Cambodia: Khmer Rouge official found guilty of atrocities by UN-backed court

29 July, Ankara (UN Information Centre) – Three decades after nearly 2 million people perished under Khmer Rouge rule in Cambodia, a United Nations-backed tribunal issued its first verdict on 26 July, finding the former head of a notorious detention camp guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Kaing Guek Eav, whose alias is Duch, was sentenced to 35 years in prison by the trial chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).   more

UN Human Rights Council unveils panel to probe deadly interception of Gaza flotilla

25 July, Ankara (UN Information Centre) – The United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday announced the names of the three experts who will serve on a fact-finding mission to investigative violations of international law resulting from Israel’s interception of a flotilla of aid ships bound for the Gaza Strip, which led to the deaths of nine civilians.

Judge Karl T. Hudson-Phillips of Trinidad and Tobago, Sir Desmond de Silva of the United Kingdom and Mary Shanthi Dairiam of Malaysia will comprise the panel, the Council’s President, Ambassador Sihasak Phuangketkeow of Thailand, said.   more

UN to spotlight media’s role in promoting Middle East peace

22 July, Ankara (UN Information Centre) – The role of the media in fostering dialogue and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians will be the focus of a two-day United Nations meeting to be held later this week in Portugal’s capital, Lisbon.

The upcoming media seminar, which starts on Thursday, will be the 17th such gathering organized by the UN Department of Public Information (DPI), and aims to sensitize public opinion on the issue of Palestine and the peace process.   more

PM Erdoğan received WHO award for anti-tobacco efforts
Global Adult Tobacco Survey launched

20 July, Ankara (UN Information Centre) – Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan yesterday received World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General’s Special Recognition Award for Contribution to Global Tobacco Control.

Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO’s regional director for Europe, presented the award to PM Erdoğan at a ceremony at Ankara Rixos Hotel.

Jakab said that it is a great pleasure for her to present the award to PM Erdoğan on behalf of WHO, the Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan and all WHO staff who have worked on Turkey’s national tobacco control programmes.  more

RC Najam met WHO Regional Director

20 July, Ankara (UN Information Centre) – Shahid Najam, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ankara met with Zsuzsanna Jakab, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe yesterday who was in Ankara to present a WHO award to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

During the meeting,  Najam and Jakab, togerher with WHO country representative Maria Cristina Profili discussed issues related to how to further enhance joint action to promote WHO activities and priorities in Turkey.more

In historic move, UN creates single entity to promote women’s empowerment

New approach to HIV treatment could save 10 million lives, says UN report

'Everyone counts,' Ban says, stressing importance of census data in improving lives

11 July -With dozens of countries carrying out United Nations-supported national censuses this year, Secretary-General Ban »more

UN honours former anti-apartheid leader on first-ever Nelson Mandela Day

19 July 2010 – The United Nations is marking Nelson Mandela International Day for the first time this year in honour of the former  »more