PRESIDENT YUSHCHENKO ADDRESSES UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT SUMMIT OFWORLD LEADERS

The world’s leaders, meeting at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 14 to 16 September, agreed to take action on a range of global challenges

NEW YORK 2005WORLD SUMMIT

OUTCOME

August-September

2005

Leaders of Ukraine and Japan praise UNDP Chornobyl programmePage 5

Ukrainian youth discuss MDGs and youth policy at UN Youth SummitPage 6

Another successful Race for LifePage 7

Cont

ents

President Yushchenko addresses UN General Assembly at Summit of World Leaders

2005. The World Summit outcome

The 2005 Summit: an overview

UN 60th International Conference

Gala Concert in October

The Day international photography contest features UN awards

IOM honours Ukrainians who fi ght human traffi cking

UN Headlines Events

Ukraine, UN sign blueprint for collaboration

Yushchenko instructs government offi cials to ensure gender equality

Blue Ribbon Commission II issues new report

More aid, trade reform, and peacebuilding vital to ending poverty

Chornobyl: 20 years on, UN report provides answers and ways to repair lives

Presidents of Ukraine and Japan praise UNDP Chornobyl programme, support UN reform

Ukrainian youth discuss MDGs and youth policy at UN Youth Summit

Annan, UN agencies mark World Refugee Day

Ukraine launches HIV/AIDS information campaign

5,000 participate in 2005 Race for Life

Overview

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UN Calendar

Editor - In - Chief: Snezhana Kolomiets

Editor/Author Jeffrey Groton

UN BULLETINUnited Nations in Ukraine

August-September 2005

Translation : Olena Bilous

Designed by: uStudio Design Company

Dear Friends

This edition of the “UN in Ukraine Bulletin” is special, not only because it is the fi rst, but because it celebrates a very important milestone, the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations.

So this bulletin also about a UN founding member, Ukraine. Details about this anniversary and much more about the UN’s work in Ukraine are right inside the cover. The UN Country Team of 12 agencies and affi liated international institutions, their representatives, programmes, and staff take this opportunity to thank you for your valuable support of our work, and we pledge our continued commitment to the fulfi llment of Ukraine’s Millennium Development Goals. We at the United Nations House in Kyiv hope that you fi nd this bulletin useful and informative. Enjoy!

Francis M.O’Donnell,UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine

UN H

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President Yushchenko addresses UN General Assembly at Summit of World Leaders

Fellow Presidents, Secretary General, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!

I am strongly convinced that the jubilee of the United Nations is a celebration of hope for all humanity. The whole history of our unique fo-rum convinces us that peoples of different rac-es and cultures are able to hear and support each other. According to Winston Churchill, these walls were erected for a Temple of Peace, but not for a Babylon tower. This is how the peoples see this Assembly. I truly believe that we will live up to their expectations. I offer my sincere congratulations to you – my dear friends and all good people in the world.At this meeting, the international community shapes its new guidelines. The new Ukraine – free and independent – follows it, together with the en-tire family of democratic nations. I believe that the efforts and experience of my country will contribute to fi nding important benchmarks.

I am a son of a soldier of the World War II, whose fate was to live through the battles, wounds and the horrors of Auschwitz concentration camp. Millions failed to succeed. Every Ukrai-nian family has a live memory of pain and losses.Due to its heroic contribution to the victory over Nazism, Ukraine gained a honourable right to become one of the founders the United Nations. We brought in our aspira-tion for peace. We are always ready to counteract the threat of war everywhere.

Our county is providing and will always pro-vide support to efforts to ensure peace in different regions of the world. I hope that Ukrainian peacekeepers under the United Nations fl ag will prove their courage and professionalism once again. As a represen-tative of a nation that shoulder to shoulder with free nations liberated the humankind from the Nazi threat, I am convinced we can liberate humanity from other mortal threats.

Ukraine has already contributed much to the security in the world by abandoning its nuclear weapons. We can put nuclear technologies under rigid international control, and we are obliged to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. We stand for the hard-edged fi ght against terrorism and we are convinced that this evil can be overcome by collective efforts.

Ukraine actively participates in these actions. The international community should do every-thing possible to destroy that environment which nourishes the virus of terror – intolerance, tyranny, poverty and humiliation.

Distinguished leaders!

We can prevent crimes against humanity and mankind. I am addressing you on behalf of a nation that lost ten million of human lives because of a genocidal famine delibrately brought against our nation.

At that time the governments of all countries turned their backs to our grief.

We insist that the world should come to know the truth about all crimes against humanity. That is how we can be sure that indifference will never encourage criminals. I have the privi-lege to speak on behalf of a nation which was inspired by the ideals of the United Nations in its fi ght for dignity, human rights and in-dependence. Ukraine’s statehood paved the way for advancing these values.

It was on the orange Maidan (Square) where Ukraine made a peaceful breakthrough toward freedom. We are determined to create an open, integrated society and a free-market economy integrated into the world economy. We will seize this historic chance to gain prosperity, to re-unite our future with that of a common Europe.Ukraine’s example demonstrates that the free-dom cannot be stopped along old dividing lines. Its language is clear to all the peoples. It has vast potential for peace, stability and cooperation.

It is only through collective efforts that human-ity can respond to old and new threats. On these days, we are paying tribute to the mem-ory of the victims of September 11 and sharing the pain of those who suffered in the after-math of the disaster in the south of the United States. We have been warned – there are challenges that no nation can deal with alone.

Next year will mark the 20th anniversary of the Chornobyl catastrophe. I strongly believe that this will be an important opportunity to realize the universal social and cultural depth of this tragedy; and will enable us to combine our efforts to mitigate its consequences.The world is globalizing itself rapidly. It has turned into a common space where we are fated to either win altogether or lose altogether. We are all threatened by economic shocks and terrorism, a degrading environment and the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The destiny of prosperous nations will be in-fl uenced by the performance of the poorer na-tions. Our duty is to comprehend these realities. Ukraine is fully conscious of its responsibili-ties. We have recommitted ourselves to the Millennium Development Goals and we will work to ensure their full achievement.

We stand ready to be a trusted partner in po-litical, economic, environment and humanitar-ian projects. Ukraine is ready to fi nd common ways to strengthen multilateralism I am con-vinced that the reform of the United Nations will open up unique opportunities in this fi eld.

Reform of the Security Council is a prerequisite to enhance the effectiveness of our Organiza-tion. To perform adequately, its membership should refl ect present realities. It would be fair if all regional groups, including the group of Eastern European states, are represented in the Council. The voice of the region, which is shaping a new Europe, deserves to be heard.

Ladies and gentlemen, sixty years has passed since Franklin Roosevelt said, ‘We are to se-cure our friendship and to share its spirit with the rest of the world. This is not an ultimate end, but if achieved, we will be empowered to meet the great goal of the humanity.’

We have every opportunity to ensure that our hopes for peace, welfare, freedom and justice for all come to fruition.

`Source: Offi cial website of the President of Ukraine.

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15 September 2005

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2005 WORLD SUMMIT OUTCOME

The world’s leaders, meeting at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 14 to 16 September, agreed to take action on a range of global challenges

Strong and unambiguous commitment by all governments, in donor and developing nations alike, to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Additional $50 billion a year by 2010 for fi ghting poverty.

Commitment by all developing countries to adopt national plans for achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2006.

Agreement to provide immediate support for quick impact initiatives to support anti-malaria efforts, education, and healthcare.

Commitment to innovative sources of fi nancing for development, including efforts by groups of countries to implement an International Finance Facility and other initiatives to fi nance develop-ment projects, in particular in the health sector.

Agreement to consider additional measures to ensure long-term debt sustainability through increased grant-based fi nancing, cancellation of 100 per cent of the offi cial multilateral and bilateral debt of heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs). Where appropriate, to consider signifi cant debt relief or restructuring for low and middle income developing countries with unsustainable debt burdens that are not part of the HIPC initiative.

Commitment to trade liberalization and expedi-tious work towards implementing the develop-ment dimensions of the Doha work programme

Clear and unqualifi ed condemnation — by all governments, for the fi rst time — of terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes.”

Strong political push for a comprehensive con-vention against terrorism within a year. Support for early entry into force of the Nuclear Terrorism Convention. All states are encouraged to join and implement it as well as the 12 other antiterrorism conventions.

Agreement to fashion a strategy to fi ght terrorism in a way that makes the international community stronger and terrorists weaker.

Clear and unambiguous acceptance by all govern-ments of the collective international responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Willingness to take timely and decisive collective action for this purpose, through the Security Coun-cil, when peaceful means prove inadequate and national authorities are manifestly failing to do it.

Decision to create a Peacebuilding Commis-sion to help countries transition from war to peace, backed by a support offi ce and a standing fund.

New standing police capacity for UN peacekeeping operations.

Agreement to strengthen the Secretary-General’s capacity for mediation and good offi ces.

Decisive steps to strengthen the UN human rights machinery, backing the action plan and doubling the budget of the High Commissioner.

Agreement to establish a UN Human RightsCouncil during the coming year.

Reaffi rmation of democracy as a universal value, and welcome for new Democracy Fund which has already received pledges of $32 million from 13 countries.

Commitment to eliminate pervasive gender dis-crimination, such as inequalities in education and ownership of property, violence against women and girls and to end impunity for such violence.

Ratifi cation action taken during the Summit triggered the entry into force of the Convention Against Corruption.

Recognition of the serious challenge posed by climate change and a commitment to take action through the UN Framework Conven-tion on Climate Change. Assistance will be provided to those most vulnerable, like small island developing states.

Agreement to create a worldwide early warning system for all natural hazards.

Broad strengthening of the UN’s oversight ca-pacity, including the Offi ce of Internal Oversight Services, expanding oversight services to additional agencies, calling for developing an independent oversight advisory committee, and further developing a new ethics offi ce.

Update the UN by reviewing all mandates older than fi ve years, so that obsolete ones can be dropped to make room for new priorities.

Commitment to overhauling rules and policies on budget, fi nance and human resources so the Organization can better respond to current needs; and a one-time staff buy-out to ensure that the UN has the appropriate staff for today’s challenges.

A scaling up of responses to HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria, through prevention, care, treatment and support, and the mobilization of additional resources from national, bilateral, multilateral and private sources.

Commitment to fi ght infectious diseases, including a commitment to ensure full implementation of the new International Health Regulations, and support for the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network of the World Health Organization.

Improved Central Emergency Revolving Fund to ensure that relief arrives reliably and immediately when disasters happen.

Recognition of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement as an important international framework for the protection of internally displaced persons.

A decision to revise and update the Charter by:

Winding up the Trusteeship Council, marking completion of UN’s historic decolonisation role;

Deleting anachronistic references to “enemy states” in the Charter.

RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT

MANAGEMENT REFORM

PEACEBUILDING, PEACEKEEPING, AND PEACEMAKING

RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECTDEVELOPMENT

UPDATING THE UN CHARTER

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

ENVIRONMENT

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH

HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY AND RULE OF LAW

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Source: United Nations News Service

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MANAGEMENT REFORM

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Yushchenko instructs government offi cials to ensure gender equality By Presidential Decree #1135, signed on 26 July, President Viktor Yushchenko has instructed ministers and local and national government offi cials to instruct one of their deputies to perform duties on ensuring equal rights of men and women.

In June of 2004, the Centre of Legal Reform and Law Drafting Activities won a United Nations Development Programme tender to implement a project providing legal support to implement policies addressing gender equality in the government. The project’s overall aim is to promote social justice and combat discrimination in Ukrainian society

The following is the text of the president’s decree:

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Presidential Decree #1135 – On improving central and local governments’ performance in promoting equal rights and opportunities for women and men

In order to improve the effectiveness of public policy and the coordination of agencies of executive power in promoting equal rights and opportunities for women and men, I hereby decree the following:

1. Ministers and heads of other central and local agencies of executive power shall place one of their respective deputies in charge of ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men. 2. The designated offi cials in ministries and other local and national governmental agencies responsible for ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men shall organize and direct, within their purview, the work of relevant executive agencies with regard to:

the provision of equal rights and opportunities to women and men in relevant spheres of activity;

co-operation with non-governmental organizations, including women’s organizations, in order to collect and summarize available information on the current situation regarding equal rights and opportunities for women and men, and to identify effective ways to prevent gender discrimination;

the creation of equal conditions enabling women and men alike to reconcile work and family life, in particular by developing social services;

the raising of public awareness about gender issues and the formation of gender-related culture;

the enforcement of legislation on equal rights and opportunities for women and men;

attention to and analysis of citizens’ enquiries concerning the provision of equal rights and opportunities for women and men;

regular training programmes for local and national governmental offi cials in gender-re-lated issues;

the gender mainstreaming of local and central governments’ activities, incorporating international best practices.

3. Ministers and heads of other central and executive governmental agencies shall annually organize, develop and implement specifi c activities to promote and ensure equal rights and opportunities for women and men.4. Offi cials of central and local executive governmental agencies shall be held personally responsible, in accordance with the law, for failing to execute their duties regarding the promotion of equal rights and opportunities for women and men.5. The Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports will coordinate activities of the central and local executive governmental agencies in regard to the promotion and protection of equal rights and opportunities for women and men.[signed] Viktor YUSHCHENKO

President of Ukraine26 July 2005

Ukraine, UN sign blueprint for collaboration

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Francis O’Donnell was presented by the Gov-ernment with an offi cial signed copy of an agree-ment outlining the partnership between Ukraine and the United Nations from 2006 to 2010.

The United Nations looks forward to working with Ukraine over the next fi ve years to solve its most pressing problems,’ said Mr O’Donnell.

The UNDAF is the result of a thorough and painstaking study of Ukraine’s most pressing challenges as it moves toward a sound democracy, full protection of human ights, and a strong economy. In this UN analysis, titled the 2004 Common Country Assessment, challenges and their root causes in poverty, health, education, gender, governance and the rule of law, HIV/AIDS and the environment were examined in the context of Ukraine’s Millennium Development Goals and human rights obligations. This analysis was conducted by the UN in close cooperation with the Ukrainian government, development partners, civil society organizations, the private sector, and many others.

As a result of this study, and taking into account the government action plan ‘Toward the People’ and Ukraine’s European integration aspirations, the UN Country Team identifi ed four areas for future UN collective action:

1. institutional reforms that enhance outreach, to enableall people to fulfi l their human rights;

2. civil society empowerment, to enable all people to access services and enjoy their rights;

The agreement, signed by Economy Minister Ser-hiy Teriokhin, Mr O’Donnell and all representatives of the UN agencies in Ukraine, is called the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).

It details the challenges Ukraine currently faces in poverty reduction, public health, education, human rights and the environment, and spells out concrete steps Ukraine and the UN will take together to meet these challenges.

‘The UNDAF articulates a coherent vision and strategy and provides a unifi ed approach to issues that most concern the Ukrainian people.

3. health care and health services with a special focus on raising quality and accessibility;

4. prosperity through balanced development and entrepreneurship

Mr O’Donnell remarked that ‘the United Na-tions Country Team in Ukraine supports the national effort of Ukraine to ensure human rights and improve the lives of all people in Ukraine, especially the most excluded and vulnerable.’

The UNDAF is a collective, coherent and integrated response by the United Nations system to issues of concern to Ukraine, and compliments the national priorities set out in the government’s action programme ‘Toward the People,’ the Millennium Development Goals, the commitments of the Millennium Declaration, and in other UN conventions. It is also an answer to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s call for a local and comprehensive approach toward development, in order to improve living conditions at the country level.

The United Nations Development Assistance Framework and Common Country Assess-ment are avaliable at www.un.org.ua.

Kyiv, 26 August 2006

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tsBlue Ribbon Commission II issues new report

The report A new wave of reform – on track to success: An analysis of socio-economic policy January –June 2005 and accompanying recommenda-tions was released by the Blue Ribbon Commission in June. Kyiv, Ukraine 20 JULY

The report was prepared by a team of primarily Ukrainian economists and evaluates the fi rst efforts of the government in a substantially changed political context of wider transparency and European support for Ukraine. It provides an unbiased and professional analysis, and proposes practical solutions to current problems.

After the Orange Revolution, the new govern-ment gained a window of opportunity to push through reforms. The experience of countries in transition shows that such a window does not stay open for very long. In the fi rst report, the Blue Ribbon Commission made 12 key recommendations regarding the most important reforms in Ukraine. The second report asserts that these recommendations are still relevant, in order to cement the gains of the Orange Revolution and to achieve deeper structural reforms in the future. Moreover, the analysis of the last four months has led to two more recommendations:

Certain obstacles to reforms are commonplace, especially on the eve of elections. As the Orange Revolution was not about economic demands, but rather freedom and democracy, economic policy was not the highest priority during the fi rst three months of the 2005. Now Ukraine is in a pre-election mood, and a number of urgent reforms are at risk of not being fulfi lled.

‘But we are optimistic as to the chances of Ukraine to successfully move towards the highest possible standards of economic and social development, which will naturallyenhance Ukraine’s European choice,’ statedFrancis M. O’Donnell, Coordinator of the UN System in Ukraine and UNDP ResidentRepresentative.

Presented to heads of state and government one week before they meet in New York for a crucial UN summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the 2005 Human Development Report (HDR) shows that, while there has been substantial progress globally, many individual countries are actually falling further behind.

Kyiv, Ukraine 9 September

More aid, trade reform, and peacebuilding vital to ending poverty

The Report calls for swift and dramatic changes in global aid, trade and security policies to fulfi l the promises made by the international community when world leaders gathered here to address these problems fi ve years ago. ‘The world has the knowledge, resources and technology to end extreme poverty, but time is running out,’ said UNDP Administrator Kemal Derviş.

The Report’s authors emphasize that development is ultimately up to the governments of developing countries to tackle inequalities, respect human rights, encourage investment and root out corruption. But the Report also focuses on the role richer countries must play to defeat poverty, in three vital areas: aid, trade and security. ‘While the Report, intended for the whole world, cannot be country-specifi c and no special observations are made for Ukraine,

it suggests some very important conclusions and wisdoms that Ukraine might take into consideration, particularly with regard to socialpolicy, promotion of forign trade and understanding the link between economic and human develop-ment. I am sure that in many cases Ukrainian policymakers will fi nd these conclusions useful and insightful,’ Francis M. O’Donnell, UNDP ResidentRepresentative in Ukraine, stated at a press conference in Kyiv held to present the report.

A decrease in life expectancy is a signifi cant factorcontributing to Ukraine’s place in the latest HumanDevelopment Report. The report has lowered its estimate of life expectancy at birth from 69.5 years in 2002 to 66.1 in 2003. In addition, the report featured a slightly lowered adult literacy estimate; the percentage dropped from 99.6 in 2002 to 99.4 in 2003.

These factors, as well as relative changeswhen compared with other countries and methodological changes in statistical data, resulted in a move downward in Ukraine’srank on the Index, from 70th place in 2004 to 78th place this year.

According to the gender empowerment measure (GEM), which reveals whether women take an active part in economic and political life, Ukraine ranked as 59th among 140 countries. The best performer in the world is Norway, and in the CIS and Eastern Europe Region, Slovenia. Women hold 5.3% of the seats in the Ukrainian Parliament (in Rwanda - 45.3% of the seats in parliament are occupied by women) and make up 63% of professional and technical workers. Among administrators and managers, 39% are women.

‘The HDR is intended to analyse important long-term, rather than short-term trends, thus it shows the most strategic and most essential areas to be addressed. Normally, the economic growth of 2000-2004 and certain improvements in poverty reduction would have occasioned a higher HDR rank, if not for social factors, mainly health. Thus, more attention and effort should be applied toward converting economic gains into real human development by introducing a meaningful social reforms package.’ stated Mr O’Donnell remarked.

1. Financial and monetary stability are essential for stable economic growth. It is important to strengthen the independence of the National Bank of Ukraine, which should concentrate on price stability. Fiscal and budgetary corrections are also needed.

2. In order to successfully implement reforms, property rights must be strengthened and the privatization process continued. Post facto re-view of privatizations should be conducted only by court decision, using transparent procedures. Revised agreements with the new owners should be attempted where possible.

The government has achieved some positive results and has good intentions regarding several its main priorities – the development of democracy, reducing corruption, and attaining European democratic, social and economic norms. Ambitious administrative and judicial reforms have begun, and the European Union – Ukraine Action Plan was signed. Ukraine has also made a substantial progress in its attempt to join the World Trade Organization.

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Chornobyl: 20 years on, UN report provides answers and ways to repair lives

Chornobyl’s recovery depends on long-term social and economic development on the community and regional levels and an effec-tive information policy, concludes Chornobyl’s Legacy: Health, Environmental and Socio-Economic Impact, a report just released in Vi-enna by the Chornobyl Forum. The three-vol-ume, 600-page report incorporates the work of hundreds of scientists, economists and health experts, and assesses the 20-year im-pact of the largest nuclear accident in history.

The forum is made up of eight UN specialized agencies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), World Health Organi-zation (WHO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Environ-ment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Offi ce for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), United Nations Scientifi c Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), and the World Bank, and the governments of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.

Dr. Burton Bennett, chairman of the Chornobyl Forum and an authority on radiation effects stated, ‘The governments of the three countries most af-fected have realized that they need to fi nd a clear way forward, and that progress must be based on a sound consensus about environmental, health and economic consequences and some good ad-vice and support from the international community.’Despite of the on-going scientifi c discussion about the level and danger of nuclear contamination, it has become clear that the fear associated with exposure to radiation from Chornobyl has been exaggerated. But, as UN Assistant Secretary-Gen-eral Kalman Mizsei said in his opening statement at the forum, this does not in any way diminish the suffering that the affected communities have experienced. Their suffering is real and continues to this day, and it would be a mistake to dismiss it as somehow ‘irrational imagined or self-induced.’ ‘Two decades after the Chernobyl accident, residents in the affected areas still lack the information they need to lead the healthy and productive lives that are possible,’ explains Louisa Vinton, a specialist on Chornobyl-related issues at UNDP. The Chornobyl Forum concurred with the recom-mendations made by The Human Consequences of the Chornobyl Nuclear Accident: A Strategy for Recovery, a report produced by UNDP, UNICEF, OCHA and WHO in 2002.

After that report was issued, UNDP launched the Chor-nobyl Recovery and Development Programme to ad-dress the lingering consequences of the Chornobyl accident by supporting the Government of Ukraine in its efforts to promote long-term psychological, social, economic and environmental recovery in affected areas.

In order to assist the people in their recovery and development work in the Chornobyl-affected areas, the programme provides support on policy and institutional change to promote the development of Chornobyl-affected areas, helps

Leaders of Ukraine and Japan praise UNDP Chornobyl programme, support UN reform

President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, welcoming the continuing development of friendly relations between Japan and Ukraine since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1992, issued a joint statement on the occasion of President Yushchenko’s visit to Japan from 20 to 23 July 2005.

Kyiv, Ukraine 24 JULY

Remembering the upcoming 20th anniversary of the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant next year, the Japanese side, feeling sympathy with the Ukrainian people who suffered and are still suffering from the effects of radiation as a result of the accident, expressed its intention to continue to provide assistance to those who were affected.

In this regard, both sides welcomed the successful implementation of the Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), to which Japan contributed $1.18 million through the UN Trust Fund for Human Security.

Furthermore, the Japanese side committed itself to provide an additional $10 million to the Chornobyl Shelter Fund to help complete the construction of the shelter.

The Ukrainian side expressed its gratitude to the Japanese side for its assistance and its readiness to provide additional fi nancing to ensure the prompt completion of the shelter.

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, both sides shared the view on the need for comprehensive reform of the United Nations to respond effectively to the challenges of the 21st century by strengthening its effectiveness, credibility and legitimacy.

Both sides also expressed their determination to work together for the early realization of UN reforms, including the expansion of both the permanent and non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council, as co-sponsors of the draft framework resolution on Security Council reform. In this context, the Ukrainian side reaffi rmed its support for permanent membership for Japan in the expanded Security Council and the Japanese side reconfi rmed its support for the allocation of one additional seat for the East European Group of countries in the non-permanent category of the Security Council.

local people organize self-governing community institutions manage their own efforts for social, economic and environmental rehabilitation and development. ‘Our main strategy is to discourage a “depen-dency” and a “victim” mentality, and assist with initiatives that encourage opportunity, support local development, and give people confi dence in their futures,’ stated UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative in Ukraine Francis O’Donnell, who participated in the Forum.As part of his preparations to attend the Forum, Mr O’Donnell visited the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Station and toured areas affected by the accident at the end of August. At the nuclear station, Mr O’Donnell received a detailed briefi ng by station personnel on the causes and effects of the 1986 nuclear accident, one of the world’s worst, and learned about current efforts to replace the de-teriorating sarcophagus which surrounds the exploded number four reactor. After the briefi ng, the delegation travelled to the town of Prypiat, which was hastily abandoned immediately after the 1986 accident and remains so. The delegation then met with Volodymyr Holosha, Deputy Head of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone Administration.The continued human and fi nancial costs of the accident, the current radiological status of the exclusion zone and the Ukrainian government’s Chornobyl policy were among the topics of lively discussion. ‘Chornobyl was not a tragedy for Ukraine alone, it was a tragedy for the whole world. If we are to protect future generations and explain ourselves to them, we in the UN,and the international community as a whole, need to do better in enabling Ukraine to close this chapter once and for all. We at the UN are committed to do everything we can to advocate for greater international and national interest in Chornobyl, the ultimate goal being a fi nal resolution to the problems caused by the tragic nuclear accident,’ Mr O’Donnell continued.

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tsUkrainian youth discuss MDGs and youth policy at UN Youth Summit

The fourth Ukrainian UN Youth Summit took place on 1 to 3 July in the Kharkiv Oblast. The summit’s focus was state youth policy in thecontext of the Ukrainian Millennium Development Goals. The event took place under the initiative of youth organizations of Ukraine with the support from the Ukrainian Youth and Sport Ministry, the Kharkiv Oblast State Administration, the Kharkiv City State Administration and the UN System in Ukraine.

The 250 people aged from 15 to 28 who participated in the Youth Summit were fi nalists of a selection process which included an application and an essay analysing a particular local issue of concern and describing the most effective solutions to the problem involving youth. Members of a range of youth organizations, students, and employees of government, mass media and the private sector were among the participants.

Those at the summit examined in-depth issues affecting youth, such as economic security, education, new technologies, social policy, healthcare, and family support. Special attention was paid to youth involvement in politics and the political decision-making process, and how to construct youth policy in general.

Then the participants developed recommen-dations to the government and Ukrainian youth on how to solve these issues, as well as implementation of the National Doctrine on Youth Policy, the revised European charter on youth participation, and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Currently, these recommendations are being fi -nalized and will be soon presented to the relevant legislative and executive bodies on the national, regional and local levels with the prospectof being integrated into all documents on the youth policy in Ukraine under development.

The summit’s guests included UNDP youth ambassador, presidential advisor on youth policy Svyatoslav Vakharchuk, Member of the Parliament Stanislav Kosinov, Kharkiv Oblast State Administration deputy heads Vasyl Tretetskyi and Yaroslav Yushchenko, Youth and Sport Ministry Youth Policy Department deputy director Oleksiy Klyashtornyi, and experts from United Nations organizations.

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Annan, UN agencies mark World Refugee DayNew York, 20 June The United Nations marked World Refugee Day today with a tribute from Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the courage and perseverance of people uprooted from their homes, and with ceremonies at focal points around the globe, from Afghanistan to Uganda.

‘On this World Refugee Day, we honour the indomitable spirit and courage of the world’s millions of refugees,’ Mr Annan said. “Many endure enormous suffering without losing hope, and fi nd the strength to overcome despair and start a new life against seemingly overwhelming odds.’

Paying tribute as well to the Offi ce of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UN-HCR), the Secretary-General said that over the past fi ve decades, the offi ce has had the duty and the privilege to help more than 50 million uprooted people rebuild their shattered lives.

UNHCR staff is helping 17 million refugees and other vulnerable people in 115 countries, including many of the world’s most diffi cult and dangerous places, he said.

‘In their noble work, they, too, demonstratecourage – courage that is undoubtedly inspired by the very people they serve,’ he said. ‘As one UNHCR fi eld offi cer said in the midst of a crisis, if refugees who have lost everything don’t give up hope, how can we?’

Newly-confi rmed High Commissioner António Guterres marked the occasion with a visit to the Ikafe settlement in northern Uganda, home to 10,000 refugees, in a region hosting a total of 176,000.

‘Courage is necessary fi rst of all to fi ght against persecution, to face war, to face all the attemptsto withdraw from refugees their basic human rights,’ Mr Guterres stated.

He lamented a tendency in some parts of the world to confuse refugees and asylum seekers with terrorists and economic migrants, saying that they instead were the fi rst victims of terrorism and were easily differentiated from other migrants.

Oher Refugee Day activities include concerts and cultural events in cities like Moscow and Washington, D.C., a sports festival for refugee families in Kazakhstan, and refugee fi lm festivals in Cambodia and Romania.

In Guinea, a special assembly is being held on the Conakry Declaration, which urges African governments and the international community to promote peace and stability in the region. France organized ‘Hope Hurdles,’ a series of hurdle races run by renowned athletes and academics that highlight the diffi culties andobstacles faced by refugees andasylum seekers.

7

Ukraine Launches Information Campaign Against AIDSEv

ents

‘It is urgent that ordinary citizens become aware of the dangers of the epidemic. The mass media has a crucial role to play in educating people, promoting better understanding of the problem, and engaging political leaders, policy makers and key stakeholders so that combating AIDS becomes a national priority,’ said Paul Bermingham, Director for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, speaking at the National Press Club in Kyiv during the launch of a public information campaign on AIDS on 20 September, 2005. This campaign will be implemented under the Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Epidemics Control Project supported by a US$60 million loan from the World Bank. The World Bank is well placed to help Ukraine in its fi ght against HIV/AIDS. It has committed over US1.7 billion worldwide to the global cause, and, as of 2004, had allocated US$215.5 million for HIV/AIDS projects in the ECA region alone.

‘We are very thankful for the World Bank’s support to our National Program for Fighting AIDS,’ said Viacheslav Khanenko, Ukraine’s First Deputy Minister of Health, during the campaign launch. The main goals of the new public informationcampaign are to:

1. Teach people how to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and stress the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle

2. Inform people about local and national mea-sures designed to counter the epidemic

3. Promote tolerance towards those who are HIV-infected as well as their families, Ignorance of the facts is widespread

Eight people die of AIDS in Ukraine every day. This message, repeated on television daily and for the next three months, will be pounded into Ukrainians’ consciousness until no one can claim ignorance of the facts.

The idea behind a new public information campaign, backed by a World Bank loan to the Ukrainian government, is to staunch an epidemic which has become much more than a health problem.

Increasingly, world governments understand that HIV/AIDS also threatens socio-economic de-velopment, productivity, the welfare of ordinary people, and even national security.

One of the world’s fastest growing AIDS epidemics

In Europe and Central Asia (a World Bank grouping which includes Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union), the need for action is dire. The region is experiencing one of the world’s fastest-growing HIV/AIDS epidemics.

According to UNAIDS, in 2004, 210,000 people in Europe and Central Asia became infected with HIV, bringing the number of people living with HIV/AIDS to an estimated 1.4 million. In the same year, HIV/AIDS claimed the lives of an estimated 60,000 people. The vast majority of reported infections are among young people, chiefl y injecting drug users. Ukraine, Estonia, and the Russian Federation, had the highest adult prevalence rates in the region at the end of 2004. Meanwhile, more people in Ukraine are infected with HIV every day and the rate of infection is growing fast.

According to recent surveys conducted under the TB and HIV/AIDS Project, only 53% of young people feel they have suffi cient knowledge of HIV/AIDS. In the course of in-depth interviews, only 0.7% of the young people surveyed were able to distinguish between correct and incorrect information about HIV/AIDS.’It is surprising to see how little people know about the reality of HIV/AIDS in Ukraine and how few people realize they are personally at risk. Even journalists view this problem as something very distant. I think that a public education campaign needs to target the media fi rst of all, since we [journalists] are responsible fortelling people the truth,’ said Volodymyr Gutsyl, Senior Correspondent at the Kyiv National TV Channel. Mass media -and especially television - is the most effective and trusted source of information on the disease. PBN, the company which was asked by the Ministry of Health to design a publication information campaign, presented a fi rst set of products targeting mostly young audiences. The company created high-impact posters, leafl ets with simple graphics and a 20-second video clip in which young people are urged to protect themselves and their friends. In the next few months a series of educational sessions for journalists will be con-ducted in Kyiv and four other big cities - Donetsk, Odesa, Poltava, and L’viv - which are the most severely affected by the epidemic.

For a detailed account of the spread of AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, read the UNAIDS’ Epidemic Update from 2004.

In Ukraine, call the following phone number to learn more:

8-800-500-45-10

Kyiv, Ukraine, 26 August 2006

Kyiv, Ukraine, 18 September 2005The goal of the Race for Life is to attract the public’s attention to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine. As of 1 August 2005 there were 82,540 offi cially-registered cases of HIV infection. In just the months of January and February, the numberof HIV-positive people increased by 7,374 and the 32 people were being infected each day. Every day, 36 people are infected with HIV in Ukraine. Supporting those living with HIV/AIDS,stopping the transmission of the disease, and healthy life styles are the main means to prevent the spread of the infection.

The Race was organized by the United Nations Offi ce in Ukraine, the National Coordination Council on HIV/AIDS, the Ministries of Health and Youth and Sport, the Kyiv City Administration and the All-Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV. Inclement weather did not stop the participants. People from all walks of life, from schoolchildren to senior citizens, walked or ran the three kilometres from Independence Square to Lev Tolstoi Square and back.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Francis O’Donnell, Okean Elzy front-man and United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador in UkraineSviatoslav Vakarchuk, and Kyiv Mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko (who started the race) addressedthe crowd of participants before the race began. The top three male and female athletes received valuable prises. Mykola Trubachev was the fastest male runner, completing the race in seven minutes and 47 seconds; Inna Lebedeva led the femalerunners. Olympic champion Lilia Podkopaeva presented the prizes to the victors. ‘When we are together, we are strong, and this strength can win over any disease,’ she declared.

Over 5,000 people took part in the fi fth annual Race for Life in Kyiv today, and in the process raised tens of thousands of dollars to assist those living with HIV and AIDS.

5,000 participate in 2005 Race for Life

8

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The International Conference The UN’s 60th anniversary: an analysis of achievements and ways of strengthening its role in the 21st century will take place in the Conference Hall of Shevchenko Kyiv National University’s International Relations Institute (Melnikova Street 36/1) on 3-4 November, 2005.

Politicians and representatives of practical diplomacy, scientists and specialists, and UN ‘veterans’ will participate in the conference, which is organized jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine and the Institute of International Relations, with the support of the UN Offi ce in Ukraine. The President and Prime Minister will be invited to open the conference.

To commemorate the United Nations’ 60th anniversary, the UN Offi ce in Ukraine and the National Opera of Ukraine are organizing the gala concert “Music from Every Continent”, which will take place Sunday 23 October at the National Opera House.

This premier concert will feature music from each continent in an original and unique fashion. Most of the pieces will be performed in Ukraine for thevery fi rst time.

The following performers are scheduled to participate in the concert:

Volodymir Gryshko:soloist of the National Opera of Ukraine, the Metropolitan Opera (New York, USA), and the Mariinsky Theatre (Saint-Petersburg, Russia), one of the fi ve best tenors in the world, has performed with Montserrat Cabalye and Lucciano Pavarotti. He is a National Artist of Ukraine, recipient of the Shevchenko Award, and an advisor to the President of Ukraine on cultural issues.

Victoria Lukyanetz:National Artist of Ukraine, former soloist of the National Opera of Ukraine, soloist of the Vienna State Opera, and a singer who has been applauded in Western Europe, America, Canada, China and many other countries of the world.

Anatoliy Bariwevskiy:this year’s winner of one of the most prestigious contests, the Volodymyr Horowitz Competition; student of the National Music Academy of Ukraine.

Herman Makarenko, Ph.D.: Art director and conductor of the gala concert, conductor of the Ukrainian National Opera, honoured artist of Ukraine, winner of numerous international competitions, professor of the National Music Academy.

Music from Every Continent is a charitable event, and thus all the funds raised from ticket sales and sponsorship (less administrative expenses) will be donated to charity. Our main partner, the Ukraine 3000 Fund, is the principle recipient of all charitable donations.

Ukraine 3000’s Hospital to Hospital Programme works to improve the quality and effi ciency of paediatric medical care. Sadly, a large number of children are ill with tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV and various forms of cancer. Thus, in order to successfully realise this programme, the organization is seeking to involve the fi nancial, technical and intellectualresources of Ukrainian and international benefactors. The health of Ukraine in the future depends on the health of its children now.

The Ukraine 3000 International Fund and the United Nations Offi ce in Ukraine have concluded a special agreement by which funds received from this charitable concert will be used for the medical care of patients at the Ohmadit Paediatric Oncological Haematology Centre (Mother and Child Health Care).

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ФОТОВИСТАВКАУкраїнський дім24-30 вересня 2005

За підтримки Представництва ООН в Україні

The Day international photography contest features UN awards

The Day newspaper’s seventh annual International Photography Exhibition opened at Ukraine House this evening. The exhibition displays the best entries of the Day’s annual photography contest. This year, the United Nations in Ukraine actively collaborated with the newspaper for the fi rst time. The exhibition theme chosen by the United Nations was based on UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s In Larger Freedom.

Kyiv, Ukraine. 23 September, 2005.On behalf of the UN in Ukraine, Resident Coordinator Francis O’Donnellpresented three awards to those who best refl ected the three freedoms which form the basis for Mr Annan’s ‘larger freedom.’ Natalia Kravchuk received the award in the Freedom from Want category for her photo Orphan. With her photograph, Ms Kravchuk called attention to one of society’s most vulnerable – and, unfortunately, growing – groups, neglected children. Oleh Shkurko won the Freedom from Fear category award for his photograph The Boys and the Violin, which demonstrates that people in uniform should not be feared, but seen as protectors of peace.The Freedom to Livein Dignity award went to Oleh Fedonyuk for his Toward the Goal, a photograph full of optimism and faith which exemplifi es the will to live, achieve, and the desire for dignity.

The United Nations in Ukraine is grateful to the Day newspaper for its commitment to human rights and the ideals of the United Nations on that organization’s sixtieth anniversary.

Gala Concert in October

International Human Rights Film FestivalDecember

Established only two years ago, this event has become a successful vehicle promoting the issue of human rights through the medium of fi lm. The long term goal of the IHRFF is to foster human rights culture, underpin and strengthen the principles of human dignity, solidarity and mutual understanding and communication among people living in Ukraine.

UNICEF is mounting its fi rst-ever global advocacy and fundraising campaign for children and adolescents infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

The Global Campaign on Children and AIDS responds to the lack of attention given to the needs of children and adolescents suffering directly or indirectly from the pandemic. The campaign will focus on primary prevention, keeping parents alive and ensuring services for children infected and affected, including orphans.

The six-year campaign will involve all countries with a UNICEF presence, country offi ces and national committees alike, and is a commitment to closely work together and form a unifi ed and powerful response. The campaign is both global in scope with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa, the region hardest hit and least able to cope, and regional and national in designing targeted responses best addressing the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS.

Across the globe, some 15 million children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. More than 2 million children are HIV positive and more than half a million children died last year of AIDS related causes. Millions more have been made vulnerable by the disease, as HIV/AIDS both thrives on and exacerbates other challenges, including poverty, armed confl ict, ignorance and gender discrimination, and is rolling back decades of progress in child survival in several countries.

The front line of the response for children affected by HIV/AIDS is families and com-munities, whose capacity to care and cope is being stretched beyond limits. Thousands of small-scale grassroots programmes have been implemented by individuals, community-based agencies, faith-based organizations and non-governmental organisations, but organized interventions have reached only a tiny fraction of the most vulnerable children in the countries hardest hit by the pandemic.

The vast majority of children affected by HIV/AIDS and their families are facing their grief and struggling to survive without assistance.

UNICEF believes the current incremental improvements in funding and focus on children are inadequate. There is an urgent need to massively upscale the response for children and adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS, and mobilize partnerships and resources necessary to do so.

9

IOM honours Ukrainians who fi ght human traffi cking Kyiv, Ukraine. 9 September, 2005.

Kateryna Yushchenko, Ukraine’s fi rst lady, delivered the keynote speech at the International Organization for Migration’s Counter-Traffi cking Pro-gramme this evening.

‘Slavery is incompatible with democracy. It penetrates where unemployment and poverty dominate. It is blossoming where human rights are neglected, where communities are separated from true and objective information. Our duty is to speak openly about the scale of this crime, about its causes and consequences,’ Mrs Yushchenko declared.

The Ukrainian music group Okean Elzy, the MTV Europe Foundation and IOM launched a joint traffi cking prevention campaign at the cer-emony.

Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS

The campaign is focused around Okean Elzy’s 30-city fall tour and will offer around 100,000 concertgoers information about how to protect themselves if going abroad to work, study ortravel. The campaign also includes television spots and advertisements.

During the ceremony, MTV Europe Foundation Director Thomas Ehr announced that MTV will return to Ukraine to fi lm a concert by Okean Elzy, as part of a documentary for the MTV EXIT campaign to end exploitation and traffi cking.

Okean Elzy performed an acoustic version of their latest song Vyshche Neba (‘Higher than the Sky’), to the delight of ceremony guests. Individuals and organizations who have distin-guished themselves with dedication and courage in the struggle against human traffi cking received awards from the partners in the international coalition that is fi ghting traffi cking in Ukraine.

Yana Sharun, a young woman from Eastern Ukraine, was honoured for helping to rescue a friend trapped in slavery, then supported her while she testifi ed in criminal trials in Ukraine and abroad. Swedish Ambassador to Ukraine John-Christer Ahlander congratulated Ms Sharun for her efforts.

Minister of the Interior Yuriy Lutsenko, and Mrs Helene Chraye of the European Commission Delegation in Ukraine presented awards to law enforcement offi cials. Minister for Youth & Sports Yuriy Pavlenko honoured the Ternopil non-governmental organization Revival of the Nation.

U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John E. Herbst presented an award to Father Andriy Pinchuk, an Orthodox priest who supported an eleven year old victim of sexual exploitation while she returned to life in Ukraine and received an education. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Valentyn Nalivaychenko awarded Ukrainian Vice Consul in Turkey Bogdan Sergiichuk for his work with Turkish law enforcement in the rescue of over 100 victims of traffi cking. He helped them return home to Ukraine and other countries and even participated in several police raids.

Numerous media outlets, including fi ve national television stations, covered the awards ceremony, thus reaching a nationwide audience. Increased awareness about the dangers of traffi cking is crucial in helping Ukraine to ultimately eradicate this violent crime and protect Ukrainian citizens.

Ukraine is a nation strongly affected by human traffi cking. An estimated 1 in 10 Ukrainians know someone in their community who has been affected by traffi cking and approximately 5 – 7million Ukrainians are abroad, many without legal protection.

For further information, please contact:

Wendy Lu McGillIOM KievTel: + 38 44 568 5015E-mail: pr@iom.kiev.ua

For more information about MTV EXIT, go to www.mtvexit.org

UN Days in September - December

September 2005

October 2005

November 2005

December 2005

Women in Industry Day (UNIDO)International Literacy Day (UNESCO)International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer International Day of Peace World Gratitude Day World Tourism Day (WTO) World Maritime Week (IMO)

International Day of Older Persons World Habitat Day (UNCHS) World Teachers Day (UNESCO) Universal Postal Union Day (UPU) International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction World Post Day (UNPA) World Mental Health Day Day of Solidarity with South African Political Prisoners World Standards Day World Food Day (FAO) International Day for the Eradication of Poverty United Nations Day World Development Information DayDisarmament Week

International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict International Day for Tolerance Africa Industrialization Day Universal Children’s Day World Television Day International Day for the Elimination of Violence against WomenInternational Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

World AIDS Day International Day for the Abolition of Slavery International Day of Disabled Persons International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development International Civil Aviation Day Human Rights Day International Mountain Day International Migrants Day United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation

6 September8 September16 September20 September21 September27 September26 – 30 September

1 October 3 October 5 October 6 October 12 October 9 October 10 October 11 October 14 October 16 October 17 October 24 October 24 October 24 – 30 October

6 November

16 November20 November20 November21 November 25 November 29 November

1 December 2 December 3 December 5 December 7 December 10 December 11 December 18 December 19 December

UN D

ays