The UN's List of “Stories the World
Should Hear More About,” 2006
The United Nations Department of Public Information began keeping a
list of “Ten Stories the World Should Hear More About” in
2004. The stories are not ones that have never been reported, but are
often second-rung issues that need more thorough, balanced, and regular
attention. Below is the 2006 list:
Liberia: Development challenges top agenda as the nation recovers
from years of civil strife. Setting off on an obstacle-strewn road of
transitioning from a vicious war to stable peace and development, the
nation grapples with an array of critical challenges that often escape the
glare of world media.
Lost in migration: Asylum seekers face challenges amid efforts to
stem flows of illegal migrants. Against the backdrop of escalating
migratory flows and growing concerns over security, the institution of
asylum finds itself in need of protection as the line gets blurred between
victims who flee persecution and migrants who seek economic
opportunity.
Democratic Republic of Congo: As the country moves boldly towards
historic vote, humanitarian concerns continue to demand attention. As
the world is applauding the determination of the Congolese people and
leadership to take a crucial step in the country's transition from a
bloody civil war to peace and democracy, the steep humanitarian challenges
facing the devastated nation must not be forgotten.
Nepal's hidden tragedy: Children caught in the conflict. Caught
in the violence that has plagued the country for over 10 years, Nepal's
children have become the often overlooked victims of the ongoing strife,
their plight exacerbated by poverty and abuse.
Somalia: Security vacuum compounding effects of drought. Against
the backdrop of a fragile peace process and encouraging prospects for
reconciliation, the persistent insecurity in many parts of the country
presents mounting challenges on the humanitarian front as Somalia
struggles with the effects of its worst drought in a decade.
Protracted refugee situations: Millions caught in limbo, with no
solutions in sight. While news of major refugee emergencies often
dominate headlines, the plight of millions of people who have languished
in exile for years—and sometimes decades—remains a low-profile
high-risk situation with serious humanitarian and security
implications.
South Asian earthquake: Relief effort saves lives, stems losses, but
reconstruction tasks loom large. In the wake of a successful relief
effort that helped to prevent additional casualties in quake-devastated
areas, the aid community is facing a new crucial task of restoring
livelihoods to hundreds of thousands of people left homeless and destitute
by the disaster.
Behind bars, beyond justice: An untold story of children in conflict
with the law. Amid important strides in global efforts to ensure a
protective environment for the youngest members of society, an alarming
number of children in many parts of the world are held in detention
without sufficient cause, often for offences that are not considered
criminal when committed by adults.
From water wars to bridges of cooperation: Exploring the
peace-building potential of a shared resource. Despite widespread
perceptions that water basins shared by countries tend to engender
hostility rather than collaborative solutions, water is an often untapped
resource of fruitful cooperation.
Côte d'Ivoire: A strike away from igniting violence amidst a
faltering peace process. As Côte d'Ivoire gears up for October
elections, postponed from 2005, the country is on a knife's edge with
fears that a renewed eruption of violence will destroy any progress
towards political reconciliation. So-called "hate media" is playing on
people's fears, stoking the violence, and is a major threat to peace and
reconciliation.
Source: United Nations Department of Public
Information. www.un.org/events/tenstories/.
Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson
Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
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