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| The national magazine of the United Nations Association of Australia Weekly News Summary No 125 compiled from Federal parliamentary and other sources relevant to Australia’s obligations to the United Nations ISSN 1035-218X No 209 March 31, 2000 Editor: Ian Mathews Ph: (02) 6281 4025 Fax (02) 6285 2529 website: www.unaa.org.au
Government 'goes after' UN committee system The Federal Government will conduct what it calls "a whole-of-government review" of the operation of the United Nations treaty committee system as it affects Australia. This has been prompted, according to a media statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs on March 30, by Australia's treatment by the UN's Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Mr Downer said the Government "was appalled at the blatantly political and partisan approach" taken by the Committee when it examined Australia's periodic reports in Geneva last week. In his statement, Mr Downer said, "Since 1996, the Government has actively prompted reforms to the UN treaty body system. Notwithstanding that our efforts have attracted support from a good range of countries including Canada, New Zealand, and Norway there has been little apparent change in the way the treaty committees operate. "The burdensome reporting requirements imposed by these committees have become too great for most member states. More often than not, governments are overdue with reports and often committees consider them years after they are lodged. In many cases, there is an over-emphasis on non-government submissions. This has led to a growing perception that the committees are pursuing political agendas rather than fulfilling their "expert" objectives. "In this context, the Government was appalled at the blatantly political and partisan approach" taken by the Committee when it examined Australia's periodic reports in Geneva last week. The Government approached the meeting seriously and in good faith, submitted detailed reporting on Australia's performance under the relevant Convention and fielded a strong delegation, led by the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Mr Ruddock. "The Committee's response was disappointing in the extreme. It largely ignored the significant progress made in Australia across the spectrum of indigenous issues. The Committee's observations are little more than a polemic attack on the Government's indigenous policies. They are based on an uncritical acceptance of the claims of domestic political lobbies and take little account of the considered reports submitted by the Government. "The CERD Committee's political approach is also demonstrated by its reference to Australia's obligations under the UN Refugee Convention -- a subject well outside its mandate. "The Cabinet has determined that it would now be appropriate to review how Australia participates in the UN treaty committee system." The Minister's statement made no reference to the current parliamentary inquiry by the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade into Australia's relations with the UN in the post Cold War environment, referred to the committee by him in November. Its terms of reference ask the parliamentary committee to address several aspects relating to human rights. The chairman of the inquiry, Senator Alan Ferguson, who is currently in South America, told UNity [No 114, December 10, 1999] that the Committee's inquiry would cover all aspects of Australia's relationship with the UN. For more information and a copy of the Minister's statement, call his office (02) 6277 7500 fax (02) 6273 4112 or in Adelaide (08) 8237 7150 fax (08) 8237 7237 7950 or ph (08) 8370 9288 fax (08) 8370 8166 e-mail: A.Downer.MP@aph.gov.au UNAA president questions 'review' Professor Margaret Reynolds, national president of the United Nations Association of Australia has condemned the Government's planned review of the UN Committee System. In a statement issued today [March 31, 2000] she said, "Alexander Downer's shock announcement of reviewing Australia's human rights reporting obligations to UN Human Rights Treaty Committees could have been received as an April Fools joke. But sadly this is the most serious undermining of Australia's proud tradition within the UN since its inception in !945. "Firstly it is quite unacceptable to pretend that Australia can maintain its commitment to the various human rights treaties but at the same time refuse to participate in the UN Committee process. This threatens the entire human rights protection system which has been built up gradually and with much resistance from many member states. "So the message Australia is sending to the world is 'sign these international treaties but then ignore any monitoring process'. "Of course the system is slow and cumbersome and undervalued by so many nations, but it is the best mechanism available until countries fully implement their own Bills of Rights. Australia is rejecting human rights' standards for its own citizens and severely damaging the protective mechanism for all human beings. Is this what we expect of an Australian Government that made us all so proud when we as a nation took the initiative to act to protect the East Timorese? "Secondly, the announced review signals a clear bias against protecting the rights of some of the more vulnerable in Australian society. To date the committees mentioned oversee the conventions relating to race discrimination, sex discrimination, children's rights and torture. So the government seems relaxed about abandoning indigenous peoples, people of different ethnic backgrounds, women, children, prisoners and detainees! "We can only assume that the other four human rights conventions relating to civil and political rights and its optional protocol, economic, social and cultural rights and the genocide convention will be similarly targeted. "Australians must ask why the double standard? If we seek to rely on isolationist rhetoric and practice, when will we review our participation in other economic and agricultural committees. Will we be abandoning the processes of the International Monetary Fund; the World Trade Organisation; the Committee on World Food Security? the Committee on Agriculture? "Can we expect a review of all our involvement in UN Committees as diverse as civil aviation, health and postal services? Or is Australia content to retreat only on human rights because we have been criticised for failing in our responsibility to indigenous people? "UNAA members must respond to this most serious threat to Australia's relationship with the UN. Please write to your local members and senators, letters to the editor and participate in talk back radio. "We must insist that the Government reconsider this reactive policy. Australia CAN boast a 'model nation status' in so many areas of our past work with the UN. We must rally now to protect that well-earned reputation and in the process maintain the integrity of the UN Human Rights Treaty system. For more information and comment, call Margaret Reynolds President of the UNAA Phone 0418181843 or 0363340232 E-mail: Margaret.Reynolds@bigpond.com
Australia's human rights treaty obligations The following are Australia's human rights treaties, some of which require Australia to report to the relevant UN Committee:
The Opposition spokesman for foreign affairs, Laurie Brereton, described the announcement of the Government's review of the UN treaty committee system as "a classic case of spitting the dummy". He went on, "As is very clear from the Foreign Minister's press release [see above], this is unlikely to be a genuine review, but rather a predetermined process designed to significantly downgrade Australia's participation in the UN treaty committee system and our compliance with the international standards the UN seeks to promote. "This is another step away from internationalism, away from an embrace of the world community, and towards John Howard's 'vision' of an insular, backward-looking Australia of old. What we have today is confirmation of the Howard Government's deep-seated contempt for international scrutiny of its human rights performance. "Today's announcement is a shameless response to the refusal of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to be silenced on mandatory sentencing and indigenous reconciliation. "This is a deeply embarrassing performance which can only harm Australia's international reputation and damage our national interests". For more information or a copy of Mr Brereton's statement call his office (02) 6277 4717
Democrats say Government blaming umpire The Australian Democrats described the Foreign Minister's plan for a government review of the UN treaty committee system as "a case of blaming the umpire for poor team performance." Senator Brian Greig said on March 30, "The Government should take heed of the UN Committee's constructive criticism over Australia's poor performance on indigenous affairs, rather than go on the defensive and set about re-structuring the Committee process. "In taking this knee-jerk reaction, Alexander Downer has overlooked an inquiry already being conducted by the Senate Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, into Australia's relations with the United Nations. "The terms of reference for that inquiry allow for the examination of the UN's treaty committee system as it affects Australia, so there is no need to duplicate the effort and conduct another inquiry. "Rather than retaliating at being called to task over our less-than-satisfactory performance, Alexander Downer should be addressing the issues highlighted by the UN Committee: that mandatory sentencing is discriminatory and disproportionately affects young Aboriginal people. "Our government appears to have inflated ideas about the 'significant progress' it has made on indigenous issues. The paltry improvements made over the past decade in the areas of Aboriginal health, life expectancy, education and housing are nothing to boast about. "On the issue of mandatory sentencing, the latest Bureau of Statistics figures release yesterday [March 29], show that Western Australia and the Northern Territory, both states with mandatory sentencing laws, have the highest rates of indigenous incarceration in the country. In the NT, 67 per cent of all prisoners are indigenous; and in WA the rate of indigenous incarceration is 21 times higher than for non-indigenous people. "Nationally, the rate of imprisonment for indigenous people is 15 times higher than for non-indigenous people." For more information or a copy of Senator Greig's statement, call his office (08) 9228 3133 or in Canberra (02) 6277 3338
Rather than repeat the welter of coverage on mandatory sentencing covered widely in the mainstream media, UNity publishes a summary of relevant statements which can be obtained by telephoning the contact numbers provided or accessing the relevant website. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 24 March adopted its concluding observations and recommendations on the report of Australia on how it implemented the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Concerns raised by the Committee included that Australian law lacked any entrenched guarantee against racial discrimination that would override any subsequent law of the Commonwealth, states, and territories. The Native Title Act, as amended in 1998, was an area of concern for the Committee. It recommended that scrutiny continue to be given to any other proposed state and territory legislation to ensure that protection of the rights of indigenous peoples would not be reduced further. The Committee stressed the role and participation of the indigenous people in decisions affecting their land rights and noted that the Convention placed importance on ensuring the 'informed consent' of indigenous peoples. Referring to reconciliation efforts, the Committee was concerned about the apparent loss of confidence by the indigenous community in the process of reconciliation. The Committee recommended that Australia take appropriate measures to ensure that the reconciliation process was conducted on the basis of robust engagement and effective leadership. Reconciliation, the Committee stated, should be genuinely embraced by both the indigenous population and the population at large. The Committee noted with grave concern that the rate of incarceration of indigenous people was disproportionately high compared to the general population. Concern was also expressed that the provision of appropriate interpretation services was not always fully guaranteed to indigenous people in the criminal process. The Committee recommended that the State party increase its efforts to seek effective measures to address the socio-economic marginalisation of Aboriginals and end the discriminatory approach to law enforcement. The Committee also noted the lack of sufficient diversionary programs for indigenous people.
The members of the Committee participating in the discussion today were Mahmoud Aboul-Nasr Michael Parker Banton, Marc Bossuyt, Brun-Otto Bryde, Ion Diaconu, Francois Lonseny Fall, Regis de Gouttes, Patricia Noyipho January-Bardill, Gay McDougall, Peter Nobel, Raghavan Vasudevan Pillai, Yuri Rechetov, Agha Shavi, Michael Sherifis, Luis Valencia Rodriguez, Mario Jorge Yutzis and Deci Zou.
Statements relevant to UN report Speaking notes for the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Philip Ruddock, who appeared before the UN Committee on March 21 are available from his office (02) 6277 7860 The Attorney-General, Daryl Williams, said on March 26 that the Government rejected the UN Committee's comments saying the report was "an unbalanced and wide-ranging attack that intrudes unreasonably into Australia's domestic affairs. We are seriously disappointed about the Committee's comments on race relations in Australia. The Committee has apparently failed to grapple with our unique and complex history. ..." In the transcript of an interview the day before [March 25], Mr Williams said, "This report will have no influence whatever on what the Government does on pretty well any of the issues in the report." For his full statement and interview transcript, call the Attorney's office (02) 6277 7300 The Attorney-General, Daryl Williams, has criticised four judges of the NSW Court of Appeal, Justices Fitzgerald, Stein, Beazley and Wood, for their condemnation of mandatory sentencing, the process of reconciliation and the lack of political will for reconciliation. He said on March 17 that he respected the right of the judiciary to raise community awareness about legal issues by explaining the role of the courts, but believed judges should refrain from commenting on politically contentious issues. For a copy of his statement, call his office (02) 6277 7300 The Australian Democrats are urging Australian voters everywhere to lobby Government Federal Members in an effort to bring on debate in the House of Representatives of the Human Rights (Mandatory Sentencing of Juvenile Offenders) Bill 1999, which was co-sponsored in the Senate by the Democrats, the ALP and the Greens. The Bill, now with the House, is in danger of being left on the Notice Paper if the Government does not allocate time for debate. The Prime Minister has ruled out a conscience vote on the Bill. For it to pass, seven Coalition members would need to cross the floor. For more information, call Senator Grieg's office (08) 9228 3133 or in Canberra Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation, responsible for the Sea of Hands campaign, has called on the Government to respect the CERD report and act on its recommendations. It criticised Minister Ruddock's reaction to the report saying the Committee's "decision was made after careful consideration by the peak international watchdog on racial discrimination, informed by a large body of evidence submitted by the Federal Government, indigenous organisations and NGOs. ..." For a copy of ANTaR's statement, call David Cooper (02) 9555 6138 The Sovereign Union of First Nations Peoples of Australia has published a series of historic documents dating back to the 1960s illustrating the Australian Government's concerns at the time over moves to raise Aboriginal issues in the UN General Assembly. For more information, call Michael Anderson 0408 331239 Other relevant contacts: ATSIC submission to UN Commission on Human Rights on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and All Forms of Discrimination (02) 6121 4000 ATSIC chairman Geoff Clark (02) 6121 4000 ATSIC Commissioner for NT (Central Zone) Alison Anderson (08) 8959 4225 Text of letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, and to UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy by Opposition Leader Kim Beazley (02) 6277 4022
The UN is to receive a "report card" on violations of human rights of Australians with a disability, according to a communique from the National Coalition on Disability and Human Rights. The statement was issued after a meeting of 31 national and state disability organisations met in Canberra on March 23. The Disability Coalition says it carried out an analysis of draft Government documents that have been prepared for a National Action Plan of Australia's performance on human rights. "Specifically, these documents set out Australia's response to UN declarations and conventions, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons (1975). The areas of criticism cover abuse and degradation of disabled people in institutions; lack of opportunities for disabled people; lack of appropriate accommodation and support services; inappropriate placement of younger disabled persons in aged care nursing homes; lack of support services for people with psychiatric disabilities; lack of facilities for women with disabilities in respect of violence and abuse; and the double disadvantage for indigenous and non-English speaking people with disabilities. For more information and the full statement, call Sue Egan 0419 659 603 or Maurice Corcoran 0419 855 735 or office (08) 8242 2700 e-mail: ddasp@ozemail.com.au
The National Council on Intellectual Disability has lodged a formal complaint with the President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 in respect of government agencies, officials and the Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Newman. The complaint relates to the alleged exclusion of people with an intellectual disability from "a vital process which is central to their well being and human rights - ie Welfare Reform." According to Mark Pattison, executive officer of the NCID, the Commonwealth Government has refused to provide an "Easy English" version of the Government's Welfare Reform paper. This amounts to "an act of disability discrimination" under the Act. For more information, call Mark Pattison (02) 6280 8858 e-mail: ncid@dice.org.au
People wishing to see the variety and level of vacancies in the International Civil Service, job classification, salary scales and daily subsistence allowances should access www.un.org/Depts/icsc Amnesty International is seeking a National Candle Day Coordinator. The appointment will be a permanent full-time position. Candle Day is Amnesty International Australia's annual national fundraising event. Applications close 7 April. For guidelines for applications and a position description, contact: Hugh Williams, Amnesty International Australia Human Resources Coordinator, Postal Bag 23, Broadway NSW 2007 ph (02) 9217 7632 Fax: (02) 9217 7677 E mail: humanresources@amnesty.org.au UNAIDS vacancy notice: UNA/P/00/06 Programme Officer, South Asia Programme Development and Management, P.5, Department of Country Planning and Programme Development, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The closing date for receipt of applications is 20 April 2000. Copies of all vacancy announcements are available on the Internet: UNAIDS Homepage http://www.unaids.org
NGO aid agencies that have launched appeals to help the people of Mozambique are:
Senator Vicki Bourne (02) 6277 3820 www.democrats.org.au ACFOA (02) 6281 1816 e-mail: acfoa@acfoa.asn.au website: www.acfoa.asn.au AusAID Fionna Douglas (02) 6206 4960 website: www.ausaid.gov.au ReliefWeb, a project of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: www.reliefweb.int e-mail info@dha.unicc.org
Diary updates, including parliamentary committee hearings To 17 October World March of Women http://www.ffq.qc.ca/marche2000/ To April 28 56th Session of the Commission on Human Rights - Geneva. 31 March Laurie Brereton, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs on nuclear disarmament at Australian Institute of International Affairs Info: (02) 6277 4717 April 2-8 Millennium Peoples Assembly Forum, Apia, Samoa. Info: E-mail: suezipp@worldcitizen.org April 5 Final public hearing Inquiry into Gene Technology for Primary Producers, Parliament House, Canberra. Info: (02) 6277 4500 April 7 World Health Day http://www.who.ch April 10-11 Visit to Canberra by Dennis Halliday re impact of sanctions on Iraq. Info: (02) 6262 9345 e-mail: clare.henderson@mapw.au.nu or Cathy Hutton, Administrator Centre for International and Public Law, Faculty of Law, ANU (02) 6249 0454 e-mail: cipl.law@anu.edu.au April 10-17 10th UN Congress on Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders, Vienna. Info: www.uncjin.org e-mail: maureen.mcgregor@cicp.un.or.at April 16-18, WFUNA Plenary Assembly, Calcutta, India. For more information, e-mail Secretary-General Roberto Masironi at Rmasironi@compuserve.com Ph: + 41 79 4162822, fax + 4122 782 02 66. or, in Australia, call David Purnell (02) 6254 1111 April 17 Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Committee public inquiry into Global Warming, Perth. Info: Roxane Le Guen (02) 6277 3525 April 23 World Book and Copyright Day www.wipo.int April 24- May 5 The 8th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, UNHQ, New York. Info: Andrey Vasilyev, Division for Sustainable Development Tel: (+1) (212) 963-5949 Fax: (+1) (212) 963-4260 E-mail: vasilyev@un.org Website: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/ April 24-May 19 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review, UNHQ Info: e-mail: clare.henderson@mapw.au.nu April 25-28 11th Global Warming International Conference and expo. Boston, USA. Info: Prof Sinyan Shen, GWIC-USA April 27-30 World Conference of the International Association of Facilitators, Toronto, Canada; info: Gilbert Brenson Lazan, IAF E-mail: iaf@neo-humanista.org or iafoffice@igc.apc.org website: www.iaf-world.org May 3 World Press Freedom Day www.unesco.org May 8 World Red Cross Day May 15 International Day of Families May 17 World Telecommunication Day May 22-26 Millennium Forum UN headquarters, New York; Info on selection process, applications; registration fee and costs; contact UNAA National Administrator David Purnell (02) 6254 1111 e-mail: cmlarkin@actonline.com.au May 31 World No-Tobacco Day www.who.org.ch/ June 4 International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression www.unicef.org June 5 World Environment Day www.unep.org June 5-9 UN General Assemble special session - Women 2000: Gender equality, development and peace for the 21st century; UNHQ New York. Info: DAW Fax: (+1) (212) 963-3463 E-mail: timothy@un.org website: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw June9-10 "A New Rights Based World Order" conferene hosted by the Association for Baha'i Studies Australia. Information Michael Curtotti michaelc@bahai.org.au June 17 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought www.unep.org June 26 International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking www.undcp.org June 26 UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture www.un.org/rights and www.universalrights.net July 1-4 2nd Asia-Pacific Conference in Canadian Studies and the Biennial Conference of the Association for Canadian Studies in Australia and New Zealand at Wollongong University. Information: Dr Gerry Turcotte, English Studies Program, Wollongong University e-mail: Gerry_Turcotte@uow.edu.au website: www.powerup.com.au/~acsanz Or Canadian High Commission (02) 6273 3844 July 3 International Day of Cooperatives July 5-8 Biennial Conference of the International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE), Canberra. Information: Conference Organisers E-mail: bes@green-innovations.asn.au website: www.anu.edu.au/cce/isee/ July 11 World Population Day www.unfpa.org July 19 — 28 HR Working Group on Indigenous Populations - Geneva. July 23-26 32nd Annual Community Development Society Conference on Community Development for a Changing World; Saint John, Canada. Info: David Bruce Tel: (+1) (506) 364-2395 Fax: (+1) (506) 364-2601 E-mail: dwbruce@mta.ca website: www.mta.ca/Research/rstp/year2000 July 30-August 4 The Millennium Connection on social change; Denver, USA; info: Linda Smith, Conference Administrator Tel: (+1) (303) 627-2796 Fax: (+1) (303) 693-5152 E-mail: milconnex@igc.org August 4-6 "Our Nuclear Responsibilities" national conference of the MAPW, ANU, Canberra. Info: Clare Henderson (02) 6262 9345 e-mail: clare.henderson@mapw.au.nu August 9 International Day of the World’s Indigenous People www.un.org/rights August 12 51st anniversary of the Geneva Convention August 17-22 World Congress on Managing and Measuring Sustainable Development, Kananaskis Village, Canada. Info: Germain Dufour, Society for World Sustainable Development E-mail: gdufour@globalcommunitywebnet.com August 26-27 UNAA National Convention, Hobart's Wrest Point Convention Centre Info: Pym Trueman (03) 62 294 269 e-mail: ptrueman@pop.hbt.tassie.net.au September 6-8 Transcending Boundaries conference re integrating people, processes and systems management; Brisbane. Info: Conference Organisers website: www.gu.edu.au/school/obh/conference2000/conference2000.html September 8 International Literacy Day September 16 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer www.unep.org September 18 — 22 Working Group to monitor and review progress made in the promotion and implementation of the right to development - Geneva. September 21 International Day of Peace www.un.org/peace Last week in September World Maritime Day www.imo.org October 1 International Day of Older Persons October 2 —13 Working Group established to elaborate a draft optional protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment - Geneva. October 4 World Habitat Day October 9 World Post Day October 13 International Day for Disaster Reduction October 16 World Food Day www.fao.org and www.wfp.org October 16 — 27 Working Group on the draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples established in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 1995/32 - Geneva. October 17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty October 19-28 International Youth Parliament 2000, Sydney. Info: Community Aid Abroad-Oxfam Australia (02) 9264 1399 October 24-30 Disarmament Week www.un.org/peace October 24 United Nations Day October 24 World Development Information Day www.undp.org October 28 Universal Children’s Day (Australia) November 14 International Diabetes Federation & WHO World Diabetes Day November 16 International Day of Tolerance November 20 Africa Industrialisation Day www.un.org/Depts/eca November 21 World Television Day www.unesco.org November 27-December 2 World Heritage Committee, Cairns Info: UNESCO Commission (02) 6261 2037 November 29 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People December 1 World AIDS Day www.unaids.org December 2 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery www.un.org/rights and www.universalrights.net December 3 International Day of Disabled Persons www.who.org.ch/ December 5 International Volunteer Day for Economic & Social Development www.un.org/ecosocdev December 7 International Civil Aviation Day www.cam.org/Icao December 10 Human Rights Day. www.unhchr.ch and http://www.un.org/rights and www.universalrights.net December 11 World Asthma Day. WHO info: e-mail: rozovi@who.ch website: http://www.who.ch/ December 29 International Day for Biological Diversity www.unesco.org January 8-26, 2001 58th session of UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in New York. United Nations International Years This year (2000) is the International Year for the Culture of Peace For a full list of International Years from 1959, call the UN Information Centre, Sydney, (02) 9262 5111 or Fax (02) 9262 5886 IYCP contacts For information about the UN International Year for the Culture of Peace: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (UNESCO Commission) Ian Anderson (02) 6261 2037 Minister for Foreign Affairs (02) 6277 7500 UNESCO website: www.unesco.org Conflict Resolution Network: www.crnhq.org/iycp.htm www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/gc/asp/activities.htm Tasmanian IYCP Web address: http://www.tased.edu.au/tasonline/unaa/iycp or call Dr Ian A Newman Phone: (03) 6226-2422; Fax: (03) 6226-2410 Email: ian.newman@utas.edu.au UN Wire is a free daily news service sponsored by the United Nations Foundation and its sister organisation, the Better World Fund, which are dedicated to supporting United Nations efforts on behalf of the environment, population stabilisation and children's health. Its reports and the complete issue of each day's UN Wire can be found on the Web at http://www.unfoundation.org The Web version includes hot-links to the complete text of cited articles, a fully searchable archive and easy access to recent issues. If you've found interest in some of the material UNity offers, please help to keep UNity alive. Please send a contribution to the United Nations Association of Australia, 4 Stone Place, Garran ACT, 2605 |