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UNFPA United Nations Population Fund |
Visit of UN Under Secretary-General, UNFPA Executive Director to the Russian FederationOn October 19-20, Dr. Nafis Sadik, UNFPA Executive Director undertook at the invitation of the Government an official visit to the Russian Federation. Consultations were conducted with senior Government officials on the current and future cooperation between UNFPA and Russia, and on the follow up to the Special Session of the UN General Assembly on International Conference on Population and Development, as well as on other issues of mutual interest.
At a press conference in Moscow Dr.Nafis Sadik underlined that UNFPA has been working in partnership with the Government of the Russian Federation since 1995. "We will continue to support national efforts to empower women and protect their health, enable couples to realize their reproductive goals, avoid unwanted pregnancies, reduce recourse to abortion, improve child health and education, reduce teen pregnancy and slow the spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV/AIDS", she also stressed. On the demographic front, Russia, like many countries in Europe, faces several challenges in the area of population and development, such as decreasing birth rates and declining population, an ageing population, migration and high mortality. "UNFPA will continue to provide support to the Government for analyzing these trends and to develop policies to address them", Dr. Nafis Sadik stated. |
| Editor's column |
24 October – United Nations Day |
Dear friends, We celebrate 54th anniversary of the United Nations in a difficult and alarming situation marked by terrorism, violence and conflicts across the world. Recently we have lost UN colleagues in hot spots of the planet. As you already know, on October 11 a Bulgarian citizen and UNDP friend, Valentin Krumov, was murdered in Kosovo just a few hours after arriving to serve with the United Nations mission as a civil administrator. The next day was darkened by the killing of two more officers of the UN missions in Burundi. Luiz Zuniga, the UNICEF Country Representative in Bujumbura, and a WFP logistics officer were executed in a road ambush in the southeastern province of Rutana. So, today is not a very proper moment to celebrate UN Day. I believe that we should unite in our dedication, our daily and hard work - our faith for a better life and future for all. |
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UNDP United Nations Development Programme |
Canada – the First Contributor to the Russian Human Development Report ProjectOn 27 October 1999 a Contribution Agreement was signed in Moscow between the Government of Canada and the United Nations Development Programme in the Russian Federation. The contribution in the amount of CDN $99,000.00 will be directed to the dissemination throughout the Russian Federation of the 1999 National Human Development Report.
The Contribution Agreement was signed by H.E. Rodney Irwin, Ambassador of Canada in the RF, and Mr. Philippe Elghouayel, UNDP Resident Representative in the Russian Federation. Mr. Philippe Elghouayel stated that he sees this contribution as manifestation of Canada’s commitment to human development. "It is to be recalled that for many years Canada is ranked number one as the most developed country in the world, as reflected in the global human development rating. We also attribute this input to the high quality of the Report, which in five years has become a valuable source of information, analysis, and policy recommendations", UNDP Resident Representative said. New Publication: "The Age of Wisdom – Age of Creativity"The United Nations Organization announced 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons. This initiative was undertaken to draw the attention of the Member States to the situation of older persons who, unlike women or children, have no comprehensive international convention addressing their rights. The theme of elderly has stirred reactions in many countries around the world and Russia is no exception. A number of Russian organizations have been conducting charity activities benefiting old people, organizing conferences and seminars, publishing calendars and analytical materials.
Despite the challenges of the current social and economic situation in Russia, there are many illustrations of retired people who have continued working in new fields, established and managed their own enterprises or charity organizations, developed and implemented social projects, and accepted life with creativity. These people are the heroes of the book "The Age of Wisdom - Age of Creativity". This reading will bring certain stimulus and impulse for discovering the intellectual and spiritual potential of older people in Russia. Possibly, it would help to draw the attention of the Russian governmental structures, as well as that of international organizations towards the necessity of integrating older people in the process of transition to new social and economic realities. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Russian Federation has been actively involved with the protection and promotion of policies sensitive to the needs of vulnerable groups, including elderly. Under its mandate, UNDP supports the efforts of the country in the formation and development of a society attentive to people’s needs. This is possible only with the committed participation of various local and international partners like governmental agencies, businesses, NGOs and charities. |
During her visit Dr. Nafis Sadik was received by Ms.Valentina Matvienko, Deputy
Prime Minister, Mr. Sergei Kalashnikov, Minister of Labour and Social Development, Mr.
Vladimir Sokolin, Director of the Russian Agency for Statistics and Ms. Tatiana Stukolova,
Deputy Minister of Health.
Among the activities
envisaged by the Contribution Agreement are: a research exercise to identify current and
potential audience; the distribution of NHDR to all regions of Russia, and the
organization of five regional seminars to discuss the Report.
UNDP Country Office decided
that a book showing the dynamic attitude of older people towards life would contribute to
a better understanding and approach towards the role of the elderly in the socio-economic
progress.