Background Release

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE TO HOLD SEVENTY-SECOND SESSION

AT GENEVA FROM 9 TO 27 JULY

Experts to Examine Reports of Netherlands, Czech Republic,

Monaco, Guatemala and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

(Reissued as received.)

High-Level Panel Calls for Universal Ratification of Treaties

Advancing Rights of Women

“Advancing the Rights of Women and Children through Treaties” was the theme of a high-level panel discussion convened at United Nations Headquarters yesterday.  The event aimed to promote signature or ratification of international treaties that are of particular relevance to the advancement of women's rights.

Biographical Note

TADEUSZ BACHLEDA-CURUS (POLAND) ELECTED PRESIDENT

OF SEABED COUNCIL FOR 2001

(Received from the International Seabed Authority.)

KINGSTON, 3 July -– Tadeusz Bachleda-Curus, who was elected today as President of the Council of the International Seabed Authority, is Under-Secretary and Principal Geologist of the State in the Ministry of Environment of Poland.

Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

Twenty-fifth session         

510^th and 511^th Meetings (AM & PM)

GENDER EQUALITY ISSUE MUST BE CENTRAL TO POLICY-MAKING,

SWEDEN TELLS WOMEN’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE

Experts Begin Review of Report from Eight Countries

REQUEST FOR VIDEOTAPE BY ISRAELI MINISTER OF DEFENCE

This is the text of a statement today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES ISRAELI GOVERNMENT TO CEASE ‘TARGETED ASSASSINATIONS’

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

BONDS BETWEEN UNITED STATES AND UNITED NATIONS ARE STRONG AND ROOTED IN COMMON

VISION OF FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL

Following is the text of an address, as delivered, by Secretary-General Kofi Annan upon accepting the Liberty Medal in Philadelphia on 4 July:

SEABED COUNCIL TAKES UP POLYMETALLIC SULPHIDES, COBALT-RICH CRUSTS

(Received from the International Seabed Authority.)

KINGSTON, 4 July -- The Council of the International Seabed Authority, meeting in Kingston, began considering this morning, for the first time, two recently discovered but widespread mineral resources on the deep ocean bed  -- polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich crusts.

SEABED COUNCIL DISCUSSES STATUS OF OPERATORS’ CONTRACTS,

ELECTION TO LEGAL AND TECHNICAL COMMISSION

(Received from the International Seabed Authority.)

PRESS STATEMENT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON SIERRA LEONE

Following is the text of a press statement on Sierra Leone by the President of the Security Council, Wang Yingfan (China):

The members of the Security Council held informal consultations on 5 July 2001 in accordance with paragraph 15 of section A of resolution 1306 (2000), under which the Council conducted its third review of the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of the resolution.