Asia Pacific

Secretary-General reports ‘grave violations’ of children’s rights in Myanmar

23 November 2007
Grave child rights violations, including recruitment into armed groups, continue in Myanmar, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report, calling on the Government to take measures to address the problem which is common to both State and non-State actors.

UN agriculture development fund supports microfinance in Pakistan

22 November 2007
The United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has announced that it will provide a $35 million loan to a new $46 million programme making microfinance services available to about 160,000 new clients – at least half of them women.

Seoul gives over $4 million to first environmental project between two Koreas

22 November 2007
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Republic of Korea today agreed to set up a Trust Fund that addresses key environmental issues in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Promoting tourism for people with disabilities focus of UN forum in Bangkok

21 November 2007
Removing barriers and making tourism accessible to the 650 million persons with disabilities around the world who represent a huge untapped market for the travel industry will be the focus of a three-day United Nations gathering set to begin tomorrow in Bangkok.
Ibrahim Gambari

UN’s role in resolving Myanmar crisis should be strengthened, says envoy

21 November 2007
The United Nations Special Envoy for Myanmar said today that the good offices role of the Secretary-General would need to be “beefed up in terms of its effectiveness,” in case dialogue between the Government and the opposition in the troubled South-East Asian nation intensifies.

World Bank offers $250 million to cyclone-hit Bangladesh

21 November 2007
As United Nations agencies continue their efforts to assist the over 3 million Bangladeshis affected by Cyclone Sidr, the World Bank announced today that it will make available up to $250 million to aid recovery and strengthen mitigation efforts in the wake of the deadly storm.

India and UN nuclear watchdog to start talks on safeguards agreement

21 November 2007
The United Nations atomic watchdog and the Indian Government have agreed to start consultations on framing a safeguards agreement that would place the South Asian country’s civilian nuclear programme under UN observation.
Victim of Cyclone Sidr

UN grants $8.8 million to aid cyclone victims in Bangladesh

20 November 2007
The United Nations has allocated $8.8 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support relief efforts in the wake of the deadly cyclone which struck Bangladesh last week, affecting more than 3 million people in the South Asian nation.

Cambodia: UN tribunal charges former Khmer Rouge leader with war crimes

20 November 2007
The United Nations-backed tribunal in Cambodia trying Khmer Rouge leaders accused of mass killings and other crimes three decades ago has charged a former head of State of the country with war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Louise Arbour

Top UN rights official urges safeguards to avoid civilian deaths in Afghanistan

20 November 2007
Noting that civilian casualties resulting from international military operations in Afghanistan have reached “alarming” levels this year, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today urged that measures be taken to avoid the loss of innocent life.