Monday, 19 January 2004
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Annan Meets Iraqis and Coalition Officials on UN Role

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was holding talks Monday with members of Iraq's Governing council and the United States-led Coalition Provisional Authority. Annan first met with officials of the governing council led by Adnan Pachachi who heads the council for this month. The Secretary-General later met with chief US administrator Paul Bremmer and Britain's top representative in Baghdad, Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock. Mr. Annan was seeking greater clarity about a possible UN role in Iraq.

UN Security Council Gets Update on Efforts to Stem Illicit Trade in Small Arms

A new report by the UN Secretary-General has identified the serious challenges facing the UN in stemming the flow of small arms and light weapons. Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Nobuyasu Abe in outlining the report, said these challenges include the enforcement of Security Council resolutions on sanctions; the imposition of coercive measures against states that deliberately violate arms embargoes; and the restriction on the supply of ammunition to areas of instability. But he says the report also highlights progress made in tracing illicit small arms and light weapons:

"Demobilization, disarmament and re-integration; control over the export and transit of small arms and light weapons; the links between illicit small arms and light weapons and the illicit exploitation of natural and other resources and transparency in armaments."

The report was presented to the Security Council during an open meeting Monday.

UN Human Rights Commission Urged to Cooperate for Effective Advancement of Human Rights

There's been a call for this session of the human rights commission to be marked by a dignity and determination to cooperate for the effective advancement of human rights throughout the world. Acting human rights commissioner Bertrand Ramcharan says he has always had faith in the commission and its mission and believes it would rise to the challenge and retain the respect of the peoples of the world:

"As you look to your substantive session, allow me to ask you to reflect on how you might be able to contribute to stemming the painful problem of trafficking in young women and children. I've thought a great deal about this problem and it troubles me greatly."

Australia's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Mike Smith was appointed as chairman of the UN Human Rights Commission for 2004.

UN Envoy Condemns Attack on UN Helicopter in DRC

The UN's special envoy to the Democratic Republic of Congo has condemned a rebel attack on a UN helicopter in the north eastern Ituri region. Special envoy William Lacy Swing described the attack as "very serious and unacceptable". He said the UN mission would use all the necessary means to protect the populations, helicopters and troops.
The UN mission blamed elements of a local militia group - the Nationalist and Integrationist Front- for the attack. The aircraft was not damaged in the attack and landed safely.

Poorer Countries are Better Contributors to UN Population Fund

Poor countries are better contributors to the funds of the UN Population Fund. Executive Director Thoraya Obaid said developing countries have so far paid 80 per cent of the funds they promised at the 1994 Population conference in Cairo, while developed countries have only paid 40 per cent. Ms. Obaid pointed out that financing was the pre-condition for achieving the goals of the 20-year action plan set out at the conference. These goals include: access to education, contraception and equal rights for all. The goals were designed to achieve a ceiling of the world population of eight billion by 2015.

UNICEF Launches Campaign to Disarm Liberian Child Soldiers

The UN children's agency (UNICEF) has launched a massive campaign to disarm and reintegrate children who fought with rebel and government forces in Liberia's civil war. The campaign is also aimed at encouraging child soldiers to go back to school. The programme kicked off on the weekend at the Harbel sports stadium outside the capital Monrovia, with songs and dances by a cultural group called Crusaders for Peace. They urged parents, guardians and communities to accept children who disarm back into their fold. It is estimated that more than 20,000 of Liberia's fighting forces are under the age of 18.