Americas

UN welcomes El Salvador's adoption of new legislation on status of refugees

26 July 2002
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today welcomed El Salvador's approval of new legislation governing the rights of those forced to flee across borders.

Argentine named head of Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

26 July 2002
States parties to a United Nations treaty banning chemical weapons have approved the appointment of an Argentine diplomat as the new chief of the organization set up to monitor the accord’s implementation.

Vieira de Mello, who led UN’s East Timor mission, approved for top human rights post

23 July 2002
The United Nations General Assembly today approved Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s proposal to appoint Sergio Vieira de Mello, a Brazilian national who had helped to guide East Timor to independence, as the world body’s next High Commissioner for Human Rights.

UNICEF teams with McDonald's to raise funds for children

19 July 2002
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) today announced plans to team up with McDonald's to raise money for youngsters all over the world.

Colombia: UN rights expert concerned about attacks on judicial system

19 July 2002
A United Nations human rights expert today expressed grave concern over what he described as "the undermining of the rule of law and the administration of justice" in Colombia as a result of the escalation in fighting.

AIDS drug prices drop sharply but unevenly in Latin America and Caribbean

18 July 2002
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) announced today that the price of drugs used to treat HIV/AIDS dropped dramatically last year in Latin America and the Caribbean, as a result of agreements between health ministries and drug companies.

UN agency welcomes new refugee law in Paraguay

9 July 2002
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today hailed Paraguay’s adoption of new legislation governing those who have crossed the country’s borders in search of safe haven.

Top UN rights official ends visit to Peru with call for consolidation of reforms

5 July 2002
Wrapping up a three-day visit to Peru, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today urged the country to remain vigilant in pursuing efforts to consolidate democracy and fundamental freedoms.

In a 'milestone,' UN human rights agency to open office in Mexico

2 July 2002
In what it described as an "an important milestone," the United Nations human rights agency has reached an agreement with the Government of Mexico to open an office in the country to focus on such issues as torture, indigenous rights and the administration of justice.