Defending Children within Juvenile Justice System

Children vulnerable to violence within the juvenile justice system must have access to justice, the United Nations said in a new report released here.

Guatemalans Turn to Mutual Aid to Overcome Poverty

“Our economic situation improved a great deal because we obtained more income for our families” as a result of setting up a social enterprise, Matilde García, who makes fashion jewellery in the municipality of Pastores, 60 km west of the capital of Guatemala, told IPS.

Ecobreves – ARGENTINA : Communities to Monitor Clean-Up of Riachuelo River Basin

Residents of the Matanza-Riachuelo river basin, the most polluted in Argentina, situated south of the country’s capital, will monitor the clean-up of the area through a community participation program.

Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Football World Cup Will Emit 11 Million Tons of CO2

The Brazil 2014 Football World Cup will emit more than 11 million tons of carbon dioxide, according to a study conducted by the consulting firm Personal CO2 Cero.

Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Indigenous Community Exports Squash to U.S.

An indigenous community has managed to place some 5,800 kilos of high-quality squash on the market in the U.S. city of Miami, with the support of an international cooperation project.

Strengthening ECOSOC To Improve U.N. System

A special ministerial meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has reaffirmed the key role the Council will play in the implementation of the Rio+20 outcome document “The Future We Want”.

As Conflict Spreads, Syrian Opposition Prepares for the Future

As the uprising in Syria becomes violently entangled with its neighbours, the expatriate opposition leadership is already formulating plans for a political transition following the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Turkey Authorises Use of Force in Syria

(Al Jazeera) - Turkey’s parliament has authorised cross-border military action against Syria, if deemed necessary by the government.

Media Pluralism at Risk of Extinction in Chile

The announcement that the La Nación newspaper of Chile is closing down has drawn the attention of journalists, analysts and opposition lawmakers to the heavy concentration of press ownership, now in the hands of only two business groups, and to the lack of regulations to ensure media pluralism.

Ethiopia Charts a Chinese Course

The death of Ethiopia’s leader of 21 years has raised fears of instability in one of Africa’s fastest-growing non-oil producing nations, which could potentially slow investment activity.

NGO introduces ICT to schoolchildren in Cameroon

In Cameroon Information and Communication Technologies education is not universally accessible to Primary and secondary school children. A non-governmental organization called Ramsi ICT's House is filling the void by introducing school children to use computers, telephones and digital cameras.

General Assembly President Elected IPS Chair

Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser, president of the 66th session of the U.N. General Assembly, was unanimously elected chairman of the Board of Directors of Inter Press Service (IPS) news agency.

Changing Cities Equals Building Opportunities

In times of unprecedented mobility, issues of migration and growing cultural diversity have become the core of interest at the global, national and local level.

Ecobreves – URUGUAY: High Quality of Olive Oil Recognized Internationally

Although the production of extra virgin olive oil in Uruguay dates back less than a decade, the country’s olive oil has managed to earn a place among the ten best in the world, according to a quality ranking of companies participating in international competitions.

Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Communities Win the Battle Against Drought

Three peasant farmer communities in the southern Honduran department of Choluteca have been recognized for the good practices they adopted, through a program sponsored by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to withstand drought and adapt to climate change.

Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Eighty Percent of Coral Reefs Lost

Over the last 50 years, Brazil has lost 80 percent of the coral reefs along its coasts, according to a study carried out between 2002 and 2010 by the Federal University of Pernambuco and the Ministry of Environment.

UNAOC Alumni Urge Dialogue in Troubled Times

The Alumni of the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Fellowship Programme said in a Declaration adopted last week that ïn troubled times of renewed violence and manifestations of  anger between Western, Middle East and North African countries, “we believe in the extraordinary power of dialogue to change perceptions and avoid outdated radicalism and sensationalism.

Niger Delta Struggles Finally Shown On Big Screen

While heads of state are addressing the most pressing global issues during the 67th session of General Assembly this week, with growing conflict in Syria and Iranian nuclear facilities at the forefront, a new film draws major attention to the Niger Delta region.

Al-Nasser of Qatar Named High Representative for Alliance of Civilizations

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last week  designated Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser, President of the 66^th session of the United Nations General Assembly, as High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, replacing Jorge Sampaio.

CEO of Masdar Advocates Energy Mix

At a conference held at the International Peace Institute (IPI) last week, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, highlighted the important future of renewable energy.

France Calling For Death To Death Penalty

At an event at the U.N. on Thursday, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius urged all states to abolish capital punishment.