Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World | the book written by Samantha Power

" Curator
author TeresaDeSouza

Just to say that Samantha Power herself recognizes that her book on Sergio Vieira de Mello has many holes and untruth. (...). I hope ( we all hope ) the film will not be done. It would be a Blasphemy against the Truth. Self promotion ... Terry George has to know that ! Teresa Loureiro de Souza*, Berlin" - Posted on August 7, 2008 by - TeresaDeSouza
*Teresa de Souza, Curator and Researcher / Documentalist to the Diplomatic Service, Berlin. E-Mail : Teresa.de.Souza@hotmail.de
Link,http://www.goodmagazine.com/user/TeresaDeSouza, consultado a 7 de setembro de 2008.

Sergio Vieira de Mello | 19th of August 2008 | Day of Remembrance

Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation

" (...). Day of Remembrance
On the 19th of August 2008 it will be 5 years since Sergio Vieira de Mello lost his life in Baghdad in the attack against the UN, together with 21 of his colleagues. This day remains one of the most tragic days in the history of the UN.
The Foundation has associated itself with the ceremonies organized by the UN to commemorate this sad anniversary. On this occasion the Foundation wishes to honour not only the 22 victims of the Baghdad attack, but also all other humanitarians who have given their lives in defence of the principles of the UN Charter.
To ensure that humanitarians who have died in the course of duty are not forgotten, the Foundation would like the UN, through its General Assembly, to adopt an official annual day of commemoration. It has therefore been in contact with the representatives of several governments, submitting a draft resolution to them, entitled: “19 August: World Humanitarian Day”. All the contacted Governments have received the initiative positively and we hope that this draft resolution will be voted on favourably during the Fall Session of the General Assembly.
May commemorating them keep their spirit of peace alive.

Journée du souvenir
Le 19 août 2008, cela fera 5 ans que Sergio Vieira de Mello a perdu la vie à Bagdad dans l’attentat contre les Nations Unies, au côté de 21 de ses collègues. Cette journée restera un des moments les plus tragiques de l’histoire des Nations Unies.
La Fondation s’est associée aux cérémonies organisées par l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour commémorer ce triste anniversaire. A cette occasion, la Fondation rendra hommage non seulement aux 22 victimes de l’attentat de Bagdad, mais aussi à tous les humanitaires qui ont perdu la vie pour défendre les principes de la Charte des Nations Unies.
Afin que tous ces humanistes ne soient pas oubliés, la Fondation souhaite que les Nations Unies, avec l’accord de l’Assemblée générale, leur reconnaisse une journée officielle de commémoration. Elle a donc pris contact avec plusieurs représentants de gouvernements pour leur soumettre un projet de résolution visant à instaurer le 19 août : la journée mondiale des humanitaires. Les gouvernements ont accueilli très favorablement cette initiative. Nous espérons que cette résolution sera adoptée lors de la session d’automne de l’Assemblée générale.
Souvenez-vous de ces Hommes de Paix. "
Link,http://www.sergiovdmfoundation.org/en/remembrance.html, consultado a 19 de Agosto de 2008.
(Os Links desta página são da responsabilidade da CIVITAS MAXIMA).

60º. aniversário da Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos

Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos

Adira à campanha

Em 2008 celebra-se o 60º. aniversário da Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos.

Associe-se à campanha da ONU para comemorar este aniversário ao longo de todo o ano. (...). Trabalhe em parceria connosco e inicie no seu país um dos projectos já anunciados no sítio http://www.knowyourrights2008.org/. (...).
8 Link,http://html.knowyourrights2008.org/pt/, consultado a 27 de Julho de 2008.

Sergio Vieira de Mello United Nations Library at Nairobi

United Nations (UN) Libraries

"The Sergio Vieira de Mello United Nations Library at Nairobi is a joint initiative of the United Nations agencies based in Nairobi, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) .
The Sergio Vieira de Mello United Nations Library at Nairobi was officially opened on 30 June 2004 by Mr Klaus Toepfer, United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Executive Director of UNEP and Director General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). He was accompanied by Mrs Anna Tibaijuka, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, Mr. Paul Andre de la Porte, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kenya and, on behalf of the Government of Brazil, Mrs Vera Pedrosa, Ambassador, Under-Secretary-General for Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Library, which was previously known as the UNEP Library and Documentation Centre, has been named in recognition of Sergio Vieira de Mello and all the other staff members who have lost their lives in the service of the United Nations.
In Dec 2004 the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/Res/59/126 A-B para 104 which says "notes with appreciation the operation of a common library in Nairobi within existing resources, in line with the approach set out in paragraph 37 of the Secretary-General's report on the modernization and integrated management of United Nations Libraries and in-depth review of library activities, and urges all United Nations offices in Nairobi to participate in and support this venture."(...)

Link,http://www.unlibrary-nairobi.org/default.asp, consultado a 27 de Julho de 2008.

Link,http://www.un.org/unlibraries/unlibe/index.html,consultado a 27 de Julho de 2008.

Direitos Humanos | Órgãos das Nações Unidas de Controlo da Aplicação dos Tratados em Matéria de Direitos Humanos : O Comité dos Direitos do Homem

English Español Français
Gabinete de Documentação e Direito Comparado (GDDC)
página principal > direitos humanos: comité dos direitos do homem

O Comité dos Direitos do Homem é o órgão criado em virtude dos art.º 28.º do Pacto Internacional sobre os Direitos Civis e Políticos com o objectivo de controlar a aplicação, pelos Estados Partes, das disposições deste instrumento (bem como do seu segundo Protocolo Adicional com vista à Abolição da Pena de Morte). Nos termos do art.º 40.º do Pacto (e o at.º 3.º o segundo Protocolo), os Estados Partes apresentam relatórios ao Comité onde enunciam as medidas adoptadas para tornar efectivas as disposições destes tratados. Os relatórios são analisados pelo Comité e discutidos entre este e representantes do Estado Parte em causa, após o que o Comité emite as suas observações finais sobre cada relatório: salientando os aspectos positivos bem como os problemas detectados, para os quais recomenda as soluções que lhe pareçam adequadas.
Os Estados Partes no (primeiro) Protocolo Facultativo referente ao Pacto Internacional sobre os Direitos Civis e Políticos reconhecem ao Comité competência examinar comunicações de particulares sujeitos à sua jurisdição que aleguem terem sido vítimas de violação dos direitos previstos no Pacto. O Comité dispõe ainda de competência para apreciar comunicações interestaduais (art.º 41.º do Pacto) e para formular comentários gerais relativos a determinados artigos ou disposições do mesmo instrumento.
1. O Comité dos Direitos do Homem Por Catarina Albuquerque
2. Pacto Internacional sobre os Direitos Civis e Políticos
3. Protocolo Facultativo referente ao Pacto Internacional sobre os Direitos Civis e Políticos
4. Segundo Protocolo Adicional ao Pacto Internacional sobre os Direitos Civis e Políticos com vista à Abolição da Pena de Morte
5. Regras de Procedimento do Comité (texto em inglês, francês e espanhol disponível no website do Alto Comissariado das Nações Unidas para os Direitos Humanos)
6. Directrizes sobre a forma e o conteúdo dos relatórios a apresentar pelos Estados Partes (texto em inglês, francês e espanhol disponível no website do Alto Comissariado das Nações Unidas para os Direitos Humanos)
7. Comentários gerais do Comité
8. Jurisprudência do Comité (quanto a comunicações individuais apresentadas ao abrigo do Protocolo Facultativo referente ao Pacto Internacional sobre os Direitos Civis e Políticos)
9. Relatórios das sessões do Comité
10. Relatórios apresentados por Portugal ao Comité dos Direitos do Homem, actas das sessões em que foram analisados e observações finais do Comité

Link,http://www.gddc.pt/direitos-humanos/onu-proteccao-dh/orgaos-onu-dir-homem-novo.html, consultado a 17 de Abril de 2008.

Ban Ki-moon | My priorities as Secretary-General - A Stronger United Nations for a Better World

Official portrait of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Ban Ki-moon outlines his vision of a stronger UN for a better world

(...)“I am determined to make progress on the pressing issues of our time, step by step, by building on achievements along the way, working with Member States and civil society.” (...).
Link,http://www.un.org/sg/priority.shtml, consultado a 6 de Abril de 2008.

Council of Europe 2008 North-South Prize goes to Kofi Annan and Simone Veil

Photo: From left to right: Claude Frey, Terry Davis, Simone Veil, Kofi Annan, Nane Annan and Lluis Maria de Puig

Lisbon, 02.04.2008 – Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary General and Simone Veil, the first President of the directly elected European Parliament, have received the 13th Council of Europe North-South Prize during a solemn ceremony held in Lisbon on 1 April.
The North-South Prize of the Council of Europe has been awarded every year since 1995 by the North South Centre of the Council of Europe to two candidates who have demonstrated strong and visible commitment, outstanding achievement and clear hope for the future concerning protection of human rights.
“The award which Simone Veil and Kofi Annan received today is a recognition of their contribution to dialogue between people from different countries and different parts of the world, a dialogue based on respect for human rights and a commitment to democracy, good governance and the rule of law,” said Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis, addressing this year’s prize winners.
“They have worked all their lives for a world in which North and South will become a matter of geography - not a matter of fate,” he said.
Extending his warmest congratulations to this year’s prize-winners Claude Frey, the Chairman of the North-South Centre’s Executive Council, underlined that “the names of Mr. Annan and Ms. Veil served as synonyms for the struggle for human rights and that their lives became the symbols of courage and of a hope for fight for the cause of human rights.”
Speaking at the event, the President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Lluis Maria de Puig said: “It is a moment for all of us to recognise your efforts and to say once again that we need you and we need people like you to build more fair and human societies. Your actions are the source of inspiration, which gives us strength to believe in a better future for a mankind.”
In her acceptance speech Simone Veil said “there were many challenges that must to be faced and tackled” and “that the award will be a further inspiration and motivation for them to work on solving the problems the world is facing."
“This award recognises the interdependent world we all share and live in today. It promotes the values of solidarity, reconciliation and mutual respect over exclusion and mistrust and I therefore applaud your efforts to hold the North and South together. After all we are in the same boat,” said Kofi Annan accepting the prize.
Echoing other speakers at the ceremony and joining them in congratulating this year’s prize winners, the Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva said: "Through their tireless work this year’s laureates have contributed in an outstanding way to the promotion of our shared principles on democracy, human rights and the rule of law. By upholding the highest moral standards, Mr Annan and Ms. Veil epitomise the essence of the Council of Europe North-South Prize ".
The award ceremony, which has been held this year for the thirteenth time, was attended by over 150 members of the diplomatic community, members of Portuguese Parliament and the representatives of the Council of Europe institutions and international organisations.

Information about this year’s winners of the North-South Centre Prize

Kofi Annan of Ghana, the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, has been a constant advocate for human rights, the rule of law and the universal values of equality, tolerance and human dignity, as well as for the Millennium Development Goals and Africa. He sought to bring the UN closer to the global public by forging ties with civil society, the private sector and other partners. One of Kofi Annan's main priorities as Secretary-General was a comprehensive programme of reform aimed at revitalising the United Nations and making the international system more effective. Kofi Annan and the UN were jointly awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize for Peace.

Simone Veil of France is a leading European politician and human rights activist who survived the Nazi concentration camps. Throughout her career as a magistrate and a politician, she fought to fight against all forms of discrimination. She served as French Minister for Health (1974-79), securing the passage of a liberalised abortion and contraception law in 1974. Veil was elected to the European Parliament in 1979, 1984, and 1989 and served as its first popularly elected president. She was member of the the Constitutional Council of France. She is a founding member of the Foundation for the Memory of the Shoah (“Fondation pour la mémoire da la Shoah”) and served as its President until 2007.

All winners of the Prize since 1995
File “Council of Europe North-South Prize”
Speech by Kofi AnnanSpeech by Terry Davis
Speech by Lluís Maria de Puig [FR]
Video
File: ''Council of Europe North-South Prize''
Link,http://www.coe.int/DEFAULTEN.ASP?,consultado a 3 de Abril de 2008.

UN Special. CHERS AMIS DE SERGIO. ANNE WILLEM BIJLEVELD, PRÉSIDENT DU COMITÉ DE DIRECTION. LAURENT VIEIRA DE MELLO, PRÉSIDENT DU CONSEIL DE FONDATION

UN Special
UN Special N° 671 Mars · March • 2008 ONU

(FR) Avec les bureaux de l’ONU à Alger pris récemment pour cible, nous avons revécu la terrible attaque du 19 août 2003 contre le siège des Nations Unies à Bagdad, au cours de laquelle notre cher ami, Sergio Vieira de Mello et vingt et un de ses collègues ont perdu la vie. Cette tragédie, il y a de cela quatre ans et demi, a marqué le début de la spirale de violence en Irak, rapportée encore quotidiennement par les médias. Les événements à Alger nous ont montré que l’attaque du Canal Hotel n’était malheureusement pas un acte isolé.

Si Sergio était encore parmi nous aujourd’hui, il aurait été passionnément impliqué dans la résolution d’une telle situation, en combattant tout particulièrement l’intolérance à l’origine de ces attaques. Il l’aurait fait dans son style diplomatique habituel, à savoir en consultant chaque partie impliquée afin d’identifier les intérêts de chacun et, dans le dialogue, établir un plan d’action concret. Il avait une vision de l’action humanitaire basée sur une grande confiance en l’humanité mais aussi une approche pratique des contraintes de la coexistence quotidienne. C’était une vision idéaliste et pragmatique à la fois. C’est dans le but de pérenniser la vision de Sergio et pour encourager des initiatives semblables que nous nous permettons de vous écrire, comme Ami de Sergio.

Après maintes consultations et réflexions sur la façon de continuer au mieux le travail de Sergio, quelques-uns de ses amis et sa famille ont créé, à Genève, la Fondation qui porte son nom.

La Fondation Sergio Vieira de Mello, au statut international régi par la loi suisse, s’est donnée pour but de continuer la mission de Sergio à travers :
• La remise d’un prix annuel « Sergio Vieira de Mello » récompensant des personnes, institutions ou communautés qui, par leur travail exceptionnel, oeuvrent pour la réconciliation entre personnes ou parties divisées par un conflit.
• Une conférence annuelle en partenariat avec l’Institut des Hautes Etudes Internationales et du Développement (HEID),donnée aux alentours du 15 mars, date d’anniversaire de Sergio.
• Une bourse au nom de Sergio attribuée à quelques jeunes dont les familles furent victimes d’une crise humanitaire consécutive à un conflit armé.
• L’appui aux acteurs humanitaires, quelque soit leur employeur ou leur lieu d’action, pour leur sécurité et l’indépendance de leur travail.
• L’encouragement des initiatives et efforts en faveur de la réconciliation et de la coexistence pacifique entre personnes ou communautés séparées par un conflit.

M. Kofi Annan, ancien Secrétaire général des Nations Unies, a accepté d’être le Président d’Honneur de la Fondation et, en plus d’une généreuse contribution pour aider au lancement de nos activités, M. Annan donnera la première conférence à la mémoire de Sergio, le 17 mars 2008 à 18h30 au Centre International de Conférences de Genève, 17 Rue de Varembé. Ce sera le premier événement public de la Fondation et vous y êtes, bien entendu, cordialement invité.

Si vous souhaitez encourager le travail de la Fondation, qui, de par sa nature non lucrative, est amenée à faire appel à des personnes ou associations pour son financement, vous pouvez apporter votre soutien, sous forme de donation annuelle en tant qu’«Ami de Sergio» au sein de la Fondation.Votre contribution sera très appréciée et utilisée par la Fondation pour promouvoir les valeurs que Sergio a passé sa vie à défendre.
Les coordonnées bancaires de la Fondation sont les suivantes :
Fondation Sergio Vieira de Mello
UBS/ONU Genève
Compte No: 0279-282012.01M
IBAN : CH500027927928201201M
BIC : UBSWCHZH80A

Nous avons essayé dans la mesure du possible d’inclure tous les amis de Sergio dans notre liste de distribution, mais il se peut malgré tout que des personnes n’aient pu être contactées. Si vous connaissez des personnes intéressées à rejoindre les « Amis de Sergio», n’hésitez pas à les encourager à prendre contact avec la Fondation.
Pour plus d’information, nous vous encourageons à consulter notre site web www.sergiovdmfoundation.org
. Vous avez aussi la possibilité de souscrire à la newsletter pour rester informé des activités de la Fondation.

(EN) DEAR FRIENDS OF SERGIO
ANNE WILLEM BIJLEVELD, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
LAURENT VIEIRA DE MELLO, PRESIDENT OF THE FOUNDING COMMITTEE
With the recent targeting of the UN premises in Algiers, we relived the terrible attack of 19 August 2003 against United Nations Headquarters in Baghdad in which our close friend, Sergio Vieira de Mello, together with twenty-one of his colleagues, were killed. That tragic event, four and half years ago, marked the beginning of the spiral into the daily violence in Iraq that we continue to see played out daily in the media. The events in Algiers have shown that the Canal bombing was unfortunately not an isolated event.

Sergio, if alive today, would have been passionately committed to working with others to resolve such situations, especially by addressing the intolerance that lies at the root of these attacks. He would have done it in his usual diplomatic way by marshalling all interested parties to pursue common interests identified through dialogue and reflected in a workable plan of action. His was a vision of humanitarian action based on the highest expectations of mankind, but grounded in an appreciation of what day-to-day coexistence required. It was a vision of idealism and pragmatism. It is to keep this vision of Sergio alive and to support much needed ongoing similar initiatives by others that we are writing to you, as one of Sergio’s friends.

After much consultation and reflection on how best to continue the work of Sergio, a few of his friends and his family have created a Foundation in his name in Geneva.

The Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation has been established as an international entity under Swiss law to continue Sergio’s mission and fulfil his vision through :
•An Annual Prize in Sergio’s name awarded to individuals, institutions or communities in recognition of their outstanding and unique work for peaceful reconciliation between peoples and parties in conflict.
•An Annual Memorial Lecture in partnership with the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (HEID) on or around 15 March (Sergio’s birthday).
•A Fellowship in Sergio’s name to be awarded to a selected number of outstanding young people whose families were victims of humanitarian crisis resulting from armed conflict.
•Advocating for the security and independence of humanitarian actors, wherever they may be operating andwhomever they may work for.
•Supporting initiatives and efforts to promote peaceful reconciliation and co-existence between peoples and communities divided by conflict.

Former UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, has agreed to be the Patron of the Foundation and apart from a generous contribution to start our activities, he has agreed to deliver the first Sergio Vieira de Mello Memorial Lecture on 17 March 2008 at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), 15 Rue de Varembé at 18 h30. It will be the Foundation’s first public event to which you are cordially invited.

If you wish to support the work of the Foundation established to honour and preserve the memory of Sergio, which by virtue of its non-for-profit nature will be looking to individuals and associations to support its work, we would be grateful if you could consider a contribution to our work, on a yearly basis donation and therefore become “Friend of Sergio” within the Foundation.
Your contribution will be greatly appreciated and be used by the Foundation in activities geared towards propagating the values which Sergio spent his life defending.
The Foundation’s account details are as follows :
Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation
UBS/ONU Geneva Branch
Account No. : 0279-282012.01M
IBAN : CH500027927928201201M
BIC : UBSWCHZH80A

We have tried to the best of our knowledge to include all of Sergio’s friends on our mailing list. There may, however, be persons who have not been contacted. If you know someone who would be interested to be part of the “Friends of Sergio”, do not hesitate to encourage him/her to contact us. If you wish to have more information about the Foundation, we would encourage you to consult our website www.sergiovdmfoundation.org. You can also subscribe to our electronic newsletter, to be kept informed of the Foundation’s activities.
Link,http://www.unspecial.org/UNS671/t22.html, consultado a 24 de Março de 2008.

First Memorial Lecture of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation

The first Annual Memorial Lecture of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation given by Mr. Kofi Annan, took place yesterday, Monday March 17, 2008, at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG) in Geneva, Switzerland, in the presence of about 1'000 persons.
Fonte,http://graduateinstitute.ch/corporate/cache/bypass/page21.html?evenementId=11209, consultado a 18 de Março de 2008.

Former UN United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan delivers his message during the first Memorial Lecture of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG) in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, March 17, 2008. Sergio Vieira de Mello was killed in the Canal Hotel Bombing in Iraq along with 21 other members of his staff on Aug 19, 2003.

Annie Vieira de Mello, widow of Sergio Vieira de Mello, listens to Former UN United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, not in the picture, during the first Memorial Lecture of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation, at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG) in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, March 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Keystone/Salvatore Di Nolfi).
Fonte,http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Iraq-Sergio-Vieira-de-Mello-United-Nations-Secretary-General-Geneva2C-Switzerland-Vieira-de-Mello/ss/events/iraq/082701iraqplane/im:/080317/481/ed1ae9511cc940c08970fb9bab564de4/ ,consultado a 18 de Março de 2008.

Former UN United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan delivers his message during the first Memorial Lecture of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG) in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, March 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Salvatore Di Nolfi / AP).
Fonte,http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23678062/displaymode/1176/, consultado a 17 de Março de 2008.

Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation to honour peacemakers | Annie Vieira de Mello interview

Vieira de Mello Foundation to honour peacemakers

14 Mar 2008

Source: Reuters
By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA, March 14 (Reuters) -Shortly after a massive bomb killed the U.N. envoy in Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello in August 2003, his grieving widow and sons knew they wanted to perpetuate his life's work on behalf of victims of armed conflict.
In an interview, Annie Vieira de Mello spoke of the strong idealism of the dashing Brazilian who worked in hotspots from Cambodia to Kosovo and Timor-Leste during his 30-year career with the United Nations.
Her husband -- tipped by some as a possible future U.N. Secretary-General -- was among 22 people killed when a truck loaded with explosives hit the Canal Hotel, the U.N. compound in Baghdad following the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
She and their sons Laurent and Adrien were spending a summer day along Lake Geneva when word came of what is still the most deadly attack on the world body set up in 1945.
"As soon as the children and I received so many tributes and saw the outpouring of sympathy after the event, we thought he still had a role to play," Annie Vieira de Mello told Reuters at the U.N.'s European headquarters in Geneva, a hub for both humanitarian aid and human rights.
"It was the obvious thing to do, because when you are in mourning and pain, you want to try to hang onto those you've lost," the elegant French woman said quietly over tea.
With friends and family, she set up a Swiss-based foundation to promote dialogue for peace in the name of her husband (http://www.sergiovdmfoundation.org/).
Its patron, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, will give the first annual Sergio Vieira de Mello memorial lecture in Geneva on Monday, two days after what would have been the 60th birthday of the slain U.N. envoy.
The foundation will award fellowships to young people whose families are caught up in war, as well as an annual prize in recognition of work to broker peace between parties to conflict.

"It could be a doctor or professor who takes political risks to encourage dialogue," said Annie Vieira de Mello, who is mobilising funds from U.N. agencies, governments, and private individuals for the awards.
"We hope my husband's name can bring international recognition and support that might protect this person and encourage him or her to continue," she said.
Sergio was known for his efforts to promote understanding in difficult conditions. He held talks with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat while serving in the U.N. Interim Forces in Lebanon in the early 1980s, and successfully sought a decade later to help resolve the fate of Vietnamese boat people.
"He was a man of action, of negotiations, who liked meeting people and trying to understand conflicts," his widow said. "He liked to bring people together to find a solution, which is why the foundation is based on the idea of dialogue between communities in conflict." (Editing by Laura MacInnis and Paul Casciato)
Link, http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1418740.htm, consultado a 17 de Março de 2008.

(Português)

Fundação Sergio Vieira de Mello homenageará mediadores de conflito

GENEBRA, Suíça - Pouco depois do atentado a bomba que matou em 2003 o então enviado da Organização das Nações Unidas ao Iraque, Sergio Vieira de Mello, a viúva e seus filhos decidiram que iriam continuar com o trabalho dele em nome das vítimas de conflitos armados.
Em uma entrevista, Annie Vieira de Mello falou sobre o grande idealismo deste brasileiro notável, que trabalhou em pontos de conflito de várias regiões do globo, do Camboja ao Timor Leste, durante sua carreira de 30 anos na ONU.
Seu marido, apontado por alguns como o possível futuro Secretário-Geral da ONU, estava entre as 22 pessoas mortas quando um caminhão carregado com explosivos atingiu o Canal Hotel, o complexo da ONU em Bagdá. O ataque ocorreu pouco depois da invasão do Iraque liderada pelos EUA.
Annie e seus filhos, Laurent e Adrien, estavam à beira do lago Genebra, em dia de verão, quando ouviram a notícia sobre o ataque, até hoje o mais violento contra o órgão internacional desde sua criação, em 1945.
"Depois que as crianças e eu recebemos tantas homenagens e vimos as demonstrações de empatia, acreditamos que ele ainda tinha um papel a desempenhar", afirmou Annie à Reuters, na sede européia dos órgãos de ajuda humanitária da ONU, em Genebra, cidade que concentra várias entidades do tipo.
"Para nós, isso era o mais óbvio a fazer porque, quando alguém está de luto e sofrendo, essa pessoa deseja apegar-se àquilo que perdeu", afirmou Annie, uma elegante francesa.
Com amigos e familiares, ela criou uma Fundação com sede na Suíça para promover o diálogo em busca da paz. A Fundação leva o nome do marido (www.sergiovdmfoundation.org).
O seu patrono, o ex-secretário-geral da ONU Kofi Annan, fará a aula inaugural memorial chamada Sergio Vieira de Mello, em Genebra, na segunda-feira, dois dias depois daquele que seria o aniversário de 60 anos do brasileiro.
A Fundação concederá bolsas para jovens cujas famílias são vítimas da guerra, bem como um prémio anual em reconhecimento ao trabalho dos que se empenham para mediar conflitos.
"Esse seria, por exemplo, um médico ou um professor que se expõe a perigos a fim de encorajar o diálogo", afirmou Annie, que está requisitando dinheiro de agências da ONU, de governos de vários países e de pessoas físicas para pagar pelos prémios.
"Esperamos que o nome do meu marido possa dar reconhecimento e apoio a essa pessoa, incentivando-a a prosseguir em sua luta", afirmou.
O brasileiro ficou conhecido por seus esforços para promover a compreensão em situações complicadas. Entre outras atividades, manteve negociações com o líder palestino Yasser Arafat quando trabalhou para as Forças Interinas da ONU no Líbano, no começo dos anos 1980.
"Ele era um homem de acção, de negociações, que gostava de conhecer pessoas e tentar entender os conflitos", disse Annie.
"Ele gostava de juntar as pessoas para encontrar uma solução, por isso a fundação é baseada na ideia de diálogo entre comunidades em conflito."

Fundação Sergio Vieira de Mello

Colegas, amigos e a família de Sergio Vieira de Mello, criaram em 2007, em Genève, na Suiça, a Fundação Sergio Vieira de Mello - Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation
- para dar continuidade aos seus ideais humanitários e promover a resolução pacífica de conflitos.

Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation

(...) Purpose
Dedicated to promoting dialogue for the peaceful resolution of conflict, the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation has been established as an international entity under Swiss law to continue Sergio’s mission and fulfill his vision through:

• An Annual Prize in his name awarded to individuals, institutions or communities in recognition of their outstanding and unique work undertaken to achieve peaceful reconciliation between peoples and parties in conflict.
• An Annual Memorial Lecture in collaboration with the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva (HEID) on or around 15 March.
• A Fellowship in Sergio’s name to be awarded to a selected number of outstanding young people whose parents or family members were victims of humanitarian crises resulting from armed conflict.
• Supporting initiatives and efforts that promote peaceful reconciliation and co-existence between peoples and communities divided by conflict.
• Advocating for the security and independence of humanitarian actors, wherever they may be operating and whomever they may work for. (...).
Link,http://www.sergiovdmfoundation.org/en/foundation_purpose.html, consultado a 16 de Março de 2008.

Annual Sergio Vieira de Mello Memorial Lecture | Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation

Annual Sergio Vieira de Mello Memorial Lecture
Le 17.03.2008 18:30
Kofi Annan, Former UN Secretary General; Patron, Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation; Senior Fellow, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies - Centre International de Conférences Genève (CICG); Salle 2, Rue de Varembé 17, 1202 Genève -
Under the Patronage of Mrs Calmy-Rey, Federal Councillor, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (HEID) Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation

Link,http://www.graduateinstitute.ch/Jahia/site/corporate/cache/bypass/pid/21%3bjse ssionid=CA0B05CD5F60C2B7AA91A564552637B4?evenementId=11209, consultado a 16 de Março de 2008.

LEVANTE-SE E FAÇA SUA PARTE Pelos Objectivos do Milénio e Contra a Desigualdade

O evento mundial LEVANTE-SE E FAÇA SUA PARTE Pelos Objetivos do Milênio e Contra a Desigualdade (Stand Up and Speak Out Against Poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals, em inglês) será nos dias 16 e 17 de outubro, quando milhões de pessoas, do mundo inteiro, responderão ao chamado para agir contra a desigualdade e pelo cumprimento dos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento do Milênio.
No ano passado, 23,5 milhões de pessoas participaram do movimento, estabelecendo um novo recorde mundial documentado no Guinness.
Faça parte deste crescente movimento global formado por pessoas que se recusam a ficar sentadas e silenciosas em face à pobreza e à desigualdade.
Em que consiste o movimento LEVANTE-SE E FAÇA SUA PARTE?
O LEVANTE-SE E FAÇA SUA PARTE é uma convocação mundial para agir contra a pobreza e pelos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento do Milênio.
Em 16 e 17 de outubro, pessoas de todo o mundo irão — literal e simbolicamente — SE LEVANTAR e se manifestar para que governos, empresas e toda a sociedade, juntos, mantenham suas promessas para acabarmos com a extrema pobreza e alcançarmos os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento do Milênio.
No último ano, mais de 23 milhões de pessoas fizeram sua parte e estabeleceram um recorde mundial registrado no Guinness como a maior mobilização mundial contra a pobreza. Este ano queremos que você nos ajude a quebrar este recorde para que a mensagem ecoe cada vez mais alto. Cada pessoa conta!

Por que se LEVANTAR E FAZER SUA PARTE?
Em 2000, líderes de 189 países concordaram com os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento do Milênio, um plano global para diminuir pela metade a extrema pobreza até 2015. Mesmo assim, todo dia 50 mil pessoas morrem como resultado da extrema pobreza, e a distância entre ricos e pobres aumenta a cada dia. Precisamos que você SE LEVANTE E FAÇA SUA PARTE Pelos Objetivos do Milênio e Contra a Desigualdade, para fazer com que governos, empresas e toda a sociedade cumpram suas promessas e compartilhem a responsabilidade - e isto somente acontecerá se todos assumirmos este compromisso.
O LEVANTE-SE E FAÇA SUA PARTE é uma iniciativa da Campanha do Milênio da Organização das Nações Unidas (United Nations Millennium Campaign) e da Chamada Global pela Ação contra a Pobreza (Global Call to Action against Poverty - GCAP).
Como você ou sua organização podem participar?
Há duas formas de você e sua organização fazerem parte do evento:
1. Participar de um evento existente:A Campanha do Milênio da ONU e a Chamada Global pela Ação contra a Pobreza já estão trabalhando com um grande número de parceiros, que vão de escolas a universidades, passando por grupos de comunidades locais, clubes esportivos, comunidades religiosas, sindicatos, empresas e muitos outros. E eventos estão sendo organizados em localidades e cidades em todo o mundo. Você pode se juntar a estes eventos, ou encorajar grupos ou organizações das quais você faz parte a participar. Esta é uma oportunidade única para falar em uníssono sobre um assunto especifico durante um dia. Precisamos de você para dar mais força à mensagem e estabelecer um novo recorde mundial.
2. Organize seu próprio evento:

a) Escolha o local: Pode ser um parque, uma praça, uma escola, uma universidade, um auditório ou seu local de trabalho.

b) Escolha o evento: Um concerto de música, um show, uma performance, passar um filme. Você pode ser criativo. Ou Inclua o LEVANTE-SE E FAÇA SUA PARTE em algum evento existente: Escolas e Universidades: durante uma aula ou em reuniões. Igrejas ou templos: Líderes religiosos podem anunciá-lo durante os serviços religiosos. Jogos de futebol e outros eventos esportivos: Antes ou depois do evento ou no intervalo. Cinemas e teatros: Peça para a audiência fazer sua parte antes do show. Locais de trabalho: Mobilize as empresas para fazerem o evento durante as horas de trabalho
c) Escolha o líder do evento: Uma pessoa de sua organização ou uma celebridade da comunidade pode ser convidada para ser a apresentadora.

d) Divulgue o evento usando e-mails, cartas, folhetos e pôsteres:
Onde for apropriado, comunicar a mídia local que o evento acontecerá.
Todas as ações devem ser realizadas em 24 horas começando às 18h de 16 de outubro e indo até as 18h de 17 de outubro (horários de Brasília – 21h GTM), para que possam ser incluídas na contagem e quebrar o recorde mundial do Guinness estabelecido em 2006.
Na data: Como realizar o LEVANTE-SE E FAÇA SUA PARTE:
Planeje o evento para que o LEVANTE-SE E FAÇA SUA PARTE aconteça no momento adequado. O líder do evento deve dar uma pequena explicação sobre o que é o LEVANTE-SE E FAÇA SUA PARTE: uma oportunidade de se juntar a um grupo cada vez maior de pessoas pedindo o fim da pobreza, e ao mesmo tempo fazer parte de um recorde mundial.
Depois, as pessoas se reúnem e sentam ou ajoelham (pessoas portadoras de deficiências podem realizar uma ação simbólica).
E, imediatamente, SE LEVANTAM e se manifestam Pelos Objetivos do Milênio e Contra a Desigualdade. Assim que todos se levantarem, a platéia pode ser induzida a fazer algum gesto simbólico como levantar os braços, agitar bandeiras, etc.
Uma mensagem padrão, com o compromisso assumido durante o evento, pode ser adaptada ou substituída por uma mensagem que seja mais relevante para você.
Peça para que os participantes registrem o LEVANTE-SE E FAÇA SUA PARTE com câmeras, celulares ou filmadoras e que publiquem as fotos ou imagens no site www.standagainstpoverty.org.
O último passo, e o mais importante, é contar ou fazer uma estimativa do número de pessoas presentes no evento e dar esta informação para os organizadores. Esses números serão somados e incluídos no total de pessoas que quebrarão o recorde mundial.
Como ser contado e por quê?
Para que esta mobilização tenha um verdadeiro impacto, precisamos dizer a nossos líderes e ao mundo que milhões de pessoas se levantaram e exigiram que a pobreza fosse erradicada e que os Objetivos do Milênio passem a ser uma prioridade política.
Os responsáveis por organizar eventos locais precisam pré-registrar as atividades planejadas e, depois, registrar os números finais de seu LEVANTE-SE E FAÇA SUA PARTE no formulário on-line que estará disponível no site www.standagainstpoverty.org. É também possível participar da tentativa de quebrar o recorde mundial do Guinness através de mensagens SMS e através de comunidades on-line. Detalhes de como registrar esses eventos virtuais podem ser encontrados em nossa página. Para aqueles que não têm acesso à Internet, as estatísticas do evento podem ser enviadas via fax para os escritórios locais da Campanha do Milênio da ONU/Chamada Global pela Ação contra a Pobreza.
LEVANTE-SE para acabar com a desigualdade! FAÇA SUA PARTE para atingir os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento do Milênio.
LEVANTE-SE contra todas as formas de injustiça e desigualdade FAÇA SUA PARTE para que as promessas sejam cumpridas.
LEVANTE-SE e ajude a quebrar o recorde! FAÇA SUA PARTE e seja ouvido! Vista a pulseira branca, o símbolo da luta global contra a pobreza 16 e 17 de outubro de 2007 (...).
Saiba mais na página: www.standagainstpoverty.org

Link,http://www.onu-brasil.org.br/levantese.php, consultado a 16 de Outubro de 2007.

STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST POVERTY

On October 16th and 17th, Stand Up and Speak Out for the Millennium Development Goals

Link, http://youtube.com/watch?v=UiA0f_Ui1RA, consultado a 16 de Outubro de 2007.

End Poverty 2015 Millennium Campaign - What About Portugal

Objectivos de Desenvolvimento do Milénio

WHAT ABOUT PORTUGAL?

At the Millennium Summit in 2000, world leaders committed themselves to the achievement of 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. Both rich and poor countries agreed to work towards the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, the elimination of gender inequalities, the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, protection of our environment, and the provision of education, healthcare and clean water. Since then the MDGs have had a catalytic effect on global development because of their simplicity, accessibility, and because progress against them is easily monitored.

The MDGs involve a Global Deal between rich and poor countries: poor countries pledged to reform policies, improve governance, and to channel resources to the achievement of the first 7 Goals. Rich countries, for their part, promised to deliver more and more effective aid, faster and deeper debt relief, and fairer trade rules. Rich country commitments are, in particular, outlined in the 8th Goal.


So how well is Portugal doing in meeting its part of the Global Deal?


Portugal’s record on aid

Aid volume

· In 2006 Portugal was the third worst performing country among the EU 15 member states on aid volume, with only Italy and Greece behind. Portugal’s official development assistance (ODA) represented only 0.21% of national income (or GNI). Moreover, Portugal is far behind the average effort of EU-15 donor countries which stood at 0.51% of GNI. This also means that Portugal failed to meet its commitment to achieve 0.33% ODA/GNI by 2006.

· In absolute volume, Portuguese ODA was $391 million in 2006, which was less than half the size of Ireland’s aid budget in the same year, even though Ireland’s population is less than half the size of Portugal’s.

· In May 2005, Portugal joined other EU-15 countries in a commitment to increase ODA and achieve the international target of 0.7% of GNI by 2015. The EU-15 set a minimum intermediate target of 0.51% for individual countries for 2010. Unlike other EU-15 countries, Portugal has not yet announced a detailed implementation schedule for achieving this commitment.

While Portugal failed to meet its target of 0.33% ODA/GNI in 2006, the Portuguese government intends to make a serious effort to reach 0.51% by 2010 as per its European commitment. Nevertheless, political will at all levels is necessary to achieve Portugal’s commitments.

Portugal’s commitment to increasing aid volumes in future years is good news, but planned increases represent significant budgetary and administrative challenges, given the underlying trend of aid flows. The OECD suggests that Portugal should announce a time-bound implementation plan for the growth of ODA. In particular, they recommend that this plan focus on resource mobilisation and allocations to activities that have a clear poverty orientation.

Until such time as the capacity can be built to translate increases in ODA into effective poverty-focused bilateral programmes, the Portuguese authorities should consider channelling increases in funding through multilateral agencies and initiatives.


Aid quality

· Portugal can be commended for the high share of its ODA going to low-income countries. In fact, Portuguese assistance generally concentrates on a handful of very poor countries, with 93% of Portuguese ODA in 2004/05 allocated to least-developed countries (LDCs).

· 88% of Portugal’s ODA went to sub-Saharan Africa in 2004-05. The focus on this region reflects an on-going concentration of Portuguese ODA in lusophone countries, although the figures for 2004-05 are exaggerated by a very large debt relief operation in favour of Angola. Angola received the bulk of Portugal’s aid in this period, which was over 8 times higher than the second largest recipient.

· Portugal has not yet fully untied its aid from the purchase of Portuguese goods and services. Nevertheless, Portugal is complying with the OECD recommendation to untie aid to LDCs. It has made good progress in untying this aid with only 1% of aid to LDCs was still tied in 2004.

In November 2005, the Council of Ministers approved the new Portuguese strategy for development cooperation entitled “A strategic vision for Portuguese cooperation.” This strategy includes a commitment to the MDGs as one of the five guiding principles of development cooperation. This new strategy is a welcome step forward, but the OECD notes that Portugal faces significant implementation challenges in reorienting its aid programme in line with this strategy. These overall challenges include managing the increase in aid flows in line with commitments while strengthening the poverty focus of aid.

The OECD notes that increasing the poverty focus of Portugal’s aid requires the development of a systematic and consistent approach to poverty reduction based on poverty needs assessments, and an adjustment of policies and practices across the board.

In order to implement its new cooperation strategy, the OECD suggests that Portugal undertake a strategic review of ODA allocations, develop and implement a multi-year, results-based action plan to implement the new development strategy, and adopt methodological innovations to better link development objectives, inputs, outputs and results. Such a multi-year programming process would increase the predictability of aid for both partner countries and implementing agencies.

The key actor in Portuguese aid is the Portuguese Institute for Development Support (IPAD). IPAD is part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was created in 2003 as the central body responsible for the planning, supervision and coordination of Portuguese aid. Despite IPAD’s formal lead role, a multiplicity of informal processes bring a wide array of actors from line ministries into direct contact with their counterparts in partner countries leading to a very fragmented aid programme. The implementation of Portuguese aid involves many actors including 15 different ministries, 308 municipal governments, universities and other public institutions. The diffuse nature of cooperation poses challenges at all levels for the coherence, coordination, management and reform of Portuguese aid.

To increase aid effectiveness IPAD needs to be given control over the bilateral aid budget. And, to increase the effectiveness of coordination, management and oversight, IPAD must shift from an administrative approach to a more strategic and development cooperation-oriented culture. This will require more appropriate technical development expertise, both at headquarters and at country level. At present, IPAD has a small staff, is not represented at country level and few staff have the background necessary to deal with the complex challenges facing Portugal’s development cooperation programme.

The new Portuguese strategy for cooperation maintains the geographic focus of cooperation efforts on the Portuguese speaking countries of Africa and Timor Leste. In turn the sectoral and thematic priorities for Portuguese aid are based on Portugal’s comparative advantages in these priority countries. Priority sectors include education, good governance, participation and democracy; sustainable development and the fight against poverty. Nevertheless, the OECD note that within these broad priority sectors there needs to be a clearer integration of the MDGs to ensure that poverty reduction is pursued.

A concrete example of how poverty reduction objectives need to be better integrated into the aid programme is the education sector. Education absorbs a large share of technical cooperation in the form of imputed student costs and scholarships. In 2003, these two categories absorbed 37% of technical cooperation disbursements. The OECD notes that bringing foreign students to Portugal to study is costly in absolute terms and has high opportunity costs in terms of the developmental gains foregone, especially when Portugal’s partner countries have pressing needs at all educational levels. Moreover these programmes have questionable – and even negative - development benefits for developing countries. More generally, the OECD suggests that the Portuguese authorities broaden their approach to education, linking it more closely to poverty reduction, and building institutional capacity at all levels. Portugal should analyse needs of the education systems of its priority countries and address them in the context of national education strategies in collaboration with partner governments and other donors.

In terms of aid modalities, debt relief and technical cooperation have dominated Portuguese assistance in recent years. By contrast, project and programme aid were only 2% of gross bilateral disbursements in recent years. Portugal’s participation in sector and budget support programmes – even in its priority countries where aid is nominally supporting poverty reduction strategies - is severely constrained by its budget planning and programming process and limited aid management presence in the field.

Portugal is signed up to the 2003 Rome Declaration on the harmonization of aid practices, and to the more broad-ranging 2005 Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness. However, like many other donors, Portugal has a long way to go in reforming its aid administration and practice to improve the effectiveness of its aid. While Portugal does have an action plan for implementation on harmonisation and alignment this action plan needs to be updated and broadened, it needs to specify implementation time frames and to identify the entities responsible for implementation. Ultimately though, the OECD notes that real progress in aid effectiveness will require the adoption of new aid delivery mechanisms, increasing the predictability of aid disbursements and decentralising decision making and human resources to the country level.

The Portuguese authorities need to delegate greater authority to embassies, empower them with resources and the authority to make decisions closer to field realities and to collaborate actively with other donors. At the country level, Portugal faces the challenge of developing a common vision and operational framework for collaborating with other donors.


Portugal’s record on debt relief

Debt relief has formed a major part of Portuguese bilateral ODA in recent years. This relief has been either linked to restructuring operations negotiated within the Paris Club or has been decided upon bilaterally based on the income level and level of indebtedness of the debtor country. In particular, Portugal has granted much debt relief to lusophone African countries.


Portugal’s record on trade

As part of the European Union, Portugal implements the European Union’s common agricultural and trade policies. These policies are implemented and initiated by the European Commission but heavily influenced by Member States.

Overall Portugal supports reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and of the world trading system in order to better take into account the interests of developing countries.

Most problematic are EU agricultural policies which provide subsidies for both the production and export of agricultural commodities, which lower world prices and limit earning opportunities for farmers and rural communities in poor countries. Support levels are slowly declining as a result of gradual reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. Nevertheless, in 2005, public support for producers in the EU still represented 32% of gross farm receipts - this is above the OECD average. And total support to the agricultural sector costs the EU countries 1.1% of GDP. Considering that the EU-15 spent only 0.43% of their combined national income on ODA in 2006, the level of agricultural support is staggering.
There is a gradual shift towards the use of less-distorting forms of agricultural producer support, notably a shift away from market price support and output-based payments, but these still form the majority of support.

As part of the Doha “Development” Round trade negotiations at the World Trade Organisation in December 2005 in Hong Kong, the EU committed to eliminating export subsidies by 2013. This was not much of a concession for the EU, given that it was set to eliminate the majority of these subsidies by that date under on-going reforms of the EU Common Agricultural Policy. However, even this minimal commitment now has a question mark hanging over it given the continued slow progress in the trade talks. It should be noted that EU resistance to opening up its agricultural markets continues to be one of the ongoing tensions in negotiations.

Almost all exports from the least developed countries face duty- and tariff-free access to the European Union market. While there are only a few exceptions to this free market access, three products which are important agricultural products for poor countries - sugar, rice and bananas – were excluded until 2009 in order to appease vested interests in the EU.

In addition, strict rules still make it difficult for goods from poor countries to gain access to the EU market. In the textiles sector, for example, rules of origin prevent poor countries that import fabric to produce clothing from exporting this clothing to the EU. Despite its overall preference for pro-development policies, Portugal, along with Italy, is resistant to changing the problematic policy on rules of origin.

For poor countries which are not among the least developed, market access can still be restricted due to high tariffs, particularly on manufactured goods where tariffs on poor country exports are often higher than equivalent tariffs on goods from rich countries.


Policy coherence for development and Portugal’s overall commitment to development

The OECD suggests that Portugal adopts policy coherence for development as a government objective, and clarifies the role that the Council of Ministers for Cooperation and the Institute for Development Support (IPAD) might play in promoting coherence across government. Moreover, the OECD suggests that there needs to be more analytical capacity and greater human resources in IPAD in order to allow it to play the necessary role in promoting policy coherence for development across government.

The Centre for Global Development (CGD) ranks 21 of the world’s richest countries based on their dedication to policies that benefit poor nations. CGD’s “Commitment to Development Index” (CDI) looks at seven policy areas important to developing countries: aid, trade, investment, migration, environment, security and technology.

CGD’s 2006 Commitment to Development Index ranks Portugal close to the bottom at 16th place among the 21 countries reviewed. Portugal’s low ranking reflects the very small share of its income that it provides in foreign aid, and the fact that it is the least open of countries covered by the Index to developing country migrants. On the other hand, Portugal has a strong environmental record from a developing country perspective.

Portuguese public opinion

In recent years, Portugal had made some improvements in the dissemination of development cooperation information. In addition Portugal’s new strategy for development cooperation has made education for development a key priority, including in school curricula. Yet, the OECD notes that the public debate on development cooperation in Portugal and public knowledge of development results are limited. Therefore, the OECD recommends that IPAD implement a communications strategy with adequate funding to foster greater understanding of, and public support for, development cooperation.

The OECD also notes that there is strong parliamentary consensus on the government’s new strategy for development co-operation and on the need to raise aid volumes to meet the MDGs. Yet, the OECD notes that pressure to show results on development cooperation has not been very strong in Portugal when compared with other OECD donor countries.


Updated: 6 April 2007


Principal sources: OECD (2007): 2006 Development Cooperation Report; OECD (2006): DAC peer review of Portugal; OECD (2006): Implementing the 2001 DAC Recommendation for Untying Official Development Assistance to the Least Developed Countries: 2006 Progress Report to the High Level Meeting; WTO (2006): World Trade Report; OECD (2006): Agricultural policies in OECD countries: At A Glance 2006; Centre for Global Development (2006): Commitment to Development Index Country Report: Portugal.

Link,http://www.endpoverty2015.org/files/WA%20-%20Portugal%20-%2006-04-07%20-%20posted.doc , consultado a 16 de Outubro de 2007.

Outros Links

*The 2005 World Summit

*Objectivos de Desenvolvimento do Milénio (ODM) até 2015

STAND UP and SPEAK OUT | against poverty and inequality and for the Millennium Development Goals

October 16 + 17, 2007STAND UP and SPEAK OUT is a worldwide call to take action against poverty and inequality and for the Millennium Development Goals. During the 24 hour period between Oct. 16th at 9pm GMT and Oct. 17th at 9pm GMT, millions will literally STAND UP and SPEAK OUT to show that they refuse to stay silent or seated in the face of poverty. Help us break the world record so we can break the record of broken promises.

Get Email Updates Find Events Near You Create an Event New Events (...).

Link,http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/, consultado a 16 de Outubro de 2007.

Center for UN Reform Education | Reform High on the Agenda as Outgoing and Incoming GA Presidents Address Assembly

by Jonas von Freiesleben
19 September 2007

On Monday, 17 September 2007, the 61st session of the General Assembly formally ended and on the following day, Tuesday 18 September 2007, the 62nd session of the General Assembly officially opened. Among other issues, both GA Presidents addressed ongoing reform efforts.
As the outgoing President of the General Assembly, H.E. Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa of Bahrain, lowered her gavel for the last time this Monday, it not only marked the formal closing of the 61st session of the General Assembly, but also the end of term for the first Arab woman in office.
A year ago, she had made reform of the Security Council, Mandate Review, and System-wide Coherence among some of her key priorities for the year. Now, before passing on the honor to her successor, H. E. Sgrjan Kerim of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Sheikha Haya seized the moment in her concluding remarks to reflect on her stint. “General Assembly revitalization has been a priority this session. As well as adopting a new Resolution, we have renewed and broadened our engagement with Civil Society, NGOs and the private sector. Another essential component necessary to strengthen the General Assembly is to enhance the leadership role of the President of the General Assembly. This role of the President is contingent, not only on his/her political and diplomatic skills, but it is also based on the support the Office of the President receives from the Secretariat of the United Nations. It is critical therefore to strengthen the Office in proportion to the growing responsibilities of the President."
Sheikha Haya also touched upon the recent developments within Security Council reform, noting that the status quo is simply no longer acceptable. “During the next session, I hope the membership will, on the basis of the progress we made and on the positions and proposals of Member States, have the courage to begin discussions on meaningful intergovernmental negotiations. In the 21st Century, the world demands a more representative, legitimate and effective Security Council.”
The outgoing President also used the opportunity to praise the recent attempts to strengthen peacekeeping and peacebuilding, especially with a view to improve the effectiveness of the Peacebuilding Commission; to finalize consultations that have recommended concrete options to strengthen International Environmental Governance; to give the staff of the organization an effective system to settle disputes and administer justice; and to strengthen its oversight by creating an Audit and Oversight Advisory Committee. But Sheikha Haya added that further steps need to be taken on other reform issues. “The consultations on System-wide Coherence have made some progress. They [the General Assembly] have demonstrated that on substance we are less divided than on the process itself. However, this impasse is not sustainable. We need to take concrete action – since any further delays will only prolong the suffering of the poorest on this planet. On gender equality, the opportunity is now squarely before you, and I hope the proper decisions will be taken.”
She ended her speech by thanking the Assembly members for their support during the past year and welcomed her successor, the president-elect of the 62nd session of the General Assembly, Mr. Kerim. The incoming president is “an accomplished academic, a captain of industry, and an experienced diplomat. He is also a great believer in the United Nations.”
At the invitation of Sheikha Haya, Mr. Kerim, a former foreign minister and UN ambassador with international experience in academia, took the podium and received the presidential gavel from Secretary-General H.E. Ban Ki-moon.
The following day, on Tuesday, 18 September 2007, Mr. Kerim officially opened the 62nd session of the General Assembly. In doing so, he urged the 192 Member States to come together in solving the problems of the world. “More than ever before, global challenges demand multilateral solution. The United Nations is the appropriate multilateral forum to take action. This is why the revitalization of this General Assembly deserves our highest attention. To revitalize this House is also to renew our faith in each other, our common values and destiny. True revitalization will only happen if together we address, amongst others, the five priority issues that, in consultation with you, I have identified: climate change; financing for development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals; countering terrorism; and the reform agenda – to renewing the management, effectiveness and coherence of this organisation.”
The incoming President stressed that modernizing the management of the organization, as well as implementing greater coherence across the system, would enable the United Nations to better deliver results on the above priorities. “If we want the United Nations to play its full role, we will have to do more and do it more effectively - both operationally at the country-level, and management at Headquarters.” In addition, Mr. Kerim called for concrete action to be taken on Security Council reform. “We also need the courage to move to a new stage leading to concrete results on Security Council reform.”
Earlier, speaking to reporters at the United Nations, he said that since he was elected in May, he has been holding consultations with the Membership and various political groupings on all of these issues in a bid to spark progress.
The 62nd session of the General Assembly will formally end on 15 September 2008.

Link,http://www.centerforunreform.org/node/277, consultado a 22 de Setembro de 2007

Book 2004 / "Human Security for All: a tribute to Sergio Vieira de Mello", November 2004, New York

Book Launch: "Human Security for All: a tribute to Sergio Vieira de Mello" Kevin Cahill (Author), President of the Center for International Health and Cooperation. Location: United Nations, New York. Date: 17 November 2004 (Photo # 56634 UN Photo/Ky Chung ).

Jan Eliasson, Ambassador of Sweden to the United States, addresses participants at the book launch for "Human Security for All: a tribute to Sergio Vieira de Mello". Location: United Nations, New York. Date: 17 November 2004. (Photo # 56636 UN Photo/Ky Chung).

Book Launch: "Human Security for All: a tribute to Sergio Vieira de Mello" Mr. Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information. Location: United Nations, New York. Date: 17 November 2004. (Photo # 56636 UN Photo/Ky Chung ).

*Link, http://www.un.org/events/memorial/19august/photos.html, consultado a 22 de Setembro de 2007.
*Link,http://www.unog.ch/unog/website/news_media.nsf/(httpNewsByYear_en)/8DEB52C9606A87E1C12570F1004B615A?OpenDocument, consultado a 22 de Setembro de 2007.