Background Release

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE TO HOLD SEVENTY-EIGHTH SESSION

IN GENEVA FROM 14 JULY TO 8 AUGUST

Experts to Examine Reports of Slovakia, Portugal, El Salvador and Israel

(Reissued as received.)

IN ADDRESS TO AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT, SECRETARY-GENERAL OUTLINES MAJOR CHALLENGES,

URGENT AREAS WHERE AFRICA MUST ‘DEMONSTRATE OWNERSHIP THROUGH ACTION’

Following is the statement delivered by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the African Union Summit in Maputo, Mozambique, on 10 July:

LANDMARK REPORT URGES GOVERNANCE REFORMS TO ARREST DECLINE OF WORLD’S ENVIRONMENT

(Reissued as received.)

Meeting of States to Consider Action

Programme on Illicit Small Arms Trade

7^th & 8^th Meetings (AM & PM)

REGIONAL GROUPS, INCLUDING FROM AFRICA, EXPLORE DELAYS IN AND SOLUTIONS

TO IMPLEMENTING SMALL ARMS ACTION PLAN, IN BIENNIAL MEETING OF STATES

Weapons Stockpile Management, Marking and Tracing,

Collection and Destruction, Links to Organized Crime, Also Considered

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL HOLDS PANEL DISCUSSION

ON WORKING TOGETHER FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

(Reissued as received.)

CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION ADOPTS MORE THAN 50 NEW FOOD STANDARDS

New Guidelines on Genetically Modified and Irradiated Food

(Reissued as received.)

ROME, 9 July (FAO) -- The Codex Alimentarius Commission has adopted a landmark agreement on how to assess the risks to consumers from foods derived from biotechnology, including genetically modified foods, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) said today.

ECOSOC CONCLUDES GENERAL DEBATE ON ITS ROLE IN IMPLEMENTING

TARGETS AND COMMITMENTS OF UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCES

Non-Governmental Organizations Highlight Importance

Of Civil Society Participation in Implementing Outcomes of UN Conferences

(Reissued as received.)

UN, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF LA FRANCOPHONIE SHARE GOALS OF CONFLICT

PREVENTION, DEMOCRACY, DEVELOPMENT, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL

Following is the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the International Assembly of French-Speaking Parliamentarians, in Niamey, Niger, 6-9 July:

Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

619^th Meeting (AM)

MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR COSTA RICA IS PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF RELEVANT

LEGISLATION, WOMEN’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE TOLD

Meeting of States to Consider Action

Programme on Illicit Small Arms Trade

5^th & 6^th Meetings (AM & PM)

BIENNIAL MEETING OF STATES CONCLUDES CONSIDERATION OF NATIONAL PLANS TO CURB

ILLICIT SMALL ARMS TRADE, HEARS PROPOSALS FROM CIVIL SOCIETY