| |  | |  North Korea is chastised by UN as Kim's successor is named Two days after the death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to pass a nonbinding resolution calling upon the country to end to the "systematic, widespread and grave violations of human rights" that "have led to severe malnutrition, widespread health problems and other hardship for the population," especially women, children and the elderly. Countries have been holding urgent talks on the implications of Kim's death, with the U.S. asking the country to pursue a "path of peace." The Washington Post/The Associated Press (12/19), BBC (12/20), Los Angeles Times (12/19)     
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|  | "President Obama ... signed an executive order to mandate the implementation of a sweeping new US government plan to include women in peacemaking and security roles around the world. The National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security instructs the disparate elements of the government's foreign policy machine to pro-actively seek women's engagement and women's empowerment abroad as a tool to advance the American economic and security interests." UN Dispatch | |
- Syria allows monitors amid UN condemnation
Syria on Monday agreed to allow monitors into the country as part of a plan by the Arab League to stop the violence that has killed more than 5,000 people, mostly unarmed anti-government protesters -- a bloody nine-month campaign condemned on the same day by the UN General Assembly. The UN resolution came as more than 70 army deserters were allegedly gunned down by Syrian troops as they fled bases to join the protests, while another 40 people were reportedly killed elsewhere in the country, one of the deadliest days, so far. Reuters (12/19), Bloomberg Businessweek (12/20), BBC (12/20) - TV viewers help fund developing world health programs
ABC News television viewers have provided almost $1.5 million to help fund public health programs to support women and children in the developing world. Clean water supply projects in Ethiopia and Bangladesh, and anti-malnutrition programs in Somalia and Guatemala are among the initiatives that have received the financial support. ABC News (12/19) - U.S. to train female conflict negotiators
The U.S. will work to ensure women play a bigger role in developing conflict-resolution strategies around the world with trainings and other activities to give women a greater voice, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says. Less than 10% of those working as negotiators or mediators are women, according to the United Nations. AlertNet/Reuters (12/19) - Family planning makes inroads across Africa
Family planning is beginning to take hold in Africa even as the continent's population remains on track to double in size by 2045. Cultural resistance and lack of access remain challenges to efforts to reduce fertility rates and stabilize population growth. The Economist (12/17) - Guyana plan to protect rain forest falters
Guyana's efforts to launch a carbon-credit plan to protect the country's rain forests have stalled as authorities have been unable to successfully present proposals to win funding. United Nations-backed plans for wealthy countries and the private sector to pay developing countries to protect their forests have stumbled over concerns around corruption and the lack of a global greenhouse-gas emissions reduction treaty. AlertNet/Reuters (12/19) - After militants, UN is restoring lives in Pakistan tribal areas
The UN Development Program has been selected to lead an initiative that would help Pakistanis kick-start their livelihoods in tribal lands from which militants have been driven out. Other UN agencies, such as UNICEF and the UN refugee agency, already have begun work restoring agriculture, livestock, fisheries, water and sanitation in Mohmand and Bajaur. DAWN Media Group (Pakistan) (12/18) - UN Foundation's Calvin highlights 2011 advances
United Nations Foundation supporters and partners achieved significant milestones in 2011 to help advance solutions to development and public health concerns around the world, writes Kathy Calvin, CEO of the UN Foundation. Girl Up campaigners have been working to help their counterparts in Liberia, Malawi and elsewhere, and the world saw the vaccination of the one billionth child against measles. The Case Foundation (12/19)
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Nigerian farmers have been slow to get behind a government effort to bolster food self-sufficiency by promoting the cultivation of cassava and reducing imports of rice and wheat. The policy will ban the import of cassava beginning next year and offer tax rebates for millers who use at least 40% of cassava flour in bread-making. 
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