Luxembourg envoy to the United Nations (UN) Sylvie Lucas has been appointed as the next chair of the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) of UN Security Council Reforms.
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Jan 7, 2016
Filippo Grandi takes charge as UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Senior United Nations (UN) official Filippo Grandi from Italy has taken the charge as new UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
he has worked in refugee and political affairs in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, began his five-year term as UN High Commissioner for Refugees on January 1, succeeding António Guterres.
About Filippo Grandi
- He has worked in international affairs for over 30 years as a Italian diplomat, of which 27 years he spent with the United Nations.
- He started his career in the office of UNHCR in 1988 and had represented UN in refugee and political affairs in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
- He also had served as head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
- He had worked prior to that for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) as Deputy Special Representative.
About United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- UNHCR works worldwide to protect, assist and find solutions for refugees, internally displaced people and stateless populations.
- It has some 9,700 staff across 126 countries, many of them working in humanitarian emergencies and in close proximity to regions of conflict.
- In June 2015 it reported that worldwide forced displacement had reached a new post-World War II high of 59.5 million people.
- Displacement levels have continued to rise since, most visibly with the situation of more than one million refugees and migrants who have crossed the Mediterranean to Europe during 2015.
Dec 10, 2015
10 December: Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day is observed on December 10 every year. It commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1950, the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V), inviting all States and interested organizations to observe 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.
The theme chosen for the year 2015 HRD is ‘Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always’. It marks the launch of a 1 year campaign commemorating two international human rights treaties International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Both of the treaties were adopted in 1966.
Human rights facts and figures
In 2014, Amnesty International recorded and investigated human rights abuses in 160 countries and territories around the world. Here are some of the most shocking statistics uncovered:
- War crimes or other violations of the “laws of war” were carried out in at least 18 countries.
- Refugees and migrants were – and still are – at particular risk.
- More than 3,400 people drowned in the Mediterranean Sea in 2014. Armed groups committed abuses in 35 countries.
- Nearly three-quarters of governments, around 119 countries out of 160, arbitrarily restricted freedoms. 82% (131 out of 160) of countries tortured or otherwise ill-treated people.
Nov 17, 2015
Syed Akbaruddin appointed as India’s Permanent Representative to UN
Senior Indian diplomat Syed Akbaruddin has been appointed as India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations at New York.
He will succeed Asoke Kumar Mukerji who will be retiring soon. In his new role, Akbaruddin’s main task would be to push India’s bid to gain permanent membership of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and also strongly advocate its position on key issues.
Akbaruddin is 1985 batch officer of Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Prior to this appointment he was serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Earlier he served as MEA’s high-profile spokesperson and also was Chief Coordinator of successful third India Africa Foreign Summit held in New Delhi in October 2015.
He also had served at the Geneva based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is an expert on the West Asia where he had earlier served in various capacities.
Oct 29, 2015
Asia Pacific region most disaster prone part of the world: UN Report
The Asia Pacific region is the most disaster prone part of the world as it had suffered around 1,625 disasters in the decade through 2014.
It was revealed in recently released 2015 United Nations Asia-Pacific Disaster Report.
Highlights from Report
- Disasters in Asia Pacific region accounted for 40 percent of the global total and claimed over half a million of lives over the decade.
- The region needs to spend more on adapting to climate change and preparing for more extreme weather and disaster risks.
- The disasters in past decade have affected around 1.4 billion people and caused over 523 billion dollars in economic damage.
- Around 772 million poor people from this region which tends to be worlds populous region are vulnerable to disasters.
- The largest losses are linked to frequent floods and earthquakes in this region.
- Majority of disasters are cross-border in nature including floods, cyclones, droughts and earthquake. So, regional cooperation is crucial among nations in region.
- UN has urged the region’s governments to invest more in adapting and preparing for disasters may worsened by its rapid economic growth and mushrooming population.
Oct 27, 2015
Sylvie Lucas appointed as Chair of IGN of UNSC Reforms
Luxembourg envoy to the United Nations (UN) Sylvie Lucas has been appointed as the next chair of the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) of UN Security Council Reforms.
She was appointed by 70th UN General Assembly session President Morgens Lykketoft and replaced Jamaican Ambassador to UN Courtenay Rattray.
Her appointment comes ahead of the next round of negotiations UNSC Reforms to be held in UNGA after negotiating text was tabled in UNGA.
Background
- The 69th session of UNGA (President Sam Kutesa) had achieved a breakthrough in the UNSC reform process by adopting a negotiating text in September 2015.
- The text contained: Proposals and positions of various UN members on expansion of the council.
- Positions of various UN members on the distribution and expansion of permanent and non-permanent seats of the UNSC along with their proposals for use of the veto power.
Luxembourg had served as a non-permanent member of the 15 nation UNSC for year 2013-14. It is also part of the BENELUX countries comprising Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg which are supporting UNSC reforms.
Oct 21, 2015
Mortality rate among Indian girls below age of five higher than the boys: UN Report
As per recently released report of United Nations (UN), mortality rate among Indian girls below the age of five higher than the boys.
It was mentioned in recently published UN Report titled The World’s Women 2015.
Key facts
- Men have outnumbered women in southern Asia, eastern Asia, Oceania and western Asia.
- India is among the countries having largest surplus population of men and worrying under-five sex ratio.
Oct 17, 2015
17 October: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Every year 17 October is being observed as International Day for the Eradication of Poverty throughout the world.
Significance of Day: The Day seeks to promote awareness among people to eradicate poverty and destitution around the world particularly in developing countries.
2015 Theme: Building a sustainable future: Coming together to end poverty and discrimination.
The theme is a special one as it eradication of poverty is one of the 17 ambitious Sustainable Development Goals adopted in September 2015.
Background
Oct 5, 2015
World Habitat Day observed on 5 October 2015
United Nations on 5 October 2015 celebrated World Habitat Day.
Significance of Day: It is observed on first Monday of October every year to generate awareness about the state of human settlements and the future of cities.
Theme for year 2015: Public Spaces for All. The theme aims to recognize good public spaces in order to enhance community cohesion and promote happiness, health and well-being of all citizens. It also seeks fostering investment, economic development and environmental sustainability.
About World Habitat Day
- United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) through Resolution 40/202 had established World Habitat Day in 1985. It was first celebrated in 1986.
Oct 4, 2015
Nepal turns to UN over ‘obstruction’ of trade point with India
Nepal has turned to the United Nations over alleged obstruction of a key border trade point with India which has resulted in acute shortage of essential goods.
Nepal’s position
- Claims to be suffering from scarcity of essential goods like fuel and cooking gas due to “undeclared blockade” of a key trade point at the border with India.
- Appealed to the international community to ensure effective and unhindered freedom of transit of land-locked countries is not curtailed.
- Issue of India’s blockade is affecting implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action from year 2014 to 2024 of developing countries (LLDCs) like Nepal.
Sep 27, 2015
UN adopts agreement on Sustainable Development Goals
United Nations on 25 September 2015 unanimously adopted an ambitious agreement on the outcome document New Sustainable Development Agenda for the next 15 years i.e. till 2030.
The document in this regard was adopted in 70th session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and was announced by its President Mogens Lykketoft at the UN headquarters in New York.
Highlights
- The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets of the agenda demonstrate the scale and ambition of this new universal Agenda. They seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve.
- It seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom. This is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity.
Sep 19, 2015
Metro Man E Sreedharan to serve UN High Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport
Metro Man Elattuvalapil Sreedharan has been invited to the United Nations’ High Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport (HLAG-ST).
He has been invited by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to serve on his HLAG-ST for a period of three years. Mr. E Sreedharan has accepted this offer.
About Elattuvalapil Sreedharan
- Mr. E Sreedharan was born on 12 June 1932 in Palakkad district of Kerala.
- He is a retired Indian Engineering Service (IES) officer.
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