UN DAILY NEWS DIGEST - 1 February

UN DAILY NEWS from the
UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE
1 February, 2012 =========================================================================

IN MIDDLE EAST, BAN URGES STEPPED-UP EFFORTS TO RESOLVE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on Israelis and Palestinians to take steps that will build trust and ensure an environment conducive to sustained negotiations, voicing his hope that the nascent talks begun last month between the two sides will continue.

“This is a critical moment for Israel and the region,” Mr. Ban said in remarks during a joint press conference with President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem.

This is Mr. Ban’s fourth visit to Israel as Secretary-General, and it is part of his wider visit to the Middle East that includes stops in Jordan and the occupied Palestinian territories in an effort to help move the Israeli-Palestinian peace process forward.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators began preparatory talks at the start of last month in Amman under the facilitation of King Abdullah II of Jordan and that country’s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.

In his meeting with Mr. Peres, the Secretary-General stressed the need for positive actions on the ground to contribute to an environment conducive to successful negotiations. He also discussed the status of the peace process with Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

In remarks prepared for a press encounter with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr. Ban said he is encouraged that Israelis and Palestinians have re-engaged in direct talks and remained hopeful that direct, frequent exchanges between the parties will continue.

“I also hope that Israel will be forthcoming with its own concrete proposals on territory and security, as called for by the Quartet [the diplomatic grouping consisting of the UN, European Union, Russia and the United States], in order to reach agreement on all final status issues before the end of this year. The success of the Amman talks is in the interest of both Israelis and Palestinians.”

The Secretary-General commended Mr. Netanyahu’s commitment to a two-State solution, adding that this is the moment to display further leadership to ensure that negotiations continue.

“A credible political horizon is imperative for the emergence of a Palestinian State living in peace and security side-by-side with Israel,” he said. “The consequences of inaction would be grave for either side.”

Following his meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Ban stated that a viable Palestinian State is long overdue.

“I continue to believe that a two-State solution can be achieved – and that the way to achieve it is through negotiations that resolve permanent status issues such as borders, security, refugees and Jerusalem,” he said in the remarks prepared for the press conference in Ramallah with Mr. Abbas.

He also commended the Palestinian leader for the State-building efforts of the past several years and discussed with him ongoing tensions, including continued settlement activity and settler violence.

While in Ramallah, the Secretary-General also met with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Foreign Minister Ryad Malki, as well as with Palestinian civil society groups and graduates of the UN’s annual media training programme for Palestinian journalists.


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SOUTH SUDAN: UN RELIEF CHIEF STRESSES VAST SCALE OF HUMANITARIAN NEEDS

The United Nations relief chief today underlined the enormity of the humanitarian challenges facing South Sudan on the first day of her three-day visit to the fledgling country, highlighting the needs of returnees, an influx of refugees, internal displacement as a result of ethnic conflict and endemic poverty.

“South Sudan faces significant challenges, including hundreds of thousands of people displaced in 2011, people returning from Sudan and refugees from the ongoing conflict in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states in Sudan,” said Valerie Amos, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.

“In addition, conflict, poverty, and increasing food insecurity are having a major humanitarian impact. The people of South Sudan need our support,” said Ms. Amos, who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, when she met with met with representatives from aid agencies in Juba, the capital.

South Sudan seceded from Sudan last July, becoming an independent country following a referendum where the overwhelming majority voted for self-determination, six years after a landmark peace agreement ended decades of civil war.

A relatively small number of aid organizations are dealing with about 30 simultaneous emergency operations in the vast and remote country prone to inter-ethnic conflict and insecurity. Aid workers briefed Ms. Amos on their efforts to distribute aid in Jonglei state, the scene of inter-communal clashes in late December and early last month.

“I am concerned about the scope and magnitude of the violence communities have inflicted on each other in Jonglei, as well as about the conflict between rebel militias and the army that has killed, wounded and displaced so many,” said Ms. Amos.

“Diversity in South Sudan should be a source of both communal and national pride. I hope that everyone in South Sudan will embrace their identity as South Sudanese, and achieve long-term reconciliation and peace,” she added.

She will tomorrow travel to Jonglei to see the ongoing aid operation and meet with Government officials, relief workers and those affected by the recent violence. On Friday, Ms. Amos is scheduled to meet with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and other senior officials.

Meanwhile, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has reported that it facilitated and accompanied a Government mission to the Bulich area of Tonj East county in Warrap state, which confirmed that 78 people were killed and 68 others were wounded during an attack by an armed group from neighbouring Unity state on Monday.

Nine people are missing and thousands are reported to have been displaced, the Secretary-General’s spokesperson told reporters in New York. The UNMISS team saw 15 bodies that had not been buried.

Humanitarian agencies plan to call an emergency meeting to organize a coordinated response to the needs of those affected by the violence in Warrap, while the UNMISS human rights division will investigate the incident.


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UN COMMISSION ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT KICKS OFF WITH FOCUS ON POVERTY AND YOUTH

Poverty eradication, youth unemployment and socially inclusive policies will be the main focus of the 50th session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development, which kicked off today at UN Headquarters in New York.

For the next 10 days, the Commission will hold a series of panels and discussions on how to shape effective policies for the most pressing social development issues taking into account today’s challenges such as the global economic crisis and climate change.

The Commission will pay particular attention to the challenges young people face finding jobs as recent UN figures show that they are three times more likely to be unemployed than adults. Last year alone, 75 million youth found themselves without a job.

“With almost one in four young workers unemployed in developed countries and the majority of young people from developing countries working in the informal economy, the world is experiencing a youth unemployment crisis, which further propagates social instability,” said Milos Koterec, Permanent Representative of Slovakia and President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

“Hence, the youth will play a central role in the various social movements calling for democracy, equal opportunities and better employment.”

Eradicating poverty and ending inequality within countries will also be a priority for the Commission. A discussion on the Social Protection Floor initiative which aims to examine strategies for poverty reduction and empowerment of vulnerable parts of society was held yesterday as a way to reflect on key issues relevant for the session ahead.

“The Social Protection Floor is an important initiative. UN agencies and our partners are using this to integrate our strategies so that we can help protect people from falling or being trapped into poverty,” Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro told the Commission.

“The poor want to lift themselves out of poverty. That is why we have to invest in social protection. That means food, education and basic services – especially for the poorest.”

The session also seeks to build political momentum ahead of the UN Sustainable Development Conference (Rio+20) in June. Ms. Migiro stressed that participants need to seize the opportunity to make an impact on the Rio+20 debate through their work in the session as it is intricately linked to poverty reduction, inequality and access to resources.

“In five months, we will have a chance to chart a path to a more sustainable world at the Rio+20 Conference,” she said. “This Commission knows that the future we want to chart in Rio is people-centred, inclusive, equitable and sustainable. It is a future where a healthy, resilient environment can support present and future generations. These goals must be one and the same.”

Other panels during the session will focus on mobilizing domestic and international resources for social development, incorporating persons with disabilities to the development agenda, and the social dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), a programme intended to accelerate Africans’ efforts to extricate the continent from underdevelopment and exclusion from the global economy. More than 16 side events will also take place.


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REFUGEE CHILDREN IN TANZANIA LEARN ART BASICS IN UN-SPONSORED WORKSHOP

In a novel way to impart new skills to children while improving their social interaction, the United Nations refugee agency has sponsored an arts workshop for refugee pupils from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Tanzania, where they were introduced to the basics of painting with water colours, pastels and acrylics and making collages.

About 140 pupils from primary and secondary schools, 100 of them Congolese from the Nyarugusu refugee camp in north-western Tanzania attended last week’s course, organized by the UN High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) and the Ujamaa Art Gallery based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s commercial capital.

“This is like fresh air for the refugee children. They are excited,” said Belgian art teacher Soline de Laveleye, who conducted the workshop with three of Tanzania’s top artists – Obadia Mbise, Thobias Minzi and Haji Chilonga. “They help each other and are keen to share their experiences. Some are even making new friends,” she said.

The initiative is the first of its kind in Nyarugusu refugee camp, but UNHCR and the Ujamaa Art Gallery are considering continuing the project and incorporating other art forms, such as drama, music and literature.

“This project has brought the two groups [refugees and Tanzanians] closer together and fostered their interaction,” said Oluseyi Bajulaiye, UNHCR’s representative in Tanzania.

Baraka Danford, 16, said: “This is like magic, it is a big gift to me,” adding that he had never used colours before but could sketch.

The youngsters painted and drew, experimenting with line, colour, shadow and light. Some depicted the things they saw around them, while many delved into their traumatic past for inspiration, including images of soldiers and guns in DRC.

An exhibition of the best works created by the young Congolese and Tanzanians at the workshop will go on display starting 15 February at the Ujamaa Art Gallery.

Proceeds from the sale of paintings, drawings and collages will be used to organize more art and educational projects to benefit refugees and host communities.

“These kids are hungry for it and we would like to give them a chance to develop their skills and make a positive impact in their life,” Larna Mashiba, the gallery’s director.


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UN REFUGEE AGENCY CONCERNED OVER TREATMENT OF ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN UKRAINE

The United Nations refugee agency has voiced concern over the plight of asylum-seekers, including some minors, held in two detention centres in Ukraine, where more than 100 people are reportedly challenging their detention or have complained that they were denied the right to apply for asylum.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a press release issued yesterday that some of those held in detention centres in the Volyn and Chernigiv regions of Ukraine were sentenced to one-year terms in detention for attempting to cross international borders without proper documents.

Some have claimed to be children or unaccompanied minors from Somalia who, according to UNHCR, should be accorded special attention under international and Ukrainian regulations, said the statement from the office of the UNHCR representative for Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine.

UNHCR has not been able to verify all the allegations and it remains unclear why so many people who claim to be minors would be treated as adults by the Ukrainian authorities.

“Their situation remains problematic even after several visits of UNHCR staff and NGO [non-governmental organization] lawyers and Government officials,” said the UNHCR statement. “To obtain clarity more visits and interviews are scheduled for the coming weeks,” it added.

According to information available to UNHCR, there are also several Afghan families with children detained in Volyn.

UNHCR and the State Migration Service staff visited the detention centre in Volyn jointly on 21 January to meet with the detainees and agreed on a number of steps to redress the situation.

Over the past week, 28 people have submitted applications for asylum to officials in the detention centre in the Volyn. UNHCR has been assured that the applications are being processed.

“UNHCR remains hopeful that the agreements reached will be fulfilled and that all necessary steps will be taken by the responsible authorities to defuse the tense situation in accordance with national law and the international obligations Ukraine assumed,” said the agency’s statement.

The agency, however, said it was concerned over reports received on Monday that riot police had been sent to the detention centre in Volyn.


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UN ATOMIC AGENCY TO HOLD FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH IRAN OVER NUCLEAR PROGRAMME

Experts from the United Nations atomic energy watchdog have wrapped up their visit to Iran, saying they will continue to hold discussions later this month over concerns about the country’s nuclear programme.

The experts, from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), met with Iranian officials in the country’s capital, Tehran, from Sunday to Tuesday in an effort to resolve outstanding substantive issues. Another meeting will now be held in Tehran on 21-22 February, according to an IAEA statement.

The IAEA delegation also discussed with Iranian officials the initial steps that need to be taken by the country.

“The agency is committed to intensifying dialogue. It remains essential to make progress on substantive issues,” said Yukiya Amano, the IAEA Director General.

The statement noted that the experts had explained their concerns and identified priorities, which focus on the clarification of possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear programme.

Iran has repeatedly stated that its nuclear programme is for the peaceful purpose of providing energy, but some countries contend it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

The Security Council has imposed four rounds of sanctions against Iran, citing the proliferation risks of its nuclear programme and its continued failure to cooperate with the IAEA.


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UN KICKS OFF YEAR OF THE DRAGON WITH CELEBRATION OF CHINESE CULTURAL HERITAGE

Hundreds of performers took to the stage at United Nations Headquarters in New York this evening to ring in the Chinese New Year with a showcase of traditional dance, music, theatre, painting and calligraphy.

“Tonight’s event is an early treat in the Year of the Dragon,” Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro told those in attendance in the General Assembly Hall.

“I hope you can come away with a new appreciation for the world’s astonishing cultural diversity – and a sense of urgency about safeguarding it, not just for its own sake, but for the contribution it can make to building a peaceful, harmonious future for all.”

Ms. Migiro stressed the importance of intangible cultural heritage, noting the relevance not only of monuments, sites and objects, but also of activities such as storytelling, traditional lore and rituals.

“These may be more subtle and at times quite elusive, but they are no less worthy of recognition expressions of the human spirit,” she said.

The ancient Chinese cultural practice of calligraphy is on display at UN Headquarters, and the artists whose writing can be viewed in the complex include Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Ms. Migiro said Mr. Ban, who has been taking lessons from Professor Zhou Bin, a renowned calligrapher, enjoys peace of mind when he writes.

“And to learn his brushstrokes, the Secretary-General chose to use the characters that stand for a word that lies at the heart of the United Nations: peace,” she noted.

Since 2003, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), adopted the landmark Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which aims to ensure that endangered cultural practices are preserved and transmitted from one generation to another. Elements that are considered to be in need of urgent safeguarding include traditional weaving in the United Arab Emirates, sung prayers among Peru’s indigenous people, traditional Indonesian dances, and Chinese shadow puppetry.


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UN-BACKED SURVEY SHOWS IMPROVING PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF AFGHAN POLICE

Public perception of the police in Afghanistan has improved over the past three years with the proportion of Afghans expressing personal respect for the country’s law enforcement rising to 81 per cent, an eight-point increase since last year, according to a United Nations-funded survey.

Those who consider a career in the police as being prestigious rose to 75 per cent, while 74 per cent have confidence in the force, according to the findings, released yesterday, of last year’s Police Perception Survey, funded by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) under the Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA) project.

Acceptance of women officers is also on the rise with 53 per cent of those surveyed considering it a good idea to have female police in their communities, an increase of eight percentage points from last year.

“This independent survey shows growing public confidence in the police, while also identifying areas of improvement to focus on,” said Interior Minister, General Bismillah Mohammadi. “Much work has gone on but more needs to be done to professionalize the police further, especially in the lead-up to transition, and we will use this report to build on the successes and work on the areas that need improvement.”

The survey of 7,278 Afghans was carried out across all 34 provinces for the country’s Interior Ministry by the Afghan Centre for Socio-Economic and Opinion Research (ACSOR).

It also shows marked regional differences in perception. Ratings have improved significantly in the southwest, where great efforts have been put into security and development. There have also been advances in the central Hazarjat region, and to a lesser extent in the north.

But public perception of the police has deteriorated in some areas, notably in central Kabul and in the eastern and western parts of the country where the rates of crime are high.

Overall the survey highlights that the Afghan National Police’s image has been bolstered by on-going efforts to increase police numbers, increase the force’s effectiveness and enhance its community outreach.

The survey also founds that corruption remains a significant concern, although the incidence of malpractice went down by seven points since 2010, as have other forms of police misconduct, including excessive use of force and perceived bias.


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CôTE D’IVOIRE: UN DISARMAMENT OPERATION CONTINUES NEAR ABIDJAN

A United Nations voluntary disarmament operation began today in a suburb north of the Ivorian city of Abidjan, aiming to collect illegal weapons still in circulation among the civilian population.

The operation, conducted by the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) and national authorities, is part of a wider national campaign which began in June and that targets various regions of the country, with last month’s having been held in the town of Attécoubé.

“This operation will gradually increase in scale and allow us to recover weapons in various municipalities, both in Abidjan and elsewhere,” said UNOCI’s Deputy Director of the Division of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration, Ndiaga Diagne.

“Every gun that is recovered is a plus, a success,” he said, adding that since its beginning some 1,000 weapons have been collected.

The operation in Abobo is conducted in collaboration with the Government, Ivorian police and the National Commission to Fight Against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons. For the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Anziani Kouadja, collaborating with UNOCI allows the population to benefit from accompanying measures such as training and support for income-generating activities.

Mr. Kouadja stressed that for the operation to be successful, rapid implementation of the accompanying training measures must follow. “I appeal to UNOCI so that those who have already laid down their arms can quickly benefit from these measures so that it may encourage others to do the same,” he said, adding that the campaign will also continue throughout Côte d’Ivoire.


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SMALL INDIAN HILL STATE AIMS TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL LIVELIHOODS WITH UN LOAN

India is receiving a loan of nearly $90 million from the United Nations to improve agricultural livelihoods in the small north-western state of Uttarakhand, one of the poorest areas in the country.

The money, resulting from an agreement signed today between the Government and the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), will go towards the Integrated Livelihoods Support Project, which aims to support and develop the food production system in Uttarakhand by improving technologies for traditional food crops and livestock.

“This project is a direct response from the Government of India to scale up successful rural development programmes in the state,” IFAD states in a news release.

The project will enable farmers to earn more by selling cash crops, according to the Rome-based agency. Production of off-season vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes and peas will increase and better marketing arrangements will be put in place.

The project, which will cover 143,000 households, will also introduce new crops and products such as nuts, spices, medicinal and aromatic plants. Among those expected to benefit are small rural producers, women, scheduled caste households and young people.

Although many households in Uttarakhand have land, the holdings are very small and the tiny terraced plots on steep hillsides make mechanization extremely difficult, points out IFAD, the agency that works with rural people to help them break out of poverty.

With this new project, IFAD will have financed 24 programmes and projects in India since 1978 for a total investment of $746 million.


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KENYAN COURT JAILS MEN WHO KILLED UN AID WORKER

The head of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Josette Sheeran welcomed today the decision by the Kenyan High Court to sentence five men to 56 years in prison each for the murder of a WFP staff member in 2008.

Silence Chirara, a Zimbabwean national, was coordinating WFP’s logistics operation for South Sudan when he was ambushed and killed while driving a UN vehicle in the town of Lokichoggio, in northwest Kenya. He was 37.

“Nothing can be done to replace the life of this dedicated humanitarian and father, but justice has now been allowed to run its course,” WFP said in a statement. “These stiff prison sentences send an important message that those who harm humanitarian workers shall be brought to justice.”

WFP staff members said their thoughts were with Silence’s wife and his two children. “We condemn in the strongest possible terms any attack on humanitarian workers. When action is taken, this serves as a deterrent to groups or individuals who are targeting humanitarian staff in their places of work,” the statement read.


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UN OFFICIAL URGES ASIAN COUNTRIES TO COMMIT TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR ALL BY 2030

A United Nations official today urged Asian countries to commit to achieving sustainable energy for all their citizens by 2030 by increasing access to and the efficiency of renewable energy sources.

“Reaching the goal of sustainable energy for all will require action by all countries and all sectors to shape the policy and investment decisions needed for a brighter energy future,” said Director-General of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Chair of UN-Energy Kandeh K. Yumkella.

Globally, one person in five lacks access to modern electricity and twice than number – three billion people – rely on wood, coal, charcoal or animal waste for cooking and heating. In developed countries, the problem comes from a substantial waste of energy.

“Industrialized countries must accelerate the transition to low-emission technologies. Developing countries, many of them growing rapidly and at large scale, have the opportunity to leapfrog conventional energy options and move directly to cleaner energy alternatives that will enhance economic and social development,” Mr. Yumkella told the 12th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

To tackle this issue as well as stimulate economic growth and the preservation of the environment, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon established the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, which seeks to ensure universal access to modern energy services, double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency and double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix within the next 20 years.

To guide this initiative, Mr. Ban appointed a high-level group of global leaders from business, finance, government and civil society to mobilize and facilitate commitments to action which will help drive change. Mr. Yumkella, a co-chair of this group, told participants at the conference that new commitments and investments in sustainable energy were critical for Asia’s development.

“I strongly believe that now more than ever, the world needs to ensure that the benefits of modern energy are available to all and that energy is provided as cleanly and efficiently as possible. This is a matter of equity, first and foremost, but it is also an issue of urgent practical importance,” he said.


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NEW UN INITIATIVE AIMS TO HARNESS POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO FIGHT GLOBAL HUNGER

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is launching a week-long campaign in which users of the popular online trivia game Freerice can recruit their friends to help bring food to the world’s most vulnerable populations.

World Freerice Week, from 6 to 11 February, will have as its theme “6 Degrees of Freerice,” according to a news release issued by the Rome-based agency, which is calling on Freerice fans to recruit six friends to join in the online fight against hunger.

“Imagine what we could achieve if we each invite six of our friends to help us donate rice to hungry kids. Freerice allows everyone to make a real-world impact with just the click of a mouse,” said Nancy Roman, WFP Director of Communications, Public Policy and Private Partnerships.

With each correct answer on Freerice, 10 grains of rice are donated to WFP to feed hungry people around the world, paid for by sponsored banners on the site. Players can choose from 45,000 questions in a range of subjects, including flags of the world, chemistry and literature, and in six languages.

Freerice currently has over one million registered players, who together have donated nearly 100 billion grains of rice to feed almost five million people since the game’s launch in 2007.

During World Freerice Week, players can create groups on Freerice.com that include “Freerice6” in the group title. Group founders can ask their friends to join and to each invite an additional six friends.

Prizes will be given to the group founders who have the most people in their group or whose group has donated the most rice, as well as to the individual who has donated the most rice during the week.

“Almost one billion people go to bed hungry every night,” said Ms. Roman. “With 6 Degrees of Freerice, we’re on our way to harnessing the power of online networks to make a difference in the fight against hunger.”


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SOMALIA: UN ENVOY DEPLORES MURDER OF RADIO STATION DIRECTOR

The United Nations envoy for Somalia has strongly condemned the recent murder of radio station director Hassan Osman Abdi and called on the authorities to carry out an investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“I am shocked and saddened by the killing of Hassan Abdi, one of the most prominent journalists in Somalia,” the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Augustine P. Mahiga, stated in a news release.

Mr. Abdi, 29, a journalist and director of Radio Shabelle, was shot dead on 28 January in Mogadishu, the capital of the Horn of Africa nation. His murder has also drawn the condemnation of the head of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova.

Mr. Mahiga, who is head of the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), welcomed the public condemnation of the killing by Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and called on the Transitional Federal Government to conduct a “full, independent investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

UNPOS is working with the Transitional Federal Government and its offices in providing constitutional guarantees necessary to safeguard freedom of expression and the protection of journalists in the country.

“Fostering media independence and pluralism is an essential part of the process of establishing lasting peace and stability in Somalia,” stated Mr. Mahiga.


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