International Day of Friendship 2015, July 30th.

Международный день дружбы, 30 июля.

国际友谊日,7月30日.

International Day of Friendship, 30 July.

Día Internacional de la Amistad, 30 de julio.

Journée internationale de l'amitié, 30 juillet.

اليوم العالمي للصداقة، 30 يوليو

United Nations Secretary-General’s Message for the International day of Friendship 2015.

The International Day of Friendship was initiated by an individual who had a simple but profound vision: that the forces of animosity and hatred in our world are no match for the power of the human spirit.
I had the opportunity, earlier this year in Paraguay, to commend that pioneer, Dr. Ramón Bracho, for his conviction that just as friendship builds bridges between people, it can also inspire peace in our world.
This is of paramount importance as we confront the discrimination, malice and cruelty that drive conflicts and atrocities afflicting millions of people today. We must counter these destructive trends with a renewed commitment to finding our common humanity and fostering shared progress.
On this International Day of Friendship, let us strengthen bonds among individuals and generate greater respect and understanding in our world.

Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General.

FORUM :  International Day of Friendship - 30 July

Want More Close Friends?

Although people have often dismissed online social media as the domain of the lonely, or an escape from the deep connections made in the “real” world, our most recent data over at the Science of Friendship project pokes holes in that assumption. People are not only making friends online, they are making deep and meaningful friendships. Over 68% of those surveyed* made a friend they considered a close friend in the last year, and over 80% of those close friendships were made online. That’s over 54% of people who made a close friend online in the last year.

The science of Friendship

World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2015, July 30th.

世界打击贩运人口日, 7月30日.

Всемирный день борьбы с торговлей людьми, 30 июля.

World Day against Trafficking in Persons, 30 July.

 Día Mundial contra la Trata, 30 de julio.

Journée mondiale de la dignité des victimes de la traite d’êtres humains, 30 juillet.

اليوم العالمي لمكافحة الاتجار بالأشخاص، 30 يوليو.

United Nations Secretary-General's Message for the World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2015.

Around the world, criminals are selling people for profit.  Vulnerable women and girls form the majority of human trafficking victims, including those driven into degrading sexual exploitation.
Trafficked persons are often tricked into servitude with the false promise of a well-paid job. Migrants crossing deadly seas and burning deserts to escape conflict, poverty and persecution are also at risk of being trafficked.  Individuals can find themselves alone in a foreign land where they have been stripped of their passports, forced into debt and exploited for labour.  Children and young people can find their lives stolen, their education blocked and their dreams dashed. It is an assault on their most basic human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Criminal trafficking networks thrive in countries where the rule of law is weak and international cooperation is difficult.  I call on all countries to fight money laundering and sign and ratify the UN Conventions against corruption and transnational organized crime, including the latter’s human trafficking protocol.
We must also provide meaningful assistance to those in need, including protection and access to justice and remedies  I applaud the donors who have enabled the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons Fund to assist thousands of people. At the same time, I urge greater contributions to help the many million other victims of this crime move forward with their lives.
Every country must join together to overcome this transnational threat by supporting and protecting victims while pursuing and prosecuting the criminals. On the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, let us resolve to act as one in the name of justice and dignity for all.

Ban Ki-moon

FORUM : World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, July 30

The UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons: Achievements and Challenges Five Years On - 13th Crime Congress (Doha, 2015), High level event.

14 Apr 2015 - The high-level event on the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons presented the major achievements of the Trust Fund and highlight the challenges in its first five years of existence.

 

External Links :

• UN Voluntary Trust Fund for victims of trafficking, especially women and children.
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
• UNODC Human Trafficking Case Law Database
• United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking

The UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in persons, Looking Ahead,

World hepatitis Day 2015, July 28th.

World Hepatitis Day, July 28.

Theme 2015 : Prevent hepatitis. Act now

WHO calls for urgent action to curb hepatitis

News release : 23 JULY 2015 ¦ GENEVA - On World Hepatitis Day (28 July) WHO highlights the urgent need for countries to enhance action to prevent viral hepatitis infection and to ensure that people who have been infected are diagnosed and offered treatment. This year, the Organization is focusing particularly on hepatitis B and C, which together cause approximately 80% of all liver cancer deaths and kill close to 1.4 million people every year.
 

Know the risks

WHO is alerting people to the risks of contracting hepatitis from unsafe blood, unsafe injections, and sharing drug-injection equipment. Some 11 million people who inject drugs have hepatitis B or C infection. Children born to mothers with hepatitis B or C and sex partners of people with hepatitis are also at risk of becoming infected.
The Organization emphasizes the need for all health services to reduce risks by using only sterile equipment for injections and other medical procedures, to test all donated blood and blood components for hepatitis B and C (as well as HIV and syphilis) and to promote the use of the hepatitis B vaccine. Safer sex practices, including minimizing the number of partners and using barrier protective measures (condoms), also protect against transmission.

Demand safe injections

Approximately, two million people a year contract hepatitis from unsafe injections. These infections can be averted through the use of sterile syringes that are specifically designed to prevent reuse.
Eliminating unnecessary injections is also an effective strategy to protect against hepatitis transmission. There are 16 billion injections administered every year. Around 5% of these injections are for immunization, a further 5% for procedures like blood transfusions and injectable contraceptives, and the remaining 90% to administer medicines. For many diseases, injections are not the first recommended course of treatment and oral medications could be used.

Be vaccinated

WHO recommends vaccinating all children against hepatitis B infection, from which approximately 780 000 people die each year. A safe and effective vaccine can protect from hepatitis B infection for life. Ideally, the vaccine should be given as soon as possible after birth, preferably within 24 hours. The birth dose should be followed by 2 or 3 doses to complete the vaccine series.
WHO also recommends vaccinating adults who are at increased risk of acquiring hepatitis B. These include people who frequently require blood or blood products (for example dialysis patients), health-care workers, people who inject drugs, household and sexual contacts of people with chronic hepatitis B, and people with multiple sexual partners.
Since 1982, over 1 billion doses of hepatitis B vaccine have been used worldwide and millions of future deaths from liver cancer and cirrhosis have been prevented. In a number of countries where around 1 in 10 children used to become chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus, vaccination has reduced the rate of chronic infection to less than 1 in 100 among immunized children. To date, there is no available vaccine against hepatitis C.

Get tested, seek treatment

Medicines are now available that can cure most people with hepatitis C and control hepatitis B infection. People who receive these medicines are much less likely to die from liver cancer and cirrhosis and much less likely to transmit the virus to others. WHO therefore urges people who think they might have been exposed to hepatitis to get tested so they can find out whether they need treatment to improve their own health and reduce the risk of transmission.
Earlier this year, WHO issued new guidelines for treatment of hepatitis B infection. These recommend using simple non-invasive tests to assess the stage of liver disease to help identify who needs treatment. WHO also calls for prioritizing treatment for those with cirrhosis - the most advanced stage of liver disease and for the use of two safe and highly effective medicines, tenofovir or entecavir. Continued monitoring using simple tests is important to assess whether treatment is working, and if it can be stopped.
In 2014, WHO issued guidance for testing and treatment of hepatitis C infection. WHO recommends providing testing for people considered at high risk of infection and ensuring treatment for those who have the virus with several effective medicines, including new regimens that use only oral medicines. WHO will update recommendations on drug treatments periodically as new antiviral medicines become available and as new evidence emerges.

World Hepatitis Day 2015

This year, WHO’s flagship event takes place in Egypt, a country that has one of the world’s highest hepatitis burdens. It is estimated that 10% of the ‎population between 15 and ‎‎59 years is chronically ‎infected with hepatitis C. Between 2007 and 2014, more than 350 000 people with hepatitis C have been treated. Since the introduction of newer, more effective medicines in 2014, the number of people being treated continues to increase. Today, 32 dedicated treatment centres are providing treatment at the Government’s expense.
‎Egypt is also highlighting hepatitis prevention. WHO is helping the country develop national ‎blood safety standards and has selected ‎it as one of 3 pilot ‎countries for its new Global ‎Injection Safety Initiative.‎ WHO will provide support over the next 3 years to ‎reduce unnecessary ‎injections and help transition to ‎the exclusive use of syringes ‎that can only be used once.

Global momentum to tackle hepatitis

‎In September this year, countries will have the opportunity to share best practice at the first-ever World Hepatitis Summit to be held in Glasgow, Scotland. The summit, which is co-sponsored by WHO, the Scottish Government and the World Hepatitis Alliance, aims to raise the global profile of viral hepatitis, to create a platform for exchange of country experiences and to focus on working with countries to develop national action plans.

Note to editors

In addition to hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A and E viruses also cause viral hepatitis. These two viruses are primarily transmitted through contact with contaminated food and water and are responsible for less than 1% of all hepatitis-related deaths.

---

For more information, please contact:

Christian Lindmeier
Communications Officer
Telephone: + 41 22 791 1948
Mobile: + 41 79 500 6552
Email: lindmeierch@who.int

FORUM :  World Hepatitis Day - 28 July

World Hepatitis Day is celebrated each year on 28 July. It provides an opportunity to increase awareness, education and greater understanding of viral hepatitis as a global public health problem. Viral hepatitis - a group of infectious diseases comprising the hepatitis A, B, C, D and E - affects millions of people worldwide.

The global burden of disease and mortality from viral hepatitis is high. An estimated 57% of liver cirrhosis cases and 78% of primary liver cancer cases result from hepatitis B or C viruses’ infections. In recognition of the importance of the public health problem posed by hepatitis, in 2010, the 63rd World Health Assembly designated July 28th as World Hepatitis Day and requested an integrated response in the fight against hepatitis. From then on, the PAHO and the WHO have joined efforts to establish strategies to fight hepatitis either at global and regional levels. This call to action offers an excellent opportunity to the Region of the Americas for the approach to viral hepatitis as a recognized public health problem. The commemoration of July 28th, World Hepatitis Day, can be used as starting point for many initiatives in the countries.

EVENTS : 
World Hepatitis Summit - 2-4 September - Glasgow, Scotland

The inaugural World Hepatitis Summit – Glasgow, Scotland – 2-4 September 2015

The World Hepatitis Alliance provides global leadership and supports action that will halt the viral hepatitis death toll and improve lives. Through advocacy and policy work, building capacity among our members and raising global awareness, we aim to give viral hepatitis the priority it deserves.

Technical resources :

• Prevention and control of viral hepatitis infection: framework for global action
• Hepatitis A, B, C, and E fact sheets
• Hepatitis A vaccination: part of plan for prevention and control of viral hepatitis
• Position paper on hepatitis B vaccines
  pdf, 830kb
• Guidance on prevention of viral hepatitis B and C among people who inject drugs

External Links :

•  Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by a viral infection.
•  Hepatitis A and E are transmitted through the oral-faecal route by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
• Is the elimination of viral hepatitis on the horizon?
• Join the HHS World Hepatitis Day Observance on Tuesday, July 28
• Welcoming new members to the World Hepatitis Alliance
• Story from China: Living a healthy life with hepatitis

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Add caption

Calling for greater commitment to the fight against hepatitis at the World Health Assembly 

The 68th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA68) took place in Geneva from 18th-26th May. On 25th May, the World Hepatitis Alliance was invited...

World Hepatitis Day 2015: Prevent hepatitis. Act now

Nelson Mandela International Day 2015, July 18th.

曼德拉国际日, 7月18日.

 Международным днем Нельсона Манделы,18 июля. 

Nelson Mandela International Day, 18 July. 

Día Internacional de Nelson Mandela, 18 de julio.

Journée internationale Nelson Mandela, 18 juillet.
 تموز/يوليه 18  -  اليوم الدولي لنيلسون مانديلا

 

 

Take action, inspire change, make every day a mandela day.

United Nations Secretary-General's Message for the Nelson Mandela International Day 2015.

Nelson Mandela International Day is an annual call to action for people around the world to make a difference in the communities where they live and work by taking time to serve others.
The theme behind the Day – “Take action, Inspire change” – highlights the importance of working together to build a peaceful, sustainable and equitable world.
Nelson Mandela gave 67 years of his life to the struggle for human rights and social justice. The United Nations joins the Mandela Foundation in asking people around the world to devote at least 67 minutes of their time on 18 July – Madiba’s birthday – to a community service activity.
As the UN marks its 70th anniversary, there is no better time to reflect on the life and work of Mr. Mandela, who embodied the highest values of the United Nations. This year, the UN is bestowing the first ever Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize, established by the General Assembly. This honorary award will be presented every five years to two individuals – a man and a woman – who through their dedication, hard work and compassion have built on Madiba’s legacy.
Nelson Mandela once said: “It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.” He was a leader who acted with a steadfast belief in justice and human equality. Let us all continue, each day, to draw inspiration from Nelson Mandela’s life-long example and his call to never cease working to build a better world for all.

Ban Ki-moon

The Mandela Day Ethical Framework

United Nations General Assembly President's Remarks in 2015 Nelson Mandela International Day and Award of Inaugural Prize.

Right Honourable Dr. Rukahana Rugunda, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda,Excellencies,Ms. Susana Malcorra, Under-Secretary-General and Chef de Cabinet, representing the Secretary-General,The Reverend Jesse Jackson,Distinguished delegates,Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to this annual General Assembly observance of the Nelson Mandela International Day. I wish to extend a special welcome to my Prime Minister, Right Honourable Dr. Rukahana Rugunda, and the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Founder and President of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
I also warmly welcome the two Laureates of the first United Nations Nelson Mandela Prize, Dr. Helena Ndume and H.E. Jorge Sampaio as well as other distinguished guests.
Excellencies,
The General Assembly in 2009, proclaimed 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day, to be observed annually. Since 2010, we have gathered here at the United Nations, and elsewhere around the world, to celebrate the remarkable life and contributions of Nelson Mandela.
Nelson Mandela International Day is a global call to action for all citizens of the world, to take up the challenge and follow in the formidable footsteps of Madiba; a man who transformed his life, served his country and freed his people.
The objective of the Day is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better in diverse ways; and in so doing, to build a global movement for good.
Though former President Mandela passed on, on December 5, 2013, his legacy and inspiration remains as important today as ever. It is for this reason that we must continue to do our part to honour his legacy through both our words and deeds.
This annual observance also provides a unique opportunity to pay tribute to Mr. Mandela as a global icon, and acknowledge his commitment to the service of humanity, particularly in the three pillars of the United Nations – peace and security, development and human rights.
On this Day, we are reminded of the personal sacrifices that Mr. Mandela made in the collective struggle of his people. His unwavering and tireless efforts paved the way for the liberation and democratisation process in South Africa.
This illustrious son of Africa dedicated 67 years of his life to public service in his country.  His struggle and commitment inspired people around the globe, far beyond his own country, South Africa.
Today, the late Nelson Mandela remains an international symbol of hope and humility; spanning across generations, races and religions.
Excellencies,Distinguished participants,
In his last address to the General Assembly on 21 September 1998, President Mandela expressed his hope for a better world thus, and I quote:
“As I sit in Qunu, and grow as ancient as its hills, I will continue to entertain the hope that there has emerged a cadre of leaders in my own country and region, on my Continent and in the world, which will not allow that any should be denied their freedom as we were; that any should be turned into refugees as we were; that any should be condemned to go hungry as we were; that any should be stripped of their human dignity as we were.” End quote.
As we reflect on Madiba’s legacy, leadership and life, we must also commit to making a difference through individual and collective actions that promote positive change in our communities and our world.
Since assuming office as President of the General Assembly for the 69th session, I have underscored the importance of putting people at the centre of everything we do. Together, Member States, Observers and stakeholders are formulating an ambitious post-2015 development agenda, which seeks to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development, to be adopted by world leaders in September.
Last week, we adopted the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, which will support the implementation of the new agenda. And in December, a new universally binding agreement on climate change should be concluded in Paris to preserve our planet.
We can all be proud of what we have accomplished so far, and should continue to be inspired by the spirit and legacy of Nelson Mandela, as we address the many challenges facing humanity.
This year’s Nelson Mandela Day observance is indeed a special occasion. For the first time here at the United Nations, we are bestowing the inaugural Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize.
The Prize was designed to honour and recognize the outstanding achievements of two distinguished individuals, one female and one male, who have dedicated their lives to the service to humanity, particularly in the promotion of reconciliation, social cohesion and community development.
The efforts of the awardees ought to have made a significant difference to the lives of others as inspired by the life and values of Mr. Nelson Mandela. Such efforts should also be in line with the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
This unique Prize will serve as an inspiration to all who work tirelessly to contribute to and improve the well-being of others, and in so doing, promote the values of the United Nations.
It is therefore my great pleasure to welcome Dr. Helena Ndume of Namibia and H.E. Jorge Fernando Branco Sampaio of Portugal as the inaugural Laureates of the first ever United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize. Both laureates have been influential leaders in their communities.
In her work as an ophthalmologist, Dr. Ndume has treated tens of thousands suffering from blindness and eye-related illness. To date, she has helped treat more than 30,000 Namibians with eye surgery and intraocular lens implants to address blindness, cataracts and myopia, at no cost to the patients.
H.E. Jorge Sampaio has shown a longstanding commitment to freedom, human rights, democracy and peace.
He worked throughout the 1960s and 70s to defend political prisoners,   and later served as a member of the European Human Rights Commission of the Council of Europe, among many responsibilities he has held. From 1996 to 2006 he served as President of Portugal, during which he focused on several international issues, including HIV-AIDS, drugs and children’s rights.
On behalf of the General Assembly, I congratulate both Laureates on their well-deserved selection as the first recipients of the Nelson Mandela Prize. I thank the Members of the Selection Committee, the distinguished Permanent Representatives of Algeria, Latvia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Sweden and South Africa, in ex-officio capacity, for a job well done. I also convey my appreciation to the Department of Public Information for their support throughout the selection process.
The United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize that the Laureates will shortly receive should inspire them, and all of us, to make our contribution, in different ways, in the service of humanity.
Let us continue to be inspired and guided by Nelson Mandela’s poignant and powerful message when he said:  “We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference”.

I thank you for your attention.

 Ms. Susana Malcorra, Under-Secretary-General and Chef de Cabinet, representing the Secretary-General,

 

18 July is Nelson Mandela International Day. UN File Photo

FORUM : Nelson Mandela International Day - July 18



EVENTS : Nelson Mandela International Day 2015 Commemorative Events 

• UN Secretary-General's message to opening of UN Food Garden on Nelson Mandela International Day (Delivered by Ms. Susana Malcorra, Chef de Cabinet)
• Statement by the President of the 69th session of the General Assembly
• Press Release: United Nations Awards First-Ever Mandela Prize, Marking Commemorative Day
• Media Advisory

New York : Mandela Prize 

The UN General Assembly will hold a special meeting to mark Nelson Mandela International Day.
For the first time, the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize, established by General Assembly resolution 68/275 of 6 June 2014, will be awarded to the 2015 laureates. The award ceremony will be part of the annual commemoration and is planned to take place on 24 July 2015 at the Trusteeship Council Chamber in New York.

 In New York, UN staff volunteers are partnering with GreenThumb, East New York Farms, and the UN Food Garden, to plant seedlings, pull weeds, and water plant beds in community gardens across the city.

Geneva

In Geneva, the Permanent Mission of South Africa and Serve the City Geneva are mobilizing volunteers to help the poor and marginalized in the city.

World Youth Skills Day 2015, July 15th.

世界青年技能日, 7月15日.
 Всемирный день молодежи Навыки, 15 июля.
World Youth Skills Day , 15 July.
 Día Mundial de las Habilidades de la Juventud, 15 de Julio.
Journée mondiale des compétences des jeunes,15 juillet.

مهارات اليوم العالمي للشباب، 15 يوليو

Secretary-General Poses for Selfie at Event in Brussels with a group of young people.Credit :UN Photo (Evan Schneider)

United Nations Secretary-General Message for the World Youth Skills Day 2015.

I welcome this first-ever commemoration of World Youth Skills Day. On July 15th each year, the international community will underscore the value of helping young people to upgrade their own abilities to contribute to our common future.
While overall more young people have greater educational opportunities than in the past, there are still some 75 million adolescents who are out of school, denied the quality education they deserve and unable to acquire the skills they need.
We may see an understandably frustrated youth population – but that picture is incomplete. With the right skills, these young people are exactly the force we need to drive progress across the global agenda and build more inclusive and vibrant societies.
Skills development reduces poverty and better equips young people to find decent jobs. It triggers a process of empowerment and self-esteem that benefits everyone. And it strengthens youth capacity to help address the many challenges facing society, moving us closer to ending poverty hunger, injustice and environmental degradation.
On this Day, I call for investing politically and financially in developing the skills of young people so that they can help build a more just and sustainable future for all.

Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General.

Statement by the President of the 69th session of the General Assembly for the World Youth Skills Day 2015.

Delivered by H.E. Maria Cristina Perceval, Permanent Representative Argentina, on behalf of President Kutesa

Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of His Excellency, Sam K. Kutesa, President of the 69th session of the General Assembly.
Excellencies,
Today, we have gathered for the first time to mark World Youth Skills Day. This event is indeed timely, as this year we have been presented a critical opportunity to create a better future for people and the planet.
This September, we will gather in New York to adopt an ambitious and transformative post-2015 development agenda. This week leaders are also meeting in Addis Ababa to put in place adequate means of implementation for the future development framework. Furthermore, in December, we will gather in Paris to adopt a new, universally-binding climate change agreement.
As we pursue efforts to promote sustainable development while also seeking to protect the well-being of the planet, considerations for the needs and aspirations of the youth should be taken into account.
Excellencies,
The issues affecting youth are also taking centre stage in other fora this year including as we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY). In an event marking that milestone last May, many participants noted the important strides made in addressing youth development over the last two decades, although many challenges remain, including access to education and unemployment.
The High-level Event on the “Demographic Dividend and Youth Employment”, which I convened last month, provided another occasion to explore the many challenge and opportunities facing today’s youth. Throughout that event, special emphasis was put on human capital development, with specific calls to provide young people with quality education, training and skills development.
Beyond educational, entrepreneurial and vocational skills, there is also a need to enhance the core skills of the youth, including, interpersonal skills, innovation, creativity, values and attitudes all of which will help foster a generation of young people that contributes to the well-being of their homes, their communities, as well as their workplaces.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As we mark this first World Youth Skills Day, we are afforded an opportunity to reflect on the important role of young people around the world and identify ways to maximize their potential.
Indeed, the youth are no longer just the leaders of tomorrow, but are valued partners today as we seek to put the world on a course toward a better, more sustainable future.
I thank you.

 Maria Cristina Perceval, Permanent Representative Argentina

Did you know... 

With the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and UNESCO’s Education for All (EFA) campaign coming to their term in 2015, more young people than ever around the world have gained access to education. This has sparked career expectations and raised hopes for a better future in many young people. Education, skills and jobs are rated high in people’s priorities for development: in the global My World 2015 Survey, young people up to the age of 30 across all regions and education levels rated education as their number one priority, with better job opportunities being the third priority. Yet globally,

• youth represent 25% of the total working age population but make up 40% of the unemployed (ILO, FAO, 2013).
• almost 74 million young people (aged 15 to 24) were looking for work in 2014 (ILO, 2015).
• two thirds of youth in developing economies are without work, not studying, or engaged in irregular or informal employment (UNDP, 2014).
• never before have there been so many young people on the planet: 1.8 billion people are aged 10 to 24 (UNFPA, 2014).
• the working-age population is poised to more than double in the least-developed countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa between 2015 and 2050 (UNFPA, 2014).
• the youth unemployment situation is common to all regions in the world and is happening despite improvements in average educational attainment (ILO, 2015).

Never again is there likely to be such potential for economic and social progress. How we meet the needs and aspirations of young people will define our common future. Skilling people through relevant and good-quality vocational education is seen as a factor that can really make a difference in the global youth employment crisis. Yet weak governance structures are key factors holding back the increase of employment opportunities for youth and the sustainable development of countries and economies.

 EVENTS :  World Youth Skills Day  Save the date!!


WYSD Event in Bonn

 The United Nations in Bonn will observe the first World Youth Skills Day together with guests from Bonn University, WorldSkills competitors and UN Bonn staff with a panel discussion on “Youth skills for work and life in the post-2015 agenda”.
•When : 15 July 2015
•What time: 16:00
•Where : UN Campus Bonn

World Youth Skills Day 2015

 To raise awareness on the importance of investing in youth skills development, the United Nations General Assembly has decided to celebrate the first World Youth Skills Day (WYSD) on 15 July 2015.  #WYSD2015 – spread the word! Join us in celebrating the first-ever World Youth Skills Day on 15 July 2015!   #WYSD at the United Nations in Bonn

WYSD celebrations coincide with an important year of setting the agenda for the future: a new climate agreement, and the adoption of the Sustainable Development goals are just around the corner. That is why this year’s theme is “Youth skills for work and life in the post-2015 agenda”.

WYSD is in line with the upcoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, which propose two goals on education and skills for employment:

Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.  Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

In this context, the UN is organizing several events at UN offices in Bonn (Germany), New York (USA), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and elsewhere.  

Publications :

• Global Forum on Skills for work and life: post 2015
• Global Employment Trends for Youth 2013

External Links :

• Youth Employment
• Skills for Youth Employment
• The World Bank - Youth Employment
• UNESCO International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training

World Population Day 2015, July 11th.

世界人口日, 7月11日.

Всемирный день народонаселения, 11 июля.

World Population Day, 11 July.

 Día Mundial de la Población,11 de julio.

 Journée mondiale de la population,11 juillet.

اليوم العالمي للسكان، 11 يوليو

2015年：紧急情况下的弱势群体

Тема 2015 года — «Уязвимое население в чрезвычайных ситуациях».

2015 Theme: Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies.

 Lema 2015: Poblaciones vulnerables en situaciones de emergencia.

Thème 2015 : Les populations vulnérables dans des situations d'urgence.

 موضوع عام 2015: الفئات الضعيفة في مواجهة حالات الطوارئ

United Nations Secretary-General’s Message for the World Population Day 2015.

Not since the end of the Second World War have so many people been forced from their homes across the planet. With nearly 60 million individuals having fled conflict or disaster, women and adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable. Violent extremists and armed groups are committing terrible abuses that result in trauma, unintended pregnancy and infection with HIV and other diseases. Shame and accountability rest squarely on the shoulders of the perpetrators who wage cowardly battles across the bodies of innocents.
These women are far from just victims. They have hopes, plans and the potential to make important contributions to our common future. We must staunchly protect women’s health, including their sexual and reproductive health, and address their needs as a priority in emergency relief operations. At the same time, we must continuously advance women’s human rights in times of both turmoil and calm in order to enable them to help avert conflict, stand strong should it strike, and foster the healing that is so badly needed in war-torn societies.
As the United Nations marks its 70th anniversary this year, let us take strength from our founding mission to give hope and support to the most vulnerable. On this World Population Day, I urge countries to commit to bold results that will make 2015 a time of global action, putting people first so that they help build resilience, peace and sustainable prosperity for generations to come.

Ban Ki-moon

Statement by Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director, UNFPA  for the World Population Day 2015.

A recent United Nations report warns that the number of forcibly displaced people has risen to a record number – almost 60 million at the end of 2014. Among these, most women and adolescent girls face particular threats as a result of the absence of health and other essential services that they need.
Even under normal conditions, reproductive health complications are a leading cause of death and illness among women of childbearing age. In humanitarian situations, an estimated one in five women and adolescent girls are likely to be pregnant. As skilled birth attendance and emergency obstetric care often become unavailable, pregnant women’s and girls’ vulnerability to death and injury is further exacerbated.
Women and adolescent girls also face much greater risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, violence and forced marriage during conflicts and natural disasters. In addition, many women who survive a crisis become heads of household, with the sole responsibility of caring for their children. They often have to overcome immense obstacles to provide health and care for children, the sick, the injured and the elderly, and bear the heaviest burden of relief and reconstruction. As a result, they may neglect their own needs as they care for others.
The complex emergencies we are responding to include protracted conflicts, made worse by poor or failed governance, the consequences of climate change, and the engagement of extremist groups claiming territory, resources and power.
That is why the theme of this World Population Day, “Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies”, is intended to highlight the special needs of women and adolescent girls during conflicts and humanitarian disasters.
One of the priorities of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is to empower and safeguard the well-being of women, adolescent girls, and young people and address their specific needs and concerns. We work closely with governments, the United Nations system, local partners and others on disaster preparedness to ensure that reproductive health is integrated into emergency responses.
UNFPA deploys hygiene kits, obstetric and contraceptive supplies, trained personnel and other support to vulnerable populations.  It also works to ensure the needs of women, adolescent girls and young people are served through both an emergency and the reconstruction phase. Our aim is to ensure that women’s and adolescent girls’ right to sexual and reproductive health is protected and their safety is ensured.
On this World Population Day, we call on the international community to redouble efforts to protect the health and rights of women and girls. We must enable women, adolescent girls and young people to play their full role in peace talks, peace building and recovery, and to ensure that governments comply with international law and bring perpetrators of sexual violence to justice.  By prioritizing health, rights and the full participation of women, adolescent girls and young people in public life, we increase our prospects for a more just, stable and peaceful world.

 Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director, UNFPA

 FORUM : World Population Day - 11 July

 The 2015 Revision of World Population Prospects is the twenty-fourth round of official United Nations population estimates and projections that have been prepared by the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat. The main results are presented in a series of Excel files displaying key demographic indicators for each development group, income group, major area, region and country for selected periods or dates within 1950-2100. A publication labelled Key findings and advance tables, which provide insights on the results of this latest revision, is also presented here today for your convenience.

World Population Prospects - The 2015 revision (Key findings and advance tables)

 

Resources : 

•  2015 Revision of World Population Prospects
•  Marking World Day, UN spotlights plight of vulnerable populations in emergencies.
•  UN projects world population to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, driven by growth in developing countries

International Day of Cooperatives 2015, July 4th.

国际合作社日, 7月4日.

Международный день кооперативов, 4 июля.

International Day of Cooperatives, 4 July.
Día Internacional de las Cooperativas, 4 de julio.

Journée internationale des coopératives, 4 juillet.

 اليوم الدولي للتعاونيات - 4 تموز/يوليه

Тема 2015 года — «Выбираем кооперативы, выбираем равенство»

2015年主题：“选择合作，选择平等”

Theme for 2015: Choose co-operative, choose equality.

Lema de 2015: «Elija cooperativo - elija equidad»

Thème 2015 : « Optez pour les coopératives, optez pour l'égalité »

موضوع 2015: باختيارك التعاونيات تختار المساواة

Choose co-operative, choose equality.

United Nations Secretary-General's Message for the International Day of Cooperatives 2015.

The theme of this year’s observance of the International Day of Cooperatives -- “Choose cooperatives, choose equality” -- highlights the invaluable role of cooperatives in making the vision of a sustainable future a reality for everyone.
Inequality is a fundamental obstacle to development, depriving people of basic services and opportunities to build better lives for themselves and their children, The cooperative model helps meet this challenge. Cooperatives strive to uphold the principles of equality and democratic participation. They are strongly committed to the communities they serve. This business model, built on inclusion and sustainability, offers a pathway toward economic, social and political justice for all.
Research has shown that cooperatives help to lower wage differences between men and women, and to promote greater equality in work and training opportunities. With an estimated one in every six people in the world either a member or client of a cooperative, and some 2.6 million cooperatives employing 12.6 million people, the potential contribution to sustainable development is enormous.
In this crucially important year in which the world will commit itself to an inspiring new development agenda, including a set of sustainable development goals, let us recommit to the cooperative business model and use its many benefits to fulfil our vision of a life of dignity for all.

Ban Ki-moon

Message by ILO Director-General Guy Ryder for the International Day of Cooperatives 2015.
“Choose cooperatives, choose equality" - International Labour Organization (ILO).

I am pleased to join the international community in celebrating the International Day of Cooperatives which this year focuses on the theme "Choose cooperatives, choose equality".
As people-centered, principle driven, member owned businesses cooperatives have a long tradition of promoting equality. Their values of “equality and equity” are translated into members’ equal voting rights and access to the products and services of the cooperative, as well as to an equitable distribution of surpluses. In addition to creating a viable enterprise model that generates productivity and income, cooperatives are well placed to help tackle social inequalities, discrimination and exclusion based on gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and differential abilities.
Not surprisingly, cooperatives have also proved to be effective vehicles for realizing decent work for all. This role of cooperatives has long been recognized in the almost100 years of ILO history. It is reflected in Recommendation No 193 of 2002 on the promotion of cooperatives. The Recommendation on the transition from the informal to the formal economy adopted by the ILO’s International Labour Conference in June 2015 calls on member States to promote cooperatives and other social and solidarity economy units in integrated policy frameworks to facilitate this transition.
In the rural and informal economies we have seen first-hand how women, youth and indigenous peoples are increasing their income and their standard of living by using the cooperative way of working: from a California-based initiative in which marginalized women workers run worker-owned green businesses, to a furniture making cooperative that employs people with disabilities in the Philippines to a Tanzanian cooperative that supports educational expenses of orphans and vulnerable children with significant revenues generated from the sales of their products.
Worker cooperatives and multi-stakeholder cooperatives are rapidly increasing and have provided the means for workers in companies that are going bankrupt, unemployed youth, and laid off public workers to enjoy the prospect of a better future.
In low income communities, cooperatives of housing, tourism and renewable energy can help to achieve an equitable distribution of economic returns. The ILO is examining how cooperative arrangements for the provision of care services can improve the well-being of care workers, care beneficiaries and the community at large. And, as the world of work evolves, the cooperative model can be used to bring technological, social and organizational innovation through pooling of people, knowledge, technology and resources helping to bridge the gaps that perpetuate economic and social inequality.
The ILO looks forward to working more closely with cooperative enterprises to promote cooperative ideals and to expand access to opportunities for decent work, an objective reflected in the renewed partnership agreement signed on 30 June 2015 by the ILO and the ICA and by joint work such as a recent ILO/ICA survey on cooperatives and gender equality .
As the international community moves toward the adoption of the post 2015 global development framework, let us ensure that cooperatives find their place in effective strategies to promote social justice and decent work for all.

Guy Rider, International Labour Organization.

Statement of the International Co-operative Alliance for the 93rd International Co-operative Day and the 21st UN Day of Cooperatives (4 july 2015), Choose co-operative, choose equality.

Equality is a fundamental value that ensures that all people can reap the benefits of economic and social development. Yet, we live in a world that remains rife with inequalities: according to recent data 0.7% of the world population holds 44% of all the wealth, while 70% only holds 3%. Everywhere there are still people discriminated against based on their gender, age, religion, or socio-economic condition among other factors.
Equality has been, since the beginning, a core value of the co-operative movement. By building co-operatives, people all over the world have chosen a democratic model of business that fosters equality.
As early as 1846 Eliza Brierley became the first woman to join, as a member, The Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society at a time when women did not normally own property. But the Rochdale Pioneers rules of 1844 saw no difference between male and female members, setting a standard that was later adopted by co-operatives across the world.

Today, there are more than 2.4 million co-operatives with over 1 billion members – three times more than direct shareholders of investor-owned companies. Furthermore, 250 million people are employed by or organise their livelihood through these co-operatives. The largest 300 co-operatives have combined annual revenues of USD 2.2 trillion – the equivalent of the GDP of the 7th largest economy in the world – and the movement is growing fast, particularly in emerging nations such as Brazil, India and China.

In a co-operative, equality means three things:
1. Membership is open and voluntary – without discrimination on any grounds – and each member has one vote, guaranteeing that the structure and control of the co-operative is equal. Unlike investor-owned companies, in a co-operative equality is a benefit of membership and is not linked to the financial capacity of the individual.
2. A co-operative works to satisfy the needs and aspirations of its members and for the sustainable development of society at large. The role of co-operatives in lifting millions of people out of poverty is undeniable – co-operatives distribute the wealth they create in a fairer and more equal way. As just one example, a co-operative project in Senegal has improved food security for 1 million individuals across 60 rural communities, improving household income by 250% and reducing the instances of underweight children by 35%.
3. While performing their activities, co-operatives offer all individuals – producers, workers, consumers – the opportunity to: pursue their economic needs and aspirations; become better integrated into society; and have access to goods, services and benefits that they would not otherwise have. This culture of equality also allows co-operatives to reflect the diversity of the people they serve.

Whether by developing gender equality; giving opportunities to young people; integrating minorities in the labour market; helping the transition from informal to formal economies; reducing the wage gap; giving economic power to the poor; allowing equal access to fundamental resources like water, energy, education, financial services, and many others, co-operative enterprises demonstrate on a daily basis that there is a choice that can shift the paradigm and can mainstream equality in economic and social development.

Across all sectors of the economy there are examples of co-operatives that make equality possible: credit unions that share their financial benefits directly with their members through higher returns on savings, lower rates on loans, and fewer, lower fees; health co-operatives that provide affordable and accessible health plans to marginalised populations; electrical co-operatives that serve rural areas, ensuring basic access to energy in places where others would not consider service provision and business development; retail consumer-owned co-operatives providing access to affordable, high-quality, and sustainable food such as organic or Fair Trade products; co-operative and mutual insurers that help disadvantaged populations protect themselves against basic risks thus allowing them to perform their activities in a safer, more confident way.

In a context where global challenges such as climate change and food security will increase inequality because they will disproportionally affect the ones that are already in dire situations, the world needs more equality, not less. By diversifying the global economy through the promotion and development of co-operatives, people, governments and society can help change this.
As businesses based on the principle of equality, we call on governments to promote national action and innovation to redress inequalities and we call on the United Nations and the international community to build equality into the heart of its on-going work to set a Post-2015 Development agenda, including a framework to address the challenges and risks of climate change, that takes into account the role and contribution of co-operative enterprises.

The International Co-operative Alliance calls on the co-operative movement to take this opportunity to showcase and promote the different ways co-operative enterprises advance equality

 
Statement 4 July 2015
The International Co-operative Alliance
  « Choose co-operative, choose equality »

FORUM : International Day of Cooperatives - July 5

The aim of this International Day is to:

• Increase awareness on cooperatives;
• Highlight the complementarily of the goals and objectives of the United Nations and the international cooperative movement;
• Underscore the contribution of the movement to the resolution of the major problems addressed by the United Nations;
• Strengthen and extend partnerships between the international cooperative movement and other actors, including governments, at local, national and international levels.

This year, International Co-operative Day, to be celebrated on 4 July, will have the theme of “Choose co-operative, choose equality”.
The co-operative movement presents a unique combination of global reach and needs-based business conduct. Play an important role in poverty reduction by widening ownership and by giving people a voice, both inside their organizations and in society as a whole.



 

Publications on cooperatives

• COPAC publications
•  FAO Publications
• ICA Publications 
• ILO COOP Publications 
• UN Documents & Publications

Resilience of the Cooperative Business Model in Times of Crisis. ILO

We put more time in choosing our shampoo than our economy. Going co-operative is making a choice, and one that creates a more equal world! 'Choose co-operative, choose equality' is the theme of the 2015 International Day of Co-operatives! Find all the info on www.coopsday.coop!