UNESCAP eNews Bulletin

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
www.unescap.org
August 2004

Annan: Stronger leadership needed at every level in fight against HIV/AIDS
At the opening ceremony of the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan told some 17,000 participants that the fight against HIV/AIDS required constant vigilance, renewal and leadership at every level. How governments of Asia and the Pacific address the multi-faceted challenge of HIV/AIDS will affect the very future of the region, Mr. Annan told the Ministerial meeting on 11 July. “More than eight million people in your region are now living with HIV/AIDS, and the number is rising fast.” The Secretary-General warned that if left unchecked, the disease would not only devastate millions of lives, but also impose huge burdens on the region’s health systems and soak up badly needed resources for social and economic development.
Secretary-General thanks Bangkok UN staff for commitment to global mission
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan visited the UN Conference Centre on 12 July where he thanked UN staff working in Bangkok for their hard work and commitment to the UN's global mission. “This is a large, lively, very diverse and crucially important duty station for the United Nations and its family of funds and agencies,” he said. “You are the face of our Organization in a region where an enormous portion of our work is done, and which is home to a high percentage of our constituents - the world's people, especially the poor and vulnerable.”
Executive Secretary briefs Economic and Social Council on work with ICT
During a ‘Dialogue on Information Technology for Development,’ Mr. Kim Hak-Su told the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) that UNESCAP's ICT strategy targets ‘ICT-poor’ countries. The Executive Secretary was speaking at ECOSOC’s annual session in New York where he and the other Regional Commission Executive Secretaries reported on their work in coordinating regional development efforts. ESOSOC endorsed by consensus the Shanghai Declaration adopted last April during UNESCAP's 60th Commission Session, and a resolution on the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network. It invited members of UNESCAP to become parties to the Agreement.
UNESCAP publication wins award from American Library Association
Social Safety Nets For Women, a UNESCAP publication examining social protection systems and crisis-designed social safety nets in six Asian countries, has won the “Notable Government Documents 2003” Award from the Library Journal, a publication of the American Library Association. The study, produced by UNESCAP's Gender and Development Section, examines whether initiatives to mitigate the shocks of crises adequately reflect the different circumstances of women and men in the labour force and society in general. It was one of four UN publications so honoured. A hard copy may be ordered through the UN Publications website.

Energy Sector in Nepal focus of UNESCAP Consultation Workshop
As part of its on-going capacity-building efforts to improve national policies on natural resources management, UNESCAP’s Energy Resources Section will hold a Consultation Workshop on Strategic Planning and Management (SPM) of the Energy Sector in Kathmandu, Nepal on 10 August. Organizers aim to expose a wide range of stakeholders to the SPM concept, and to consult on the findings of the national comparative studies between current energy planning in Nepal and the SPM approach. UNESCAP began introducing the SPM approach in 2001 in order to build an energy future in the Asia-Pacific region that focuses on long-term social, economic and environmental benefits.
‘Art For All: All For Health’ opens at UNCC
“Art for All: All for Health,” an event featuring 400 students working with international artists, opened on 30 July at the UN Conference Centre. The project, co-organized by UNESCAP's Population and Social Integration Section, brings together children with and without disabilities through integrated programmes of visual, performing, and literary arts. H.E. Mr. Suwat Liptapanlop, Deputy Prime Minister of the Royal Thai Government, presided over the opening. “Art For All” presented Mr. Kim Hak-Su with a plaque in appreciation of UNESCAP's support since 1999 when the first exhibition was held. Following the opening event, the students and the artists will attend a five-day art camp in Thailand’s Nakon Nayok Province.
Training course aims to prevent sexual abuse and exploitation of children
Azerbaijani professionals who serve children, including teachers and psychologists, are the target of a four-day training course in preventing and addressing the sexual exploitation of children and youth. The seminar, set for 2-5 August in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is being organized by UNESCAP's Heath and Development Section in collaboration with the Azerbaijan Ministry of Education and in partnership with other UN and international organizations based in the country.



United Nations Special Observances and Events
For the latest news from the UN, please visit the UN News Centre at www.un.org/news
Learn more about the UN and how it affects the lives of people everywhere: www.un.org/works

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the United Nations.
The information contained herein may be freely reproduced.
UNESCAP eNews Bulletin is edited and published by the United Nations Information Services Bangkok.
Telephone: (+662) 288-1234 • Fax: (+662) 288-1052 • E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org