This report covers the period 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012

Description

The Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) was established in May 2000 and provides direct grant assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable groups in developing member countries (DMCs) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) while fostering long-term socioeconomic development. The grants target poverty reduction initiatives with the direct participation of nongovernment organizations, community groups, and civil society.

FOREWORD BY THE DIRECTOR

In 2012, the GICHD’s work was guided by the new Strategy 2012-2014 and its two key objectives, which are to accelerate progress towards global clarity on the extent of contamination and to enhance the capacities of national authorities in mine-affected countries.

L’Allemagne, la République populaire démocratique lao et des représentants de la lutte antimines aux Nations Unies ont présenté, cet après-midi, à New York, plusieurs manifestations organisées dans le cadre de la Journée internationale pour la sensibilisation au problème des mines et l’assistance à la lutte antimines, observée chaque année le 4 avril.

Today mark’s International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action and is a reminder to the global community that landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war continue to maim and kill thousands of people around the world.

These explosive remnants of war are an enduring legacy of conflict, and contaminate more than 70 countries, and kill and injure more than 4,000 people each year, including children. They contaminate farmer’s fields, forests, roads, pathways depriving people of agricultural land and essential services.

Joint media release

• Senator the Hon. Bob Carr, Minister for Foreign Affairs

• The Hon. Stephen Smith MP, Minister for Defence

• The Hon. Mark Dreyfus QC MP, Special Minister of State, Attorney General, Minister for Emergency Management, Minister for the Public Service and Integrity

1 April 2013

Australia has become a party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions with legislation commencing today (April 1, 2013) making it an offence in Australia to develop, keep or transfer land mines or cluster munitions.

GINEBRA, March 24th, 2013– En el mundo actual, cada vez más móvil e interconectado, la migración forma parte integrante de la vida de 215 millones de migrantes internacionales y de 740 millones de migrantes internos. Es más, tiene enormes repercusiones en las familias que permanecen en el país de origen, así como en las comunidades de migrantes en países de origen, de tránsito y de destino en todas partes del mundo.

This year, World Water Day (March 22) highlights the importance of international efforts to preserve and protect the world’s shared water resources.

The United Nations has declared 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation. According to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon: ‘Water is central to the well-being of people and the planet, we must work together to protect and carefully manage this fragile, finite resource.’

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FAO raises forecast for Asia paddy production

Robust production in several Asian countries has prompted FAO to revise upwards its forecast for 2012 paddy production across the region by 1.6 million tonnes, or 0.9 percent, to a total of 662 million tonnes (441.6 million tonnes on a milled basis), according to its latest Rice Market Monitor released in early February.