A meeting bringing together over twenty African ministers, the President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the heads of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and WIPO, together with senior representatives of the private sector and civil society organizations has underlined the importance of science, technology and innovation to supporting development in Africa.

14 March 2013 -- A new WHO report on road safety calls for more comprehensive legislation addressing the five key road safety risk factors to reduce fatalities and injuries. The Global status report on road safety 2013: supporting a decade of action, launched today, states that only 28 countries, covering 7% of the world’s population, have comprehensive road safety laws on drinking and driving, speeding, and failing to use motorcycle helmets, seat-belts, and child restraints.

Some twenty African ministers, senior policy makers and entrepreneurs joined President Jakaya Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania and WIPO Director General Francis Gurry at the opening of a two-day conference in Dar es Salaam to discuss the role of intellectual property (IP) in stimulating innovation and development. The conference, organized by WIPO and the Japan Patent Office in cooperation with the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, is also addressing the importance of innovation in dealing with some of today’s most pressing global challenges, such as public health, food security and climate change.

Journalists wishing to cover an international conference to conclude a treaty to facilitate access to published works by visually impaired persons and persons with print disabilities are invited to apply for media accreditation. The diplomatic conference to conclude the treaty is convened by WIPO and will be hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco from June 17 to 28, 2013 at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakesh.

7 March 2013 --Between 2011 and 2020, more than 140 million girls will become child brides, according to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). If current levels of child marriages hold, 14.2 million girls annually or 39 000 daily will marry too young.

1 March 2013 -- WHO welcomes the announcement of Mr Ray Chambers as the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Malaria and for the Financing of the Health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

28 February 2013 -- A comprehensive assessment by international experts on the health risks associated with the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (NPP) disaster in Japan has concluded that, for the general population inside and outside of Japan, the predicted risks are low and no observable increases in cancer rates above baseline rates are anticipated.

27 February 2013 – More than 360 million people in the world have disabling hearing loss, according to new global estimates on prevalence released by WHO, for International Ear Care Day (3 March).

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announced today a major expansion of its public database of trademark and brand information. The newest addition of six national collections of trademark records – including the entire United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) collection – takes the Global Brand Database from 2.2 to 10.9 million records, making it the world’s largest free, public trademark search facility.

19 February 2013 -- Top officials from health and finance ministries from 27 countries joined other high-level health and development stakeholders at a two-day meeting this week in Geneva to discuss ways that countries are progressing towards universal health coverage.

19 February 2013 -- Response from WHO and IARC to allegations in the recent Lancet article called "IARC in the dock over ties with asbestos industry".

19 February 2013 -- Many synthetic chemicals, untested for their disrupting effects on the hormone system, could have significant health implications according to the State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and WHO.

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry, speaking at the opening of the World Trade Organization (WTO) seventh ministerial conference in Geneva on November 30, 2009, underlined the importance of innovation in dealing with some of today’s most pressing global challenges – economic recovery and climate change. He further pledged the Organization’s commitment in assisting countries to develop national innovation strategies.

27 February 2013 – More than 360 million people in the world have disabling hearing loss, according to new global estimates on prevalence released by WHO, for International Ear Care Day (3 March).

8 February 2013 -- UNICEF and The World Health Organization (WHO) join the Government of Nigeria in condemning attacks in Kano state, Nigeria, that have killed and injured healthworkers.

New York/ GENEVA, 8 February 2013 - UNICEF and The World Health Organization (WHO) join the Government of Nigeria in condemning attacks in Kano state, Nigeria, that have killed and injured healthworkers.

5 February 2013 -- For the first time, the three global intergovernmental bodies dealing with health, intellectual property and trade have pooled their expertise on a study of policies needed to advance medical and health technologies and to ensure they reach the people who need them.