The UN Committee on Decolonization on Thursday heard petitioners from the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) on the political status of the archipelago There is a dispute between the governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom concerning the sovereignty over the islands. Roger Edwards, a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) was one [...]
• African countries are being encouraged to restructure their economies to promote industrialization. In a report issued on Wednesday, UNCTAD says that Africa needs to use its abundant natural resources more efficiently. It says African countries must diversify their economies and stop relying on commodities for economic growth. Sudanese refugees reluctant to leave Yida camp [...]
Jamaica has told the International Labour Organization that the International Labour Conference was overshadowed by the global crisis with the prospects of growth and job creation remaining illusive. Jamaica's Minister of Labour and Social Security is Derek Kellier. Derek Kellier: The World of Work report of 2012 informs us that it is unlikely that [...]
United Nations Assistant-Secretary-General Elizabeth Thompson is the Executive Coordinator of the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development. The former Environment Minister of Barbados has been involved in the negotiations for the past two years. She was asked what Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean can offer to the negotiations. Elizabeth Thompson: I think that we [...]
Trinidad and Tobago has told the International Labour Organization about a few issues which it said stood out as requiring urgent attention. Minister of Labour pointed to the duration of the International Labour Conference and the often times prohibitive costs for smaller countries who wish to participate. Second, he said, was the need to consider [...]
Caribbean States this week expressed their concerns about youth unemployment and the current global economic situation to the 101st session of the International Labour Organisation Conference in Geneva. Barbados' Minister of Labour and Social Security Esther Byer-Suckoo warned that the global financial crisis has led to the loss of many jobs, particularly among the vulnerable [...]
The Caribbean Community –CARICOM joined speakers from more than 30 countries to reaffirm their commitment to ending the HIV epidemic, pledging to focus on high-risk populations and to build shared responsibility for achieving targets outlined in the 2011 Political Declaration. Speaking on behalf of CARICOM, the representative of Suriname Ambassador Henry MacDonald noted that for [...]
The seven United Nations peacekeepers killed in Côte last Friday were honoured at a ceremony in the country's commercial capital Abidjan. The head of United Nations peacekeeping operations, Hervé Ladsous, took part in the Thursday ceremony to pay tribute to the fallen "blue helmets", as UN peacekeepers are known. He said the peacekeepers from Niger [...]
Negotiations on the final political outcome document for the Rio+20 conference are "locked in nuancing" according to the head of the conference Secretariat. The document calls for renewed political commitment to sustainable development, including proposals related to the green economy and poverty eradication. Nikhil Seth, Director of the UN's Division for Sustainable Development, believes [...]
It is five years since Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza which has created hardships for Palestinians in the territory. On Thursday seven United Nations Agencies and a number of international charities signed a statement calling for the lifting of the blockade. They say that 1.6 million people, more than half of whom are children, [...]
The amount of garbage generated by cities worldwide will outpace the rate of urbanization over the next 13 years, according to the World Bank. In a report released this month (June 2012), the bank says improving solid waste management is becoming an urgent global issue, particularly in developing countries. To learn more about this problem, [...]
Seven United Nations Agencies and a number of international charities have called for the lifting of the blockade imposed on Gaza by Israel. The agencies signed a statement on Thursday to mark the fifth year since the start of the blockade. They say that more than 1.6 million people, more than half of whom are [...]
A day after the International Labour Organization lifted restrictions on Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi calls for aid and investment in her country. The pro-democracy leader and member of Myanmar's Parliament made the request at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Thursday. She says Myanmar needs investment that will help strengthen the democratization process by [...]
The Roman Catholic Church has been urged to renew its support in the fight against hunger at the global and local levels. The appeal was made by the head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), José Graziano da Silva during a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on Thursday. Charles Appel [...]
As diplomats hold the final stage of negotiations ahead of the Rio+20 conference, civil society groups are sharing their views of "The Future We Want"—the conference motto. The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) believes young women can lead the way, and have brought 24 guides from 15 countries to Brazil. Priyanthi [...]
Negotiators are working very hard to finalize the outcome document for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development or Rio+20. The Foreign Minister of Brazil, Antonio Patriota says he is "cautiously optimistic" that an agreement can be reached before the start of the conference next week. Monica Grayley caught up with Mr. Patriota at the conference [...]
Brazil is "cautiously optimistic" that an agreement can be reached on the outcome document for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. That's according to the country's Foreign Minister, Antonio Patriota, who says the Brazilian delegation is working hard to ensure the ongoing negotiations are successful. Mr. Patriota says the Brazilian delegation has been involved in [...]
More people around the world are being urged to give blood on World Blood Donor Day, observed on 14 June. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that every year millions of people rely on the generosity of others to donate blood. Yet the agency adds, blood donation rates vary considerably and the demands for blood [...]
Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi says that sustaining the ongoing reform process in the country is a collective responsibility of the people, government, political leaders and the military. Speaking in Geneva Ms. Suu Kyi said she holds no bitterness against Myanmar's military rulers for keeping her under house arrest for over 22 years. [...]
1. UN Secretary-General calls for cutting new HIV infections by 1 million by 2015. 2. UN condemns attack that killed 7 peacekeepers in Liberia. 3. UN demands Syrian government to take lead to end violence and killings. 4. World Oceans Day highlights importance of oceans. Narrated and Produced by Ambalika Misra Duration: 14’15″
