Tag Archives: Cooperation
20 May 2014
On 17 May five West African countries agreed to a plan focusing on enhanced military cooperation and intelligence sharing with the purpose of combating the regional threat from Boko Haram, the extremist group which abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in northern Nigeria last month. The meeting was organised by French President Francois Hollande, at the request of Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Johnathan, and was also attended by the heads of state of Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin. Senior American, British and European diplomats were also present. (more…)
Source: The New York Times | West African Nations Set Aside Their Old Suspicions to Combat Boko Haram
26 February 2014
On 24 February 2014 Dieder Burkhalter, Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and president of the Swiss Confederation, in a briefing to the UN Security Council, urged that security in Europe cannot be taken for granted, in light of the escalation of violence and political crisis in Ukraine. (more…)
Source: UN News Centre | Head of European security bloc outlines areas for greater collaboration with UN
11 November 2013
In its judgment of 11 November on the Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 15 June 1962 in the Case concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia v. Thailand), the International Court of Justice, apart from deciding that Cambodia had sovereignty over the whole territory of the promontory of Preah Vihear, noted that the Temple of Preah Vihear is a site of religious and cultural significance for the peoples of the region and is now listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site. It recalled that under Article 6 of the World Heritage Convention, to which both states are parties, ‘Cambodia and Thailand must co-operate between themselves and with the international community in the protection of the site as a world heritage. In addition, each State is under an obligation not to “take any deliberate measures which might damage directly or indirectly” such heritage’.
Source: ICJ | Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 15 June 1962 in the Case Concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia v. Thailand) | Judgment | 11 November 2013
8 November 2013
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached a record high in 2012 and carbon dioxide, such as fossil fuel emissions, account for 80 percent of this increase, according to the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO). As a result, the weather is becoming more extreme, glaciers are melting, and the sea levels are rising. Such result, ‘will jeopardize the future of our children, grandchildren and many future generations,’ said WMO Secretary-General, Michel Jarraud.
The Emissions Gap Report 2013, produced by scientific groups set up by UN Environment Programme (UNEP), state wide-ranging global action is crucial to solve the emissions problem. This report also warned that if the international community fails to act, global temperatures will rise, causing a wide range of new challenges. UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner states, ‘delayed actions mean a higher rate of climate change in the near term and likely more near-term climate impacts, as well as the continued use of carbon-intensive and energy-intensive infrastructure.’ As a result developmental choices will be limited and it will become more difficult to introduce climate-friendly technology in the pursuit to lead the global community to a sustainable, green future. However, Mr. Steiner noted that environmental goals can still be met by 2020 with increased international cooperation in energy efficiency, fossil fuel subsidy reform, and renewable energy.
Source: UN News Centre | Amount of greenhouse gases in atmosphere reach record high, says UN agency
21 October 2013
On the occasion of the European Anti-Trafficking Day, the importance of partnerships was called the ‘backbone’ of global efforts to tackle the scourge of human trafficking by the human rights experts from the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Co-operation and Security in Europe. It was emphasised that ‘Cooperation between origin, transit and destination countries, but also with regional and international mechanisms, as well as private stakeholders such as multi-national corporations and civil society organizations, is essential for comprehensive responses to trafficking in persons.’
Source: OHCHR | Victims of trafficking: “Human beings with human rights that must be protected” European Anti-Trafficking Day, Friday 18 October 2013