Third Eurasian Media Forum of Young Journalists Working for Electronic Media “The Dialogue of Cultures”

Presentation of the sociological research “Family Strategies of Russian Students” initiated by the UN gender theme group under UNDP project ‘Gender Mainstreaming in Russia’ at RIA-Novosti

Regional Conference “Women’s Political Participation in the Caucasus”

Travelling Northern Film Festival, in the context of the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People: address by UNIC Information Assistant at the closing session

Moscow, 24 October 2008

Unofficial translation

Dear Mr. Borsotti,

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,

We gathered here on the occasion of a very significant date– October 24 marks the United Nations Day.

New York, 24 October 2008 - On this 63rd anniversary of our Organization, I join you in celebrating UN Day.

Moscow, 24 October 2008 - The United Nations was created in the aftermath of two World Wars not as a world government, but as a tool to promote better, predictable global governance based on shared global ideas and international law. From its early days, the UN acted as an advocate for universal values: equality, tolerance, justice, democracy and harmony among peoples and nations.

GENEVA (ILO News) – The global financial crisis could increase world unemployment by an estimated 20 million women and men, the Director-General of the International Labour Office (ILO) said today. “We need prompt and coordinated government actions to avert a social crisis that could be severe, long-lasting and global”, he added.

Moscow, 16 October 2008 - In the lead up to World Food Day, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) issued a challenge to its directors in more than 80 countries worldwide to develop new kinds of nutritional foods using local produce. The micro-nutrient rich products will be designed to reduce child malnutrition, especially among children under two.

“We’re learning that foods which are fortified for maximum nutritional impact can radically change children’s lives,” said Josette Sheeran, WFP’s Executive Director.

On September 24, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on behalf of the Russian Federation signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the UN headquarters as part of the 63rd UNGA treaty event timed for the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The instrument of ratification by Russia of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict was then deposited with the UN Secretary General as the depositary.