World Wildlife Day 2023; March 3rd.

 FORUM: 'Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation'. World Wildlife Day 2023.

The theme ‘Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation’ will thus provide the opportunity to highlight the people who are making a difference as well as to celebrate the bridge that CITES has been for these partnerships to form, making a significant contribution to sustainability, wildlife and biodiversity conservation. This year’s theme recognizes that CITES’s successes – indeed almost all successful conservation actions, depend upon cooperation. It is such an important and complex subject that no one government or organization, including the United Nations, can tackle the issue without collaboration and sharing of experience and expertise. So, the theme this year is ‘Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation’.

This year, the theme is “Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation”. The idea of a partnership inevitably means different things to different people. Some will see the most impactful conservation partnerships as taking place at the international level between organizations, while others may see small groups living alongside nature as having the most beneficial partnership for wildlife conservation.

In order to capture as many different partnerships as possible, WWD 2023 will focus on partnerships at three levels: international; regional and national; and local.

‘Partnership stories’, i.e. successful case studies, will be identified for each of these three groupings to illustrate that work needs to be done at all levels in order to safeguard the future of species currently threatened with extinction, and to secure a healthier planet for all.

It will allow to celebrate all conservation efforts, from intergovernmental to local scale. Within this theme, the day wants to generate discussions and awareness on two sub-topics: business & finance; and marine life & oceans.

Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) and Youth representatives will be specifically invited to contribute to the ‘partnership stories’, as two stakeholder groups that CITES has been working towards ensuring meaningful representation. 

Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #WWD2023, #3March, #WorldWildlifeDay; #Partnershipsforconservation.

CONCERT: UN Chamber Music Society Concert in Celebration of World Wildlife Day 2023.

Statement by the U.N. Secretary-General on World Wildlife Day 2023: March 3rd.

On World Wildlife Day, we reflect on our responsibility to protect the magnificent diversity of life on our planet.

And we recognize our abject failure.

Human activities are laying waste to once-thriving forests, jungles, farmland, oceans, rivers, seas, and lakes.

One million species teeter on the brink of extinction, due to habitat destruction, fossil fuel pollution and the worsening climate crisis.

We must end this war on nature.

The good news is that we have the tools, the knowledge, and the solutions.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which has helped protect thousands of plants and animals.

And last year’s agreement on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework marked an important step towards putting our planet on a path to healing.

As this year’s theme – ‘Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation’ – highlights, we need to work across governments, civil society, and the private sector to turn commitment into action.

And we need much bolder actions now to cut emissions, accelerate renewables, and build climate resilience.

Throughout, we need to place the voices of local communities and indigenous people – our world’s most effective guardians of biodiversity – front and centre.

Today and every day, let us all do our part to preserve natural habitats and build a thriving future for all living beings.

U.N. Secretary-General.

Statement from the President of the U.N. General Assembly on World Wildlife Day 2023; March 3rd.

Dear friends, 3rd of March 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. I'm pleased to be celebrating this important milestone with you all. Recently, we have made a great advance in the field of conservation and protection by adopting the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This agreement shows a strong sense of solidarity with future generations of humanity, but also towards our environment, our flora and our fauna. It has reignited hope.

The parties pledged, that by 2050, the extinction rate and risk of all species are reduced tenfold. I can only commend the resolve of this commitment, but we should not rest on our laurels now. We must do our utmost to implement it as best we can. For that, we need to resort to our most powerful tool building broad networks and fostering far reaching partnerships. Partnership is the key to rebuilding degraded areas and restoring healthy environments.

It is also crucial in curbing wildlife related crimes to successfully protect biodiversity. Indigenous communities must be included in these partnerships. But if we really want to see change, we must boost conservation and protection funding too. We have to enhance our cooperation with the financial institutions and the private sector. Your views do matter, and we need you to voice your concerns, ideas and proposals.

I'm happy to welcome you as decision shapers, and I count on your help. Thank you.

President of the U.N. General Assembly.

OTHER STATEMENTS

• Statement from the UNEP Executive Director on World Wildlife Day 2023; March 3rd.
• Statement from the UNDP Administrator on World Wildlife Day 2023; March 3rd.
• Statement from the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) on World Wildlife Day 2023; March 3rd.
• Statement from the Secretary-General of INTERPOL on World Wildlife Day 2023; March 3rd.
• Statement from the WORLD BANK Global Director for Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy (ENB) on World Wildlife Day 2023; March 3rd.
• Statement from the IPBES Executive Secretary on World Wildlife Day 2023; March 3rd.
• Statement from the IUCN Director-General on World Wildlife Day 2023; March 3rd.
• Statement from the ITTO Executive Director on World Wildlife Day 2023; March 3rd.
• Statement from the TRAFFIC Executive Director on World Wildlife Day 2023; March 3rd.
• Statement from the WOAH Director-General on World Wildlife Day 2023; March 3rd.
• Statement from the U.N. Special Envoy for the Oceans on World Wildlife Day 2023; March 3rd.
• Statement from the Director-General of the FAO on World Wildlife Day 2023; March 3rd.

EVENTS: UN World Wildlife Day 2023 - Virtual event.

On 3 March 2023, the CITES Secretariat will collaborate with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to hold the first WWD event in Washington D.C., the birthplace of CITES. The National Geographic Society has graciously offered its Grosvenor Auditorium as the venue of WWD 2023. Jackson WILD and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) have once again offered to organize the WWD Film showcase and the youth art competition, respectively, to showcase the power of visual arts that could bring people together to raise awareness and promote discussions among different parts of the world.

The Event organised by the CITES Secretariat and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will celebrate World Wildlife Day 2023 and CITES' 50th anniversary. During the ceremony the winner of the WWD2023 design competition will be presented. Huge congratulations to the designer Xavi Reñé for his beautiful work!

On this day; We will mark also the @CITES' 50th birthday.

March 3rd 2023 will be a very special date, as it will also be marking the 50th anniversary of CITES. CITES has stood at the junction of trade and conservation, with Parties to the Convention working with the shared goal of ensuring sustainability of endangered species. CITES has sought to build partnerships and reconcile differences between the groups that are guided and governed by its regulations. At national and local levels, these partnerships have been essential in every country across the globe to focus on the conservation of species and ecosystems.

World Wildlife Day 2023 Event programme.

Celebrate with us by joining the livestream .

Zero Discrimination Day 2023, March 1st.

FORUM: “Save lives: Decriminalise” Zero Discrimination Day 2023.

On Zero Discrimination Day this year, under the theme “Save lives: Decriminalise”, UNAIDS is highlighting how the decriminalisation of key populations and people living with HIV saves lives and helps advance the end of the AIDS pandemic.

Criminal laws targeting key populations and people living with HIV violate people’s human rights, exacerbate the stigma people face and put people in danger by creating barriers to the support and services they need to protect their health.

In 2021, the world set ambitious law reform targets to remove criminal laws that are undermining the HIV response and leaving key populations behind. Recognising decriminalization as a critical element in the response, countries made a commitment that by 2025 less than 10% of countries would have punitive legal and policy environments that affect the HIV response.


Criminalisation drives discrimination and structural inequalities. It robs people of the prospect of healthy and fulfilling lives. And it holds back the end of AIDS.

CAMPAIGN: We must End Discrimination to save lives.

However, despite some encouraging reforms, the world is far from achieving the target. 

In fact, today there are 

• 134 countries explicitly criminalising or otherwise prosecuting HIV exposure, non-disclosure or transmission; 
• 20 countries criminalise and/or prosecute transgender persons; 
• 153 countries criminalise at least one aspect of sex work; and 67 countries now criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity, according to UNAIDS. 
• 48 countries still place restrictions on entry into their territory for people living with HIV,
• 53 countries report that they require mandatory HIV testing, for example for marriage certificates or for performing certain professions. 
• 106 countries report requiring parental consent for adolescents to access HIV testing.

RESOURCES:

LAWS BY COUNTRY - Criminal offence for all drugs, 
TAKE THE QUIZ - FACTS ABOUT HIV CRIMINALIZATION?

Change starts with awareness. Take the interactive quiz to test your knowledge about the criminalization of HIV.

ABOUT DECRIMINALIZATION - With criminalization, it’s not because marginalized groups are at a higher risk of HIV that they are criminalized, rather it’s because they are criminalized that they are at a higher risk of HIV. It’s criminalization that increases vulnerability.

International Mother Language Day 2023; February 21st.

 FORUM: " Multilingual education - a necessity to transform education." International Mother Language Day 2023.

This year edition will explore the theme ‘multilingual education - a necessity to transform education.’ It will explore and debate the potential of multilingualism totransform education from a lifelong learning perspective and in different contexts. It is shaped around the following three inter-connected themes:

 • Enhancing multilingual education as a necessity to transform education in multilingual contexts from early childhood education and well beyond; 

• Supporting learning through multilingual education and multilingualism in our fast-changing global contexts and in crisis situations including emergencies contexts; 

• Revitalizing languages that are disappearing or are threatened with extinction. 

Objectives: The overall aim of the International Mother Language Day (IMLD) 2023 is to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 by recognizing the role of actors in education and in related fields in promoting multilingualism and multilingual education, and in fostering quality, inclusive and equitable learning. 

More specifically, IMLD 2023 aims to:

 • Further sensitize actors in education, teachers, education policy-makers of the transformative power of multilingualism and multilingual education;

 • Support actors in education, teachers, education policy-makers in the strengthening of multilingualism and multilingual education by highlighting and sharing promising and innovative policies and practices.

Statement from Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Mother Language Day 2023, February 21st.


While mother-tongue-based education is essential to the full development of individuals and to the transmission of linguistic heritage, 40% of the world's students do not have access to education in the language they speak or understand best. Such a situation severely undermines learning, cultural expression and the building of social relations, and significantly weakens the linguistic heritage of humanity. It is therefore crucial that this language issue be taken into account in the necessary exercise of transforming education, which UNESCO was supporting throughout 2022, culminating in the Transforming Education Summit, convened last September by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres. This imperative first requires a better collection of data, which will make it possible to carry out specific and customized actions. Above all, however, it requires a more general awareness of the irreplaceable but fragile value of the world's linguistic and cultural diversity. Each of the more than 7,000 languages spoken by humanity carries within it a unique view of the world, of things and of beings, a way of thinking and feeling – so much so that each disappearance of a language constitutes an irretrievable loss. In this context, the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032), for which UNESCO is the leading agency, is an important opportunity for the international community to mobilize in order to safeguard a major part of the world's cultural diversity. This is also the aim of this International Day: celebrating these ways of expressing the world in its multiplicity, committing to the preservation of the diversity of languages as a common heritage, and working for quality education – in mother tongues – for all.

Director-General of UNESCO.

EVENTS: The event will take place in Room (TBC), UNESCO House (Fontenoy). Interpretations will be available in English, French, Spanish. 

Morning session: Official opening and two panels on 

1) Multilingual education as a vector for transforming education and promoting gender equality and 

2) Revitalizing local languages to promotemultilingual education and transform education.

 Afternoon session: Two panels on

 1) Multilingual Education in Small Island Developing States: Challenges and Opportunities for Transformative Education and

 2) Multilingual education - a factor of change - in crisis and emergency situations. 

Target audiences 

• Key stakeholders in education, education policy-makers, teachers. 

• Non-governmental organizations, foundations and other bodies supporting multilingualism.

World Day of Social Justice 2023; February 20th.

FORUM: "How to deliver a sustained dose of social justice." World Day of Social Justice 2023.

The 2023 World Day of Social Justice provides an opportunity to foster dialogue on actions needed to achieve social justice by strengthening the social contract that has been fractured by rising inequalities, conflicts and weakened institutions that are meant to uphold and protect the rights of workers. Key Questions for Discussion: • What are the key bottlenecks and challenges to overcoming rising inequalities, decent work deficits, including lack of access to social protection, digital exclusion and disruption of trade? • What are the opportunities in the green and digital economy to reduce inequalities and promote social justice, in particular for youth? • What actions are needed by governments, the UN system, international financial institutions, employers’ and workers’ organisations, civil society and other stakeholders to increase investments for social justice?

The International Labour Organization (ILO) brings together leading figures from academia, politics and the world of work with the ILO Director-General to discuss how to advance social justice in the world. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #20February, #SocialJusticeDay.

EVENTS: “Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunitiesfor Social Justice.” The World Day of Social Justice 2023 event aims to increase understanding of multiple global challenges and related social justice deficits and will propose concrete actions to achieve international development goals, including through a new global social contract.

World Radio Day 2023; February 13rd.

FORUM: Radio and Peace. On World Radio Day 2023, UNESCO highlights independent radio as a pillar for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

An armed conflict between countries or groups within a country may also translate into a conflict of media narratives. The narrative can either increase tensions or maintain conditions for peace. In reporting and informing the general public, radio stations shape public opinion and frame a narrative that can influence domestic and international situations and decision-making processes. Increasing radio's journalistic standards and capacity should be considered as an investment in peace.

Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #13February, #WorldRadioDay.

Statement  from Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Radio Day 13 February 2023“ Radio and Peace”.

On this World Day we celebrate radio’s power to nurture and build peace.Since it was developed about a century ago, radio has proven to be an exceptional means of communication, debate and exchange – indeed, it is one of the most accessible and widespread types of media.It is these characteristics which explain why UNESCO has particularly relied on radio throughout the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, when it has been necessary to reach children and students who were out of school and especially isolated. Radiohas thus allowed us to establish an effective system of teaching over the airwaves in many countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, where less than a quarter of the population has access to the Internet, radio has enabled the continuity of learning despite the difficulties. Radio is thus very often the medium of last resort. We are seeing this again in Afghanistan, where girls and women have been suddenly and unfairly denied their right to learn, study and teach. In order to respond to this situation, which UNESCO has strongly condemned, our organization has launched, with the European Union, a major programme to support the Afghan media. The objective is to help circulate educational material, as well as material concerning health and safety, and to reach at least six million Afghans directly. Aside from being a technical instrument, the radio also provides a space where democratic debate is fostered and enriched. It is therefore essential to safeguard both the independence and the diversity of what is, in many respects, a genuine modern-day agora. This is why UNESCO, which has made freedom of the press a priority, supports community and independent radio stations around the world.On this day, UNESCO calls on everyone – listeners, radio broadcasters and audiovisualprofessionals – not only to celebrate radio’s potential, but also, and especially, to make greater use of radio as a unique instrument of peace.

UNESCO Director-General.

Radio in Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding.

Radio is an important player and an essential part of maintenance and transition to peace. Professional radio addresses both the root causes and triggers of conflict, before they potentially explode into violence. It offers an alternative methodology of conflict prevention by clarifying frustrations, or clashes of interest, clearing misunderstandings, and identifying issues of distrust. This can help counter hate, the desire for revenge, or the will to take up arms.

Radio programmers’ varied collaborative techniques also reinforce a culture of dialogue by means of participatory programmes and formats, such as calls-in, talk shows, listeners’ fora, etc., and so give opportunities to discuss - on air and democratically - latent issues, including disagreements.

Professional independent radio, thus, strengthens democracy and provides the foundation for sustainable peace.

UN Peacekeeping Missions support radio stations and radio programmes in many of their host countries. Read more about the impact of UN Peacekeeping radio stations.

AUDIO-PODCATS: On February 13th, Listen to the World Radio Day 2023 audio-podcasts.

Together, let's celebrate the 12th edition of World Radio Day. Here are some ideas on how to celebrate.

International Day for Women and Girls in Science 2023; February 11th.

FORUM: “Innovate. Demonstrate. Elevate. Advance. - Bringing communities Forward for sustainable and equitable development.International Day for Women and Girls in Science 2023.

The 8th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly is organized, for the first time, around a number of fictitious communities that have their main impact on the SDGs reviewed in depth in 2023: SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities). Key stakeholders of these communities will be brought together for a substantive discussion on the means of implementation (SDG17): how to create the enabling environment for accelerated implementation of SDGS 7, 9 and 11, while keeping a continuous focus on SDG6, following up on the in-depth water discussions of the 7th IDWGIS of 2022. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #11February, #WomeninScience; #GirlsinScience.

EVENTS: The Commemoration of International Day for Women and Girls in Science 2023 will be held on February 10th, 2023 - 8:00 am - 10 February 2023 - 1:00 pm at UNESCO in Nairobi, Kenya. The 8th Assembly aims to bridge between the International Community and women in science through linking their knowledge and expertise and its applications in a systematic, critical way for the 2030 agenda and its 17 global goals. The Assembly is bringing forward women in science, youth, experts, and professionals together with multi-stakeholder in dialogues and discussion for identifying conditions and tools to put Science, Technology, and Innovation at the heart of sustainable development programs, international relations, and public and private sectors strategies and implementation plans. The 8th Assembly aims to assist policymakers – at all levels whether in public or private sectors - to evolving a more mature relationship between science, policy, and society for strategies that they can commit to for the future. Read the concept note.

STATEMENTS

• - Message from the U.N. Secretary- General on International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2023; February 11th.



On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we highlight a simple equation: More women and girls in science equals better science.

Women and girls bring diversity to research, expand the pool of science professionals, and provide fresh perspectives to science and technology, benefiting everyone.

There is growing evidence that gender bias in science is leading to worse outcomes, from drug tests that treat the female body as an aberration, to search algorithms that perpetuate bias and discrimination.

Yet in too many places around the world, women and girls’ access to education is limited or denied completely.

As women look to progress in scientific careers, inequalities and discrimination continue to thwart their potential.

Women make up under a third of the workforce across science, technology, engineering, and maths and even less in cutting edge fields. Just one in five professionals working on Artificial Intelligence is a woman.

We must – and we can – do more to promote women and girl scientists:

Through scholarships, internships, and training programmes that provide a platform to succeed.

Through quotas, retention incentives, and mentorship programmes that help women overcome entrenched hurdles and build a career.

And crucially, by affirming women’s rights and breaking down stereotypes, biases, and structural barriers.

We can all do our part to unleash our world’s enormous untapped talent – starting with filling classrooms, laboratories, and boardrooms with women scientists.

U.N.Secretary-General.

• -Message from Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, 11 February 2023.

• Science is many things: a study of natural, physical and social phenomena; a process to test hypotheses and draw conclusions; a journey of discovery to understand the world’s many mysteries. But what science should be is equitable, diverse and inclusive. It should be for all and open to all, especially women. Today, just one in three researchers is a woman, according to the latest UNESCO Science Report. In higher education, women represent just over 35 per cent of graduates in STEM-related fields, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. If these gender inequalities are so significant, it is because they are deeply rooted in our societies. It is because of the persistence of gender stereotypes and prejudices, which sometimes persuade girls that scientific studies are not for them, despite their tremendous potential.At UNESCO, where we work to build peace in the minds of men and women, addressing these stereotypes is a priority – because more women in science means better science. This conviction underpins all our work in this domain, and is enshrined in our Recommendation on Open Science, adopted by all our Member States in 2021.This vigilance is all the more necessary at a time when equal access to education can never be taken for granted – as we saw recently, when women in Afghanistan were brutally deprived of their right to learn and teach, including in higher education. UNESCO condemns this violation of a fundamental right and calls for it to be restored without delay.Today, all around the world, UNESCO is working to foster environments that encourage girls and women to study scientific topics – for example by supporting a scientific mentorship programme in East Africa. To date, it has reached 11 million students, especially girls. UNESCO also seeks to break down stereotypes, by raising awareness of women scientists who are blazing new trails. Through our 25-year partnership with the L’Oréal Foundation, we have honoured over 120 exceptional women scientists from around the world, five of whom have also received the Nobel Prize. As role models, they are examples for young women to follow – underlining that they too can achieve excellence. On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, let’s reiterate this fundamental message: women need science, and science needs women. Only by tapping into all sources of knowledge, all sources of talent, can we unlock the full potential of science, and rise to the challenges of our time.

• UNESCO Director-General.

• 
  

• -Message from the Executive Director of UN Women, on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science; 11 February 2023.

EVENT

WEBINARS

The Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT), and co-organizing Member States are celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGIS), on 10 February 2023 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This will be the 8th Assembly, pursuant to the adoption of Resolution A/RES/70/212 on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, on December 22, 2015, aimed at promoting equality in science, technology, and innovation for socio-economic sustainable development, in line with the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs.

The 8th Assembly is co organized by the Permanent Missions of Chile, Lebanon, Malta, Poland, Portugal, the Philippines, Rwanda, Slovakia, and Spain to the United Nations and co sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, France, Georgia, Honduras, Hungary, Kenya, the Maldives, Romania, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Slovenia, Tajikistan Tanzania and Turkiye to the United Nations, as well as the African Union the League of Arab States United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNCTAD the International Telecommunication Union ITU United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO and the World Intellectual Property Organization WIPO.

This year, the IDWGIS will focus on the role of Women and Girls and Science as relates to the SDGs in review at the forthcoming High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), namely SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and SDG17 (means of implementation), while following up on discussions on water held during from the “Water Unites Us” 7th IDWGIS, the 2nd High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2022, held in Dushanbe, and the 2nd UN Ocean Conference and its High-Level Symposium on Water held in Lisbon, as a contribution for the 2023 UN Water Conference, and other UN Fora.

In doing so the IDWGIS aims to connect the International Community to Women and Girls in Science, strengthening the ties between science, policy, and society for strategies oriented towards the future. The IDWGIS will thus showcase best practices, strategies, applied solutions in addressing SDGs challenges and opportunities. It will also include for the first time a science workshop for Blind Girls and a session from the BLIND fellow SCIENTISTS on “Science in Braille: Making Science Accessible”.

The 8th Assembly of the IDWGIS will feature two high-level panels and four interactive conversations with distinguished representatives from governments, inter-governmental organization, the private sector, academia, and our fellow blind and deaf scientists. The voice of Girls in Science 4 SDGs International Platform and youth will be present in every conversation.

In Panel Discussion 1, participants will engage in interactive discussions, respectively focusing on: (i) sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11); (ii) transportation and logistics (SDG 7); (iii) business and industry (SDG 9); and, (iv) a space for sustainable development, with a focus on SDG 6. SDG6 and SDG17 will be addressed in a cross-cutting manner. A Cansu SITE representative will provide the water lens in each conversation. Additionally, relevant experts will be invited to offer their input on SDG17, as well as on financing sustainable solutions. Finally, in fulfilment of RASIT’s mission of bringing everyone forward, the importance of multilingualism will also be highlighted.

In Panel Discussion 2, RASIT and UN Member States, departments and agencies will celebrate the 8th anniversary of the #February11 Global Movement through a high-level panel entitled “Think Science. Think Peace”.

CONVERSATIONS & PANEL DISCUSSIONS

PANEL 1: Equipping Communities for Sustainable and Equitable Development.

• Conversation I: Transforming Cities and Infrastructure for Sustainable Future.
• Conversation II: The Road to Sustainable Transport.
• Conversation III: Food Business & Industry Communities: Securing Sustainability.
• Conversation IV: Breaking Boundaries: Space Community - I.D.E.A.S. for Sustainable Development.
• PARALLEL SESSIONS - Transform Science Education: Accessible Sustainability.

PANEL 2: Bringing Everyone Forward.

• Conversation V: Making Science Accessible. A Conversation with Renowned BLIND Scientists.
• CLOSING CEREMONY 
• RECEPTION “Think Science .. Think Peace”. 

World Pulses Day 2023; February 10th.

                                 

FORUM: “Pulses to empower youth in achieving sustainable agrifood systems.” World Pulses Day 2023.

Pulses contribute to increasing the resilience of farming systems and providing a Better Life for farmers in water scarce environments, as they have a low water footprint and can better tolerate drought and climate-related disasters compared with other food crops, making them an essential tool to adapt and mitigate climate change. Including pulses in various farming systems (e.g. agroforestry, intercropping and integrated farming systems) can help to increase the resilience of agriculture livelihoods and improve productivity. Furthermore, on the economic side, the global pulses industry, dealing with pulses production and trade, proves to be a positive driver in ensuring the resilience of regional and global supply chains, enabling consumers to access nutritious foods and contributing to the sustainable use of natural resources. Follow the conversations withthe hashtags: #WorldPulsesDay; #LovePulses; #10February.

EVENTS: Based on the benefits that pulses provide to agrifood systems and the environment, the FAO Steering Committee selected “Pulses for a Sustainable Future” as the theme for the 2023 World Pulses Day celebration. Join us online on 10 February 2023 from 14:00–15:30 CET. To participate to the virtual event; Register and get the agenda.

Pulses contribute to creating livelihood opportunities and equity, says FAO.

SECTION A: OPENING AND KEYNOTES. 

Moderator: Ms Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

- Opening Remarks by Mr QU Dongyu Director-General, FAO

- Keynote Address by Ms Saadia Elmubarak Ahmed Daak Agricultural Counsellor Alternate Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Sudan to FAO

- Keynote Address by Ms Cindy Brown President Global Pulse Confederation.

- 

SECTION B: Presentation on Pulses for a sustainable future and conclusion.

Moderator: Jingyuan Xia, Director, FAO Plant Production and Protection Division.

- Presentation of 2023 promotional video.

- Pulses for developing sub-Saharan Africa sustainably by Mr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki Honorary President, Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat (SWAC)

- The national strategy for plant protein: An example from France by Ms Maud Iacomelli Deputy Head of the Unit for field crops, seeds and processed products Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, France.

- Future of pulses for sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean by Mr Tito Claure Chief Coordinator, Latin American Network of Pulse Researchers.

- The hidden benefits of pulses by Ms Rujuta Diwekar Leading sports science and nutrition expert, the Republic of India.

- Q&A session.

- Closing Remarks by Her Excellency Fatimata Cheiffou Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Niger to FAO and Chairperson of the World Pulses Day Steering Committee

International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation 2023; February 6th.

 FORUM: "Partnership with Men and Boys to transform Social and gender Norms to End FGM". International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2023. This year, the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation: Delivering the Global Promise launched the 2023 theme. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #MenEndFGM, #6February, #EndFGM.

EVENTS: Commencing on 6 February at 8 AM (EST), the broadcast event will highlight the sustained leadership of Member States, civil society organizations, the private sector and the United Nations system to inspire a global movement to mobilize support for the elimination of female genital mutilation, as well as amplifying the voices of community actors leading the work on engaging and partnering with men and boys on the ground. This year, UNFPA and UNICEF call on the global community to partner with men and boys and foster their engagement to accelerate the elimination of this harmful practice and uplift the voices of women and girls. Varying initiatives have been employed by organizations around the world to engage and partner with men and boys and for them to take an active role. These initiatives have resulted in a surge of male allies such as religious and traditional leaders, health workers, law enforcement officials, members of civil society and grassroots organizations, and more and have led to notable achievements in the protection of women and girls.

STATEMENTS:

United Nations Secretary-General on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2023; February 6th.

Female genital mutilation is an abhorrent violation of fundamental human rights that causes lifelong damage to the physical and mental health of women and girls. It is one of the most vicious manifestations of the patriarchy that permeates our world.

Some 4.2 million girls are at risk of being subjected to this act of gender-based violence during 2023 alone. We need urgent investments and action to reach the Sustainable Development Goals target of eliminating female genital mutilation by 2030.

Female genital mutilation is rooted in the same gender inequalities and complex social norms that limit women’s participation and leadership and restrict their access to education and employment. This discrimination damages the whole of society, and we need urgent action by the whole of society to end it.

Men and boys – brothers, fathers, health workers, teachers, and traditional leaders – can be powerful allies in challenging and ending this scourge, as this year’s theme makes clear. I call on men and boys everywhere to join me in speaking out and stepping forward to end female genital mutilation, for the benefit of all.

On the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, let’s commit to social change and strong partnerships to put an end to female genital mutilation once and for all.

United Nations Secretary-General.

Joint Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem and UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2023.

This year, 4.3 million girls are at risk of female genital mutilation, according to the latest UNFPA estimates. This number is projected to reach 4.6 million by 2030, as conflict, climate change, rising poverty and inequality continue to hinder efforts to transform gender and social norms that underpin this harmful practice and disrupt programmes that help protect girls.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) violates the rights of women and girls and limits their opportunities for the future in health, education and income. Rooted in gender inequality and power imbalances, it is an act of gender-based violence that harms girls' bodies, dims their futures, and endangers their lives.

But we know that change is possible. With just eight years left to reach the global target of eliminating FGM, only collective and well-funded action across a diverse group of stakeholders can end this harmful practice.

Changing gender and social norms that encourage FGM is critical. Men and boys are powerful allies in the effort. Increasingly they are challenging power dynamics within their families and communities and supporting women and girls as agents of change.

The UNFPA-UNICEF global Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM has supported over 3,000 initiatives within the last five years where men and boys actively advocate to bring an end to the practice.

We are witnessing significant opposition from men and boys to FGM in many countries. In Ethiopia, for example – a country with one of the highest rates of FGM globally – male opposition to the practice is 87 per cent, according to a recent UNICEF analysis.

This year, on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, we call on the global community to:
Partner with and engage men and boys to shift unequal power relations and challenge the attitudes and behaviours caused by gender inequality that lead to FGM.
Integrate gender-transformative approaches and changing social norms into anti-FGM programmes.
Invest in national-level policies and legislation protecting the rights of girls and women, including the development of national action plans to end FGM.


Today is a reminder of the urgent need for even more targeted and concerted efforts to turn our shared goal of ending FGM into a reality. We must work together with all stakeholders - including men and boys - to protect the millions of girls and women at risk and consign this practice to history.

UNFPA and UNICEF Executive Director.

WEBINARS: 

#MenEndFGM: Partnering with Men and Boys to Transform Social Norms to End Female Genital Mutilation.

Event Organizers: UNFPA and UNICEF Executive Directors, UN Women Deputy Executive Director, alongside ministerial level speakers from the United Kingdom, Iceland, Italy, Sweden and the European Union and young men and women from Gambia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Egypt, Nigeria and the United States.

World Cancer Day 2023; February 4th.

FORUM: "Close the Gap." World Cancer Day 2023.

The Day will focus on examining the socioeconomic factors that lead to disparities in cancer prevention, incidence and survival, such as cultural and gender norms, income and education levels, and biases based on age, gender, ethnicity, disability and lifestyle. Additionally, there will be a call for increased action to improve cancer awareness, prevent cancer, support advancements in diagnostics and treatment, and address the shortcomings in health systems highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. There will also be opportunities for interviews with WHO and partners in different regions and WHO countries worldwide. World Cancer Day aims to promote awareness on cancer as a public health issue and to strengthen actions towards improving access to quality care, screening, early detection, treatment and palliative care. This year’s theme marks the second year of the campaign “close the care gap” which is about understanding the inequities in cancer care and taking actions to make the necessary progress to address them.

EVENTS: On World Cancer Day 2023, various activities will take place globally, including the "5k Challenge" by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), encouraging individuals from all backgrounds to participate in activities such as running, cycling, swimming, hiking or walking to symbolize closing the gap in care. Additionally, there will be "21-day challenges" for individuals to create new healthy habits, raise awareness about cervical cancer, and educate themselves about inequalities in accessing cancer services.

Statement from the WHO Regional Director for Africa on World Cancer Day 2023; February 4th.

                          

A young girl from Rwanda with a tumor the size of a cauliflower on her face met a doctor. The young girl was one of the doctor’s first patients. The girl’s father, a subsistence farmer, had tried traditional solutions, but the tumor had grown, and his expenses too. The family needed an oncologist. Eventually, the doctor called the one who talked her through the treatment that saved the girl’s life.


We join the international community commemorating World Cancer Day today, 4 February 2023. The theme of this year is “Close the care Gap: Uniting our voices and taking action.” This year’s campaign summons like-minded people to be united as we build stronger alliances and new innovative collaborations in the fight against cancer.


Cancer is a public health issue of major concern.


The numbers are stark. Approximately 1.1 million new cancer cases occur each year in Africa, with about 700,000 deaths. Data estimates show a considerable increase in cancer mortality to nearly one million deaths per year by 2030, without urgent and bold interventions.


We should recall that the most common cancers in adults include breast (16.5%), cervical (13.1%), prostate (9.4%), Colorectal (6%), and liver (4.6%) cancers, contributing to nearly half of the new cancer cases. With significant data challenges, childhood cancer incidence in sub-Saharan Africa is estimated at 56.3 per million population. Current projections show that Africa will account for nearly 50% of the global childhood cancer burden by 2050, compelling expeditious efforts to confront this concern, as was done for the young girl from Rwanda.


In that view, it is important to celebrate some achievements we have made as a region, at the country level. Twelve countries in the region have valid National Cancer Control Plans. WHO is supporting eleven additional countries in developing or updating their National Cancer Control Plans aligned to the global cancer initiatives coupled with the presence of governance structures at the government level to implement Cancer Plans.


Countries such as Ghana, Senegal, Zambia, and Senegal have developed National Treatment Guidelines for childhood cancer. Twenty-five countries have developed and are using Cancer Guidelines. Political will remains significant in improving the cancer landscape. Including childhood cancer medicines in the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana and Zambia is a good example. Such a strategic action will significantly contribute to the increase in survival rates for children with cancer in these countries.


We are collaborating with Childhood Cancer International to develop and pilot the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support guidelines for children in Burkina Faso. It is gratifying to note the steady increase of HPV vaccination national introduction by 51% of countries in the region, although coverage remains concerning
at 21%.


Currently, 16 countries have introduced high-performance-based screening tests in line with WHO recommendations and plan to scale up cervical cancer screening. The introduction of gynecologic oncology Fellowships for improved access to cervical cancer treatment services in Malawi and Zambia is commendable and innovative.


Working closely with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in cancer registration, we launched three collaborating centers in Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, and South Africa. The centers will facilitate capacity building for local staff and improve data quality for effective decision-making.


Despite these achievements, stumbling blocks remain on our path. These include the low availability of Population Based Cancer Registries; limited health promotion; inadequate access to primary prevention and early detection services; the scarcity of diagnostic facilities that increase delays in diagnosis and treatment. Provision of palliative care is rare in Africa, notwithstanding the significant need for it. Africa has only 3% of the world’s cancer treatment facilities, with radiotherapy available in just 22 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to very low survival rates.

By uniting voices and action, we can address cancer at individual and community levels: Choosing healthy lifestyles, getting vaccinated, and getting routinely screened against preventable cancers. Parents have the responsibility to ensure their eligible daughters receive HPV vaccines.


I call on Governments to develop/update national cancer control plans, provide sustainable financing and invest in cancer registration. I encourage Governments to incorporate cancer care into essential benefits packages and national health insurance systems. It is also critical to ensure adequate infrastructure for human resource, screening, diagnostics, and treatment. There is equally a need to expand the use of digital health and establish relevant trainings for the cancer workforce.


Finally, cancer survivors can lend their voices as advocates for better cancer services. As persons with lived experience, they should be involved designing cancer services at all levels of health care.


Let us unite against cancer and take action to make universal health for cancer prevention, treatment and care a reality in Africa.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti.

CAMPAIGN: In 2023, the global cancer community commemorates World Cancer Day, on February 4, with the slogan "Close the care gap", and the call to unite our voices and take action. PAHO joins this campaign to call everyone, collectively and individually, to commit to strengthen actions aimed to improve access to quality care, including screening, early detection, treatment and palliative care.
Join us to reduce the impact of cancer!

CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: Let’s unite to make the world aware to close the gap in cancer care. Get the communications materials!