Security Council recommends South Sudan for UN membership

After the referendum of 2005, organized thanks the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which stopped the long civil war between the North and the South of Sudan, South Sudan celebrated its independence on 9 July 2011.

Immediately, the Security Council invited the General Assembly to admit the newborn Republic of South Sudan, as member of the United Nations.

Guido Westerwelle, Foreign Minister of Germany, which holds the Council’s rotating presidency this month, expressed his satisfaction for the application for membership submitted by the President of South Sudan, and for the efforts made by the state in the promotion of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter.

Tunisia: opening of a new UN human rights office

On Thursday 14^th July 2011, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, will open an UN human rights office in Tunisia in the presence of the current Prime Minister Béji Caïd Essebsi. It is the first time that the OHCHR establishes an office in a Mediterranean North African country.

IIMA participates in the Annual Ministerial Review of ECOSOC

From 4^th to 8^th July 2011 IIMA attended the High-level Segment that held at Palais des Nations, Geneva. In particular, IIMA participated in the Annual Ministerial Review (AMR) that focused on "Implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to education”. During the meeting Maria D’Onofrio, of IIMA, presented an oral statement on behalf of the NGO Platform on the Right to Education that involves more than twenty NGOs working in Geneva to promote the Right to Education.

Mrg. Tomasi, Apostolic Nuncio, meets with catholic NGOs in Geneva

On 7 July 2011, Mgr. Silvano Tomani, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva, met at the Permanent Mission of the Holy See with representatives of catholic inspired NGOs working in Geneva.

During the meeting the Apostolic Nuncio underlined the progresses achieved in the last years, highlighting the high number of joint statement submitted as well as the side events co-organized by several faith based NGOs.

These joint activities transmit to governments in Geneva the unity of the group and the common principles inspiring all NGOs.

South Sudan became the world's newest country

South Sudan became the world's newest country Saturday, 9^th July, 2011, closing one chapter of the Africa's longest and bloodiest civil wars.

There are certainly no blueprints for gaining independence and, experts say, South Sudan's secession boldly goes where no other new nation has gone before.

So what does a territory have to do to achieve statehood?

First of all, international recognition. Any group or individual can declare their own nation, but without recognition from other states, this can be a futile gesture. South Sudan is unlikely to meet resistance since its so-called parent state, Sudan, has agreed to the secession. South Sudanese officials say they are on track for recognition by the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other key bodies.  

Side Event on “The Right to education: key to the MDGs”

On 6 July 2011 the Permanent Mission of Uruguay to the United Nations in Geneva and the NGO Platform on the Right to Education, of which IIMA and VIDES International are members, organized a parallel event on “The Right to education: key to the MDGs, at Palais des Nations, in Geneva. The meeting organized in collaboration with the Permanent Missions of Portugal and Morocco, was moderated by H.E. Mr. Gert Rosenthal, Ambassador of Guatemala to the United Nations in New York.