United Nations Radio

UN Calling Asia - a weekly magazine programme, in English, that keeps you in touch with UN developments covering Asia and the Pacific.

Noeleen Heyzer

Simply put, UN Day is the birthday of the United Nations. On October 24th nations around the world marked the occasion with music, speeches and reflection upon the work the world body has accomplished and the many challenges that lie ahead. This year, in Bangkok, Thailand, government officials and UN staff gathered to commemorate the sixty-year relationship between Thailand and the United Nations. On the occasion, Thai officials and UN Under-Secretary-General Noeleen Heyzer highlighted the UN's 60 years of work in the Asia-Pacific region. Ms. Heyzer, the Executive Secretary of ESCAP - the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific says over the past 60 years, the United Nations has helped the countries of the region achieve tremendous economic growth, social progress and poverty reduction. Gail Walker has the story.

Security Council discusses Timor-Leste:

Jose Luis Guterres

Timor Leste, the 21st century's first new sovereign State, was the subject of a UN Security Council meeting in October. Following decades of rule by Indonesia, the country in 1999 held a UN supervised popular referendum. The choice for the Timorese people was between a Special Autonomy with Indonesia and independence. When more than 78 percent of voters chose independence, violent clashes ensued. It was estimated, in fact, by the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation in East Timor that over 100 thousand conflict-related deaths occurred in the country between 1974 and 1999. Independence in May 2002 was followed by UN membership in September of the same year. One of the major challenges the country has faced was the crisis of 2006 that caused150 thousand Timorese to flee their homes, to be housed in scores of IDP or internally displaced persons camps in the capital, Dili and other districts. Jose Luis Guterres, the country's Deputy Prime Minister, says that particular problem is close to being resolved.

The UN independent expert monitoring human rights in the DPRK, says the situation is "abysmal":

Malnourished children in DPRK

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the country whose human rights situation Vitit Muntarbhorn describes as "abysmal". Mr. Muntarbhorn is the independent United Nations expert monitoring the situation in the East Asian nation. He notes in his latest report, which he recently presented to the UN, that nine million people in the DPRK are suffering from food shortages.

Producer: Gerry Adams
(duration: 14'00")