Americas

Indigenous education boosts women’s health and education prospects – UN

12 May 2004
A supportive policy environment as well as political commitment is needed to ensure quality indigenous education both as a right in itself and as a means to improve the economic and health prospects of women, the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues has been told.

UN health agency hails US signature of global anti-tobacco accord

12 May 2004
The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today welcomed the United States Government's signing of a global treaty aimed at curbing tobacco-related deaths and disease, which now claim 5 million lives every year, a number that if left unchecked could double by 2020.
Participants at 3rd Session of Forum on Indigenous Issues

Annan calls for solidarity and respect as UN indigenous peoples forum opens

10 May 2004
With native peoples worldwide continuing to encounter systemic prejudice and discrimination, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called on the international community to confront such ill-will head on, in a spirit of solidarity and respect, to help indigenous peoples overcome a history of inequality.

UN teams with World Economic Forum to drive financing for development

10 May 2004
The United Nations teamed up today with the World Economic Forum (WEF) in a bid to mobilize partnerships between the public and private sectors and boost business contribution to sustainable development and the fight against poverty.
Jan Egeland

Colombia has biggest humanitarian crisis in Western Hemisphere, UN says

10 May 2004
Though kidnapping and assassination have declined in Colombia, the humanitarian situation has worsened, with 2 million people becoming displaced over the past 15 years and 1 million of those made homeless in the last three or four years alone, the United Nations chief of humanitarian relief said today.

World still lagging on its pledges to improve fate of children – UN

7 May 2004
Two years after the world’s leaders agreed to time-bound goals to improve the welfare of youngsters, millions of children continue to die from preventable diseases and to lack such basic rights as education, safe drinking water and protection from abuse, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned today.
Jan Egeland

UN relief official meets Colombian President on humanitarian situation

7 May 2004
A senior United Nations relief official was to meet today with President Álvaro Uribe of Colombia for talks on the country's humanitarian situation, the worst in the Western Hemisphere, with an estimated 3 million people uprooted from their homes by conflict over the past 10 years.

Annan says he will continue work despite alleged bin Laden threat

7 May 2004
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today vowed to go on with his work despite a tape alleged to be from the world's most wanted man, Usama bin Laden, offering a bounty of 10 kilograms of gold for the UN leader's life.

UN environmental agency launches project to save Indonesia’s coral reefs

6 May 2004
With 82 per cent of the coral reefs in Indonesia – the world’s largest reef nation – at risk, the United Nations environmental agency today launched a training programme in the holiday island of Bali to help dive operators and hoteliers protect the fragile ecosystem.

UN to upgrade security at New York Headquarters

6 May 2004
The United Nations is set to begin a slate of projects - including the construction a new perimeter fence - to bolster safety and security measures at its New York Headquarters.