This report of the Secretary-General highlights activities of UN programmes, funds and specialized agencies on climate change and includes an overview of current UN activities on the topic organised by key areas. It also forms part of the background for an up-coming General Assembly thematic debate on climate change.
DI - 18/01/2007
The document provides an integrated view of climate change as the final part of the IPCC’s Fourth Assesment Report. This Synthesis Report is based on the assessment carried out by the three Working Groups of the IPCC.
DI - 10/1/2008
The WESP 2008 provides an overview of recent global economic performance and short-term prospects for the world economy. According to this report, the world economy is facing serious challenges in sustaining the strong pace of economic growth seen over the past few years.
DI - 27/11/2007
This year edition of the HDReport is focused on climate change and how it will create long-run low human development traps, pushing vulnerable people into a downward spiral of deprivation. The failure to respond to this challenge will stall and then reverse international efforts to reduce poverty. Also, there is useful information of the 2007/2008 Human Development Index rankings.
DI - 12/11/2007
The ninth edition of the Landmine Monitor reports on the global landmine situation and scrutinizes the implementation of and compliance with the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. According to this, many states are not on course to meet their Mine Ban Treaty mine clearance obligations.
DI - 31/10/2007
The fourth Global Environment Outlook: environment for development (GEO-4) warns about the major threats to the planet such as climate change, the rate of extinction of species and the challenge of feeding a growing population. The UNEP’s publication is a comprehensive and authoritative UN report on environment, prepared by about 390 experts. It identifies priorities for action and describes the changes since 1987, 20 years after the WCED produced its seminal report (Our Common Future).
The improved global economic environment for many developing countries -- including the current upswing in some nations resulting from high demand for oil and other raw materials, and the expanded manufacturing prowess of others, such as China -- needs to be turned into a dynamic process of economic growth and structural change that creates employment and raises living standards over the long term, the new UNCTAD report says
The EU ministers responsible for internal security convened in London to discuss counter-terrorism and aviation security with British Home Secretary John Reid and EU Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini. The document emphasises the need for delivery of the existing EU’s strategy to combat terrorism, both at the Union and Member State level
The Resolution adopted by the Security Council –as its 5511th meeting on 11 August- called for the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which came into effect on 14 August. The document stated the Lebanese troop’s deployment across the south of the country as Israel withdraws behind the Blue Line, and also backed the simultaneous deployment of an expanded and enhanced United Nations Interim Force for Lebanon (UNIFIL)
The resolution adopted by the Security Council –as its 5500th meeting on 31 July- demanded a suspension of Iran’s nuclear enrichment and reprocessing activities, including research and development, and gave it one month to do so or face the possibility of economic and diplomatic sanctions (Chapter VII of UN Charter) to give effect to its decision
Latin America and the Caribbean will grow by around 5% this year, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Despite substantial improvement over the last quarter-century, the region continues to show less dynamism than the rest of the developing world. Argentina, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela take the lead. (Executive summary and chapter I)
This document served as the basis for discusions at the Ibero-American Meeting on Migration and Development, which took place in Madrid from 18 to 19 July. It was presented by the Latin American and Caribbean Demographic Centre (CELADE) - Population Division of the ECLAC. The topics discussed at the meeting were the major issues on the migration agenda, including human rights. (Document in Spanish)
The document adopted by the leaders of the world's seven richest nations - the US, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada – and Russia at the St.Petersburg Summit held from 15 to 17 July. Global energy security, development of modern education systems and fight against infectious diseases were the priority themes, as well as globalization, international trade and Africa
The Millennium Development Goals Report is based on a master set of data that has been compiled by an Inter-Agency and Expert Group on MDG Indicators led by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the UN Secretariat. This year report presents the latest assessment on how far Member States have come, and how far they have to go in reaching the MDGs, in each of the world’s regions
The WESS is a publication of the UN Development Policy and Analysis Division (DPAD), which provides objective analysis of pressing long-term social and economic development issues, and discusses the positive and negative impact of corresponding policies. Diverging growth and development is the theme of 2006 report, which shows that in the industrialized world the income level over the last five decades has grown steadily. This has not occurred in many developing countries, thereby causing a rise in already high world inequality
UN Development Programme (UNDP) released on 29 June the Asia-Pacific Human Development Report: Trade on Human Terms, the first in a new annual series. The document stresses that developing countries of Asia and the Pacific need bold new domestic policies in order to benefit from free trade, and industrialized economies should back fairer trade rules giving poorer nations the chance to compete in the global marketplace
UNODC's 2006 World Drug Report provides one of the most comprehensive overviews of illicit drug trends at the international level. The analysis of trends, some going back 10 years or more, is presented in Volume 1. Detailed statistics are presented in Volume 2. Taken together, these volumes provide the most up-to-date view of today's illicit drug situation
The main objective of Asian Development Bank medium-term strategy II (MTS II), covering 2006-2008, is to strengthen the poverty reduction impact of ADB’s assistance programs in the context of the key challenges facing the region. To this end, it has adopted five priorities: catalyzing investment, strengthening inclusiveness, promoting regional cooperation and integration, managing the environment, and improving governance and preventing corruption
The President of four remaining countries of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN) -Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru- met in Quito (Ecuador) to re-launch the regional cooperation and integration process after the announcement of Venezuela’s withdrawal of the Community. The Andean Council of Presidents reiterates its decision to start negotiations aimed at signing an Association Agreement with the European Union, as agreed on Vienna Summit
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan Report presented to the General Assembly on May 2006. In this document, Kofi Annan proposed a standing forum led by all 191 Member States which governments could use to share ideas and discuss best practices and policies related to international migration and how this phenomenon ties in with global development
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation of the Member States adopted this final declaration on the occasion of the 36th regular sessión of the OAS General Assembly in Santo Domingo (4 to 6 June 2006). The document states that “the development and equitable and universal access to the knowledge-based society constitutes a challenge and an opportunity that helps us to address the common social, economic, and political goals of the countries of the Americas
The Weapons of Mass Destruction Commision (WMDC) -chaired by Hans Blix- has presented this report to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The document analyses the threats under which the world is living today -above all, 27 000 nuclear weapons and efforts by individual states and perhaps terrorist groups to develop or obtain different kinds of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. It also contains sixty concrete proposals on how the world could be freed of weapons of terror
The AIDS epidemic appears to be slowing down globally, but new infections are continuing to increase in certain regions and countries. The document also highlights the important progress in country AIDS responses, including increases in funding and access to treatment, and decreases in HIV prevalence among young people in some countries over the past five years
The World Bank (WB) GDF 2006 report says net private capital flows to developing countries reached a record high of US$491 billion in 2005, driven by privatizations, mergers and acquisitions, external debt refinancing, as well as strong investor interest in local-currency bond markets in Asia and Latin America. The document also shows that capital flows between developing countries are now growing faster than those between developed and developing countries particularly in FDI
This is an independent report –about the system of delivering aid- carried out by the University of Birmingham on behalf of more than thirty donor and partner countries. The joint evaluation looks at the use and effectiveness of the direct payments, also known as general budget support, by drawing on the experience of seven countries over five years: Burkina Faso, Malawi, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Uganda, and Vietnam
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International LabourOffice (ILO) have jointly produced the first handbook to assist States in their efforts to develop new policy approaches, solutions, and practical measures for better management of labour migration in countries of origin and of destination. It was launched at the 14th OSCE Economic Forum in Prague
This Amnesty International Report -presented on 23 March in London- says that “2005 was defined by hope wrestling against the duplicity, double speak and failed promises of governments”. The document shows that 104 countries out of the 150 countries analysed have tortured or ill-treated people. Guantánamo prison camp, Darfur’s crisis, the “war on terror” and growing human rights deficit in Europe are also highlighted as key factors in 2005
The Resolution 1679 adopted by the Security Council –as its 5439th meeting on 16 May- calls for deployment on the ground of a joint UN – Africa Union (AU) team towards establishing a United Nations peacekeeping force in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region. This force would take over from the AU mission (AMIS) now monitoring the region
The European Commission’s spring economic forecasts put economic growth in 2006 to 2.3% in the EU and to 2.1% in the euro area, up from the up from 1.6% and 1.3% in 2005. The main impulses stem from a robust increase in investment, continued strong world growth and an improved outlook in Germany. In 2007, growth is expected to slow down to 2.2% in the EU and 1.8% in the euro area
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan report -presented to the 191 members of the General Assembly on 2 May- includes recommendations for a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy and the reinforcement of the UN capacities based on five “D’s”: dissuading people from resorting to terrorism or supporting it; denying terrorists the means to carry out an attack; deterring states from supporting terrorism; developing State capacity to defeat terrorism; and defending human rights
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report on human trafficking for sexual exploitation or forced labour. The document shows that people -most of them are women and children- are usually trafficked from poor countries to more affluent ones, and identifies 127 countries of origin, 98 transit countries and 137 destination countries. The report also stresses that global efforts to combat trafficking are being hampered by a lack of accurate data, reflecting the unwillingness of some countries to acknowledge that the problem affects them
The Government of China together with the European Commission and the World Bank co-sponsored an International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Influenza in Beijing. The conference assessed the financing needs at the country, regional and global levels. During this event the international community pledged US$1.9billion in financial support and discussed coordination mechanisms. Also, the paper Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza: UN System Contributions and Requirements. A Strategic Approach was included as background material for the discussions at the Conference
The third annual Global Monitoring Report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) highlights economic growth, more and better quality aid, and trade reforms, as well as governance as essential elements to achieve MDGs. Published jointly by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the 2006 edition records significant progress attained on several fronts. But it also underlines that progress is incomplete, too slow, and, above all too disparate. A number of countries are likely not to achieve these goals, in many cases for lack of means, but also due to lack of “good governance”
The latest UNHCR report -presented on 19 April in London- examines the changing dynamics of displacement over the past half decade. While the number of refugees worldwide has reached its lowest level in 25 years at 9.2 million, the rise in internally displaced people to some 25 million has put the international system for dealing with human displacement at a critical juncture. The current challenges include the plight of tens of millions of internally displaced people, widespread confusion over migrants and refugees, and tightened asylum policies and growing intolerance
The recent World Economic Outlook -International Monetary Fund (IMF) twice-yearly report focused on major economic policy issues as well as on the analysis of economic developments and prospects- highlights global imbalances as the biggest threat to what was otherwise an “unusually favourable” economic environment. Though the global growth in 2006 has exceeded 4 per cent, the WEO cautioned against becoming complacent about high oil prices
This WHO Report contains an expert assessment of the current crisis in the global health workforce and ambitious proposals to tackle it over the next ten years, starting immediately. The report reveals an estimated shortage of almost 4.3 million doctors, midwives, nurses and support workers worldwide. The shortage is most severe in the poorest countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where health workers are most needed
This initiative seeks to forge collective political will and to mobilize concerted action at the institutional and civil society levels to overcome the prejudice, misperceptions and polarization that militate against such a consensus. It was launched by the Secretary-General of the United Nations (http://www.unaoc.org/), co-sponsored by the Prime Ministers of Spain (José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero) and Turkey (Tayyip Erdoðan)
The first International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action was observed on 4 April to alert the society as to the growing danger of land mines at the same time that is accomplished a United Nations declaration. Launched by the Mine Action Service of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, this office has also compiled the concrete steps being taken to eliminate the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war and to meet pertinent treaty obligations in the 9th Portfolio of Mine Action Projects
The number of people on HIV antiretroviral treatment (ART) in low- and middle-income countries more than tripled to 1.3 million in December 2005 from 400 000 in December 2003, according to World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) report. Sub-Saharan Africa, the region most severely impacted, led the treatment scale-up effort, with the number of people receiving HIV treatment there increasing more than eight-fold to 810 000 from 100 000 between 2003 and 2005. By the end of 2005, more than half of all people receiving HIV treatment in low- and middle-income countries resided in this continent, up from one-quarter two years earlier
The Resolution 1667 (2006) adopted by the Security Council -as its 5406th meeting on 31 March 2006- extends the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) until 30 September 2006. This reaffirms intention to authorize Secretary-General to redeploy troops between UN Mission in Liberia and Operation in the Ivory Coast as needed. The Council also prolonged the temporary increase in UNMIL’s staffing ceiling to a total of 15,250 military personnel until that same date to ensure that the support provided to the special court trying war crimes in Sierra Leone did not reduce UNMIL’s strength in Liberia during its critical transition period following a long and brutal civil war
Final statement of the Third International Conference on Early Warning which took place in Bonn, Germany from 27 to 29 March under the auspices of the United Nations. Guided by the slogan "From concept to action", the Conference strongly emphasized the role of local communities in effective early warning. The Conference and its preparations resulted in the following documents: “Compendium of Early Warning Projects” and “Developing Early Warning Systems: A Key Checklist”
According to the Inter-American Development Bank’s Multilateral Investment Fund (IDB-MIF), Latin American and Caribbean workers living abroad sent a record USD 53.6 billion in remittances to their homelands during 2005, up 17 percent from the previous year. This new estimates were presented at the seminar A Global Revolution in Banking: Remittances and Microfinance held ahead of the annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the IDB, which will take place here April 3-5
The Spain Article IV Executive Board Consultation, which describes the preliminary findings of International Monetary Fund staff at the conclusion of its mission in this country. The document underlines that “[Spanish] economic policy must be directed to moderating domestic demand pressures and setting the stage for a sustainable continuation of growth”
United Nations Security Council -through a statement read out by its President César Mayoral (Argentina)- called upon Iran to re-establish full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, in a manner that is verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency. This condition “would contribute to a diplomatic, negotiated solution that guarantees Iran’s nuclear programme is for exclusively peaceful purposes”. The Council also requested a report from the IAEA in 30 days to monitor Iranian compliance with its requirements
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. European institutions -such as Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), the European Union’s European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC), and the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) - make a joint statement on this occasion
UN Secretary-General Report to the General Assembly (March 2006). The Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented his proposals for a fundamental overhaul of the United Nations Secretariat to bring it more in line with today’s new operational realities and better equip the UN to meet the growing demands and expectations of Member States. The main focus of the plan is to realign operations from Headquarters to field targets investment to drive accountability, transparency and productivity
The IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution requesting the IAEA Director General to report to the UN Security Council all IAEA reports and resolutions, as adopted, relating to the implementation of safeguards in Iran. The Resolution was adopted by vote of 27 in favour, 3 against and 5 abstentions
What is Avian Influenza? Which viruses cause highly pathogenic disease? Do migratory birds spread highly pathogenic Avian Influenza viruses? What is special about the current outbreaks in poultry? Which countries have been affected by outbreaks in poultry?... (World Health Organization, October 2005)
Text of the UN 2005 World Summit Outcome adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 September 2005
Statement by his Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain at the High-Level Plenary Meeting of the 60th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations
The Independent Inquiry Committee issues its definitive Report on the overall management and oversight of the “temporary” Oil for Food Programme, a programme which stretched to seven years with more than $100 billion in transactions (over $64 billion in oil sales and approximately $37 billion for food). This very large and very complex Programme accomplished many vital goals in Iraq. It reversed a serious and deteriorating food crisis, preventing widespread hunger and probably reducing deaths due to malnutrition. While there were problems with the sporadic delivery of equipment and medical supplies, undoubtedly many lives were saved. At the same time, things went wrong, damaging the reputation and credibility of the United Nations. With respect to the Programme as a whole, the Committee’s central conclusion is that the United Nations requires stronger executive leadership, thoroughgoing administrative reform, and more reliable controls and auditing. (7/09/2005)
“From overhauling basic management practices and building a more transparent, efficient and effective United Nations system to revamping our major intergovernmental institutions so that they reflect today’s world and advance the priorities set forth in the present report, we must reshape the Organization in ways not previously imagined and with a boldness and speed not previously shown”. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, 2005
In September 2005, world leaders will come together at a summit in New York to review progress since the Millennium Declaration, adopted by all Member States in 2000. The Secretary-General’s report proposes an agenda to be taken up, and acted upon, at the summit. These are policy decisions and reforms that are actionable if the necessary political will can be garnered. It is for the world community to decide whether this moment of uncertainty presages wider conflict, deepening inequality and the erosion of the rule of law, or is used to renew institutions for peace, prosperity and human rights. Now is the time to act. The annex to the report lists specific items for consideration by Heads of State and Government. Action on them is possible. It is within reach. From pragmatic beginnings could emerge a visionary change of direction for the World.
The Committee is tasked with collecting and examining information relating to all aspects of the administration and management of the Oil-For-Food Programme, from its inception to its transfer to the Coalition Provisional Authority, including allegations of fraud and corruption on the part of United Nations officials, personnel, and agents, as well as the contractors of the United Nations or Iraq under the Programme
The essential purpose of this Report is to examine the functioning of the WTO and to consider how well equipped it is to carry the weight of future responsibilities and demands. Certainly, the conclusion of the current trade round will have implications for the future functioning of the organization but the reflection that this Report, elaborated by the Consultative Board to the Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi, is intended to launch should go beyond the Doha Development Agenda
In his address to the General Assembly in September 2003, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned Member States that the United Nations had reached a fork in the road. It could rise to the challenge of meeting new threats or it could risk erosion in the face of mounting discord between States and unilateral action by them. He created the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Changes to generate new ideas about the kinds of policies and institutions required for the UN to be effective in the 21st Century
As representatives of a number of a major human rights organizations, we urge you to take further immediate steps to address the crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan. Resolution 1564, adopted on September 18, 2004, does not contain adequate measures to bring security to civilian populations in Darfur and to end the ongoing violations of internationa human rights and humanitarian law. It is essential that the Security Council quickly establish an effective force to protect civilian populations by passing a resolution extending and strengthening the mandate of the existing African Union monitoring force
The average level of real income in the richest countries is 50 times that of the poorest. The richest tenth of South African population enjoy levels of consumption per person almost 70 times those of the poorest tenth. Citizens of the world also experience profound differences in influence, access to legal systems, power and social status, whether at the level of individuals, between men and women, or between groups. This WDR will explore the relationship between equity and development strategy
The World Economic Outlook presents IMF staff's analysis and projections of economic developments at the global level, in major country groups (classified by region, stage of development, etc.), and in many individual countries. It focuses on major economic policy issues as well as on the analysis of economic developments and prospects
The purpose of this Needs Assessment is to inform the Donor Reconstruction Conference scheduled for October 23-24, 2003, of the current status and priority reconstruction and rehabilitation needs in each sector, focusing on the most urgent requirements for 2004 and indicative reconstruction needs for the period 2005-2007. IN addition, this report strives to put the sector assessments in their proper context, highlighting the need for a sustainable approach to reconstruction and development, and outlining a number of policy reform options. Overall investment needs along with a discussion of absorptive capacity are provided in the final chapter
A new World Bank report warns that broad improvements in human welfare will not occur unless poor people receive wider access to affordable, better quality services in health, education, water, sanitation, and electricity. Without such improvements in services, freedom from illness and freedom from illiteracy - two of the most important ways poor people can escape poverty - will remain elusive to many.The report - World Development Report 2004: Making Services Work for Poor People - says that too often, key services fail poor people - in access, in quantity, in quality. This imperils a set of development targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which call for a halving of the global incidence of poverty, and broad improvements in human development by 2015. However, the report provides powerful examples of where services do work, showing how governments and citizens can do better. The report says there have been spectacular successes and miserable failures in the efforts by developing countries to make services work. The main difference between success and failure is the degree to which poor people themselves are involved in determining the quality and the quantity of the services which they receive.
Security Council lifts Sanctions on Iraq, approves UN role, calls for appointment of Secretary-General’s Special Representative. Resolution 1483 (2003) was adopted by Vote of 14 in Favour to None Against, with Syria Not Participating
