What's New
UN slams treatment of Aborigines | 29 August 2010Federal Labor has defended its treatment of Aborigines after a United Nations report into disadvantage among the indigenous population led to claims racism was ''embedded'' in the Australian way of life. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva blasted Australia for harbouring an ''unacceptably high level of disadvantage and social dislocation'' among Aborigines, particularly those in the Northern Territory. The committee welcomed Kevin Rudd's apology but said that saying sorry wasn't enough. http://www.smh.com.au/national/un-slams-treatment-
Rwanda threatens to curtail cooperation with UN | 28 August 2010Rwanda has threatened to curtail its cooperation with the United Nations as the world body prepared to release an account highly critical of the African nation. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM
UN DR Congo 'genocide' draft report - key excerpts | 27 August 2010
A UN report into massacres of Hutu civilians in DR Congo after the Rwanda's 1994 genocide has been leaked ahead of its official publication. Experts say it is the first rigorous investigation - the researchers required two independent sources for each of the 600 incidents documented in their 545-page report - into alleged atrocities committed in eastern DR Congo between 1993 and 2003. Rwanda's Tutsi-dominated government has dismissed the claims as "rubbish". http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11111578
The urgency of security sector reforms | 24 August 2010The security sector in Zimbabwe, particularly the police, intelligence services and the army have been accused of abuse and perpetration of violence against ordinary citizens. As a result, the intelligence services, army and even the police are dreaded. This is largely because of their involvement –in the name of security, order and peace of minds for all Zimbabweans, in a number of widely discredited operations that resulted in displacements, injuries, deaths, rape cases, loss of property and many other forms of human rights violations. http://www.newsday.co.zw/article/2010-08-24-the-ur
U.N. sees increase in humanitarian workers being targeted | 18 August 2010Calling for the protection of humanitarian workers in Afghanistan, the United Nations says there have been 47 incidents of direct intimidation of U.N. staff and aid workers in the first six months of this year. http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/08/18/un
Pakistan floods: an emergency for the West | 13 August 2010
Unless we act decisively, large parts of flood-stricken Pakistan will be taken over by the Taliban...Pakistan's floods have not just devastated the lives of millions of people, they now present an unparalleled national security challenge for the country, the region and the international community. Lest anyone under-estimate the scale of the disaster, all four of Pakistan's wars with India combined did not cause such damage. It has become clear this week that, unless major aid is forthcoming immediately and international diplomatic effort is applied to improving Pakistan's relations with India, social and ethnic tensions will rise and there will be food riots. Large parts of the country that are now cut off will be taken over by the Pakistani Taliban and affiliated extremist groups, and governance will collapse. The risk is that Pakistan will become what many have long predicted – a failed state with nuclear weapons, although we are a long way off from that yet. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pak
Afghan army achieves enlistment goal ahead of schedule. | 11 August 2010
Praising the Afghan Ministry of Defence for reaching its targets early, ISAF Commander General David Petraeus said: 'Less than six months ago, ANA strength stood at about 107,000 trained soldiers with a target of reaching 134,000 by October 2010. It is truly remarkable that we are able to congratulate the Defense Ministry today for achieving their strength goal for October two months ahead of schedule. Increasing the size and capability of the Afghan Security Forces is a central element of the joint Afghan-ISAF strategy to increase security for the Afghan people in areas challenged by the insurgency. Such security provides the foundation on which local governance can be developed, basic services for the people can be improved, and a brighter future for the next generation of Afghan citizens can be built. Growth of the Afghan National Army is, therefore, an encouraging development as ISAF and Afghan troopers work shoulder-to-shoulder in striving to achieve our common goals in the new Afghanistan.' http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=Ne
UN launches $459m Pakistan flood appeal | 11 August 2010
The UN has launched an appeal for $459m (£290m) to help victims of Pakistan's flood disaster, which has affected at least 14 million people. UN humanitarian chief John Holmes made the announcement at the organisation's headquarters in New York, saying the aid would cover the next 90 days. The disaster was "one of the most challenging that any country has faced in recent years", Mr Holmes said. So far, about 1,600 people have been killed by the monsoon floods. Mr Holmes said the funds would be used for food, clean water, shelter and medical supplies. The "emergency response plan" would be revised after 30 days as more information came in, he added. Earlier, a UN agency warned of serious threats to the livelihoods and food security of millions. Devastation left by flood waters in the north and centre of the country might worsen as they continued to head south, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said. It had reports of "100% crop losses... in many areas" and "tens of thousands" of animals dying. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-1094360