HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WELCOMES ENTRY INTO FORCE

OF INSTRUMENT AGAINST USE OF CHILD SOLDIERS

GENEVA, 12 February (UN Information Service) -- A treaty to ban the use of children as soldiers comes into force today, crowning ten years of international efforts to fight one of the major causes of human rights violations in the world.

Special Committee on

Peacekeeping Operations

168^th and 169^th Meetings (AM & PM)

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS ENDS TWO-DAY DEBATE

ON NEED FOR RAPID DEPLOYMENT OF PEACE OPERATIONS

Committee on Inalienable Rights

of the Palestinian People

262^nd Meeting (AM)

MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS BADLY NEEDS RENEWAL OF ENERGY, CONVICTION

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL TO PALESTINIAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE

Urges Recommitment to Principles of Oslo, Madrid;

Committee Elects Officers, Adopts 2002 Work Programme

Special Committee on

Decolonization

1^st Meeting (AM)

EAST TIMOR’S INDEPENDENCE ANOTHER MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT OF DECOLONIZATION MOVEMENT,

SAYS DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL TO SPECIAL DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE

Committee Elects Officers, Adopts 2002 Work Programme

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES ADMINISTERING POWERS TO MOVE FORWARD

TOWARDS APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR NON-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES

Freely Expressed Wishes of Territorial Peoples Must be Heeded

Following are the opening remarks by Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette to the Special Committee of 24 on decolonization at the opening of its 2002 session in New York:

Commission for Social Development

Fortieth Session

2^nd Meeting (PM)

COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT HOLDS PANEL DISCUSSION

ON ‘INTEGRATION OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POLICY’

More than economic growth was needed to eradicate poverty, the Commission on Social Development was told, as it held its high-level governmental and expert panel discussion entitled "Integration of social and economic policy" this afternoon.

Commission for Social Development                           SOC/4590*

Secretary-General Kofi Annan traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, in the afternoon of Thursday, 7 February, to attend the XIX Winter Olympic Games, at the invitation of Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNED BY UPSURGE OF FIGHTING IN LIBERIA;

APPEALS FOR HALT TO VIOLENCE, DIALOGUE

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the recent upsurge of fighting in Liberia.  It can only bring more suffering to innocent people who have yet to recover from the desolation caused by previous wars.

SECRETARY-GENERAL, DISMAYED BY ISRAELI SHELLING IN GAZA, SAYS SOLUTION TO CONFLICT

WILL NOT BE FOUND THROUGH VIOLENCE, RETALIATION

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan: