United Nations, Sept 10: As the UN tries to enhance security of its personnel after the recent bomb attack on its headquarters in Iraq, Secretary General Kofi Annan has made a passionate appeal to all governments to sign the convention on the safety of United Nations and associated personnel. In a letter addressed to the heads of state or government and foreign ministers who are expected to attend the General Assembly later this month, Annan urged member states that have not already ratified or acceded to the convention to do so at a high-level treaty event that will take place at UN headquarters from September 23 to 26, concurrent with the assembly's general debate.
Annan's appeal comes in the wake of deadly truck bomb attack on the world body headquarters in Baghdad and as the United Nations tries to enhance the security of its personnel everywhere. The convention as adopted in 1994 after an increase in the number of attacks on UN personnel. So far, only 66 member states have become parties to it.
The instrument provides a framework of internationally accepted rules that criminalise attacks on UN and humanitarian personnel. It also imposes legal obligations on state parties to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety and security of such workers. Bureau Report