UN releases latest list of ‘10 Stories the World Should Hear More About’

From the struggles of Colombia’s indigenous people to the countless civilians displaced by violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) to United Nations efforts to crack down on the trafficking of arms, drugs and humans through ports, the UN Department of Public Information (DPI) has unveiled its latest list of stories it believes deserve greater global attention.

“Ten Stories the World Should Hear More About,” launched today, aims to spotlight UN-related issues or developments that are sometimes overlooked by the media in an age when social networking sites and other forms of new media are changing the ways in which people receive information.

Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, said that in today’s densely-packed media environment, where sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Flickr and Twitter are commonplace for many people, DPI tries to draw attention to stories that have important implications – if not always headlines – in different parts of the world.

“At the UN, we are deeply conscious of the need to bridge the divide between those who do and do not always have the benefits of the latest technology, but also to participate in the dialogue that is taking place among those who are engaging via new modes of public discussion.”

This year’s list, like those of past years, includes stories of both struggles and achievements. It details the neglected emergency of CAR, where tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced by violence, and the struggles of indigenous people in Colombia, where they have faced brutal treatment from armed groups for many years.

The other stories include growing concern at how West Africa has become a transit hub for drug trafficking, which is fuelling corruption and instability across the region, as well as details of how the UN is helping with the efforts of port authorities worldwide to crack down on the trafficking of arms, drugs and humans.

Meanwhile, the problems caused by skyrocketing food prices last year have only been exacerbated by the global economic turmoil, leaving millions more people hungry, while orbiting debris is threatening the sustainable use of outer space.

On the positive front, a UN-backed commission in Guatemala that tackles organized crime is offering a unique form of assistance for a country emerging from conflict, while the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provides a mechanism for individuals who feel their rights have been curtailed or denied.

The other two stories concern the UN’s behind-the-scenes work that helped prevent a potentially explosive crisis in the wake of Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia; and the issue of climate change, where the creation of adaptation strategies has become increasingly important as evidence shows that global warming has accelerated.

The list, drawn up in consultation with various UN departments and agencies, does not reflect the full range of issues on the agenda of the Organization and the 10 stories are not ranked in any order.

Additional information on all the stories on the list can be found on a special page on the UN website, www.un.org/events/tenstories.