DESA News
Features
World’s largest minority needs to be included in the MDGs
Over 650 million people in the world have a disability; they make up approximately 10% of the world’s population and are the world’s largest minority. According to UNDP, around 80% of persons with disabilities live in developing countries. Worldwide trends, including the combination of population growth, population ageing and medical advances mean this group continues to grow. FULL ARTICLE
Improving e-government through a citizen-centric approach
E-government is becoming the norm in countries around the world. Information and communications technologies, like the Internet and mobile networks, have evolved from being just an office tool to a transformation agent for the public sector. However, many challenges lie ahead. Governments must now shift their strategies from being supply-driven to focusing on the needs and demands of the end-users. FULL ARTICLE
UN climate chief urges compromise at Cancún talks
The United Nations Climate Change Conference opened in Cancún, Mexico on 29 November, bringing together 193 nations and calling for a balanced and concrete outcome to meet one of today’s biggest challenges. Addressing the media, Christiana Figueres, Executive Director of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said that “Cancun can launch a new era in the pace of global action on climate change, where each year brings increasingly effective answers to keep humanity on track to a safer future.” FULL ARTICLE
- Video (3:31 minutes)
Global dialogue on development
- The world urgently needs a deal on climate change
- Time to act on forests
- Second Committee aims to complete its work beginning of December
More on Global dialogue on development
Trends and analysis
- ICT to support achievement of the MDGs
- Examining current trends in e-governance programmes
- Advance international public policy issues for the Internet
More on Trends and analysis
Capacity development
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Publications and websites
Pre-launch of the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2011
Chapter 1 of the flagship publication on “Global Outlook” will be launched on 1 December in New York. The publication is a joint product of DESA, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the five United Nations regional commissions. It provides an overview of recent global economic performance and short-term prospects for the world economy and of some key global economic policy and development issues.
More on publications and websites
Calendar
- United Nations Climate Change Conference, Cancun, Mexico, 29 November - 10 December
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities, New York, 3 December
- World Forest Day 4, Cancun, Mexico, 5 December
