UN Wire Wed, Oct 30, 2013 -Preventing child pregnancy needs to be focus of reproductive efforts, UN report says

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Top Story Preventing child pregnancy needs to be focus of reproductive efforts, UN report says The United Nations Population Fund's 2013 State of the World Population report says governments and private groups must do a better job of reaching girls younger than 15 to prevent child pregnancies. UNFPA says that 2 million girls younger than 15 in developing nations give birth each year. "This age group is not being targeted and focused on to prevent pregnancy before it happens," says UNFPA's Dr. Laura Laski. Thomson Reuters Foundation (10/30), The Indian Express (New Delhi)/Press Trust of India (10/30) Share: Above the Fold Security Council approves UN peacekeeping force for CAR Political pressure needs to increase to get more aid into Syria How to use technology is a challenge for aid workers Hopes dim for Syrian peace talks in November UN Radio Quote of the Day @UN: Marking one year since Hurricane Sandy, UN officials urge focus on Caribbean j.mp/1gYBvOy Share: UN Dispatch "This shows that the rebels and government can coordinate for humanitarian purposes. 'A rare moment of coordination between the Syrian government and rebels enabled 1,800 civilians to flee a besieged town on the edge of Damascus on Tuesday, but thousands remain trapped with little food, water or medicine.' " UN Dispatch (10/30) Share: United Nations Security Council approves UN peacekeeping force for CAR The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday voted to send 250 United Nations peacekeepers to the Central African Republic to protect UN workers. "The No. 1 issue today is protection, and the atrocities that are being committed against the civilian population are indescribable," says UN humanitarian envoy John Ging. Voice of America (10/29), The Huffington Post/The Associated Press (10/29), Reuters (10/29) Share: Ban: Syrian crisis must be resolved through dialogue Al-Monitor/Milliyet (10/29) Share: Security Council may be asked to adjudicate dispute in Sudans Reuters (10/30) Share: Maldives Supreme Court violating rights in presidential election, UN's Pillay says Xinhuanet.com (China) (10/30) Share: Health & Development Political pressure needs to increase to get more aid into Syria The rescue of 1,800 people trapped in Damascus by the Syrian conflict shows humanitarian cease-fires are possible, but aid workers are frustrated by the lack of political effort to allow aid to reach more Syrians. "We haven't been able to find a way to get the appropriate level of political pressure that will allow basically what should be easy, humanitarian assistance, to go forward," says Joel Charny of InterAction. Reuters (10/29), PBS (10/29), Reuters (10/29), Reuters (10/30), BBC (10/30) Share: GAVI says it's on track with immunization goals The Guardian (London) (10/30) Share: Technology How to use technology is a challenge for aid workers Humanitarian workers are grappling with using technology on a daily basis and in crisis situations to provide assistance. "In the end, it's not about technology; it's about people. ... The technology is there to ensure that communities themselves take the lead, and that humanitarians are there as facilitators to help them," says Paul Conneally of the International Telecommunications Union. IRINNews.org (10/28) Share: Peacekeeping and Security Hopes dim for Syrian peace talks in November Diplomats are finding it difficult to create an agenda for November peace talks on the Syrian conflict, according to officials. Envoys from the United Nations, Russia and the U.S. will meet next week to continue preparations. Reuters (10/30), Reuters (10/30), Al Jazeera (10/30), The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (10/29) Share: Muslim Brotherhood official arrested as Egyptian minister calls for reconciliation Senior Muslim Brotherhood official Essam el-Erian was arrested today by Egyptian authorities. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Ziad Bahaa El-Din is seeking to foster political dialogue between the two sides. The Christian Science Monitor (10/30), Reuters (10/29), Reuters (10/30) Share: DR Congo troops capture M23 stronghold BBC (10/30) Share: Reasons sought for decline in number of North Koreans seeking refuge Reuters (10/29) Share: 3 attacks in Iraq leave 20 dead BBC (10/30) Share: Protesters continue to block Libyan oil exports Reuters (10/29) Share: Pakistan troops to remain in Swat Valley IRINNews.org (10/30) Share: Afghanistan officials to meet with former Taliban leader Reuters (10/30) Share: Position Title Company Name Location Senior Communications Officer, Shot@Life United Nations Foundation Washington, DC Deputy Director, Family Planning 2020 Task Team United Nations Foundation Washington, DC Donor Outreach and Engagement Manager, Family Planning 2020 Task Team United Nations Foundation Washington, DC Knowledge Manager, Family Planning 2020 Task Team United Nations Foundation Washington, DC Click here to view more job listings.