IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde Calls for Bold, Broad and Accelerated Policy Actions
Press Release No. 16/83
February 27, 2016
Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today at the conclusion of the Group of 20 (G20) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Shanghai, China:

“This G20 met at a moment when uncertainty and increasing downside pressures could put at risk the global economic recovery. In response, G20 members expressed a strong sense of urgency to implement the policy actions needed to contain risks and strengthen growth.

“We recognized the many challenges facing the global economy at present: volatile markets and capital flows; economic transition and tightening financial conditions in many countries; the large drop in commodity prices, including oil; and escalated geopolitical tensions, including the large number of refugees in some regions.

“Against this backdrop, I welcome the G20’s agreement to do more to achieve our common objectives for global growth. That means using all available policy tools:

:: First, a broad-based response at the national level. In advanced economies, this requires a mix of mutually reinforcing demand and supply policies, including continued accommodative monetary policy and supportive fiscal policies–making the best possible use of fiscal space (for example, through infrastructure spending). In emerging economies, it requires reducing vulnerabilities and rebuilding resilience–strengthening fiscal buffers and diversifying growth models in commodity-exporting countries, for example.

:: Second, bold multilateral actions. This requires following through on past G20 commitments and, in particular, renewed momentum this year to deliver on the goal of achieving 2 percent additional growth by 2018. Reinvigorated structural reforms are a critical element of the necessary policy package, and I welcome the G20’s commitment to enhance this agenda by formulating a set of principles to guide prioritization. The IMF is pleased to support this effort.

“The G20 also emphasized the importance of an adequate and effective global financial safety net. The IMF has been tasked with analyzing this issue further and we will report back at the next G20 meeting in April.

“In summary, at this meeting, the G20 recognized that while the global recovery continues, it remains too weak and uneven–and falls short of our collective ambition for strong, sustainable and balanced growth. To confront this challenge, we need action now….

United Nations – Secretary General, Security Council, General Assembly  [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.un.org/en/unpress/
Selected Press Releases/Meetings Coverage

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3 March 2016
SC/12271
Humanitarian Chief Urges More Pressure on Parties in Yemen Conflict to Better Protect Civilians, Resume Peace Talks, during Security Council Briefing
The United Nations humanitarian chief, in a briefing to the Security Council, called today for greater international pressure on the parties to the conflict in Yemen in order to better protect civilians, facilitate relief access to all parts of the country, and encourage the resumption of peace talks and a cessation of hostilities.

2 March 2016
SC/12267
Security Council Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2270 (2016)
The Security Council today condemned in the strongest terms the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 6 January 2016 “in violation and flagrant disregard” of the relevant resolutions, its actions thereby constituting a challenge to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and to peace and stability in the region and beyond.

2 March 2016
SG/A/1639
Secretary-General Appoints Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of a Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth.

1 March 2016
DSG/SM/946
Deputy Secretary-General, at Forum on Fragility, Conflict, Violence, Stresses Need for Dynamic, Organic Link between Humanitarian Action, Development
Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the World Bank Group Forum on Fragility, Conflict and Violence, in Washington, D.C.,

UN OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/media.aspx?IsMediaPage=true
Selected Press Releases

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Apple-FBI case could have serious global ramifications for human rights: Zeid
GENEVA (4 March 2016) — The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Friday urged the US authorities to proceed with great caution in the ongoing legal process involving the Apple computer company and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), given its potentially negative ramifications for the human rights of people all over the world.

“In order to address a security-related issue related to encryption in one case, the authorities risk unlocking a Pandora’s Box that could have extremely damaging implications for the human rights of many millions of people, including their physical and financial security,” Zeid said. “I recognize this case is far from reaching a conclusion in the US courts, and urge all concerned to look not just at the merits of the case itself but also at its potential wider impact.”…

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Ukraine: Growing despair among over three million civilians in conflict zone – UN report
GENEVA (3 March 2015) – Despite a decrease in the number of civilian casualties in the east of Ukraine over the past few months, a new UN report shows that the conflict is severely impacting on the daily life of civilians, with a growing sense of despair and isolation affecting those living in the conflict zone, especially in the areas controlled by the armed groups.

“There is a terrible sensation of physical, political, social and economic isolation and abandonment among the huge number of people – more than three million in all – who are struggling to eke out a living in the conflict zone. They are in urgent need of greater protection and support,” said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein…

The full report can be found here:
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/Ukraine_13th_HRMMU_Report_3March2016.pdf

UN OCHA [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.unocha.org/media-resources/press-releases

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04 Mar 2016
Fiji: After Tropical Cyclone Winston: Fiji Humanitarian Appeal requests $38.6 million to help restore the Island nation
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Fiji (Geneva, 4 March 2016): Representatives of the Government of Fiji and the UN today launched an appeal for US$38.6 million to provide critical emergency relief to 350,000 people affected by tropical cyclone Winston. Category 5 cyclone Winston – the most devastating tropical cyclone on record in the Southern Hemisphere – struck the Pacific island nation Fiji during the night of 20 February taking more than 40 lives..
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04 Mar 2016
occupied Palestinian territory: OCHA Flash Update: Wide-scale demolitions in Khirbet Tana
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: occupied Palestinian territory On 2 March, the Israeli Civil Administration demolished 41 structures in the Area C community of Khirbet Tana, south-east of Nablus city. The demolition displaced ten families with 36 members, including 11 children, and affected the livelihoods of five additional families. Twelve of the demolished structures had been provided by the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Red Crescent…

03 Mar 2016
Fiji: International community urged to give generously to Fiji Cyclone Winston emergency response
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Fiji Suva, 4 March, 2016 The Fijian Government and the United Nations have jointly launched a US$38.6 million Humanitarian Emergency Appeal for the 350,000 people affected by Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston that is aimed at complementing the relief efforts of the Fijian Government to date. “With our tenacity and the generosity of UN member states, we must work together to meet the unprecedented need…

03 Mar 2016
Yemen: Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien Statement to the Security Council on Yemen, 3 March 2016
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Yemen Mr. President, The conflict in Yemen continues unabated since my last briefing to the Council on 16 February. By far, the most pressing concern today is the protection of civilians, millions of whom face relentless and often indiscriminate bombing and shelling of urban areas by the parties to the conflict every day…

02 Mar 2016
Sudan: Jebel Marra Crisis Fact Sheet Issue 3 I 2 March 2016
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Sudan KEY FACTS • Thousands of civilians have been displaced from the Jebel Marra area in Sudan’s Darfur region since mid-January 2016 as a result of increased hostilities between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Abdul Wahid faction of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA/AW). Hostilities continue to be reported in the Jebel Marra and prospects for the newly displaced remain uncertain…

01 Mar 2016
Myanmar: Myanmar: the plight of internally displaced people and the Muslim minority must not be forgotten [EN/MY]
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Myanmar (New York, 1 March 2016): The Director of Operations for the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, John Ging, briefed media in New York following his recent visit to Myanmar, 22 to 25 February. Myanmar is going through an impressive democratic transformation, which is unlocking significant economic growth and development. However, not everyone in Myanmar is benefiting in this transition…

28 Feb 2016
Sudan: Sudan Humanitarian Fund 2016 Positioning Paper
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Sudan Overall purpose The Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) is a country-based pooled fund that should contribute to the overall operational impact of “the provision of timely, coordinated, principled assistance to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity” within Sudan. The SHF aims to promote a strategic and coordinated response towards the highest priorities in support of the Humanitarian Response Plan…

UNICEF [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_89711.html
Selected Press Releases

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Child refugees and migrants suffer most by border restrictions: UNICEF
GENEVA, 1 March 2016 – The dire situation unfolding at border points along the Balkan land route, especially in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and in Greece, has left thousands of children stranded, distressed and at risk of poor health and abuse, UNICEF said today.

Over 40 per cent of Fiji’s children affected by Cyclone Winston, as school year begins
SUVA, 1 March 2016 – More than a week has passed since Tropical Cyclone Winston ripped through Fiji, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The latest data indicates that an estimated 347,000 people (40 per cent of the country’s total population), including 120,000 children, are directly impacted by the second-strongest storm to ever make landfall (second only to Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines).

IOM / International Organization for Migration [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.iom.int/press-room/press-releases

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03/04/16
Aid Airlift to Cyclone Winston-shattered Fiji Begins
Fiji – IOM is transporting a planeload of aid from its Administrative Centre in the Philippines to ease suffering for tens of thousands of Fijians displaced by Cyclone Winston.

Mediterranean Migrant Arrivals in 2016 Near 135,000; Deaths Reach 418
03/04/16
Greece – IOM estimates that 134,905 migrants already have crossed the Mediterranean this year. Of these, 125,819 have reached the Greek islands.

IOM Calls for Dignified, Orderly Solution to Migrant Situation in Calais
03/04/16
Belgium – The closure of part of the migrant camp in Calais this week has led to unfortunate violence which puts migrants at further risk.

Canada, IOM Complete Resettlement of 25,000 Syrian Refugees
03/01/16
Jordan -Yesterday (29/2) the last charter flight carrying Syrian refugees left Jordan for Canada.

Mediterranean Migrant Arrivals in 2016 Near 130,000; Deaths Reach 418
03/01/16
Greece – As winter nears its end, IOM estimates irregular migrant and refugee arrivals are now approaching 130,000 in the Mediterranean.

IOM Dominican Republic Resumes Voluntary Return of Vulnerable Migrants to Haiti
03/01/16
IOM, in close coordination with the Government of the Dominican Republic, has ‎helped 170 vulnerable Haitian migrants to voluntarily return to their communities of origin in Northern Haiti. Over half of the returnees were women and a third were children.
Jorge Baca, IOM Chief of Mission in the Dominican Republic, said: “Despite the historic opportunity that the National Regularization Plan has meant to irregular migrants in the Dominican Republic, many were not able to register. This, plus the fact that there are very few income generating activities or jobs available to them, is pushing families to opt for a dignified return solution like IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) program.”

Benefits and Challenges of Migration Outlined in New Asia-Pacific Report
03/01/16
Thailand – Migrants from countries across Asia and the Pacific play a key role as development actors, helping drive GDP growth in their countries of destination, while also supporting families and communities in their countries of origin. But the benefits of migration remain under-acknowledged, according to a new UN / IOM report.

UN Women [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.unwomen.org/news/stories

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Date: 04 March 2016
UN Women strongly condemns the murder of human rights defender and Honduran indigenous leader Berta Cáceres
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, UN Women, strongly condemns the murder on 3 March of indigenous leader, environmentalist and defender of human rights, Berta Cáceres, who was shot in her home in the city of La Esperanza in western Honduras.

Message by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2016
Date: 03 March 2016
This year’s celebration of International Women’s Day is the first within the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are confidently asserted in that Agenda as intrinsic to progress. In her 2016 message, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka says: “Each one of us is needed—in our countries, communities, organizations, governments and in the United Nations—to ensure decisive, visible and measurable actions are taken under the banner: Planet 50-50: Step It Up for Gender Equality.”

Landmark ruling in Guatemala a victory against sexual violence in armed conflict
Date: 03 March 2016
On 26 February, a Guatemalan court convicted two former military officers of crimes against humanity against 11 indigenous Q’eqchi’ women who were subjected to sexual violence, sexual and domestic slavery, the forced disappearance of their husbands, as well as the murder and cruel treatment of a woman and her two small daughters. The historic verdict is being hailed by human rights experts as a major victory in accountability for conflict-related sexual violence

Advocacy and laws confront trafficking across the Arab States
Date: 03 March 2016
A three-year anti-trafficking programme supported by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women is boosting legal enforcement against the crime in Egypt, Jordan and Morocco.

Women must be at the centre of the response to the Zika virus, says UN Women Executive Director
Date: 29 February 2016
In a statement, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka says the public response to the Zika virus epidemic must recognize its impact on women’s lives, and ensure that their health and social needs are met. She stresses UN Women’s efforts to ensure that women are empowered, their contributions recognized, and their rights and health—including sexual and reproductive rights—kept firmly at the centre of the response.

WHO & Regionals [to 5 March 2016]

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Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER) 4 March 2016, vol. 91, 9 (pp. 105–120)
Contents:
105 Progress towards measles elimination in Nepal, 2007–2014
112 Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in Liberia: national expert group meeting, 15–19 September 2015

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Disease Outbreak News (DONs)
:: Zika virus infection – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1 March 2016
:: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia 29 February 2016
:: Zika virus infection – Trinidad and Tobago 29 February 2016

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:: WHO Regional Offices
WHO African Region AFRO
:: WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Moeti concludes official visit to Cote d’Ivoire
Abidjan, 3 March 2016 – The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti concluded a three day official visit to Cote d’Ivoire yesterday. The visit began on Monday 29 February and was aimed at further strengthening collaboration between WHO and the Government of Cote d’Ivoire…

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
:: PAHO/WHO calls on countries to strengthen surveillance of birth defects, including microcephaly (03/03/2016)

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
:: Media Statement on World Birth Defects Day 03 March 2016

WHO European Region EURO
No new digest content identified.

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: Countries urged to enhance preparedness and readiness measures for Zika virus infection in the Region 3 March 2016
:: Life-saving medical supplies reach besieged city in Syria
2 March 2016 – Today, WHO delivered urgently needed medicines, including antibiotics and painkillers, to the besieged city of Mouadamieh, 10 km south of Damascus. Since January 2016, WHO has delivered medicines, medical supplies and vaccines to a number of hard-to-reach areas in Syria, but at times has faced the challenge of having vital medicines removed from shipments depriving people of vital medical support.

WHO Western Pacific Region
:: WHO and partners reflect on the outcomes of the Conference of Parties on climate change
MANILA, 2 March 2016 – From 30 November to 11 December 2015, world leaders, climate change experts, representatives from the private sector and civil society organizations met in Paris to set a new standard for dealing with complex global problems posed by climate change. In all, 195 countries committed to limit the temperature increase to well below two degrees Celsius. This United Nations Conference of Parties on climate change, (COP 21) resulted in a major agreement and “a huge flame of hope.”

UNAIDS [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/

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02 March 2016
Countdown to the 2016 United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS
GENEVA, 2 March 2016—In just under 100 days’ time the 2016 United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS will take place in New York, United States of America. The meeting, being held from 8 to 10 June, will focus attention on the importance of accelerating the response to HIV over the next five years to set the world on course to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals…

… “We are at a critical moment in the response to the AIDS epidemic,” said Mr Lykketoft. “All Member States must work together on a strong political declaration that will create the conditions needed to Fast-Track action and end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.”

UNDP United Nations Development Programme [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter.html

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Mar 3, 2016
Helen Clark: 2030 Agenda and the SDGs in Fragile States European Parliament

UNDP supports Costa Rica’s pineapple sector to take critical steps towards sustainability
Mar 3, 2016 — One of the world’s biggest pineapple producing countries – Costa Rica – has officially adopted a widely endorsed action plan to tackle serious social and environmental concerns in this critical sector.

On World Wildlife Day UN Implores Urgent Action to End Poaching Crisis
Mar 3, 2016New York – As the world marks the third World Wildlife Day under the theme “The future of wildlife is in our hands”, the United Nations announced today plans for a Global Coalition campaign to end the illegal trade in wildlife.

Ending gender-based violence essential to achieving sustainable development
Mar 2, 2016 Ending violence against women requires the development of integrated approaches and new forms of collaboration, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today, calling it “one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world”.

Helen Clark: Statement at High-Level Segment of the 31st Session of the Human Rights Council.
Feb 29, 2016 Palais des Nations – Geneva

Helen Clark: Speech at High-Level Panel Discussion at the UN Human Rights Council on human rights
Feb 29, 2016 Palais des Nations – Geneva

UNEP United Nations Environment Programme [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.unep.org/newscentre/?doctypeID=1

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04/03/2016
Wangari Maathai’s Legacy Feted across Africa

03/03/2016
Boosting Women’s Access to Natural Resources Critical for Africa’s Development
On Africa Environment Day-Wangari Maathai Day, countries discuss ways to close the gender gap in natural resource management

03/03/2016
On World Wildlife Day UN Implores Urgent Action to End Poaching Crisis
Levels of elephant poaching in Africa remain alarmingly high, says CITES

UNESCO [to 5 March 2016]
http://en.unesco.org/news
Selected Press Releases/News

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3 March 2016
Women on the frontline, protecting World Heritage
n°78 – February 2016
World Heritage and gender equality
It is increasingly recognized that culture has an essential role to play as a driver of sustainable development, contributing to the eradication of poverty and enhancing social inclusion. Culture helps to define people’s identities and determines the way they shape their future. Gender equality, which is a UNESCO priority, refers to the roles and responsibilities of men and women and gender dynamics within families, societies and cultures.

2 March 2016
New Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
The launch of an ambitious new three-year scientific assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services was announced on 28 February 2016 at the close of a week-long meeting of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The new global assessment, for completion by 2019, will measure progress towards meeting commitments under the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity of the United Nation’s Convention on Biological Diversity (the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, 2011-2020) and the recently adopted Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

29 February 2016
UNESCO and ICRC partner on the protection of culture heritage in the event of armed conflict
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, signed a partnership agreement paving the way for the two organizations to undertake joint projects to enhance the protection of cultural heritage in the event of armed conflict.

UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press/allpress.html?ref=fp

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03/03/2016 –
On World Wildlife Day UN Implores Urgent Action to End Poaching Crisis
New York, 3 March 2016 – As the world marks the third World Wildlife Day under the theme “The future of wildlife is in our hands”, the United Nations announced today plans for a Global Coalition campaign to end the illegal trade in wildlife.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on UN agencies, CITES and partners to provide a coordinated response to wildlife crime and spread the message that there should be zero tolerance for poaching.
“Time is running out to save some of the world’s most iconic species,” he said. “Much more needs to be done by key actors on all continents and across sectors to combat poaching and address both the demand and supply of illegal wildlife products.”…

…The Global Coalition campaign announced today is a joint effort by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), CITES and other partners.
The campaign will call on individuals, businesses, civil society and academia to use their spheres of influence to end the illicit trade in wildlife and for governments to meet and scale up their recent commitments…

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02/03/2016 –
Statement on World Wildlife Day

UN-HABITAT United Nations Human Settlements Programme [to 5 March 2016]
http://unhabitat.org/media-centre/news/

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Posted March 2, 2016
Government of Japan gives USD 15 million to UN-Habitat projects in Iraq
Nairobi, 2 March 2016- United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has received USD 15 million from the Government of Japan to implement two projects in Iraq: “Gender-sensitive Durable Shelter Support for Internally Displaced Persons in Iraq” and “Promoting Urban Recovery in Newly Liberated Areas in Iraq.” The conflict with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has had profound humanitarian consequences throughout Iraq. More than three million Iraqis have fled their homes and three million more are living under ISIL control…

FAO Food & Agriculture Organization [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.fao.org/news/archive/news-by-date/2016/en/

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4-03-2016
Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean reaffirm their determination to fight hunger
Hunger eradication, climate change adaptation, and strengthening family farming are the three priorities set for FAO by governments of Latin America and the Caribbean, during the agency’s recent regional conference.

FAO Food Price Index steady in February, palm oil rises
The FAO Food Price Index was stable in February, as falling sugar and dairy prices offset a substantial jump in vegetable oil prices from the previous month. Averaging 150.2 points for the month, the FAO Food Price Index hit a new low since April 2009, down 14.5 percent from a year ago.
3-03-2016

Latin America and the Caribbean on track to eradicate hunger and poverty
“The world has entered a new era: the era of the Sustainable Development Goals,” said FAO’s Director General before representatives of the governments of Latin America and the Caribbean gathered here for the agency’s biennial regional conference.
1-03-2016

For families in Central African Republic, food situation dire
Three years of conflict and ongoing displacements in the Central African Republic (CAR) continue to disrupt agriculture and severely constrain people’s access to food, as they struggle with the effects of multiple poor harvests, disrupted markets and soaring prices, two UN agencies warned today.
29-02-2016

ILO International Labour Organization [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/lang–en/index.htm

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Multilateral system
ILO Director-General welcomes the appointment of a High-level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth
04 March 2016
A new multilateral commission will address issues in global health labour markets. Among them, labour shortages and problems of access for populations in need.

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International Women’s Day
ILO to issue new report on the status of women in the world of work
01 March 2016

ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pages/pressrelease.aspx

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29/2/16
ICAO and ACI to Enhance Cooperation on Airport Security
MONTRÉAL, 29 February 2016 – ICAO and Airports Council International (ACI) have announced a new agreement aimed at reinforcing cooperation on airport security.

The new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will see the UN aviation agency working more closely with ACI towards the objectives of ACI’s Airport Excellence (APEX) in Security programme, including working together to deliver security reviews, technical assistance, programmes for airport personnel training and the enhancement of regional partnerships…

WMO World Meteorological Organization [to 5 March 2016]
https://www.wmo.int/media/news

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4 March 2016
League of Arab States addresses climate-related hazards
The countries of the League of Arab States face significant challenges due to a variety of disaster risks, in particular those related to drought, floods, sand and dust storms, heat waves and tropical cyclones. Concerned about these challenges, representatives of Arab governments met in Amman, Jordan, on 28-29 February to review the current situation and consider a way forward.

UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.unido.org/news-centre/news.html

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Monday, 29 February 2016
UNIDO supports creation of Mesoamerican Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
VIENNA, 29 February 2016 – The General Secretariat of the Central American Integration System (SG-SICA) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) today announced a strategic partnership on the creation of a Mesoamerican Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (MCREEE)…

…Once established, the technical centre is expected to support the SICA Member States through targeted regional programmes and projects on sustainable energy in the areas of capacity development, knowledge management and exchange, technology innovation, policy and legislation, as well as investment and business promotion.

It will also contribute to better technical coordination, donor harmonisation, long-term sustainability of project interventions, as well as the documentation of lessons learned…

UNWTO World Tourism Organization [to 5 March 2016]
http://media.unwto.org/news

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1 March 2016
UNWTO and China organize First World Conference on Tourism for Development
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Government of the People’s Republic of China will organize the First World Conference on Tourism for Development in Beijing on 18-21 May 2016. Under the theme ‘Tourism for Peace and Development’, the event aims to kick start a high level debate on the contribution of tourism to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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1 March 2016
UNWTO activities at ITB Berlin 2016 to focus on the Silk Road and Child Protection
On the 50th anniversary of ITB Berlin, UNWTO’s activities at the fair will focus on the development of the Silk Road and the World Tourism Network on Child Protection. ITB will take place on 9-13 March.