Monday, June 19, 2023

#PEACEVIGIL June 19 is UN International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict - WPI Peace Ambassador Zara Jane Juan, sailing for peace

UN Resolutions

On 19 June 2015, the United Nations General Assembly (A/RES/69/293) proclaimed 19 June of each year the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, in order to raise awareness of the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence, to honour the victims and survivors of sexual violence around the world and to pay tribute to all those who have courageously devoted their lives to and lost their lives in standing up for the eradication of these crimes.

The date was chosen to commemorate the adoption on 19 June 2008 of Security Council resolution 1820 (2008), in which the Council condemned sexual violence as a tactic of war and an impediment to peacebuilding.

In response to the rise in violent extremism, the Security Council adopted resolution S/RES/2331 (2016), the first to address the nexus between trafficking, sexual violence, terrorism and transnational organized crime. Acknowledging sexual violence as a tactic of terrorism, it further affirmed that victims of trafficking and sexual violence committed by terrorist groups should be eligible for official redress as victims of Terrorism

Secretary-General's message — 2023

The use of sexual violence as a tactic of war, torture, and repression is widespread in the conflicts that affect hundreds of millions of people around the world.

Harrowing reports from across the globe are a terrible reminder that this despicable crime persists despite international commitments to stamp it out. And many of those responsible never face justice. While stigma too often causes survivors to walk in shame, perpetrators walk free.

Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, we stand in solidarity with survivors and everyone supporting them. And we commit to redoubling our efforts to prevent atrocities and hold those responsible to account.

That means listening to survivors. It means governments incorporating international humanitarian law into national laws, military rules and training. And it means holding perpetrators to account, so that they face justice – we must confront the belief that fighters can inflict horror with impunity.

This year’s International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict focuses on technology and the digital divide. Accessible technology can alert people to danger, help them to reach sanctuary and support, and enable abuses to be documented and verified, as a first step towards accountability. But it can also perpetuate violence, harm survivors and inflame hate. We must ensure technology supports our efforts to prevent and end these crimes, including by increasing access and holding people to account for their actions online.

Together, we must turn rhetoric into response, and commitments into action, to make the promises to end sexual violence in conflict a reality.

António Guterres

We must ensure technology supports our efforts to prevent and end these crimes, including by increasing access and holding people to account for their actions online."

UN Secretary-General António Guterres message for the international day, 2023

Sexual harassment and gender-based hate speech

Every new wave of conflict brings with it a rising tide of human tragedy, including new waves of war’s oldest, most silenced, and least condemned crime - sexual violence. Conflict-related sexual violence, whether against women, girls, men, or boys in all their diversity, continues to be used as a tactic of war, torture, and terrorism amid deepening political and security crises, compounded by militarization and the illicit proliferation of arms.

New crises have multiplied as entrenched conflicts have deepened, resulting in shrinking civic space and rising reprisals against human rights defenders, activists, and journalists.

Sexual harassment and gender-based hate speech have surged in the digital space. While the use of information and communications technology has contributed to the empowerment of women and girls and other groups in vulnerable situations, its use has also enabled the propagation of violence.

In some settings, disturbing trends of gender-based hate speech and incitement to violence fuelled conflict in which rape and other forms of sexual violence are used to humiliate and destabilize targeted communities. Hate speech – including online – has become one of the most common ways of spreading divisive rhetoric on a global scale.

We must confront bigotry by working to tackle the hate that spreads like wildfire across the internet.”

António Guterres

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) — a tool for empowerment... and destruction

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) may be used directly as a tool for making digital threats and inciting gender-based violence, including threats of physical and/or sexual violence, rape, killing, unwanted and harassing online communications, or even the encouragement of others to harm women physically.

On the other hand, ICT can be a powerful tool to improve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, contribute to building their resilience in times of crises, increase the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, as well as help survivors fight against impunity and improve accountability.

A lack of access for women and girls to affordable, accessible, and reliable technologies remains a critical challenge in many countries. All efforts should be deployed to reduce the price and enhance the affordability of information and communications technologies and broadband access and use. More needs to be done in bridging the gender digital divide and ensuring technology is safe and accessible to all.

We must guarantee safe and equitable access to inclusive and quality education, including digital literacy for all.

International cooperation must be enhanced to counter increasing sexual and gender-based violence, harassment and hate speech occurring both offline and online, as these pose a real threat to democracy by weakening women and girls’ participation in society.

2023 Event

Bridging the gender digital divide to prevent, address and respond to conflict-related sexual violence

10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EDT

Monday, 19 June 2023

Conference Room 1, UNHQ, New York

UN WebTV live webcast

Invitation card - save the date

Concept Note and Programme

Commemorating the 9th official observance, this year's event is co-hosted by the Office of the SRSG on Sexual Violence in Conflict, the Office of the SRSG on Children and Armed Conflict and the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations.

The purpose of the event is to stand in solidarity with the survivors, and those supporting them, to spark hope, knowledge and inspiration as we lift our voices to say: “#EndRapeInWar”.

Background

Definition and prevalence

The term “conflict-related sexual violence” refers to rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization, forced marriage and any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity perpetrated against women, men, girls or boys that is directly or indirectly linked to a conflict. The term also encompasses trafficking in persons when committed in situations of conflict for the purpose of sexual violence or exploitation.

A consistent concern is that fear and cultural stigma converge to prevent the vast majority of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence from coming forward to report such violence. Practitioners in the field estimate that for each rape reported in connection with a conflict, 10 to 20 cases go undocumented.

Resources

General Assembly resolution establishing the International Day (A/RES/69/293)

Reports of the Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence

2022: S/2022/272

2022 report: illustrated version

2021: S/2021/312

2021 report: illustrated version

2020: S/2020/487

2020 report: illustrated version

2019: S/2019/280

2019 report: illustrated version

2018: S/2018/250

2018 report: illustrated version

2017: S/2017/249

2017 report: illustrated version

2016: S/2016/361

2016 report: illustrated version

Other reports

Conflict Related Sexual Violence MPTF Annual Progress Report 2021

Team of Experts Report 2021

UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict (UN Action):

14 agencies committed to ending sexual violence in conflict (2020)

2018 Progress Report

2017 Progress Report

More reports

Publications

Closing the protection gap for children born of war

Related websites

Say #NoToHate

Stop Rape Now: UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict

Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict

UN Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict

Rape: Weapon of war

Multimedia

"If you look at the history of war, and the conflicts around the world, and time immemorial, sexual violence has been used in every war as a tactic of war" - Pramila Patten (Secretary-General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict)

Listen to the interview in Awake at Night S3-Episode 26: It Breaks Your Heart to Hear About the Brutality

"I got my smile back when I understood that the world needed me." - Tatiana’s Story: Music that Heals

UN Action

United Nations Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict (UN Action) brings together 24 UN entities with the goal of ending sexual violence during and in the wake of armed conflict.

Launched in 2007, it represents a concerted effort by the UN to ‘deliver as one’ – improving coordination and accountability, amplifying advocacy and supporting country-level efforts to prevent conflict-related sexual violence and respond more effectively to the needs of survivors.

Pramila Patten addresses the Security Council

Special Representative

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict serves as the UN spokesperson and political advocate on conflict-related sexual violence. She chairs the UN Action and her work is supported by the UN Team of Experts on the Rule of Law/Sexual Violence in Conflict.

The office was established in 2009 and Under-Secretary-General Pramila Patten was appointed in 2017. She succeeds Ms. Zainab Hawa Bangura and Ms. Margot Wallström.

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Why do we mark International Days?

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.

#PEACEVIGIL June 19 is UN International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict - WPI Peace Ambassador Zara Jane Juan, sailing for peace

Sunday, June 18, 2023

#PEACEVIGIL June18 is UN International Day for Countering Hate Speech

Hate speech is: “any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour, that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are.

PHOTO:UN

But we are far from powerless in the face of hate speech. We can and must raise awareness about its dangers, and work to prevent and end it in all its forms."
UN Secretary-General António Guterres

Hate speech: Turning the tide

The devastating effect of hatred is sadly nothing new. However, its scale and impact are amplified today by new technologies of communication, so much so that hate speech, has become one of the most frequent methods for spreading divisive rhetoric and ideologies on a global scale. If left unchecked, hate speech can even harm peace and development, as it lays the ground for conflicts and tensions, wide scale human rights violations.

The United Nations has a long history of mobilizing the world against hatred of all kinds to defend human rights and advance the rule of law. The impact of hate speech cuts across numerous UN areas of focus, from protecting human rights and preventing atrocities to sustaining peace, achieving gender equality and supporting children and youth.

In response to the alarming trends of growing xenophobia, racism and intolerance, violent misogyny, antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred around the world, UN Secretary-General António Guterres launched the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech on 18 June 2019.

The Plan of Action defines hate speech as any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are -- in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, color, descent, gender or other identity factor.

However, to date there is no universal definition of hate speech under international human rights law. The concept is still under discussion, especially in relation to freedom of opinion and expression, non-discrimination and equality.

Online hate speech might seem like an unstoppable tide, but strategies are being employed by governments, civil society, and individuals, to fight back.

The preventative role of education

As online environments have become echo chambers for hateful rhetoric, strengthening digital literacy as part of global citizenship education has become more important than ever. Addressing hateful rhetoric, whether online or in real life, comes easier when one is equipped with sufficient knowledge and skills to identify and counteract hate speech. The United Nations campaign #NoToHate offers insights on how to learn and share knowledge on issues related to tackling hate speech.

Learn more

Background

In July 2021, the UN General Assembly highlighted global concerns over “the exponential spread and proliferation of hate speech” around the world and adopted a resolution on “promoting inter-religious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech”.

The resolution recognizes the need to counter discrimination, xenophobia and hate speech and calls on all relevant actors, including States, to increase their efforts to address this phenomenon, in line with international human rights law.

The resolution proclaimed 18 June as the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, building on the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech launched on 18 June 2019.

To observe the Day, the United Nations invites governments, international organizations, civil society groups, and individuals to hold events and initiatives promoting strategies to identify, address and counter hate speech. This first UN system-wide initiative designed to tackle hate speech provides an essential framework for how the Organization can support and complement States' efforts.

Whether as Member States the private sector, the media and internet corporations, faith leaders, educators, actors of civil society, those affected by hate speech, youth, or simply as an individual, we all have the moral duty of speaking out firmly against instances of hate speech and play a crucial role to in countering this scourge.

Why tackle hate speech?

Since the spread of hateful rhetoric can be an early warning of violence – including atrocity crimes – limiting hate speech could contribute to mitigating its impact.

How to deal with hate speech

It can sometimes be hard to assess when a comment is meant as hate speech – especially when expressed in the virtual world. It can also feel overwhelming to try to deal with obviously hateful content. However, there are many ways you can take a stand, even if you are not personally the victim of hate speech. And you can make a difference.

Read more about the #NoToHate campaign by downloading our fact sheets. Use them to educate yourself, or in the classroom.

#NoToHate

As history continues to show, hate speech coupled with disinformation can lead to stigmatization, discrimination, and large-scale violence.

Events

High-level event to mark the 2nd International Day for Countering Hate Speech

Date: Monday, 19 June 2023

Time: 11:00 - 1:00pm EDT (New York time)

Place: Trusteeship Council • United Nations, New York

The United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect and the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations will host a high-level event to mark the 2nd International Day for Countering Hate Speech, showcasing champions of good practices on tackling hate speech from across the world.

Flyer invite with full details

silhouette of a man speaking into a bullhorn with lighting coming out and the face of a person covering their ears

Regional Launch of Addressing hate speech through education: a guide for policy-makers

Date: Tuesday, 20 June 2023

Time: 9am – 12:35pm

Place: Kathmandu, Nepal, hybrid

Online and offline, hate speech hurts, divides and affects communities worldwide. Is there a way to address its growing prevalence globally? And to what extent should preventive approaches be adapted regionally? Learn more about the event and watch live event on facebook!

Resources

Related observances

The Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide

To prevent atrocity crimes, it is critically important to understand their root causes. Crimes, such as genocide and crimes against humanity, are not spontaneous acts. They develop as a process over time, during which it may be possible to identify warning signs, including hate speech targeting specific groups. Therefore, the Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide is the focal point for the implementation of the UN Strategy on Hate Speech.

No one is born to hate

Hatred, conspiracy theories and prejudice infiltrate our societies and affect all of us. We are flooded by information - and disinformation - more than ever before both on- and offline. But no one is born to hate. Hate is learned and can be unlearned. Education for all is the foundation. Learning to think critically about what we see and hear, create and share is essential. Providing learners with media and information literacy skills to challenge those who promote hatred.

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

Why do we mark International Days?

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

#PEACEVIGIL June 12 is World Day Against Child Labour -WPI report Peace Ambassador Zara Jane Juan sailing for peace

Children, Families, and Adolescents in Rural India

Child labour deprives children of education and opportunity and stacks the odds against their securing a decent income and stable employment as adults.

PHOTO:© ILO

2023 Theme: Social Justice for All. End Child Labour!

Observed on June 12th, World Day Against Child Labour is intended to serve as a catalyst for the growing worldwide movement against child labour. Emphasizing the link between social justice and child labour, the slogan for the World Day in 2023 is ‘Social Justice for All. End Child Labour!’.

Our joint experience in tackling child labour over the course of the last three decades has demonstrated that child labour can be eliminated, if the root causes are addressed. More than ever, it is urgent for all of us to contribute to bringing solutions to people’s daily problems, and child labour is – possibly – the most visible of these problems.

We therefore consider the 2023 World Day Against Child Labour to be a moment for all of us who are committed to ending child labour to demonstrate that change can be achieved when will and determination come together and provide a momentum for efforts to be accelerated in a situation of great urgency.

This World Day Against Child Labour, June 12, 2023 we are calling for

Reinvigorated international action to achieve social justice, particularly under the envisaged Global Coalition for Social Justice, with child labour elimination as one of its important elements;
Universal ratification of ILO Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age, which, together with the universal ratification of ILO Convention No. 182 on Worst Forms of Child Labour achieved in 2020, would provide all children with legal protection against all forms of child labour;

Effective implementation of the Durban Call to Action.

World Day Against Child Labour 2023 banner

High-level Discussion

Monday, 12 June 2023, 07:30 - 08:45 (EST)

The ILO is organizing a high-level side event during the 111th Session of the International Labour Conference on 12 June to mark World Day Against Child Labour. The event aims to explore the connection between social justice and the eradication of child labour. Experts will discuss the progress made by ILO constituents in fulfilling their commitments, emphasizing how these efforts contribute to advancing social justice.

FOLLOW THE LIVE EVENT

Prevalence of child labour

Since 2000, for nearly two decades, the world had been making steady progress in reducing child labour. But over the past few years, conflicts, crises and the COVID-19 pandemic, have plunged more families into poverty – and forced millions more children into child labour. Economic growth has not been sufficient, nor inclusive enough, to relieve the pressure that too many families and communities feel and that makes them resort to child labour. Today, 160 million children are still engaged in child labour. That is almost one in ten children worldwide.

Africa ranks highest among regions both in the percentage of children in child labour — one-fifth — and the absolute number of children in child labour — 72 million. Asia and the Pacific ranks second highest in both these measures — 7% of all children and 62 million in absolute terms are in child labour in this region.

The Africa and the Asia and the Pacific regions together account for almost nine out of every ten children in child labour worldwide. The remaining child labour population is divided among the Americas (11 million), Europe and Central Asia (6 million), and the Arab States (1 million). In terms of incidence, 5% of children are in child labour in the Americas, 4% in Europe and Central Asia, and 3% in the Arab States.

While the percentage of children in child labour is highest in low-income countries, their numbers are actually greater in middle-income countries. 9% all children in lower-middle-income countries, and 7% of all children in upper-middle-income countries, are in child labour. Statistics on the absolute number of children in child labour in each national income grouping indicate that 84 million children in child labour, accounting for 56% of all those in child labour, actually live in middle-income countries, and an additional 2 million live in high-income countries.

As part of the Supporting Children's Rights through Education, the Arts and the Media (SCREAM) Program implemented by the ILO to combat child labour, students from British Culture College who are conducting awareness-raising activities composed a song and recorded it in the studio.

Find out more

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Past Events

Other past events

Children raise their hands in a classroom

Global Issues: Children

Every child has the right to health, education and protection, and every society has a stake in expanding children’s opportunities in life. Yet, around the world, millions of children are denied a fair chance for no reason other than the country, gender or circumstances into which they are born.

Find out more in "Global Issues: Children"

Syrian refugee brothers Abdullah, 9, and Ahmad, 10.

What’s the key to ending Child Labour?

To mark World Day Against Child Labour, the ILO World of Work Show looks at what else needs to be done to protect the 160 million children worldwide who are in child labour - many in dangerous conditions. We will also explore the critical role of social protection in protecting workers and their families.

Why do we mark International Days?

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Wednesday, May 24, 2023

#PEACEVIGIL May 25-31 is UN International Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories - AmbZara Jane Juan, Journalist & Peace Ambassador, sailing for peace WPI

Non-Self-Governing Territories: a sacred trust

International Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories

25-31 May

In the UN Charter, a Non-Self-Governing Territory is defined as a territory “whose people have not yet attained a full measure of self-government.”

In 1946, several UN Member States identified a number of territories under their administration that were not self-governing and placed them on a UN list. Countries administering Non-Self-Governing Territories are called administering Powers. As a result of the decolonization process over the years, most of the territories were removed from the list.

Chapter XI of the UN Charter - the Declaration regarding Non-Self-Governing Territories - provides that Member States administering Territories, which have not attained self-government recognize "that the interests of the inhabitants of these territories are paramount" and accept as a "sacred trust" the obligation to promote their well-being.

Chapter IX urged the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable rights of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources, including land, and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requested the Administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those territories.

Administering Powers, in addition to ensuring the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the peoples, undertake to assist them in developing self-government and political institutions. Administering Powers have an obligation to transmit regularly to the Secretary-General information on the economic, social and educational conditions in the territories under their administration.

Chapter IX also urged all States, directly and through their action in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to provide moral and material assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories.

History

In 1946, eight Member States - Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States - listed 72 territories under their administration, which they considered to be non-self governing. Eight became independent before 1959.

Transmission of information by the administering Power was discontinued for 21 Non-Self-Governing Territories for various reasons. In some cases, such as Greenland, Alaska and Hawaii, the General Assembly accepted the cessation of information; in others, the decision was taken unilaterally by the administering Power.

In 1963, the Assembly approved a revised list of 64 territories to which the 1960 Declaration on Decolonization applied. The list included the two remaining Trust Territories at that time (Nauru and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands); the Non-Self-Governing Territories for which information was transmitted under Chapter XI of the Charter (article 73e), including the territories administered by Spain; Namibia (then referred to as South West Africa); and those Non-Self-Governing Territories about which no information had been transmitted, but which the Assembly had deemed to be Non-Self-Governing - namely the territories under Portuguese administration and Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The list was further expanded in 1965 to include French Somaliland (now Djibouti) and Oman. The Comoro Islands were included in 1972 and New Caledonia in 1986.

From 1960 to 2002, 54 territories attained self-government. At present, there are 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories remaining.

The UN General Assembly, by its resolution 54/91 of 6 December 1999, requested the annual observance of the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Decolonization

This educational video focuses on the process of decolonization and how the United Nations has contributed to development of the principle and practice of "self-determination” for people living in Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Related websites

The United Nations and Decolonization

Global Issues: Decolonization

Trusteeship Council

Special Political and Decolonization Committee

Documents

UN Charter Chapter XI

Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples

Resolution establishing the annual observance of the Week of Solidarity

Map of Non-Self-Governing Territories

map of Non-Self-Governing Territories

Brochure

brochure

men in indigenous dress sitting cross-legged

Global Issues: Decolonization

When the United Nations was founded in 1945, some 750 million people, nearly a third of the world's population, lived in Territories that were dependent on colonial Powers. Today, fewer than 2 million people live under colonial rule in the 17 remaining non-self-governing territories. The wave of decolonization, which changed the face of the planet, was born with the UN and represents the world body’s first great success.

a woman with small children in Namibia (1992)

International Decades for the Eradication of Colonialism

Starting in 1990, on the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, the United Nations has declared four consecutive international decades for the eradication of colonialism. We are now in the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2021 - 2030).

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Why do we mark International Days?

Source

UN website

Saturday, July 11, 2020

HEADLINES from UN News Centre

Min Min

COVID-19 lockdown in Myanmar exposes precarious position of LGBTQI population

11 July 2020

Human Rights

In Myanmar, the COVID-19 lockdown has laid bare the stigmatization, discrimination and harassment faced by many LGBTQI people, particularly in rural areas. The United Nations is working to support those people.

UN News/ Assumpta Massoi

World Population Day: 'No time to waste' in empowering women

10 July 2020

Women

The COVID-19 pandemic affects everyone, everywhere, “but it does not affect everyone equally”, the UN chief said in his message for World Population Day, on Sunday.

Audio Playlist

Syria: Authorization to continue lifesaving cross-border aid remains in limbo

10 July 2020

Humanitarian Aid

With the deadline just hours away, the Security Council has failed on its third attempt this week to extend its authorization for lifesaving food, medicine and shelter to cross into northwest Syria from Turkey.

UNODC

‘Strengthen multilateralism’ to combat global terrorism

10 July 2020

Peace and Security

Although COVID-19 has tested “national resilience, international solidarity and multilateral cooperation”, we must not “pause our efforts” in the battle against terrorism, the UN counter-terrorism chief said on Friday.

Audio - 20'36" Playlist

COVID-19 cases worldwide hit 12 million

10 July 2020

Health

COVID-19 cases globally have more than doubled in the past six weeks, reaching 12 million on Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported.

UN News/Jing Zhang

UNESCO expresses deep regret over Turkey decision to change status of historic Hagia Sophia

10 July 2020

Culture and Education

As the Turkish President signed a decree on Friday converting the ancient Hagia Sophia in Istanbul into a mosque, the UN cultural agency (UNESCO) said that it "deeply regrets the decision" made "without prior discussion", having earlier in the day called on the State to abide by its “legal commitments and obligations” in accordance with it’s status as a museum, on the World Heritage List.

UNICEFF

Lebanon ‘fast spiralling out of control’ leaving many destitute and facing starvation, warns Bachelet

10 July 2020

Humanitarian Aid

Sounding the alarm over the crippling impact of “growing economic shocks, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic” in Lebanon, the UN human rights chief called on Friday for a unified response by politicians and the people to overcome the worsening socio-economic crisis there.

Audio - 4'56" Playlist

UNEP/Natalia Mroz

Wildlife crime putting environment and health at risk: UN report

10 July 2020

Law and Crime Prevention

The COVID-19 pandemic shows how wildlife crime is a threat not only to the environment but to human health, according to a new UN report issued on Friday.

Audio - 9'14" Playlist

WFP/Marco Frattini

Finding hope in calamity: how UN humanitarians cope on the frontline

10 July 2020

Humanitarian Aid

What does it take to help the world’s most vulnerable people, often in dangerous and unstable situations, and at considerable personal risk? In the latest season of the award-winning UN podcast, Awake At Night, host Melissa Fleming speaks to some of the Organization’s most prominent humanitarians to find out what motivates them, and how they cope.

WFP/Mohammed Awadh

Waiting to declare famine ‘will be too late for Yemenis on brink of starvation’

10 July 2020

Humanitarian Aid

In Yemen, fears of famine have resurfaced as UN humanitarians also warned on Friday that 360,000 severely malnourished children could die unless they continue to get treatment and aid is stepped up. In an urgent appeal for funding, the World Food Programme (WFP) said that it needs $200 million per month to maintain assistance in the war-torn country.

Sunday, June 28, 2020

75th Anniversary of UN Charter

Today we face a global pandemic.

Hoje enfrentamos uma pandemia global.
Worldwide, people rightly raise their voices against racism.
Confronting problems is a start. But we also have to solve them.
We have a timeless guide to tackle our shared challenges and fix the world’s fragilities.
That guide is the United Nations Charter.
The Charter was signed 75 years ago – and its principles ring just as true today.
Faith in fundamental human rights.
The equal rights of men and women.
The dignity and worth of every person.
International law and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Better standards of life in larger freedom.
These enduring values will carry us to a new future.
A future where we stop harming the natural environment – and start tackling climate change.
Where we reject bigotry – and celebrate the richness of human diversity.
Where young people lead – in the streets, in their schools, in society.
The United Nations was founded before threats like cybercrime and online hate speech emerged.
But our Charter shows how to rise to these challenges, too.
Let us realize this vision of peace, human rights and justice for everyone.
By joining together:
With humanity.
With unity.
With each other.
Thank you.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

World failing to provide children with a healthy life and a climate fit for their future: WHO-UNICEF-Lancet

19 February 2020
News release
New York / London / Geneva

As climate and commercial threats intensify, WHO-UNICEF-Lancet Commission presses for radical rethink on child health

No single country is adequately protecting children’s health, their environment and their futures, finds a landmark report released today by a Commission of over 40 child and adolescent health experts from around the world. The Commission was convened by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and The Lancet.

The report, A Future for the World’s Children?, finds that the health and future of every child and adolescent worldwide is under immediate threat from ecological degradation, climate change and exploitative marketing practices that push heavily processed fast food, sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco at children.

“Despite improvements in child and adolescent health over the past 20 years, progress has stalled, and is set to reverse,” said former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Co-Chair of the Commission, Helen Clark. “It has been estimated that around 250 million children under five years old in low- and middle-income countries are at risk of not reaching their developmental potential, based on proxy measures of stunting and poverty. But of even greater concern, every child worldwide now faces existential threats from climate change and commercial pressures.

“Countries need to overhaul their approach to child and adolescent health, to ensure that we not only look after our children today but protect the world they will inherit in the future,” she added.
Intensifying climate change threatens every child’s future

The report includes a new global index of 180 countries, comparing performance on child flourishing, including measures of child survival and well-being, such as health, education, and nutrition; sustainability, with a proxy for greenhouse gas emissions, and equity, or income gaps. [Top & Bottom 10 countries; Full Global Index on pp. 35-38] [1]

According to the report, while the poorest countries need to do more to support their children’s ability to live healthy lives, excessive carbon emissions – disproportionately from wealthier countries – threaten the future of all children. If global warming exceeds 4°C by the year 2100 in line with current projections, this would lead to devastating health consequences for children, due to rising ocean levels, heatwaves, proliferation of diseases like malaria and dengue, and malnutrition.

The index shows that children in Norway, the Republic of Korea, and the Netherlands have the best chance at survival and well-being, while children in Central African Republic, Chad, Somalia, Niger and Mali face the worst odds. However, when authors took per capita CO2 emissions into account, the top countries trail behind: Norway ranked 156, the Republic of Korea 166, and the Netherlands 160. Each of the three emits 210% more CO2 per capita than their 2030 target. The United States of America (USA), Australia, and Saudi Arabia are among the ten worst emitters.

“More than 2 billion people live in countries where development is hampered by humanitarian crises, conflicts, and natural disasters, problems increasingly linked with climate change,” said Minister Awa Coll-Seck from Senegal, Co-Chair of the Commission. “While some of the poorest countries have among the lowest CO2 emissions, many are exposed to the harshest impacts of a rapidly changing climate. Promoting better conditions today for children to survive and thrive nationally does not have to come at the cost of eroding children’s futures globally.”

The only countries on track to beat CO2 emission per capita targets by 2030, while also performing fairly (within the top 70) on child flourishing measures are: Albania, Armenia, Grenada, Jordan, Moldova, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uruguay and Viet Nam.

Harmful commercial marketing preys on children – with childhood obesity increasing 11-fold

The report also highlights the distinct threat posed to children from harmful marketing. Evidence suggests that children in some countries see as many as 30,000 advertisements on television alone in a single year, while youth exposure to vaping (e-cigarettes) advertisements increased by more than 250% in the USA over two years, reaching more than 24 million young people.

Professor Anthony Costello, one of the Commission’s authors, said: “Industry self-regulation has failed. Studies in Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and the USA – among many others – have shown that self-regulation has not hampered commercial ability to advertise to children. For example, despite industry signing up to self-regulation in Australia, children and adolescent viewers were still exposed to 51 million alcohol ads during just one year of televised football, cricket and rugby. And the reality could be much worse still: we have few facts and figures about the huge expansion of social media advertising and algorithms aimed at our children.”

Children’s exposure to commercial marketing of junk food and sugary beverages is associated with purchase of unhealthy foods and overweight and obesity, linking predatory marketing to the alarming rise in childhood obesity. The number of obese children and adolescents increased from 11 million in 1975 to 124 million in 2016 – an 11-fold increase, with dire individual and societal costs.
A manifesto for immediate action on child and adolescent health

To protect children, the independent Commission authors call for a new global movement driven by and for children. Specific recommendations include:
Stop CO2 emissions with the utmost urgency, to ensure children have a future on this planet;

Place children and adolescents at the centre of our efforts to achieve sustainable development;

New policies and investment in all sectors to work towards child health and rights;

Incorporate children’s voices into policy decisions;

Tighten national regulation of harmful commercial marketing, supported by a new Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Dr. Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet family of journals, said: “The opportunity is great. The evidence is available. The tools are at hand. From heads-of-state to local government, from UN leaders to children themselves, this Commission calls for the birth of a new era for child and adolescent health. It will take courage and commitment to deliver. It is the supreme test of our generation.”

“From the climate crisis to obesity and harmful commercial marketing, children around the world are having to contend with threats that were unimaginable just a few generations ago,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “It is time for a rethink on child health, one which places children at the top of every government’s development agenda and puts their well-being above all considerations.”

“This report shows that the world’s decision makers are, too often, failing today’s children and youth: failing to protect their health, failing to protect their rights, and failing to protect their planet,” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization said. “This must be a wakeup call for countries to invest in child health and development, ensure their voices are heard, protect their rights, and build a future that is fit for children.”