World Maritime Day 2021; September 30th

 The theme of the World Maritime Day 2021 is "Seafarers at the core of shipping’s future."

Interactive webinar featuring seafarers discussing shipping's future.


On World Maritime Day 2021, on 30 September, IMO will host a live webinar at 12.00 BST exploring the theme "Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future". In addition to hearing from Secretary General Kitack Lim, attendees will hear from four seafarers about the following topics: diversity, safety, crew change and the environment.

 

The IMO headquarters will be lit blue on World Maritime Day, 30 September 2021, as part of efforts to highlight seafarers and their core role in shipping and its future. Going forward, the IMO building, including the Seafarer Memorial, will be bathed in blue light on each World Maritime Day as a symbolic initiative to unite the maritime community and raise awareness of the vital contribution of shipping to the world.


IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has also extended the invitation to IMO Member States, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations in consultative status to join in this annual initiative by lighting up their most iconic buildings, bridges, maritime ports, ships, monuments, museums and other landmarks on World Maritime Day each year.


Social media participation is encouraged, including via Twitter, to share images using the hashtag #WorldMaritimeDay . Photographs can also be sent to: media@imo.org

International Translation Day 2021; September 30th

Theme: ''UNITED IN TRANSLATION.'' International TranslationDay 2021.

Statement by the President of the International Federation of Translators on International Translation Day 2021; September 30th.

Congratulations to all translators, terminologists and interpreters throughout the world on this very special day. The publication date for this Q3 edition of Translatio was deliberately set for 30 September to coincide with your own celebrations of the brilliant and indispensable work translators, terminologists and interpreters do every day. A world without us is unthinkable! Today is your opportunity to pause for at least a few moments to pat yourself or your peers on the back and to acknowledge the importance of the efforts we make in facilitating communication between individuals, groups or even nations. FIT Council has chosen a very fitting title for this year’s International Translation Day: ‘United in Translation’. As we continue to struggle with the global pandemic and in what are trying times for many of us, it is evident from discussions with our member associations that there is an ever-greater need for national and international translators’ organisations. Put quite simply: we are stronger together! And, as I hinted at in my inaugural poem in Brisbane in 2017, language professionals can hardly be said to be a homogenous group. We come from all walks of life, our appearances differ wildly and, in my experience, we are strongly individualistic. Nevertheless, we stand united: To unite all in the field of translation Is a task bestowed on the Federation: To work together to bring together both region and nation By singing our praises And raising our gazes To highlight the plight of language workers Throughout the globe, Be they women in burqas Or a dude in a suit, Or translators working from their comfortable homes, And those less fortunate in conflict zones. As you will see, this edition of Translatio is filled with important information from FIT and its member associations. I would especially like to thank Argentina’s Carolina Bellino, winner of this year’s International Translation Day poster competition for her beautiful design. A special debt of gratitude also goes to chairperson Annette Schiller and the outgoing board of FIT Europe for the magnificent work they have done over the last four years. FIT’s Regional Centres play a crucial role within FIT and FIT Council wishes the new board every success! Happy reading and stay safe!

 Happy International Translation Day 2021! Kevin Quirk president@fit-ift.org

International Day for Universal Access to Information 2021; September 28th

 

Theme: " The right to know: Building back better with access to information." International Day for Universal Access to Information 2021.

The International Day for Universal Access to Information 2021 highlights the importance of expanding access to information laws, and their implementation worldwide to build back strong institutions for sustainable development and to uphold the vision of information as a public good, as well as to strengthen international cooperation in the field of implementing the right to information as a fundamental right. Furthermore, the global discussions on “building back better” remain context adaptive to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The main objective of the International Day for Universal Access to Information is to accelerate sustainable solutions aimed at reaching the Sustainable Development Goals by mobilizing governments, civil society and people to take ownership and contribute to SDG 16 (Just, Peaceful and Inclusive Societies), as measured by public access to information, particularly in regards to building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Two-day Global Commemorative e-Conference

28 & 29 September 2021
Six discussion panels will be held during a two-day period in recognition that well-crafted Access to Information legislation and its rigorous implementation promotes sustainable development as well as democracy and human rights. The panels target policy makers to promote the mobilization of resources to implement laws through independent, transparent and accountable institutions, established to support and expand public good. They also target professional organizations and civil society to advocate for the existence of and implementation of access to information laws.

World Tourism Day 2021; September 27th

 Theme: "Tourism for Inclusive Growth" World Tourism Day 2021.

Global tourism has reaffirmed its commitment to making the sector a pillar of inclusive growth. At the official World Tourism Day 2021 celebrations in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, political and business leaders united behind a common message of solidarity and determination to ‘leave nobody behind’ as tourism restarts and grows back.

Tourism's role in Inclusive recovery.

International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons 2021; September 26th

The United Nations is supporting events both in New York and Geneva. United Nations Information Centres around the world are encouraged to raise awareness to the observance of International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

Statement by the United Nations Secretary-General on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons 2021; September 26th.

From the very start, addressing the existential threat of nuclear weapons has been central to the work of the United Nations.

In 1946, the very first General Assembly resolution sought “the elimination from national armaments of atomic weapons and of all other major weapons adaptable to mass destruction.”

Seventy-six years later, we have yet to achieve that resolution’s goals.

As we mark this International Day of the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, we face the highest level of nuclear risk in almost four decades.

Nearly 14,000 nuclear weapons are stockpiled around the world. Hundreds are a pushed button away from being launched. And while the total number has been decreasing for decades, states are qualitatively improving their arsenals, and we are seeing worrying signs of a new arms race.

These weapons are not yesterday’s problem. They remain today’s threat. Despite our progress, humanity remains unacceptably close to nuclear annihilation.

There are, however, signs of hope. The decision by the Russian Federation and the United States to extend the New START Treaty and engage in dialogue are welcome steps, as was January’s entry-into-force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

The responsibility now falls to Member States to build on these developments. The Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons provides a window of opportunity for all countries to take practical steps to prevent the use of, and eliminate, these weapons, once and for all.

As a global family, we can no longer allow the cloud of nuclear conflict to shadow our work to spur development, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and end the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now is the time to lift this cloud for good, eliminate nuclear weapons from our world, and usher in a new era of dialogue, trust and peace for all people.

Online Webinars: International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons 2021

'' We Sign for Human Rights " International Day of Sign Languages 2021

Theme: '' We Sign for Human Rights " International Day of Sign Languages 2021

The International Day of Sign Languages is an unique opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users. The 2021 theme, declared by the World Federation of the Deaf, is “We Sign For Human Rights,” highlighting how each of us – deaf and hearing people around the world – can work together hand in hand to promote the recognition of our right to use sign languages in all areas of life.

According to the World Federation of the Deaf, there are more than 70 million deaf people worldwide. More than 80% of them live in developing countries. Collectively, they use more than 300 different sign languages. Sign languages are fully fledged natural languages, structurally distinct from the spoken languages. There is also an international sign language, which is used by deaf people in international meetings and informally when travelling and socializing. It is considered a pidgin form of sign language that is not as complex as natural sign languages and has a limited lexicon.

The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) are organising a webinar on 23 September 2021 with a panel of high-level experts from the WFD, UNOG and State-Parties, to raise awareness of the importance of sign languages. This webinar also aims to guide States Parties on what they can undertake to provide sign languages to everyone.

International Day of Peace 2021; September 21st

FORUM: Recovering better for a sustainable and equitable world; International Day of Peace 2021.

On 17 September 2021 the United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC) organizes an online youth observance for the 2021 International Day of Peace with the participation of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Messengers of Peace and students from around the world. Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. In 2021, as we heal from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are inspired to think creatively and collectively about how to help everyone recover better, how to build resilience, and how to transform our world into one that is more equal, more just, equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and healthier.

Statement by the United Nations Secretary-General on International Day of Peace 2021 21st September. United Nations.

This year’s International Day of Peace comes at a crisis point for humanity.
COVID-19 has turned our world upside-down.
Conflicts are spinning out of control.
The climate emergency is worsening.
Inequality and poverty are deepening.
And mistrust and division are driving people apart at a time when solidarity and collaboration are needed more than ever.
As a human family, we face a stark choice —
Peace or perpetual peril.
We must choose peace.
That is why I call for a 24-hour ceasefire today.
And by working in solidarity for a lasting, sustainable peace every day, we can tackle the issues facing us.
We need peace to urgently deliver lifesaving vaccines and treatment for COVID-19.
We need peace to recover from the pandemic and re-build shattered systems and shattered lives.
We need peace to level the playing field and reduce inequalities.
We need peace to renew trust in one another — and faith in facts and science.
And we need to make peace with nature — to heal our planet, build a green economy, and achieve our net-zero targets.
Peace is not a naïve dream.
It’s a light in the darkness.
Guiding us to the only pathway to a better future for humanity.
Let’s walk the pathway of peace as if our lives depended on it.
Because they do.
Thank you.

World Patient Safety Day 2021; September 17

World Patient Safety Day was established in 2019 to enhance global understanding of patient safety, increase public engagement in the safety of health care and promote global actions to enhance patient safety and reduce patient harm.

Theme: “Safe maternal and newborn care”.

Objectives of World Patient Safety Day 2021:
- Raise global awareness on the issues of maternal and newborn safety, particularly during childbirth.
- Engage multiple stakeholders and adopt effective and innovative strategies to improve maternal and newborn safety.
- Call for urgent and sustainable actions by all stakeholders to scale up efforts, reach the unreached and ensure safe maternal and newborn care, particularly during childbirth.
- Advocate the adoption of best practices at the point of care to prevent avoidable risks and harm to all women and newborns during childbirth.

Celebrating World Patient Safety Day 2021.

During the continuing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, a combination of virtual and other activities are being planned by WHO to observe and celebrate the Day in September 2021. The signature mark of the global campaign is to light up iconic monuments, landmarks, and public places in the colour orange.

WHO calls upon all stakeholders – governments, nongovernmental organizations, professional organizations, civil society, patient organizations, academia and research institutes – to join the global campaign by lighting up iconic monuments in orange, and organizing international, national and local 

Activities and events on and around 17 September 2021.

World Patient Safety Day 2021 "Safe Maternal and Newborn care'' webinars

Sign up for World Patient Safety Day 2021-2022 Goals

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 2021; September 16th

 

 FORUM: " Montreal Protocol – keeping us, our food and vaccines cool." International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 2021

Statement by the Secretary-General on International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer | 16 September 16th.

The Montreal Protocol began life as a mechanism to protect and heal the ozone layer. It has done its job well over the past three decades. The ozone layer is on the road to recovery. The cooperation we have seen under the Montreal Protocol is exactly what is needed now to take on climate change, an equally existential threat to our societies.

The Montreal Protocol is more than just an example of how multilateralism can and should work, it is an active tool to help meet our global vision for sustainable development. Under the Kigali Amendment to the Protocol, nations have committed to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), powerful greenhouse gases used as coolants. When fully implemented, the Kigali Amendment could prevent 0.4 degrees Celsius of global warming this century.

Furthermore, as we prepare for the Food Systems Summit this month, we are reminded that the Kigali Amendment can also help us to increase food security. By reducing HFCs, increasing energy efficiency and creating more ozone- and climate-friendly technologies, the Kigali Amendment can bring sustainable access to vital cooling services to millions of people.

Such services would reduce food loss in developing countries, where food often spoils before it can reach markets. Getting produce from farmers to where it is needed would help reduce hunger, poverty and the environmental impact of the agricultural sector. Another important benefit of expanding cooling is storage of medicines and vaccines, such as are needed to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment show us that by acting together, anything is possible. So let us act now to slow climate change, feed the world’s hungry and protect the planet that we all depend on.

António Guterres

International Literacy Day 2021; September 8th

 Theme: Literacy for a human-centred recovery: Narrowing the digital divide.

On the occasion of the Celebrations of International Literacy Day 2021, Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, gives a special message to congratulate the 2021 Laureates of the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes from Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Mexico and South Africa.

The COVID-19 crisis has disrupted the learning of children, young people and adults at an unprecedented scale. It has also magnified the pre-existing inequalities in access to meaningful literacy learning opportunities, disproportionally affecting 773 million non-literate young people and adults. Youth and adult literacy were absent in many initial national response plans, while numerous literacy programmes have been forced to halt their usual modes of operation.

Even in the times of global crisis, efforts have been made to find alternative ways to ensure the continuity of learning, including distance learning, often in combination with in-person learning.  Access to literacy learning opportunities, however, has not been evenly distributed. The rapid shift to distance learning also highlighted the persistent digital divide in terms of connectivity, infrastructure, and the ability to engage with technology, as well as disparities in other services such as access to electricity, which has limited learning options.   

The pandemic, however, was a reminder of the critical importance of literacy. Beyond its intrinsic importance as part of the right to education, literacy empowers individuals and improves their lives by expanding their capabilities to choose a kind of life they can value. It is also a driver for sustainable development. Literacy is an integral part of education and lifelong learning premised on humanism as defined by the Sustainable Development Goal 4. Literacy, therefore, is central to a human-centred recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

ILD 2021 will explore how literacy can contribute to building a solid foundation for a human-centred recovery, with a special focus on the interplay of literacy and digital skills required by non-literate youth and adults. It will also explore what makes technology-enabled literacy learning inclusive and meaningful to leave no one behind. By doing so, ILD2021 will be an opportunity to reimagine future literacy teaching and learning, within and beyond the context of the pandemic.

International Day of Charity 2021; September 5th

Theme: "Honouring Mother Theresa." International Day of Charity 2021.

The quote on the stamp, which is in English, is as follows: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”

Mother Teresa, the renowned nun and missionary, was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Macedonia in 1910. Her family was of Albanian descent. At age twelve, she strongly felt the call of God and knew she wanted to be a missionary. At the age of eighteen, she went to India and devoted herself to the help of the destitute. In 1948 she became an Indian citizen and founded the order of Missionaries of Charity in Kolkota (Calcutta) in 1950, which became noted for its work to support the poor and the dying in that region.

For over 45 years she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned and dying, while guiding the Missionaries of Charity’s expansion, first in India and then in other countries, including the construction of hospices and homes for the poor and the homeless.

Mother Teresa’s work has been recognized and acclaimed throughout the world. She received numerous awards and distinctions, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 “for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace”.

Mother Teresa died on 5 September 1997, at the age of 87. The United Nations designated the 5th of September of each year as the International day of Charity, which is the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa.