The publication of the special Developing World report with The Irish Times last Wednesday was supported by Irish Aid (Department of Foreign Affairs), the Government's official development co-operation programme.

The report is one of a number of projects marking the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which the Department of Foreign Affairs is supporting under the direction of the Minister of State with special responsibility for Overseas Development Assistance and Human Rights, Ms Liz O'Donnell, TD.

Drawing from the Human Rights and Democratisation budget of Irish Aid, the Minister of State approved grants totally nearly £126,000 for projects marking the anniversary last July. These grants included home-based projects, such as the distribution of copies of the Universal Declaration to second- and third-level schools and colleges throughout the country (Amnesty International), and the preparation of posters and booklets about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which are aimed at primary schools (Irish National Committee of UNICEF).

Other projects approved reflected Irish Aid's commitment to the promotion of human rights and democratisation in developing countries.

Among the official events marking the anniversary was the inaugural Department of Foreign Affairs/ NGO Forum on Human Rights held last March, at which the guest speaker was the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Robinson. Furthermore, a comprehensive Dail debate on human rights issues will take place during the current Dail term and a commemorative stamp to mark the anniversary was issued by An Post in September.

The Irish Times will be distributing copies of the supplement to schools throughout the country. The supplement is also available to readers on The Irish Times website - www.irish-times.com - which will be linked to the Department of Foreign Affairs website - www.irlgov.ie/iveagh - which provides further information on Irish Aid.