Background Release

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE TO HOLD SEVENTY-EIGHTH SESSION

IN GENEVA FROM 14 JULY TO 8 AUGUST

Experts to Examine Reports of Slovakia, Portugal, El Salvador and Israel

(Reissued as received.)

ADOLESCENTS HAVE RIGHT TO HEALTH-CARE SERVICES AND INFORMATION,

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT SAYS ON WORLD POPULATION DAY

Following is the message by the President of the General Assembly, Jan Kavan (Czech Republic), to mark World Population Day (11 July), this year’s theme being “One Billion Adolescents:  the Right to Health, Information and Services”:

ECOSOC RECOMMENDS MAKING WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION

SPECIALIZED AGENCY OF UNITED NATIONS

Considers Economic and Environmental Questions, Including International

Cooperation in Tax Matters and Status of International Civil Defence Organization

(Reissued as received.)

LANDMARK REPORT URGES GOVERNANCE REFORMS TO ARREST DECLINE OF WORLD’S ENVIRONMENT

(Reissued as received.)

Meeting of States to Consider Action

Programme on Illicit Small Arms Trade

7^th & 8^th Meetings (AM & PM)

REGIONAL GROUPS, INCLUDING FROM AFRICA, EXPLORE DELAYS IN AND SOLUTIONS

TO IMPLEMENTING SMALL ARMS ACTION PLAN, IN BIENNIAL MEETING OF STATES

Weapons Stockpile Management, Marking and Tracing,

Collection and Destruction, Links to Organized Crime, Also Considered

Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

619^th Meeting (AM)

MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR COSTA RICA IS PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF RELEVANT

LEGISLATION, WOMEN’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE TOLD

Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

617^th & 618^th Meeting (AM & PM)                  

COMMITTEE EXPERTS, NOTING IMPORTANT PROGRESS IN JAPAN’S LEGAL FRAMEWORK,

WELCOME NEW LEGISLATION TO FOSTER GENDER EQUALITY

UN, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF LA FRANCOPHONIE SHARE GOALS OF CONFLICT

PREVENTION, DEMOCRACY, DEVELOPMENT, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL

Following is the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the International Assembly of French-Speaking Parliamentarians, in Niamey, Niger, 6-9 July:

Security Council

4785^th Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL HEARS BRIEFING ON MISSION TO WEST AFRICA, INCLUDING VISITS

TO GUINEA-BISSAU, NIGERIA, GHANA, CÔTE D’IVOIRE, GUINEA, SIERRA LEONE

Mission Head Notes Unity of Liberian Civil Society Groups,

Political Parties in Calls for International Involvement in Country

CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION ADOPTS MORE THAN 50 NEW FOOD STANDARDS

New Guidelines on Genetically Modified and Irradiated Food

(Reissued as received.)

ROME, 9 July (FAO) -- The Codex Alimentarius Commission has adopted a landmark agreement on how to assess the risks to consumers from foods derived from biotechnology, including genetically modified foods, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) said today.