Democratic People's Republic of Korea

On Monday 16 October 2017 the Council adopted the EU Annual Report on Human Rights And Democracy in the World in 2016.

2016 was a challenging year for human rights and democracy, with a shrinking space for civil society and complex humanitarian and political crises emerging. In this context, the European Union showed leadership and remained strongly committed to promote and protect human rights and democracy across the world.

Note by the Secretary-General

The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the General Assembly the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Tomás Ojea Quintana, submitted in accordance with General Assembly resolution 71/202.

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Summary

UN report says natural disasters to become more destructive in Asia-Pacific without action on disaster resilience

Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and intense and disaster risk is outpacing resilience in Asia-Pacific, the most disaster-prone region in the world, according to the latest report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Background

The Global Early Warning – Early Action (EWEA) report on food security and agriculture is developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The report is part of FAO’s EWEA system, which aims to translate forecasts and early warnings into anticipatory action.

CERF enables fast, flexible and needs-based support for people affected by humanitarian emergencies. The UN General Assembly established the fund in 2005 to provide timely assistance in crises. Since its operational launch in 2006, CERF has developed a reputation for its ability to kick-start humanitarian action, scale up the response to emergencies and serve as a lifeline for people struggling to survive in the world’s most underfunded crises.

The bluster and belligerence between Washington and Pyongyang hide a humanitarian conundrum that must be solved

It has been a blisteringly hot summer for North Korea on two fronts. The world has watched it successfully test its intercontinental ballistic missile technology and its first hydrogen bomb, drawing widespread condemnation from the international community. But at the same time – and with far less fanfare – the country has endured one of its driest summers to date.

Highlights

• UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) approval for rapid response was confirmed in August. CERF assistance of USD 2.5 million will enable WFP to provide nutrition support to 186,012 children and women for four months (September – December) in 23 worst droughtaffected counties.

• Due to funding constraints, WFP will continue providing reduced rations (66 percent of the standard ration – the minimum to have a nutrition impact) until the end of the year to children and pregnant and nursing women.

by Hans Schattle

AsiaPacific Issues, No. 134

21 septembre 2017 – Seuls 15 pays dans le monde disposent des trois politiques nationales de base qui contribuent à garantir que les parents disposent du temps et des ressources nécessaires pour soutenir le développement cérébral sain de leurs jeunes enfants, selon un nouveau rapport du Fonds des Nations Unies pour l'enfance (UNICEF) publié jeudi.

Humanitarian support is separate, gov’t says, though allies disagree

The South Korean government will give North Korea $8 million worth of aid through two international organizations under the UN, as President Moon Jae-in continues to distinguish between humanitarian assistance and political and military affairs in his dealings with the Kim Jong-un regime.

El informe de la FAO indica un repunte de las cosechas en la mayoría de los países de bajos ingresos con déficit de alimentos

Le rapport de la FAO souligne la hausse des récoltes dans les pays aux plus faibles revenus et plus importants déficits vivriers

Conflicts drag down food security amid growing global food output

FAO report notes rebounding harvests in most low-income food-deficit countries

21 September 2017, Rome-- Robust harvests in Latin America and rebounding agricultural conditions in Southern Africa are on course to improve the global food supply situation, but ongoing civil conflicts and climate-related shocks are affecting progress towards hunger reduction, according to the new edition of FAO's Crop Prospects and Food Situation report.

1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, who is attending the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, met with UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake on September 19. They took note that since the opening of the UNICEF Seoul office in April 2017, cooperation between the two sides has been further enhanced, and agreed to continue to strengthen the bilateral cooperation.

Only 15 countries worldwide have three essential national policies that support families with young children – UNICEF

New report says around 85 million children under five live in 32 countries that do not offer families two years of free pre-primary education; paid breastfeeding breaks for new mothers for the first six months; and adequate paid parental leave – three critical policies to support children’s early brain development

Les États Membres entre la nécessité de « réapprendre la complexité du dialogue » ou « agir par soi-même sans attendre l’appui de bureaucraties »

Highlights

• Due to funding constraints, WFP will continue providing reduced rations (66 percent of the standard ration, which is the minimum required for a nutritional impact) through the end of the year for children and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

• Since mid-July, the government-supported Public Distribution System ration has decreased to 300 grams per person per day.

Operational Updates

Security Incidents

Africa

Cameroon

Human Rights Council 36th session
Opening Statement by Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

11 September 2017

Distinguished President of the Council,
Excellencies,
Colleagues, Friends,

As I enter the final year of my current mandate – a year which I will discharge with vigour and determination – I wish to begin with a few short reflections drawn from the past three years.

Male, Maldives, 6 September 2017 : World Health Organization emphasized the need to make health for all a top priority in WHO South-East Asia Region as health ministers, leaders and officials commenced a five-day meeting here today.