General News

The top United Nations official in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is disappointed that peace talks between the government and the rebel M23 movement concluded without an agreement.

In a briefing to the Security Council on Monday, Martin Kobler, head of the UN mission in the country (MONUSCO), said UN and other envoys had tried to instil “a sense of urgency” in the negotiating parties.

Dianne Penn reports.

Duration:  2'27"

Zimbabwe is not likely to meet the Millennium Development Goals or MDGs set by world leaders in 2000 to eradicate poverty, according to a Zimbabwean activist.

Tatenda Murima of the Zimbabwe United Nations Association (ZUNA) was at UN Headquarters in New York recently for an NGO meeting on Post-2015 agenda.

The year 2015 is the deadline the leaders set for achieving the MDGs and now discussions have started on what should be the agenda after that year.

UN Radio’s Derrick Mbatha caught up with Tatenda Murima and first asked him about the work of his organization.

Africa is changing for the better, according to the representative of the African Union (AU) to the United Nations.

Ambassador Tete Antonio spoke with UN Radio as the United Nations observes Africa NEPAD week from 18 to 25th October.

NEPAD, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, was adopted by African leaders in 2001 to fight poverty and promote sustainable growth, development and the empowerment of women.

Ambassador Antonio tells UN Radio’s Joseph Msami about what Africa’s NEPAD week is focusing on.

Duration:  4’15”

The African Peer Review Mechanism, which promotes and re-enforces good governance on the continent, turns 10 this Monday, 21 October.

It is a mutually agreed programme that has been voluntarily adopted by the member states of the African Union.

Its anniversary also coincides with Africa Week, an annual event held at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

A campaign is being launched during the week of 20 to 26 October to focus attention on the need to eliminate lead paint.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says hundreds of thousands of children, particularly in developing countries, suffer brain damage as a result of lead poisoning.

During International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action, governments and people around the world are being urged to advocate for the ban of lead paint.

The theme is “Lead-free Kids for a healthy future”.

Derrick Mbatha reports.

Stronger measures to enable women to participate in conflict resolution and recovery are to be put in place following the adoption of a new Security Council resolution on Friday.

Resolution 2122 puts in place a roadmap for a more systematic approach to the implementation of commitments on women, peace and security.

Jocelyne Sambira has more.

Duration: 2'18"

Growing populations and decreasing water availability is putting a strain on a huge groundwater resource that straddles four African countries.

Chad, Egypt, Libya and Sudan share the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS), the world’s largest known “fossil” water aquifer system.

The water is ancient and non-renewable, covering two million square kilometres.

The four African countries have agreed on a UN-backed plan to optimize the use of their underground aquifer system and improve their management of water resources.

People living in extreme poverty are often discriminated against and denied basic human rights, according to the International Movement ATD Fourth World.

The non-profit, which seeks to find solutions to eradicate poverty, encourages people to fight social exclusion and injustice in their own circles.

Fabio Palacio of the International Movement ATD Fourth World, explained to UN Radio’s Jocelyne Sambira what it’s like for people living in extreme poverty.

Duration: 4’14’’

Major studies that have been conducted around the world show that the air that people breathe is polluted with a mixture of cancer causing substances.

That was revealed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Geneva on Thursday.

The IARC, a specialized agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), has been meeting in French city of Lyons for the past few days.

In many countries around the world, it’s a woman’s job to cook, clean and care for family members.

It’s full time unpaid work that’s not recognized by any state, therefore blocking opportunities for the advancement of women and girls and condemning them to poverty.

That’s according to Magdalena Sepúlveda, the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty.

She shared this message with UN Radio’s Rocio Franco on Thursday, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Duration: 3’06’’