‘GARDEN OF EDEN’ IN SOUTHERN IRAQ LIKELY TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY

IN FIVE YEARS UNLESS URGENT ACTION TAKEN

UNEP Says Post-War Rehabilitation Should Include

Marshlands of Mesopotamia for Sake of People and Wildlife

(Reissued as received.)

FOREIGN MINISTER OF FRANCE TO COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS:

WORLD IS LIVING DRAMATIC EVENTS WITH IRAQ CRISIS

Commission Continues to Debate Right of Peoples to Self-Determination

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 24 March (UN Information Service) -- Dominique de Villepin, the French Foreign Minister, this morning told the Commission on Human Rights that the world was living dramatic events with regard to the crisis in Iraq.

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS TAKES UP DISCUSSION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 24 March (UN Information Service) -- The Commission on Human Rights began this afternoon its annual discussion of racism and racial discrimination, hearing a number of requests from national delegations for more vigorous efforts to implement the Declaration and Programme of Action of the Durban World Conference against Racism and Racial Discrimination.

PRESS STATEMENT ON SIERRA LEONE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the press statement on Sierra Leone delivered by Security Council President Mamady Traoré (Guinea):

The members of the Council considered the situation in Sierra Leone and the situation of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) on the basis of the Secretary-General’s latest report (document S/2003/321).

PRESS STATEMENT ON IRAQ BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the text of a statement to the press on Iraq by Security Council President Mamady Traoré (Guinea):

The Members of the Security Council welcomed the Secretary General’s proposals concerning the emergency humanitarian plan in Iraq and decided that they provide a good working basis.

UNFPA PREPARES TO AID PREGNANT IRAQI WOMEN

(Reissued as received.)

NEW YORK, 21 March (UNFPA) -- To protect the health of pregnant women displaced by the war in Iraq, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has put essential medical supplies and equipment in place inside the country and at sites in neighbouring countries where refugees are anticipated.

UNEP'S POST-CONFLICT ASSESSMENT UNIT INITIATES STUDY OF ENVIRONMENT IN IRAQ

(Reissued as received.)

NAIROBI/GENEVA, 21 March (UNEP) -- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today announced that its Post-Conflict Assessment Unit has initiated a desk study of the environment in Iraq.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION BEGINS DEBATE ON SELF-DETERMINATION

Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand,

Chairman of Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination also Speak

(Reissued as received.)

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS CONSIDERS REPORT OF HIGH

COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

High Commissioner Urges All Parties in Iraq

Conflict to Respect Human Rights Norms at all Times

(Reissued as received.)

FIFTY-NINTH SESSION OF COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS GENEVA,

17 MARCH TO 25 APRIL 2003

Information for Media Coverage of the Session

GENEVA, 12 March (UN Information Service) -- The Commission on Human Rights will hold its fifty-ninth session from Monday, 17 March to Friday,