The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Yaounde organised a media event to share information about the UN Secretary-General's campaign to end violence against women, increase awareness of the issue and to encourage actions to end violence against women.

The event was held on 31 March. 26 journalists and broadcasters, who are members of the UN Press Club Bamenda, attended the session.

After an introductory speech by the UN Press Club Coordinator, UNIC's National Information Officer highlighted the main points from the Secretary-General’s campaign launch statement and his message for International Women's Day 2008.

The instructor for the session discussed the following topics: 1) violence against women as a human rights concern, 2) strategic communication to end violence against women and 3) developing messages to fight violence against women.

A veteran journalist talked about how she effected change through her reporting on cultural vices in the northern region of Bali, now a case study for the media's positive contribution to change and eliminating violence against women.

The participants created a network to continue action to end violence against women which will focus on communication targeted towards traditional rulers and communication targeted towards men.

Please visit the Secretary-General's website for more information on the campaign to end violence against women.

In collaboration with the North West Women's Empowerment Forum (NOWWEF), the umbrella organisation for women's NGOs in the North West province of Cameroon, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Yaounde organised an outreach event on 29 March at Congress Hall, Bamenda, the capital of the North West province.

Over 950 people participated in the event. Representatives from more than 26 women's NGOs were in attendance as well as traditional leaders, administrative authorities and opinion leaders of the North West province.

The theme of the event was "There Comes a Time .... Now is the Time .... Let’s Take Action", and it provided an opportunity for the UNIC's National Information Officer to share the Secretary-General's message on his special campaign to end violence against women. Other speakers included the Secretary General of the North West Fon’s Union, a former Prime Minister / opinion leader, a representative of the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, and the Minister of Culture, who is the only female member of government from the North West province.

The North West Women's Empowerment Forum is a mechanism to ensure that opinion leaders and policymakers at the highest level are encouraged to work towards the prevention and eradication of violence against women. It is also a forum which "invests in women and girls" and helps intensify action to end violence against women and girls.

Please visit the Secretary-General's website for more information on his campaign to end violence against women.

On 24 March the United Nations information office (UNO) in Asmara organized a workshop for representatives of ministries and civil society organizations to mark World Meteorological Day. The workshop was organized in partnership with the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Civil Aviation Authority.

The guest speaker was Mr. Paulos Kahsai, the permanent representative of Eritrea to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). He pointed out that World Meteorological Day was being observed for the 15th time in Eritrea. In addition, he said Eritrea is endeavoring to tackle the challenges of poverty, education and food security. Following his address, participants discussed the possibility of establishing a National Meteorological Agency.

The local media, including state owned television, radio and three newspapers covered the event. Banners in English, Arabic and Tigrinya along the main street of Asmara informed the public about the Day.

UNIC Warsaw supports and joins nationwide initiatives to improve life of the people in need in developing countries.  We gave an honourable patronage over a “Resources for Water” program initiated by the Ecologic Foundation “Arka” in cooperation with the Polish Humanitarian Action.  The aim of the programme is to raise awareness of school pupils and teachers on such issues as poverty and lack of water that lead to death - the problems that children and youth of the students' age deal with every day in Africa.  The programme mobilizes school students to collect used material and waste, and sell it at recycling centres.  The funds are donated to the Polish Humanitarian Action, a non-government organization that will use them to build wells in Sudan.

“Resources for Water” program will be launched on World Water Day 2008 (22 March) and last until December.  It is an activity organized to observe the International Year of Sanitation.