The Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare is an occasion to pay tribute to those who lost their lives or suffered from these heinous weapons; to assess our progress in preventing their use; and to renew our commitment to achieve a world free of chemical weapons.
The only appropriate tribute to the victims of chemical warfare is to rid the world of chemical weapons once and for all.
Any use of chemical weapons is unacceptable and a clear violation of international law. Identifying those responsible and holding them to account is of paramount importance. We have a responsibility, particularly to the victims, to ensure accountability for the use of these heinous weapons.
The United Nations supports all efforts to uphold the norm against chemical weapons, and to relegate these dreadful weapons to history.
On this International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory -- including East Jerusalem -- continues to pose a significant challenge to international peace and security. Persistent violations of the rights of Palestinians along with the expansion of settlements risk eroding the prospect of a two-State solution.
As the international community strives to re-start Israeli – Palestinian dialogue, I am encouraged by recent engagements between senior Israeli and Palestinian officials. However, containing the situation is not sufficient.
The overall goal remains two states living side-by-side in peace and security, fulfilling the legitimate national aspirations of both peoples, with borders based on the 1967 lines and Jerusalem as the capital of both states.
I call on the parties to avoid unilateral steps that would undermine the chances for a peaceful resolution of the conflict based on international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. I further call on the parties to engage constructively to end the closure of Gaza and improve the living conditions of all Palestinians under occupation.
I commend the generous donors who support UNRWA and call for Member States to provide timely and predictable funding to allow the Agency to conduct its vital work.
Together, let us reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the Palestinian people in their quest to achieve their inalienable rights and build a future of peace, justice, security, and dignity for both Palestinians and Israelis.
Each and every year, on this International Day, the international community reaffirms its solidarity with the Palestinian people in its hopes for a future imbued with peace and freedom.After more than one and a half years of the pandemic, the full import of that solidarity is clear to see. The health crisis has indeed compounded the existing difficulties of economic and social life for the Palestinian people, as characterized by very high rates of unemployment and poverty and the heightened risk of increased numbers of out-of-school children due to COVID-19.It is urgent, therefore, to reaffirm that solidarity so as not to be deprived of the resources of youth and their potential to foster mutual understanding and build peace.Such is the commitment that UNESCO has upheld in the field, with support of its Office in Ramallah, particularly in its actions in favour of education for Palestinian people.Our Organization, in the face of the pandemic, has joined forces with the Ministry of Education to ensure educational continuity through distance learning. It has also stepped in to support and monitor the children of Gaza and the West Bank with a view to stemming the risk of them dropping out of school.The diversity of such actions adds to the conviction, at the heart of our common action, that the Palestinian education system must be strengthened so as to enable more girls and young people from rural areas to have access to a quality education. That active solidarity with the Palestinian people is also reflected in UNESCO’s commitment to promoting and supporting both their culture and the people that produce it. The ongoing renovation of the Riwaya Museum in Bethlehem and the work under way to create a national film institute demonstrate our commitment to the promotion of cultural expressions and interactions and to fostering mutual understanding through culture.Designing inclusive quality education programmes, fostering intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding and protecting freedoms of expression, therefore, are what will enable Palestinian youth to equip themselves with the skills needed to meet present and future challenges.
Special Meeting at UN Headquarters in New York – 29 November 2021
H.E. Mr. Cheikh Niang, Chairperson Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations) - H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid President of the General Assembly - H.E. Mr. Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez President of the Security Council (Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations) - Ms. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Chef de Cabinet, Speaking on behalf of the Secretary-General of the United Nations - H.E. Mr. Riyad Mansour Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine, reading out a message from H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine. - Video messages of solidarity by Ms. Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Laureate, Ms. Hanan Hroub, Palestinian winner of “Global Teacher Prize”, Ms. Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International Secretary-General and H.E. Ms. Tarja Halonen, Former President of Finland and Former co-chair of the International Women’s Commission for a Just and Sustainable Palestinian-Israeli Peace.
- Mohammed El-Kurd, Palestinian activist, representative of civil society. Introduction of Intergovernmental Organizations’ Speakers – Chairperson H.E. Mr. Peter Mohan Maithri Pieris Chair of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations) H.E. Ms. Fatima Kyari Mohammed Permanent Observer of the African Union, reading out a message from H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chair of the African Union Commission H.E.Mr. Maged A. Abdelaziz Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States to the United Nations, reading out a message from H.E. Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States H.E. Mr. Agshin Mehdiyev Permanent Observer of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, reading out a message from H.E. Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation H.E. Mr. Yashar T. Aliyev Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, reading out a message on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries
FORUM: “Orange the World: END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN NOW!” International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2021. Context
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is the most pervasive violation of human rights globally. According to the latest estimates, nearly 1 in 3 women aged 15 years and older, around the world have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner, non-partner sexual violence or both at least once in their lifetime, indicating that levels of VAWG have remained largely unchanged over the last decade.1 These numbers do not reflect the impact of COVID-19 and would be even higher if they included the full continuum of violence that affects women and girls including sexual harassment, violence in digital contexts, harmful practices and sexual exploitation across different contexts, geographic locations, in public and private settings, in contexts of peace or in contexts of conflict as well as in humanitarian or crisis settings with a disproportionate impact on the most marginalized women and girls.
However, VAWG is neither natural nor inevitable. It can and must be prevented and there is a growing body of evidence and practice demonstrating that it is possible to prevent and reduce VAWG through comprehensive, inclusive strategies and interventions that tackle the root causes, transform harmful social norms, and empower women and girls including through survivor-centred essential services across policing, justice, health and social sectors.
In this context, the UNiTE campaign under its 2021 theme “Orange the World: END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN NOW!” will commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of VAWG by highlighting the universal nature of VAWG and acknowledging the particular challenges related to COVID-19, humanitarian and conflict situations as well as celebrating the success stories, showcasing the groundbreaking and transformative work that is being carried out despite the impact of the pandemic and often in highly complex humanitarian settings around the world, to show that VAWG can be prevented and inspire scale up and greater investments in the proven solutions.
Objectives of the Event
The commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women” will have the following
objectives:
1. Highlight the pervasive nature of VAWG across all countries and regions around the world in contexts of peace and conflict, in humanitarian and crises settings as well as in development settings and in the developed world.
2. Remind the world that violence against women is neither natural, nor inevitable and can be prevented and showcase success stories to inspire all actors to scale up what works.
3. Build on the momentum created by the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action during the Generation Equality Forum, reemphasize commitments, amplification of the specific actions outlined in the GBV Action
1 World Health Organization, on behalf of the United Nations Inter-Agency Working Group on Violence Against Women Estimation and Data (VAW-IAWGED), Violence Against Women Prevalence Estimates, 2018 (Geneva, 2021).
2 Coalition and promote further action to deliver progress toward the SDGs through the Gender-Based Violence Action Coalition Blueprint.
4. Call for greater investment in long-term, comprehensive, and inclusive approaches that can be adapted to rapidly changing contexts such as the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative.
5. Honor women’s rights organizations, feminist, youth and girl led organizations and acknowledge their crucial leadership role in EVAW.
6. Activate UN system wide social mobilization under the umbrella of “Orange the World: END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN NOW!” and inspire further action across all spheres of society everywhere.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 working modalities, the event will be prerecorded and broadcast live through Zoom and on
UN Women’s YouTube channel. The event will be hosted by a youth leader and will consist of two segments:
Segment 1will consist of opening remarks from the Secretary General followed by interventions aligned with the key messages of the 2021 UNiTE campaign2 by UN Women’s Executive Director, the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its Causes and Consequences and Leaders and Commitment Makers from the Action Coalition on GBV including youth leaders and civil society/women’s rights organizations. The Center for Women’s Global Leadership will also be invited to make a statement to commemorate the 30-year anniversary of the 16 days of activism.
Segment 2 will consist of inspiring success stories of initiatives that have demonstrated impact in reducing or eliminating violence against women and girls from around the world including through the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative. The interventions and success stories that are presented in this segment will be aligned to the four actions of the blueprint of the Action Coalition on GBV: (1) Creating enabling policy, legal and resource environments; (2) Scaling up evidence-driven prevention programming; (3) Scaling up comprehensive, accessible and quality services for survivors; and (4) Enabling and empowering autonomous girl-led and women’s rights organizations to exercise their expertise.
Representatives from UN agencies will also be invited to make statements in support of the GEF and the Action Coalitions Global Acceleration Plan. Accessibility will be ensured through interpretation and closed caption in six United Nations languages. The event’s safety will be maximized through a digital registration process.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, emerging data and reports from those on the front lines, have shown that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has intensified. This is the Shadow Pandemic growing amidst the COVID-19 crisis, and we need a global collective effort to stop it. More needs to be done to prioritize addressing violence against women in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. As countries implemented lockdown measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus, violence against women, especially domestic violence, intensified – in some countries, calls to helplines have increased five-fold.
On this occasion, the UN Chamber Music Society will dedicate this concert to organizations committed to helping to eliminate violence against women: Violence Against Women aims to bring about societal change to members of the Palestinian society, especially women, by providing the right to a decent life, equality and equal. Headquartered in Nazareth, the organization is committed to eliminating violence directed against women must be eliminated, as well as the conditions for women's oppression. HACEY Health Initiative works to improve the health and productivity of women and girls in Nigeria and underserved populations in Africa. Their programmes integrates health and economic empowerment programs, and addresses the root causes of gender-based violence by expanding opportunities to finance, counseling, and psycho-social support to women and girls across Nigeria.
Opening remarks will be delivered by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications. The concert will feature special performances from musicians of Daniel Barenboim's West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, including violinist Yamen Saadi; the Karajan Trio of the Berlin Philharmonic, Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh, and the Trio Joubran. Founded in 2016, the UN Chamber Music Society is dedicated to promoting the United Nations' goals and values at large - through the universal language of music.
Every 24 seconds a life is cut short because of a road traffic collision.
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is a time to reflect on the tragic deaths of millions of people.
This year’s theme highlights the importance of reducing traffic speeds to prevent death and serious injury – in particular of young women and men at the start of their adult lives, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users such as children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
I urge every country, company and citizen to support local and global efforts to make roads safer, especially in low- and middle-income countries where more than 90 per cent of the world’s road fatalities occur. I also encourage all Member States to accede to United Nations road safety conventions and implement whole-of-society action plans – and urge all donors to scale up much-needed financial and technical contributions through the United Nations Road Safety Fund.
As we look ahead to next year’s High-level meeting of the UN General Assembly to improve road safety, let us remember that every one of us has a role to play in keeping roads safe.
Today and every day, let us commit to make roads safer for everyone, everywhere.
***** Toutes les 24 secondes, une vie est fauchée dans un accident de la route.
La Journée mondiale du souvenir des victimes des accidents de la route est l’occasion de réfléchir sur la mort tragique de millions de personnes.
Avec le thème retenu cette année, nous réaffirmons qu’il est crucial de réduire la vitesse au volant pour prévenir les décès et les blessures graves, en particulier chez les jeunes femmes et les jeunes hommes, qui sont à l’aube de leur vie d’adulte, les piétons et les autres usagers de la route vulnérables comme les enfants, les personnes âgées et les personnes handicapées.
J’exhorte chaque pays et entreprise ainsi que chaque citoyen et citoyenne à soutenir l’action menée aux niveaux local et mondial pour rendre les routes plus sûres, notamment dans les pays à faible revenu et à revenu intermédiaire, où sont enregistrés plus de 90 % des décès liés à des accidents de la route dans le monde. J’encourage également tous les États Membres à adhérer aux conventions des Nations Unies sur la sécurité routière et à se doter de plans d’action mobilisant l’ensemble de la société – et j’exhorte tous les donateurs à accroître leurs précieuses contributions financières et techniques dans le cadre du Fonds des Nations Unies pour la sécurité routière.
Alors que nous préparons la réunion de haut niveau de l’Assemblée générale visant à améliorer la sécurité routière, prévue l’année prochaine, rappelons-nous que chacun et chacune d’entre nous a un rôle à jouer pour ce qui est d’assurer la sécurité routière.
En ce jour et chaque jour, engageons-nous à rendre les routes plus sûres pour tous et pour toutes, partout dans le monde.
On this 25th anniversary of World Television Day, we celebrate a truth that holds around the globe: TV has evolved to become much more than it used to be. TV is now available at all times, at home and on the go, across all screens – large or small – live or streamed; offering both collective and feel-like-me experiences. TV is also measurable, connected, personalised and targetable.
World Television Day is not so much a celebration of the tool, but rather the philosophy which it represents. Television represents a symbol for communication and globalization in the contemporary world.
Join the Conference on the Future of Television
08 - 11 Nov 2021.
New York, USA
"Conference focus on new advertising platforms, TVtech, innovations"
“FOR EVERY CHILD A LEGAL IDENTITY, FOR EVERY CHILD ACCESS TO JUSTICE”. The African Union, jointly with UNICEF, have launched the No Name Campaign: For Every Child a Legal Identity, For Every Child Access to Justice, identifies birth registration as a key element for the access to child friendly justice.
Celebrate children's rights at the world's biggest cultural gathering!
Music, dance, poetry and more on Expo's central stage: - Opening Performances - Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra & Circus Zambia - UAE's Commitment to the Future - HE Hessa bint Essa - Visions for the Future: Performances from Around the World – Abby Chams, Gitanjali Rao, Emirates - Youth Symphony Orchestra ft. Elli Choi, Vazquez Sounds, Expo Mascots - Announcement – Ted Chaiban, HE Reem Abdulla Al Falasi - Closing Remarks - HE Reem Abdulla Al Falasi - Musical Performance - YARA
Organized by UNICEF in partnership with Expo 2020 Dubai and the UAE Ministry of Community Development.
The COVID-19 crisis continues to deeply affect economies and societies everywhere.
At the same time, investment in pandemic recovery is a generational opportunity for bold transformation and accelerated progress towards realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities and building climate resilience.
Prospects for the prosperity of the African continent are anchored in expanding opportunities for women and girls, investing in young people, advancing agro-industrial transformation and green industrialization through technology transfer, innovation and partnerships, and full implementation of the Continental Free Trade Agreement.
Inclusive and sustainable industrial development and economic diversification promote growth and development through self-reliance and reduce dependence in a globalized economy. It is especially crucial in a world where solidarity is in short supply and global challenges loom large – from vaccine inequity to the digital divide.
On Africa Industrialization Day, I reaffirm the commitment of the United Nations to work with the leaders and people of Africa in making inclusive and sustainable industrialization an effective pathway to a prosperous and peaceful continent.
The African Union Summit on Industrialization and Economic Diversification aims to highlight Africa’s renewed determination and commitment to Industrialization as one of the central pillars in attaining the continent’s economic growth and development goals as articulated in Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030. In light of the key and strategic interdependences between Industrialisation and the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA), the Summit aims to rally desired political momentum, resources, partnerships and alliances towards an Africa-Industrialisation drive. This is along the continent’s resolve to drive structural transformation, built around leveraging Africa’s rich and diverse natural resources while at the same time embracing current advances in technologies, continental and global geo socio-political trends and emergence of tradeable services. The Summit is anticipated to unlock the evolution of a vibrant pan-African enterprise and capital base that will unleash an inclusive and sustainable industrialisation pathway that carries along with the participation of all economic agents, including SMEs, youth, and women in the generation of national wealth and creation of jobs as well as expansion of entrepreneurship opportunities for Africa’s populations. The impacts of the novel coronavirus pandemic continue to drive the urgent and imperative need for bold actions to drive transformative change in key economic pillars such as Industrialisation.
The specific objectives of the African Industrialization and Economic Diversification Summit are: - Decide on a renewed continental policy framework on Africa’s industrialisation aimed at rallying the continent’s resolve and commitment to a bold set of policy and investment actions to accelerate the continent’s industrialisation drive - Reinforce the development of regional industrial value chains to clearly articulate Africa’s quest to industrialize, create jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities for Africa’s MSMEs, youth and women within the context of current and emerging continental and global socio-economic trends. - Provide high-level political support to drive a globally competitive Africa-Industrialisation programme through public-private alliances, at the national, regional, continental level, and aligned global policy coherence, coordination and linkages, investment financing. This should take full cognizance of current and emerging key cross-sector needs including energy and water, education and training, Science-Technology and Innovation, climate change, environmental resilience and crisis management.
Follow the conversation with the hashtags #AfricaIndustrialisation or #AIW2021
Economic diversification is the process of shifting an economy away from a single income source toward multiple sources from a growing range of sectors and markets. Traditionally, it has been applied as a strategy to encourage positive economic growth and development.
Sustainable and Inclusive Industrialization
Over the past few years, the international community has made a quantum leap in advancing new approaches to accelerate progress and pave the way for a more ambitious, inclusive and universal development framework beyond 2015. While industrialization was not factored into the Millennium Development Goals framework, inclusive and sustainable industrialization now features strongly in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry's share of employment and gross domestic product.
The main objective of the 12th Africa Private Sector Forum is to explore feasible ways and means of strengthening African private sector’s capacity to respond to disrupted markets and ensure post COVID 19 economic resilience and steady recovery driven by strong, vibrant and dynamic Private Sector and be able to continue driving Africa’s transformational Agenda 2063 aspirations.
Specific Objectives of the Forum - To dialogue and explore ways of creating a conducive business environment and supportive - entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem for Africa’s Private sector. Ameliorate governance in the public contract procurement value chain amongst AU countries to enhance competitiveness and to impose a quota for private sector participation in big public contract tender processes in Africa. - To facilitate the engagement of market actors in recovery planning. It is important for the voice of private sector employers and workers to be heard when designing, implementing and monitoring an economic recovery. This requires new innovative approaches that harness the potential of new technologies and digital platforms to enhance publicprivate dialogue for socio-economic transformation. To provide a platform for a Public-Private sector dialogue on regulations and promotion of E-Commerce in order to facilitate better access to markets and digital trading platforms while removing or significantly reducing the need for physical travels and contacts. To further discussions on ways to make it easier for the African Private Sector to access relevant financial services. Given that the closing of the greater part of global economy has created a financial crisis, among other crises in many countries, policymakers should consider how financial sector reforms can be used to increase liquidity for Business financing, while improving mechanisms that extend online payments. - To discuss measures on how Africa’s Private Sector can be actively engaged in the economic recovery of African Countries by improving public procurement policies and procedures that enhance MSME active participation in the tendering process. - To explore means to improve trade and supply chains in which markets are open and competition is maintained hence creating opportunities that enable Africa’s Private Sector to operate in national and global supply chains, improve their competitiveness and enabled to access new global markets to increase Intra Africa Trade. - To call for a commitment to boost agricultural production and productivity levels through the scaling up of agro-technologies, investing in access to affordable quality seeds and fertilizers, markets through value chain improvements, and promoting agricultural research and development among others. - To mobilize for critical resources required to invest in Smart & Sustainable Energy: Smart oil and gas infrastructure. - To highlight the importance of tourism as a key factor in economic transformation and call for increased investment in the sector. This also calls for collaborative efforts to strengthen the capacity of African private sector and integrate them in the tourism value chain. - To create awareness about the presence of an active “African Union Investment Promotion Network Website” that is mainly intended among others to promote the exchange of information and facilitate interactions, between all private sectors within Africa and across the globe.
By celebrating World Philosophy Day each year, on the third Thursday of November, UNESCO underlines the enduring value of philosophy for the development of human thought, for each culture and for each individual.
For the observance of the International Day for Tolerance 2021, UNESCO calls upon everybody to celebrate diversity and the inalienable right to difference, which gives depth to our societies and establishes peace in the minds of men and women.
In his Open Letter to the Youth, Amadou Hampâté Bâ called on humanity to work towards mutual understanding by every means possible, so that "our differences, rather than separating us, become complementary and a source of mutual enrichment".For 75 years now, our Organization has been pursuing this ambition by harnessing the common goods of humanity that are education, science, culture and information to build peace in the minds of men and women. And this International Day is an opportunity to stress the topicality of our shared commitment to defending and promoting tolerance and mutual understanding. Almost two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fault lines that divide and disfigure our societies are still pushing us apart and exacerbating distrust. It is therefore necessary to reaffirm the basic values of humankind, which we uphold in both theory and practice.This is particularly true of the work that we are doing to make education a place where students, as citizens of tomorrow's world, learn empathy, the nature of dialogue and respect for others and oppose hatred and intolerance in both form and substance.This work must reach far beyond the classroom to encompass all spheres of society. Our Organization thus works day to day to defend and promote cultural and linguistic diversity and diversity of knowledge, especially indigenous knowledge, so that all these outlooks and ways of seeing the world can open up new vistas for humankind through dialogue and exchange.As we can read in the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance signed on 16 November 1995 by the Member States of UNESCO, "Tolerance is harmony in difference."On this International Day for Tolerance, UNESCO calls upon everybody to celebrate diversity and the inalienable right to difference, which gives depth to our societies and establishes peace in the minds of men and women.
World Diabetes Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness of diabetes as a global public health issue and what needs to be done, collectively and individually, for better prevention, diagnosis and management of the condition.
This year’s World Diabetes Day is taking place at the end of a year which has been intensive in terms of global advocacy for diabetes. WHO and partners have used the opportunity of the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin to highlight the huge gap between the people who need access to insulin to control their diabetes, as well as essential technologies such as blood glucose meters and test strips, and those who actually have access.
The Day also comes at a time when the world continues to live through the COVID-19 pandemic, which has not only resulted in a high proportion of people with diabetes among hospitalized patients with severe manifestations of COVID-19 and among those who have succumbed to the virus, but has also led to severe disruption of diabetes services.
In the lead-up to and on 14 November, WHO will highlight not only the challenges, but more importantly the solutions, to scaling-up access to diabetes medicines and care.
How you can get involved - Pledge your support for greater access to diabetes care by supporting our online petition. Link available soon. - Engage a local or national policy-maker to ensure that all people with diabetes have access to the care they need. - Organise a ‘Learn about diabetes’ event in schools. - Organise or participate in a local diabetes awareness walk. - Light up a local landmark, your home or workplace in blue. - Arrange an activity with your work colleagues. Help people learn their potential risk of type 2 diabetes with our online test.
If your region or community is observing physical distancing guidelines due to COVID-19, you can set up online activities.
Exercise in blue
Regular physical activity is an important part of diabetes management and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Whether indoors or outdoors, every step counts to help stay healthy!
Join the Global Diabetes Walk, an initiative created by the World Diabetes Foundation in support of World Diabetes Day. Take to the streets – if circumstances allow – to raise awareness of the impact of diabetes and the importance of physical activity. If outdoor activities in your community are restricted, walk or exercise in your home or workplace and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to join in.Whichever way you exercise make sure to wear blue and show your support for #WorldDiabetesDay and the #IfNotNowWhen campaign.
An international distinction awarding outstanding contributions of individuals in communicating science to society and promoting the popularization of science.
By bridging the gap between science and society, the benefits of scientific knowledge can be used to improve daily lives, empower people and find solutions to global, regional and local challenges. In order to strengthen communication between science and society it is important that efforts made in bridging the gap do not go unnoticed. Popularizing science needs to be championed, including all activities that communicate scientific knowledge and scientific methods to the public outside the formal classroom setting and promote public understanding of the history of science.
The UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science is an international award to reward exceptional contributions made by individuals in communicating science to society and promoting the popularization of science. It is awarded to persons who have had a distinguished career as writer, editor, lecturer, radio, television, or web programme director, or film producer in helping interpret science, research and technology to the public. UNESCO Kalinga Prize winners know the potential power of science, technology, and research in improving public welfare, enriching the cultural heritage of nations and providing solutions to societal problems on the local, regional and global level.
Many past Prize winners have been scientists in their own right, while others have been trained in journalism or have been educators or writers. Some have also been Nobel Prize winners. Previous laureates include Sir Julian Huxley, Margaret Mead and Sir David Attenborough.
The UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science is UNESCO’s oldest prize, created in 1951 following a donation from Mr Bijoyanand Patnaik, Founder and President of the Kalinga Foundation(link is external) Trust in India. Today, the Prize is funded by the Kalinga Foundation Trust(link is external), the Government of the State of Orissa, India(link is external), and the Government of India (Department of Science and Technology(link is external)). Who can apply?
- The Prize rewards writers, editors, lecturers, radio/television/web programme directors or film producers who have devoted their career to interpreting science, research and technology for the general public. Applicants do not need to have a science degree or to conduct research. - Writers, editors, lecturers, radio/television programme directors or film producers who have devoted their career to interpreting science, research and technology for the general public. - The applicant does not need to have a science degree. - This prize does not reward research. - This prize does not reward formal teaching (in a school/university), nor curriculum development for the formal learning sector.
Candidates are submitted by the government through the country’s National Commission for UNESCO. Each National Commission for UNESCO shall propose a candidate on the basis of recommendations from: national associations for the advancement of science or other science associations, and/or national associations of science writers or scientific journalists.
Each Member State may propose a single candidature consisting of one individual only. Candidatures sent directly to UNESCO by individuals will not be accepted.
The climate crisis is a peace and security crisis. It intensifies conflict over natural resources, inflating food prices and increasing geopolitical tensions.
Today, around one in every five people is living in an area affected by fragility, conflict or violence. The assault on our planet is driving instability, displacement and confrontation, and making our quest for peace ever more difficult.
Protecting the environment is essential to preserving peace.
On the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, we recognize the environment as yet another victim of war. Crops are torched, water wells polluted, and soils poisoned to gain short-term military advantages, with devastating consequences that can last decades.
Protecting the environment is integral to conflict prevention, peacebuilding and sustainable development, because there can be no durable peace if the natural resources that sustain livelihoods and ecosystems are destroyed.
The time for climate action is now. Negotiators at the UN Climate Conference in Glasgow must show ambition and solidarity to save our future.
António Guterres. U.N. Secretary-General.
Analysis of the 5th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.1) – Webinar for UN Major Groups and other stakeholders.
On behalf of Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future, and in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme, Jan-Gustav Strandenaes will explore how the two UNEA meetings are connected, and in doing so consider UNEA in the context of the nearly 50 years that have passed since the founding of UNEP in 1972. In addition, the session will discuss the two commemorative events due to take place next year, UNEP@50 and Stockholm+50.
Stakeholder Forum will also announce its Autumn 2021 series of in-depth capacity-building webinars for each of the six UNEP Regions, aimed at preparing Major Groups and other Stakeholders to effectively engage with and participate in UNEA 5.2. We look forward to your participation.
