UN Radio Broadcasts at 17:30 GMT Monday to Friday

Monday , 12 July 2004
Listen to entire programme - Real AudioMP3
Listen to the news

Annan urges intensification of fight against AIDS

UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan has challenged world leaders to do more to combat HIV/AIDS.
Mr. Annan told an international conference on AIDS in Bangkok that while there has been progress on many fronts, "we are not doing nearly well enough."
He described as a "terrifying pattern", the fact that women now account for nearly half of all adult infections with the figure as high as 58 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa.

"And yet one-third of al countries still have no policies to ensure that women have access to prevention and care. Knowing what we do today abut the path of the epidemic, how can we allow that to be the case?"

The secretary-general urged leaders everywhere to demonstrate that speaking up about AIDS is a point of pride and not a source of shame.

More than 36 million have HIV: ILO

More than 36 million people of working age have HIV. That according to a new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
In its first global analysis of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the workforce, the ILO says that by next year the global labour force would have lost as many as 28 million workers due to AIDS since the start of the epidemic.
The author of the report Ms. Odile Frank says the ILO considers HIV/AIDS a workplace issue.

"the prevalence of the disease is highest among working age adults. Therefore, it is the ages in which people are most productive economically in which we also see the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence."

The ILO estimates that in the absence of increased access to treatment, the number of workers lost due to HIV/AIDS would have increased to 48 million by 2010.

Progress made in humanitarian access to Darfur: OCHA

Progress has been reported in humanitarian access since the United Nations and the Government of Sudan signed their recent joint agreement.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), says that as promised by the Sudanese government, the situation concerning visa restrictions and limitations of movement has improved.
OCHA says the importation of humanitarian supplies, vehicles and communications equipment has also been made easier.
But according to UN Spokesperson Marie Okabe, local government authorities in north and west Darfur are still requiring travel permits.

"Also, although more non-governmental organizations have been going to Darfur the Sudanese government's 90-day registration plan is discouraging non-governmental organizations from building up large asset bases since it is possible that their permits might not be extended."

OCHA says security around current settlements for internally displaced persons remains worrisome as a decreasing supply of firewood around these camps has forced women to venture further away to collect wood.

Independent commission to look into human rights violations in Cote d'Ivoire

TAn independent commission of enquiry established to look into grave violations of human rights in Cote d'Ivoire travels to the country this weekend.
Spokesman for the high commission for human rights Jose Luis Diaz says the five-member commission will be accompanied by a team of forensic experts.

" The period that they are going to look at is opened-ended. The beginning of the period they are going to look at begins 19 September 2002 and goes on until they finish their work."

The commission expects to be in Cote d'Ivoire for three months.

Much still needs to be done before Afghan elections: Arnault

In Afghanistan, much remains to be done before the October elections for president and next April's legislative and local elections.
Word of this comes from the head of the UN mission in Afghanistan Jean Arnault.
He says that among the tasks still to be carried out are the setting of district boundaries; and prior to the April elections, the preparation of credible population figures for all districts and provinces.
Mr. Arnault also drew attention to Sunday's attack in Herat in which at least four female registration officers were killed stressing that now is the time for the arrival of the international forces.

UN agencies, Palestinian Authority sign land agreement to rebuild homes

Two United Nations agencies and the Palestinian Authority have signed an agreement paving the way for the United Nations to build replacement homes in Rafah in the Gaza Strip.
The homes will be built on land donated by the Palestinian Authority. UN officials say funding for the project run by the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and the UN Development Programme, was contingent on the Palestinian Authority donating the land.