Moscow, 20 November 2006 – The Russian Federation Ministry of Health and Social Development, in partnership with the UN Children’s Fund and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, commemorated the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child today during a conference entitled “Child Rights in the Russian Federation Today and the Way Forward,” which took place at ITAR-TASS.

On 25 October 2006 in Moscow, the UN Office in the RF with the support of the Institute for Complex Strategic Studies (ICSS) held a round table ''United Nations and Russia: Development Priorities'', dedicated to the UN Day and the end of the annual international poverty week.

New York, 24 October 2006 - Following is the message by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan for United Nations Day, observed 24 October:

For the tenth and last time as Secretary-General, I offer friends and colleagues around the world my best wishes on United Nations Day. I have spent almost my whole professional life working for the United Nations – so this day, and the values that it stands for, will always be special for me.

Over the past 10 years, we have made some big steps forward in our common struggle for development, security and human rights.

MOSCOW, 13 October (ILO News) – A final document of the Meeting of G8 Labour and Employment Ministers, which was held in Moscow this week, recognized that “productive employment and decent work is an essential factor of economic growth, social development and human dignity“. The ministers supported the work of the International Labour Organization.

New York, 17 October 2006 - The theme for this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty – “Working together out of poverty”—highlights the need for a truly global anti-poverty alliance, one in which both developed and developing countries participate actively.

MOSCOW, 9 October (ILO News). A Meeting of G8 Ministers of Labour and Employment started today in President Hotel in Moscow. The meeting will discuss productive employment as a factor of economic growth and social cohesion.
Mr. Juan Somavia, Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) takes part in the meeting. On Tuesday he will present the ILO report “Growth and Decent work: Strengthening the Linkage”.

4 October 2006

Manfred Nowak, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment issued this statement today:

“As the Special Rapporteur announced on 6 July 2006 and reiterated in his statement to the Human Rights Council on 20 September 2006, he was invited by the Government of the Russian Federation to carry out a fact-finding visit from 9 to 20 October 2006, with a particular focus on the North Caucasus Republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia, North Ossetia and Kabardino-Balkaria.