| |  | |  UN report urges end to gay, transgender discrimination Countries should repeal laws that impose the death penalty for consensual homosexual sexual relations, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Thursday in the world body's first official report on gay rights. The report singles out Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen for their executions of gays, and names 76 countries that have laws criminalizing behavior on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The Washington Post/The Associated Press (12/15), United Press International (12/15), The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/Reuters (12/15)     
|  |  | Just announced @GMA! 3 Finalists: "Waiting to Meet My Hero" - "May You Stay Forever Young" "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" Congrats! @AMillionMoms" @AMillionMoms |
|  | "In what counts as a milestone in the global march toward equality, the United Nations released its first ever report on the human rights of LGBT people. While that counts as real progress, the report itself is actually kind of depressing; its title explains why: Discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity." UN Dispatch | |
- U.S. ties Palestinian funding to UN campaign
U.S. legislators have decided to continue providing aid and development funding to Palestinians provided Palestinian leadership does not seek membership in any additional United Nations bodies. Availability of the aid, which will amount to about $400 million in 2012, was put into question after UNESCO voted to give Palestinians membership. Los Angeles Times/World Now blog (12/15) - The comedic stylings of UN's Ban Ki-moon, on record
The author of Foreign Policy's Turtle Bay blog, Colum Lynch, scours the UN record for an answer to the question: How funny is Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon? "The spectacle of a man with barely a single strand of comedic DNA in his system and plagued with bad timing playing for laughs has produced some humorous moments," writes Lynch, who cites numerous episodes, many of which are steeped in self-deprecation. ForeignPolicy.com (12/16) - UN: South Sudan food needs are soaring
Disruptions in cross-border trade, crop failures and ongoing conflict have left 2.7 million South Sudanese in need of food aid moving into 2012, the United Nations World Food Programme says. South Sudan gained independence in July and has been struggling to set up effective institutions and infrastructure to provide stable governance. AlertNet/Reuters (12/15) - Kenya grapples with massive flood damage
More than 100,000 Kenyans have been affected by flooding and are in need of food, medical and shelter assistance. Kenyan authorities and aid agencies also warn that damage from the flooding has severely affected Kenya's food-security situation moving into 2012. IRINNews.org (12/15) - It is not too late to prevent looming West Africa drought
The drought that has devastated East Africa could be repeated in West Africa, as erratic rains and extended dry periods likely will inhibit food production, leading to higher prices and shortages affecting 11 million people in five countries, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and the aid agencies, the World Food Program and Oxfam. "A tragedy will be averted only by an unprecedented effort in the Sahel," said David Gressly, regional director for UNICEF. Al-Jazeera (12/16), The Guardian (London) (12/15) - Million Moms Challenge reaches Bangladesh
BRAC, which runs maternal, neonatal and child health programs that reach 24.5 million people, has partnered with the Million Moms Challenge to promote development. The group's "birthing huts" have helped lower the percentage of Bangladeshi woman giving birth in unsanitary conditions at home from 86% to 25%. ABC News/News for Moms blog (12/14) - Indonesian women, girls bear brunt of HIV surge
Mothers afflicted with HIV, as well as their daughters, are suffering disproportionately in Indonesia as a result of education and employment discrimination, compounded by financial burdens when infected partners are unable to work, according to a report of the UN Development Program. "Many HIV-positive women are being called 'bad women' or 'bad girls,' but, at the same time, many of them have to work more after their husbands were diagnosed with HIV," said Chya Wibisono of Indonesia Women's Positive Network. IRINNews.org/PlusNews (12/16) - Africa and carbon offsets
So-called "climate-smart agriculture" is designed to help prevent climate change and adapt farms to the inevitability of climate change by using farm soils to soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere -- thus generating carbon credits that can be sold to industrial polluters who want to offset their emissions. Africa is the big prize. Yale Environment 360 (12/15) - Beijing changes rules for microbloggers
Beijing authorities have announced plans to tighten controls on microblogging platforms such as Sina's Weibo by requiring users to register with their real names in a bid to better manage the flow of information. China is home to more than 300 million microbloggers, and others cities are expected follow Beijing's lead on user requirements. AlertNet/Reuters (12/16) - West calls Russia resolution on Syria insufficient
 A surprise draft resolution introduced Thursday by Russia at the United Nations Security Council demands that "all parties in Syria immediately stop any violence irrespective of where it comes from." The draft is being criticized by France and the U.S., with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton saying that it implies "a seeming parity" between the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad and "the peaceful protesters and other Syrians who are trying to defend themselves." Bloomberg Businessweek (12/16), CNN (12/15)
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