The White House honors 13 leaders and organizations for their work using and promoting open scientific data and publications to grow our economy and improve our world.
United Nations Secretary-General's Message for 2013
As we mark International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, I
call on Member States to step up efforts to assist all those who have
suffered from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
or punishment.
This year is also the 25th anniversary of the Committee
against Torture. This body -- along with other UN human rights
mechanisms such as the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and the
Special Rapporteur on Torture -- is vital to strengthening a
victim-oriented approach that also includes a gender perspective. This
effort was further strengthened by the adoption this year of a UN Human
Rights Council resolution focussing on the rehabilitation of torture
victims.
I urge all Member States to accede to and fully implement
the Convention against Torture and support the United Nations Voluntary
Fund for Victims of Torture. Let us work together to end torture
throughout the world and ensure that countries provide reparation for
victims.
Ban Ki-moon
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
United Nations Secretary-General's Message for 2013
This year I visited the San Patrignano drug rehabilitation
centre in northern Italy where more than 1,200 young women and men from
28 countries are learning how to free themselves from the curse of
addiction and enjoy dignified, productive lives. Their road is not
easy. It demands courage, commitment and the compassion of dedicated
mentors. But the members of this inspiring community understand that
they are fortunate. All over the world, drugs threaten the health and
welfare of youth and children, families and communities, and the
billions of dollars generated by the drugs trade feed corruption,
enhance the power of criminal networks and create fear and
instability.
Illegal drug trafficking is a clear obstacle to development.
This cross-border problem requires a robust and coordinated law
enforcement response within and among countries. Tackling organized
crime and the illicit drugs trade is a shared responsibility. But the
rule of law is only part of the equation. For instance, farmers
dependent on the cultivation of illicit drugs such as coca, marijuana
and opium must be offered alternative livelihoods, while drug users and
addicts need help not stigmatization.
A human rights and science-based public health approach is the
only sound basis for preventing and treating addiction and related
consequences such as HIV transmission through unsafe injecting
practices. We must also address threats such as the emerging problem
of new psychoactive substances, many of which are not under
international control. Young people, in particular, must be made aware
of the dangers of these drugs.
On this International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit
Trafficking, I call on governments, the media and civil society to do
everything possible to raise awareness of the harm caused by illicit
drugs and to help prevent people profiting from their use.
Events Organized for 2013
Sharing best practices in the implementation of the United Nations comprehensive framework on the world drug problem
Special event on “Sharing best practices in the implementation
of the United Nations comprehensive framework on the world drug
problem”, co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Italy, Qatar and
Thailand and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Wednesday, 26 June 2013, from 11:00 to 13:00, in Conference Room 1 (CB).
[All are invited to attend. For further information, please contact Ms. Anne Beckmann,
UNODC (e-mail: beckmann@un.org; tel. 1 (212) 963-5635).]
Radio series
UNODC has teamed up with a group of international teenagers to put
their questions about drugs to the experts. In this series of interviews
we put cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin under the spotlight. And
talk frankly about the production, trafficking and damaging effects of
these illicit drugs.
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Day of the Seafarer is now being celebrated for the third time and we
hope that you will participate in the campaign and publicly thank
seafarers for their service and the sacrifices that they make.
The Day of the Seafarer is now being celebrated for third time , and our cause gathers greater support and grows in importance and relevance on each occasion.
This is reflected in the increasing number of people from the maritime sector, and beyond, that want to participate in the campaign and to publicly thank seafarers for their service and the sacrifices that they make. 2013 is a landmark year for the seafaring community, as the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC2006) enters into force in August. This marks significant progress in the recognition of seafarers’ roles and the need to safeguard their well-being and the working conditions.
For shipping companies, seafarers are the embodiment of their business and they are a critical asset. People within the maritime sector are familiar with the role of the seafarer. However, even they may not be completely aware of the sheer scale of effort that seafarers expend, and the physical and psychological challenges that they face. It is our responsibility ,as those that are working within this sector and close to the seafaring community, to lead the efforts to highlight seafarers’ importance and to thank them for what they do. Looking beyond the maritime sector, today’s consumers are increasingly demanding transparency across the supply chain. However, shipping’s role remains relatively hidden to consumers outside of the supply chain.
This year’s Day of the Seafarer campaign calls on all supply chain partners, including those beyond the maritime sector , to help highlight the sheer diversity and scale of products that travel by sea, which are used in everyday life, and to recognize the importance of the people that deliver them; more than 1.5 million seafarers.Seafarers operate on the ‘front line’ of the shipping industry, and this year’s campaign theme, Faces of the Sea, aims to highlight the individuals that are often unseen, but who work to deliver more than 90% of the world’s goods. We will ask the seafarers themselves to show us snapshots of their daily life at sea, to give them a voice and share their story on a global stage, via social media.
This year’s theme, Faces of the Sea, aims to ensure that the efforts and sacrifices made by seafarers, often in lonely conditions, are recognized by the general public. Establishing seafarers in the forefront of global awareness will take time and is a gradual process. But Day of the Seafarer aims to do just this, and to continue the proactive steps that are being taken by our progressive maritime partners to ensure that our seafarers receive the thanks, recognition and working standards that they truly deserve.
This year's theme for Day of the Seafarer isFaces of the Sea. It is a natural evolution from last yearʼs successful theme of ʻIt came by sea and I canʼt live without itʼ. Fundamentally it moves the theme to bringing the campaign back to the unsung heroes of shipping – the seafarers themselves and literally spotlights the human face of shipping and the sacrifices that seafarers make.
Like in previous years, your participation will be key to the success of this campaign and we will invite you to voice your support using social media.
For example, we will ask you to take a picture of yourself, or ask a colleague to take it, from a ship while working at sea or in port in a situation that surprises, or that inspires those that rarely consider what its like to be at sea. Post to any of the IMO’s social media channels, telling us how many days you have spent at sea this year and why you posted this picture.
But this is just a small glimpse of what we have in store, so stay tuned for more information on how to get involved, our toolkits will be available in a few days.
In the meantime, feel free to download our campaign's branding and start spreading the words.
A new multi-agency study, led by the World Bank and the International
Energy Agency, was presented at the Vienna Energy Forum 2013. The Global
Tracking Framework report charts the course to achieve universal energy
access, double the use of renewable energy and improve energy
efficiency.
"Methodological challenges in defining and measuring Energy access
"
This report is the first of a series to monitor progress towards the
three objectives of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative. It puts
numbers to each objective, identifies what needs to change, and outlines
how progress can be made.
The UN Secretary General’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative
establishes three global objectives to be accomplished by 2030: to
achieve universal access to modern energy services, to double the global
rate of improvement in energy efficiency, and to double the share of
renewable energy in the global energy mix.
Sustaining momentum for the
achievement of the SE4ALL objectives will require a means of charting
global progress over the years leading to 2030. This Global Tracking
Framework establishes for the first time a methodology and data platform
for regular global reporting against the three SE4ALL objectives.
Construction of the necessary framework has been coordinated by the
World Bank/Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), in collaboration with 13 other
agencies. The process has benefited from public consultation with more
than a hundred stakeholder groups.
Objective 1 : Providing universal acess to modern energy.
Objective 2 : Doubing the rate of improvement in global energy efficiency,
Objective 3 : Doubling the share if world's mix of Renewable energy.
Global economic activity is projected to slowly gain momentum, but
growth will continue to be below potential and employment gains will
remain weak, says the UN report, launched today. It notes that since
late 2012, new policy initiatives in major developed economies have
reduced systemic risks and helped stabilize consumer, business and
investor confidence, but with very limited improvement on economic
growth.
World Economic Situation and Prospects : Regional Outlook for Developed Economies, Mr. Clive Altshuler, Economic Affairs Officer UN DESA
Global outlook : Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the United Nations.
Global Economy Risks Falling into Renewed Recession - WESP 2013 Developed economies outlook
"We have identified three major economic risks," said Pingfan Hong,
Director of the Global Economic Monitoring Unit of DESA's Development
Policy and Analysis Division, as the World Economic Outlook for 2013 was
revealed on 18 December 2012. Mr. Hong pointed to the deterioration of
the euro crisis, the US fiscal cliff and a possible hard landing for
some large developing countries.
"To mitigate these risks,
policymakers worldwide are greatly challenged," underscored Mr. Hong,
also describing how the world economy is still struggling to recover
five years after the eruption of the global financial crisis.
The
first chapter of the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2013 (WESP)
just launched, outlines that growth of the world economy has weakened
considerably during 2012 and is expected to remain restrained in the
coming two years. "A number of developed economies in Europe and Japan
have already fallen into a double-dip recession," explained Mr. Hong.
The
report also predicts that global economy is expected to grow at 2.4 per
cent in 2013 and 3.2 per cent in 2014, a significant downgrade from the
forecast six months ago. This growth pace will not be enough to
overcome the continued jobs crisis faced by many countries. With
existing policies and growth trends, it may take at least another five
years for Europe and the United States to make up for the job losses
caused by the Great Recession of 2008-2009.
World Economic Situation and Prospects : Regional Outlook for Developing Economies Mr. Ingo Pitterle, Economic Affairs Officer UN DESA
Developing Economies Outlook
World Economic Situation and Prospects: Regional Outlook for Economies in Transition Mr. Grigor Agabekian, Economic Affairs Officer UN DESA
United Nations Secretary-General’s Message for 2013
No woman should lose her rights when she loses her husband – but
an estimated 115 million widows live in poverty, and 81 million have
suffered physical abuse.
Girls married to much older men are especially vulnerable.
United Nations Secretary-General's Message for 2013
The United Nations has long recognized the importance of good
governance and efficient public administration. Current global
consultations on the post-2015 agenda have further underscored their
centrality to all development objectives.
United Nations Public Service Day encourages countries to
celebrate the contribution of public servants to society’s progress.
Addressing today’s inter-linked challenges requires sound,
forward-looking public policies and transparent, accountable governance
structures that embody solidarity with the poorest and most vulnerable.
The 2013 United Nations Public Service Awards show how public
services can be delivered more efficiently, innovatively and
equitably. The winners demonstrate the basic ingredients for
excellence: commitment and accountability, hard work and innovation,
talent and technological know-how.
I encourage public servants around the world to work in the same
spirit to help build an inclusive, prosperous and sustainable future
for all.
Ban Ki-moon
United Nations Public Service Forum (24-27 June 2013)
The United Nations Public Service Forum, Day and Awards Ceremony
will take place in Manama, the Kingdom of Bahrain, from 24 to 27 June
2013. Focusing on the theme of “Transformative e-Government and
Innovation: Creating a Better Future for All", the Forum is organized by
the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA),
Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM) in
partnership with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the
Empowerment of Women (UN Women), and the United Nations Economic and
Social Commission for Western Asia (UN ESCWA), in collaboration with the
hosting Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The United Nations Public Service Forum is a unique capacity-building
global event on public governance that provides a platform to explore,
discuss and learn about: (i) Emerging challenges, issues and trends in
public governance; (ii) Innovative practices to address these
challenges; and (iii) Capacity development strategies, approaches and
tools.
Every year the Forum focuses on a specific critical area of
public governance, and explores its different dimensions and components
in an organic way. The Forum brings together world leaders,
policy-makers, practitioners, innovators in governance, representatives
of international and regional organizations, the academia, non-profit
organizations and the private sector.
The Forum is uniquely positioned to benefit from the first-class
innovative practices of the winners of the prestigious United Nations
Public Service Awards who are recognized for their achievements on the
last day of this high-level event, which also coincides with United
Nations Public Service Day. The General Assembly, by its resolution A/RES/57/277, designated 23 June as the United Nations Public Service Day to "celebrate the value and virtue of service to the community".
The number of forcibly displaced people in the world continues
to rise. There are now more than 45 million refugees and internally
displaced people – the highest level in nearly 20 years. Last year
alone, someone was forced to abandon their home every four seconds.
War remains the dominant cause, with the crisis in Syria a
leading instance of major displacement. More than half of all refugees
listed in a new report by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees come
from just five war-affected countries: Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq,
Syria and Sudan. Major new displacements have also been occurring in
Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Figures give only a glimpse of this enormous human tragedy.
Every day, conflict tears apart the lives of thousands of families.
They may be forced to leave loved ones behind or become separated in
the chaos of war. Children suffer the most. Nearly half of all
refugees are below age 18, and a growing number are fleeing on their
own.
Forced displacement also has a significant economic, social and,
at times, political impact on the communities that provide shelter.
There is a growing and deep imbalance in the burden of hosting
refugees, with poor countries taking in the vast majority of the
world’s uprooted people. Developing countries host 81 per cent of the
world’s refugees, compared to 70 per cent a decade ago.
Finding durable solutions for the displaced will require more
solidarity and burden-sharing by the international community. On World
Refugee Day, I call on the international community to intensify efforts
to prevent and resolve conflicts, and to help achieve peace and
security so that families can be reunited and refugees can return home.
I have come to Jordan on this World Refugee Day to stand by the
people of Syria in their time of acute need. I also want to salute
Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and all the countries in the region for being
generous havens that have saved hundreds of thousands of lives.
In all the years I have worked on behalf of refugees, this is the
most worrying I have ever witnessed. The needs of these people are
overwhelming; their anguish is unbearable. Today, there are over 1.6
million registered Syrian refugees. More than one million of them
arrived just in the last six months, and thousands more come every day,
seeking places to stay, sustenance, someone who will listen and help
them heal.
Inside Syria, the scale of human suffering is beyond comprehension.
The Syria we once knew is no more. In the heart of a turbulent region,
the country was host to over one million Iraqi and half a million
Palestinian refugees. I think of the Syrians I met over the years during
many visits to see Iraqi refugees. Never could they have imagined that
such violence would overtake them – that they would become refugees themselves – desperate, destitute and forsaken.
I worry that an entire nation is being left to self-destruct as it
empties itself of its people. I am dismayed to hear of the trauma
children face. Nightmares define their waking lives as much as they
haunt their sleep. School is a distant memory.
Here in Jordan, over 500,000 registered Syrian refugees live in
safety now. The Zaatari Refugee Camp has become Jordan's fifth largest
city and the second largest refugee camp in the world. There is hardly a
town or a city in Jordan that is not host to Syrians. It is much the
same in Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. This hospitality is a
remarkable demonstration of humanity against a backdrop of depravity.
With no clear political resolution in sight, this civil war is in
real danger of sliding into a regional conflict. It is no longer fantasy
to foresee an explosion in the Middle East that the world would not be
able to cope with.
We will continue to do everything we can to aid and alleviate the
suffering of Syrians. But the cascade of death and destruction is
spreading fast, and I repeat my call on those with political
responsibilities to overcome their divisions and come together to do
everything in their power to stop this war.
ON WORLD REFUGEE DAY, NEEDS OF DISPLACED EVERYWHERE MUST BE REMEMBERED
For over two years, the world has witnessed millions of Syrians
fleeing their homes, escaping from violence in search of a safe haven.
Many families have been forced to move more than once, bringing only
what they can carry. The needs of conflict-affected Syrians are huge,
almost too big to comprehend: by the end of the year, the UN World Food
Programme (WFP) aims to provide food assistance to seven million people,
most of whom are either internally displaced or taking refuge in
neighbouring countries.
Syrians are not alone in feeling the devastation of displacement,
whether within their own country or across borders. Every day, I work
with colleagues who are on the ground in some of the most remote and
dangerous places in the world. They remind me, as we are all reminded
on World Refugee Day (20 June), that every woman, man and child who has
left behind homes, family, jobs, education and lives in search of
security and safety deserve our attention and, most importantly, our
assistance.
Last year, I spoke to a Malian woman receiving WFP food in the
Menghaize refugee camp in Niger. She had fled Mali with her children
amidst the sound of gunshots; she told me she missed her home, but at
least she and her children were safe. In Rwanda, refugees from eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo have given up everything to escape ongoing
clashes. In Bangladesh, Rohingya refugees from Myanmar seek safe haven
from communal violence. Ecuador hosts the largest number of refugees in
the Western hemisphere, and more pour in from Colombia every month.
Kenya continues to host large populations of Somalis. All still unable
to return home.
In 2012, WFP provided food assistance to almost 10 million people
forced to move – refugees, internally displaced people and those who
have been fortunate enough to return home again. This food, along with
the relief provided by our partners, brings some security to otherwise
uncertain lives.
As an international community, we must continue to advocate on
behalf of displaced people everywhere. Whether fleeing conflict, natural
disaster or hunger, they must be at the front of our minds.
The International Year of Statistics ("Statistics2013") is a worldwide celebration and recognition of the
contributions of statistical science. Through
the combined energies of organizations worldwide, Statistics2013 will
promote the importance of Statistics to the broader scientific
community, business and government data users, the media, policy makers,
employers, students, and the general public.
Welcome to the International Year of Statistics
2013 is the International Year of Statistics. More than 2,000 organizations—professional statistical societies, colleges and universities, primary and secondary schools, businesses, government entities, and research institutes are participating in this worldwide event. Why? Because statistics have powerful and far-reaching effects on everyone.
What Is Statistics?
When many people hear the word “statistics,” they think of either sports-related numbers or the college class they took and barely passed. While statistics can be thought about in these terms, there is more to the relationship between you and statistics than you probably imagine. Several informal definitions are offered in the book A Career in Statistics: Beyond the Numbers by Gerald Hahn and Necip Doganaksoy:
• The science of learning from (or making sense out of ) data • The theory and methods of extracting information from observational data for solving real-world problems • The science of uncertainty • The quintessential interdisciplinary science • The art of telling a story with [numerical] data
Statistics are produced around the world by governments, political parties, civil servants, financial companies, opinion-polling firms, campaign groups, social- research entities, scientific groups, news organizations, and so much more
How Does Statistics Affect You?
You may not be aware of it, but statistics affects nearly every aspect of your life, including:
• Foods you eat • Weather forecasts • Emergency preparedness • Assessing disease risks • Protecting your pet’s health • Improving your health care • Transportation systems you use • Assessing your credit worthiness • Pricing your insurance policies • Ensuring national security • Examining economic health • Prosecuting criminals • Ensuring the safety of medicine • Rulemaking by governments • Assessing teacher effectiveness • Monitoring climate change
Statistics—An Excellent Career Choice
Since our world is becoming more quantitative and data-focused, job opportunities in statistics are plentiful and projected to increase worldwide. Many industries depend on statisticians to analyze data, which helps in making critical decisions. Statisticians work on important and challenging problems such as:
• Estimating the safety of nuclear power plants and alternative energy sources • Evaluating the impact of air, water, and soil pollution • Estimating the unemployment rate of a country • Analyzing consumer demand for products and services • Designing studies for and analyzing data from agricultural experiments to increase crop productivity and yields
Statistics Education Resources
Demand for statisticians and data analysts is expected to increase by 4.4 million jobs worldwide in the years ahead. To introduce students to careers in statistics and teach them basic statistics literacy, many statistical organizations have developed primary and secondary school statistics education programs and resources, most of which are free of charge. An excellent example is the Census at School program, an international classroom statistical literacy project. To access these resources, go to the Primary & Secondary School Teacher Resources section at www.statistics2013.org.
The goals of
Statistics2013 include: increasing public awareness of the power and
impact of Statistics on all aspects of society; nurturing Statistics as a profession, especially among young people; and promoting creativity and development in the sciences of Probability and Statistics.
Why Statistics is Important to You
Statistics is more than just a technology for data analysis. Statistics
help shape the very world in which we live. Learn more of how SAS can
analyze your data with world-class statistics software
Quote of the Week
Some
people hate the very name of statistics, but I find them full of beauty
and interest. Whenever they are not brutalized, but delicately handled
by the higher methods, and are warily interpreted, their power in
dealing with complicated phenomena is extraordinary. -Sir Francis
Galton, English anthropologist, eugenicist, tropical explorer,
geographer, inventor, meteorologist, proto-geneticist, psychometrician
and statistician.
The World's Drylands : Desertification is a concept used to grasp the more acute forms of the degradation of land-based ecosystems and the consequences of the loss of their services. Drought is the silent killer—the natural catastrophe that is only too easily forgotten. Experience shows that awareness of the implications of desertification and drought must be expanded and that policy orientation must be backed by robust monitoring systems and related findings.
And the drought is back.... Namibia, the Sahel and United States are facing drought.
Did you know drought affects more people than any other natural disaster?
THE FACTS: Since 1979, about when global action on drought began, more than 1.6 billion people have been drought victims. Today, 11.4 million people in the Sahel lack food security due to the current drought.
In 2011, 13 million people in east Africa were affected; most have not recovered. Globally, 1 in 3 people live with the threat of drought. But only 1 COUNTRY has a comprehensive national drought policy?
We respond drought with relief; that is reactive. We can do better. Let us change that because drought is predictable, it sets in slowly.
If you live in a drought-prone area, here are 2 ways to empower yourself and others:
• Get linked up to your country’s early warning system for advance warnings.
• Insure all your assets that can be destroyed by drought – crops, home, and so on.
• Land health is crucial; soil that absorbs lots of water is best. It needs vegetation cover, like trees, to protect the soil from sliding and erosion.
• Share this message with others, so we are all self-empowered.
• Speak up for the setting up of a national drought management system in your country.
• Make your voice count globally. Like and share the online campaign graphic for WDCD urging governments to act.
For twitter: follow @UNCCD and to tweet, use tag #WDCD2013.
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNCCD.
If you are not directly affected by drought do something in solidarity because drought dehumanizes us all and what comes around goes around.
• Send this information to at-risk families you know for their self-empowerment.
• Join local and national campaigns supporting long-term drought resilience measures, not just relief.
• Make your voice count for action on national drought management policies. Like and share the campaign graphic for World Day to Combat Desertification on twitter – follow @UNCCD, use tag #WDCD2013 – and Facebook via https://www.facebook.com/UNCCD.
This year’s slogan, “Don’t let our future dry up” calls for everyone
to take action to promote preparedness and resilience to water scarcity, desertification and drought. The slogan embodies the message that we
are all responsible for water and land conservation and sustainable use,
and that there are solutions to these serious natural resource
challenges. Land degradation does not have to threaten our future.
Please help us spread the message through social media, sharing our graphics and using the hashtag #WDCD2013.
United Nations Secretary-General's Message, on the occasion of World Day to Combat Desertification, 17 June 2013
With the rallying call “Don’t let our future dry up”, this
year’s World Day to Combat Desertification is dedicated to highlighting
the global risks of drought and water scarcity. The social, political
and economic costs of drought are evident from Uzbekistan to Brazil,
from the Sahel to Australia. In May, Namibia declared a national
drought emergency, with 14 per cent of the population classified as
food insecure. In 2012, the United States experienced its worst
drought since the 1950s, affecting 80 per cent of agricultural land. In
2011 drought in the Horn of Africa – the worst since the early 1990s –
affected nearly 13 million people.
Over the past quarter-century, the world has become more
drought-prone, and droughts are projected to become more widespread,
intense and frequent as a result of climate change. The long-term
impacts of prolonged drought on ecosystems are profound, accelerating
land degradation and desertification. The consequences include
impoverishment and the risk of local conflict over water resources and
productive land.
Droughts are hard to avert, but their effects can be mitigated.
Because they rarely observe national borders they demand a collective
response. The price of preparedness is minimal compared to the cost of
disaster relief. Let us therefore shift from managing crises to
preparing for droughts and building resilience by fully implementing the
outcomes of the High-level Meeting on National Drought Policy held in
Geneva last March.
On this World Day to Combat Desertification, I urge the
international community to fulfil the call of last year’s Rio+20
conference on sustainable development to avoid and offset land
degradation. By conserving arid lands we can protect essential water
supplies, promote food and nutrition security, and reduce extreme
poverty.
Ban Ki-moon
Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Day to Combat Desertification, 17 June 2013
We estimate between 100 to 200 million people live in arid and
semi-arid areas with limited freshwater resources. By 2025, two-thirds
of them will experience serious water stress – facing pressure from
population growth, agricultural production, as well as rising salinity
and pollution. The impact of climate change will increase water
scarcity, increasing also the frequency of hydrological extremes. The
poorest will be hit hardest, as obstacles to sustainable development
harden. On this World Day to Combat Desertification, June 17th, we must renew our
commitment to supporting inclusive and sustainable solutions to managing
water resources in dryland areas.
Water challenges are complex, so solutions must be equally
multi-faceted. This calls for innovative thinking and for cooperation
across the board, to preserve our ecosystems, to eradicate poverty and
to advance social equity, including gender equality.
This is the core
message of the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation
that UNESCO is leading, to promote deeper cooperation to tackle the
rising demand for water access, allocation and services. The Water and Development Information for Arid Lands, a Global Network (G-WADI), led by UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme,
shows our commitment to strengthen global capacity to manage the water
resources of dryland areas. This builds on four regional networks in
Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Arab States, which promote
international and regional cooperation in dryland areas, for stronger
management of water resources and mitigation of water-related disasters.
In collaboration with Princeton University, UNESCO is leading an
experimental drought monitoring and forecasting system for sub-Saharan
Africa, to build capacity through technology and knowledge transfer.
Given the impact of drought in Africa, largely dependent on rain-fed
agriculture, this is a key step to make the most of water as a source of
solidarity.
With the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, UNESCO
is working in concrete ways to promote sustainable dryland management.
This must start on the ground, with the inhabitants of these areas, who
often belong to the poorest segments of society. Water is the common
denominator of many challenges – in health, in farming and food security
and in energy. It can be the common solution also –- but this requires
commitment from us all, especially for those most affected by water
scarcity. This is UNESCO’s pledge on World Day to Combat Desertification.
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