SECRETARIAT OF ENDANGERED SPECIES TREATY ASSESSES PROPOSALS

FOR CHANGING WILDLIFE TRADE RULES

GENEVA, 29 July (UNEP) -- The secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has completed its provisional assessment of the 54 proposals submitted by member countries (Parties) to amend the Convention's lists of wild plant and animal species that are subject to trade controls or prohibitions.

POPULATION FUND REFUTES REPORTS OF PERU STERILIZATIONS

Security Council

4591^st Meeting* (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF UN MISSION IN GEORGIA UNTIL 31 JANUARY 2003

The Security Council, stressing that the continued lack of progress on key issues of a comprehensive settlement of the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, was unacceptable, decided this morning to extend the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) until 31 January 2003.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNED AT CONTINUING VIOLENCE IN MIDDLE EAST

The following statement was issued on 26 July by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

Ad Hoc Committee on Convention

on Rights of Persons with Disabilities

1^st Meeting (AM)

AD HOC COMMITTEE ON CONVENTION ON RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

BEGINS FIRST-EVER MEETING

Background Release

SUBCOMMISSION ON PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

TO MEET IN GENEVA FROM 29 JULY TO 16 AUGUST

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 25 July (UN Information Service) -- The Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, the Commission on Human Rights’ principal subsidiary organ, will hold its fifty-fourth session at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 29 July to 16 August 2002.

APPOINTMENTS TO SIERRA LEONE SPECIAL COURT

The Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone, in implementation of the relevant provisions of the Agreement on the Establishment of a Special Court for Sierra Leone, signed in Freetown, Sierra Leone on 16 January, have today announced the appointments of eight judges who will serve on the Trial Chamber and the Appeals Chamber of the Special Court which has its seat in Freetown.

PRESS STATEMENT ON WESTERN SAHARA, OTHER MATTERS BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Following is today’s statement to the press by Security Council President Jeremy Greenstock (United Kingdom):

Western Sahara

Economic and Social Council

2002 Substantive Session

41^st Meeting (PM) and Round-up of Session

FIRST EVER SESSION OF SOCIAL FORUM TO BE HELD

IN GENEVA FROM 25 TO 26 JULY

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 24 July (UN Information Service) -- The first ever session of the Social Forum, which has been set up to create a space within the United Nations human rights system for dialogue with non-governmental organizations and members of civil society, will be held from 25 to 26 July at the United Nations Office at Geneva.