" What's in Blue " - Insights on the work of the UN Security Council

Insights on the work of the UN Security Council

When The United Nations Security Council approaches the final stage of negotiation of a draft resolution the text is printed in blue... What's in Blue helps interested UN readers keep up with what might soon be "in blue".

Security Council Reports Publications on:

Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe
Middle East
Thematic & General Issues
Security Council Statistics

 

 

 

 

 

United Nations Observances in July

July

7 July
International Day of Cooperatives

11 July
World Population Day

18 July
Nelson Mandela International Day

28 July
World Hepatitis Day [WHO]

30 July
International Day of Friendship

(Complete list of UN Observances)

International Day of Friendship 2012

30 July - International Friendship Day To mark the

The UN encourages governments, international organizations and civil society groups to hold events, activities and initiatives that contribute to the efforts of the international community towards promoting a dialogue among civilizations, solidarity, mutual understanding and reconciliation.

World Trade Report 2012

Non-tariff measures (NTMs) can serve legitimate public policy goals, such as protecting the health of consumers, but they may also be used for protectionist purposes. The Report reveals how the expansion of global production chains, climate change and the growing importance of consumer concerns in richer countries affect the use of NTMs. It also reports that such measures represent the main source of concerns for exporters. The focus of the Report is on technical barriers to trade (TBT) regarding standards for manufactured goods, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures concerning food safety and animal/plant health, and domestic regulation in services. The Report looks at the availability of information on NTMs and the latest trends concerning usage. It discusses the impact that NTMs have on trade and examines how regulatory harmonization and/or mutual recognition of standards may help to reduce any trade-hindering effects. Finally, the Report looks at international cooperation on NTMs.

World Trade Report 2012 - Trade and public policies: A closer look at non-tariff measures in the 21st century Published in 2012

> Contents, acknowledgements, disclaimer, DG Foreword and Executive Summary (15 pages; 860KB)

 

I- World trade in 2011(18 pages; 456KB)

  

II- Trade and public policies: A closer look at non-tariff measures in the 21st century

> A. Introduction(14 pages; 238KB)

> B. An economic perspective on the use of non-tariff measures(46 pages; 818KB)

> C. An inventory of non-tariff measures and services measures(40 pages; 1881KB)

> D. The trade effects of non-tariff measures and services measures(26 pages; 1126KB)

> E. International cooperation on non-tariff measures in a globalized world(60 pages; 855KB)

> F. Conclusions(4 pages; 101KB)

> Bibliography, Technical notes, Abbreviations and symbols, List of figures, tables and boxes, WTO members(27 pages; 1293KB)

    

> New dataset on TBT specific trade concerns

“It’s closer than you think” is the theme of World Hepatitis Day 2012

World Hepatitis Alliance

 

“It’s closer than you think” is the theme of this year’s World Hepatitis Day, which takes place on ?  2012.

The campaign focuses on raising awareness of the different forms of hepatitis: what they are and how they are transmitted; who is at risk; and the various methods of prevention and treatment.

Despite its staggering toll on health, hepatitis remains a group of diseases that are largely unknown, undiagnosed and untreated.

Nelson Mandela International Day - 18 July

Nelson Mandela International Day (18 July 2012) - Secretary-General's Video Message

13 Jul 2012 - Every year since 2010, on 18 July individuals around the world are encouraged to devote 67 minutes to helping others – by volunteering in a hospital, tutoring a child, providing food for the homeless, or any other community service.

The United Nations International Year on Water Cooperation

In December 2010, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2013 as the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation (Resolution A/RES/65/154). In reflection of this declaration, the 2013 World Water Day, which will take place on 22 March 2013, also will be dedicated to water cooperation. Therefore, UN-Water has called upon UNESCO to lead the 2013 United Nations International Year on Water Cooperation, in particular because of the Organization’s unique multidisciplinary approach which blends the natural and social sciences, education, culture and communication. Given the intrinsic nature of water as a transversal and universal element, the United Nations International Year on Water Cooperation naturally would embrace and touch upon all these aspects. The objective of this International Year is to raise awareness, both on the potential for increased cooperation, and on the challenges facing water management in light of the increase in demand for water access, allocation and services. The Year will highlight the history of successful water cooperation initiatives, as well as identify burning issues on water education, water diplomacy, transboundary water management, financing cooperation, national/international legal frameworks, and the linkages with the Millennium Development Goals. It also will provide an opportunity to capitalize on the momentum created at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), and to support the formulation of new objectives that will contribute towards developing water resources that are truly sustainable. Celebrations throughout the Year will include featured events at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, as well as many other events organized by various stakeholders around the world. Such events will seek to promote actions at all levels in relevant areas including education, culture, gender, the sciences, conflict prevention and resolution, as well as ethics, among others. To know more about the 2013 UN International Year of Water Cooperation please contact Lucilla Minelli at: l.minelli@unesco.org.