DAILY HIGHLIGHTS FOR: 4 January 1996
Press Release
DH/2053
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS FOR: 4 January 1996
19960104 * Secretary-General stresses importance of cooperation between UN agencies and regional and non-governmental organizations; meets with Grand Imam in Cairo.* Committee on Rights of Child to consider 7 country reports at eleventh session in Geneva next week.
* Security Council Sanctions Committees elect officers for 1996.
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In Cairo today, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali met with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Gad ul-Haq Ali and reviewed the major issues confronting the United Nations today. The Imam expressed his support for the United Nations, especially for its defence of spiritual values and its role in promoting religious tolerance, according to a United Nations spokesman.
Later, the Secretary-General held consultations with the heads of various United Nations agencies. He underlined the importance of the exchange of information and coordination between UN agencies, as well as the importance of cooperating with "new actors" in the world today such as regional and non- governmental organizations and parliamentary bodies and the private sector.
The Secretary-General also met with United Nations staff who face some concerns because of Organization's financial crisis, the spokesman said. He told them that he was exerting every possible effort to protect their rights. "You are the real capital of the United Nations. Do not underestimate the work you are doing." he said.
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The Committee on the Rights of the Child, which will begin its eleventh session next Sunday in Geneva, will examine the promotion and protection of children's rights in Yemen, Mongolia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, (Serbia and Montenegro), Iceland, Republic of Korea, Croatia and Finland.
- 2 - Press Release DH/2053 4 January 1996
During its three-week session, the Committee will examine the measures adopted by the State parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child to advance those rights, particularly through administrative, legislative and judicial means. It is also expected to consider factors which might impede those rights.
The 10-member Committee of independent experts is charged with monitoring the implementation of the Convention, the most complete statement of children's rights ever made and the first to give those rights the force of international law. To date, 182 countries have ratified the Convention.
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The President of the Security Council, John Weston (United Kingdom) convened meetings of its Sanctions Committees, which are composed of all Council members, to elect their respective Bureaus for 1996.
The Council, under various resolutions has sanctions Committees on the situation between Iraq and Kuwait, the former Yugoslavia, Libya, Somalia, Angola, Rwanda and Liberia.
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