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2 October, 2004
 

Table Of Contents

 

S-G: Group Of 77's Role Key To Attaining MDGs 1

The "Group of 77" coalition of developing countries will have a key role to play in galvanizing global action to reach the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on 30 September.

Addressing the Group's annual meeting of Foreign Ministers at UN Headquarters in New York, he said next year would be a significant test of resolve as the General Assembly holds its first comprehensive review of the 2000 Millennium Declaration, which contained a set of eight time-bound goals to combat such global problems as extreme poverty and hunger, educational inequity and HIV/AIDS, all by 2015. 

The Secretary-General stressed that the just-opened session of the General Assembly offered important opportunities to address a host of issues of concern to the Group, such as alternative sources of financing for development and the UN's credibility in providing effective and long-term responses to complex crises.

 

Sec-Gen Addresses NAM Foreign Ministers 2

A blue-ribbon panel examining new global threats and challenges should help refashion the international community's notion of collective security, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan told Foreign Ministers from the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on 29 September.

"Our era, an era of accelerating interdependence, demands effective collective policies and institutions," Mr. Annan said in remarks to the annual meeting in New York of NAM Foreign Ministers. 

"But arriving at a robust, preventive, collective approach is made all the more difficult by the very diverse perceptions of the threats of our time, and by the very serious divisions among countries on some of the very principles on which international peace and security should be based," he added.

While some countries may emphasize one set of threats over another, the United Nations could not do that, Mr. Annan stressed. "A world not advancing towards the Millennium Development Goals" _ a set of eight time-bound targets aimed at global problems such as extreme poverty and hunger _ "will not be at peace," he declared. "And a world awash in violence and conflict will have little chance of achieving the Goals. It is not only States that are interdependent; so are the issues."

In November 2003, Mr. Annan had appointed the 16-person High-Level Panel on Threats Challenges and Change to analyze future threats and recommend ways to respond collectively to them. It is to present its findings by the end of this year.

 

S-G Calls For Help To Push Forward Democratic Transition In Myanmar 3

Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 29 September expressed his hope that countries would redouble their actions, and provide support for United Nations efforts to move forward the democratic transition in Myanmar.

A statement issued by a spokesman for Mr. Annan after high-level talks on the situation in Myanmar said the Secretary-General was pleased by the constructive discussions "which strengthened the sense of common purpose on how to assist Myanmar in making its process of democratic transition more inclusive and sustainable."

The Secretary-General also urged the authorities in Myanmar "to listen to advice given by friendly countries, in goodwill," and allow his Special Envoy Razali Ismail to visit the country as soon as possible, the statement said.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, Mr. Annan confirmed that the detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize and leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), was one of the issues discussed and said that "all of us would want to see her released."

"We had a very good discussion on the situation in Myanmar, and we are going to continue our cooperation," Mr. Annan said of the meeting in New York, which included representatives from a dozen countries, the World Bank, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Mr. Razali.

"Obviously, we have different and complementary roles, and we will use the individual influence of each of the countries to see how they can help to move the process forward," he added.

 

Annual Treaty Drive At UN Brings 93 Actions From 32 Countries 4

The fifth annual drive by the United Nations to encourage Member States to sign or ratify some of the hundreds of global conventions and treaties has ended, with 32 countries participating this year and 93 actions taken.

There were 14 signatures, 37 ratifications, 35 accessions, one acceptance and six consents to be bound during the four days the event was held at UN Headquarters in New York. The total is likely to rise further because Cambodia was expected to add its signature to four separate pacts on 27 September.

Palitha Kohona, Chief of the UN Treaty Section, told reporters on 24 September that he was pleased that many of the countries that participated did so at the level of Head of State or Foreign Minister _ an indication of the importance they are giving to the conventions and treaties.

This year's focus was treaties that protect the rights of civilians, especially during times of armed conflicts, but the pacts signed or ratified covered subjects ranging from trans-national crime to pesticides and chemicals.

Liberia was the most active nation, either signing, ratifying or acceding to 18 different treaties and protocols. Paraguay, Madagascar, Lesotho and Sri Lanka also took more than two dozen actions between them.

Mr. Kohona highlighted several notable actions, including ratifications by Burundi, Guyana and Liberia of the Rome Statute, which set up the International Criminal Court to try war criminals.

Nine nations either ratified or acceded to the UN Convention Against Trans-national Organized Crime and its related Protocols, taking to 92 the total number of parties to that treaty.

 

UN Panel Working To Keep Chemical, Germ And Nuclear Arms Out Of Terrorist Hands 5

The ability of countries to prevent terrorists, black marketeers and other private interests from acquiring weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) will soon get essential support from a Security Council committee set up to monitor the problem, the panel's chairman said on 27 September.

The so-called 1540 Committee, named after the Security Council resolution which established the body in April, has already received reports from Turkmenistan and Malta and would soon be fully functional, Ambassador Mihnea Ioan Motoc of Romania told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York. 

Numerous national leaders addressing the General Assembly during its annual high-level debate have been warning that the risk of WMDs reaching terrorists is the most ominous current security threat, he said.

Resolution 1540 calls on States to adopt legislative and administrative regulations to deal with WMD proliferation and to report within six months on their efforts to execute the measure's requirements. The deadline for the first reports is 28 October.

Because the text was adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, in theory the 15-member Council has the power to enforce decisions relating to it through tribunals, embargoes or military force after all peaceful means of persuading delinquent Member States have been exhausted.

As chairman of the WMD committee, Ambassador Motoc has contacted the Directors-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a bid to coordinate their work on non-proliferation. 

 

Myanmar Has Not Improved Its Human Rights Performance, UN Expert Says 6

The human rights situation in Myanmar has not improved, with large numbers of people in detention, harsh sentences for peaceful political activities and restrictions on the operations of opposition parties, the United Nations expert tracking the issue says in his latest report.

In an interim report to the General Assembly, Special Rapporteur Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro says he has also received "credible and detailed reports of human rights violations in certain counter-insurgency areas in Myanmar" and is trying to clarify them.

Mr. Pinheiro says his report is limited because the Government has rejected his several requests this year to enter the country. His last mission was in November 2003. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy to Myanmar, Razali Ismail, has also been prevented from visiting the country since March.

But Mr. Pinheiro says the concerns he expressed in his previous report remain valid, especially those about the failure of the Government to include opposition parties such as the National League for Democracy (NLD) in the National Convention held earlier this year.

"The necessary steps to ensure minimum democratic conditions" at the Convention have not been taken, the report states, adding that "if the Government wishes to promote a genuine process of political transition, fundamental human rights requirements have to be fulfilled." 

The Special Rapporteur renews his call for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the General Secretary of the NLD and the winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, from house arrest and for dialogue to begin between the Government and the NLD. Apart from its headquarters in the capital Yangon, which re-opened in April, all of the NLD's offices across Myanmar have been shut, according to the report.

Mr. Pinheiro, who is appointed by the Geneva-based UN Commission on Human Rights, says there are continuing reports of arrests and harsh sentences for people conducting peaceful political activities, and his request for an independent assessment about the situation in Shan State has not yet been answered.

 

GA High-Level Debate Continues 7

Prime Minister Ayad Allawi of Iraq appealed to its neighbours and the international community for help in rebuilding the country ruined by war and a brutal regime and defeating terrorists bent on destroying the dreams of the Iraqi people for a country rooted in democracy.

Iraq was now a country that respected laws, human rights and freedoms, Mr. Allawi said, and the new Government gave its people their due respect within a framework shaped by democratic freedoms. He said that elections to be held next January were vital to improving the country's security situation and that his Government was committed to adhering to the deadline despite the obvious complexities. He expressed gratitude to the United Nations for its assistance in preparing for the elections, and said he looked forward to the return of all UN agencies in the future.

Mr. Allawi underscored that the most important priority was to defeat the terrorists and extremists who were still trying to target the dream of the Iraqi people for peace as well as destroy its civilization and culture, and to bring them to justice. Equally vital was restoring economic progress and the rule of law in the country. "We need more assistance from our neighbours and the international community as whole to meet our objectives and the needs of the Iraqi people," he urged.

[In a meeting with Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Mr. Allawi expressed the importance of the UN role in supporting the elections in Iraq.

The Secretary-General assured the Prime Minister that the UN would give all possible support in advising and assisting the country's Independent Electoral Commission. A UN team already was in Baghdad and additional personnel would be sent as circumstances permitted.]

The Foreign Minister of Sudan Mustafa Osman Ismail pledged to work for peace and respect for human rights in the country's vast and blighted Darfur region, but denounced a Security Council resolution threatening sanctions in the absence of action.

Mr. Ismail said the fighting in Darfur stemmed from the actions of rebels, who attacked tribes that refused to join their ranks. The Government had attempted to restore peace and avoid civil war, but the conflict led to "extremely complicated human conditions" which Khartoum responded to through special measures, including lifting all restrictions on relief workers. The Government deployed police and opened legal offices destroyed by the rebels and was participating in peace talks even though the rebels had not cooperated, he said. But the Security Council had regrettably 

threatened sanctions, emboldening the rebels and insisting on unrealistic conditions which, ultimately, led to the collapse of peace talks. Most recently, on 18 September the Council adopted another resolution which was "an incentive to the rebels" and did not take account of Government efforts to contain the crisis.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw of the United Kingdom acknowledged the controversy over the war in Iraq but called for a concerted fight against terrorism. "Yes, I know - how could I forget - that opinions have differed over the rightness of the military action taken in Iraq 18 months ago, but I warrant that no nation is in favour of the terrorist insurgency now occurring there," he said. "For we all recognize that what is being attempted by the terrorists in Iraq is an attack both on the Iraqi people and on everything for which this organisation stands: safety, security, human rights. We must come together to defeat the terrorists and their despicable aims." He added that, "We must never stoop to the level of the terrorist: to torture, mistreatment, unjustified incarceration."

Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, said his country was still grieving over the horrific terrorist attack on Beslan. Terrorists around the world had made mass murder an end in itself, and Russia had drawn harsh conclusions from this. "We will not allow anyone to encroach on the sovereignty of our State," he said, pledging to consolidate efforts to fight terrorism in a constitutional manner. He called for a renewed international struggle against the scourge, emphasizing the need to translate ideals into action. Security in today's world is by necessity interdependent, and as such a collective response is needed. "This evil can be coped with only on a multilateral basis through the consolidation of efforts and acting in solidarity."

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the veto power held by the permanent members of the Security Council should be regulated "so as to prohibit that power being used at the sole discretion of its holder." One possibility he suggested was to make certain resolutions of the General Assembly capable of overriding a Council veto.

Mr. Badawi also said "there is an urgent need to stop the tarnishing of the Muslim world by unfair stereotypes," above all the "increasing tendency" to link it with international terrorism. He said Malaysia showed that Islam does not oppose modernity, democracy or tolerance for people of different cultures, ethnic groups and religions.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing urged the world to champion multilateralism _ from international arms control treaties to an open and fair global trading regime _ if it wants to cope with the many challenges facing mankind today. He said development is the foundation for human progress, and development cannot begin without peace and stability. Therefore it was essential to work together in the cause for peace. Mr. Li said it was also important to reform and improve the international financial system.

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told the Assembly the battle against terrorism can only be won when its root causes are tackled: "the grievances and poignant sense of injustice" about poverty, political oppression, and tyranny and corruption. The war against terrorism can be won, he added, but only if the coalition to fight it is inclusive. Mr. Wirajuda said his own region, Southeast Asia, was making great strides to boost the cause of multilateralism and to build economic development.

Saudi Arabian Assistant Foreign Minister Nizar Obaid Madani said his country would host an international anti-terrorism conference in Riyadh next February to give countries an opportunity to discuss how they can cooperate more against the scourge of terrorism. He said it was important to study not just terrorism itself, but practices such as money laundering, arms trafficking and drug smuggling. The minister added the conference should discuss the culture and mindset of terrorists and the structure of their organizations.

The Head of Delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Choe Su Hon, criticized "the moves of the outside forces to isolate and stifle the DPRK," and said his country was committed to achieving national reunification of the Korean peninsula and durable peace. Mr. Choe said the DPRK had "no other option" but to develop a nuclear deterrent as "a legitimate self-defensive means" against the aggression of other States. He added the goal was still de-nuclearization of the peninsula.

Bhutan's Foreign Minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk added his voice to calls for reform of the Security Council, saying that India and Japan, among others, "are pre-eminently qualified for permanent membership" given their respective roles in global affairs. Turning to economic issues, he said Bhutan hoped that the concerns of poor, landlocked nations are given high priority and that developed countries start giving more aid and debt relief _ or otherwise the world will not achieve the MDGs.

Farouk Assaad Kaddoumi, Head of Delegation for the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine, denounced Israel as "a war-sophisticated arms developer and dealer with no ethical or moral constraints and with no human rights concerns." Demanding that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory end, he said it must follow the so-called Road Map peace process, which calls for two States to live side-by-side in peace. He added that the plan of Israeli leader Ariel Sharon to disengage unilaterally from the Gaza Strip still allows Israel to control "everything that enters and exits Gaza."

Describing the fight against illicit drugs as his country's "topmost priority," U Tin Winn, Chairman of the delegation from Myanmar, said authorities in his country have over the past decade seized and destroyed drugs worth more than $14 billion. The drug trade is closely linked to much trans-national crime, he said, adding it was important for States to work together if they were to defeat the scourge. Mr. Winn also said allegations of human rights abuses in Myanmar were "aimed at discrediting the Government for political purposes."

Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat of Nepal said currently, nearly 2,500 Nepalese blue helmets are deployed in a dozen peacekeeping missions around the world. "Nepal appreciates the United Nations for its help in bridging the equipment-gaps for our deployment," he said, calling for greater consultation between the UN and countries contributing troops to peacekeeping.

The Foreign Minister of Maldives, Fathulla Jameel, said small nations felt more vulnerable to challenges and threats such as terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction, as their security was entirely dependent on the prevalence of global security and the observance of the rule of law by all States. Clearly, the concerns of small States could not be confined only to issues of the environment, climate change, sea-level rise and sustainable development. The ominous threats on the political and security fronts had far-reaching implications on all.

 

S-G: World Is Responsible For Ending Unspeakable Violence In Sudan 8

The unspeakable violence being waged against the people of Sudan's troubled Darfur region means the crisis there is a global issue, and "not simply an African problem," Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the Security Council on 24 September.

In remarks at the outset of a Council meeting to hear a briefing by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo on the situation in Africa, in particular Darfur, where more than 1.65 million people have had to flee their homes in the past year and a half because of the violence, Mr. Annan said civilians are still facing attacks every day.

"The humanitarian emergency in Darfur is growing, and much, much more needs to be done to mitigate it," he said, adding that the world must back an expansion of the existing African Union (AU) mission of monitoring forces to help make the civilians safer.

"But this will require substantial international resources _ logistics support, equipment and financing. Every country that can help must help, and thereby give content and meaning to our words of concern."

Mr. Annan also stressed the importance of resuming the AU-organized negotiations between Khartoum and the two Darfur rebel groups for a political settlement.

About 1.45 million people are internally displaced and another 200,000 are refugees in neighbouring Chad after leaving their home villages because of violent attacks by Janjaweed militias.

The Janjaweed, who began their attacks after rebel groups began fighting with Sudanese Government forces, are accused of killing and raping thousands of civilians, and destroying homes, wells and cropland. 

In a resolution adopted on 18 September, the Council said it might impose sanctions on Khartoum if it does not protect civilians from further Janjaweed attacks and agreed to an expanded AU force. It has also called for a UN commission of inquiry to determine whether genocide has taken place.

 

UN Rights Officials: International Police Are Required In Sudan 9

An international police presence is needed in Sudan's troubled Darfur region to accompany and monitor local police officers so that the vast population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) there are protected, two senior United Nations human rights officials told the Security Council on 30 September.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour and the Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Juan Méndez briefed the Council on their recent mission to Darfur, where they found the population of more than 1.45 million IDPs are living in "prisons without walls."

After the briefing, Mrs. Arbour and Mr. Méndez told reporters that the only way to overcome the IDPs' lack of trust that the police will protect them _ especially if they venture out of the camps for wood and food or try to return home _ is to include international police officers.

Mrs. Arbour and Mr. Méndez called for an expansion of the size and mandate of the force of African Union (AU) ceasefire monitors, saying they have shown an impressive dedication to their work given their limited resources and numbers.

Mrs. Arbour indicated there were reports that whenever an international delegation toured IDP camps, security forces would later enter the camps and try to question anyone who spoke to the foreign visitors.

But the IDPs "expressed their faith and total dependence on the international community for protection _ this is where they think their security lies."

She said the UN would not support the Government's policy of encouraging IDPs to return to their home villages until they felt assured the process would be both safe and voluntary.

 

S-G Asks Israel To Ensure Palestinian Civilians' Safety 10

With Middle East violence intensifying following a recent string of civilian deaths during fighting, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 28 September called on Israel to ensure the safety of innocent Palestinians.

"The Secretary-General and his representatives in the region have repeatedly called on the Government of Israel to respect the inviolability of UN institutions and installations, and in particular, to refrain from any activities that endanger the lives and safety of those who are lawfully on the premises, especially children," spokesman Fred Eckhard said in a statement.

 

Messages of the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan 11

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS, 1 October 2004

"The theme of this year's International Day of Older Persons — "Older Persons in an Intergenerational Society"— recognizes the important role that older persons play in their families, communities and societies. On this 10th anniversary of the International Year of the Family, the theme also recognizes that the youth of today, who constitute the largest group of young people ever, will be the older persons of the year 2050. They will make up the largest group of older persons ever.

Yet in many places, both young and old remain excluded from meaningful participation in their societies, and the tremendous contribution they could make towards society's development is often ignored. Older persons suffer because of outdated stereotypes that depict them as frail and needing care. What is overlooked is that many older persons, far from receiving care, actually provide care for others _ as with grandparents who care for grandchildren while the parents go to work. In some places, especially in the developing world, what was a temporary arrangement has in many cases become permanent; the "middle generation" of parents is absent, having migrated in search of employment, or died as a result of HIV/AIDS or other diseases.

Populations in developing countries will age most rapidly in the coming century. Yet those countries have only limited economic resources with which to respond to the ageing of their societies. The challenge will be to ensure that those countries do not experience the ageing of their societies as a burden, but derive from it added value and opportunities for development through an actively engaged older population. In other words, the challenge will be helping those countries build an intergenerational society.

The Second World Assembly on Ageing, held in Madrid two years ago, marked a turning point in our thinking. The Assembly recognized ageing as a global phenomenon and supported
its inclusion in the international development agenda. Among its many recommendations, the Madrid Plan of Action encouraged Governments to review policies to ensure generational equity, and to promote the idea of mutual support and solidarity between generations as key elements of social development. Only in this way can we hope to build a truly intergenerational society. On this International Day, let us rededicate ourselves to that mission."

 

WORLD HABITAT DAY, 4 October 2004

The theme of World Habitat Day this year, Cities _ engines of rural development, was chosen to remind development policy-makers at every level not to think of "urban" and "rural" as separate entities, but rather as parts of an economic and social whole.

Cities interact with rural areas in many ways. Migrants living and working in cities send money to families in rural areas. Cities absorb excess rural populations, and offer markets for farm produce and other rural products. They provide services and amenities — such as universities and hospitals _ that may not be available or feasible in rural areas. Cities are also the locus of most global investment, raising demand for goods, labour and other inputs from rural areas.

In the next 25 years, virtually all population growth will take place in the world's cities, most of it in the cities of developing countries. The fastest growing cities will be secondary and market towns, which are especially close to rural areas. This growth can help to improve rural life and ease the problems associated with mega-cities. But to do so, it will need to be well-managed, with significant investments in communication, transport channels and other infrastructure, and with concerted efforts to ensure that all people have access to adequate services.

While there are obvious differences between urban and rural development that require different interventions, ultimately sustainable development cannot and should not focus exclusively on one or the other. On this World Habitat Day, let us recognize that cities have a crucial contribution to make to rural development, and let us pursue development in a comprehensive way that reflects that understanding.

 

United Nations Day, 24 October  

24 October is observed each year as UN Day. Simply put, it is the birthday of the United Nations. On 24 October 1945, the United Nations was formally established after a majority of its founding members ratified a treaty setting up the world body. Traditionally, UN Day has been marked throughout the world by meetings, discussions and exhibits on the goals and achievement of the Organization.

UN Day is observed because it provides an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the ideals of the United Nations. In the words of Secretary-General Kofi Annan: "In every corner of the world - the United Nations is a living testament of hope. The United Nations lives in the heart and mind of every citizen to end violence and promote tolerance; advance development and ensure equality; protect human rights and alleviate poverty. The United Nations, at its best, enables the achievement of those highest of human aspirations."

The observance of United Nations Day is affirmation of our faith in those human aspirations.

 

Sec-Gen, UNEP Hail Russian Approval Of Kyoto Climate Change Treaty 12

United Nations officials on 30 September welcomed the Russian Government's endorsement of the Kyoto Protocol regulating emissions linked to climate change _ a move that brings the pact one step closer to enforcement.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan hailed the move since the Protocol's entry into force would be the "essential first step in tackling the planetary challenge posed by climate change."

"He takes this occasion to remind the entire international community of the need to bring a greater sense of urgency to this crucial issue of human security and well-being," said a statement issued by a spokesman for Mr. Annan. 

Klaus Toepfer, the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), said that the Russian action to ratify the accord _ it must be approved by the Parliament _ would "breathe new life" into the international climate negotiations that resume in December in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Those talks, he said, "must now ensure that developed nations meet their initial emission reduction targets while ensuring that sufficient funds are made available to developing countries to allow them to reduce their vulnerability to global warming."

Russia's ratification would also invigorate interest in cleaner fuels, more efficient energy generation and renewable energies such as wind, solar and wave power, the UNEP chief said.

As of last week, 125 countries have ratified or acceded to the Protocol, which is part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. To enter into force 55 Parties to the Convention must ratify the Protocol, including developed countries whose combined 1990 emissions of carbon dioxide exceed 55 per cent of that group's total. Russia, with 17 per cent of the emissions, would push the amount beyond the threshold, according to the Convention's secretariat. The United States has not ratified the pact.

 

UN Committee Adopts Right-To-Food Guidelines After Lengthy Negotiations 13

After two years of negotiations, a committee of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has adopted voluntary guidelines upholding the right to food for every person _ a move it hopes will add momentum to the global drive to halve the number of hungry people by 2015.

Meeting in Rome, delegates to the FAO Committee on World Food Security agreed on 23 September to the content of guidelines that will set out what practical actions countries should take to make sure their citizens are able to feed themselves in dignity and to provide a safety net for those who cannot.

FAO Legal Counsel Giuliano Pucci described the result of the negotiations, which were protracted and difficult, as a "major breakthrough."

"This is the first time that an inter-governmental body agrees on what the right to food really means," he said.

In its annual hunger report issued last year, FAO found that more than 840 million people were under-nourished between 1999 and 2001 after a worldwide rise in numbers during the late 1990s.

At the World Food Summit in 1996, leaders agreed to try to halve the number of hungry or under-nourished people by 2015 _ the same target as the first of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were established at the Millennium Summit in 2000.

 

UNICEF Calls For Better Enforcement Against Child Traffickers In South Asia 14

As delegates gather in Sri Lanka to review efforts to halt the commercial sexual exploitation of South Asian children, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on 29 September called for better enforcement against traffickers and more cross-border cooperation by the region's governments.

"There should be no hiding place for those selling and trading children for sex," said Sadig Rasheed, UNICEF's Regional Director. "While governments and law enforcement agencies must do whatever they can to protect children, a lot of problems could be stopped tomorrow if men in South Asia said `no' to child sex."

The three-day meeting in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, is drawing representatives from eight South Asian governments along with children from the region and officials from nearly a dozen UN and non-governmental agencies to assess progress since the 2001Yokohama Global Commitment, which called for greater worldwide efforts to protect children.

Because of links with organized crime it is extremely difficult to get reliable figures on trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children, but UNICEF said an estimated 300,000 women and children from Bangladesh have been trafficked to India and another 200,000 to Pakistan.

In addition between 100,000 and 200,000 Nepali women and girls are said to be working in India's sex industry, the agency added. While not all those trafficked will be employed as prostitutes, a considerable proportion will have become involved in this form of exploitation.