UN WIRE August 23, 2013

August 23, 2013 FOLLOW THE UN FOUNDATION   News covering the UN and the world SIGN UP | FORWARD | ADVERTISE | DONATE Top Story UN asks Syria for access in latest chemical-weapons investigation The United Nations has formally asked Syria for access to investigate Wednesday's alleged chemical-weapons attack. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has sent UN disarmament envoy Angela Kane to pursue the request with the Syrian government. If chemical weapons were used, they would represent "crimes against humanity," Ban says. Reuters (8/22), Yonhap News Agency (South Korea) (8/23), ForeignPolicy.com/Turtle Bay blog (8/22), Reuters (8/23), Voice of America (8/22) Share: Above the Fold UN's Pillay to visit Sri Lanka to see rehabilitation, reconciliation efforts Is polio making a comeback? Female entrepreneurs in Liberia get boost from 10,000 Women initiative Russia joins call for inquiry into alleged Syria chemical-weapons incident UN Radio Quote of the Day @UNFoundation: 1/5 children do not have access to life-saving immunization. Help change that reality with @ShotAtLife: http://bit.ly/PMf2ms Share: UN Dispatch "With Syria's war well into its third year, the number of Syrian children forced to flee their homeland as refugees has now reached one million. ... Children make up half of all refugees from the Syria conflict." UN Dispatch (8/23) Share: United Nations UN's Pillay to visit Sri Lanka to see rehabilitation, reconciliation efforts United Nations human rights envoy Navi Pillay will start a one-week visit to Sri Lanka on Sunday, the first UN visit to the country since conflict ended in 2009. Pillay's visit follows a March resolution by the UN Human Rights Council asking the Sri Lankan government "to carry out credible investigations into the deaths and disappearances of thousands of people," writes Nita Bhalla. Thomson Reuters Foundation (8/23) Share: UN: 1 million Syrian children are refugees; 2 million are displaced Reuters (8/23) Share: 3 Rwanda refugees disappear in Uganda, spurring UN inquiry request BBC (8/22) Share: Health & Development Is polio making a comeback? Polio in Africa has spread to Ethiopia, which reported its first case since 2008. Somalia has had more than 100 cases this year, and the Ethiopian case was reported in a district near the border with Somalia. Voice of America (8/22), ScientificAmerican.com (8/22), The Guardian (London) (8/22), The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (8/22) Share: UN's "Free & Equal" campaign is designed to foster acceptance of LGBT rights The InterDependent (8/23) Share: Partnership hopes to develop workable mHealth model for Africa Devex.com (free registration) (8/21) Share: Floods in Sudan have affected 300,000 people, WHO says BBC (8/22) Share: Women & Girls Female entrepreneurs in Liberia get boost from 10,000 Women initiative Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Women initiative is helping female entrepreneurs in Liberia to expand their businesses, writes Stephanie Finigan. The program reports that 97% of graduates improved sales and 62% added employees. "Participants are able to see and feel the program's impact in their work, family, and personal lives," she writes. U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (8/23) Share: Efforts to prevent child marriage in 3 south Asian countries receive funding The Guardian (London) (8/23) Share: Peacekeeping and Security Russia joins call for inquiry into alleged Syria chemical-weapons incident Russia is calling on the Syrian government to allow a chemical-weapons investigation of Wednesday's attack, while U.S. President Barack Obama is noncommittal about the U.S. stepping up involvement in Syria's civil war. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (8/23), The Guardian (London) (8/22), Reuters (8/23), Reuters (8/23) Share: Egypt's opposition calls for mass protests, but few demonstrators appear Few demonstrators turned out for mass protests today by supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, write Maggie Fick and Lin Noueihed. No clashes were reported between demonstrators and security forces. Reuters (8/23), The Washington Post (tiered subscription model) (8/23) Share: UN intervention brigade shells M23 rebels in DR Congo Reuters (8/23) Share: North Korea says UN probe may threaten progress with South Korea GlobalPost.com/Yonhap News Agency (8/23) Share: Bomb blasts in Lebanon kill 29, injure hundreds BBC (8/23) Share: Referendum in Colombia could result in peace pact with FARC Reuters (8/22) Share: Position Title Company Name Location Budget Analyst, Business Services and Budgets (2 openings) United Nations Foundation Washington, DC Officer, Global Partnerships United Nations Foundation Washington, DC Business Services and Contracts Officer United Nations Foundation Washington, DC