| |  | |  UN, guarding Gbagbo, begins human rights probe The UN has issued a statement saying that none of its peacekeepers in Cote d'Ivoire participated in the arrest Monday of incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, who has since requested protection from the world body, which is investigating allegations of human rights abuses. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that Gbagbo's safety should be ensured, adding that "we have to help [Ivorians] to restore stability, rule of law, and address all humanitarian and security issues." Reuters (4/12), CBC.ca (Canada)/The Associated Press (4/11)     
|  |  | [Gadhafi's] children, family cannot take part in the political future of Libya." Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini. Click here for the full story. |
|  | "In a somewhat ironic turn of events, Gbagbo and his wife are now in the custody of Outtara in the Golf Hotel -- the very same hotel that Gbagbo apparently tried to bomb just two days ago." UN Dispatch |
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- UN moves on special courts for Somali pirates
A special court for Somali pirates has won the backing of the UN Security Council, but members are noncommittal over how to implement the idea and where the trials will be held. The council on Monday instructed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to propose a detailed plan within two months. Reuters (4/11) - UN's aggressive stance reflects original vision
 The United Nations has recently moved to actively incorporate the "responsibility to protect" doctrine into its intervention strategy around the globe, throwing military capabilities into ending conflicts in Libya, Cote d'Ivoire and Iraq, while maintaining 17 large peacekeeping missions. While this represents a departure from the way the UN has operated in recent decades, it more accurately reflects the original "collective security" vision for the body to deter aggression, end disorder and promote stability. The Huffington Post (4/11) - Japan crisis highlights role of social media
Social media sites have played a critical role in the response to the environmental and nuclear disasters in Japan. By way of example, two tweets via Twitter by U.S. Ambassador John Roos resulted in a string of responses that resulted in Japan's Ground Self-Defense Forces evacuating some 80 patients from one hospital to another 30 kilometers from quake-stricken nuclear reactors. USA TODAY (4/12) - Funding delay could hamper disease efforts
The suspension of aid by donor countries to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria could have repercussions in countries planning for the long-term care of stricken patients, according to the fund's executive director. Global Fund executive director Michel Kazatchkine said, "I think the money will be paid, but there will be a psychological effect" on health ministries in recipient countries. AlertNet/Reuters (4/11) - Japan's nuclear crisis ranks with worst in history
The Japanese nuclear regulatory agency, after a review of what it says is new data, has characterized the early days of the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant as comparable to the 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl plant in the former Soviet Union. The agency raised the alert level from a 5 to a 7, which means the release of radioactive material -- much higher than initially reported -- is likely to result in long-lasting damage to the country's ecology and damage the health of those exposed to high doses of radiation. Reuters (4/12), The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (4/11) - Africa's gays battle discrimination, violence
Gays across Africa find themselves living under siege in a discriminatory political climate that appears broadly indifferent to a rash of violent attacks against gays. Politicians in several African countries, including Malawi and Senegal, are lashing out at gays and pushing legislation to prosecute them, while women in the gay community in South Africa find themselves battling the scourge of corrective rape. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (4/11) 
- Belarus orders tightened security after bombing
Authorities in Belarus have ordered heightened security after a bomb ripped through a Minsk subway station killing 12 people and injuring about 200 others. President Alexander Lukashenko called the bombing an attempt to destabilize the country raising fears among opposition figures the autocratic leader might use Monday's attack as a reason to further stifle political opponents. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)/Reuters (4/12), Bloomberg (4/12) - Germany questions commander action in Afghan UN slayings
German politicians and military officials are questioning why the commander of German troops stationed just a few miles from the United Nations compound in Mazar-e-Sharif where a mob attacked killed 7 UN staff April 1. German military reports indicate that Afghans called for help too late, but critics charge the tragedy could have been prevented had the German commander -- who reportedly was informed in advance protests over a U.S. pastor's Quran burning would occur -- deployed his forces earlier. Der Spiegel (Germany) (English online version) (4/11)
- Stand Up Against Child Marriage
One in seven girls in developing countries is married by age 15. Child brides are often separated from friends and family and are denied an education. They are also at higher risk for violence, HIV and death during pregnancy or childbirth. The United Nations Foundation's Girl Up campaign is asking for your help to bring awareness to the issue of child marriage in developing countries by signing a petition asking the Obama administration to take action to stop child marriage. There will be more than 100 million child brides in the next decade if we don't act now. |
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