Category: United Nations

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September 17, 2009 The traditional UN Headquarters in New York will be held from September 23 to 25 and from September 28 to 29. days of international treatiesUN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon invited all UN member states to use this opportunity to expand their participation in multilateral international agreements.

On Wednesday, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Patricia O'Brien said at a press conference at UN headquarters in New York that about 25 states had responded to Pa Ki-moon's appeal.

Patricia O'Brien recalled that the UN Secretary-General is the depository of 530 multilateral treaties covering a wide range of interstate relations: from disarmament, human rights, the law of the sea and space, trade and the environment to combating international organized crime and terrorism.

Any State which has not yet done so may sign any of these treaties or deposit with the Secretary-General its instruments of ratification or accession.

The UN Secretariat is holding International Treaty Days for the tenth time. This event is timed to coincide with the General Assembly's general policy debate, which heads of state and government attend.

The focus in 2009 will be on agreements on terrorism, human rights, transnational organized crime, and nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The focus will be on the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. A ceremony will be held on September 24 to open it for signature.

This Protocol was adopted on December 10, 2008, and will enter into force upon ratification by ten states. It will allow individuals to submit complaints about violations of their rights guaranteed by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to a specially created Committee.

The Optional Protocol will provide an international forum for exposing gross human rights violations, often linked to poverty and discrimination. Victims of such violations will now have the opportunity to report their situation to the international community.

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1966 and entered into force ten years later, in 1976. To date, it has been ratified by 157 countries. The Covenant proclaims that the ideal of free human beings, free from fear and want, can only be realized if conditions are created under which everyone can enjoy their economic, social, and cultural rights. Implementation of the Covenant is currently monitored by the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. It was established by a decision of the Economic and Social Council in 1985.

Unlike other committees established under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the core human rights conventions, its decisions are advisory in nature and it cannot receive complaints from individuals. Once the new Optional Protocol enters into force, this injustice to economic, social, and cultural rights will be corrected.

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September 17, 2009

Dominican Republic First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, French designer Pierre Cardin, American athlete Carl Lewis, Indonesian singer and composer Anggun, and Colombian singer Fanny Lou will become Goodwill Ambassadors for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

A special ceremony to mark this occasion will take place in Rome on October 16 during World Food Day.

Margarita Cedeño de Fernández will be appointed FAO Goodwill Ambassador in recognition of the importance of her many projects in her country in the fields of social development, food and agriculture, particularly those aimed at helping women.

Fashion legend Pierre Cardin was honored for his work initiating numerous humanitarian projects and public campaigns, particularly in support of the victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Carl Lewis, a nine-time Olympic medalist, has been nominated by the International Olympic Committee as Athlete of the Century.

Indonesian singer Anggun is one of the few Asian artists to achieve international recognition with her successful album "Snow on the Sahara." She has won numerous international music awards and is an inspiration to Asian women. She has participated in a number of social and environmental campaigns.

Colombian singer Fanny Lou, whose hits have topped Latin American charts since 2006, also takes an active part in World Food Day and the TeleFood campaign, organized by the FAO to support fundraising for micro-projects around the world.

This year's World Food Day theme is "Achieving Food Security in Times of Crisis." It highlights the plight of over a billion people worldwide suffering from hunger and malnutrition, and the growing need to help the poor in the face of economic crisis.

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September 17, 2009

Today, the Security Council held its monthly briefing on the Middle East. UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry stated that the Palestinian Authority is ready for independence. He noted that in August, it announced plans to complete the establishment of state institutions within two years.

"Today, the Palestinian Authority is more than just a partner in the peace process. We have a player ready to fulfill its responsibilities, determined to pursue its rights, and it certainly needs the support of Israel, the region, and the entire world," Robert Serry emphasized. He added that the Palestinian Authority's efforts to improve the economic and security situation will be an important complement to the peace process.

The UN Special Coordinator called on Israel and Palestinian leaders to seize the opportunity next week to resume the political process aimed at achieving the goal of a two-state solution and long-term stability in the region.

Robert Serry believes that the meeting of the Quartet on the Middle East peace process, which will take place on September 24, should serve as a basis for restarting negotiations.

A UN representative said the situation in Gaza remains unstable and UN Security Council Resolution 1860, which calls for an end to armed clashes in Gaza, remains unimplemented.

"There's an uneasy unofficial calm there, but the situation is very fragile and violent incidents continue," the Special Coordinator noted. He warned that while taking steps to restart the political process, the Gaza Strip must not be forgotten and the situation in the area must not deteriorate further.

Robert Serry expressed concern over the Hamas leader's statement that the Palestinian group continues to purchase and smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip.

The UN representative also drew the attention of Council members to the ongoing Israeli blockade of the Strip and the construction of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

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September 17, 2009

More than 1.6 million people die as a result of violence every year. That's 4,000 deaths a day. Many of these deaths could have been prevented, according to a new study by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Its authors point out that violence poses a significant public health burden and leads to a wide range of health and developmental consequences for children and adults. For every violent death, there are dozens of injuries and medical visits. Children who are victims or witnesses of violence are at higher risk of alcohol and drug abuse, smoking, and irresponsible sexual behavior.

According to the WHO, 90% of violent deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. More than 80% of these cases are suicides and domestic violence.

Half of people who die as a result of violence commit suicide. Over 35% die from injuries intentionally inflicted by others. About 11% die as a result of military action or other forms of collective violence.

WHO experts believe that many cases of violence can be prevented and their impact reduced. They recommend that countries develop special programs to this end.

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September 17, 2009

Welcoming the adoption of the 63rd General Assembly resolution establishing a new, unified UN entity on gender issues and the advancement of women, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted the achievements in gender equality within the UN system. Specifically, he announced that nine women currently serve as his deputies.

Four UN system leaders have made Forbes magazine's list of the "most powerful women in the world": World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay, and UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman.

The UN chief noted that during his tenure, the number of women in UN leadership positions increased by 40%. "I am proud to have appointed more women to leadership positions than ever before in the history of the UN," the Secretary-General said.

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September 17, 2009

Today, the United States delegation circulated to the UN Security Council a draft resolution that the United States proposes to adopt at the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation summit, which will be held on September 24 under the chairmanship of Barack Obama.

US Permanent Representative to the UN Susan Rice announced this. She noted that the draft resolution proposes to highlight the importance of achieving significant progress toward nuclear disarmament and also calls for strengthening and reaffirming the commitments provided for in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The document also addresses ensuring the security of nuclear materials.

The US Ambassador said that Council members will discuss the draft resolution during consultations in the coming days.

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September 15, 2009

Discrimination remains a serious problem affecting all countries around the world. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay, speaking today in Geneva to the 20th session of the Human Rights Council.

Navanethem Pillay emphasized that the fight against discrimination in all its forms and the fight against impunity for serious violations human rights — among the priority tasks of the Directorate she heads.

The leading human rights defender expressed concern about the enormous gap between states' human rights obligations and the actual situation. She stated that today, there is not a single country in the world free from human rights violations.

The High Commissioner drew attention to the fact that discrimination and violence against Roma are rampant in Europe. The list of countries where they are systematically targeted, including by police, includes 17 European states. In Latin America, indigenous communities continue to be persecuted and harassed. In the Persian Gulf region, the situation of women is a concern. Chinese authorities are failing to provide adequate protection to national minorities.

Addressing the issue of impunity, Navanethem Pillay called on all states not to turn a blind eye to gross human rights violations, especially against civilians during armed conflict.

The UN representative expressed particular concern about human rights violations in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Afghanistan. She stated that the "democratic deficit" remains a major obstacle to human rights work in many other countries.

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September 15, 2009 On September 16, 2009, an international conference “60th Anniversary of the Signing of the Geneva Conventions": reaffirming commitment to the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and their development." The event was organized by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The conference marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the 1949 Geneva Conventions for the Protection of Victims of War, which form the foundation of international humanitarian law. The Geneva Conventions contain the most important legal norms limiting atrocities during armed conflicts and ensure the protection of civilians.

"Unfortunately, armed conflicts over the past sixty years have proven that the existing norms of international humanitarian law remain relevant. The main challenge remains ensuring stricter compliance," emphasized François Bellon, head of the regional delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Russian Federation, Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine.

He noted that the Republic of Belarus stands out among other CIS countries for its greatest activity in the application of international humanitarian law at the national level. The initiative to hold the Conference confirms the authorities' interest in this issue.

The Conference will be attended by representatives of government agencies, organizations, and academic circles from the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine. The opening of the Center for International Humanitarian Law at the International Institute of Labor and Social Relations in Minsk coincides with the Conference.

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September 15, 2009

During the final meeting of the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly, a resolution on the responsibility to protect was adopted. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called this an important step toward fulfilling the commitments made at the 2005 summit to protect people worldwide from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity.

The resolution states that the Assembly takes note of the Secretary-General's report on this issue and the productive discussions convened by the President of the General Assembly in July 2009, with the full participation of Member States. The General Assembly expressed its readiness to continue its consideration of the responsibility to protect.

As a reminder, at the 2005 Summit, world leaders proclaimed the principle of the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. The document they adopted states that "every state has the responsibility to protect its populations…" It also proclaims the international community's responsibility in this regard and its readiness to act in accordance with this responsibility.

“In this regard, we are prepared to take collective action, promptly and decisively, through the Security Council, in accordance with the Charter, including under Chapter VII, taking into account specific circumstances and in cooperation with relevant regional organizations, if necessary, if peaceful means prove insufficient and national authorities manifestly fail to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity,” the summit’s final document states.

Representatives of several UN member states stated that the adoption of the new General Assembly resolution is "technical in nature." They emphasized that the development of the concept of responsibility to protect requires further and comprehensive discussion, as it currently exists only as a "skeleton" without universal legal substance. Several delegations fear that the implementation of the new concept could lead to a violation of sovereignty. They propose enshrining mechanisms to prevent the new concept from being used as a cover for unlawful interference in internal affairs.

The UN chief said he also looked forward to continued dialogue on how best to fulfill the international community's obligation to protect.

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September 15, 2009

Clear evidence has been collected of serious violations of international humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip committed by both Israel and Hamas. This was reported by Richard Goldston, head of the mission investigating gross violations of international humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip during the fighting between December 2008 and January 2009.

Today, at a briefing in New York, Richard Goldston presented a report on the findings of the commission he chaired. It concluded that the actions of Israel and Palestinian groups amount to war crimes and possibly even crimes against humanity. The evidence is presented on 574 pages. It is based on interviews with 188 people, the review of 10,000 documents, and the viewing of 1,200 photographs and 30 videos.

The report states that more than 1,400 people were killed in the Gaza Strip during fighting between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas between December 27, 2008, and January 18, 2009. Its authors noted that even before the military operation began, Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza, pursuing a systematic policy of isolating the Strip, which constitutes collective punishment for all residents of the area. During Operation Cast Lead, homes, factories, schools, hospitals, police stations, and many other infrastructure facilities were destroyed in the Gaza Strip. Reconstruction work has been delayed due to the ongoing blockade, which limits the import of construction materials.

The commission members paid particular attention to the suffering of children in Gaza due to the Israeli military operation. They emphasized that children who witnessed violence and killings, who personally faced the threat of death, and who witnessed the death of loved ones will not soon be able to escape the horrors of war that haunt them. The report notes that a third of students in UNRWA schools have suffered serious psychological disorders.

The commission members said that rocket and mortar attacks on Israel by Palestinian groups also constitute serious war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity.

On September 29, the report of the Richard Goldstone Commission will be presented to the Human Rights Council.

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