UN Volunteers, UN Mine Action Service launch new websites

In an effort to broaden worldwide access to information about the work of the United Nations, the Bonn-based UN Volunteers programme (UNV) and the UN Mine Action Service in New York have both launched new or redesigned Internet websites.

At www.unvolunteers.org, the newly designed UNV site maintains its focus on news and information about volunteer programmes while highlighting the organization's role as focal point for the International Year of Volunteers, IVY 2001. The new site helps would-be volunteers find information about opportunities in their home countries or abroad, either with UN Volunteers or with other organizations. It also features online volunteering, a facility managed by UNV on the Netaid.org web site.

With stories of personal experiences and volunteer networking carried out during IYV 2001, the website encourages interaction between volunteers from all continents and all walks of life.

As the volunteer arm of the UN system, UNV extends hands-on assistance for peace and development in nearly 150 countries by dispatching volunteers - two-thirds of them from developing countries - and promoting the ideals of volunteerism around the world. It was created by the UN General Assembly in 1970.

Joining the global Internet network, the Mine Action Service - the UN's response to the global landmine and unexploded ordnance problem - has launched a website at www.mineaction.org. The mine action work of the United Nations, which has been involved in humanitarian mine action activities since 1989, centres on five core components: mine clearance, mine awareness and risk reduction education, victim assistance, advocacy in support of a total ban on anti-personnel landmines, and stockpile destruction.