The Responsibility to Deliver
By Ban Ki-moon

The past year was difficult for us all. I have called it “the year of multiple crises.” The next promises to be even more so.

FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf

Future of Water Is In A griculture Says Diouf
Farmers Need Help To Grow More Food With Less Water

Refugee Women Met in Cappadocia due to Women’s Day

Many refugee women from different cities attended the 2nd Cappadocia Women’s Day Meeting, which was organized by the Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants, which is the main implementation partner of UNHCR.

UN’s Water Report Calls For Urgent Action

Over 25,000 participants from 150 countries took part in the 5th World Water Forum, from March 16th to 22nd in Istanbul, making it the world’s biggest ever water-related event. One thousand media representatives followed the event.

Curriculum on the Legal Aspect of Combating Human Trafficking

In line with Turkey’s efforts on counter trafficking a European Commission funded project titled “Supporting Turkey’s efforts to combat human trafficking and promote access to justice for all trafficked

Smart Water Solutions a Win-Win for Poor Farmers

Andean mountain communities are being encouraged to take part in competitions to show off their local ingenuity and traditional conservation methods. Sceptical farmers in Niger are invited to visit neighbouring Burkina Faso to see how traditional water harvesting and soil fertility pits (tassas) have transformed harvests in a rain-deprived country. Research institutes in Dubai are supported to invest in replicable systems to use salt water to irrigate date palms in the desert.

IFAD

IFAD was created 30 years ago to tackle rural poverty, a key consequence of the droughts and famines of the early 1970s. Since 1978, IFAD has invested more than US$10 billion in low-interest loans and grants that have helped over 400 million very poor rural women and men increase their incomes and provide for their families. IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency. It is a global partnership of OECD, OPEC and other developing countries. Today, IFAD supports more than 200 programmes and projects in 85 developing countries and one territory.

Secretary-General Calls for Release of Detained and Missing UN Staff

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined United Nations colleagues today in calling for the release of the 19 staff members of the world body detained or missing around the globe.

Racism Denies Fundamental Right to Equality, Say Top UN Officials

Top United Nations officials have called for strengthening collective efforts to combat racism and work towards the goal of equality among all human beings, as they marked the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Afghanistan Drug treatment centre

Lack of Security Main Obstacle to Stop Opium Growing in Afghanistan, Says INCB

Despite the shrinking cultivation areas of opium poppy in Afghanistan, the country still is the source of over 90 per cent of the illicit opium in the world. The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) warned today that the lack of security is severely hampering the efforts to tackle the drug problem. In its Annual Report released today, INCB exposes the increasing danger for those involved in eradication in the country. During the harvesting season 2007/2008, 78 persons working in opium eradication lost their lives in Afghanistan, a sixfold increase over the previous season.

Global Leaders to Convene in Istanbul at Premier Forum to Advance Intercultural Understanding
6-7 April 2009
Several Major Innovative Projects to be Announced

Left to right: Member of Parliament Prof. Cevdet Erdöl, Member of Parliament Prof. Gaye Erbatur, UNICEF Turkey Representative Reza Hossaini, Minister of Health Prof. Recep Akdag and Member of Parliament Nevzat Korkmaz

UNICEF Annual Report Launched in Ankara

UNICEF’s flagship annual report, ‘The State of the World’s Children’ was unveiled by UNICEF Turkey Representative Reza Hossaini in Ankara on Thursday January 15 as part of its worldwide launch.

UNFPA Rep Peer Sieben and State Minister Nimet Çubukçu at the meeting

“Pomegranate Arils: Stronger Young Women, a Happier Future”

We seek to support 18-24 years old young women who grew up in orphanages to get employed and to start their own life.

Memorandum of Understanding Signed for Decent Work Country Priorities

Photo by Bekir Özden © UNICEF Türkiye 2009

Turkish Universities are Advocating for Child Rights

More countries expected to follow Turkey’s lead in promoting responsible news reporting on child rights.

Five Turkish universities are leading the way in European journalism studies by agreeing to introduce a new child rights syllabus into their degree courses.

The child rights syllabus, promoted by UNICEF, has been created, written and designed by the Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland. A team composed of academicians from Communication Faculties of Istanbul University, Galatasaray University, Gazi University, Ankara University and Anadolu University are currently working on the adaptation of political, social/cultural and legal structure of Turkey.

Courtesy of Jean Plantu

Six Decades Ago on May 29, the United Nations Security Council Established Our First Peacekeeping Mission.

UN General Assembly Adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1948

World Must Work Together to Use Water Wisely – Ban

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has underscored the potential of water as a unifying force rather than a catalyst for conflict, stressing that the world's collective future depends on how it manages this precious resource.

World Water Day: Shared Water – Shared Opportunities

Participants of the 5th Water Forum, celebrated the UN World Water Day before joining the ministers for the closing ceremony of the Forum. 22 March has been celebrated as the World Water Day since 1993. This year, World Water Day is dedicated to promoting responsible cooperation between countries in managing their shared sources of freshwater.

RC Ayub and Prof Atasoy at the INCB report launch

INCB Warns About New Channels of Diversion for Amphetamine-Type Stimulants

Criminal organizations often pose as fictitious companies to obtain the chemicals they need to manufacture illicit drugs.

MUNTR meeting in Izmir

MUNTR 2009 Conference

The fifth Model United Nations Turkey (MUNTR) Conference took place under the auspices of the UN Turkey, between 9, 13 March 2009, at Yasar University Selçuk Yasar Campus, in Izmir. MUNTR 2009, which is the fifth annual MUNTR conference,

Ahmet Parla
Aygen Aytaç
Ayşe Selçuk Gencer
Halide Çaylan
Meltem Ağduk
Metin Çorabatır
Müveddet Farrell
Nezih Tavlaş
Pınar Perçinel
Selin Arslan
Sema Hosta
Şehnaz Tanılkan

Web Design By : A. ilker Bekarslan

Growing Green
Ban Ki-moon and Al Gore

Economic stimulus is the order of the day. This is as it must be, as governments around the world struggle to jump-start the global economy.

ILO Celebrates 90 Years Working for Social Justice

This year ILO celebrates its 90th anniversary. With the financial crisis sending shock waves around the world, the vision and mandate of the ILO are relevant as never before.

Water Exhibit in Istanbul

Water Exhibit prepared by the American Museum of Natural History has been brought to Turkey under the framework of the partnership initiative between UNDP and The Coca-Cola Company. Held as part of the events of the 5th World Water Forum, the exhibit at Istanbul Technical University Natural History and Science Museum will be open until June 14.

Photo by Sadik Demiröz

ILO Ankara Office has Launched a Project on Enhancing Women Employment in order to Raise Awareness on Women Employment in Turkey

Women’s low labour force participation and employment rates are among the most important issues in the field of employment in Turkey.

ILO Releases Reports on Global Employment Trends and Global Employment Trends for Women Report

ILO’s Global Employment Trends Report 2009 was released in January. According to this report, the global economic crisis

Drum Beats Mark UN Remembrance of Slave Trade

The powerful sounds of musicians, drummers and steel bands echoed through the United Nations complex in New York today in a celebration of the world’s common humanity and in commemoration of the victims of the African slave trade.

Rate of Epidemic’s Decline too Slow, Says Ban on World TB Day

TB patient signs a register after taking his medication24 March 2009 – A new United Nations report notes that the percentage of the global population falling ill to tuberculosis is dropping annually,

International Drug Control Conventions a Major Achievement of International Cooperation, Says INCB

Challenges remain, particularly on access to controlled medicines, inconsistent application of provisions over cannabis, and drug abuse prevention

West Africa now Major Hub for Smuggling Cocaine from South America into Europe, Says INCB

Cocaine consignments destined mainly for illicit markets in Europe are increasingly smuggled through West Africa.

IYA 2009

The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is a global effort initiated by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and UNESCO to help the citizens of the world rediscover their place in the Universe through the day- and night-time sky, and thereby engage a personal sense of wonder and discovery.

World Water Day 2009
Managing the World’s Water Resources Key for Future Generations

World Water Day 2009 calls for collective action to tackle the issue of access to safe drinking water and water sharing. This year’s theme -- transboundary waters -- aims to increase global understanding of the need to manage water resources in an integrated manner.

International Year of Gorilla

Concerted conservation and restoration efforts focus on saving gorilla populations in the wild and their habitats. However, gorillas remain on the brink of extinction, and continue to face severe threats.

UNIC Ankara Visited Büyük Kolej

On 28 March, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Ankara organized a conference at Büyük Kolej High School. UN Information Officer briefed students on the UN and its activities.