AFGHAN TEENS SPEAK OUT AGAINST EARLY MARRIAGE ON WORLD POPULATION DAY

(Reissued as received.)

KABUL, 10 July (UNFPA) -- “If my parents tried to force me to marry, I would refuse”, declared Zohal, 16, as her fellow students nodded in agreement.  The Afghan teenagers had just heard government leaders say that early marriage closes girls’ educational prospects and threatens their health, in a forum marking World Population Day.

ECOSOC ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES;

MAKES RECOMMENDATION ON UNFPA PERSONNEL MATTERS

Begins Consideration of Special Economic,

Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Assistance

(Reissued as received.)

Security Council

4786^th Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF MULTINATIONAL STABILIZATION FORCE

IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA FOR ANOTHER YEAR

Resolution 1491 (2003) Adopted Unanimously

The Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the multinational stabilization force (SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 12 months.

SECRETARY-GENERAL’S ADVISORY BOARD ON DISARMAMENT MATTERS TO MEET

IN GENEVA, 16 TO 18 JULY 2003, IN FORTY-FIRST SESSION

The Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters will meet for a three-day closed session in Geneva, from 16 to 18 July 2003.  Its last session was held in New York from 5 to 7 February 2003.  The Board meets twice a year.

Biographical Note                                            SG/A/848/Rev.1*

ECOSOC ENDORSES DECISION TO ESTABLISH WORLD SOLIDARITY FUND

TO ERADICATE POVERTY AND PROMOTE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Panel Held on Financing and Effectiveness of Humanitarian Assistance

(Reissued as received.)

Committee on Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

622^nd & 623^rd Meetings (AM & PM)

ECUADOR’S GENDER EQUALITY MECHANISMS NEED REAL POWER TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE RESULTS,

SAY EXPERTS IN WOMEN’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE

ADOLESCENTS HAVE RIGHT TO HEALTH-CARE SERVICES AND INFORMATION,

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT SAYS ON WORLD POPULATION DAY

Following is the message by the President of the General Assembly, Jan Kavan (Czech Republic), to mark World Population Day (11 July), this year’s theme being “One Billion Adolescents:  the Right to Health, Information and Services”:

ECOSOC RECOMMENDS MAKING WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION

SPECIALIZED AGENCY OF UNITED NATIONS

Considers Economic and Environmental Questions, Including International

Cooperation in Tax Matters and Status of International Civil Defence Organization

(Reissued as received.)

FAO SENDS SARS EXPERT TO CHINA

To Investigate Role of Animals in Spreading Virus

(Reissued as received.)

ROME, 10 July (FAO) –- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will send a senior Australian veterinarian to China on Friday for a three-week visit to help coordinate an international investigation into the roles animals might play in spreading the deadly SARS virus.