New York, 12 August 2010: The International Year of Youth is being launched today in the General Assembly Hall with an eclectic event of speeches, musical performances, videos and poetry. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will be on hand with welcoming words to kick off the Year, which runs from 12 August 2010 to 11 August 2011 under the theme Dialogue and Mutual Understanding.

The Year aims to promote the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and solidarity across generations, cultures, religions and civilizations.

VIENNA, 19 July 2010 - An underground HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is intensifying at an alarming pace, fueled by drug use, high-risk sexual behavior and high levels of social stigma that discourage people from seeking prevention information and treatment, according to a new report released today by UNICEF.

United Nations, New York, 2 July 2010 – In an historic move, the United Nations General Assembly voted unanimously today to create a new entity to accelerate progress in meeting the needs of women and girls worldwide.

The establishment of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women – to be known as UN Women – is a result of years of negotiations between UN Member States and advocacy by the global women’s movement. It is part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact.

Mixed 2010 report card on anti-poverty goals highlights challenges ahead for September UN summit

BISHKEK, 16 June 2010 - With approximately 400,000 people displaced by fighting in Southern Kyrgyzstan, UNICEF warned today that separated families and missing children are an emerging issue.

UNICEF’s head of office in Kyrgyzstan, Jonathon Veitch expressed concern about the thousands of families that have been split up. “Ninety per cent of the refugees who fled into Uzbekistan were women, children and the elderly.”

“The families need to be reunited as soon as possible.”

The Environmental Film Festival, which is organized by 35mm cinema and supported by UNDP, UNESCO, UN Information Center and Resident Coordinator’s Office in Russia, will take place on 27th-30th May, between the UN International Biodiversity Day and the International Environment Day.

Link: Announcement! Celebrate World Environment Day on 5 June 2010

Folklore Festival ‘Art to Peace’ under UNDP project ‘Sustainable Integration and Recovery in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania’, 2nd part

ILO specialists will take part in the Labour Safety Conference organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia Contact person: husberg@ilo.org

Public hearings of the National Human Development Report NHDR 2010