First Meeting of States Parties

to Convention on Migrant Workers

1^st Meeting (AM)

STATES PARTIES TO CONVENTION PROTECTING MIGRANT WORKERS

HOLD FIRST MEETING AT HEADQUARTERS

Elect 10-Member Main Committee

GLOBAL FORUM ADOPTS DECLARATION, ACTION PROGRAMME

ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND INFORMATION SOCIETY

Documents to Be Submitted to World Summit on Information Society

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

NEW CARTOON FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO RAISE AWARENESS,

MOBILIZE ACTION TO TACKLE HIV/AIDS

(Reissued as received.)

UNIVERSALITY OF HUMAN RIGHTS REMAINS FORMAL RATHER THAN REAL,

HIGH COMMISSIONER SAYS IN COMMEMORATION MESSAGE

Ramcharan Cites Poverty, Conflicts, Terrorism,

Violence, Prejudice, Bad Governance as Gross Violations

(Reissued as received.)

Following is the message of acting High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan on Human Rights Day, which is commemorated on 10 December 2003:

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE APPEALS FOR $54.8 MILLION FOR 2004

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 5 December (UN Information Service) -- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is seeking $54.8 million in contributions to fund activities in the coming year and to continue efforts to strengthen the institution.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE AND COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE RULE

ON COMPLAINTS OF VIOLATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 5 December (UN Information Service) -- Two independent human rights bodies have found violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT).

ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND IRAQI HUMAN

RIGHTS MINISTER DISCUSS HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAQ

(Reissued as received)

GENEVA, 4 December (UN Information Service) -- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has offered to make its expertise available to Iraqi officials and representatives of the country's civil society as they establish a legal framework to promote and protect human rights.

Round-up of Session

COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS CONCLUDES THIRTY-FIRST SESSION

Issues Final Conclusions on Reports of Republic of Moldova,

Yemen, Guatemala, Russian Federation, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

(Reissued as received.)

PIVOTAL ROLE OF JUDGES IN PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DISCUSSED AT UNITED NATIONS

(Reissued as received.)

HUMAN TRAFFICKING AN ISSUE OF GROWING CONCERN IN LATIN AMERICA

Concerted Action Called for at Regional Conference in Colombia