Press Release

WORKING GROUP ON DISABILITY CONVENTION ADOPTS DRAFT TEXT

NEW YORK, 16 January (United Nations Department of Public Information) --The Working Group established to draft a text of an international convention on the rights of persons with disabilities today adopted by consensus a draft that will form the basis for negotiations on the convention.

Security Council

2003 Round-up

IRAQ, MIDDLE EAST, AFGHANISTAN, AFRICA KEY ISSUES BEFORE SECURITY COUNCIL IN 2003

In a year dominated by the war in Iraq, the Security Council also addressed a broad range of other threats to peace and security around the globe, including in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Liberia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire and others.

Security Council

4895^th Meeting (AM)

MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS ‘REMAINS STALEMATED’ SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD,

IN BRIEFING BY UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL KIERAN PRENDERGAST

Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

636^th Meeting (AM)*

WOMEN’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE TAKES UP REPORT OF BHUTAN

Country’s Representative Says ‘Consistent

Steps’ Taken to Comply with Letter, Spirit of Convention

NO DEVELOPMENT TOOL MORE EFFECTIVE THAN EDUCATION OF GIRLS, EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN ADDRESS TO WOMEN’S HEALTH COALITION

Following is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s keynote address to the annual gala event of the International Women’s Health Coalition, in New York on

15 January:

Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

632^nd & 633^rd Meetings (AM & PM)

FOUNDATIONS FOR GENDER EQUALITY FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN KYRGYZSTAN,

ACCORDING TO WOMEN’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE

Experts Call for Full Implementation of Country’s ‘Significant’ Body of Legislation

Security Council                                           

SECRETARY-GENERAL NAMES LAKHDAR BRAHIMI SPECIAL ADVISER

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

The Secretary-General met on Tuesday afternoon with his former Special Representative for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, who has just completed an arduous assignment and needs some rest.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES AFGHAN PEOPLE ON ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION,

URGES IMMEDIATE ACTION ON KEY CHALLENGES OF SECURITY, RECONSTRUCTION

Following are Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan’s remarks to the Security Council meeting on Afghanistan in New York, on 15 January:

Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

634^th & 635^th Meetings (AM & PM)

WOMEN’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE EXAMINES REPORT OF KUWAIT