The UN Peacebuiding Commission has made important and significant progress in its first year of operations, however a great deal of support is still needed. In a recent meeting in Geneva more than 150 representatives of governments, UN entities, regional organizations and civil society groups attending agreed that much still needs to be done. In a press release the UN Office in Geneva, stated that participants had agreed the Commission's achievements over the first year, while significant, that greater and longer lasting impact would be best determined by obtaining a sustained political commitment from all Member States, and with the allocation of adequate resources.
The Netherlands, will lobby developing countries to legalize homosexuality and fight discrimination, the government represented by Dutch Development Minister Bert Koenders said in a statement on November 7. The conclusion and action came after a government issued survey showed homosexuality is illegal in 18 out of the 36 countries the Netherlands gives regular aid to. Of those countries making homosexuality illegal, punishments ranged from prison sentences and even the death penalty. (Reuters)