United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child,
Press Conference: Launch of a new report on child marriage by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Speakers: Mr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Depression No Matter for Experts Alone, Secretary-General Says in Message
8 October 2012
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| 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.
United Nations Observances in 2012
Observanves 2012 - United nations System Calendar of Media Events -
Monday, 8 October 2012
World Post Day 2012 theme : "A new strategy for a new world "
Message from the Director-General of the Universal Postal Union for 2012
A new strategy for a new world
Ours is an era of new information and communication technologies, of mobile telephones and the Internet. And yet, Posts are not standing idly on the side lines: they are an integral part of the increasingly digital world.As strong drivers of economic growth, Posts must continue to innovate, develop efficient and accessible postal services, adopt common standards and exploit new technologies to diversify and improve services. Post offices – whether physical or virtual – serve not only customers’ communication needs but also allow them to conduct official business, pay bills, send or receive money, order goods or track and trace letters or parcels along the entire distribution chain.
Traditional letter-post services still account for the majority of postal revenues but Posts can benefit from the globalization of mail exchanges in other ways. They should seize the opportunities offered by e-commerce. Many Posts are wisely readying their operations for the e-commerce boom, which has resulted in increased parcel volumes. And rightly so; industry-watchers predict that e-commerce sales will surpass the trillion-euro mark in 2013. Many of the goods ordered online will be delivered as parcels to customers and who better than the Post to fill that role?
For its part, the UPU will continue to help Posts better interconnect their networks to facilitate exchanges. It will also continue to provide know-how and technical expertise, encourage the development of innovative postal products and services to better meet customer needs and sustainably develop the postal sector.
Governments too must step up to the mark. Their support of the postal sector is crucial. With it, Posts across the globe will fulfil their potential as motors of national economies.
Despite this changing world, the postal community is still well placed to guarantee the integrity of the universal postal service and the free circulation of mail items within the single postal territory.
I wish you the very best on World Post Day 2012.
Edouard Dayan, Director-General of the Universal Postal Union
Friday, 5 October 2012
The world in 2050 is one where:
- We have equal access to improved sanitation, safe water, food and health and well-being.
- We have healthy ecosystems.
- There is inclusivity in decision-making by both traditional stakeholders such as business and government, but also by neglected groups such as women, youth and indigenous peoples.
- We look beyond the present.
- We have informed, aware and proactive citizens who know the value of food and water and you use resources wisely.
- There is transparency and accountability.
- We have cooperation that is built on trust by all stakeholders, and one that acknowledges interdependencies.
- 2.6 billion people lack improved sanitation
- Roughly 800 million people lack safe drinking water
- One billion people go to bed hungry
- 2 billion people are undernourished
- 60% of ecosystem services are deteriorating
- One billion people are obese
- Between 30- 50% food produced is wasted
- Increasing sustainable investments in agriculture
- Embracing a more resource efficient diet
- Implementing sustainable intensification
- Wasting less food
- Promoting enabling conditions that include incentive mechanisms, policy cohesion and institutional design and strengthening
- Being adaptable
- Understanding the link between water, energy and food
- Adopting business model perspectives in development projects
- Developing resource recovery and re-use
- Empowering communities
- Boosting fairer trade markets
- Learning from our mistakes as well as our successes
2013 World Water Week in Stockholm under the theme " Water Cooperation - Bridging Divides "
2013 WWW
Thank you for this year, Welcome back next year!
2013 World Water Week in Stockholm
date: September 1 - 6, 2013
theme: Water Cooperation - Bridging Divides
2013 World Water Week in Stockholm
date: September 1 - 6, 2013
theme: Water Cooperation - Bridging Divides
World Water Week is hosted and organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and takes place each year in Stockholm.
2nd Announcement- 2012 World Water Week
What's going on
- On the Water Front series
- On the Water Front series offer collection of the most innovative and important insights on water issues presented at the World Water Week in Stockholm. This compendium is a must-read for those interested in the latest knowledge, tools and strategies to resolve the planet's most pressing water challenges.
- Are you looking for presentations?
- Find presentations, background documents and movies here. Make use of the resources and share the knowledge!
- 2012 World Water Week closes with a youthful vision for a food secure future
- The 2012 World Water Week in Stockholm closes with a "vision" capturing the perspective of the younger generation of water scientists and professionals on the priorities that must be set now in order to achieve water and food security by 2050.
- Keynotes join rapporteurs to wrap it up
- The Closing Plenary session will feature keynote presentations from leading luminaries on the best path forward towards a food and water secure world.
- WWW Daily Friday
- What's the key to tackle Water challenges? What are communities and companies doing for water? New software for water and energy people? Read all about it
- Youth Vision Concludes the Week
- Young professionals tell the world how we can achieve water and food security in 2050 when they retire.
Saturday, 29 September 2012
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
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