UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights In Myanmar To Hold Press Conference
The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, is conducting his first mission to Myanmar this week. Mr. Ojea Quintana will be in Thailand following his mission and will hold a press conference at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 13 August, at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok. [6 August 2008]

Address Power Relations to Achieve Development Goals, say Leading Gender Experts
Advances in policies and legislations at the macro-level do not necessarily bring about progress for women. Their implementation are frequently obstructed by entrenched structures, values and power relations at the meso- and micro-level, shaping local policies, communities and cultural beliefs and women’s daily lives. This is the level where empowerment must occur if progress for women is to be achieved. That was one of the key messages heard at a forum entitled, "Where's the Power in Women's Empowerment?" organized by the UN ESCAP. [4 August 2008]

ESCAP Joined Ban Ki-moon's Cool UN Initiative to Cut Emissions at Bangkok UN Compound
Thermostats turned up and dress code relaxed to save energy
The main United Nations premises in Bangkok joined the New York Headquarters today to turn up thermostats by 2°C in an effort to reduce the use of air conditioning and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Most staff members came to work wearing lighter clothing, including national dress. [1 August 2008]

UN ESCAP Forum to Explore Women's Empowerment
As part of a seminar series, UN ESCAP is holding a forum entitled "Where's the Power in Women’s Empowerment?" at which leading experts from the Research Programme Consortium on Women’s Empowerment in Muslim Contexts will share their views and analyses. [31 July 2008]

Regional Mission to Reinforce Disability Policy in the Federated States of Micronesia
The rights of persons with disabilities in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) will be the focus of a first-of-its-kind joint mission by the United Nations and the Pacific Disability Forum. The aim of the mission to Pohnpei is to build substantial support for the implementation of the FSM’s national policy on disability – which UN ESCAP helped local authorities draft in 2006. [10 July 2008]