Indigenous peoples and violation of their rights

Indigenous peoples are the caretakers of some of the world’s most diverse territories. However, in many countries, they face discrimination and conflict on a daily basis. The United Nations has continually provided opportunities for indigenous peoples to have their voices heard at the international level. One of the major achievements in recent years was the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was voted for in the General Assembly in 2007. Read more

Top executives and philanthropy leaders to promote gender equality

The United Nations launched a new effort today to expand its partnership with the private sector and philanthropies in the battle for complete gender equality and the empowerment of women.

“To the private sector, we look to you to exercise even more leadership for gender equality starting from the top,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a special event at UN Headquarters, attended by some 300 representatives of foundations, private companies, academia and civil society organizations. Read more

Ensuring health improvements on all fronts

Improving health and reducing mortality are major objectives of development, according to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, the health-related MDGs focus on the causes of a small share of deaths worldwide and are relevant mainly for low-income countries. Ensuring health improvements on all fronts are therefore crucial. Read more

Technical reports

International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics 2008

This manual was prepared in accordance with the decision of the United Nations Statistical Commission at its thirty-fifth session held from 2 to 5 March 2004 and revises the manual “Recommendations on Tourism Statistics”, adopted by the Commission in 1993.

It provides a comprehensive methodological framework for collection and compilation of tourism statistics in all countries irrespective of the level of development of their statistical systems. Its primary audience is the staff of national statistical offices and national tourism administrations involved in the compilation of tourism statistics. The publication also contains a wealth of information that might be of interest to data users who would like to understand better the nature of tourism data. In addition, general guidance is provided with respect to data sources and data compilation methods, which will be complemented by a forthcoming compilation guide to be released in 2010. Read more

Mr. Ivan Koulov was appointed Executive Officer, DESA, effective 26 March 2010. Before joining the Department, Mr. Koulov was Chief of the Human Resources Management Service at the United Nations Office in Geneva since 2006. He also served as Chief of the Administrative Services Division at the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia in Beirut from 2002 to 2006, as Special Assistant to the ASG for Planning and Support at the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) in New York from 1998 to 2002 and as Chief of DPKO’s Supply Section since 1995. Read more