International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, March 25th.

 FORUM:  “Stories of Courage: Resistance to Slavery and Unity against Racism.” Commemorating the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 2022.

EVENTS: 

The United Nations General Assembly will hold an in-person meeting in the General Assembly Hall to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Expected speakers include the U.N. Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, U.N. Member States and keynote speaker Nikole Hannah-Jones, the creator of The New York Times’ groundbreaking 1619 Project.

The event, "Rhythms of Resistance," will highlighting the history of the transatlantic slave trade, as well as its ongoing legacy of racism. Through showcasing rhythmic performances in multiple countries, the event will also demonstrate how African cultures have shaped societies throughout the Americas. It will be broadcast on Friday, 25 March, at 10:00 a.m. EDT on UN WebTV

CAMPAIGN: Mobilize educational institutions, civil society and other organizations to inculcate in future generations the "causes, consequences and lessons of the transatlantic slave trade, and to communicate the dangers of racism and prejudice."

OAS to Celebrate V Inter-American Week for People of African Descent in the Americas,

 EXHIBIT: An exhibit entitled "Us and Them: From Prejudice to Racism" is on display in the Visitors Lobby at United Nations Headquarters from 16 February until 5 April. 

International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members 2022 ; March 25th.

FORUM: Paying tribute to fallen colleagues; International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members 2022.

The United Nations Staff Union is the is a Labor Union representing New York Secretariat Staff, Locally Recruited Staff in the field, and Staff Members of UN Information Centers around the globe.

Statement by the U.N. Secretary-General on International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members 2022; March 25th.

In every corner of the world, whether in their home countries or far away, United Nations personnel work tirelessly to serve the people of the world.

This International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members reminds us of the perils that these dedicated women and men often face while carrying out their vital mission and advancing the ideals enshrined in the UN Charter.

Since 2021, 142 UN personnel have been detained, including 15 in 2022 alone. In total, 22 United Nations personnel are still in detention. National staff are often at particular risk and face unacceptable threats to their safety and security.

We continue to monitor these cases and seek the immediate release of all our colleagues. I thank the Standing Committee on the Security and Independence of the International Civil Service of the United Nations Staff Union for its steadfast advocacy and vigilance.

UN personnel should never be arrested or detained because of the work they do in carrying out our mandate. I call on all countries to ensure that the necessary privileges and immunities are fully respected, including the immunity from legal process to be accorded to UN personnel pursuant to the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

I also call on all countries, which have not yet done so, to accede to and fully implement the 1994 Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel as well as the 2005 Optional Protocol to the Convention, which extends protection to personnel delivering humanitarian, political or development assistance.

The safety of everyone who works with the United Nations is our top priority. On this International Day, let us stand in solidarity with all detained colleagues and pledge to protect all United Nations personnel as they work to advance peace and human rights, protect the planet and build a better future for all.

U.N. Secretary-General.

International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims 2022; March 24th.

 

Each year, on 24 March, the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims is observed.


The purpose of the Day is to:
- Honour the memory of victims of gross and systematic human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice;
- Pay tribute to those who have devoted their lives to, and lost their lives in, the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all;
- Recognize, in particular, the important work and values of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, of El Salvador, who was assasinated on 24 March 1980, after denouncing violations of the human rights of the most vulnerable populations and defending the principles of protecting lives, promoting human dignity and opposition to all forms of violence.

Statement by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims 2022; March 24th.

Join the forum: The right to the truth

World Tuberculosis Day 2022: March 24th.

FORUM ‘Invest to End TB. Save Lives.’World TB Day 2022

The theme of World Tuberculosis Day 2022 - ‘Invest to End TB. Save Lives.’ –conveys the urgent need to invest resources to ramp up the fight against TB and achieve the commitments to end TB made by global leaders.

KEY MESSAGES

Urgent investment of resources, support, care and information are vital to win the fight against TB.

Essential TB services should be sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that gains made in the fight against TB are not reversed.

Tackling health inequities to ensure health for all.

Ending TB requires concerted action by all sectors

In 2020, approximately 1.1 million children and adolescents under 15 years fell ill with TB globally. 

• 226 000 children and adolescents lost their lives from this preventable and curable disease in 2020. 

• 21 000 (or 9%) of the children and young adolescents under 15 years who died of TB were living with HIV. 

• In 2020, an estimated 63 % of children and young adolescents below 15 years with TB were not reported or didn’t get access to lifesaving TB diagnosis and treatment services; the proportion was even higher - 72% - for children under 5.

 • Progress towards reaching the targets set at the UN High Level Meeting is lagging behind: 

-  Approximately 1.4 million children were diagnosed and notified between 2018 and 2020, which is only 41% of the 2022 target of 3.5 million. 

- Only 12 200 children started treatment for MDR/RR TB in that period, which translates to less than 11% of the 2022 target. 

- Only 29% of eligible children under 5 years accessed TB preventive treatment between 2018 and 2020. Almost two thirds of eligible children under 5 years therefore remain at risk of getting sick with TB.

IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING TB IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS 

Diagnosing TB in children can be challenging due to many factors, including the nonspecific nature of TB symptoms that are similar to other childhood illnesses and difficulties in collecting specimens for diagnostic testing. Infants and young children (especially those under two years) are at higher risk of developing TB meningitis and disseminated disease, which are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Adolescents usually present with infectious TBdisease, as typically seen in adults. However, adolescents also form a particularly vulnerable group who face psycho-social challenges, requiring careful consideration of their growing autonomy, treatment support and assistance with transitioning from paediatric to adult health service provision. We need to manage TB in children and adolescents recognising the unique characteristics and needs of these groups, as well as those of their parents, caregivers and families. 

IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC 

• COVID-19 has had an additional negative and disproportionate impact on children and adolescents with TB and at risk of TB. 

• There has been a steady increase in notifications of children with TB from just over 340,000 in 2011/2012 to over 520,000 in 2019, with a substantial drop in 2020, as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• A detailed analysis shows that TB notifications in children aged below 5 years dropped by 28% between 2019 and 2020 due to COVID-19 disruptions, these figures for children aged 5-14 years and for those aged 15 years and above were 21% and 18%. 

• Overall deaths increased for the first time in a decade to 1.5 million up from 1.4 million in 2019, as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 • The 2022 WHO Consolidated Guidelines and Operational Handbook on the management of tuberculosis in children and adolescents include recommendations that span the TB cascade of care, from screening, prevention and diagnostic approaches to treatment of both drug susceptible and drug resistant TB, to models of care to optimize TB prevention and case detection efforts. 

The new recommendations recognize the impact of COVID-19 on TB services and the need to find more children and adolescents with TB.

ROADMAP TOWARDS ENDING TBIN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS 

WHO, UNICEF, Stop TB Partnership and other partners released an action plan in 2018 outlining measures to prevent and treat TB in children and adolescents. The roadmap highlights key actions to end TB in children and adolescents, such as high level leadership & accountability, functional partnerships, increased funding, advocacy, integrated family- and community-centred strategies, improved monitoring, and more child and adolescent TB research.

EVENTS : 

The event will take place in a talk-show format with speakers connected by video on  WHO’s interactive web-platform- End TB Forum. The main speakers will include Ministers, leaders and other high-level government representatives, Heads of Agencies,  TB survivors, civil society and partners. The Show will be broadcast live, with interactive Q&A from the audience online.

World Meteorological Day 2022; March 23rd.

FORUM: Hydrometeorological and Climate Information for Disaster Risk Reduction. World Meteorological Day 2022.

On World Meteorological Day; this 23 March; we will highlight the critical role of early warning systems and early action as an adaptive measure for climate change. Greater coordination between national meteorological and hydrological services, disaster management authorities and development agencies is fundamental to better prevention, preparedness and response. Join the conversation with the hastags #WorldMetDay, #Earlywarningearlyaction.

Statement by Petteri Taalas, WMO Secretary-General, on the occasion of the World Meteorological Day 2022; March 23rd.

Greetings from the World Meteorological Organization secretariat in Geneva. The top priority of WMO is to protect lives and livelihoods from weather, climate and water extremes. Every minute of every day of the year. I am therefore very happy that the theme of World Meteorological Day 2022 is “Early Warning and Early Action.” It celebrates the great achievements of national meteorological and hydrological services in improved early warning systems. It also highlights the vital work of the disaster risk reduction community in making sure that these early warnings lead to early action. But we cannot be complacent. We face many challenges, especially in making sure that early warnings reach the last mile to the most vulnerable who need them most. Climate change is already very visible through more extreme weather in all parts of the world. We are seeing more intense heatwaves and drought and forest fires. We have more water vapor in the atmosphere, which leads to extreme rainfall and deadly flooding. The warming of the ocean fuels more powerful tropical storms and rising sea levels increase the impacts. We expect this negative trend to continue. Greenhouse gas concentrations are at record levels, locking in climate change to continue for decades to come, melting of glaciers and sea level rise up to centuries. In addition to climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation is a top priority. Early warning systems are a powerful way to adapt. 2 Last year WMO published a report on disaster statistics for the past 50 years. It showed that there were more than 11 000 disasters linked to weather, climate and water-related hazards, almost equal to one disaster per day. There were 2 million deaths – or 115 per day. The number of disasters has increased five-fold in the past 50 years. And the economic cost has soared. But the good news is that the number of casualties has fallen dramatically. We are better than ever before at saving lives. Supercomputers, satellites and advances in science have greatly increased the accuracy of our forecasts. Mobile phone alerts and weather apps can reach even remote areas. WMO is promoting impact-based forecasting, of what the weather will be and what it will do. That is needed to enhance the preparedness and early action of various user and customer groups, who are dependent on weather. But much more remains to be done. Only half of the 193 Members of WMO have multi-hazard early warning systems in place. There is also a major need to enhance the impact based forecasting skills of a large fraction of Members. There are severe gaps in weather and hydrological observing networks in Africa, some parts of Latin America and in Pacific and Caribbean island. This undermines forecasts local and globally. WMO has therefore created a financing mechanism known as SOFF (The Systematic Observation Financing Facility) to drive investment in the basic observing system and fill data gaps. WMO is an implementing partner in the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems Initiative (CREWS), which builds resilience among vulnerable countries and communities. WMO is spearheading a new water and climate coalition to focus more attention on water-related hazards and shortages. We have highly successful programmes and projects on tropical cyclones, coastal inundation, floods and drought. In Geneva we have joined forces with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction to form a centre of excellence on climate change and disasters. WMO has been developing a support mechanism to provide reliable and authoritative information to the UN humanitarian agencies to be able to optimize the humanitarian aid before and after a weather related disaster. We are working together with financing institutions like the World Bank, European Union, UNDP, Green Climate Fund, to allocate more funding to early warning services and to ensure sustainability of the investments. 3 And of course, WMO is committed to the 2030 international agenda on climate action, sustainable development and disaster risk reduction. WMO’s vision is that “by 2030, we see a world where all nations, especially the most vulnerable, are more resilient to the socioeconomic consequences of extreme weather, climate, water and other environmental events. Early warnings work. They must work for everyone. They must lead to early action. 

I wish you all a happy World Meteorological Day

WMO Secretary-General.

EVENT

Want to catch all the action from World Meteterology Day 2022 ceremony? Tune in to our live event from Geneva on 23 March 2022 from 14:00 to 15:30 (CET). To participate in the event, join us via Zoom where interpretation into Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish will be available. The ceremony will also be live-streamed on the WMO YouTube channel in English. 

CAMPAIGN MATERIAL: 2022 World Meteorological Day

About the WMO' World Weather Research Programme (WWRP).

Hot or cold, still or storm, drought, or downpour. Weather affects us all. The WWRP  is advancing and promoting research activities on weather, its prediction and its impact on society. The improvements in science and operational predictions are driven by international cooperation, and in turn, international cooperation in weather science is a unique opportunity to drive sustainable development. 

As the science is advancing, critical questions are arising such as the potential sources of predictability on weekly, monthly and longer time scales; seamless prediction from minutes to months; optimal use of local and global observing systems and the effective utilization of supercomputers.

In addition, communication of forecasts, warnings and their uncertainty, as well as some indication of the impacts of these warnings, raise new challenges for weather-related approaches for the full value chain. All of these challenges can only be met through strong interdisciplinary collaborations and thus the World Weather Research Programme relies on strong links with social scientists, Early Career Scientists and public-private partnerships.

World Water Day 2022, March 22nd.

FORUM:  Groundwater: making the invisible visible'' World Water Day 2022.

A World Water Day on groundwater would put a spotlight on this invisible resource, enhance knowledge exchange and collaboration and thereby increase the awareness of the importance of taking care of our groundwater.

The Observance of the 2022 as International year of groundwater, Starting with World Water Day 202 on 22 March and ending with the UN-Water Summit on Groundwater in December.

Groundwater is a vital resource that provides almost half of all drinking water worldwide, about 40% of water for irrigated agriculture and about 1/3 of water required for industry. It sustains ecosystems, maintains the baseflow of rivers and prevents land subsidence and seawater intrusion. Groundwater is an important part of climate change adaptation process and is often a solution for people without access to safe water. Despite these impressive facts and figures, invisible groundwater is out of sight and out of mind for most people. Human activities (including population- and economic growth) and climate variability are rapidly increasing the pressure on groundwater resources: serious depletion and pollution problems are reported for many parts of the world. 

SUMMIT

The UN-Water Summit on Groundwater 2022 aims to bring attention to groundwater at the highest international level.

Held in December 2022, the Summit will use the UN World Water Development Report 2022 as a baseline and the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework to define actions towards more responsible and sustainable use and protection of this vital natural resource. The Summit will unify the statements from all major water-related events in 2021 and 2022 into one comprehensive groundwater message for the UN 2023 Water Conference.



The hybrid event, based in Paris, will be from 7 December 2022 to 8 December 2022. More details will be available soon.

International Day of Nowruz 2022; March 21st

 

Forum: 'Celebrating Nowruz" Internatinal Day of Nowruz 2022.

The northern hemisphere is saying goodbye to cold, barren landscapes and hello to spring’s budding leaves and blooming flowers. Millions around the world put on festivals, feasts and enjoy outdoor activities in celebration of Nowruz, the first day of spring and official start to Persian New Year.

Nowruz is one of the oldest holidays and has a rich history that dates back over 3,000 years. The 13-day celebration begins with the vernal equinox when the sun crosses the equator. This widely symbolizes rebirth and the affirmation of life in harmony with nature.

For many, common traditions include house cleaning, visiting friends and neighbors, and preparing traditional dishes such as special desserts, herb rice, and fried fish.

Happy Nowruz!

Statement by the U.N. Secretary-General on International Day of Nowruz 2022

Dear friends,

Each year, Nowruz marks a new beginning.

Last year, the Nowruz celebration coincided with the early days of an unprecedented and devastating global pandemic.

This year, the Nowruz spirit is more vital than ever.

Solidarity between communities and generations is more crucial than ever.

Our promise in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind is more essential than ever.

Today, we can start to see light at the end of the tunnel.

As the world comes together to defeat COVID-19, Nowruz serves as an inspiration to recover and rebuild in a more just and durable way, in harmony with nature.

I offer my best wishes to everyone marking Nowruz.

May this day advance happiness, health, and harmony to all.

EVENTS: 13th Annual Celebration of Nowruz at UCLA.

Join Farhang Foundation on Sunday March 20th for our return to the 13th Annual Celebration of Nowruz at UCLA in-person after a two-year hiatus. This event is the largest free celebration of Nowruz (Iranian New Year) in the world. The event takes place in Dickson Court from 12PM - 5PM and is open to all. This year's free events include: Live performances by: The Ava Choir Negar Estakhr Puppet Show Arezoo Koochakan's L.A. DAF Ensemble The Melieka Fathi Dance Company The Firuze Dance Company by Robyn Friend The UCLA Iranian Music Student Ensemble Children's Activities and Arts and Crafts Exclusive art and virtual activities by the Getty Villa Museum Plus a Grand Haft Sîn Display and an Iranian Tea House. Nowruz at UCLA is FREE and open to all. For full details and more information please visit us at https://farhang.org/nowruzla Location Address: 10745 Dickson Court, LA, CA 90095 Parking: UCLA Structure #2 719 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024

International Day of Forests 2022; March 21st.

 FORUM: Forests and sustainable production and consumption. International Day of Forests 2022

Forests are essential for the achievement of the #GlobalGoals. In celebration of the upcoming International Forests Day on 21 March, learn more about how your actions can help save our forests. Follow the conversation with the hashtags #IntForestDay

Statement by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres’on  the International Day of Forests 2022 March 21st.

Healthy forests are essential for people and the planet. They act as natural filters, providing clean air and water, and they are havens of biological diversity. They help to regulate our climate by influencing rainfall patterns, cooling urban areas and absorbing one third of greenhouse gas emissions. They provide many communities and indigenous peoples with livelihoods, medicines, sustenance and refuge.

The commitments to halt deforestation have been loud and clear, and in some regions, deforestation is slowing. Yet each year we still degrade and destroy some 10 million hectares of forest. It is essential that the world implements the recent Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use and other instruments designed to protect our forests.

It is time we see tangible and credible action on the ground. This means ending the unsustainable consumption and production patterns that jeopardize our forests. And it means providing support for the sustainable management of forests to the countries and peoples who need it.

On this International Day of Forests, let us recommit to healthy forests for healthier livelihoods.

U,N Secretary-General.

EVENTS

Inspire for the Future – The Role of Forests in Ensuring Sustainable production and Consumption.
WHEN: March 21, 2022; 15.00–18.00 GST/12.00–15.00 CET; #IDF2022;

Meet high level guests and experts – discussing how forest-based innovations, resource efficiency, forest-based products and ecosystem services can contribute to a sustainable lifestyle and accelerate a shift towards more sustainable consumption and production. These efforts help to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, wellbeing and a transition towards low-carbon and green economies. Visit the International Day of Forests event web to learn more.

The theme of the 2022 International Day of Forests celebration is “Forests and Sustainable Production and Consumption”. The celebration aims to raise awareness of how sustainable production and consumption of forest resources helps to restore balance in how we use natural resources. It is about increasing efficiency, reducing environmental degradation, and creating sustainable lifestyles for current and future generations.

2022 Event Programme

Watch the event live on https://webtv.un.org/

Spread the word through social media | 2022 IDF social media package

The International Day of Forests 2022 event will feature:

• Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, UNDESA
• H.E. Aida Kasymalieva, Permanent Representative of Kyrgyzstan to the United Nations
• H.E. Collen Vixen Kelapile, President of the UN Economic and Social Council
• H.E. Miriam Mac Intosh, Chair, United Nations Forum on Forests Bureau, 17th session
• H.E. Pierre Henri Guignard, Special Envoy, Alliance for the Conservation of Rainforests
• Maria Helena Semedo, Chair, Collaborative Partnership on Forests and Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)


• Brian Brashaw, Assistant Director, Wood Innovations program, USDA Forest Service
• Paola Deda, Director, Forest, Land and Housing Division, UNECE
• Alexandra Rivera Ramos, Certification Specialist, Wood Procurement, Lenzing
• Lucy Mulenkei, Executive Director, Indigenous Information Network (IIN)
• Erica Di Girolami, International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA)
• Madison Hand, Lower Phalen Creek Project

Global celebration

Every year, the Forum secretariat holds a special event to celebrate the International Day of Forests at United Nations Headquarters in New York which attracts participation from representatives of Member States, regional organizations, members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and non-governmental organizations.

Spread the Word

– About the IDF 2022 virtual event!

– Share IDF photos to forests@un.org

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2022, March 21st.

FORUM: “Voices for action against racism.” International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2022.

The 2022 edition draw the inspiration of the High Commissioner’s report on racial justice on the Agenda Towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice and Equality: “LISTEN UP: Ensure that people of African descent and those who stand up against racism are protected and heard, and their concerns are acted on”.

Statement by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ar the commemorative meeting on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2022.

Distinguished President,
Excellencies,

I am honoured to join you today to celebrate the voices of the people who stand up against racism – millions of people around the world who have decided to stand up for our fundamental, and universal, equality and rights.

Despite considerable efforts – and some progress – millions of Africans and people of African descent; Asians and people of Asian descent; indigenous peoples; national, ethnic and linguistic minorities; religious communities; and migrants continue to be confronted by racism, racial discrimination, inequality and exclusion. Racism still permeates social structures and institutions in every region of the world.

The impact of racism on people’s human rights is far-reaching. From people seeking refuge from conflict – as we saw recently on the borders of Ukraine – to children attending school; people in need of health-care; job-seekers and many others – my Office has observed multiple manifestations of racism in every aspect of people’s lives.

Digital tools often enhance these profoundly negative phenomena. For instance, algorithms embedded in internet searches often reinforce negative racial stereotypes and biases. Facial recognition – which is often used for surveillance purposes – can be a source of discrimination, and may reinforce discriminatory practices against minority communities especially by law enforcement.
The banning of certain books, especially books about racial identity, from school curricula and school libraries also constitutes an assault against the right to education and efforts to recognise and combat past legacies of harm.

The Four-point Agenda Towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice and Equality that I presented to the Human Rights Council in July 2021 points out that systemic racism requires a systemic response, and can only be dismantled through vigorous and comprehensive reforms.

At the international level, this effort should be guided by the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and several other important instruments, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Ensuring the meaningful and effective participation and representation of all communities at all levels of State institutions and decision-making processes is also fundamental. In this context, I welcome this year’s thematic focus of “Voices for action against racism”. Acknowledging the people who face and stand up against racism – and actively responding to their concerns – is essential to achieving progress.

We must protect the civic space and safety of those who face and stand up against racism. Their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in particular must be safeguarded as they often constitute the only way they can impart change.

I also want to emphasise that all politicians and authorities bear a special responsibility to refrain from, prevent and confront incitement to hatred and discrimination.

Serious discussions on the legacies of enslavement and colonialism must continue and lead to reparatory justice. Only when we fully acknowledge the burdens created by past harms will we be able to move forward and achieve real and sustainable change.

Racism is an assault on human dignity, and on everything the United Nations stands for. Today – and every day – I stand in solidarity with all victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. I ask all of you to act with me, to end this deep injustice.

Thank you.

Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Other Statements

Statement from Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 21 March 2022.

EVENTS

Debate in commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2022

Monday, 28 March 2022.
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. CET.
Palais des Nations, UN Geneva

The panel discussion will gather speakers who are known for their active role in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and who are from diverse backgrounds. They will share their experiences and will advocate in favour of listening to those who face racial discrimination.

CAMPAIGN

We need everyone’s voice for action against racism. Join us to spread the word for racial justice and equality. Show support for #FightRacism by sharing your picture w/ our “I Stand Up To Racism” filter on social media using: #FightRacism, #StandUp4HumanRights

World Poetry Day 2022; March 21st.

FORUM: "Supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression." World Poetry Day 2022.

On March 21st, we invite you to honour poets, revive oral traditions of poetry recitals, promote the reading, writing and teaching of poetry, foster the convergence between poetry and other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting, and raise the visibility of poetry in the media.

Statement from Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO for World Poetry Day, March 21st.

This is especially true for indigenous peoples, whose languages and cultures are increasingly under threat, in particular from industrial development, climate change andconflict. For these communities, poetry plays an important role in maintaining linguistic and cultural diversity, and preserving memory. The work of Joy Harjo, a member of the Mvskoke Nation and Poet Laureate of the United States, shows this clearly. Her poem Break My Heart describes her return to Okfuskee, Oklahoma, where her ancestors were violently uprooted and forced west under the Indian Removal Act of 1830. As she states so powerfully:“You cannot force poetryWith a ruler, or jail it at a desk [...]History will always find you, and wrap youIn its thousand arms.” 

Today, on World Poetry Day, UNESCO is shining the spotlight on indigenous poetry, to celebrate its unique and powerful role in standing against marginalization and injustice, and in uniting cultures in a spirit of solidarity.

This Day comes as the United Nations marks the start of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, led by UNESCO, to reaffirm the commitment of the international community in supporting indigenous peoples to preserve their cultures, knowledge and rights. As part of our efforts to safeguard living traditions, UNESCO has included a number of poetic forms on the Representative List of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity, such as the Hudhud chants of the Philippines, the Mapoyo oral tradition of Venezuela, the Eshuva, Harákmbut sung prayers of Peru, and the Koogere oral tradition of Uganda.Every form of poetry is unique, but each reflects the universal nature of the human experience – our aspiration for creativity that crosses all boundaries and borders. That is the power of poetry.

Director-General of UNESCO.

WEBINARS

- 2022 NY Poetry Out Loud State Final.

Encourage the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country.

Three cheers for the 2022 New York State Poetry Out Loud finalists! The Poetry Out Loud New York State Final showcases students from across the state reciting great classic and contemporary poetry. Their performances are scored on criteria such as voice and articulation and dramatic appropriateness by judges from the literary world. The winner of this event will go on to represent New York at the national level, where they will be among students from the 55 states and U.S. territories competing for the title of National Poetry Out Loud Champion. Poetry Out Loud is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation. In New York it is offered through the New York State Council on the Arts and Teachers & Writers Collaborative.

French language Day 2022, March 20th.

FORUM: "The Francophonie of the future" Journée Internationale de La Francophonie 2022.

 This year, the OIF officially celebrates the Journée Internationale de La Francophonie 2022 as part of its programming at Dubai Expo. Follow the conversations by using the hashtags #JournéeInternationaledelaFrancophonie, #Francophoniedelavenir.

Around the theme: "The Francophonie of the future", several events are organized in partnership with the Pavilions of French-speaking countries at the Universal Exhibition.

EVENTS & CONFERENCES

March 15 and 16 at 3:00 p.m. (Sustainable Development Pavilion): a series of conferences in “Ted Talks” format by inspiring young Francophones who will present their journey as committed entrepreneurs.

March 15: "Digital, a powerful lever for action at the service of young people".

March 16: "The African continent, a space of opportunity and creativity".

March 18 at 5 p.m. and March 19 (Pavillon du développement durable): screening of two French-language films supported by the OIF through the Fonds Image de la Francophonie.

March 18 at 5 p.m.: The man who sold his skin by Kaouther Ben Hania (Tunisia).

March 19 at 3 p.m.: The Kings Night by Philippe Lacôte (Ivory Coast).

March 20, 2022: several events are organized in partnership with the French-speaking pavilions at Dubai Expoofficial ceremony in the large dome of the exhibition in the presence of the Secretary General of La Francophonie.

1. Comic book workshop
2. Contests on the Francophonie
3. Great concert of the Francophonie

Find the program of the French Language Day 2022 of March 20th.

Lancement du Mois de la francophonie 2022

L’ACFA, appuyée par Productions Loft, a travaillé à la création de plusieurs vidéos sur la francophonie albertaine. Ainsi, plusieurs vidéos seront ajoutées sur le site Web de l’ACFA et les médias sociaux de l’ACFA, dont celle visant à souligner le lancement du Mois de la francophonie albertaine 2022. De toutes nouvelles capsules 180 secondes pour ma francophonie seront aussi dévoilées tout au long du mois de mars, dans lesquelles des Albertains et des Albertaines d’expression française de divers horizons nous partageront leur attachement à la francophonie et leur engagement envers leur communauté.

World Down Syndrome Day 2022; March 21st.

FORUM: #InclusionMeans - World Down Syndrome Day 2022.

The United Nations, in the general principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), calls for “full and effective participation and inclusion in society”. Everyone should have the same opportunities, take part in the same activities, be able to go to the same places and enjoy the same experiences in life. But around the world people with Down syndrome and disabilities do not benefit from full and effective participation and inclusion in society. There are many reasons for this. One reason is a lack of agreed understanding about what inclusion is and what inclusive systems look like in practice. Not everyone understands:
- How to include people with Down syndrome and disabilities;
- How full inclusion benefits everyone – with or without disabilities;
- What is happening around the world to bring about inclusion for all.

Self-advocates from around the world will explain in their own words what #InclusionMeans?.
The World Down Syndrome Day 2022 event will be attended by members of the Committee, government officials, and other major stakeholders.

Why #InclusionMeans?
• People with Down syndrome have a right to be included in all parts of society, like everyone else.
• Not everyone understands exactly what inclusion means or how to include people with Down syndrome.
• It is important to hear from people with Down syndrome what inclusion means.

WEBINARS

Event on the margins of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

#InclusionMeans at United Nations in New York.

#InclusionMeans at United Nations Geneva

Find out what we think #InclusionMeans in #Employment , and what it doesn't mean! #InclusiveEmployment #WorldDownSyndromeDay

Related Documents:

Read more about #InclusionMeans

International Day of Happiness 2022; March 20th.

 Forum: How is Life; Measuring Well-being. International Day of Happiness 2022.

Some of the priorities for future work related to Reach Human life Satisfaction are: 

•  The development of an integrated framework for measuring household income, consumption expenditures and wealth at the micro-level.
• The introduction of disparities between households with different characteristics into the national accounts framework. 
•  Better measures of the quality of employment, in particular measures of work safety and ethics, of workplace relationship and work motivation, as well as better measures of earnings inequality. 
•  Better measures of the quality of housing services beyond the availability of basic amenities, of housing costs and affordability. 
•  Better measures of morbidity, as well as of mental health and disability in particular, along with better measures of risk factors and drivers of different health outcomes. 
•  Better measures of non-cognitive skills, such as social and personality skills, as well as measures of the cognitive development of young children and of the adult population. 
•  More harmonised and recurrent measures of time use, as well as of time crunches and time stress. 
• Better measures of social connections, social network support, interpersonal trust and other dimensions of social capital. 
• Better methodologies and concepts for civic engagement indicators, in particular regarding how people perceive the quality of democratic institutions of the country where they live, so as to complement expert’s assessments of specific practices within the public sector.

Defining well-being is challenging because it requires looking at many aspects of people’s lives, as well as understanding their relative importance. Although there is no single definition of well-being, most experts and ordinary people around the world would agree that it requires meeting various human needs, some of which are essential (e.g. being in good health), as well as the ability to pursue one’s goals, to thrive and feel satisfied with their life. Since well-being is a complex phenomenon and many of its determinants are strongly correlated with each other, assessing well-being requires a comprehensive framework that includes a large number of components and that, ideally, allows gauging how their interrelations shape people’s lives. 

The framework underpinning How’s Life? identifies three pillars for understanding and measuring people’s well-being: i) material living conditions; ii) quality of life; iii) and sustainability

In terms of its scope, the approach shown in the Figure distinguishes between wellbeing today and well-being tomorrow. It identifies, for the former, a number of dimensions pertaining to either material living conditions or quality of life that are critical to people’s lives; and, for the latter, a number of conditions that have to be met to preserve the wellbeing of future generations.

In terms of its focus, the approach:

- Puts the emphasis on households and individuals, rather than on aggregate conditions

for the economy since, as discussed above, there may be a discrepancy between the economy-wide economic situation and the well-being of households. Generally speaking, the report assesses the well-being of the whole population, though in some cases the focus is put on groups of the population who are more likely to face specific well-being trade-offs (e.g. work and life balance).

- Concentrates on well-being outcomes, as opposed to well-being drivers measured by input or output indicators. Outcomes may be imperfectly correlated with inputs (e.g. health expenditure may be a poor predictor of health status if the health care system is inefficient) or outputs (e.g. the number of surgical interventions performed may say little about people’s health conditions).

- Looks at the distribution of well-being across individuals. This is especially important when there are disparities in achievements across population groups and when these are correlated across dimensions (e.g. when the likelihood of earning a low income is correlated with low educational achievement, poor health status, poor housing, etc.). In particular, How’s Life? looks at disparities across age groups, gender, income or socio-economic background.

- Considers both objective and subjective aspects of well-being. Objective components of well-being are essential to assess people’s living conditions and quality of life, but information on people’s evaluations and feelings about their own lives is also important for capturing the psychological aspects of people’s “beings and doings” (e.g. feelings of insecurity) and understanding the relationship between objective and subjective components of well-being.

In terms of current well-being, How’s Life? considers the following dimensions:

- Under material living conditions: i) Income and wealth; ii) Jobs and earnings; and iii) Housing. Income and wealth capture people’s current and future consumption possibilities. Both the availability of jobs and their quality are relevant for material well-being, not only because they increase command over resources but also because having a job provides the opportunity to fulfil one’s own ambitions and build self-esteem. Finally, housing and its quality are essential not only to meet basic needs but also to have a sense of personal security, privacy and personal space. 

- Under quality of life: i) Health status; ii) Work and life balance; iii) Education and skills; iv) Civic engagement and governance; v) Social connections; vi) Environmental quality; vii) Personal security; and viii) Subjective well-being. Being healthy is important in itself but also for performing a range of activities relevant to well-being, including work. Similarly, SUSTAINABILITY OF WELL-BEING OVER TIME Requires preserving different types of capital : Natural capital Economic capital Human capital Social capital INDIVIDUAL WELL-BEING Population averages and differences across groups Regrettables Quality of Life Material Living Conditions GDP Health status Work and life balance Education and skills Social connections Civic engagement and governance Environmental quality Personal security Subjective well-being Income and wealth Jobs and earnings Housing. everyone aspires to becoming educated, but it is also a great asset for raising the living standards of individuals and society as a whole. Being able to reconcile work and life is important for the well-being of those who value having both a job and a family while, more generally, being able to spend time on non-remunerated activities helps individuals to remain healthy and productive.

 - Civic engagement and quality of governance matter for well-being, as they allow people to have more control of their lives. Social connectedness is a basic human need that also helps fulfil many other important goals (e.g. finding a job). The quality of the environment where people live affects their health and their ability to do a number of essential activities. Likewise, an environment where people can feel secure is important to a good life. Finally, considering how people feel in terms of their own evaluations and emotions is important for seeing whether they are satisfied with their lives as a whole, and whether this is the result of objective living circumstances or other factors.

EVENTS

Join the World Happiness Week 2022; From Marth 17Th- 22nd.