World No-Tobacco Day 2021; May 31

FORUM: Commit to Quit. World No-Tobacco Day 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of tobacco users saying they want to quit. 

Commit to quit today and sign the pledge. Pledge to quit today!

Cerimônia virtual em alusão ao prêmio do Dia Mundial Sem Tabaco.

 The World Health Organization’s 'Commit to Quit’ tobacco campaign has made resources from its Quitting Toolkit freely available to more than a billion tobacco users, less than 5 months into the year-long campaign. WHO launched the campaign to support those millions of tobacco users who are actively taking steps to save their lives, but still need help to succeed. The campaign is currently working directly with 29 focus countries. 

Each country agreed with WHO on selected activities, including, running national awareness campaigns, releasing new digital tools, revising policies, engaging youth, training health workers, opening new cessation clinics, supporting nicotine replacement therapies through WHO partners, establishing national toll-free quit lines, making quitting courses available, and more.

“Smokers have up to a 50% higher risk of developing severe disease and death from COVID-19, so quitting is best thing smokers can do to lower their risk from this coronavirus, as well as the risk of developing cancers, heart disease and respiratory illnesses,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “We urge all countries to play their part by joining the WHO campaign and creating tobacco-free environments that give people the information, support and tools they need to quit, and quit for good.”

“To help tobacco users to commit to be quitters and winners, we are using digital aids to release the WHO Quit Challenge chatbot and Artificial Intelligence digital health worker Florence, and making advocacy material available in 30 languages,” added Dr Rüdiger Krech, Director Health Promotion, WHO. The Quit Challenge gives daily notifications of tips and encouragement for up to 6 months to help people remain tobacco free. It is available for free on WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook Messenger and WeChat. Globally, roughly 39% of men and 9% of women use tobacco. The highest tobacco use rates among men are currently found in the Western Pacific region at 49%, and among women in Europe at 19%.

Director-General’s Tobacco Control Awards

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has given special recognition awards for tobacco control to the Minister of Health and Family Welfare of India, Dr Harsh Vardhan and to the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath, UK. Dr Harsha Vardhan was instrumental in the 2019 national legislation that bans E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs) in India. The Tobacco Control Research Group in UK has worked relentlessly to expose tobacco industry attempts and tactics to weaken, block or delay tobacco control, thereby helping secure policy change nationally and globally.

CAMPAIGN: The World Health Organization supports people quitting tobacco to reduce their risk of severe COVID-19. WHO would like to thank our partners that supported the campaign: Allen Carr’s EasyWay, Amazon Web Services, Cipla, Facebook and WhatsApp, Google, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health, Praekelt.org, Soul Machines Limited, and Viber.

 The campaign focus countries are:  

• Arab Republic of Egypt
• Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
• Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
• Federal Republic of Germany                             
• Federal Republic of Nigeria
• Federative Republic of Brazil
• Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
• Islamic Republic of Iran 
• Islamic Republic of Pakistan
• Kyrgyz Republic
• People’s Republic of Bangladesh
• People’s Republic of China, 
• Republic of India
• Republic of Indonesia
• Republic of Kazakhstan
• Republic of Kenya
• Republic of the Philippines, 
• Republic of Poland
• Republic of Senegal
• Republic of South Africa
• Republic of Suriname
• Republic of Turkey
• Republic of Uzbekistan
• Republic of the Sudan
• Russian Federation
• Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
• United Mexican States
• United States of America
• Ukraine

 

Events

World No Tobacco Day 2021: Awards 2021 Brazil
1 June 2021 14:00 – 15:00 Brazil Time

World No Tobacco Day 2021 Brazil: Commit to Quit Smoking
31 May 2021 13:00 – 14:00 Brazil Time

Commit to Quit: 100 reasons to quit tobacco. 100 reasons to adopt tobacco legislation
31 May 2021 11:00 – 12:30 CET

World No Tobacco Day 2021: Launch of “Commit to Quit!” Marathon

28 May 2021 11:00 – 12:30 CET

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2021, May 29th

 

FORUM: Leveraging the power of youth for peace and security; International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2021.  

This year, the challenges and threats faced by our peacekeepers are even greater than ever as they, like people around the world, are having to cope not only with the COVID-19 pandemic but also the continued requirement to support and protect the people in the countries in which they are based.
The theme for this year’s Day is "The road to a lasting peace: Leveraging the power of youth for peace and security."
Today, tens of thousands of young peacekeepers (between the ages of 18 and 29 years) are deployed around the world and play a major role in helping the missions implement their mandated activities including the protection of civilians.  And UN peace operations -- in line with a series of Security Council resolutions (2250, 2419 and 2535) -- are increasing their collaboration with youth and youth groups to help build sustainable peace and implement their mandates on the ground.

Follow the conversations #ServingForPeace .

Are you interested in becoming a peacekeeper? Our peacekeepers come from the 193 U.N. Member States and are recruited with a broad range of backgrounds.

Statement by the U.N.Secretary-General on International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2021

The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers honors the more than one million women and men who have served on the frontlines of conflict and the more than 4,000 who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Their service and sacrifices will never be forgotten.

I express my deep gratitude to the 85,000 civilian, police and military personnel currently deployed in some of the world’s most challenging hotspots to protect the vulnerable and help to build peace. Despite the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, as well as the risk of infection, these men and women have pursued their mission while also supporting local authorities in the fight against COVID-19. I offer sincere condolences to the families of peacekeepers who have fallen victim to this terrible disease.

This year’s observance focuses on the central question of youth, peace and security. In every country where our peacekeepers work, peace can only be achieved with the active participation of young people. The world needs to do far more to address their needs, amplify their voices and ensure their presence at decision-making tables.

Our Missions play an important role in protecting and supporting young people, in particular young women and girls, to reduce violence and sustain peace. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, MONUSCO is working with youth who are vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups, to provide viable and sustainable alternatives to violence. In South Sudan, the inclusion of youth groups in peace processes has helped strengthen relations between subnational and national actors. In the Central African Republic and in Mali, MINUSCA and MINUSMA have worked closely with youth representatives to increase voter turnout in recent elections.

One of our greatest strengths is our own young peacekeepers, in particular young women peacekeepers who contribute every day to debunking deeply entrenched gendered stereotypes and inspire young women and girls to seek non-traditional paths and opportunities.

United Nations peacekeeping helps nurture peace in some of the world’s most dangerous places. Today and every day, we salute the dedication and bravery of our peacekeepers in helping societies turn away from war and towards a safer, more stable future.

António Guterres

 

Dag Hammarskjöld Medal Awards

• List of Personnel to be Posthumously Awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal on 27 May 2021

International Day of Vesak 2021; May 26rd

 Forum: ''May it bring peace and happiness to all' International Day of Vesak 2021.

"Vesak", the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May, is the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world. It was on the Day of Vesak two and a half millennia ago, in the year 623 B.C., that the Buddha was born. It was also on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha attained enlightenment, and it was on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha in his eightieth year passed away.

The United Nations General Assembly, by its resolution 54/115 of 1999, recognized internationally the Day of Vesak to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made for over two and a half millennia and continues to make to the spirituality of humanity.

 This day is commemorated annually at the UN Headquarters and other UN offices, in consultation with the relevant UN offices and with permanent missions, which also wish to be consulted.

International Day to End Obstetric Fistula 2021, May 23th

 FORUM: Women's rights are human rights! End fistula now! International Day to End Obstetric Fistula 2021.

it is important to call on the international community to use the Day to significantly raise awareness and intensify actions towards ending obstetric fistula, as well as urging post-surgery follow-up and tracking of fistula patients.

The so-called “orange manual” has long been the only authoritative, gold-standard guide to the holistic, comprehensive and “bigger picture” aspects of eliminating obstetric fistula (including programming, policy, prevention, treatment, social reintegration and more). The original (2006) version of the manual has now been updated with the latest evidence, strategies, tools and resources.MANUAL

International Day for Biological Diversity 2021, May 22nd.

More than ever before, we are aware of the effects of our unsustainable consumption and production on the natural world that sustains us and all life on this planet. We are using up the equivalent of 1.6 earths to maintain our current way of life and this cannot go on.

UNEP supports local, national and global action to end biodiversity loss; it supports countries to monitor and manage their biodiversity, amplifies scientific warnings of the effect humans are having on ecosystems and biodiversity, works with business and investment to drive nature-positive investments and encourages decision-makers to view nature as an asset.

This is a critical year for biodiversity. The UN Biodiversity Conference, rescheduled to take place in October in China, offers an opportunity to ensure we take better care of the natural systems that sustain all life on this planet.

The Conference, known as COP15, will be the biggest biodiversity summit in a decade and aims to agree on a new set of goals for nature over the next decade through the Convention on Biological Diversity post-2020 framework process.

World Environment Day on June 5 marks the official launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a 10-year drive to galvanize all sectors of global society to become part of #GenerationRestoration and halt and reverse the degradation of our life-support systems.

Ahead of the launch of the UN Decade, keep up-to-date on everything related to biodiversity with UNEP’s Spotlight on nature and biodiversity.

FORUM: We are part of the solution for nature - International Biodiversity Day 2021, Join #GenerationRestoration.

What is the United Nations Environmeng Programme (UNEP) doing to support biodiversity? Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and UNEP Executive Director, answers this and more in her 2021 video message for the International Day for Biological Diversity, which happens every 22nd of May. “The challenges we face on the planet are so acute that we don’t have the luxury of waiting for someone else to step up and take action. We are all part of the solution.”
This is UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen’s message ahead of the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22.

                       

Whether you live ...

in the city

in the country

in the forest

or on the coast

... we are all part of nature!

The #COVID19 pandemic has shown that the world needs to work together to resolve our common challenges. We all can be part of the solution #ForNature and people.

CAMPAIGN: For the International Day for Biological DiversityDay on 22 May, let's commit to taking action #ForNature and protecting the biodiversity we all depend on. Get involved with United Nations Biodiversity Restoring ecosystems brings stunning benefits #ForNature. And each of us can be part of the #GenerationRestoration by taking action. Learn how you can make a difference!

World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2021; May 21st

FORUM: " Culture for Sustainable Development''. World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2021.

 Throughout lockdowns all over the world, artists and cultural professionals were essential workers - for our well-being. Online concerts, music, film, books, art classes, and dance gave us the strength and the resilience we needed to face an uncertain tomorrow. And despite all of this, we are experiencing a cultural emergency, today, with millions of creative workers and artist unemployed or underemployed.

CAMPAIGN: Add your #Voices4Culture and join us [LIVE NOW] at the High-level event on #Culture4Development.

                   

International Tea Day 2021, May 21st

 FORUM: Tea: Resilient; Sustainable; Healthy, From Field to Cup. International Tea Day 2021.

Re-emphasizing the call from the Intergovernmental Group on Tea to direct greater efforts towards expanding demand, particularly in tea-producing countries, where per capita consumption is relatively low, and supporting efforts to address the declining per capita consumption in traditional importing countries. Join the conversation on twitter by using the hashtags  #Tea or  #InternationalTeaDay.

CAMPAIGN

1.  Raising awareness of its importance in fighting hunger and poverty.
2. Drinking Tea for its Health benefits

Key messages

• Tea production and processing represent a source of livelihoods for millions of families, including millions in least developed countries.
• Tea export earnings help to finance food import bills, supporting the economies of major tea-producing countries.
• The specific agro-ecological conditions where tea thrives occur in areas which are highly vulnerable to climate change.

• Global trade in 2020 was affected by logistics issues and measures imposed to contain COVID-19.

• Increasing in-home consumption of tea more than offset declining out-of-home consumption in many instances.
• During the first weeks of lockdown, in home tea sales surged, increasing by 75 percent in some consuming countries.
• In order to ensure benefits for both people and the environment, the tea value chain must be sustainable at all stages, from field to cup.

Tea has been with us for a long time. There is evidence that tea was consumed in China 5,000 years ago.Throughout the years, the aroma of their millenary tea varieties has made its way into the hearts and minds of many tea drinkers around the world, one leaf at a time.

Tea per capita consumption increased by 2.8 percent per year over the last decade.

Tea consumption can bring health benefits and wellness due to the beverage's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and weight loss effects. It also has cultural significance in many societies.

Tea production and trade contribute to livelohoods; export earnings food security and incomes 

Moreover, there is an urgent need to raise public awareness of the importance of tea for rural development and sustainable livelihoods and to improve the tea value chain to contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Tea thrives in bery specific agro-ecological conditions and in certain environments which today are often impacted by climate change.

Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns, with more floods and droughts, are already affecting yields, tea product quality and prices, lowering incomes and threatening rural livelihoods. These climate changes are expected to intensify, calling for urgent adaptation measures. In parallel, there is a growing recognition of the need to contribute to climate change mitigation, by reducing carbon emissions from tea production and processing.

Report of the Working Group on Climate Change

The FAO Intergovernmental group on tea leads multilateral efforts to support the world tea economy.

The United Nations General Assembly decided to designate 21 May as International Tea Day in order to promote and foster collective actions in favour of the sustainable production and consumption of tea.

World Bee Day 2021, May 20th

 FORUM:  "Bee engaged, save the bees"  World Bee Day 2021

Our ecosystem and 1/3 of the world’s food production depend on #bees & other pollinators, which are today under threat from human activities. Although farmers & policymakers play a pivotal role in safeguarding pollinators, we can all help

Aware of the problems facing beekeepers worldwide. Bee population decline at an alarming rate, with many commercial and hobby beekeepers reporting higher Bee colony losses than ever before. Beekeeping can be an expensive hobby, and costs of hive losses increase business overheads making it harder for commercial beekeepers to stay in business.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2021; May 17th

Digital transformation is about improving each citizen’s experience and changing the way we do business. It improves quality of life and enhances people’s wellbeing, while ultimately aiming to meet UnitedNations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Factors driving these changes range from increasingly diverse technologies to new business models, aiming to deliver excellence through services that are personalized, paperless, cashless and mobile, as well as based on every customer’s informed consent.

From Digital Transformation Centres in the Dominican Republic to delivering life-saving information amid COVID-19 in Niger to green digital responses to COVID-19 in Slovenia, digital technologies are driving development and spurring socioeconomic transformation. ITU reports regularly about digital transformation initiatives around the world. Check out the latest stories Search — My ITU

FORUM: What’s next? Everyone has a part to play We must all work together to bring everyone, everywhere online. 

WHAT TO DO?

Member States can: • Continue leveraging telecommunications/ICTs by developing digital policies and strategies to adapt and respond timely and effectively to different challenges that may occur. • Report national progress with special focus on the targets that particularly contribute to digital transformation in the framework of the Connect 2030 Agenda, by providing data and statistics, as appropriate, as well as initiatives to be included in the Connect 2030 Agenda microsite. 

Sector Members, Associates and Academia can: • Continue to facilitate cooperation and partnership in areas such as innovation, infrastructure, investment and capacity development to advance digital transformation for all and achieve the Connect 2030 Agenda. • Share their technology-driven strategies with the world, considering the possible opportunities and/or challenges of digital transformation, and how these challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can be used as an opportunity to connect all. 

Media can: • Tell stories about how digital transformation is benefiting citizens, consumers and society. • Hold governments accountable, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of current policies, strategies and plans, identifying policy gaps and describing new challenges to address amid the rapid evolution of technologies. • Tell exciting stories — through talk shows, interviews, radio debates and social media campaigns — about how governments, companies or people are making a difference.

All stakeholders can: • Identify a tangible problem — within your family, your school, your university, your workplace, your network or your community — and take action. • Raise awareness of our key WTISD 2021 theme, Accelerating digital transformation in challenging times. • Reflect how ITU responds and adapts to new challenges through ICTs. • Enhance cooperation with governments, business communities, United Nations bodies, civil society and other stakeholders to accelerate digital transformation. • Reinforce the importance of developing digital strategies and other technology-driven initiatives. • Share your story on social media to inspire others. • Consider both the opportunities and the challenges of digital transformation while seeking timely and effective answers to broader global challenges. • Share with ITU your expertise, guidelines, lessons learned, success stories, case studies, good practices, solutions, publications, and policies put in place to better meet future challenging times.

ITU is united in connecting the world. Our Connect 2030 Agenda contributes to the UN Decade of Action to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and SDG9 in particular: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. Digital technologies, and the work of ITU, are vital to achieve all 17 SDGs. ITU’s Connect 2030 Agenda includes key goals and targets related to digital transformation.

EVENTS: WTISD 2021 will take place virtually in the framework of the World Summit on the Information Society Forum 2021 (WSIS).

The event will address the importance of enhancing collaboration and cooperation across countries and sectors and showcase how governments, companies and academia can accelerate digital transformation through telecommunication/ICT in and for future challenging times. Related events within the WSIS Forum 2021 will address digital transformation in challenging times.

Register for WSIS events.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2021 (WTISD) has been celebrated annually every 17 May since 1969 to mark the founding of ITU and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865.