Asia Pacific

UN human rights observer to make six-day tour of Myanmar

31 October 2003
A United Nations expert will travel to Myanmar next week to assess developments in human rights in the Asian country since his last visit in March.

Afghanistan at 'critical juncture', UN sanctions committee chairman says

31 October 2003
The head of a United Nations committee overseeing sanctions against Al-Qaida and the Taliban, just back from a tour of the Middle East and Asia, said today that Afghanistan was at a "critical juncture" in its battle against "enormous challenges and threats."

DPR of Korea faces another tough food year, 6.5 million at risk – UN agencies

30 October 2003
Despite recent improved harvests the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will not have enough food to feed its people next year, putting millions of people at risk, according to two United Nations agencies.

Annan hails news that DPR of Korea, China agree to fresh round of 6-nation talks

30 October 2003
Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed news that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and China have agreed to hold a fresh round of six-nation talks.

Security Council mission heading to Afghanistan to check progress on rebuilding

30 October 2003
A United Nations Security Council mission is heading to Afghanistan to show support for the reconstruction process there and to check on its progress, according to the delegation's chairman, Ambassador Gunter Pleuger of Germany.

Demobilization in northern Afghanistan about half way finished, UN says

30 October 2003
About half the 1,000 ex-soldiers voluntarily disarmed in the northern Afghanistan province of Kunduz have completed the multi-step demobilization programme there, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said today.

UN survey finds opium production on the rise in Afghanistan

29 October 2003
The United Nations released a survey today showing that opium production is on the rise this year in Afghanistan, by far the world's biggest producer of the drug.

Green concerns to be integrated by UN into Afghan development plan

28 October 2003
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today announced a €4.27 million (euro) scheme to support the rehabilitation of Afghanistan’s environment and integrate green concerns into the country’s development.

UN agency deplores infanticide of girls in India; praises government for study

28 October 2003
The ratio of girls to boys in India has shown a shocking decline in the last decade due to the elimination of girls by sex-selective abortion and infanticide, practices that must end, the head of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said.

UN rights experts deeply concerned about post-election events in Azerbaijan

28 October 2003
Four independent United Nations human rights experts are "deeply concerned" about information they have received that one person died, many were injured and hundreds of protesters and election workers were detained in Azerbaijan in connection with the 15 October presidential elections.