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Global Classrooms Model United Nations Event on 17 May 2012

Young people: YOUR ideas could be part of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s speech on the Future We Want!

On 17 May 2012, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will address students from 23 countries gathered in the General Assembly hall at the annual Global Classrooms Model UN event organized by United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA), the membership programme of the UN Foundation.

In the lead-up to this event, as part of our ongoing "Future We Want" campaign, all young people around the world are invited to join a social media Twitter conversation to tell the Secretary-General about the future they want.  To join the conversation, young people should use this hashtag: #gcmodelun.  

In his remarks on 17 May, the Secretary-General will then share a global sampling of the thoughts he received from youth postings on Twitter and is also expected to offer some ideas about how youth can get involved in June's Rio+20 conference and the related Future We Want campaign, such as attending Rio-related events, participating in Rio-related contests, writing letters to the editor, etc.

To learn more about the Global Classrooms programme, Click Here.

Essay Writing Contest for University Students

The United Nations Academic Impact (http://outreach.un.org/unai) and the Brookings Institution in Washington DC are launching a global contest for university students, inviting them to imagine a speech that would be made by the Secretary-General at the opening of the next session of the General Assembly.

There is today a growing consensus concerning our global interdependence. Article 28 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrines everyone's right to an international order where the inherent dignity and rights of all are fully realized .What is less clear is what sort of a global civics  is necessary and feasible for us to navigate this growing interdependence.  

University students from around the world  are invited to ponder these vital questions and submit an essay in English in  up to 1500 words in length, which address -- in the form of a draft of the imagined speech by the Secretary-General -- what responsibilities we can all take on towards people who happen not to be our compatriots, and what rights we can claim, as we work to solve global problems together in a shared culture of intellectual social responsibility.

The competition is open to all students currently enrolled at a university. Submissions should be sent simultaneously to academicimpact@un.org  and haltinay@brookings.edu by 15 June 2012. Please put SPEECH COMPETITION in the subject line. Authors of what are judged to be the top three submissions, at least one of whom will be from an UNAI member institution, will be invited to New York and Washington DC to meet with the United Nations Secretary General and the leadership of the Brookings Institution respectively.

To learn more about the United Nations Academic Impact initiative, Click Here.

World Malaria Day 2012

25 April 2012

UN Secretary-General’s message on World Malaria Day 2012

“Last year on World Malaria Day, we mourned the fact that one child died every 45 seconds from this disease. This year, we have managed to slow the clock. It remains a monumental tragedy that one child dies every minute from malaria, but we can draw some hope from the many lives saved through international interventions.”

Read full message.

The Art for Peace Contest is organized and sponsored by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Harmony for Peace Foundation.  The contest, which begins on 01 February 2012 and ends on 30 April 2012, is open to all children and teens between the ages of 5-17 from all countries.

To enter this contest, all participants are encouraged to watch a short video film online and create an original artwork depicting a world free of nuclear weapons based on the content of the film and the theme of the contest. Different films are available for different age groups. 

Participants are urged to tap into their imaginations and draw, paint, sketch, use pens, pencils, crayons, charcoal, oil, acrylic paint or watercolours to illustrate a world free of nuclear weapons, without wars, without fear.

The winners will be announced end of May 2012.  There will be four winners from each age category i.e. 5-8, 9-12 and 13-17.  The winners will receive a certification from the United Nations and the winning artwork will be reproduced in a UN calendar.

Furthermore, for age groups 5-8 and 9-12, the winners will receive wonderful art supplies. 

For age groups 13-17, the winners will receive a cash prize of USD500/- for the first place, USD300/- for the second place, USD200/- for the third place and USD100/- for the fourth place respectively.

Once the artwork is posted, family and friends can vote and share the same on the UN Peace Day Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/unpeaceday

To Learn more and to Enroll in the Art for Peace contest, Click Here.

To view the entries of six young artists from the United Arab Emirates, Click Here.

“Hang Out” with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday, 10 March 2012 

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon believes that young people deserve the power to get information, to connect and to ask hard questions.

Therefore, this week Ban Ki-moon will "hang out" on the UN's Google Plus page and take questions and chat with young people from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North and South America on Tuesday at 3:30 pm EST.

The event will be recorded and available for viewing on the UN's YouTube page on Tuesday evening.

For more information, visit the website listed in the above video.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination-21 March 2012

Racism, xenophobia and intolerance are problems prevalent in all societies. Each and every one of us plays a role in either contributing to or breaking down racial prejudice and intolerant attitude.  Learn more on what You can do to fight racism.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message

“The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an important opportunity to remember the pernicious impact of racism.

Racism undermines peace, security, justice and social progress. It is a violation of human rights that tears at individuals and rips apart the social fabric.

As we mark this International Day under the theme of “racism and conflict,” my thoughts are with the victims.”

Read full message

International Women’s Day

08 March 2012

UN Secretary-General’s message on the occasion of International Women’s Day

“Gender equality and the empowerment of women are gaining ground worldwide.  There are more women Heads of State or Government than ever, and the highest proportion of women serving as Government ministers.  Women are exercising ever greater influence in business.  More girls are going to school, and are growing up healthier and better equipped to realize their potential. 

Despite this momentum, there is a long way to go before women and girls can be said to enjoy the fundamental rights, freedom and dignity that are their birthright and that will guarantee their well-being.  Nowhere is this more apparent than in the world’s rural areas.  Rural women and girls -- to whom this year’s International Women’s Day is devoted -- make up one quarter of the global population, yet routinely figure at the bottom of every economic, social and political indicator, from income and education to health to participation in decision-making.”

Read full message

UNICEF launches 'The State of the World's Children Report 2012'

Applications invited for United Nations Journalism Fellowships

The Dag Hammarskjöld Fund for Journalists is now accepting applications from professional journalists from developing countries for its 2012 fellowship program. The application deadline is Wednesday, March 30, 2012.

The fellowships are available to radio, television, print and web journalists, age 25 to 35, from developing countries who are interested in coming to New York to report on international affairs during the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly.  The fellowships will begin in early September and extend to late November and will include the cost of travel and accommodations in New York, as well as a per diem allowance. 

The fellowship program is open to journalists who are native to one of the developing countries in Africa, Asia, South America and the Caribbean, and are currently working full-time for a bona fide media organization in a developing nation. Applicants must demonstrate an interest in and commitment to international affairs and to conveying a better understanding of the United Nations to their readers and audiences.  They must also have approval from their media organizations to spend up to two months in New York to report from the United Nations.

Details with regard to applying for a journalism fellowship can be found on our web site at www.unjournalismfellowship.org. 

In an effort to rotate recipient countries, the Fund will not consider journalist applications for 2012 from nations selected in 2011:  China, Ethiopia, India and Nigeria.  Journalists from these countries may apply in 2013.

Four journalists are selected each year after a review of all applications. The journalists who are awarded fellowships are given the incomparable opportunity to observe international diplomatic deliberations at the United Nations, to make professional contacts that will serve them for years to come, to interact with seasoned journalists from around the world, and to gain a broader perspective and understanding of matters of global concern.  Many past fellows have risen to prominence in their professional and countries. The program is not intended to provide basic skills training to journalists, as all participants are media professionals.

Questions about the program, eligibility and application process should be directed to fellowship@unjournalismfellowship.org.      

Human Rights Council to hold nineteenth regular session from 27 February to 23 March 2012

Council Will Start with High-level Segment and Will Hold Panels on Human Rights and Sport, Freedom of Expression on the Internet, Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation

New York, Manama 26 February 2012 (UN Information Centre)-The Human Rights Council will hold its nineteenth regular session from 27 February to 23 March 2012 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. A highlight of the session will be the opening four-day High-level Segment during which some 80 ministers and other senior dignitaries will address the 47-member Council on human rights matters of national interest and concern.

Prior to the convening of the High-level Segment, the Council will hear opening remarks from its President, Laura Dupuy Lasserre (Uruguay), as well as from United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, and the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser (Qatar).

Another highlight will be the follow-up meetings to the Council's December 2011 Special Session on Syria, and to its February 2011 Special Session on Libya, at which the Council-appointed Commissions of Inquiry will present their reports on the human rights situations in those countries. The Council will also hold interactive dialogues with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Côte d'Ivoire, and with the Special Rapporteurs on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on Myanmar and on Iran, all of whom will present reports.

During the four-week session, nine interactive panel discussions comprising a host of experts will be held covering a broad range of issues related to human rights, including the relation between sport and human rights, freedom of expression on the Internet, rights of persons with disabilities, and discriminatory practices in connection with sexual orientation and gender identity.

Read More.

The Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States which are responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. The Council was created by the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 with the main purpose of addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.

Follow the Human Rights Council on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/UNHRC
https://twitter.com/#!/UN_HRC

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Message On

World Day of Social Justice-20 February 2012

New York, Manama 19 February 2012 (UN Information Centre)-Over the past year, the winds of change have swept across the globe.  Citizens by the millions have voiced their discontent around similar themes: inequality, corruption, repression and the absence of decent work.  At the heart of this mass mobilization lies a call for social justice. 

Achieving social justice for all is integrally linked to realizing the agreed development goals articulated at the Copenhagen Social Summit, the Millennium Summit and elsewhere.   

As we look to the upcoming Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, we have a chance to rethink development strategies and business practices so that they point us toward a more sustainable and equitable future.

Sustainability depends on building markets that do a better job of spreading the benefits of development.  It means meeting growing consumer demand for greener products and services.  And it means laying the foundations for dignity, stability and opportunity for all.  As we strive to make this transformation, we must integrate social inclusion into our policies and other efforts.

Let us work together to balance the global economy and build a new social contract for the 21^st century.  Let us chart a development path that leads to greater social justice and the future we want

Forest Heroes Receive Special Recognition as International Year of Forests Draws to Close

New York, Manama 12 February 2012 (UN Information Centre) – People who made special contributions toward protecting forests and forest communities received the Forest Heroes Award at a special ceremony hosted by the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat marking the conclusion of the International Year of Forests on 09 February 2012 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. 

In addition to the presentation of Forest Heroes awards, the ceremony also featured the winners of the 2011 Universal Postal Union letter writing contest that drew entries from over 2 million children and youth worldwide, and the announcement of the winners of 2011 children’s art contest to “Celebrate the Forests.”   There were also film clips from the first-ever award-winning International Forest Film Festival, as well as the launch of the commemorative “Forests for People” book with 75 articles from 35 countries.

Jan McAlpine, Director of the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat and member of the jury panel for the Forest Heroes Award, said the well-being of our forests was a concern for everyone.  “Each of us, all 7 billion people on earth, has our physical, economic and spiritual health tied to forests. We launched the UNFF Forest Heroes Awards for the International Year of Forests 2011 to identify and honor the countless individuals around the world who are dedicating their lives to nurturing forests in quiet and heroic ways. The programme aims to spotlight everyday people working to make positive changes for forests.”

Through many activities, the 2011 International Year of Forests helped promote awareness of the issues confronting the world’s forests and the people who depend on them.  Forests cover 31 per cent of the world’s total global land area, store more than 1 trillion tons of carbon and provide livelihoods for more than 1.6 billion people.  Deforestation accounts for 12 to 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.

Ninety nominations for Forest Heroes from forty-one countries were received by the UNFF Secretariat and 15 finalists were selected.

After a long and difficult deliberation, the jury finally decided on the following regional winners: Africa’s Mr. Paul Nzegha Mzeka (Cameroon), Asia’s Mr. Shigeatsu Hatakeyama (Japan), Europe’s Mr. Anatoly Lebedev (Russia), Latin America’s Mr. Paulo Adario (Brazil) and North America’s Ms. Rhiannon Tomtishen & Ms. Madison Vorva (USA).  In addition, the jury decided to add a special award in recognition of the deceased couple José Claudio Ribeiro and Maria do Espírito Santo, two activists in Brazil who were tragically murdered while trying to protect their natural forests.  Each hero embodied innovative approaches and grassroots initiatives that make a direct impact on the forests they have dedicated themselves to.

Through education, reforestation, and sustainable bee farming, Mr. Mzeka and his team have helped 30 communities in Cameroon to protect their watersheds and conserve community forests, and he still works tirelessly at the age of 77. 

As an oyster fisherman, Mr. Hatakeyama understands the critical role of forests in maintaining clean water for his oyster beds, and he has become an iconic advocate of sustainable forests and farming practices in Miyagi, an area of Japan that was recently devastated by the March 2011 tsunami. 

Working through the legislative system, outreach and education, Mr. Lebedev has successfully campaigned against illegal logging and destructive land practices in Russia that threatened indigenous communities and Siberian tigers.

Despite death threats and warring interest groups, Mr. Adario has dedicated himself to the protection of rainforests and the forest-dependant communities in the Brazilian Amazon.

As 11-year-old girl scouts, Ms. Tomtishen and Ms. Vorva worked to raise awareness about palm oil, which is linked to the destruction of rainforests, and an ingredient used in girl-scout cookies. Now at 16, these inspiring girls are working to educate consumers and to persuade multi-national companies such as Kellogg’s and Cargill to change their supply chain practices to help reduce deforestation.

While these heroes come from varied backgrounds, they share a common courage, passion and perseverance that serve as inspiration to anyone who wants to make a difference for forests.

Since its launch in February last year, global observance of the International Year of Forests has been dedicated to raising public awareness of the vital role of people in sustainable management and catalyzing actions in the development and conservation of all types of forests.  

The international Jury for the Forest Heroes award comprised senior leaders in the international forest community: Jan McAlpine, Director, United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat (UNFFS), Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Assistant Director General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Frances Seymour, Director General, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Emmanuel Ze Meka, Executive Director, International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), and Jan A. Hartke of Clinton Foundation.

For more information, please visit The International Year of Forests website: www.un.org/forests

UN Report: World Youth Voice Concern over Employment Prospects and Call for Investment Increase

New York, Manama, 06 February 2012 (UN Information Centre)-Young people around the world are deeply concerned about a lack of job opportunities and are calling for an in increase in investment in this area, according to the latest World Youth Report, issued today by the United Nations.

In the aftermath of the economic crisis, the global youth unemployment rate saw its largest annual increase on record in 2009, in around 75.8 million unemployed youth.

“Today we have the largest generation of young people the world has ever known,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.  “They are demanding their rights and a greater voice in economic and political life.  We need to pull the UN system together like never before to support a new social contract of job-rich economic growth.  Let us start with young people.”

For the first time, inputs gathered from young people around the world through an extensive online consultation from the core of the report, entitled Youth Employment: Youth Perspectives on the Pursuit of Decent Work in Changing Times.  The report, published by the Un Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), also outlines the situation of young people in the labour market and youth employment trends.

Young people and representatives of youth-led organizations were invited to share through digital and social media platforms, their views, experiences and recommendations on preparing for, entering and remaining active in the workforce,  A total of approximately 1,100 contributions (as well as photos and videos) were received from young people around the world during the four-week consultation period.

The report reveals that young people are worried about the quality and relevance of their education, as mentioned by Amadou, a 24 year old man from Senegal: “Today it should be easier to find a job because our generation is the most education but there is an inadequacy between the training offered and the needs of the labour market.”  Our subjects of concern include job vulnerability, labour migration, delayed marriage, and the rural divide, as well as age, gender and racial discrimination.

But opportunities offered by green jobs, new technologies and entrepreneurship contribute to providing hope to young people, who also underline the need to be proactive and keep a positive outlook in order to find decent jobs, as expressed by Leo, 28 years old, from Spain: “We need to innovate, to risk, to create, to search.”

Through this process, participants also had the opportunity to interact online with UN Youth Champion Monique Coleman, and the Special Advisor on Global Youth Issues to the United States Secretary of State, Ronan Farrow, about their own experience and advice.

The report is available in English online at www.unworldyouthreport.org where, for the first time, readers are invited to interact and share their reactions.

50^th Graduate Study Programme in Geneva

02-13 July 2012

The United Nations Information Service at Geneva is organizing a two week Graduate Study Programme at the Palais des Nations for a group of qualified post graduate students from all over the world.  The 50^th Geneva Graduate Study Programme will take place from 02 to 13 July 2012 under the theme “Opportunities and challenges in a world of 7 billion”.

The Programme will examine the role that the United Nations plays or can play in seeking multilateral solutions to global issues, such as those mentioned in this year’s theme.  Senior officials and experts of the United Nations and the Geneva based specialized agencies will give a series of lecture.  The lectures will be followed by panel discussions.  Participants are expected to attend all the lectures and participate in working groups.

The deadline for receipt of applications for the Programme is Friday, 02 March 2012.  Successful candidates will be notified of their selection by mid April 2012.

To learn more and to apply for the Programme, Click Here.

Launch of the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All

16-18 January 2012, Abu Dhabi UAE

Called for by the UN General Assembly to “increase awareness of the importance of addressing energy issues, including modern energy services for all, access to affordable energy, energy efficiency and the sustainability of energy sources and use”, the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All will be launched at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon and the UN General Assembly President, Mr Nassir Abdulaziz Al Nasser.

The initiative has three complimentary objectives, all to be achieved by 2030 i.e. to ensure universal access to modern energy services, to double the rate of improvement energy efficiency and to double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.  The initiative will serve as a significant contribution to the Rio+20 Conference in June 2012 and will feature prominently in the UN’s Future We Want campaign.

Ban stresses ‘people power’ and partnerships at start of second term as UN chief

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has begun his second term as Secretary-General of the United Nations by pledging to harness “the strong power of partnerships” to respond to the planet’s biggest challenges, such as tackling climate change, combating poverty and empowering women and girls.

In an interview with UN Radio to mark the start of his second term, Mr. Ban, 67, stressed the need for unity, particularly among Member States and their citizens.

“Together, nothing is impossible,” he said, adding that “if we strengthen these partnerships among governments, business communities, civil organizations and philanthropists, then I think all these powerful partnerships can bring us towards the right direction.”  

To listen and to download the full interview, Click here.

To read about the interview, Click here.

United Nations Year in Review 2011

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted on 10 December 1948. The date has since served to mark Human Rights Day worldwide. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, as the main UN rights official, and her Office play a major role in coordinating efforts for the yearly observance of Human Rights Day.

Live Conversation with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Would YOU like to join a live global conversation with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay on 09 December 2011 from 09:30 am to 10:30 am New York Time?  Find out HOW!

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

03 December 2011

 “Together for a better world for all including persons with disabilities in development”

New York, Manama, 01 December 2011 (UN information Centre)-Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities:

It is thirty years since the United Nations first observed the International Year of Disabled Persons under the theme “Full Participation and Equality”.  During that period, there has been significant progress in raising awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities and in strengthening the international normative framework to realize those rights – from the World Programme of Action (1982) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006).

More and more countries are committing to protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities.  However, many challenges remain.  Persons with disabilities experience higher rates of poverty and deprivation and are twice as likely to lack health care.  Employment rates of persons with disabilities in some countries are as low as one-third of that of the overall population.  In developing countries, the gap in primary school attendance rates between children with disabilities and others ranges from 10 per cent to 60 per cent.

This multi-dimensional exclusion represents a huge cost, not only to persons with disabilities but to society as a whole.  This year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities reminds us that development can only be sustainable when it is equitable, inclusive and accessible for all.  Persons with disabilities need therefore to be included at all stages of development processes, from inception to monitoring and evaluation.

Addressing negative attitudes, the lack of services or ready access to them, and other harmful social, economic and cultural barriers will benefit all of society. 

On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I call on governments, civil society and the global community to work for and alongside persons with disabilities to achieve inclusive, sustainable and equitable development worldwide.

World AIDS Day

01 December 2011

Learn more about World AIDS Day and UNAIDS.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on World AIDS Day 2011

 “Heading into the fourth decade of AIDS, we are finally in a position to end the epidemic.  The progress we have made so far is proof that we can realize our vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.  The number of new HIV infections has fallen by more than 20 per cent since 1997. New infections are continuing to decline in most parts of the world. In sub-Saharan Africa, the region most affected by the AIDS epidemic, HIV incidence has decreased in 22 countries.”

Read full message

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

29 November 2011

New York, Manama, 29 November 2011 (UN information Centre)-Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People:

The need to resolve this conflict has taken on greater urgency with the historic transformations taking place across the region.  I call on the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to show courage and determination to seek an agreement for a two-State solution that can open up a brighter future for Palestinian and Israeli children.  Such a solution must end the occupation that began in 1967, and meet legitimate security concerns.  Jerusalem must emerge from negotiations as the ‎capital of two States, with arrangements for the holy sites acceptable to all.  And a just and agreed solution must be found for millions of Palestinian refugees scattered around the region.

While there are many challenges to this goal, let me stress an important, indeed historic, achievement of the Palestinian Authority during the past year.  The Palestinian Authority is now institutionally ready to assume the responsibilities of statehood, if a Palestinian state were created.  This was affirmed by a wide range of members of the international community at the meeting of the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee in September. I commend President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on this remarkable success.  These efforts should continue and be supported. 

In this regard, the current suspension by Israel of customs and tax transfers owed to the Palestinian Authority risks undermining these gains.  These revenues must be transferred without delay.

Above all else, a political horizon is vital.  I am deeply concerned that Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are not taking place, while trust between the parties continues to fade.  A glimpse of hope comes from their engagement with the Middle East Quartet.  I call on both sides to develop serious proposals on borders and security, and to discuss them directly with each other, with active Quartet support, in the context of a shared commitment to reach an agreement by the end of 2012. 

The parties have a particular responsibility to cease provocations and create a conducive environment for meaningful negotiations.  Israel’s recently intensified settlement activity in East Jerusalem and the West Bank is a major obstacle. Settlement activity is contrary to international law and the Roadmap, and must cease.  Unilateral actions on the ground will not be accepted by the international community.  For its part, the Palestinian Authority should also find ways to help de-escalate the situation and improve the prevailing divisive climate, and to be ready to engage directly in the search for a negotiated solution.

I also urge the Palestinians to overcome their divisions, based on the commitments of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the positions of the Quartet and the Arab Peace Initiative.  I take note of President Abbas’s continuous efforts towards a transitional government that will prepare for presidential and legislative elections in May. Palestinian unity that supports a negotiated two-State solution is essential for the creation of a Palestinian State in Gaza and the West Bank.

The United Nations continues to be strongly committed to the population in Gaza, and to implementing all aspects of Security Council resolution 1860.  I appreciate efforts undertaken by Israel to ease the closure, and continue to call for removing the numerous remaining measures that severely restrict the movement of people and goods and limit the ability of the United Nations to support Gaza’s economic recovery and reconstruction.

I also take this opportunity to remind those in Gaza who fire rockets at Israel or continue to smuggle weapons that these actions are both unacceptable and completely contrary to Palestinian interests.  I call for an end to rocket fire from Gaza into Israel, and for Israel to exercise maximum restraint.  Both parties should fully observe calm and respect international humanitarian law. 

I welcome the recent prisoner exchange that saw the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and an Israeli soldier.  This significant humanitarian breakthrough should be followed by further steps to consolidate calm and end the closure of Gaza. 

Amid these many challenges to the realization of their legitimate aspirations for statehood, the Palestinian leadership submitted an application for membership in the United Nations.  This is a matter for the Member States to decide.  Whatever view of this matter is taken, we should not lose sight of the ultimate goal of reaching a negotiated peace agreement on all final status issues, including borders, security, Jerusalem and refugees.   

Let us, on this International Day, reaffirm our commitment to translating solidarity into positive action.  The international community must help steer the situation towards a historic peace agreement.  Failing to overcome mistrust will only condemn further generations of Palestinians and Israelis to conflict and suffering.  A just and lasting peace in the Middle East based on Security Council resolutions 242, 338, 1397, 1515 and 1850, previous agreements, the Madrid framework, the Road Map and the Arab Peace Initiative is critical to avoid this fate.  For my part, I pledge to continue pursuing my efforts with all the means available to me.

HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium Visits Gulf Region to Encourage Commitment against Malaria and Other Preventable Diseases

together with the Executive Directors from the Roll Back Malaria Partnership and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria

New York, Manama, 26 November 2011 (UN Information Centre) –On her second advocacy trip to the Gulf as Special Representative to the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership, Her Royal Highness (HRH) Princess Astrid of Belgium will visit the region from 26-30 November, including planned visits to Abu Dhabi and Kuwait City. Joined by RBM Executive Director Professor Awa Marie Coll-Seck and Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Professor Michel Kazatchkine, the purpose of the Princess’s visit is to advocate stronger regional investment in global malaria control efforts.

“Malaria is important to me because of its burden on the most vulnerable – pregnant women and children,” says HRH Princess Astrid. “In my work with the RBM Partnership, I’ve seen first-hand the complete devastation malaria imposes on communities. I’ve also seen the incredible hope provided by simple, cost-effective tools that prevent and treat infection and advance other development goals that will lift communities out of poverty.”

Malaria control efforts in the past decade have resulted in a 38 percent decrease in global malaria deaths, and at least ten of the most endemic countries in Africa have reported declines in new malaria cases and steep falls in child mortality of 50 to 80 percent. But more work remains. Despite advancements, malaria continues to infect 247 million people each year and kill more young children than any other single disease, claiming the life of a child in Africa every 45 seconds.

“Our projects and policies are working, but the successes remain partial and fragile,” says Professor Awa Marie Coll-Seck, Executive Director of The Roll Back Malaria Partnership. “Despiteadvances in diagnostics, prevention and treatment, malaria continues to kill approximately 780,000 people annually. Our successes must be replicated across all regions affected by malaria, and they need to be expanded to prevent the disease. This will require a concerted effort and sustained commitment to proven, cost-effective tools and continued scientific advancement.”

The fight against malaria has forged one of the most effective initiatives in global public health, under the leadership of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, which has been highly successful in coordinating efforts and directing resources to where the need is greatest. The Global Fund provides two-thirds of international funding in the global effort to control the disease, and to date programs supported by the Global Fund have distributed 190 million insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria. Despite remarkable progress in the past few years, any reduction in the flow of funding to fight the disease could put recent achievements at risk.

“Investments in malaria prevention and control have been among the best investments in global health, resulting in a dramatic decrease in malaria deaths and illness. If adequate financial resources are secured, we could further scale up our efforts and malaria could be eliminated as a public health problem in most malaria-endemic countries by 2015. It can be done.” said the Global Fund’s Executive Director, Professor Michel Kazatchkine.

In the coming week, the delegation will travel throughout the region to meet with influencers and government officials to advance conversations around the internationally agreed-upon Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) specifically MDG 6, which calls for a reduction in HIV, malaria and other neglected diseases by 2015. Established at the Millennium Summit in New York in 2000, the eight MDGs range in scope – from poverty to education to prevention of diseases like HIV, TB and malaria – and form a roadmap to meet the needs of the world’s most vulnerable people. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi, through the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD), has been a critical supporter of RBM’s efforts to reverse the incidence of malaria in some of the most burdened areas of the world.

Background Information on The Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM)

The Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM) is the global framework for coordinated action against malaria. Founded in 1998 by UNICEF, WHO, UNDP and the World Bank and strengthened by the expertise, resources and commitment of more than 500 partner organizations, RBM is a public-private partnership that facilitates the incubation of new ideas, lends support to innovative approaches, promotes high-level political commitment and keeps malaria high on the global agenda by enabling, harmonizing and amplifying partner-driven advocacy initiatives. RBM secures policy guidance and financial and technical support for control efforts in countries and monitors progress towards universal goals. The RBM Secretariat is hosted at WHO in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a unique, public-private partnership and international financing institution dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents an innovative approach to international health financing. The Global Fund’s model is based on the concepts of country ownership and performance-based funding, which means that people in countries implement their own programs based on their priorities and the Global Fund provides financing on the condition that verifiable results are achieved.     

Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has become the main financier of programs to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, with approved funding of US$ 22.4 billion for more than 600 programs in 150 countries. The Global Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts in dealing with the three diseases

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

25 November 2011

By resolution 54/134 of 17 December 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and invited governments, international organizations and NGOs to organize activities designed to raise public awareness of the problem on that day. Women's activists have marked 25 November as a day against violence since 1981. This date came from the brutal assassination in 1960, of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).  On 20 December 1993 the General Assembly, by resolution 48/104, adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women

“Violence against women and girls takes many forms and is widespread throughout the globe.  It includes rape, domestic violence, harassment at work, abuse in school, female genital mutilation and sexual violence in armed conflicts.  It is predominantly inflicted by men.  Whether in developing or developed countries, the pervasiveness of this violence should shock us all.  Violence – and in many cases the mere threat of it – is one of the most significant barriers to women’s full equality.”

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  Secretary-General’s UNite to End Violence against Women Campaign

Youth Voices on Ending Violence against Women

UNiTE t-shirt Competition Winning Designs

View updated fact sheets on the UNite Campaign.

View the 16 Steps Policy Agenda to End Violence against Women and 16 ways for everyone to end violence against women (from UN Women)

UN launches campaign for Rio+20 featuring global conversation on the Future We Want

New York, Manama, 22 November 2011 (UN Information Centre)-The United Nations today launched a campaign ahead of its major conference on sustainable development (Rio+20) in June next year, inviting governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and people everywhere to engage in a global conversation about the communities they want to see in the future.

“Sustainable development is a top priority for a simple reason – it cuts across all the challenges and priorities,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a press briefing this morning. “We know that what we face – food insecurity, water scarcity, energy shortages, climate change, increasing carbon emissions and unhealthy oceans – all these are the priority challenges which we have to address.”

The campaign – Rio+20: The Future We Want – aims to encourage people to envision how societies can build a future that promotes prosperity for everyone without degrading the planet’s natural environment, and to contribute their ideas through various mediums – photos, letters, essays and drawings – which will be combined to form an exhibit at the conference next year, to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“Opportunities like Rio+20 do not come along often,” Mr. Ban said. “The Rio+20 conference offers us a unique chance to discuss the challenges which we face and the solutions we can pursue…. It’s a chance to visualize and plan for the future we want.”

The conference, which will be attended by world leaders and environmental experts, seeks to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress to date, and address new emerging challenges.

“Rio+20 is our best chance to define pathways to a sustainable future,” said the conference’s Secretary-General, Sha Zukang.

“World leaders along with thousands of participants from the private sector, NGOs and other groups will come together to shape how we can reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection on an ever more crowded planet.”

Mr. Sha also said that focusing on building green economies is especially important now, as the world faces a global economic crisis.

“The green economy can help accelerate progress towards sustainable development and poverty eradication and re-orient public and private decision-making so that it reflects, and respects, natural capital.

“It can be a way to foster economic growth and environmental protection by promoting win-win solutions and it can be a way to include the poor as active participants, and the main beneficiaries.”

Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, said one of the main objectives of the campaign is to familiarize the public with what sustainable development entails, and raise awareness of how it can transform communities.

“We need to do more to take sustainable development out of the realm of the abstract and make it real to people,” Mr. Akasaka said.

“We need to show, now more than ever, that it is possible to have development that generates prosperity for everyone and an improved quality of life while protecting our natural environment,” he said.

As part of the campaign, the UN is launching a website (www.futurewewant.org) that will provide information about several key sustainable development issues, including cities, disaster resilience, energy, food, jobs, oceans and water. The website will also serve as an online platform through which the public can send ideas and comments and discuss issues on sustainable development.  

Ban Ki-moon Calls For Active Tolerance

New York, Manama, 15 November 2011 (UN Information Centre) – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared that the practice of tolerance must mean more than peaceful coexistence, crucial as that is.  It must be an active understanding fostered through dialogue and positive engagement with others.

At times of change, everyone must stay true to the ideals and principles that are at the heart of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Among those core values is tolerance.  .

In his massage on the World Tolerance Day (16 November) the UN Chief stated that this is a period in which the old world is slowly but irreversibly changing and the contours of a new one are just beginning to take shape.  Traditional institutions are being challenged.  Budgets are being squeezed.  Families are being stressed.   All of this flux and churning creates enormous anxiety.

This is especially critical in combatting the discrimination that causes so much divisiveness, destruction and death. Ban declared that everyone have a responsibility to protect those vulnerable to discrimination, whether based on race, religion, nationality, language, gender, sexual orientation or other factors.  Practicing tolerance can serve as the antidote to prejudice and hatred.

The Secretary General stated that the UNESCO plays a special role in fostering active tolerance by promoting quality education for all girls and boys; advancing a free and pluralistic media, including on the Internet; and protecting cultural heritage and nurturing respect for cultural diversity. 

As the World face the complex and global challenges of these times, Ban Ki-moon declared that the United Nations will continue to work for mutual understanding among peoples and countries, a bedrock need in an interconnected world.  And he urged the world in this international day, to remember that active tolerance begins with each of us, every day.

Ban Ki-moon Urged Joint Strategies to Combat Diabetes

New York, Manama, 13 November 2011 (UN Information Centre) – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that just two months ago, the United Nations General Assembly held its first-ever High-level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, producing a strong Political Declaration with time-bound commitments. Among these was a pledge to make it possible for more people to get quality medicines for diagnosing and treating diabetes by the year 2013.

In his address on World Diabetes Day (14 November 2011), the UN Chief said that this year’s World Diabetes Day comes at a time of unprecedented international action to confront this and other non-communicable diseases.

Ban stated that the Political Declaration also called on the private sector to do its part, building on Millennium Development Goal 8, which calls for partnerships with pharmaceutical companies to provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries. He declared that meaningful progress has been seen in this direction. One company has introduced a differential pricing scheme to supply generic insulin to the least developed countries, benefiting three dozen States to date. However Ban declared that this facility cannot respond alone and other partners must be bought in. He further said that inefficient distribution systems must be addressed as well as the lack of sufficient public funding for medicines.

World Diabetes Day is an opportunity to raise awareness and to show people living with diabetes that the international community stands with them in their struggle. This is especially important for the 277 million people with diabetes who live in developing countries. Too often, the disease hits the poorest especially hard, leading to heart attacks, strokes, blindness, limb amputations, kidney failure and premature death.

The Secretary-General called on governments and pharmaceutical companies to give real meaning to our commemorations by developing joint strategies to make essential medicines more available and affordable in developing countries, especially for the poorest people who need them. On this year’s World Diabetes Day, the UN Chief called on the world to use this day to work so that people with diabetes everywhere get the care and treatment they deserve.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Welcomes Arab League's Resolution on Syria

New York, Manama, 13 November 2011 (UN Information Centre)--The following statement is attributable to the UN Secretary-General's spokesperson:

The Secretary-General welcomes the resolution adopted today by the Council of Ministers of the League of Arab States, who have taken a strong and courageous stance regarding the situation in Syria. He takes note of the decision to suspend Syria from participating in the League’s council meetings and activities starting from 16 November until Syria implements all its commitments under the work plan agreed on 2 November.

The Secretary-General urges the Syrian authorities to heed the call from the League to stop violence by the Army against civilians immediately, and to implement the work plan fully and speedily. He welcomes the League’s intention to provide protection for the civilians, and expresses his readiness to provide the relevant support when requested. He is encouraged by the League’s efforts to promote a genuine and inclusive political dialogue, starting with the League’s call for a meeting by the Syrian opposition in the coming days.

The Secretary-General reiterates that all violence must stop immediately to open the way for a credible Syrian-led process of comprehensive political change that will address the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people.

United Nations Day

(24 October) 

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

(17 October) 

International Day for Disaster Reduction

(13 October 2011)

 66^th General Assembly opens on Wednesday, 21 September 2011

Read the Secretary-General’s Report to the General Assembly “We The Peoples”

International Day of Peace (21 September)

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on  21 September.  The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.

This year, on its 30th anniversary, the Day’s theme is “Peace and Democracy: make your voice heard”.  In line with the Day’s theme, something profoundly remarkable is happening in the world.  Young women and men everywhere are demonstrating the power of solidarity by reaching out and rallying together for the common goal of dignity and human rights.  This powerful force brings with it the potential to create a peaceful and democratic future.

The International Day of Peace offers people globally, a shared date to organize events and undertake deeds celebrating the importance of peace and democracy in realistic and useful ways.  Learn More.

 Secretary General’s Message on the International Day of Peace 2011

"Poetry for Peace" Contest

To coincide with the International Day of Peace and to commemorate the Disarmament Week (24 October - 30 October 2011), a social media “Poetry for Peace” contest is being held from 15 September until 14 October to share messages of peace.  The contest was launched by the Department of Public Information (DPI) in collaboration with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations.

Many atomic bomb survivors, called HIBAKUSHA (hi-ba-coo-sha), have dedicated their lives to peace.  Although the average hibakusha is now 73 years old, they continue to work for nuclear disarmament by sharing, their first-hand accounts of the horrific effects of nuclear weapons.  Take this valuable opportunity to listen to hibakusha testimonies and Participate in the "Poetry for Peace" contest.

 International Day of Democracy (15 September)

The International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. Democracy is as much a process as a goal, and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.

Democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives. 

While democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy. Activities carried out by the United Nations in support of efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate democracy are undertaken in accordance with the UN Charter, and only at the specific request of the Member States concerned.  Learn More.

 Message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

“This year has been a remarkable one in the history of democracy.  Millions of people participated in the dramatic events in the Middle East, North Africa and beyond, and yet more followed with intense interest.  Their engagement confirmed that democracy is a universal model yearned for by all peoples and alien to no culture.  This year also served as a reminder that democracy cannot be exported or imposed from abroad; it must be generated by the will of the people and nurtured by a strong and active civil society.  The world saw the truth of the saying that countries do not become fit for democracy; they become fit through democracy.  Young people, above all, brought home this message.  They championed the democratic ideal and now face the challenge of working to realize the potential of the transitions they helped to set in motion.”

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Horn of Africa Crisis-Famine in Somalia

Two regions of southern Somalia are currently facing famine. Malnutrition rates are above 50 per cent in some of the districts and tens of thousands of people have already died for reasons related to malnutrition in the last few months. In the first half of 2011, the number of people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance increased by over a million to some 3.7 million people, almost half of the people living in Somalia.  Learn More.

“Across the Horn of Africa, people are starving. A catastrophic combination of conflict, high food prices and drought has left more than 11 million people in desperate need. The United Nations has been sounding the alert for months. We have resisted using the “f-word” — famine — but on Wednesday we officially recognized the fast-evolving reality. There is famine in parts of Somalia. And it is spreading.

This is a wake-up call we cannot ignore. Everyday, I hear the most harrowing reports from our UN teams on the ground. Somali refugees, their cattle and goats dead from thirst, walking for weeks to find help in Kenya and Ethiopia. Orphans who arrive alone, their parents dead, terrified and malnourished, in a foreign land.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Op-Ed on Somalia

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On 2 December 2009, the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly declared 29 August the International Day against Nuclear Tests by unanimously adopting resolution 64/35

The Day is meant to galvanize the United Nations, Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, youth networks and the media to inform, educate and advocate about the necessity of banning nuclear tests as a valuable step towards achieving a safer world.

The International Day was created as a result of the many recent bilateral and multilateral governmental level developments, of broad movements in civil society, and of the efforts of the UN Secretary-General himself. 

Message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

“This year’s observance of the International Day against Nuclear Tests marks the twentieth anniversary of the closure of the nuclear weapons test site at Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan.  Over the course of the Cold War, hundreds of nuclear weapon tests left behind a devastating legacy for local citizens and their natural environment.  Having visited the scene of this dark chapter in human history, I wish to emphasize my support for the Government and people of Kazakhstan as they continue to cope with the aftermath.  I commend efforts to ensure that something positive may result from highlighting the horrific effects of these tests.”

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