In brief

Programme outcome: To increase the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC) capacity to assist National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reduce the number of deaths, injuries and the impact of disasters through the timely and adequate financial support for disaster response from the DREF.

Programme(s) summary: At 30 June 2010, IFRC had made 73 allocations from the DREF to support 67 different operations for a total of 11,285,280 Swiss francs bringing assistance to over 3.5

Report of the Secretary-General

Summary

This is the first annual report on United Nations efforts to strengthen engagement on the rule of law at the national and international levels. The Organization has set an important, broad agenda to this end. The focus remains on finding better ways to support Member States and their populations to build a just and secure national and international order governed by the rule of law.

Dix ans après l'entrée en vigueur du Traité sur l'interdiction de l'emploi, du stockage, de la production et du transfert des mines antipersonnel et sur leur destruction (Traité d'interdiction des mines antipersonnel), la société civile, les États et l'ONU ont beaucoup fait pour mettre fin aux souffrances causées par les mines terrestres. Plus de 41 millions de ces mines ont été détruites. Des terres ont été déminées et rendues aux communautés. Un nombre croissant de populations à risque disposent des connaissances et des compétences pour réduire les

The Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA) has released the 8th Edition of "To Walk the Earth in Safety," a report summarizing the accomplishments of the U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program, the world's largest such operation.

In 2008, the Department of State provided $123.1 million in mine clearance and weapons destruction assistance to 35 countries. Among the report's success stories is Cambodia, where U.S.

The Portfolio of Mine Action Projects 2009 provides a snapshot of the problems of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) in 33 countries, territories and peacekeeping missions, and describes the strategies for eliminating each of these threats.

This 12th edition of the annual portfolio is a collection of mine action project proposals that reflect a strategic response by field-based partners to the landmine and ERW problems in specific countries or territories. The compilation has become a unique resource for donors, policy-makers and service providers.

Since the Anti-Personnel Mine-Ban Treaty was adopted in September 1997, mine action has helped an ever-increasing number of civilians reclaim their lives and restore their livelihoods. The treaty has helped mobilize the international community's response to landmines and their impact on people. It is a testament to what can be achieved when we collectively take on a grave humanitarian and development challenge.

The United Nations pledges to assist mine-affected countries in meeting their obligations under the Anti-Personnel

Twenty-two of the 26 affected states participated in the Belgrade Conference of States Affected by Cluster Munitions, the latest development in the Oslo Process for a new treaty banning these weapons, which has gathered the support of 82 countries in just seven months.

"Just as we were making our way to the conference, six-year old Ali Dakdouk was making his way to school when

Promotion and protection of the rights of children

Note by the Secretary-General

The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the members of the General Assembly the report of the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 61/146.

Report of the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children

Summary

The present report is submitted pursuant

What was once a collection of mine-action project proposals developed by a handful of United Nations organizations is now a comprehensive package of initiatives developed jointly by 14 different UN entities, national authorities, and a record number of nongovernmental