Sunday 26 October 2014

World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2014, 27 October

World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, 27 October.
Journée mondiale du patrimoine audiovisuel, Octobre 27.
اليوم العالمي للتراث السمعي والبصري، 27 أكتوبر




Message from Ms Irina Bokova,Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2014.

 The theme of the 2014 World Day of Audiovisual Heritage says it all--there is so much more to be done to ensure the long-term preservation of the world’s shared heritage.

Audiovisual documents, such as films, radio and television programmes, provide primary records of the 20th and 21 st centuries, helping to maintain the common memory of all humanity.
As monumental shifts transform the way that information and resources are generated, accessed and managed and as an increasing quantity of audiovisual material emerges in digital form--including emails, blogs, social networks, and websites–all audiovisual heritage is endangered today. Millions of films, audio and video tapes and discs are at risk of crumbling into dust, fading away and disappearing.


To respond, we must recognise and raise awareness about these challenges – this is the importance of the World Day of Audiovisual Heritage. We must also craft new approaches to archival programmes and train archivists to adapt to a changing political, technological, and cultural environment. Preservation professionals should be given all of the support that they need to safeguard the common audiovisual heritage of humanity.

These goals guide all of UNESCO’s action through the Memory of the World programme,launched in 1992 to protect and promote the world’s documentary heritage through improved strategies for preservation and access. We build here on the comprehensive set of international instruments that UNESCO has developed to protect cultural and documentary heritage, whose implementation we support by building capacities at the local and national levels. This is especially important in
situations of crisis or disaster.

We must act today to ensure that future generations can enjoy humanity’s common audiovisual heritage tomorrow. This heritage carries lessons, information and knowledge that are essential to share. It is a foundation of identity and belonging as well as a wellspring of innovation and creativity. This is why archives are so important as guardians of our collective memory, guaranteeing the right to truth as well as the ‘right to know’.

In this spirit, I call upon all Governments to strengthen national policies to preserve and provide access to audiovisual heritage in all forms and to support professional activities for identifying and preserving collections of enduring value. This is UNESCO’s message on the 2014 World Day of Audiovisual Heritage.

Irina Bokova
 
 Join the forum : 27 October is World Day of Audiovisual Heritage


Thursday 23 October 2014

United Nations Day 2014, October 24

Организация Объединенных Наций День, 24 октября.
United Nations Day, 24 October.
Día de las Naciones Unidas, 24 de octubre.
Journée des Nations Unies, 24 octobre.
联合国日,10月24日.
  يوم الأمم المتحدة


United Nations Secretary-General's Message for the United Nations Day 2014.

The United Nations is needed more than ever at this time of multiple crises.  Poverty, disease, terrorism, discrimination and climate change are exacting a heavy toll.  Millions of people continue to suffer deplorable exploitation through bonded labour, human trafficking, sexual slavery or unsafe conditions in factories, fields and mines. The global economy remains an uneven playing field.
The founding of the United Nations was a solemn pledge to the world’s people to end such assaults on human dignity, and lead the way to a better future. There have been painful setbacks, and there is much work ahead to realize the Charter’s vision.  But we can take heart from our achievements. 
The UN Millennium Development Goals have inspired the most successful anti-poverty campaign ever.  United Nations treaties addressing inequality, torture and racism have protected people, while other agreements have safeguarded the environment. UN peacekeepers have separated hostile forces, our mediators have settled disputes and our humanitarian workers have delivered life-saving aid.
At this critical moment, let us reaffirm our commitment to empowering the marginalized and vulnerable.  On United Nations Day, I call on Governments and individuals to work in common cause for the common good.
Ban Ki-moon




Forum : United Nations Day - 24 October

             Date: 24 October 2014 / Location: United Nations General Assembly Hall

In observance of United Nations Day, a special concert entitled “UN Day Concert 2014: Lang Lang & Friends” will take place on Friday, 24 October 2014, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the newly renovated General Assembly Hall.

The concert is organized by the Department of Public Information in cooperation with the Lang Lang International Music Foundation (LLIMF) and will feature world-renowned pianist and United Nations Messenger of Peace Lang Lang.

Performing with Lang Lang will be an international youth orchestra representing five continents, assembled especially for the occasion, to be conducted by Manuel López-Gómez. Manuel López-Gómez, as well as many of the youth musicians hail from the renowned El Sistema programme, which provides music education to children from poor social-economic backgrounds.

As such, the concert offers an opportunity to highlight the United Nations’ focus on youth and the education of global citizens. It also marks an important milestone during the yearlong global observance of the 70th anniversary of the Organization.

Opening remarks will be delivered by Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon and the President of the 69th Session of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Samuel Kahamba Kutesa. Actor and TV personality, Alec Baldwin will introduce the musicians.

The proclamation of 24 October as United Nations Day is an acknowledgment of the global efforts and achievements of the Organization since its creation in 1945.  The observance serves as an occasion to highlight, celebrate and reflect on the work of the United Nations and its family of agencies through the universal language of music.
UN Day Concert 2014: “Lang Lang & Friends” will stream live at 7:00 p.m. EDT via webcast at  www.un.org/webcast.

World Development Information Day 2014, 24 October






The General Assembly in 1972 instituted World Development Information Day to draw the attention of world public opinion to development problems and the need to strengthen international cooperation to solve them (resolution 3038 (XXVII)).  The Assembly decided that the date for the Day should coincide in principle with United Nations Day, 24 October, which was also the date of the adoption, in 1970, of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade.
 The Assembly felt that improving the dissemination of information and the mobilization of public opinion, particularly among young people, would lead to greater awareness of the problems of development, thus, promoting efforts in the sphere of international cooperation for development.

 Join the Forum : World Development Information Day - 24 October


Wednesday 15 October 2014

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2014, October 17.

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 17 October. 








 United Nations Secretary-General's Message for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2014.

On this day we recommit to think, decide and act together against extreme poverty -- and plan for a world where no-one is left behind.

We have reached the Millennium Development Goal target of halving the proportion of people living in poverty ahead of time. At least 700 million people were lifted out of extreme poverty between 1990 and 2010.

Despite this enormous success, one in every five persons in developing regions -- 1.22 billion people -- live on less than $1.25 a day, and 2.4 billion live on less than $2 a day.  Since the beginning of the financial crisis, inequality has grown even more pronounced than it was already.  Discrimination against women and girls remains a blatant injustice, robbing the entire development enterprise of one of the keys to progress.

 Entrenched poverty and prejudice, and vast gulfs between wealth and destitution, can undermine the fabric of societies and lead to instability. Where poverty holds sway, people are held back.  Lives disfigured by poverty are cruel, mean and, often, short.

As we prepare the post-2015 sustainable development agenda and address the threat of climate change, we must not lose sight of our most fundamental obligation: to eliminate poverty in all its forms.  We must also end the marginalization of people living in poverty.  Their knowledge and perspectives are vital if we are to find meaningful, durable solutions.

I urge Member States and all partners to act decisively together to eradicate poverty and build a sustainable, peaceful, prosperous and equitable future for all.  Our aim must be prosperity for all, not just a few.

                                                                                                                                   Ban Ki-moon



The 2014 Commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP) will be held on Friday, 17 October at United Nations Headquarters in New York, focusing on the theme - "Leave no one behind: think, decide and act together against extreme poverty". 

 This year's event is organized in partnership with the International Movement ATD Fourth World, the NGO Sub-committee for the Eradication of Poverty and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, supported by the Missions of France and Burkina Faso to the United Nations.

 The 2014 theme recognises and underscores the demanding challenge of identifying and securing the participation of those experiencing extreme poverty and social exclusion in the “Post-2015 Development Agenda” that will replace the Millennium Development Goals.

The call to “Leave no one behind” points to the urgent need to eliminate discrimination, marginalisation and exclusion based on poverty, ethnic origin, gender, age, disability or economic and social status. It will require concerted action to actively reach out to the most impoverished and excluded groups in our societies. At the core of such action must be the alignment of development policies and targets, and their implementation, with human rights norms and standards, in keeping with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights .

 The call “To think, decide and act together against extreme poverty” highlights the need to include people living in poverty as partners in building our understanding and knowledge of more sustainable forms of development. Local, national and international institutions must create genuine participatory mechanisms, with accountability and grievance mechanisms at all levels, while working as partners with communities to strengthen their own support organisations.

 In particular, this call requires that we promote and support an economy that is inclusive, equitable and sustainable. That is, an economy that protects the environment, fosters the creation of full employment and decent work opportunities for all, and ensures high quality education and healthcare with improved results for all, including people living in extreme poverty.

 Ultimately, the success of the “Post-2015 Development Agenda” will depend on the full and meaningful participation of all people, actively supported by increased commitments at the political, economic, social and cultural levels in all countries.

 In addition to the Commemoration in New York, celebrations of this International Day are being organized worldwide. Through resolution A/RES/47/196 adopted on 22 December 1992, the General Assembly invited all States to devote the Day to presenting and promoting concrete activities with regard to the eradication of poverty and destitution.

Also in commemoration of the international day, a ten-part exhibition of collective artwork by people living in poverty will be featured at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Each collection shows how the human act of creation—whether by rousing strength and hope, or bestowing a peaceful calm–helps people to hold their heads high, to come together in dignity, and to leave no one behind. The exhibition, entitled "Leave No One Behind", will be held from 13 to 17 October in the 1B Corridor to the Vienna Cafe.

 The International Charter for October 17 (English / French) provides guiding principles for the organization of commemorations to mark the International Day.

Events : 
Provisional programme for the Commemoration of the IDEP 2014
IDEP 2014  Provisional Programme 


IDEP 2014 Concept Note 
 
Campaign Materials : 
IDEP Brochure 
IDEP 2014 Poster 
IDEP 2014 Postcard 

 Forum : International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - 17 October.



 Help the United Nations to raise awareness about the progress made and the challenges that remain in the fight against poverty.

Use #EndPoverty to post your messages about the Millennium Development Goals and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. For more information or message ideas, follow mcampaign on Facebook and Twitter.

 Related Information and Organization : 

World Food Day 2014, October 16th.


 Всемирный день продовольствия, 16 октября.
世界糧食日,10月16日。
World Food Day,16 October.
Día Mundial de la Alimentación, 16 de octubre.
 Journée mondiale de l'alimentation, 16 octobre.
Giornata mondiale dell'alimentazione, 16 ottobre.
يوم الأغذية العالمي , 16 أكتوبر/ تشرين 




The 2014 :  "Feeding the world, caring for the earth"
 
 FAO celebrates World Food Day on 16 October.

 Family Farming is the focus of World Food Day 2014.

The 2014 World Food Day theme - Family Farming: “Feeding the world, caring for the earth” - has been chosen to raise the profile of family farming and smallholder farmers. It focuses world attention on the significant role of family farming in eradicating hunger and poverty, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the environment, and achieving sustainable development, in particular in rural areas. 

The UN General Assembly has designated 2014 “International Year of Family Farming.” This is a strong signal that the international community recognizes the important contribution of family farmers to world food security. 

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva invites all stakeholders to take part in the Global Dialogue on Family Farming, 27-28 October, Rome


 
Launch of FAO’s State of Food and Agriculture report on Family Farming; Committee on World Food Security to address responsible investment in agriculture.

Every year on World Food Day, 16 October, FAO and its member countries commemorate the founding of FAO in 1945. This year World Food Day will focus on family farming. Please find below a list of the main activities around World Food Day/World Food Week taking place at FAO headquarters in Rome.

All events are open to the media and will also be webcast live.


Wednesday, 15 October

10.00h - Ahead of World Food Day, Li Keqiang, Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China, will meet FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva and at 10.00 deliver a speech on China's accomplishments and contribution to global food security and agricultural development.

15.00h -
Launch of the Thomson Reuters Foundation's online hunger and nutrition news platform, which is supported by FAO as part of a recently agreed partnership.

The platform aims to improve global information and awareness on hunger and food-related issues including food production, food security, food waste, agriculture, land use, and malnutrition. The launch event also includes a roundtable discussion titled "Feeding the global family: Does climate change put us all at risk?". Panelists include representatives of FAO, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, civil society and the private sector.
More information on the FAO-Thomson Reuters Foundation partnership can be found here.



Thursday, 16 October

10.00h - Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development and John Kufuor, Former President of the Republic of Ghana, will be the keynote speakers at the World Food Day ceremony.

The 2014 World Food Day theme Family Farming: "Feeding the world, caring for the earth" - focuses world attention on the significant role of family farming in eradicating hunger, poverty and malnutrition and achieving sustainable development.
More information is available on the World Food Day website.

11.45h - Press conference to launch of FAO's annual flagship publication The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA).
The report focuses this year on innovation in family farming. The report which will be presented by FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva, highlights the need to promote the sustainable development of the more than 500 million family farms that manage the majority of the world's agricultural land and produce most of the world's food.

14.30h - Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and EU Commissioner Dacian Ciolos
will take part in a Special Event organized jointly by CFS, World Food Day and the International Year of Family Farming entitled "Innovation in Family Farming: Towards Ensuring Food Security and Nutrition"


Friday, 17 October

10.00h - Signing ceremony for the memorandum of understanding between FAO and National Geographic to raise awareness on food and agriculture issues with FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva and National Geographic Chief Content Officer, Chris Johns and Deputy Creative Director and Future of Food Project Leader Kaitlin Yarnall.

The event also sees the inauguration of an exhibit showcasing National Geographic magazine's "The Future of Food" series.  More information on the FAO-National Geographich partnership can be found here.

15.30h -Official awards presentation for the
Short Food Movie Competition will take place at a media event at Teatro Studio G. Borgna - Auditorium Parco della Musica during the Rome Film Festival. Italian Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies, Maurizio Martina, Italian Minister of Heritage, Cultural Activity and Tourism, Dario Franceschini and the UN Commissioner for Expo Milano 2015, Eduardo Rojas will speak at the event.

The Short Food Movie initiative is a global open call for videos inspired by the theme for Expo Milano 2015, " Feeding the planet. Energy for Life". The initiative includes a UN category dedicated to the Zero Hunger Challenge, which calls for videos about any of the five pillars of the Zero Hunger Challenge or the UN focus area for Expo Milano 2015, women's empowerment and gender equality. More information can be found here.


Sunday, 19 October

10.00h - The 9th edition of Hunger Run, the annual, open to the public race and non-competitive run/walk, will see registration fees target the poorest of the poor and go towards projects that improve their ability to produce and access food, and that ultimately improve people's lives. The run is organized by Gruppo Sportivo Bancari Romani on behalf of the FAO, IFAD, WFP, Bioversity International with the collaboration of sponsors and partners.Learn more about Hunger Run 2014.


 Join the forum : World Food Day - 16 October
Capture the Zero Hunger Challenge in 30 to 60 seconds

Worldwide call for short food movies


 Watch this week's events at FAO live



 The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2014


 ° The latest FAO estimates indicate that global hunger reduction continues: about 805 million people are estimated to be chronically undernourished in 2012–14, down more than 100 million over the last decade, and 209 million lower than in 1990–92. In the same period, the prevalence of undernourishment has fallen from 18.7 to 11.3 percent globally and from 23.4 to 13.5 percent for developing countries.

° Since 1990-92, 63 countries have reached the hunger target of MDG-1 and 25 countries have achieved the more stringent WFS target. Of the 63 developing countries, 11 already had undernourishment levels below 5 percent (the methodological limit that can assure significance of the results different from zero) in 1990-1992 and have been able to keep it in that interval, and are therefore not the prime focus of the 2014 report.

° The figures demonstrate that the hunger target of the Millennium Development Goal – of halving the proportion of undernourished people in developing countries by 2015 – is within reach.
Despite overall progress, marked differences across regions persist. Latin America and the Caribbean have made the greatest overall progress in increasing food security with modest progress in sub-Saharan Africa and Western Asia, which have been afflicted by natural disasters and conflict.

° Sustained political commitment at the highest level, with food security and nutrition as top priorities, is a prerequisite for hunger eradication. The case studies of the State of Food Insecurity in the World 2014 report show that regions such as Africa and the Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as individual countries have strengthened their political commitment to food security and nutrition.

° Hunger reduction requires an integrated approach, and needs to include: public and private investments to raise agricultural productivity; better access to inputs, land, services, technologies and markets; measures to promote rural development; social protection for the most vulnerable, including strengthening their resilience to conflicts and natural disasters; and specific nutrition programmes, particularly to address micronutrient deficiencies in mothers and children under five.


 
SOFI 2014 :Strengthening the enabling environment for food security and nutrition


Related links

Tuesday 14 October 2014

International Day of Rural Women 2014, October 15th



My mother has lived her whole life in the countryside.  Although she did not receive much of a formal education, I grew up appreciating her wisdom, resilience and intelligence.  In the course of my subsequent public service, I came to see that these qualities are shared by millions of rural women around the world.

Collectively, rural women are a force that can drive global progress.  We must harness that power to achieve our three interlinked objectives for next year:  accelerating our work towards the Millennium Development Goals, adopting a new vision for sustainable development, and concluding a meaningful universal climate agreement.

Because they often live on the frontlines of poverty, natural disasters and other threats, rural women have an enormous stake in the success of our global campaigns.

The majority of rural women depend on natural resources for their livelihoods.  In developing countries, they make up more than 40 per cent of the agricultural labour force. They produce, process and prepare many of society’s meals, frequently taking primary responsibility for household food security, health status and education opportunities.

When we give rural women access to productive agricultural and natural resources, we empower them.  They, in turn, can contribute more to alleviating hunger and boosting the ability of their communities to cope with the effects of climate change, land degradation and displacement.  This benefits all people.

But to reap these rewards, we must address the discrimination and deprivation that rural women continue to suffer.  Too many lack access to land, markets, finance, social protection and services.  Many also face grave security risks in the course of their life-saving tasks, such as collecting water or fuel.

The International Day of Rural Women is an occasion to listen to their voices and respond to their concerns.  Together, let us work to unleash the power of rural women by protecting their human rights, supporting their economic advancement, and enabling them to fully contribute to our shared future.





 Empowering women through Rural infrastructure, mainstraining Gender in Transport - Asian Development Bank Institute


The project aimed to develop and demonstrate a suitable system for the routine maintenance of rural roads, thus ensuring improved road conditions, lower transport costs, and more continuous access to townships and villages in the province. At the same time, the project aimed to generate employment opportunities for women and ethnic minority groups in rural areas, allowing them to earn a steady income and improve their livelihoods.


Empowering women through rural infrastructure, mainstraining Gender in Transport - ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

Sunday 12 October 2014

International Day for Disaster Reduction 2014, October 13th.





Тема Дня 2014 года «Стойкость во имя жизни»



As a human family, we are growing older. Globally, approximately 700 million people – 10 per cent of the world’s population – are over the age of 60, and by 2030, there will be more elderly persons than children for the first time in history.
This year’s commemoration of the International Day for Disaster Reduction is an opportunity to recognize the role of older men and women in fostering resilience.
When a natural disaster hits, older persons suffer disproportionately high levels of death and injuries. This tragic trend must be reversed through plans, services and support that ensure we address the vulnerabilities facing older persons while optimizing their contributions to our collective safety and wellbeing.
Disaster planning must take account of the reduced mobility experienced by many older persons. We have to enable them to prepare for a potential disaster, reach safety and protect themselves. The needs of older persons should also be taken into account in early warning systems, social protection mechanisms, evacuation and emergency response plans, and public awareness campaigns.
At the same time, it is important to recognize that older persons have strengths that can serve the community at large. Their years of experience can help in reducing risks posed by disasters. We should involve them in disaster risk management as well as related planning and decision-making processes. Older persons can also meaningfully enrich our critical global discussions on addressing climate change and achieving sustainable development.
On this International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, let us remind ourselves that building resilience to disasters has no time limit in one’s life; it starts in youth and grows more important as we age.
Ban Ki-moon


 Resilience is for life
Vulnerability to natural hazards is increasing to alarming rates, as their frequency intensifies, and exacerbated by rapid population growth and ageing populations. The 2014 International Day for Disaster Reduction is dedicated to older people, to their needs and to their contribution to better planning and understanding disaster risks in their communities.
We know well that age is a major factor for evacuation during emergencies. Older people are also more vulnerable than younger groups to injuries resulting from such weather extremes as heatwaves, storms and floods. It is projected that by 2050, people over the age of sixty will represent 22 percent of the world’s population, twice the current number. This is why we must start today to include the concerns of older people in all planning and preparations to mitigate the risks of disasters.
We must also listen more carefully to the voices of older people, whose contribution to tackling environment challenges is underestimated. Our elders are forces for resilience, thanks to their understanding of natural phenomena, including within traditional knowledge systems and those of indigenous people. This vast reservoir of knowledge can help in improving preparedness as well as in preventing disasters, thanks to the wisdom that older people can share about local phenomena. Mitigating the risks of disasters must build on local foundations, drawing on the views and needs of local communities, who are the first affected by natural disasters.
This was a key message that UNESCO sent at the 3rd International Conference on Small Island Developing States, held in Apia, Samoa, during the High-Level Event on Coping with and adapting to Ocean Threats for Resilient SIDS Communities. UNESCO is acting across all areas of its mandate and across the world to build a global culture of resilience for local communities. In Viet Nam, we have been working with media institutions to train journalists in producing written and broadcast material that highlights the vulnerability of older people, as well as women and children, during evacuation situations and calling for more inclusive prevention plans.
Resilience is more than simply recovery from adversity –- it must be about building stronger societies today to prepare for tomorrow. On this International Day for Disaster Reduction, I call on all Governments and all relevant actors to integrate older people in programmes and plans of disaster risk reduction, and to ensure the participation of local communities into all stages of planning. This is essential to lay the ground for a more sustainable for all.
   
Irina Bokova

Join the forum :  International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction - 13 October
 Why should disaster risk reduction involve older persons?





Resilience is for Life
 Resources : 
  1. UNISDR work programme 2014-2015: delivering against the strategic framework SOURCE: UNISDR
  2. Sixth Session of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management: Chair's summary 
  3.  A catalyst for change: how the Hyogo Framework for Action has promoted disaster risk reduction in South East Europe SOURCE: UNISDR EUR; GFDRR; WB
  4.  Sixth Session of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management: Chair's summary SOURCE: UNISDR Pacific; SPC
  5.  Submission to the UNFCCC Executive Committee call for inputs for the initial two-year workplan for the implementation of the functions of the Warsaw international mechanism on loss and damage associated with climate change impacts SOURCE: UNISDR
  6.  Status report on implementation of Africa regional strategy and Hyogo Framework for Action SOURCE: UNISDR AF
  7.  Finland peer review report 2013 - Building resilience to disasters: implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005-2015) SOURCE: UNISDR EUR; EC; OECD
  8.  
  9.  Asia-Pacific input document for the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (HFA2): risk sensitive development as the cornerstone of resilience and sustainability SOURCE: UNISDR AP; Thailand - gov
  10.  Urban risk reduction and resilience SOURCE: UNISDR
  11.  International cooperation to reduce disaster risk SOURCE: UNISDR
  12.  Climate resilience SOURCE: UNISDR
  13.  Risk-informed public policy and investment SOURCE: UNISDR
  14.  Risk-sensitive business investment SOURCE: UNISDR
  15.  Suggested elements for the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction (June 2014) SOURCE: UNISDR
  16.  R!SE: program summary SOURCE: UNISDR
  17.  UNISDR Europe annual report 2013 SOURCE: UNISDR EUR
  18.  UNISDR annual report 2013 SOURCE: UNISDR
  19.  Natural disasters in the Middle East and North Africa: a regional overview SOURCE: WB; UNDP; UNISDR ROAS; GFDRR
  20.  Historical collection of disaster loss data in Albania SOURCE: CIMA; UNISDR
  21.  planificación de la reducción del riesgo de desastres (RRD) en América Latina y el Caribe SOURCE: UNISDR AM; ECHO; CRID
  22.  Criterios en la identificación de acciones claves para la planificación de la reducción del riesgo de desastres (RRD) en América Latina y el Caribe SOURCE: UNISDR AM; CRID; ECHO
  23.  Guía para la aplicación de criterios en la identificación de acciones claves para la planificación de la reducción del riesgo de desastres (RRD) en América Latina y el Caribe SOURCE: UNISDR AM; ECHO; CRID

Friday 10 October 2014

International Day of the Girl Child 2014, October 11th.

Международный день девочек, 11 октября.
International Day of the Girl Child, October 11.








All over the world, an alarming number of adolescent girls are assaulted, beaten, raped, mutilated and even murdered. ;The threat of violence at the hands of family members, partners, teachers and peers grossly violates their rights, diminishes their power and suppresses their potential. This violence is exacerbated and reinforced by the multiple deprivations adolescent girls face, including unequal access to education, skills, information, sexual and reproductive health services, and social and economic resources.  Girls are subjected to discriminatory social norms and harmful practices – such as female genital mutilation -- that perpetuate a cycle of violence.  A culture of impunity allows violence against adolescent girls to continue unabated; Conflict and humanitarian crises dramatically increase the risk of violence, abuse and exploitation.
My UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign is engaging governments, international organizations, civil society groups, the media and citizens everywhere to raise awareness and increase political will and resources for preventing and ending violence against women and girls.  A parallel campaign – HeForShe – emphasizes that gender equality is not just a women’s issue by enrolling males to act against all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls.  As we define the post-2015 development framework and review progress achieved under the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, ending gender violence and promoting the empowerment of girls and women must be at the heart of our global agenda.
To end the cycle of violence against adolescent girls we must go beyond and take action to equip girls with knowledge, skills, resources and power to determine their own path in life.  We must provide them with safe transport, and access to sources of energy and water, quality health services and supportive environments that will allow them to thrive.
On this International Day of the Girl Child, I call on all governments to take action to end all forms of violence against girls in all parts of the world.  Together, we must create a world where violence against women and girls is never tolerated and girls are always empowered to reach their full potential.

Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General.


Message of Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA Executive Director, on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Chil 2014.

 Today on the International Day of the Girl Child, I join every person around the world who believes that adolescent girls should live free of violence and discrimination.

We are guided by the international human rights to which every human being is rightfully entitled.

Every girl, no matter where she is born, should have a chance to reach her potential.

Every girl deserves to be welcomed to this world with the same joy and celebration as a boy. Every girl has the right to life and dignity.

Every girl has the right to education, including comprehensive sexuality education, and to learn and be as smart as she can be.

Every girl has the right to be a girl, and not a child bride.

Every girl has the right to live free of female genital mutilation.

Every girl has the right to health, including sexual and reproductive health.

Yet these rights continue to be violated worldwide on a massive and systematic scale.

Today on the International Day of the Girl Child, and every day, we say no to violence against girls.

We say yes to education, empowerment and equality. Now is the time for action!

We must take action when nearly one quarter of adolescent girls have been victims of physical violence since the age of 15.

We must take action when one in three adolescent girls has suffered violence committed by her husband or her partner.

We must take action when some 70 million young women aged 20-24 in developing countries were married before the age of 18. Early, forced and child marriage deprives girls of their autonomy, their education and their health. It steals their hopes and dreams away from them before their very eyes.

We must take action when three million girls, the majority of whom are younger than 15 years of age, undergo female genital mutilation, FGM, each and every year. This can increase their vulnerability to HIV and to complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and in the worst cases result in maternal and newborn death.

UNFPA is taking action to protect the health and rights of adolescent girls.

Through comprehensive sexuality education; through sexual and reproductive health counselling, information and services; and through youth participation, UNFPA works to protect the human rights of adolescent girls. We also work with boys so they will become the first male generation to neither perpetrate nor tolerate violence against women and girls.

Through a UNFPA-UNICEF joint programme, more than 12,700 communities in Africa have abandoned FGM and an estimated three million girls will now grow up free of this harmful practice.

Development is not sustainable when adolescent girls live with the fear and the reality of violence.

Today on the International Day of the Girl Child, and every day, UNFPA will continue to work with governments, the United Nations system and civil society so that adolescent girls are empowered to claim their rights and are protected from violence.

We will not stop until the world upholds the inherent rights of every girl child.
If you change her life, you can change the world.

Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA Executive Director


Message by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child, 11 October 2014.

  On this International Day of the Girl Child let us commit to creating a world where girls can live free of violence and achieve their full potential. Violence against girls, in all its forms, is a grave human rights violation rooted in gender inequality. Up to one-third of adolescent girls report their first sexual experience as being forced.

At least 133 million girls and women have experienced female genital mutilation. When an adolescent girl experiences violence, often perpetrated by those closest to her, she has limited choices and opportunities. Without redress, the effects of such violence will last throughout her lifetime and may extend to future generations. Every day, 39,000 girls are married before they turn 18 and, if current trends continue, there will be 140 million child brides by 2020. Girls married young are more vulnerable to intimate partner violence and sexual abuse than those who marry later. They suffer complications during pregnancy and childbirth, with these complications being a leading cause of death in young women aged 15-19. This is a catastrophic loss of human potential. Eradicating violence against the girl child is a critical area of concern of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark international agreement reached almost 20 years ago.

The promise made to girls at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing must be delivered. Protecting girls from all forms of violence and promoting girls’ empowerment must be at the heart of the global development agenda. It is in our hands to make this possible, through provision of adequate services and comprehensive prevention efforts.
By providing girls and women with access to education, by ensuring their sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as engaging men and boys in the promotion of gender equality, we can protect and empower girls.
 By improving justice mechanisms and supportive services, we can crush impunity and mitigate the impact of violence on survivors. Girls themselves are part of the solution. They are a powerhouse of talent, creativity and potential.

This year, UN Women is rolling out a global youth-led programme, “Voices against Violence,” to prevent violence against girls and young women. In partnership with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, and using non-formal education as a tool, the programme will reach some 800,000 young people aged 5 to 25, in 12 countries. In many more countries, we are partnering with young people to challenge gender stereotypes and norms that perpetuate violence.

With Together for Girls, a unique public-private partnership, UN Women is supporting data collection and country-driven efforts to address sexual violence against children, especially girls. In the Asia-Pacific region, a joint programme — “Partners for Prevention” — supported by UN Women, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Volunteers, is focusing on prevention of violence against women and girls through research, capacity development and communications for social change. As part of the Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting with UNICEF and UNFPA, UN Women is also working to address harmful traditional practices that impact millions of girls worldwide.

 The International Day of the Girl Child is an opportunity to step up collective action to break the cycle of violence against girls and women. Empowering girls today makes for a safer, healthier, more prosperous and sustainable tomorrow. 

UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka





 Forum : International Day of the Girl Child - October 11


EventsThis year, the theme is "Empowering adolescent girls: Ending the cycle of violence". UN Women Executive Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will speak at an event at UNICEF House co-sponsored by UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA and Plan International, from 12.30-2 p.m. [Invitation]. Watch the livestream here. 

Check out our special In Focus compilation on the Girl Child, one of the 12 critical areas of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
This year, the theme is "Empowering adolescent girls: Ending the cycle of violence". UN Women Executive Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will speak at an event at UNICEF House co-sponsored by UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA and Plan International, from 12.30-2 p.m. [Invitation]Watch the livestream here.
Check out our special In Focus compilation on the Girl Child, one of the 12 critical areas of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
- See more at: http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/girl-child#sthash.XOMFm74z.dpuf

 Resources



  • Message of Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA Executive Director, on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child
  • UN Secretary-General Campaign UNiTE to End Violence Against Women
  •  Because I am a Girl
  • Thursday 9 October 2014

    World Sight Day 2014, October 9th.


     World Sight Day 2014 is on 9 October 2014 (the second Thursday of October). World Sight Day 2013 saw numerous organizations putting together events of great verve and colour to draw attention to avoidable blindness and rehabilitation. 2014 is the first year of the WHO Global Action Plan and IAPB encourages our members and partners to continue with our rolling theme: Universal Eye Health

    Events : This year, the 'Call to Action' for World Sight Day is:
    No more Avoidable Blindness



    Forum :    World Sight Day - 9 October
    Theme 2014: No more Avoidable Blindness.



    2014 is the first year of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Action Plan and VISION 2020/IAPB encourages our members and partners to continue with our rolling theme: Universal Eye Health This year, the 'Call to Action' for World Sight Day 2014 is: No more Avoidable Blindness


    Tell a story with your eyes

    Ages 20 to 39 ( Dry eye, Eye Infection, Refractive Errors, Ocular Allergies)

    Age 40 to 59 (Inflammation, Diabetic Retinipathy, Dry eye,  Glaucoma, Refractive errors, including Presbyopia)
    Teenagers (Eye infection, Refractive Errors,  Ocular Allergies)

    Ages 40 to 59 (Ocular Allergies, Eye infection, Retinal Detachment)
    Infants, Ages 3 and Younger (Uncommon eye Conditions, Eye Infection)

    Ages 60 and Older (Retinal Detachment, Dry Eye, Inflammation, Eye Infection)
    Ages 60 and Older (Cataracts, Age related Macular Degeneration ( AMD),  Diabetic Retinipathy, Glaucoma)
    Children, Ages 4 to 12 ( Eye infection, Refractive Errors, Amblyopha ans Strabimus,  Ocular Allergies)