Europe

Credit: IOM 2007

Poland becoming transit, destination country for human trafficking – UN expert

29 May 2009
Poland’s accession to both the European Union (EU) and the Schengen zone has transformed it into both a transit and destination country for human trafficking, a United Nations independent expert said today, noting that the Eastern European nation has made progress in fighting the scourge.
The Ledra Street crossing point in Cyprus gets checked for unexploded ordnance

Security Council renews mandate of UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus

29 May 2009
The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus, known as UNFICYP, while urging the leaders of the Mediterranean island’s Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to pick up the pace of their reunification talks.

Ban rejects Georgian claim he was ‘blackmailed’ by Russia

28 May 2009
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today spoke out against Georgia’s claim that he was coerced by Russia into amending his recent report on the Caucasus nation.
Credit: IOM 2007

Belarus making strides in combating human trafficking, UN expert finds

26 May 2009
The United Nations independent expert on human trafficking today commended Belarus – which is creeping towards becoming a source, transit and destination country for victims – for its efforts to combat the scourge.
Crime scene investigation.

Fight against drugs and crime in south-east Europe gets boost with UN pact

21 May 2009
Tackling the challenges posed by illicit drugs and organized crime in south-east Europe is one of the major priorities of a new agreement boosting cooperation between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).
Russian tennis star Vera Zvonareva

Russian tennis star partners with UNESCO to serve notice on gender inequality

20 May 2009
Russian tennis ace, Olympic bronze medallist and Grand Slam champion Vera Zvonareva was named today as a Promoter of Gender Equality by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
UNOMIG's Tbilisi Headquarters, Georgia

Ban: UN’s Georgia mission contributing to stability, security

20 May 2009
The United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) has contributed to the overall security of the local population, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says, while cautioning that an agreement on a revised security regime is needed for lasting stability.
The Ledra Street crossing point in Cyprus gets checked for unexploded ordnance

Lauding progress to date, Ban advocates accelerating pace of Cyprus talks

20 May 2009
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has encouraged Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders to accelerate the momentum in their United Nations-backed reunification talks, while lauding the progress made so far.
A boat carrying asylum seekers and migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.
UNHCR/L.Boldrini

Top UN refugee official calls for meeting on Mediterranean irregular migration

20 May 2009
The top United Nations refugee official, António Guterres, has urged the European Commission (EC) to convene a gathering bringing together Italy, Malta, Libya, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and others to create a joint response to irregular migration across the Mediterranean Sea.

Secretary-General travels to Denmark and Finland next week

18 May 2009
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is set to visit Denmark next week, followed by his first official visit to Finland, a spokesperson for the United Nations announced today.