commission

Kim Hak-Su, ESCAP

Fast-growing Asia-Pacific economy somewhat undermined by external shocks – UN

22 April 2005
The economy of the Asia-Pacific region will continue to be the fastest growing in the world this year, but it has been undermined by last December's Indian Ocean tsunami, high oil prices, a weak United States dollar and health problems, the United Nations economic and social body for the area says in a new report.
Louise Arbour

Time for new UN rights body is now as status quo cannot continue, says top official

22 April 2005
Faced with major deficiencies, over-politicization and only selective reviews of countries' abuses, the United Nations Human Rights Commission wrapped up its annual session today with a ringing call for its replacement by a leaner, meaner body, as put forward in Secretary-General Kofi Annan's reform proposals.

UN rights commission adopts resolutions on cultural rights, racism

15 April 2005
With one week left in its sixty-first session, the United Nations top human rights body has approved a host of resolutions aimed at promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights, and denouncing all forms of racism.
Kofi Annan

Without reform of human rights body, UN credibility at stake, Annan says

7 April 2005
Speaking on the eleventh anniversary of the start of the Rwanda genocide and addressing the very human rights body he wants to replace, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today warned Member States that without reform of the United Nations human rights machinery, the credibility of the world body itself is at stake.
Louise Arbour

UN seeks to spearhead strengthening of national systems for protecting human rights

14 March 2005
Under United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's new reform initiatives, the world body seeks to strengthen the protection of civil liberties by Governments, since "the obligation to respect and enforce human rights rests on states," the UN's rights chief said today.

UN women's rights text adopted after US withdraws proposed amendment on abortion

5 March 2005
A United Nations women's rights committee has adopted a declaration reaffirming priorities set ten years ago at an international conference in Beijing after the United States delegation withdrew a proposed amendment to the text.

Empowering women the most effective development tool, Annan says

28 February 2005
Since the founders of the United Nations noted their faith in “the equal rights of men and women” on the first page of the UN Charter 60 years ago, studies have shown that “there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women,” Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today.

Women's situation has improved, but serious challenges remain, UN officials say

28 February 2005
Women have gained ground in the struggle for equality with men over the past 10 years, but serious challenges remain, including the rise in trafficking of women and girls and their disproportionate representation in the ranks of the poor and those infected with HIV/AIDS, senior United Nations officials said today.

Delegates to review progress in the 10 years since UN women's conference in Beijing

25 February 2005
Ten years after the landmark United Nations women's conference in Beijing, hundreds of delegates and thousands of non-governmental organization (NGOs) representatives will meet at the United Nations for nearly two weeks to review the world's progress towards equality for women.

Africa calls for principles of fairer world trade to be worked out by July, UN says

24 May 2004
African government ministers in charge of their countries' economies, meeting under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), have called on rich countries in the World Trade Organization (WTO) to remove their high tariffs on developing country exports, their distorting export subsidies and other obstacles to fair trade by July.