International Human Solidarity Day 2013, December 20.

International Human Solidarity Day 2013 theme: Bridging the gaps to reach the Millennium Development Goals.

United Nations Secretary-General's Message for International Human Solidarity Day 2013.

At the dawn of this century, at the Millennium Summit, world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to peace and security, human rights and good governance.  They agreed on a set of time-bound targets, encapsulated in the Millennium Development Goals, to reducing extreme poverty, hunger, needless disease and other global social and environmental ills by 2015.  And they recognized that these objectives demand that we must all practice mutual respect and accept shared responsibility.

This year we mark Human Solidarity Day with the resolve to work together to bridge the remaining gaps to reach the Millennium Development Goals and define the path we will follow after 2015 to achieve a more sustainable future for all.  We all have a role in overcoming today’s economic, political, environmental and social challenges, and we must all share the costs and benefits of sustainable development according to needs and ability.  This is the essence of justice, fairness and equity.  It is the meaning of solidarity.

On this Human Solidarity Day, I urge people from all nations, faiths, cultures and traditions to work together in common cause to keep the promise made at the turn of the Millennium and leave a legacy of peace, prosperity and sustainable progress for generations to come. 

Ban Ki-moon

Día Internacional de la Solidaridad Humana, 20 de diciembre
Международный день солидарности людей, 20 декабря
Journée internationale de la solidarité humaine, 20 décembre
国际人类团结日, 12月20日
 اليوم الدولي للتضامن الإنساني

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: Message for World Humanitarian Day 19 August 2013

 United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

Message For World Humanitarian Day

19 August 2013

  Every year on August 19th, we mark World Humanitarian Day in honour of aid workers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

We commemorate their sacrifice and reaffirm our commitment to the life-saving work that humanitarians carry out around the world, every day, often in difficult and dangerous circumstances where others cannot or do not want to go.

This year's commemoration marks the 10th anniversary of the attack on UN headquarters in Baghdad that killed Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 other United Nations colleagues and partners.  That tragedy was among the inspirations for this Day.

Sergio was a vocal advocate of the values and mission of the United Nations.  He touched the lives of all who met him, and helped millions of poor and vulnerable people in a life of service on several continents.  His death was a great loss to the United Nations, but his legacy has motivated many people to pursue humanitarian work.

This year, our World Humanitarian Day campaign is calling on people to answer a question: What do you think the world needs more of?  I urge people everywhere to go to www.worldhumanitarianday.org and tell us, in one word, what you think.

My word is "teamwork."  In a time of global challenges, people and countries need to work together in common cause for peace, justice, dignity and development.  That is the humanitarian spirit.  That is the humanitarian imperative of the United Nations.

* *** *

The United Nations on Monday observed World Humanitarian Day to honour the memory of all staff who have made the ultimate sacrifice for peace.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad in which 22 staff members died.

Events have been held around the world to raise awareness about attacks on humanitarian workers who are helping people in need.

United Nations honours memory of staff who sacrificed for peace

 

This World Humanitarian Day- 19 August, Sponsor a world you think the world needs more of.

THE WORLD NEEDS MORE ‪#‎PEACE‬
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE ‪#‎AID‬
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE ‪#‎FOOD‬
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE ‪#‎ACTION‬
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE ‪#‎SHELTER‬
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE ‪#‎COMMUNITY‬
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE ‪#‎GOOD‬
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE ‪#‎HUMANITY‬
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE ‪#‎IMMUNIZATION‬
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE ‪#‎LOVE‬
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE DRINKING ‪#‎WATER‬
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE ‪#‎HAPPINESS‬

Go to - http://www.worldhumanitarianday.org/

United Nations Secretary-General's message on Africa Day 2013

New York, 25 May 2013 - Secretary-General's message on Africa Day

This year’s celebration of Africa Day has special significance as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity, the continent’s first regional organization and forerunner of the African Union.
As Africans pay tribute to the giants and visionaries of the 20th century who worked for Africa’s sovereignty and unity, we also look forward with hopes for an era of prosperity and peace.

The past decade saw unprecedented progress.  The launch of the AU’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development and Peer Review Mechanism has helped to advance economic, social, political and institutional reforms.  Similarly, the African Union is playing an increasingly more dynamic leadership role in preventing, managing, and resolving Africa’s conflicts through its revamped Peace and Security Architecture.  Many countries have also sought to energize the private sector.

As we celebrate Africa’s achievements, we know numerous and serious challenges remain -- including conflict, environmental degradation, and the need for strengthened infrastructure and institutions.  We must accelerate efforts towards the Millennium Development Goals, from maternal health to HIV/AIDS, and keep Africa’s needs and aspirations front and centre in discussions on the post-2015 development agenda.
As Africans write a new narrative for the next 50 years and beyond, the United Nations will proudly continue to work in partnership with the African Union and the peoples of Africa to help build a continent of opportunity and hope for all.

---

Statements on 25 May 2013

• Addis Ababa, 25 May 2013 - Secretary-General's remarks at ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Organization of African Unity / African Union [as prepared for delivery]

International Day of Family 2013, May 15

	THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
	MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES
	"ADVANCING SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND INTERGENERATIONAL SOLIDARITY"
	Families hold societies together, and intergenerational relationships extend this legacy over time. This year's International Day of Families is an occasion to celebrate connections among all members of the constellation that makes up a family. It is also an opportunity to reflect on how they are affected by social and economic trends – and what we can do to strengthen families in response. Unemployment is forcing many young people, often eager for independence, to rely on their parents longer than they would have hoped. The lack of affordable and quality childcare is complicating efforts by parents in dual-earner families to combine their work and home obligations. Inadequate pensions and care for older persons demands more attention as we succeed in our goal of extending lives. These challenges make family support more important than ever – for the young person seeking a job while living with their parents, for the grandparent who relies on their children for shelter and care, and for the many members of extended families who take on childcare responsibilities. Around the world, family members are doing their part. They deserve support from policy-makers and decision-makers, from public institutions and private businesses. There is a growing recognition around the world that we need to strengthen policies promoting intergenerational solidarity and support intergenerational programmes and initiatives. Evidence shows that adequate pensions and caregiver support help not only older persons but whole families. Intergenerational programmes promoting volunteering among the young and old benefit all generations. Opportunities for people of all ages to bond revitalize whole communities. Intergenerational initiatives also address global development priorities. They counteract inequality and exclusion, encourage active citizenship and even improve public infrastructure through community-based projects. On this International Day of Families, I call on governments, civil society, families and individuals to support initiatives that bring people together across generations toward building a healthier world for all.
	Click below for the message in all the UN Official Languages
	| English | French | Spanish | Chinese | Arabic | Russian |

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon message on the occasion of ...

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon message on the occasion of the WMO HMNDP event



Multimedia Gallery of the World Meteorological Organization

Ban Ki-moon Press Conference at the Palais des Nations, Geneva Switzerland, March 1, 2013

Press Conference (Geneva): UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon 1 Mar 2013 - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Press Conference at the Palais des Nations, Geneva Switzerland 

 

International Human Solidarity Day 2012

International Human Solidarity Day is

• a day to celebrate our unity in diversity;
• a day to remind governments to respect their commitments to international agreements;
• a day to raise public awareness of the importance of solidarity;
• a day to encourage debate on the ways to promote solidarity for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals including poverty eradication;
• a day of action to encourage new initiatives for poverty eradication.

 

United Nations Secretary-General's Message for 2012

This year’s observance of International Human Solidarity Day comes during a period of dramatic transition.  People across the world are demanding greater political freedom, accountability and equality.  Global interdependence is deepening along economic, social, and environmental dimensions.  In light of these realities, how can we best shape solutions for a more secure, sustainable and prosperous future?
Solidarity is crucial to solving problems in our interconnected world.  We witnessed an important act of solidarity at this year’s United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20).  Governments, civil society and private sector leaders came together and agreed to promote an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable future.
We can reach our shared goals if people are able to participate in the formulation and implementation of plans, policies and programmes to shape our common future. Commitments without empowerment are words without meaning.
Despite progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, we must intensify our efforts before the target date of 2015.  We are also laying the groundwork for the post-2015 agenda.  The process aims to be participatory, seeking the views of development experts and ordinary citizens around the world.
On International Human Solidarity Day I call on all citizens of the world to help us advance solidarity as a global family – and reach our shared goals.

Ban Ki-moon

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 2012

United Nations Secretary-General's Message for 2012

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 2012

Eighty-five years have passed since the entry into force of the Slavery Convention, yet this dehumanizing practice has acquired new manifestations in the 21st century.

Every day, in all regions of the world, women are trafficked, sold and locked in brothels for sexual exploitation. Little girls are forcibly married, sexually abused and used as domestic workers.  Children work in mines, setting explosives and breathing toxic dust.  Others are abducted and turned into soldiers, obliged to kill and torture.  Men, separated from their families, are forced to work in plantations or locked in clandestine factories without any salary to repay never-ending debts.

The movement against slavery brought together the international community to declare that slavery practices constitute an affront to our common humanity and that no human being should be another’s property.  Today, governments, civil society and the private sector must unite to eradicate all contemporary forms of slavery.
We have important tools with which to advance this goal.  The United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, for example, extends humanitarian, financial and legal assistance to victims. Over the past two decades, the Fund has assisted tens of thousands of victims of slavery in more than 90 countries. Yet the Fund is in dire need of funding to fulfil its mandate and respond to the growing need.

On the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, I call on governments and business enterprises to contribute to the UN Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery and its activities in support of victims worldwide.  Together, let us do our utmost for the millions of victims throughout the world who are held in slavery and deprived of their human rights and dignity.

Ban Ki-moon

Ban Ki Moon Message on International Volunteers Day 2012

As we celebrate the impact of volunteers on our world, let us remember the many places they are needed: in war zones and classrooms, in hospitals and homes – wherever struggling people seek a helping hand.
/
 Let us also remember that volunteering can embrace all people, from the activist who works full-time for a cause to the occasional citizen who reaches out when he or she can. Each sets an example of the spirit of compassion we need. Each makes a valuable contribution to reaching our common goals./

 The timeless act of volunteering in the service of others has taken on new dimensions in today’s digital age. Anyone with an Internet connection or a mobile phone can make a difference./

 I applaud all people who volunteer each year for the benefit of their communities. I am especially grateful to the 7,700 United Nations Volunteers who support efforts to prevent conflicts, help societies recover from fighting, promote sustainable development, assist in crisis situations and carry out numerous other projects for the greater good. Their work has advanced the Millennium Development Goals, and I am confident they will also contribute to the progress on the post-2015 development agenda./

 Founded on the values of solidarity and mutual trust, volunteerism transcends all cultural, linguistic and geographic boundaries. By giving their time and skills without expectation of material reward, volunteers themselves are uplifted by a singular sense of purpose./

 On this Day, let us renew our determination to offer strength and inspiration to others through volunteerism./ Ban Ki-moon

World AIDS Day 2012 "Getting to Zero"

World AIDS Day 2012 " Getting to Zero

30 November 2012 – United Nations officials are marking World AIDS Day with a call for building on recent successes and pressing ahead to get to zero – zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths – by 2015.
“On this World AIDS Day, let us commit to build on and amplify the encouraging successes of recent years to consign HIV/AIDS to the pages of history,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message for the Day, observed annually on 1 December.
The World AIDS Day Report for 2012, he noted, reveals significant progress in preventing and treating HIV/AIDS in the past two years. The number of people accessing life-saving treatment rose by 60 per cent and new infections have fallen by half in 25 countries – 13 of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
In addition, AIDS-related deaths have dropped by a quarter since 2005, according to the report, published by the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
“We have moved from despair to hope. Far fewer people are dying from AIDS,” said the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé. “Twenty-five countries have reduced new infections by more than 50 per cent. I want these results in every country.
“The pace of progress is quickening. It is unprecedented – what used to take a decade is now being achieved in just 24 months. Now that we know rapid and massive scale up of HIV programmes is possible, we need to do more,” he said in his message for the Day.
The Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, noted that progress must strengthen the determination to create a world free of AIDS. “HIV and AIDS can be conquered through renewed commitment and sustained solidarity. For this, we need to use every resource as best we can and draw on all available evidence,” she said.
The agency works for the 'triple zero' goal by supporting countries to improve HIV and age-appropriate sexuality education for young people, as well as tackling gender inequalities since women and girls are severely affected by HIV and bear the greatest burden of care.
Young people aged 15-24 are the group most affected by HIV, accounting for 40 per cent of all new adult HIV infections, according to UNAIDS. In 2011, about five million young people were living with HIV worldwide, with more than 2,400 being newly infected every day.
UNAIDS said it has harnessed the energy and creativity of youth and the fashion world in support of the global HIV response, with 11 young designers having joined together to create an exclusive collection of tops and t-shirts for Italian fashion retailer OVS.
Among those participating in the initiative – part of the “Make Love With” campaign, launched by OVS in partnership with UNAIDS – are Lavinia Biagiotti, Rachele Cavalli, Louis Marie de Castelbajac, Maria Sole Ferragamo, Marta Ferri, Alessandra Gucci, Alice Lemoine, Talitha Puri Negri, Lola Toscani, Rocco Toscani and Francesca Versace.
The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is marking the Day with a call to ensure that more pregnant women and children living with HIV receive the treatment they need – which is vital for reaching the goal of an AIDS-free generation.
As of December 2011, over 100,000 more children were receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) compared to 2010, the agency stated. But less than one-third of children and pregnant women are receiving the treatment they need, as opposed to the global average of 54 per cent for adults overall.
“We must do still more to help mothers and children who live with HIV be able to live free from AIDS. We must rededicate ourselves to boosting the number of pregnant women and children being tested and treated through basic antenatal and child health programmes,” said UNICEF's Executive Director, Anthony Lake.
Good nutrition is vital for the health and survival of all people, but it is particularly important for people with HIV and AIDS, the Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), Ertharin Cousin, said in her message marking the Day.
“Food assistance not only increases the effectiveness of ART but also helps ensure greater adherence to treatment regimens, as people living with HIV are no longer forced to choose between treatment or food,” she added.
Ms. Cousin noted that, in the poorest communities, WFP's food and nutrition support to people living with HIV and their families, including pregnant women and new mothers, helps improve access to treatment and increase treatment success – which means saving more lives and seeing fewer infections.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women - 25 November

Millions of women and girls around the world are assaulted, beaten, raped, mutilated or even murdered in what constitutes appalling violations of their human rights. From battlefield to home, on the streets, at school, in the workplace or in their community, up to 70 per cent of women experience physical or sexual violence at some point in their lifetime. As many as a quarter of all pregnant women are affected.

All too often, perpetrators go unpunished. Women and girls are afraid to speak out because of a culture of impunity. We must fight the sense of fear and shame that punishes victims who have already endured crime and now face stigma. It is the perpetrators who should feel disgraced, not their victims.
My UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign is engaging governments, international organizations, civil society groups, the media and ordinary citizens.  Last year, when UNiTE asked young people around the world how they intended to help advance this critical cause, I was very encouraged by the responses. Many youth called for an end to ignorance. They said we should not condone negative attitudes. They demanded that we raise our voices to promote human rights, and join forces to help victims. One young man said simply that boys could fight violence against women “by growing up to be responsible and respectful fathers and husbands.”
The United Nations is working on all of these fronts. We are raising awareness through public outreach programmes. Our UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women just this month announced plans to disburse $8 million to local initiatives in 18 countries. Members of my expanding Network of Men Leaders are addressing violence by raising public awareness, advocating for better laws and holding governments accountable.
As we build on these efforts, we must fundamentally challenge the culture of discrimination that allows violence to continue. On this International Day, I call on all governments to make good on their pledges to end all forms of violence against women and girls in all parts of the world, and I urge all people to support this important goal.

Ban Ki-moon

Ban Ki-moon Message on the International Day for Natural Disater Reduction 2012

Secretary-General's Message for 2012

 This year’s observance of the International Day for Disaster Reduction seeks to highlight the need for women and girls to be at the forefront of reducing risk and managing the world’s response to natural hazards. Across the world, women and girls are using their roles within families and communities to strengthen risk reduction. In Bangladesh, women organized themselves to prepare for and respond to floods by teaching other women how to build portable clay ovens and elevate houses.

 In South Africa, marginalized adolescent girls have been empowered to help design plans to reduce the impact of drought and severe wind storms.


 In the Bolivian altiplano, indigenous women have consolidated traditional agricultural and climatic knowledge, which resulted in significant reduction of crop losses from hail, frost and flooding.

 In Viet Nam, villagers have been introduced to disaster reduction issues through customized radio soap operas that incorporate real-life examples and stories from local women.

And following the tsunami and earthquake in Fukushima, Japan, women played a central role in re-establishing income opportunities, with a special focus on single mothers. Such efforts advance understanding of how communities can benefit from encouraging women to take leadership roles in disaster risk reduction, and will only become more valuable as climate change intensifies and as the world struggles to cope with extreme weather and disasters that affect an average of more than 200 million people annually

. On this International Day for Disaster Reduction, let us recognize that, as the theme of this year’s observance declares, women and girls are the “[in]Visible Force of Resilience”.

 Ban Ki-moon

Depression No Matter for Experts Alone, Secretary-General Says in Message

8 October 2012

Secretary-General SG/SM/14567 OBV/1147

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

Depression No Matter for Experts Alone, Secretary-General Says in Message for Mental Health Day, Urging Action to Relieve Related Stigma

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for World Mental Health Day, observed on 10 October:

Some 350 million people of all ages, incomes and nationalities suffer from depression.  Millions more — family, friends, co-workers — are exposed to the indirect effects of this under-appreciated global health crisis.

Depression diminishes people’s ability to cope with the daily challenges of life, and often precipitates family disruption, interrupted education and loss of jobs.  In the most extreme cases, people kill themselves.  Approximately one million people commit suicide every year, the majority due to unidentified or untreated depression.

People develop depression for a number of reasons.  Often, different causes — genetic, biological, psychological and social — combine to provide the trigger.  Stress, grief, conflict, abuse and unemployment can also contribute.  Women are more likely to suffer depression than men, including following childbirth.

A wide variety of effective and affordable treatments are available to treat depression, including psychosocial interventions and medicines.  However, they are not accessible to all people, especially those living in less developed countries and the least advantaged citizens of more developed nations.  Among the barriers to care and services are social stigma and the lack of general health-care providers and specialists trained to identify and treat depression.  This is why the World Health Organization is supporting countries through its Mental Health Gap Action Programme.

Depression is not simply a matter for health experts.  We can all act to relieve the stigma around depression and other mental disorders — perhaps by admitting that we may have experienced depression ourselves, or by reaching out to those experiencing it now.  On World Mental Health Day, let us pledge to talk more openly about depression.  This is the first critical step to removing one of the barriers to treatment and helping to reduce the disability and distress caused by this global crisis.

International Day of Non-Violence 2012 - UN Secretary-General Message

Non-Violence : Secretary-General's Message for 2012

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of paying my respects at the Raj Ghat memorial to Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi. Gandhi’s vision and example showed how one person can change the world. In tribute to his enduring legacy, we mark this International Day of Non-Violence each year on the anniversary of his birth.
In these times of global turmoil and transition, it is fitting that we take a moment to reflect on Gandhi’s message of understanding and peace.
As we look around the world, tolerance is being tested. Fighting is taking a heavy toll from Afghanistan to Syria to the Sahel. The economic crisis is fuelling xenophobia and other forms of dangerous – and deadly – discrimination. Terrorism, human trafficking, rights abuses and violence against women threaten millions of people.
We must work even harder for understanding among and within religions and communities and between and within countries.
I have made prevention a key priority in the five-year action agenda of the United Nations. But prevention means more than separating warring parties and cooling tensions. Fundamentally tackling the roots of conflict and intolerance will take a culture of non-violence and peace.
Governments must lead. But ultimately, the foundation for non-violence will be built by people: teachers and faith leaders, parents and community voices, business people and grass-roots groups. Perhaps it may be easier to pick up a weapon than to lay down a grudge. It may be simpler to find fault than to find forgiveness. But I have been deeply moved by communities and people in every corner of the world who have been inspired by Gandhi’s example and made a real difference.
Let us take strength from all of these efforts and work together to build a world of nonviolence and lasting peace.
Ban Ki-moon

World Habitat Day 2012 - Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon

Ban Ki-moon United Nations Secretary General on World Habitat Day 2012

Theme for 2012: Changing Cities, Building Opportunities

In Resolution 40/202 of 17 December 1985, the UN General Assembly designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day. In 2012, World Habitat Day is commemorated on 1 October. World Habitat Day 2012 - Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon

" Building Cities, Building Opportunities " World Habitat Day 2012

World Habitat Day celebrations 

  CHANGING CITIES...

 WHD Messages

The Secretary-General message on World Habitat Day, 1 October 2012 Half the world's people now live in towns and cities. In little more than a generation, two-thirds of the global population will be urban. As the proportion of humanity living in the urban environment grows, so too does the need to strengthen the urban focus of our efforts to reduce global poverty and promote sustainable development. Read more English|Arabic|Chinese|French|Russian|Spanish  


Statement by Dr. Joan Clos, Executive Director of UN-Habitat on the occasion of World Habitat Day, 1 October 2012 We selected the theme, Changing cities, building opportunities, for World Habitat Day this year because our quest to improve cities and provide better services and opportunities for the world's growing urban populations is more urgent than ever. Read more

United Nations Secretary General Message on World Tourism Day 2012

 The Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development emphasized that well-designed and well-managed tourism can make a significant contribution to the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. One of the world’s largest economic sectors, tourism is especially well-placed to promote environmental sustainability, green growth and our struggle against climate change through its relationship with energy.

 “Tourism and Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development” is the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day, selected to advance the goals of the 2012 International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. Hundreds of millions of people around the world depend for income on this energy-intensive sector. Sustainable energy will allow tourism to continue to expand while mitigating its impact on the environment.

 Many in the tourism industry have already shown leadership in developing and deploying clean energy solutions, cutting energy consumption and carbon emissions in some regions by up to 40 per cent through initiatives such as the Hotel Energy Solutions toolkit developed by the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme. Other concrete advances include the growing use of energy-efficient fuels in air travel, sustainable procurement strategies and increasingly popular carbon offsetting schemes.

 Everyone has a role in sustainable tourism. I commend the tourism community for its growing commitment to sustainable energy. I also thank the tourists who play their part by offsetting their own carbon emissions, choosing ecologically friendly destinations and providers, or simply by postponing having their towels laundered. Every action counts. This year, one billion international tourists will travel to foreign destinations. Imagine what one act multiplied by one billion can do.

 On this World Tourism Day, I appeal to all who work in and enjoy the benefits of this global sector to join in building a more sustainable future for all.

UN Secretary General Message for World Maritime Day 2012

Secretary-General's Message for 2012 ---

 When the passenger liner Titanic departed from Southampton on 10 April 1912 on her first transatlantic voyage, no one could imagine the drama that would unfold over the next four days. After the ship hit an iceberg and sank, with the loss of more than 1,500 lives, the story of that ill-fated ship became etched forever in the public consciousness.

 Undoubtedly the most important legacy of the Titanic disaster was an urgent acceleration in the process of setting and implementing international standards and procedures for maritime activity. The first international conference on the safety of life at sea was held in London in January 1914. Its outcome – the Convention on Safety of Life at Sea – remains the leading international treaty on maritime safety. The task of keeping it updated, and maintaining its development in light of technological advances, falls to a United Nations agency, the International Maritime Organization.

 Each successive generation brings new challenges. In recent years, the passenger shipping sector has seen phenomenal growth on all fronts – numbers of passengers, numbers of ships, new destinations and, perhaps most significant of all, in ship sizes. And despite advances in technology, accidents continue to occur, as demonstrated when the Costa Concordia ran aground in Italy earlier this year.

Nevertheless, thanks largely to the IMO regulatory regime, shipping today is safer and more environmentally friendly than it has ever been. New regulations for passenger ships were adopted by the IMO in 2006 and entered into force in 2010. They ensure that all new passenger vessels are constructed to the highest possible standards. A century after the Titanic was lost in the icy waters of the North Atlantic, the IMO is striving to ensure continual improvement in safety at sea. Its work is as important now as ever.

Ban Ki-moon

International Day of Democracy 2012 : Secretary-General's Message for 2012

Secretary-General's Message for 2012

Today we look back on yet another year of remarkable events in the story of democracy -- a story that continues to be written by people who yearn for dignity and human rights, for an end to corruption, for a say in their future, for jobs, justice and a fair share of political power.
Their story is just beginning. Democracies are not born overnight, nor built in a year, or by holding one or two elections. They require sustained and painstaking work. Yet, once begun, there can be no going back.
Reform must be real. People do not seek authoritarianism with a human face. They want a virtuous circle of rights and opportunity under the rule of law, a vibrant civil society and an enterprising private sector, backed by efficient and accountable state institutions.
Inclusive dialogue is crucial. Diversity is a strength. We must work to promote pluralism and protect the rights of minorities and the vulnerable. And women must be at the centre of efforts to build democratic futures. They have been at the forefront of movements for change. They have a right to a real say in governance and decision-making.
The voices of the young must also be heard and heeded. Profound demographic pressures around the world make this an imperative. Faced with bleak prospects and unresponsive governments, young people will act on their own to reclaim their future.
Underpinning these prerequisites -- and essential for long term success -- is democracy education, the theme of this year’s observance. It is needed so that all citizens in all nations, in democracies young and old, established or fragile, fully understand their rights and responsibilities. And it is especially needed in countries that have made recent democratic gains so that progress made does not unravel.
The United Nations is strongly committed to working with partners to develop global and local initiatives that elevate democracy education as an integral part of all education initiatives and as a component of long-term governance strategies. Let us build partnerships between international education experts and Governments to develop and disseminate best practices. Let us develop a culture of civic participation to explore opportunities made possible by new media, and support countries in devising curricula and training methods.
In marking this year’s International Day of Democracy, let us use all our creativity to advance this mission. Let us work to bring democracy education to all, and in particular, to those societies in transition that need it most.

Ban Ki-moon

United Nations Secretary General Message for The International Day Against Nuclear Test 2012

Secretary-General's Message for 2012 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon


 This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization.

Since its founding, the CTBTO PrepCom has built the world’s largest multilateral verification regime, overcoming numerous political and practical challenges in the process.

 Today, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty enjoys nearly worldwide support for its goal of a verifiable, permanent, global ban on all types of nuclear explosive tests. Yet eight of the 44 nuclear-capable States which must ratify the CTBT for it to enter into force have yet to do so.

The importance of bringing the CTBT into force cannot be overemphasized. The world has endured over 2,000 nuclear tests since 1945. Such tests poison the environment – and they poison the political climate as well. They breed mistrust, isolation and fear.


 I once again call on the leaders of all those States that have not yet signed and ratified the CTBT to do so without delay. I urge them to visit the site of a nuclear test, contaminated beyond remediation; speak to those who were exposed to the fallout, many of whom suffer still. The human and environmental consequences of nuclear testing should compel these leaders to take the necessary action to prevent this from ever happening again.


 The repercussions of nuclear tests are all too familiar in Kazakhstan, where people have coped with the fallout for over 50 years. To its credit, and with the firm intention to put an end to nuclear testing, Kazakhstan proposed the creation of an International Day against Nuclear Tests – a proposal that was unanimously adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in 2009. The observance has quickly become a critical initiative aimed at promoting the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world. This ambition goes beyond narrow self-interest or regional rivalries; it is a global imperative meant to serve all humankind. But success will come only if we all put our efforts into this task. Therefore let us commit to work together to achieve a world free of nuclear tests and the terrible weapons that are their cruel legacy. Ban Ki-moon Previous Messages Message for 2011 Message for 2010