‘DIGITAL BRIDGES’ MUST BE BUILT TO BILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN EXTREME POVERTY

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN MESSAGE TO INTERNET MEETING IN GHANA

Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) being held in Accra, Ghana, from 10 to 14 March:

TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL

ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for the Secretary-General: Ladies and gentlemen, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations is here to brief you on the International Conference on Financing for Development to take place later this month at Monterrey, Mexico.

Commission on Status of Women

Forty-sixth Session

9^th Meeting (PM)

WOMEN’S COMMISSION HEARS INTRODUCTION OF DRAFT TEXTS CONCERNING AFGHANISTAN,

PALESTINE, HIV/AIDS, HOSTAGES, GENDER POLICIES

Fifty-sixth General Assembly

Fifth Committee

47^th Meeting (AM)

ACABQ RECOMMENDS $450-MILLION BUDGET FOR UN MISSION IN DRC -–

$87 MILLION LESS THAN FIGURE REQUESTED BY SECRETARIAT

Several Speakers Express Disappointment

At Lack of Data to Justify Secretariat’s Demands

Special Committee on

Peacekeeping Operations

169^th Meeting (PM)

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS CONCLUDES SESSION, ADOPTS

REPORTS RECOMMENDING ENHANCED UN CAPACITY FOR PEACEKEEPING

UN SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR WAR-AFFECTED CHILDREN CALLS FOR MEASURES

TO ENSURE GREATER PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN IN REFUGEE CAMPS

ADDIS ABABA/NEW YORK, 7 March (OSRSG) -- Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Olara A. Otunnu has expressed his distress and grave concern about recent reports alleging extensive sexual exploitation of children in refugee camps in West Africa.

                                                            OBV/265

SECRETARY-GENERAL, AT OBSERVANCE OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY,

Fifty-sixth General Assembly

Fifth Committee

46^th Meeting (AM)

PROPOSED EXTENSION OF RETIREMENT AGE FOR STAFF HIRED BEFORE 1990

RAISES QUESTIONS, RESERVATIONS FROM SOME DELEGATIONS

Fifth Committee Adopts 2 Draft Resolutions,

One on Arrears of Former Yugoslavia, Another on Geneva Common Services

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY OBSERVED AT UN HEADQUARTERS WITH THEME

‘AFGHAN WOMEN TODAY:  REALITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES’

Secretary-General Says Afghan Women’s Plight Had Been Affront to Humanity;

U.S. First Lady Emphasizes Her Country’s Long-Term Commitment, with Education Key

GOVERNING COUNCIL OF UN COMPENSATION COMMISSION

TO HOLD FORTY-THIRD SESSION 12-13 MARCH

GENEVA, 8 March (UN Information Service) -- The Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission will hold its forty-third session from 12 to 13 March under the presidency of Severe Burgh Johansen (Norway).