Sunday 23 October 2016

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, August 30th.

 
 


30 August
 
The classic image of a victim of enforced disappearance is that of a person being deprived of liberty, taken to a secret place of detention, and being kept there without any further contact with the outside world. Yet victims of enforced disappearances are also the parents, children, partners or friends of those who have disappeared; anguished women and men desperately seeking any information, even if only a clue, that will lead them to their loved ones.
According to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, a victim is also “any individual who has suffered harm as the direct result of an enforced disappearance”. With the support of their communities, human rights defenders, and non-governmental organizations, these victims seek and demand adequate responses from the authorities. They have a right to know the truth regarding the circumstances of these disappearances, the progress and results of any investigations, and ultimately, the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones.
All States have an obligation to investigate, prosecute and punish enforced disappearances, as well as to provide redress to its victims. However, victims often face a lack of responsiveness or outright hostility from the authorities to which they reach out. The Committee on Enforced Disappearances and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the two main United Nations expert mechanisms in this realm, have received accounts of reprisals such as arbitrary arrests, threats, and intimidation against relatives, or against the human rights defenders, lawyers, and non-governmental organizations that support them.
On this International Day, I call on States to acknowledge that family members and friends of the disappeared are also victims, and to guarantee their right to full protection from any form of reprisals. I also urge all Member States to sign, ratify or accede to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which includes specific provisions against the ill-treatment or intimidation of witnesses, relatives, and persons participating in the investigation of enforced disappearances.
Let us all show solidarity with the victims and their relatives as they strive to realize their right for truth and justice.
 
Ban Ki-moon
 
FORUM: International Day of the Disappeared on August 30
Hundreds of thousands of people have vanished during conflicts or periods of repression in at least 85 countries around the world.
 
 
 
 
News :
 
“Every minute counts” – UN experts raise alarm over short-term enforced disappearances International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances - Tuesday 30 August 2016
GENEVA (26 August 2016) – Two United Nations expert groups on enforced disappearances called on States worldwide to prevent and eradicate enforced disappearances, including short-term enforced disappearances, and to ensure that relatives of persons deprived of their liberty are informed accurately and promptly of their detention.
Speaking ahead of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the Committee on Enforced Disappearances and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances also expressed their concern at allegations of intimidation and reprisals against victims of enforced disappearances and those who report their cases.
“There is no time limit, no matter how short, for an enforced disappearance to occur. Every minute counts when a person is put outside the protection of the law. And when a person is disappeared, every anguished minute spent by his or her relatives without news of that person is a minute too long.
Reports and complaints have been received of people being briefly detained by State authorities, who then refuse to acknowledge their detention, nor allow them to make contact with their family members or their counsel, depriving them temporarily of any kind of legal protection.
Under these circumstances, and whatever their duration, these detentions amount to enforced disappearances, for which the States concerned bear international responsibility. 
States have the obligation to disclose the whereabouts of persons who are deprived of their liberty; to hold them in officially recognized places of detention; and to promptly provide accurate information on their detention to their family, their counsel, or other persons with a legitimate interest.
The relatives of persons who have disappeared have the right to know the truth regarding the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones. Unfortunately, their claim for truth and justice often gives rise to intimidation and reprisals. We have received worrying reports of acts of retaliation against relatives, witnesses and human rights defenders who report cases of enforced disappearances to the authorities, or who bring them to the attention of the Working Group or the Committee.
As we commemorate the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, we encourage all victims and their relatives to continue engaging with the UN human rights mechanisms* and to make use of the avenues available against any form of intimidation and reprisal. These include the San José Guidelines against intimidation and reprisals adopted by the treaty bodies, and the framework for action on alleged acts of intimidation and reprisal, adopted by the Special Procedures mandate holders to strengthen their ability to provide a systematic and coordinated response to this phenomenon.
We also reiterate our call to all States to ratify or accede to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, as a fundamental first step towards the prevention, and the ultimate termination, of the inadmissible practice of enforced disappearances.”



(*) How to submit urgent actions:
To the Committee on Enforced Disappearances:
To the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances:
Guidelines against Intimidation or Reprisals (“San José Guidelines”)
Special Procedures framework on addressing reprisals on enforced disappearances :
 
 


#ARTICLE7 on Enforced Disappearances
 
 
 

International Day Against Nuclear Tests 2016, August 29

International Day Against Nuclear Tests, 29 August.
Día Internacional contra los Ensayos Nucleares, 29 de agosto.
Journée internationale contre les essais nucléaires, 29 août.
禁止核试验国际日, 8月29日.
Международный день действий против ядерных испытаний, 29 августа.
اليوم الدولي لمناهضة التجارب النووية, 29 آب/أغسطس


August 29

Message by the President of the United Nations General Assembly on the International Day against Nuclear Tests 2016, August 29th

Through its resolution 64/35, the General Assembly designated 29 August as the International Day against Nuclear Tests. It was on this day, 25 years ago, that the Semipalatinsk nuclear weapon test site in Kazakhstan, one of the largest nuclear weapon test sites in the world, was closed. To mark this 25th anniversary and to contribute to the call of Resolution 64/35 to enhance awareness and education about the effects of nuclear test explosions and the need for their cessation, I will convene an informal plenary meeting on 31 August 2016,from 10:00 to 13:00, in the Trusteeship Council Chamber (the programme of the event will be circulated in due course). This year we are also marking the 20th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the 10th anniversary of the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone treaty. The CTBT helps to prevent nuclear explosions that would cause unimaginable damage to the environment and human health. It must also be seen, however, as an important tool in our endeavour to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. In this regard I would also like to add my voice to the call to the states that have not yet done so to sign and ratify CTBT to enable its entry into force. In addition, moratoriums on nuclear testing have had a positive impact on the international security environment. Tests conducted by the only violator in this century were strongly condemned by the international community and I join in that condemnation. Finally, this day we should also remind ourselves of the need for continued systematic and sustained efforts to reduce nuclear weapons globally and to fulfil the ultimate objective - general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control. After all, the Iranian nuclear deal with the international community demonstrates that if there is political will, there are solutions.
 
H.E. Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, President of the United Nations General-Assembly.
 

 
Statement by the U.N.Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon on the International Day Against Nuclear Tests 2016, August 29th.
 
For nearly a decade as United Nations Secretary-General, I have witnessed many of the worst problems in the world as well as our collective ability to respond in ways that at times seemed impossible. Our ambitious new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change have demonstrated the power of political will to break longstanding deadlocks. On this International Day against Nuclear Tests, I call on the world to summon a sense of solidarity commensurate with the urgent need to end the dangerous impasse on this issue. Today marks a quarter of a century since the closure of the Semipalatinsk test site in Kazakhstan, ground zero for more than 450 nuclear tests. The victims there are joined by others scattered across Central Asia, North Africa, North America and the South Pacific. A prohibition on all nuclear testing will end this poisonous legacy. It will boost momentum for other disarmament measures by showing that multilateral cooperation is possible, and it will build confidence for other regional security measures, including a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction. When I visited Semipalatinsk in 2010, I saw the toxic damage – but I also witnessed the resolve of the victims and survivors. I share their determination to strive for a world free of nuclear weapons. Since its adoption 20 years ago by the General Assembly, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty has yet to enter into force. Given the catastrophic risks posed by nuclear weapons to our collective human and environmental security – even our very existence – we must reject this stalemate. I urge Member States to act now. Those States whose ratification is required to bring the Treaty into force should not wait for others. Even one ratification can act as a circuit breaker. All States that have not done so should sign and ratify because every ratification strengthens the norm of universality and shines a harsher spotlight on the countries that fail to act. On this Day, I call on all countries and peoples to work for the CTBT’s entry into force as soon as possible so that we may advance toward a nuclear-weapon-free world.
 
Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General.
 
 
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is shown the CTBTO's Operations Centre
Challenges in addressing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and related materials
 
 
News :
 
- Workshops, training and exercises; The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization.

Conférences Audio/Video :


Live broadcasting: International Day Against Nuclear Tests 2016 - United Nations General Assembly, informal meeting and Panel discussion. - 31 Aug. 2016.

- Informal meeting to mark the observance of the International Day against Nuclear Tests. The opening segment will be followed by a moderated panel discussion on the theme “Strengthening the global norm against nuclear tests – CTBT@20”.  Close International Day Against Nuclear Tests - Gerneral Assembly, informal meeting and panel discussionTweet Thumbnail The Week Ahead- starting 29 August 2016 UN Web TV

 
° Mogens Lykketoft, President of the United Nations General Assembly at the informal meeting to mark the observance of the International Day Against Nuclear Tests 2016 . The opening segment will be followed by a moderated panel discussion on the theme “Strengthening the global norm against nuclear tests – CTBT@20”. UN Web TV

° Kim Won-soo, High Representative for United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, on behalf of Secretary-General at the informal meeting to mark the observance of the International Day Against Nuclear Tests 2016.
The opening segment will be followed by a moderated panel discussion on the theme “Strengthening the global norm against nuclear tests – CTBT@20”. UN Web TV

° CTBTO chief calls on world to say "never" to nuclear testing

The endeavour towards a world free of nuclear testing is “all about what we want to prepare for the future generation,” according to Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). In an interview with the UN News Centre, to mark the International Day Against Nuclear weapons testing (observed by the UN General Assembly today, 31 August, 2016), Dr. Zerbo highlighted the world's technical and political achievements since the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996. Decrying the fact that the Treaty is yet to be ratified by eight countries, the Executive Secretary urged the international community to mobilise political will in expediting the Treaty’s entry into force. UN Web TV #IDANT
 
 
Events :


Observance  in 2016.
 


 
The Meeting is convened by H.E. Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, President of the United Nations General Assembly.

Date: Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m....
Venue: Trusteeship Council, United Nations Headquarters


Opening Statements by:
•H.E. Mogens Lykketoft, President of the General Assembly
• Message on behalf of the Secretary-General to be delivered by Mr. Kim Won-soo, Under-Secretary General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
•H.E. Kairat Abdrakhmanov, Permanent Representative of Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations
High-Level Panel on “STRENGTHENING THE GLOBAL NORM AGAINST NUCLEAR TESTS – CTBT@20”.
The official Opening Ceremony will be followed by a High-Level Interactive Panel on the above theme. The distinguished experts will reflect on the progress made to date, current and emerging challenges, and opportunities to strengthen the global norm against nuclear tests.
Moderator
H.E. Cristian Istrate, Chair of the CTBT Prep Com, Vienna
Speakers
•Mr. Kim Won-soo, Under Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
•Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary, Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
•H.E. Amatlain Elizabeth Kabua, Permanent Mission of the Marshall Islands to the United Nations
•H.E. Laura Elena Flores Herrera, Permanent Representative of the Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations
•Mr. Randy Rydell, Mayors for Peace
The panel will be followed by observations and questions from Member States and observers.
Entry
The Informal Meeting is open to all diplomats, think-tanks, the academic community, civil society and the media. Those without a UN Grounds Pass interested in these events should kindly contact Rsvpkzevents@gmail.com or tel.: 1 (212) 230-1900, ext. 301.

 

Wednesday 17 August 2016

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition 2016, August 23.

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition , August 23.



The Slave Route 1994-2014 - The Road Travelled

Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition 2016, August 23rd.

In the night of 22 to 23 August 1791, men and women, torn from Africa and sold into slavery, revolted against the slave system to obtain freedom and independence for Haiti, gained in 1804. The uprising was a turning point in human history, greatly impacting the establishment of universal human rights, for which we are all indebted.
The courage of these men and women has created obligations for us. UNESCO is marking International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition to pay tribute to all those who fought for freedom, and, in their name, to continue teaching about their story and the values therein. The success of this rebellion, led by the slaves themselves, is a deep source of inspiration today for the fight against all forms of servitude, racism, prejudice, racial discrimination and social injustice that are a legacy of slavery.
The history of the slave trade and slavery created a storm of rage, cruelty and bitterness that has not yet abated. It is also a story of courage, freedom and pride in newfound freedom. All of humanity is part of this story, in its transgressions and good deeds. It would be a mistake and a crime to cover it up and forget. Through its project The Slave Route, UNESCO intends to find in this collective memory the strength to build a better world and to show the historical and moral connections that unite different peoples.
In this same frame of mind, the United Nations proclaimed the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024). UNESCO is contributing to it through its educational, cultural and scientific programmes so as to promote the contribution of people of African descent to building modern societies and ensuring dignity and equality for all human beings, without distinction.
Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General.
 



The Project's Achievements
 
 

Tuesday 16 August 2016

World Humanitarian Day 2016, August 12.

世界人道主义日, 8月19日.
World Humanitarian Day. 19 August.
Día Mundial de la Asistencia Humanitaria, 19 de agosto.
Всемирный день гуманитарной помощи,19 августа.
Journée mondiale de l'aide humanitaire, 19 août.
اليوم العالمي للعمل الإنساني, 19 آب/أغسطس

 




2016 Theme: One Humanity.
Thème 2016 : Une Humanité.
Tema 2016: Una humanidad.
Тема 2016 года: Единое человечество.
 2016年主题: 同一人类.
موضوع 2016 هو "إنسانية واحدة"



 
A record 130 million people are dependent on humanitarian assistance to survive.  Grouped together, these people in need would comprise the tenth most populous nation on Earth.
These figures are truly staggering, yet they tell only a fraction of the story.  Hidden behind the statistics are individuals, families and communities whose lives have been devastated.  People no different to you and me: children, women and men who face impossible choices every day.  They are parents who must choose between buying food or medicine for their children; children who must choose between school or working to support their families; families who must risk bombing at home or a perilous escape by sea. 
The solutions to the crises that have plunged these people into such desperate hardship are neither simple nor quick.  But there are things we can all do – today, and every day.  We can show compassion, we can raise our voices against injustice, and we can work for change.
World Humanitarian Day is an annual reminder of the need to act to alleviate the suffering.  It is also an occasion to honour the humanitarian workers and volunteers toiling on the frontlines of crises.  I pay tribute to these dedicated women and men who brave danger to help others at far greater risk.
Today, I urge everyone to sign on to the United Nations “World You’d Rather” campaign.  As well as raising awareness and building empathy, the campaign has a concrete goal: to raise money for the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund and to enrol the support of individuals everywhere as Messengers of Humanity.  We need everybody to demand that their societies and governments put humanity first. 
Earlier this year, 9,000 participants gathered in Istanbul for the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit.  World leaders committed to transform the lives of people living in conflict, disaster and acute vulnerability.  They rallied behind the Agenda for Humanity and its pledge to leave no one behind. 
This promise is also at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals.  With their focus on human rights, resilience and poverty eradication, these 17 global goals offer a 15-year plan to reduce needs and vulnerability and promote a world of peace, dignity and opportunity for all.  To succeed on this collective journey, we need everyone to play their part.  Each one of us can make a difference.  On this World Humanitarian Day, let us unite in the name of humanity and show that we cannot and will not leave any one behind.

Ban-Ki moon, United Nations Secretary General.




Forum : World Humanitarian Day- 19 August

Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations.

World Humanitarian Day is a day dedicated to recognize humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives working for humanitarian causes.

What can you do?
WHD is a day for everyone to come together and take action for a safer and more humane world for the communities affected by crisis and the people who devote their lives to helping them. Here are a few ways you can get involved:

  • Learn about the Agenda for Humanity and the five core responsibilities
  • Use the #sharehumanity hashtag to advocate for the Agenda for Humanity and the more than 130 million people affected by crisis
  • Attend or organize a WHD event on 19 August

What we do in Emergencies?

                               
The UN and its humanitarian partners are currently responding to three 'L3' emergencies. This is the global humanitarian system's classification for the response to the most severe, large-scale humanitarian crises.  In addition, OCHA is coordinating the reponse to other critical emergencies.

YEMEN, Humanitarian  Aid Assistance
 Armed conflict has spread rapidly across Yemen since March 2015, with devastating consequences for civilians. Aid groups estimate that 4 in 5 Yemeni require some form of humanitarian protection or assistance. OCHA Yemen>>


Iraq, Humanitarian Aid Assistance

The surge in violence between armed groups and government forces has displaced an estimated 3.4 million people across Iraq and left millions of people in need of assistance. OCHA Iraq>>
Syrian, Humanitarian Aid Assistance
 13.5 million people, nearly half the population, are in need of humanitarian assistance. An estimated 6.6 million people have been displaced inside the country. OCHA Syria>>


Events :
Events will be held around the world on 19 August to honor the work of humanitarian workers and to celebrate the theme of ‘One Humanity’. In New York, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the United Nations headquarters, and a high-level event will be held in the General Assembly Hall.



Digital Campaign :
 In addition a digital campaign will be launched on the day to raise awareness of the impossible choices that people caught in crisis face.



The UN's Agenda for Humanity

The UN's Agenda for Humanity outlines the collective actions that we need to take to create a safer and more humane world.

 This World Humanitarian Day (19 August) support the Agenda for Humanity and ask world leaders to do the same: www.unocha.org/whd2016


#ShareHumanity




Prevent and end conflicts - AGENDA FOR HUMANITY


Photo Exhibitions :
World Humanitarian Day will also feature photo exhibitions and film screenings documenting the lives of those affected by conflict and disaster.

For more information, please visit: www.unocha.org/whd2016.


Humanitarian Aid Delivery by the World Food Programme






News : Commitments to support people affected by crisis and ensure that aid workers can safely and more effectively deliver to those in need. World Humanitarian Summit 2016
Human Security Strategic Plan 2014-2017.
UN Emergency Fund allocates US$50 Million to Neglected Aid Operations to Assist Two Million People in Dire Need
Africa: War On Climate Terror (II) - Fleeing Disasters, Escaping Drought, Migrating

 Related Links :


Publications : Global Humanitarian Overview 2016


"Donor support in the first half of 2016 has enabled us to deliver critical, life-saving relief. It is now incumbent on us to do substantially more to invest in the lives of millions of people bearing the brunt of crises around the globe. Their needs cannot wait."

— Stephen O'Brien
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator


A consolidated appeal to support people affected by disaster and conflict.

For 2016, the humanitarian community needs $20.1 billion to provide aid for 87.6m people.


Emergency Response Plans



RESPONSE PLANS AROUND THE WORLD


RESOURCES
 

  •  Proclamation of the World Humanitarian Day
  •  Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel
  • Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
  • Delivering Humanitarian Aid
  • Humanitarian News and Analysis (IRIN)
  • Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)
  • UN World Food Programme (WFP)
  • UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
  • UN Children's Agency (UNICEF)
  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • Remember the Fallen
  • Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation


  • ReliefWeb Developing Four Mobile Apps
     

    International Youth Day 2016, August 12.

    Международный день молодежи, 12 августа.
    International Youth Day, 12 August.
    Día Internacional de la Juventud, 12 de agosto.
    Journée internationale de la jeunesse, 12 août.
    国际青年日, 8月12日.
     اليوم الدولي للشباب، 12 أغسطس.




    Тема 2016 года — На пути к 2030 году: ликвидация нищеты и достижение ответственного потребления и производства.
    2016 Theme: The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production.
    Tema 2016: El camino hacia 2030: erradicar la pobreza y lograr el consumo y la producción sostenibles
    Thème 2016 - La route vers 2030 : Éliminer la pauvreté et parvenir à des modes de consommation et de production durables
    2016 年主题: 通往2030年之路:消除贫困,实现可持续消费和生产.





    Statement by Ban Ki-moon, U.N. Secretary-General on the occasion of the International Youth Day 2016, August 12th.

    The world’s young people – who make up the largest generation of youth in history – can lead a global drive to break the patterns of the past and set the world on course to a more sustainable future. Young people are directly affected by the tragic contradictions that prevail today: between abject poverty and ostentatious wealth, gnawing hunger and shameful food waste, rich natural resources and polluting industries. Youth can deliver solutions on these issues, which lie at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this first year of that15-year plan for a healthier, safer and more just future, we count on the active engagement of the world’s young people to transform the production and consumption of goods and services so they meet the basic needs and aspirations of the world’s poorest people without overburdening already strained ecosystems. Young people are traditionally at the cutting edge, and today’s youth have more information than any previous generation. Their dynamism, creativity and idealism can combine to shape attitudes toward demand and help create more sustainable industries. Youth are already influencing how the world produces, distributes and consumes while driving green entrepreneurship by designing sustainable products and services. As conscious consumers, young people are at the forefront of a shift toward more fair, equitable and sustainable buying patterns. Youth are strong and effective advocates of recycling, reusing and limiting waste, and they are leading technological innovations to foster a resource-efficient economy. When we invest in youth, they can contribute to new markets, decent jobs, fair trade, sustainable housing, sustainable transport and tourism, and more opportunities that benefit the planet and people. I am proud that the United Nations is actively engaged in supporting young leaders who can carry out the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Goal 12 on sustainable consumption and production patterns. I encourage all young people to become involved in advancing the SDGs and demanding action by their Governments. My Youth Envoy is eager to connect you to our campaigns, which are being carried out across the entire United Nations system. On International Youth Day, I urge others to join this global push for progress. Let us empower young people with the resources, backing and space they need to create lasting change in our world.
     
    Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General.
     

     
    Young people are not only our future -- they are our present. Our planet has never been so young, with 1.8 billion young women and men. They are the most connected, the most outspoken and the most open-minded generation the world has ever seen. They are powerful agents of positive change, essential to taking forward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is not enough to hope for a better tomorrow -- we must act now. Change is underway, and millions of citizens are already transforming the way we produce, consume, behave and communicate. Young people, such as our #YouthofUNESCO sustainable consumption advocate, Ms Lauren Singer, show us the way towards a zero-waste life-style, fitting all of her refuse produced over the past four years into one small jar! This is an inspiration for this year’s celebration -- The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Production and Consumption. There are countless initiatives like this, all giving shape to a new humanism, to new forms of solidarity and citizenship to combat poverty, marginalization and despair. Optimism and confidence do not mean we minimize the challenges ahead. Most young people live today in least developed countries, and shoulder the heaviest burden of conflicts and poverty. There can be no sustainable development if they remain on the side-lines, and I call upon all Member States and UNESCO partners to support their initiatives, to give them voice, to let them grow, to shape together the future of dignity that we are building today.
    Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General


     
     
    Message of the UN Envoy on Youth, Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi, on the occasion of the International Youth Day 2016, August 12th.
     
    Every year on August 12, we celebrate young people everywhere and the tremendous contributions they make to their communities and the world.
    This year, the celebration is even more special given the adoption of the boldest vision for sustainable development in history: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. By adopting these Goals, governments made a commitment to combat climate change, end extreme poverty, and reduce inequalities and injustice everywhere. In the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals, the theme of this year’s International Youth Day is “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production.” The math is simple. Half of the world’s population is under 25 years old. Therefore, young people are not just the beneficiaries of the 2030 Agenda, but rather, they hold the key to its success. Young people are making waves in every field from technology, to art, to sports, to food, to science and innovation, and everything in between. They are offering bold and inspiring solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
    This is true for all 17 SDGs, and it is certainly true for sustainable consumption and production. Youth are inventing energy efficient technologies for our cars; innovative ways to recycle and dispose of goods; and new ways to preserve our water. Imagine the possibilities if we open up more venues for their participation. At the UN, we are actively working to do so. We are determined to engage them in our work. The UN is increasing and strengthening programs and initiatives focused specifically on youth. The objective is to elevate the role of young people in peacebuilding, development, human rights, and humanitarian work. But if there is one thing I have learned it is that, the more we do, the more we realize how much more should be done. With the talents and innovative spirit of young people, we can pave the way to a world where every individual not only survives, but thrives.
    On this International Youth Day, let’s not just celebrate the contributions of young people worldwide, but also commit to invest in their energy and idealism. Let’s unlock this potential. That is our ticket to the future we want and the future we deserve.
     
    Ahmad Alhendawi, United Nations Envoy on Youth.
     


    Statement of UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin on International Youth Day 2016.
     
    UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, celebrates International Youth Day by reaffirming and recognizing the central role of young people in promoting the well-being of their families, communities and nations.
    This year’s theme, “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Production and Consumption,” couldn’t be more relevant and timely. More than 500 million youth worldwide live in poverty, and often cannot afford their basic needs. They lack access to vital resources, and are disproportionately represented amongst the world’s poor. They have the most to gain if we succeed in eradicating poverty, and will have the most to lose if we fail. The good news is that young people are not the problem, as is often thought, but, in fact, they are the solution.
    Last year, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which requires us to balance the needs of present and future generations, create economic growth without destroying natural resources and reduce consumption while enforcing well-being and dignity. To achieve these goals, a fundamental shift is needed. We must make decisions on the allocation of resources while keeping the interests of future generations in mind. We must make investments in social sectors that improve the resilience of individuals and communities. And we must place the fulfilment of human rights at the centre of development.
    Globally, large youth populations represent a historic opportunity to introduce progress and adopt innovative solutions to ignite this change. Essential to this is the realization of young people’s rights to participate in the political, economic and social life of their communities and countries, and to freely make informed choices regarding their bodies, sexuality and reproduction without discrimination, violence or coercion.
    To empower young people means giving them the tools to become even more influential, productive actors in their societies. In order to achieve this, countries need to end all forms of discrimination faced by young people, particularly adolescent girls, such as forced and child marriage and sexual violence, which can result in unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions and HIV infections, and risk derailing their future. Central to these efforts must be the promotion of access to education, health services, including sexual and reproductive health and family planning. These combined interventions are critical in order to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty, strengthen the resilience of populations in the face of all challenges and seize the opportunities of the new economy.
    Young people are already driving innovations in science and technology, making conscious choices that are drastically influencing patterns of consumption and production, and mobilizing to make companies, organizations and governments more socially and environmentally responsible. Where they can get information, technology, financing, mentorship, and platforms for collaboration, young innovators are able to turn their ideas into transformative solutions.
    UNFPA is proud to partner with young people in more than 150 countries and territories around the world to promote their participation and leadership, enabling them to overcome barriers, spearhead innovations and unleash their full potential.
    UNFPA calls on governments, development partners and other influencers to enact policies that promote young people’s development and human rights, and to measure progress across the Sustainable Development Goals that relate to adolescents and youth.
    Young people must be engaged as partners in achieving these goals, as they are the generation that will inherit our planet. An adolescent girl who is 10 years old today will be an adult of 24 in 2030, the target year for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
    We must ensure that her path through adolescence and youth leads to a brighter future for herself, her community and the world – that is paved with rights upheld, opportunities realized and promises fulfilled.
     
    Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA Executive Director.

    Empowered Young women and Young men as partners in achieving gender equality. UN WOMEN
     
     
     
    Increasing prosperity, reducing exploitation, and encouraging new ideas and habits that support sustainability is the message behind the theme for this year’s International Youth Day: “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production.” With more than half the world’s population currently under 30, and a projected rise to 75 per cent over the next decade, young people have tremendous potential in helping to create a sustainable, prosperous and fair future for all. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which guide the road to 2030, are interlinked, so that the implementation of SDG 12, on responsible consumption and production, can help to achieve SDG 1, to reduce poverty. Both of these SDGs go hand in hand with SDG 5, the empowerment of women and girls. An integral part of the conversation around these issues is the barriers to women’s sustainable production practices and participation in the economy. A blog published on Empower Women reported that around 80 per cent of the labour that goes into producing coffee is done by rural women. Many of them are paid just US$1.75 per day, when the fruits of their labours can sell for up to US$240 per kilo. Globally, women make up the majority of those living on less than two dollars a day and, in some regions, account for 81 per cent of the unemployed. Where they do earn a wage, women are paid an average of 24 per cent less than men for the same work. Supporting small and starter businesses to grow not only creates badly needed jobs—it also drives growth and advances shared prosperity. Some 9.34 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) around the world are run by women. Yet, in many countries, women still face challenges that impede their ability to operate and grow their businesses. These barriers include exclusion from male-dominated markets, concentration in less-productive and lower-paying sectors and lack of access to business management skills training. We have the means to change these inequalities through the decisions that we make. As young activist Thabo Mubukwanu told us: “By purchasing from socially conscious companies that support women, I have the power to determine whether my money goes into making my community and the world at large a better place. Rather than spend $1 at a company that produces goods in sweatshops, I can spend it at a company that empowers women by including them at every level of their supply chain. I will know that with every purchase a woman somewhere can have a dignified life.” As individuals, we can all aim to be conscious consumers and encourage decisions that positively influence women’s livelihoods. As business owners, we can provide training and make explicit, fair purchasing and commissioning choices that support women producers, and as governments, we can remove legislative barriers that constrain women’s entrepreneurship and put in place provisions to ensure fair trade practices. Strengthening initiatives to promote women’s economic empowerment, including investing in innovation and skills development for young women and the gender responsive implementation of Agenda 2030, is a key component of UN Women’s youth strategy. In addition, we must educate young people on sustainable use of land, water and natural resources. This will empower them to make purchasing decisions that will encourage companies to re-evaluate their supply chains and integrate sustainability into corporate policies and culture.
     
     
     Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director UN Women.
     

    
    Explore SDG4 Data - Unesco Institute for Statistics

    Forum : International Youth Day is on August 12 each year.

    The theme of the 2016 International Youth Day is “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production”. This year’s Day is about achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It focuses on the leading role of young people in ensuring poverty eradication and achieving sustainable development through sustainable consumption and production.



    
    Toolkit to celebrate International Youth Day


    Events : Events at UN Headquarters, New York.
     
    Join us at UN Headquarters on 12 August 2016 to commemorate International Youth Day 2016 under the theme “The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production.”
    Find more information about the International Youth Day 2016 event.

    Events Around the World
     
    Events to celebrate International Youth Day 2016 will take place all over the world. You can organize an event to celebrate International Youth Day in your community, school, youth club, or workplace. Let us know about your event by sending your planned event or activity for International Youth Day to youth@un.org, and we’ll map it on the IYD World Map of Events.

     
     
     
     
    Youth Video Competition on Climate Change
    Young people can share how they are shaping a more sustainable future and win a trip to the UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech, Morocco. Send your video for the Global Youth Video Competition on Climate Change and win a trip to the ‪#‎COP22. See details on the competition.

    Edit a Thons.
    Wikipedia compiles what represents close to the sum of all human knowledge, and as an effort to ensure women are recognized as part of that sum, on the occasion of the International Youth Day, Empower Women is pleased to announce the launch of the HerStory initiative. Empower Women by UN Women, Wikimedia Foundation, the UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, the UN Inter-agency Network on Youth Development's Working Group on Youth and Gender Equality, and hundreds of volunteer champions are working on enhancing the content on Wikipedia related to women and gender equality to raise awareness, close the gender knowledge gap, and start changing and editing the future. Join HerStory edit-a-thons to contribute, promote and celebrate women of the world. Make sure you going to be an agent of this ‘herstorical’ change.


    News :