Caribbean Leaders Set For U.N. General Assembly
UNITED NATIONS, NY - Caribbean leaders are among those set for the annual gathering of global heads of state at the United Nations beginning today.
The Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana and St. Lucia are among nations for the opening high level plenary meeting of the General Assembly today, September 20th. Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas and Belize will be present while on Wednesday St. Kitts and Antigua will be represented. The general debate will begin on September 23rd. United Nations officials are urging Member States to take advantage of next week`s annual high-level segment of the General Assembly to sign, ratify or accede to dozens of international treaties ranging from protecting human rights to fighting terrorism to preserving biodiversity. Last year 64 countries took 103 treaty actions - the highest participation in four years – and in hopes of even greater success this year`s event has been entitled `Towards universal participation and implementation.` This year`s event highlights 43 treaties deposited with the UN that address human rights, disarmament, protection of the environment, biodiversity, desertification and climate change, terrorism and crime, and the safety of UN and associated personnel. In addition to these, Member States can also take action with regard to some 500 other treaties. On Sunday, tn a time-honored ritual at United Nations Headquarters in New York, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon rang a bell cast from pennies donated by children from 60 nations to inaugurate the annual International Day of Peace, which this year is dedicated to the world`s young. Normally marked on September 21st, this year`s Headquarters ceremony was brought forward so as not to clash with next week`s MDG summit. Other ceremonies around the world will continue up until September 21st.
