neither to determine the fate or whereabouts of persons who disappeared, to punish those responsible nor to provide reparations," they stated in a <"http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=10909&LangID=E">news release.

They also highlighted a lack of a comprehensive public policy to deal with the different aspects of enforced disappearances, saying it appears that there is no coordination among federal, local and municipal levels or within the same level of government.

In addition, they emphasized that while the State has a right and duty to respond to public security concerns, including organized crime, addressing this challenge cannot be done at the expense of respect for human rights, nor can the State condone the practice of enforced disappearances.

During their visit, the experts examined the status of the investigations of enforced disappearances, steps taken to prevent and eradicate the problem, what is being done to combat impunity, and other issues, including matters concerning truth, justice and reparations for victims of enforced disappearances.

As part of the mission, they met with a number of federal and state officials in several cities, including the capital, México City, Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez and Acapulco.

The Working Group, which was set up in 1980, strives to establish a channel of communication between the families and the governments concerned, to ensure that individual cases are investigated, with the objective of clarifying the whereabouts of persons who, having disappeared, are placed outside the protection of the law.

The experts, who work in an independent and unpaid capacity, will present their report to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council at a session in 2012.
Apr 1 2011 7:10PM
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UN STAFF MEMBER KILLED BY STRAY BULLET IN STRIFE-TORN CÔTE D’IVOIRE

UN STAFF MEMBER KILLED BY STRAY BULLET IN STRIFE-TORN CÔTE D'IVOIRE
New York, Apr 1 2011 6:10PM
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d'Ivoire has lost a civilian staff member who died on Thursday after being hit by a stray bullet.

Zahra Abidi, 33, was an information analyst at the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) in Abidjan, the country's commercial capital that has been the scene of intensified fighting between forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo and those supporting Alassane Ouattara.

The two men have been locked in a battle for leadership of the West African nation after Mr. Gbagbo refused to step aside following his UN-certified defeat to Mr. Ouattara in November's presidential election run-off.

Ms. Abidi had worked at UNOCI's Joint Operation Centre since April 2009, prior to which the Swedish national served with the mission's Electoral Assistance Division.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is currently on an official visit to Kenya, extended his condolences to Ms. Abidi's family, adding that UNOCI will do everything it can to protect civilians and UN staff.

"There has been too much bloodshed, including hundreds of civilians killed or wounded," he <"http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocus/sgspeeches/statments_full.asp?statID=1133">told reporters in Nairobi. "I renew my call on Mr. Gbagbo to step down to avoid further violence, and transfer power immediately to the legitimate winner of the election, President Ouattara."

The post-electoral crisis has resulted in the deaths of nearly 500 people and the displacement of up to 1 million, many of whom have fled to neighbouring countries.

Despite the worsening violence and attacks against its staff and premises, UNOCI continues to carry out its vital work, which includes protecting civilians and essential locations such as the Golf Hotel, where Mr. Ouattara and his Government are based.

"I think we have a crucial role to play here because of the security vacuum," Y. J. Choi, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of UNOCI, said in an interview with UN Radio.

UNOCI – which has about 8,000 troops in the country, 3,500 of them in Abidjan – is receiving heavy fire, including attacks against its offices and its patrols. One of its helicopters was shot at in Abidjan today as it was landing, the second such attack in five days. In addition, pro-Gbagbo special forces have not stopped shooting at UNOCI headquarters since Thursday afternoon.

"We have so far seven people seriously injured and our headquarters is under heavy attack," said Mr. Choi, whose own office was shot at several times.

The mission "vigorously condemns these attacks against its personnel, its offices and its patrols which constitute war crimes," it stated in a news release. "The perpetrators of these acts will not go unpunished."
Apr 1 2011 6:10PM
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BAN STRESSES CONCERN OVER STALLED PEACE TALKS IN PHONE CALL WITH ISRAELI PREMIER

BAN STRESSES CONCERN OVER STALLED PEACE TALKS IN PHONE CALL WITH ISRAELI PREMIER
New York, Apr 1 2011 6:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed his concern over the current difficulties in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians during a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Both leaders discussed the recent violence affecting Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, with Mr. Ban saying that he hoped that the Mr. Netanyahu "would act with wisdom and restraint," according to a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1768">statement issued by the spokesperson of the Secretary-General.

Mr. Ban took note of Mr. Netanyahu's concerns about possible flotilla shipments to Gaza, stressing to those planning to send humanitarian assistance to the enclave that there are land routes available. The Secretary-General reiterated that Israel, for its part, should take meaningful steps to end the blockade of Gaza.

They also discussed ongoing developments in the Arab world.

Last month, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, told a meeting of the Security Council that violence was on the rise with Israeli-Palestinian peace talks at a standstill, and called for an end to the impasse.

The past month has been marked by an increase in violence and tensions in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel.

Talks between the two sides have been stalled since late September following Israel's refusal to extend a 10-month freeze on settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory. That decision prompted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to withdraw from direct talks with Mr. Netanyahu, which had only resumed a few weeks earlier after a two-year hiatus.
Apr 1 2011 6:10PM
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UN WORLD COURT RULES IT HAS NO JURISDICTION TO DECIDE GEORGIAN CLAIM AGAINST RUSSIA

UN WORLD COURT RULES IT HAS NO JURISDICTION TO DECIDE GEORGIAN CLAIM AGAINST RUSSIA
New York, Apr 1 2011 4:10PM
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) <"http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/140/16426.pdf">announced today that it cannot consider a claim by Georgia that Russia breached a global pact against racial discrimination because the two countries had not first tried to resolve their dispute through negotiations.

The ICJ, which sits in The Hague, voted by 10 judges to six to uphold one of Russia's four preliminary objections to the court's capacity to hear the claim, in which Georgia contended that Russia had breached the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

Detailing the reasoning for its decision, the ICJ – also known as the World Court – said the convention requires the parties to a dispute to first have either attempted negotiations or resorted to the special procedures outlined in the pact, and that the lodging of protests or counter-claims by the two countries was not sufficient.

Georgia had contended that Russia had engaged in a systematic policy of ethnic discrimination against ethnic Georgians and other groups living in Abkhazia and South Ossetia from the early 1990s until fighting broke out there in 2008.

Apr 1 2011 4:10PM
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MINOR RADIATION SPREADS FROM JAPAN AS UN CHIEF URGES STRONGER NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS

MINOR RADIATION SPREADS FROM JAPAN AS UN CHIEF URGES STRONGER NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS
New York, Apr 1 2011 4:10PM
Radioactive material from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan is gradually spreading into the global atmosphere, but at extremely low concentrations that do not present health hazards, the United Nations reported today, as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for "solid" safeguards for nuclear safety.

"We should take all necessary measures to ensure the highest possible standards for health, the food supply and the environment," Mr. Ban <"http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocus/sgspeeches/statments_full.asp?statID=1133">told a news conference in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. "We must also put in place a solid disaster response framework that includes accurate and actionable data," he added.

"While I believe nuclear energy will continue to serve as an important energy resource – particularly given the problem of climate change – I strongly encourage States to revisit their national policies and mechanisms on nuclear safety," said the Secretary-General.

Japanese authorities have meanwhile confirmed that all airports in the country, with the exception of Sendai, which was affected by the massive earthquake and devastating tsunami on 11 March, continue to operate normally for both international and domestic operations, according to UN agencies jointly monitoring the situation.

Continuous monitoring around the airports has confirmed that radiation levels are well within safe limits from a health perspective, according to joint monitoring by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Maritime Organization (<"http://www.imo.org/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/Pages/17-radiation-.aspx">IMO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Authorities in Japan have also confirmed that all international seaports not damaged by the earthquake and tsunami are operating normally and that no health risk has been detected around the ports, based on the results of measurements of radiation levels by local governments, the UN entities said.

Denis Flory, the IAEA Deputy Director-General and head of its Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, told reporters in Vienna that the overall situation at the Fukushima Daiichi plant remains "very serious" with efforts continuing to cool down the damaged reactors in an attempt to prevent a meltdown of the radioactive fuel.

The restrictions on drinking tap water for infants remained in force in two locations in Fukushima prefecture, while radiation analytical data from three prefectures – Chiba, Fukushima, Ibaraki and Tochigi – show that contamination levels of vegetables, fruits, seafood, various meats and unprocessed milk remained above the levels set by the Japanese authorities, according to Mr. Flory.

In Nairobi, Mr. Ban also called for more international assistance for Japan as the country makes its own efforts to emerge from the unprecedented natural disaster that struck on 11 March.

"Let us rededicate ourselves to help the people of Japan who are still bravely recovering from the devastating earthquake and tsunami that killed so many people and displaced so many more," said the Secretary-General.
Apr 1 2011 4:10PM
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UN ENVOY URGES SOMALI LEADERS TO ATTEND UPCOMING MEETING ON ENDING TRANSITION

UN ENVOY URGES SOMALI LEADERS TO ATTEND UPCOMING MEETING ON ENDING TRANSITION
New York, Apr 1 2011 3:10PM
The United Nations envoy for Somalia today urged all of the country's leaders to participate in an upcoming conference on the transition process, following reports that members of the interim Government have decided to boycott the event.

"I urge all Somali leaders to demonstrate their commitment to advancing the peace process by taking part in this meeting," Augustine P. Mahiga, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia, said in a news release.

"The main objective of the meeting is to reinvigorate dialogue among Somali authorities to establish a common vision for moving forward. This is a consultative meeting, no decisions will be taken," he stated.

Among the issues to be discussed at the High-Level Consultative Meeting, to be held in Nairobi on 12 and 13 April, are the tasks of the respective Somali institutions on how to end the transition, based on the Transitional Federal Charter and the Djibouti Agreement.

Under the Transitional Federal Charter, the mandate of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was due to expire in August. However, in February, the interim parliament voted to extend its mandate by three years beyond the August deadline by which it was to enact a new constitution ahead of general elections.

That move drew criticism from Mr. Mahiga, who said the decision was made in haste and without the required consultation on how to end the transition and on next steps. Other tasks which need to be completed during the transition period include political reconciliation and building civilian and security institutions.

Next week's meeting is an opportunity for the Somali leaders to share information on how regional partners and the international community can support the transitional activities, according to the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), which is headed by Mr. Mahiga.

Somalia – which has not had a functioning central government since 1991 – has been torn apart by decades of conflict and factional strife, more recently with al-Shabaab Islamic militants. The country is also facing a dire humanitarian crisis in which 2.4 million people are in need of assistance.
Apr 1 2011 3:10PM
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UN CHIEF MARKS AUTISM AWARENESS DAY WITH CALL FOR GREATER SUPPORT TO THOSE AFFECTED

UN CHIEF MARKS AUTISM AWARENESS DAY WITH CALL FOR GREATER SUPPORT TO THOSE AFFECTED
New York, Apr 1 2011 2:10PM
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for increased support for children and adults with autism and their families, saying public awareness about the condition remains low, with those affected suffering discrimination, abuse, isolation and violation of their fundamental rights.

"Children and persons with autistic conditions face major challenges associated with stigma and discrimination, as well as a lack of access to support. Many struggle with multiple barriers in their daily lives," Mr. Ban said in a <"http://www.un.org/en/events/autismday/sgmessage.shtml">message to mark the <I>World Autism Awareness Day</I>, which will be observed tomorrow.

The United Nations chief executive said that the number of children and people with autistic conditions continues to rise in all countries and racial, ethnic and social groups, but awareness remained low despite the recognition of autistic conditions among the scientific, health and care communities.

Mr. Ban described the annual observance of <"http://www.un.org/en/events/autismday/index.shtml">World Autism Awareness Day as an "opportunity to mobilize for action and assistance."

"Autism is a complex disorder. But in many cases the right treatment early on can bring improvements. That is why it is so important to raise awareness about the signs of autism and provide services as soon as possible," added Mr. Ban.

He spoke of the need to support parents, create jobs for individuals with autism based on their skills and strengths, and improve public education to better meet the needs of students with autism. Such steps can benefit society and enrich the lives of people with autism and their loved ones.

Mr. Ban highlighted a remark by a mother of a child with autism who said: "Although my daughter has walked a long way, I have walked a longer way."

"Together, let us travel this road toward a more caring and inclusive world," the Secretary-General added.

Apr 1 2011 2:10PM
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UN UNVEILS REPORT ON SIZE AND SCALE OF ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT

UN UNVEILS REPORT ON SIZE AND SCALE OF ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT
New York, Apr 1 2011 1:10PM
Activities by the United Nations in 2009 caused the emission of a total of 1.7 million tons of the greenhouse gases, which are blamed for global warming and harmful effects on the environment and human health, the world body <"http://unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=664&ArticleID=8687&l=en">said in a new report unveiled today.

The report, Moving Towards a Climate Neutral UN, details the greenhouse gas emissions for 52 UN institutions, covering 200,000 employees. It is published as part of ongoing efforts to reduce the UN's carbon footprint.

More than 50 per cent – 4.1 tons per capita – of the UN emissions are from air travel, making staff movement the biggest challenge for the Organization in reducing its overall carbon footprint, the report points out. About 37 per cent of emissions are from buildings and 13 per cent from vehicles.

In a foreword to the report, prepared by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon states that improving the UN's in-house sustainability performance will make the world body more efficient, more effective and less exposed to risk.

"The United Nations has played a key role in elevating the profile of climate change on the international agenda, and continues to support Member States in their efforts to reduce emissions, strengthen adaptation and respond to this immense global challenge," writes Mr. Ban.

"Such work has a natural complement in our in-house drive to reduce the UN's own carbon footprint. What we demand of others, we must do ourselves."

The report provides a progress update on implementation of the UN's Climate Neutral Strategy.

The strategy was approved the UN Chief Executives Board (CEB) in October 2007 and commits all agencies, funds and programmes to move towards climate neutrality within the wider context of "greening" the UN.

The strategy requires UN bodies to estimate their greenhouse gas emissions, undertake efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and analyze the cost implications of purchasing carbon offsets.

The emissions calculations in the report are based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, a widely used methodology developed by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

The UN greenhouse gas inventory includes emissions from all activities that are under the direct financial control of the Organization, such as the heating and cooling of buildings and the travel of staff members. The UN International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Carbon Emissions Calculator was used for computing the air travel portion of the greenhouse gas inventory.

The report highlights recent "greening" the UN efforts and details the myriad ways in which UN entities, staff associations and individual employees worldwide are continuing efforts to reduce their greenhouse gases emissions.

Apr 1 2011 1:10PM
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ACCESS TO FOOD A MAJOR CONCERN AS FIGHTING RAGES ON IN LIBYA, SAYS UN AGENCY

ACCESS TO FOOD A MAJOR CONCERN AS FIGHTING RAGES ON IN LIBYA, SAYS UN AGENCY
New York, Apr 1 2011 1:10PM
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said today it has stepped up assistance to Libya, while voicing concern about access to food inside the country, especially in areas heavily affected by the fighting.

Libya is a food deficit country heavily reliant on imports, according to the Rome-based agency. To feed a population of over 6.6 million, an estimated 110,000 tons of food monthly are required, of which at least 75 per cent is imported.

"The public food distribution system in Libya is under stress as food stocks in the country are being consumed without replenishment," WFP stated in an <"http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/wfp-food-distributions-inside-libya-gather-momentum">update, adding that there are reports of some food commodities doubling in price.

"The longer the conflict lasts, the more it becomes likely that the number of those in need of food assistance will increase dramatically."

WFP has boosted the provision of food inside Libya with distribution in eight different locations in the Beidan area north of Ajdabiya and south of Benghazi in the northeast of the country.

Its food distributions inside Libya started on 9 March, and the agency has pre-positioned and mobilized more than 16,500 tons of food for the hungry inside the country and in the wider region as part of a $42 million emergency operation designed to provide food assistance to more than one million people in Libya, Egypt and Tunisia over a three-month period.

The ongoing conflict between pro- and anti-Government supporters in Libya uprooted over 400,000 people, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), with the majority of them fleeing to neighbouring Egypt and Tunisia. The fighting has made access to those in need more difficult for humanitarian agencies.

In addition to working with local partners to deliver food to hungry people in Libya, WFP is also providing logistics and telecommunications support to the humanitarian community working there.

It reported that a convoy of three trucks, carrying food assistance as well as 5,000 blankets and 5,000 sleeping mattresses on behalf of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees arrived in Benghazi on 27 March – the first since the implementation of the no-fly zone imposed on Libya by the Security Council two weeks ago.

The no-fly zone was part of an effort by the Council to protect civilians from the fierce military crackdown waged by Colonel Muammar Al-Qadhafi in response to the protests that erupted in Libya last month as part of a wider movement calling for reform across North Africa and the Middle East.

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) reported today that it is working with its partners to buy urgent medical supplies – including equipment for blood transfusions, tents for mobile clinics, and water and sanitation equipment – and transport them to Libya as soon as access is provided.

The $160 million humanitarian flash appeal for Libya is currently 70 per cent funded at $111.8 million, according to OCHA. The Office added that the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya, Rashid Khalikov, has begun a three-day assessment visit to Tunisia to review the humanitarian conditions and interact with Government and humanitarian actors.

Meanwhile, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's diplomatic efforts to seek a solution to the crisis in Libya continue, his spokesperson said. Mr. Ban's Special Envoy, Abdel Elah Al-Khatib, has just concluded two days of talks in Libya, meeting with the opposition in Benghazi today after talks with authorities in Tripoli on Thursday.

While in Benghazi, Mr. Al-Khatib met with members of the Transitional National Council, including its leader, Mustafa Abdel Jalil. In Tripoli, he met with Libyan Government officials, including Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmudi. He is expected to report to the Security Council next week.
Apr 1 2011 1:10PM
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DRAFT ASYLUM LAW IN AUSTRIA SPARKS CONCERN FROM UN REFUGEE AGENCY

DRAFT ASYLUM LAW IN AUSTRIA SPARKS CONCERN FROM UN REFUGEE AGENCY
New York, Apr 1 2011 12:10PM
The United Nations refugee agency voiced concern today about a proposed law in Austria that it said would further restrict the rights of asylum-seekers in the Central European nation.

The draft changes to the Austrian Asylum Act are set to be discussed in the country's Parliament next week and could be adopted later this month, according to Andrej Mahecic, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

"Of particular concern to us are provisions that would require all new asylum-seekers to stay in a reception centre for up to seven days, with possible detention for anyone who breaks this rule," Mr. Mahecic told journalists in a <"http://www.unhcr.org/4d95b52e9.html">briefing at the agency's headquarters in Geneva.

"This would in our view constitute an unjustified restriction on freedom of movement. It could also prevent new asylum-seekers from being able to get freely chosen legal advice or support. Even a child awaiting the outcome of an asylum application and whose parents already reside legally in Austria would be affected by this new law. Families could be separated for up to a week."

Mr. Mahecic said the detention of children was a particularly worrying aspect of the draft law.

"While children below the age of 14 are not affected by this, those between the ages of 14 and 18 may be subject to being detained."

He called on Austrian parliamentarians to give priority to the best interests of the child when considering the bill, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the European Union's Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Apr 1 2011 12:10PM
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SEVERAL PESTICIDES AND INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS TO JOIN UN TREATY WATCH LIST

SEVERAL PESTICIDES AND INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS TO JOIN UN TREATY WATCH LIST
New York, Apr 1 2011 12:10PM
United Nations experts have recommended that two pesticides, one severely hazardous pesticide formulation and three industrial chemicals be <"http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/54392/icode/">added to a trade "watch list" under a UN-backed treaty aimed at helping poorer countries more effectively manage potentially harmful imported substances.

The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade is designed to ensure that hazardous chemicals do not endanger human health and the environment but inclusion on the list is not a recommendation for an international ban or severe restriction of the use of the substance.

It is the first time since the Convention entered into force in 2004 that the Chemical Review Committee has recommended adding a severely hazardous pesticide formulation to the watch list, according to a joint news release issued by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), both of which support the Convention.

The formulation – Gramoxone Super – is an herbicide containing paraquat dichloride, which is used to control weeds in cotton, rice and maize. Burkina Faso had proposed including it to the list due to the problems experienced with its use in that country.

FAO's Peter Kenmore, Co-Executive Secretary of the Rotterdam Convention, said the addition of this severely hazardous pesticide formulation advances efforts to ensure that "countries' rights to know and trade chemicals safely are respected."

The two pesticides recommended for inclusion are endosulfan and azinphos methyl, while the three industrial chemicals are perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), its salts and precursors; pentaBDE commercial mixtures; and octaBDE commercial mixtures.

PentaBDE and octaBDE commercial mixtures are brominated flame retardants. Due to their toxicity and persistence, their industrial production is set to be eliminated under the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

"The recommendation to include these three industrial chemicals marks an acceleration in the rate of submission of industrial chemicals to the CRC for review of these substances known to harm human health and the environment," said Donald Cooper, Co-Executive Secretary of the Rotterdam Convention.

The recommendations will be forwarded to the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention in June.

Apr 1 2011 12:10PM
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UN REFUGEE CHIEF HEADS TO KENYA AFTER REVIEWING SITUATION IN EGYPT

UN REFUGEE CHIEF HEADS TO KENYA AFTER REVIEWING SITUATION IN EGYPT
New York, Apr 1 2011 11:10AM
The head of the United Nations refugee agency has concluded a two-day visit to Egypt to review the response to the humanitarian crisis sparked by the unrest in Libya, as his office voiced concern that thousands of people could be trapped in areas where fighting is taking place.

António Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, met with Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf and thanked the authorities in Cairo for keeping borders open to refugees fleeing from Libya, even as Egypt itself is dealing with the consequences of the recent tumultuous political changes.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) hopes that it will be able, as part of the overall UN humanitarian response, to gain full access to people inside eastern Libya in the coming days, the agency's spokesperson, Andrej Mahecic, told reporters in Geneva.

He said a UNHCR team at the Sallum border crossing reported that movement across the Libyan-Egyptian frontier has slowed. Yesterday, a number of Libyan families from Brega and Benghazi arrived at Sallum following reported advances by Libyan Government troops against opposition fighters, according to Mr. Mahecic.

More than 161,000 people fleeing Libya have crossed the border into Egypt since mid-February, including some 83,000 Egyptians and 32,000 Libyans.

Mr. Guterres <"http://www.unhcr.org/4d95c3239.html">left Egypt late yesterday for Kenya to draw attention to the plight of the hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees in the East African country and review UNHCR's operations there.

On Sunday, and accompanied by Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), Josette Sheeran and Michelle Bachelet, the Executive Director of UN Women, Mr. Guterres will visit the cluster of three camps in the Dadaab area of Kenya's Northeastern province, the largest refugee settlement in the world. Dadaab currently hosts more than 320,000 refugees, the vast majority from Somalia.

The camps were set up in 1991 and 1992 in the wake of the mass exodus from Somalia that followed the toppling of the regime of Muhammad Siad Barre. The settlements – Ifo, Dagahaley and Hagadera – were initially designed to accommodate 90,000 refugees. Overcrowding at the camps continues to be a concern to the Kenyan Government and UNHCR.

Living conditions in the camps have deteriorated as the refugee population continues to grow, with facilities and services stretched to the limit. With the recent escalation of violence in Somalia, some 2,500 new arrivals are being registered in Dadaab every week. So far this year, Dadaab has received more than 30,000 new refugees, according to Mr. Mahecic.

The camp at Ifo has been expanded, but the planned relocation of 40,000 refugees is on hold due to security concerns on the part of the Kenyan authorities.

Amenities at the new camp include schools, health facilities, communal centres, water and sanitation infrastructure and shelter.

During his mission to Kenya Mr. Guterres will also look into the protection of Somali refugees and UNHCR's support to Kenya and local communities hosting refugees.

Apr 1 2011 11:10AM
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UN STAFF KILLED DURING ATTACK IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN

UN STAFF KILLED DURING ATTACK IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN
New York, Apr 1 2011 11:10AM
United Nations personnel working in Afghanistan have been killed today after demonstrators attacked a UN compound in the country's northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

The attack took place at an operations centre for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), according to information released by the Secretary-General's spokesperson.

The exact number of UN staff killed is not yet clear and UNAMA said it was working to ascertain all the facts and to take care of affected staff.

Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and the head of UNAMA, is now travelling to Mazar-i-Sharif to deal with the situation.

<h1 class="InfocusHedr">MORE TO FOLLOW</h1>
Apr 1 2011 11:10AM
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CÔTE D’IVOIRE: UN URGES RESTRAINT AMID REPORTS OF ABUSES BY PRO-OUATTARA FORCES

CÔTE D'IVOIRE: UN URGES RESTRAINT AMID REPORTS OF ABUSES BY PRO-OUATTARA FORCES
New York, Apr 1 2011 10:10AM
The United Nations human rights office today urged forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the internationally-recognized president of Côte d'Ivoire, to show restraint after reports suggested they have been committing serious rights violations during their advance towards the country's commercial capital of Abidjan.

Troops supporting Mr. Ouattara reportedly appear poised for a final push to oust Laurent Gbagbo, who has refused to step aside following his defeat in the UN-certified presidential election held in November.

Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), told a news conference in Geneva of having received "unconfirmed but worrying" reports of human rights violations committed by the pro-Ouattara group known as Forces Républicaines de Côte d'Ivoire (FRCI) during their advance towards Abidjan.

"Reports suggest they have engaged in looting and extortion, as well as serious human rights violations such as abductions, arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment of civilians," he stated.

The Invisible Commando group, which has been fighting against the forces loyal to Mr. Gbagbo, is also reported to have continued to commit abuses inside Abidjan, he added.

Meanwhile, pro-Gbagbo forces have also continued to commit violations on a daily basis, including the killing of two civilians who were reportedly burnt alive by pro-Gbagbo militiamen in Gagnoa, Mr. Colville noted.

Yesterday Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced his concern about the rising violence, stressing it was essential for all sides to the fighting to meet their responsibility to avoid harming civilians.

"Those responsible for inciting, orchestrating or committing human rights violations will be held accountable under international law," he said in a statement issued by his spokesperson, adding that all parties must allow aid workers immediate access to people in need.

Nearly 500 people are confirmed to have died as a result of the post-election violence, which has also displaced up to 1 million people, many of whom have fled to neighbouring countries.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported today that surging violence in Côte d'Ivoire is pushing more refugees eastwards into Ghana, with over 1,500 Ivorians entering the country this week after fleeing fresh fighting in their country.

"Several of the refugee families told UNHCR they fled due to fear of violence while some had witnessed or experienced violence in their communities," Andrej Mahecic, a spokesperson for the agency, told the same news conference in Geneva.

Most refugees in Ghana are currently accommodated in host communities. Some 1,700 of them are also staying in a new camp set up by UNHCR and the Ghanaian authorities in Ampain, 55 kilometres from the Elubo border point.

This week's wave of arrivals brings to over 5,000 the estimated number of Ivorian refugees now in Ghana. The number of Ivorians seeking refuge in Liberia continues to rise as well, adding to the more than 150,000 that have been registered there since the crisis began in late November.

Apr 1 2011 10:10AM
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