FAO'S COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES OPENS TODAY

Half of World Marine Stocks Fully Exploited

(Reissued as received.)

ROME, 24 February (FAO) -- Delegates from over 100 countries, observers from the United Nations, UN bodies and specialized agencies, regional fishery bodies, and other international organizations, attend the twenty-fifth session of the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) which opens today.

UN HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS OFFICE ANNOUNCES FUNDING NEEDS

FOR DISPLACED PERSONS IN COLOMBIA

NEW YORK, 24 February (OCHA) -- In an effort to assist more than 2 million persons displaced by the ongoing armed conflict in Colombia, the United Nations last week presented donors with a Humanitarian Action Plan with a total budget of $79.4 million for one year.  Of this amount, $48.9 million is still to be raised.

UN SPECIAL ENVOY FOR CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT ARRIVES IN SIERRA LEONE

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

FREETOWN, 23 February -– Under-Secretary-General Olara A. Otunnu, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, arrived yesterday in Sierra Leone for a week-long visit to assess the status of war-affected children in the post-conflict peace-building phase.

UN EXPERT ON EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS EXPRESSES CONCERN

OVER RECENT KILLINGS IN THAILAND

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 24 February (UN Information Service) -- The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Asma Jahangir, has expressed deep concern at reports of more than 100 deaths in Thailand in connection with a crackdown on the drug trade.

HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES FACE DIFFICULTIES AS CIVILIANS TARGETED IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE

NEW YORK, 24 February (OCHA) -- As continuing instability limits their access to people in need, humanitarian agencies in Côte d’Ivoire are receiving consistent reports of abuses against civilians.  Shortages of food and access to health care are also taking their toll on civilians caught in conflict.

Commission for Social Development

Forty-first Session

10^th Meeting (PM)

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CONCLUDES FORTY-FIRST SESSION WITH ACTION ON TEXTS

RELATED TO COOPERATION, YOUTH, DISABLED, AGEING AND FAMILY

SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ADDS NAME OF AN ENTITY AND AN INDIVIDUAL TO ITS LIST

The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) has added on 20 February 2003 the following entity and individual to its list (Al-Qaida section):

MAJOR INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR UN-HABITAT FROM NETHERLANDS ANNOUNCED

‘MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY’ SHOULD INSPIRE RESPECT, TOLERANCE FOR RICH CULTURAL

TRADITIONS, SAYS GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT IN OBSERVANCE MESSAGE

Following is the message of Jan Kavan (Czech Republic), President of the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, on International Mother Language Day, observed 21 February:

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON CÔTE D’IVOIRE

Following is the press statement on Côte d’Ivoire delivered today by Security Council President Gunther Pleuger (Germany):