Monday, 26 January 2004
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Annan Proposes UN Body to Prevent Genocide

In Sweden today, the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has proposed that state parties to the 1948 Convention to Prevent Genocide set up a UN Committee to monitor implementation of the convention. Addressing the International Forum on the issue in Stockholm, he said the massacres of thousands of people in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda in the 1990's were especially shameful because the international community had the capacity to prevent them but lacked the will to act. The Secretary-General said the proposed Committee on Genocide would meet periodically to review reports and make recommendations for action.

"Such bodies exist to help with the implementation of other international treaties. Why not this one? We should also consider establishing a Special Rapporteur on the prevention of genocide."

The Secretary-General added that the Rapporteur would report directly to the Security Council.

Forum on Small Islands States Opens in Bahamas

A one-week forum on small islands developing States opened in Nassau, in the Bahamas today. UN Radio's Donn Bobb reports:

"In an opening statement, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Jose Antonio Ocampo, says the goals of the Programme of Action can only be achieved with the full and active support of the international community:

'OCAMPO: The issues to be addressed by the SIDS discussion panels scheduled for this week's meeting are pertinent and urgent. They deal with new challenges and emerging issues, implementing national development sustainable development strategies, enhancing competitiveness through trade, finance, entrepreneurship and partnership.

The Bahamas meeting provides a forum for the small island development states to finalize their global strategies, discuss common priorities for action, and develop and produce a common blueprint governing their partnerships in the international community.'

Bird Flu Is Spreading too Fast for Individual Countries to Handle: WHO

The World Health Organization has warned that bird flu is spreading too fast for countries to deal with individually. The UN health agency has called for a regional and global effort against the spread of the disease in Asia. The warning came amidst reports that the death toll from the flu in Thailand could be as high as six. The flu has affected chickens in Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.

UN Security Council Considers Post-Conflict National Reconciliation

The Security Council today held an open meeting on post-conflict national reconciliation and the role of the United Nations. In a statement to the Council, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tuliameni Kalomoh said the UN has employed a number of instruments in post conflict situations to address the important issue of reconciliation. He pointed out that situations may differ from country to country but that peace without reconciliation is hardly ever durable.

"Second, it is difficult to achieve reconciliation without a significant measure of justice. Third, there are some crimes that are so heinous that they require that justice be done."

Mr. Kalomoh added that the pursuit of justice should not become an obstacle to establishing or maintaining peace.

UN Human Rights Chief Welcomes Protocol to Establish African Rights Court

The Acting UN Human Rights Commissioner, Bertrand Ramcharan, has welcomed the entry into force of a protocol establishing an African human rights court. The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights entered into force on Sunday, 30 days after ratification by the Comoros, the fifteenth member to do so. In a statement issued today, Mr. Ramcharan said the creation of the court was another major advance towards the international rule of law and in the fight against impunity for gross violations of human rights. He pledged his Office's continue cooperation with the African human rights system adding that it would devote special attention to supporting the effective functioning of the court.